Monday, February 11, 2008

Broadening My Mind!

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"May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory
to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power
in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit
[Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
May Christ through your faith
[actually] dwell
(settle down, abide, make His permanent home)
in your hearts!
May you be rooted deep in love
and founded securely on love,
That you may have the power
and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints
[God's devoted people, the experience of that love]
what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];
[That you may really come] to know
[practically, through experience for yourselves]
the love of Christ,
which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience];
that you may be filled [through all your being]
unto all the fullness of God
[may have the richest measure of the divine Presence,
and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
Now to Him Who, by
(in consequence of) the [action of His] power
that is at work within us,
is able to [carry out His purpose
and] do superabundantly,
far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think
[infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--
To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations forever and ever.
Amen (so be it)."
Ephesians 3:16-21
I have just decided to agree with God!
I thought I would just say it out loud here!
Sometime around June or July of last year (2007),
I started praying at the start of every week, for the upcoming week.
I thank Him for specific things from the previous week.
And then, I ask Him to strengthen us in our inner man,
help us be anchored in His love, help us to know the breadth and length,
the heigth and depth of it.
That we would be filled more fully with Him.
So that He can do exceedingly, abundantly
beyond anything we could ask, or think or imagine,
according to His power at work in us!
Thanking Him is just crazy,
because as you become proficient
at realizing the things He has worked out for you,
it just blows your mind!
He continues to blow my mind!
Or should I say broaden my mind?
I have to say, as I typed this I was chagrined to realize I have not journaled about this. Beginning tonight, I will start recording
(I always have notebooks and stuff for school supplies).
Hmmm...what will I call it?
The Book of God's Goodness?
He's a Good God?
My Exceedingly, Abundantly Mind Expanding Book!
Father, I Love You!
The Book of Thanksgiving?
Oh Taste and See the Lord He is Good!
And His Mercy Endures Forever!


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Thank You , Father!

4 comments:

Denise said...

God is so great.

luvmy4sons said...

LOVE, LOVE that scripture. It is such a great prayer to pray for oneself and ones loved ones. There is so much power in praying God's Word back to him! Love this!

Sharon Brumfield said...

Ephesians is my FAV-or-ITE book in the Bible. If I ever got stranded on an island and I could only have one book of the Bible--that would be it.

Sometimes I am so slack with praying for some things. Really we could spend 24/7 on our knees. How much I miss out on by not praying more.

Now did you mean literal--same Mom sisters?
If so what a hoot!
Mom reads my blog but my sister is too busy. Sad--because I think it would help her relax and get to know herself.

She Rose Up said...

Denise, He REALLY IS! He's AWESOME! And even better, everytime He hears us talking about Him like this, (even in bloggy-dom) He smiles and records it in the book of remembrance! (Malachi) How cool is that! We make Him happy when we celebrate His goodness in our conversation!

Leslie, AMEN to that! It is. I wish I was yet more diligent, but I am working on it! One of the things I love about blogging is it helps me focus on the important things. Somehow it helps me to sift my sometimes too busy mind!

Sharon, it is one of mine also! So much good has been done in my heart & then life because of that book! I'm with you about the whole prayer thing. But like the Meet The Robinosn's movie, just keep moving forward! That's all I can do!

Oh, and I meant that in my heart we are sisters! You know? Smiles! In God's family we can connect even through bloggydom and find long lost family! ;) Like you!

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What Does it Mean Anyway? "Free to Fly"...

Well, it's like this: Here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Free: a : having the legal and political rights of a citizen b : enjoying civil and political liberty c : enjoying political independence or freedom from outside domination d : enjoying personal freedom : not subject to the control or domination of another2 a : not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being : choosing or capable of choosing for itself...having a scope not restricted by qualification 7 a : not obstructed, restricted, or impeded ...Now, here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Fly:1 a : to move in or pass through the air with wings b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space c : to float, wave, or soar in the air ... a : to take flight ...6 : to work successfully ...Examples which apply from Websters: fly high : to be elated - fly in the face of or fly in the teeth of : to stand or act forthrightly or brazenly in defiance or contradiction of

What does this mean in my life? This means that in life we are meant to be free. While historically mankind has not always enjoyed the opportunity to fully appreciate what that means, we are so indescribably fortunate as to live in a time of the greatest spiritual, physical, financial and political freedom ever known. Freedom doesn't come cheap, nor does it come easy. But the best things in life don't come that way do they? As I write this I am struck by how this sounds like a political statement, and for me this is much more of a spiritual thing, but, same goes for that (political that is). Freedom doesn't come easy. And it's worth whatever fight you have to make to overcome in your life in order to live a life that succeeds. Now the questions is - what is success for you? What is your standard? In my mind what is needed is a definite target - because you can't hit and maintain a moving target. A stable, rock-solid, anchor with no variable, yet multi-faceted. Something pure, just and worthy. If you look at any web page of news you can see that our society is certainly lacking in this area. What a great time to live as a rebel! Nowadays to be a rebel, all you have to do is be willing to engage in the battle of life, while anchored to Christ!