Inspired Discipline

From @ChristineCaine

Whatever It Takes, Lord!

Seven Ways to Pray for Your Heart -from Joe Bloom at Desiring God

Over the years, as I’ve prayed for my own heart, I’ve accumulated seven “D’s” that I have found helpful. Maybe you’ll find them helpful as well

With seven you can use them a number of ways. You might choose one “D” per day. Or you could choose one “D” as a theme for a week and pray through these every seven weeks. You’ll also note that I have a verse for each prayer. But over time as you pray more verses will come to mind and you might find it helpful to collect them so they are right at hand as the Spirit leads.

I begin each prayer with the phrase “whatever it takes, Lord” because the Bible teaches us to be bold and wholehearted in our praying, not reticent. I also use the phrase because it tests my heart. How much do I want God and all he promises to be for me in Jesus? Do I really want true joy enough to ask for my Father’s loving discipline to wean me from joy-stealing sin? And how much do I trust him? Do I really believe that he will only give me what is good when I ask in faith (Luke 11:11–13)? “Whatever it takes” prayers help me press toward and express childlike trust in the Father.

Delight: Whatever it takes, Lord, give me delight in you as the greatest treasure of my heart.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

 Desires: Whatever it takes, Lord, align the desires of my heart with yours.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9–10)

Dependence: Whatever it takes, Lord, increase my awareness of my dependence on you in everything so that I will live continually by faith.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Discernment: Whatever it takes, Lord, teach me to discern good from evil through the rigorous exercise of constant practice.

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)

Today is the Day Your Procrastinated About Yesterday

Some good stuff from my old college buddy, Dennis Ritchie:

Today is the day I put off yesterday.

There are hard things to do. There are people to love. There are responsibilities that come with that.

If I’m going to pursue my dreams, now is the time, in the middle of all the other things pressing in. That’s always been the way. Today is no different.

If there were endless time and money and ability we would never have to choose. We would never have to decide what’s really important to us. We would never have to expose who we are by choosing.

We wouldn’t need character or discipline. We wouldn’t need courage. We could just take things as they come knowing we could always get back to important things later.

The urgent would always take priority over the important, which we could always delay. It would be dreadful.

So today I’m forced to choose, to eliminate the unimportant, to be ruthless in my priorities, to commit before God and man. That’s why God invented time. That’s why we have an expiration date.

Otherwise we would postpone ourselves.

In the choices I make today I will reveal to all who I am. May I choose wisely, act courageously and be worth all of the love that’s been invested in me.

Amen.

Ahem, not that you are "old," Dennis - It's just been a long time since we were in college. I enjoy his blog, The Art of Standing, and recommend it to you to enjoy also.

At the Threshing Floor

I've been listening to and meditating on this song by Tony Miller, Threshing Floor, DesertSong Music. These words reflect where I am spiritually at this moment.

God I stand before you
broken and alone
I bring to you my whole heart
And lay it at your throne
Cries of desperation
Rise to you my Lord
Here at this threshing floor

God I know you're sovereign
The plans of man will cease
Everything that's been conceived
      by insecurities
Kingdoms that are built on sand
Will fall and rise no more
Here at this threshing floor

CHORUS:
So take my heart
And turn it inside out
Come separate me for your glory
There's a time to sing and dance
To celebrate and shout
But, now I'll fall on my face
For you are holy

Discipline is painful,
But I know I'm not alone
It's a loving confirmation
You receive me as your own
In your hand is mercy
I could never ask for more
Here at this threshing floor

You train my heart
To worship you
That's what this place is for
Here at this threshing floor

Viva L'Difference!

From: Radio Free Babylon (click on image to see it larger)