Tag Archives: reformation

Apr 4 2012

praying for a change (48; conclusion)

 

While the Change Your Heart & Life (CYHL) blog tour continues through May 27, today’s post marks the conclusion of my portion of the journey on this tour. To those who have enabled my participation in this tour I says, “Thank you very much for this has been a blessing to me!”

This has been quite a ride, hasn’t it? Over the course of the past forty-eight days, we’ve looked at a great many of the occurrences of the phrase “change your heart and life” in the Common English Bible. Invariably, the word “repent” has been the word of choice for English Bible translators for years to convey the thought of Scripture in these texts.

However, the word “repent” can be so easily misunderstood these days. Or, perhaps even more frequently, that word simply “bounces off” of us as we wall it off from our hearing it deeply. And so, I for one, am elated to not only see a contemporary English translation of Scripture boldly attempt a fresh way of communicating God’s will to us, but to succeed so well in giving us a spot-on definition of exactly what it means to “repent,” namely to “change your heart and life.”

As we’ve looked at these passages that call for radical change on our part, change wrought inside and out, we’ve attempted to do so with humility, transparency, simplicity and prayer. My prayer today is that God has used these moments in relevant and practical ways to assist you in your ongoing, daily conversation with, and living for, him. May the change in my life and your mine, to the glory of God, never stop. And so, may our prayers continue.

Apr 3 2012

praying for a change (47)

 

The people were burned by intense heat, and they cursed the name of the God who had power over these plagues. But they didn’t change their hearts and lives and give him glory. (Revelation 16.9 CEB)

God,

I know literal, intense heat melts things. Even rocks melt and become lava.

But there is one thing that cannot melt: a heart and life hardened against you and personal change.

Lord, I fear fire. But I fear having a heart hardened against your development and transformation of me far, far more.

Deliver me from evil; all of the evil within me.

May my heart melt daily for you.

Amen.

Apr 2 2012

praying for a change (46)

 

The rest of humankind, who weren’t killed by these plagues, didn’t change their hearts and lives and turn from their handiwork. They didn’t stop worshipping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can’t see or hear or walk. They didn’t turn away from their murders, their spells and drugs, their sexual immorality, or their stealing. (Revelation 9.20-21 CEB)

 

God,

How is it you made me and yet I often seem determined to try and remake you into my own image?

I must be off my rocker to think I can downsize you or remake you into my own image so that the new “you” accepts my every , unholy, worldly desire.

May I not cast my cravings and worship them, but cast away my cravings and worship you!

I want anything and everything that takes your place in my life to be removed.

Whether you start with my hands and my handiwork, or with my heart and my heart disease, open my eyes and ears to see, hear, and identify the deaf, mute, and blind gods I worship that I stop and flee from them.

Amen.

Apr 1 2012

praying for a change (45)

 

I correct and discipline those whom I love. So be earnest and change your hearts and lives. Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me. (Revelation 3.19-20 CEB)

 

ear·nest: resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction; synonyms are serious, severe, and zealous.

God,

When I feel your the rod of your correction, may it impress on me how you love me too much to leave me undisciplined and set in my selfish ways.

As intense feelings well up in me under your discipline, may those emotions serve to not make me bitter, but only better.

As you meet me where I am and invite me again and again into your presence and goodness, may I throw open my heart and mind to your great love by changing my heart and life.

Amen.