If I could only DO the things I know already - implement the plans GOD has given me, put into consistent practice the Word which has proved to be successful and true - why, I'd be the best Jesus follower I know..maybe even nearing "sinless perfectionism." (kidding) What I don't need is more teaching - but to act on the stuff I've alrealy learned. Well, make that, "the stuff I'm trying to learn," for I never really "get" something until I act on it, put it into practice and make the new exercise a habitual new way of choosing and living - Spiritual body building.
One might read the above, and get the idea that I have no need for "teaching and preaching" ministries or for the reading of more Jesus following kind of books. However, anyone who knows me, is aware of my LOVE for a riviting speaker, an inspiring conference, a page-turner novel or biblical exposition. These information inputs are not merely distractions from my "doing", but rather life giving reminders. Like my kids learning not to interrupt me on the telephone, I need to be told the TRUTH again and again. Recieving fresh inspiration, I will practice what's right for a while, and hopefully get it into my system as a habit; if not, I'll hear or read about it again and that will jar me back to it again.
This week, God's been reminding me to "lay down my heart" (that's the way the Elizabeth F. Lewis, author of our Chinese historical fiction puts it) and without anxiety, but rather - THANKSgiving, present my requests to GOD and receive peace! Worrying about the future and the past runs rampant as my default MO, and I think many other people's as well. Thanks to my husband's inspirational message on Sunday, I'm jarred once again to "Practice the Presence" of GOD and pray without ceasing.
Two books recently engraved into my imagination's library and are becoming part of my muscle memory - (for this is what happens with all we allow to enter our minds, and make the effort to put it into practice) are Present Perfect by Gregory Boyd, and Chasing The Dragon by Jackie Pullinger. The first was inspired by 17th century monks such as Brother Andrew, but written in user-friendly style, as a "how to" on developing the habit of living every moment in the present, WITH JESUS. The latter is an autobiography by a missionary to Hong Kong's evil infested walled city. The author flew in on a one way ticket when she was 20 years old, and now, in her 60s, still ministers to Hong Kong's opium and heroine addicts, drug lords, protitutes, pimps and some of China's hardest criminals. Her book isn't the best written but does clearly reveal her secret weapon in the LORD's artillery - prayer without ceasing. How she accomplishes this "ceasless" prayer in the midst of a life so FULL of busyness as she lives, would capture the attention of any busy housewife and mother like me - or any workaholic of the west, period! She prays in tongues. All throughout her waking hours, except when she is eating or talking to people, she prays in the special language which Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians 14.
All these reminders: praying about everything instead of worrying; living in the moment instead of in the future and the past AND remebering that GOD is here too; and prayer with-out ceasing (even in tongues), swim around in my mind and encourage me eat up the info but turn it into fit, not fat.
