Taken Along with All That Goodness
On one of my (multiple) trips to the bathroom last night, I knelt by the baby's crib to pray. I asked God to bless our child with a deep knowledge of the Holy. I prayed that this unborn life would be used to preach the Gospel to many. I asked God to make Himself real to this child, every day of his or her life.
And I realized: really, nothing matters about how we raise our children, if at the end of they day they do not know and love the Lord. No career, no spouse, no achievement will satisfy our children. Asking for anything besides God's presence in this child's life, at this point, seems silly and counterproductive.
If He does not go with us, I pray He does not send us out of this season of need and dependence. If He is not leading, we would be wise not to take another step.
These past few weeks, I have felt God answer the majority of my prayers with the same two words: I AM.
God, please heal this child.
I AM.
God, teach me to trust You more. Increase my faith.
I AM.
God, more than anything we need Your presence. Please give us more of You.
I AM.
I Am that I Am (אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה, or ehyeh aser ahyeh) is the name by whose authority God instructed Moses to lead the Israelites out of captivity. It emphasizes the permanence of His nature, as well as His unchanging and fully reliable character. This is our God. I AM.
His response to my prayers and questions has been a redirection to Himself. He is always the point of our experiences and conversations, though sometimes we forget. I have a feeling that I will utter many prayers in the next months and years that require only one response: He is. He is able. He is love. He is good. He is everything perfect, and I am so grateful He has chosen to take us along with all that goodness.
And I realized: really, nothing matters about how we raise our children, if at the end of they day they do not know and love the Lord. No career, no spouse, no achievement will satisfy our children. Asking for anything besides God's presence in this child's life, at this point, seems silly and counterproductive.
If He does not go with us, I pray He does not send us out of this season of need and dependence. If He is not leading, we would be wise not to take another step.
These past few weeks, I have felt God answer the majority of my prayers with the same two words: I AM.
God, please heal this child.
I AM.
God, teach me to trust You more. Increase my faith.
I AM.
God, more than anything we need Your presence. Please give us more of You.
I AM.
I Am that I Am (אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה, or ehyeh aser ahyeh) is the name by whose authority God instructed Moses to lead the Israelites out of captivity. It emphasizes the permanence of His nature, as well as His unchanging and fully reliable character. This is our God. I AM.
His response to my prayers and questions has been a redirection to Himself. He is always the point of our experiences and conversations, though sometimes we forget. I have a feeling that I will utter many prayers in the next months and years that require only one response: He is. He is able. He is love. He is good. He is everything perfect, and I am so grateful He has chosen to take us along with all that goodness.
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