We live in a culture of comfort. We can buy couches that recline and have cup holders; women live in yoga pants; new cars come with seat warmers that can be programmed for different users; malls have chairs that give you massages; airports have conveyor belts for travelers so one doesn't actually have to walk; we eat fast food, own Kuerigs, and use auto bill pay. Don't get me wrong: I love my comfort! Yoga pants are the bomb, I love fast food fries, and auto bill pay is so convenient! I often make decisions based on what is going to be the easiest, or most convenient, way of doing something. The hard part is when we allow comfort to dictate what we pray. I have prayed for protection; to achieve a goal; to win a prize; to be safe; to get an answer sooner; and for everything to fall into place. None of those things are bad to pray for in and of themselves. God really does want me to bring all my concerns, worries, needs, hopes and dreams to Him. God cares about all the little details of my life -- honestly, He really does.
And I need to be more concerned with pleasing God, then making my life easier or more comfortable.
I have been reading in the book of Colossians. The other day, chapter 4, verse 3, really popped out to me. "At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains." Really? If I were imprisoned, I'd be begging others to pray that I would soon be free! I'd be asking that the guards are nice to me. I'd be pleading for ice cream to help me from being depressed -- yup, I'm that girl! I'm sure the people of Colosse where praying for Paul's safety and release, but that's not what Paul asked them to pray. Paul was more concerned with sharing Jesus than having a comfortable life. "...pray...that God may open a door for the message..." Paul didn't want his circumstance to dictate what he was about. Paul was focused on being about Jesus Christ. He wasn't going to allow his status of being in chains to distract him from his goal, nor defeat him from continuing forward in some form.
This verse challenges me in my I-need-another-cup-of-coffee mindset. I can create all sorts of lame excuses for not doing what God is asking me: I'm tired; I have too many other things going on; I'm out of my routine; I'm sick; I need some "me time"; it's too hard; I'm not very good at that.... the list is pretty extensive. It's been a couple of weeks since I've written in this blog and my reasons for not being disciplined are just not that valid. I don't blog to make myself feel better. I am blogging because God told me to write. So I'm asking myself: when my world is turned upside down, or at least a little whopper-jawed, am I still willing to follow through with what Christ has commissioned me to do? Honestly? I'm not always proud of my answer.
I am grateful that God is forgiving and patient. I am encouraged by verses like Colossians 3:1 that states, "Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, KEEP SEEKING the things above..." God is gracious and understanding. He doesn't expect me to get it all right the very first time. I am thankful that he allows me to keep seeking. I keep seeking God's wisdom. I keep seeking Christ's empowering. I keep seeking righteousness, peace, and understanding God's will. I keep seeking to lay myself aside, to lose my focus on comfort, and serve where and how Jesus calls me.
"At the same time pray for [me] too, that God may [continue to prompt me to write about] the message so that [I] my proclaim the mystery of Christ..."
May Christ find me faithful.
