Understanding God's Love

In Mark, chapter 11, Jesus tells us to pray about everything - from the little stuff to the big stuff. Verse 24 says, "That's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything." 

It's funny because I think if someone told you they were praying for everything, you'd probably think they were a little crazy. Some say, "God doesn't have time for the little stuff..." Some say "God leaves some decisions to us to decide." And there's so many other reasons why we don't pray about everything. But here it says that if you embrace a FULL God-life, pray about everything. Everything. What does that look like? What would a day of praying for everything look like for you? You would constantly be in prayer; which is another thing God calls us to do... Even if those statements ARE true, praying about everything will be life changing.

What if you started your day in prayer about everything - about what you're going to do that day, about your family, about your finances, about your job, about where you go, about your spouse, about your breakfast. I mean, it seems a little silly - but what could it change??? I mean, pray about everything. Include God in every single decision you make. Everything. What if after every brief judgment you make, you immediately seek forgiveness? What if after every single negative thought you have about yourself, you quickly turned it over to God? What if everytime your spouse frustrated you (even the brief little frustrations) you just said, "God, forgive me for being so quick to anger. Help me to be patient and loving." What would that look like for you, your marriage, your family, your job, your relationships, your finances, your everything... 

Pray about everything. Let's do it. Today is May 4th. Let's see how many people we can get to join us in praying for everything. May 18th - International Pray for Everything Day. I'm calling it. Let's go. Pray for everything.

Mark Chapter 8

This chapter is great. It is so encouraging. 1st - it's encouraging because you get to see even how the disciples faltered sometimes. How they would see miracles with their own eyes and be lost and confused the next minute. This chapter is simple, yet I believe it speaks to all of us. I don't think I have to say much here, except recite the scripture that I read today:

Mark 7:13-21

13 He then left them, got back in the boat, and headed for the other side.14 But the disciples forgot to pack a lunch. Except for a single loaf of bread, there wasn't a crumb in the boat.15 Jesus warned, "Be very careful. Keep a sharp eye out for the contaminating yeast of Pharisees and the followers of Herod."
16 Meanwhile, the disciples were finding fault with each other because they had forgotten to bring bread.17-18 Jesus overheard and said, "Why are you fussing because you forgot bread? Don't you see the point of all this? Don't you get it at all?19 Remember the five loaves I broke for the five thousand? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up?" They said, "Twelve."
20 "And the seven loaves for the four thousand-how many bags full of leftovers did you get?" "Seven."
21 He said, "Do you still not get it?"

So I ask this of myself, and of anyone that reads this - Do we still not get it? 

Where am I refusing to believe, even though I've seen God's provision before? You?

Where do I feel like I don't have enough to keep going, even though God's provided for me before? 



Lord, show me where I need to see that you are providing, have provided, and will provide. Show me what steps of faith I need to take, even if I don't think I have enough to sustain me on the way to my destination. Help my faith to grow and help me to become more like you and trust completely in you. Be the one that guides my feet in the direction you've called me to go.

Amen.