“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”
― Søren Kierkegaard
Today I am having some trouble quieting my soul.
The words to the third verse of “Just As I Am” keep coming to mind:
Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt, fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. – Just As I Am, William Bradbury
The world is not falling apart around me. I am not in crisis but I am beset by a plethora of things to do that keep calling me away from the place of quiet prayer. It seems I just get settled in and whamo! Something else comes up to pull me away from the secret place.
I’m beginning to think God’s as much in these distractions as HE is in the devotion. Somehow I am being challenged to walk in contentment and peace even in the place of constant disturbance.
Today’s quotes:
“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”
― Dale Carnegie,
“The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”
― Martha Washington
“For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
So here I am Jesus. Praying in bits and pieces today…fits and starts. Just as I am I come and if you want something different Lord then form it in me.
Reinventing the We'll 
This is wonderful, Pastor J!! I love this new concept you’ve given me–that God is IN the distractions, as well as the devotion–WOW!!! That really, really works for me today, thank you! And I love the first quote, by Kierkegaard–it took a long time for me to mature into understanding those words; it sure makes life a lot easier!! God bless you and the fam–love, sis Caddo
It seems to be working for me more and more as the days pass. Today I arrived at work for 8:30 and actually got the day I planned for started around 11! God is doing something here! One of the divine interruptions actually led to a conversion…so my plans pale in comparison to that!
Praise God for THAT distraction and praying He will give more of the same!
Amen Angela! MAy God hear your prayer!
Praying for you Pastor J.
Thanks Deb! God heard your prayers and kept right on bringing the interruptions and a man got saved!
Praise God!!!
Amen!
Just thinking Pastor “j’………..If God is in it, is it really a distraction?….:)……..love that rendition of Just as I Am……..soothing and beautiful.
Hmmm…probably not. However what a thing actually turns out to be and what I start out thinking it is are often two very different things.
I love the encouragement in this Pastor J! My days are full of spits and sputters. Praying not to miss Him in it all, waiting for a quiet moment that just isn’t going to happen. 🙂 God bless you and all the ways He keeps revealing Himself to you!
I am discovering that in the midst of the work which is constant He gives His people a supernatural Sabbath’s rest as we seek Him for it. My issue is taking advantage of it when He provides it and not filling it with other stuff!
In recent months, even though life is much LESS hectic than it was for many years, I get many MORE distractions. My time is called upon at inconvenient times and I MUST give it and do so willingly, but find it distracting. (I am getting old and lose thoughts easily – hard to get back after the distraction).
I am learning to accept those distractions as they come and I am thankful for them. He gives His peace and that is more than enough.
I guess then this learning is a life long process. Each new level of life must bring us a new level of challenge!
I’ve had the same thing going on, distractions. Yet the distractions are for a word of encouragement, a prayer, a listening ear…God IS in them.
The trick is always in knowing what is a God appointment and what is just a distraction.