specify in prayer.

Sometimes i feel like prayer life can feel like such a routine. Sometimes i pray, and i confess that sometimes its just nonsense coming out of my mouth. And i know that its so wrong, that i shouldn't be praying like that, but it just happens sometimes. I feel like its very dull.

I was reading my devotions before heading into first period today, and it was about pray specifically. Instead of saying things like "Lord, bless and heal the sick ones", you can pray for those who are sick that you know. I personally do do that often in my prayers, i have specific requests, and certain people i pray for. Just something about it seems dull. I feel like that spark is kinda of lost, and I'm unsure of how to get it back.

I think what i can do right now is just to try my best to be fully honest in prayer, and be wholehearted. Not to rush it, and to treasure it because I'm spending time with the God of the universe. It can easily be just brushed off because its hard to realize how BIG this is.

 ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4:3 

pas un cercle.

In french class, we're reading "Le Petit Prince" which explores the life of a curious prince, who travels from planet from planet hoping to make friendships and just explore.

He one day lands on asteroid 327 where he meets a drunkard. He learns that the drunkard is going through a cycle, of shame, then he drinks more, then he feels shameful for drinking, and he drinks more, and its a non stop, never ending cycle. We discussed in class about many cycles in our society. Simple things we deal with everyday, we say we dont have time, and then we procrastinate, and then we complain we dont have time, and we continue to procrastinate. We can also take it on a global level with pollution. As the selfish world we are, if we want energy, or if we want anything, we get it. And through the production of this, we produce CO2 and other toxins released into this planet. We want more, we continue to destroy the earth more and more because of what we want.

As a person who has been a follower of Christ for most of my life, i think its very very easy for us to fall into a cycle, into a routine, whether it may be prayer, devotionals, church or fellowship. Its very easy to go because you have to go. We have to always carry a spark and burning desire for following our God. I know that i have many times, just done devotions because i had to.

Our relationship with Christ is not a cycle. Its not just a bunch of works/actions we do. There more to it. Like a friendship, or a relationship, there is no formula, repeated process in it. You dont always have a candle light dinner at 7pm on thursday nights, you make it new, make it special and different. Our commitment with Christ is special, is unique, and is important. Dont make it apart of our daily cycle.

³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:37-38

Zombies?

Today going to church, sitting in the congregation, watching, standing for worship, listening to the sermon, partaking in the offering and communion, something came to mind. Im not judging or labelling people, but coming to the house of Lord is for a time of worship (so is every other day and time), but as Christians we are to worship.

Worship needs to be genuine.

The thought that crossed my mind today was "how many of us are genuinely worshipping?" Are we just zombies that are doing this as a routine, because we have to, because we're forced to? I think about that sometimes with devos. Sometimes i feel like its just another thing i need to do. I dont know exactly how to make it genuine and a want though sometimes...

I just hope that we can take the time to reflect and think about how genuine our worship is.

Deuteronomy 6:5 says,

⁵ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

ALL YOUR HEART

ALL YOUR SOUL

ALL YOUR MIGHT

Genuine worship. How are you glorifying our God? Why? Because thats what every sunday is scheduled as? or because you love him for who he is and what he's done and you're grateful?