The Throne Room

Holy God. Thank you for the gift of life.

Some days, I confess, I don’t think it is a gift.
But then I remember, there are people who walked among us who do not have that gift.

Thank you for letting my lungs breath in and out.
Thank you for oxygen that feeds my cells.
Thank you for the miracle of being able to wake up one more day.

Thank you for…
the ability to walk…
and for a somewhat sound mind…

Thank you for…
the ability to talk…
and for the capacity to communicate with those around me.

Thank you for…
the ability to hear the voices of those that I love…
and allowing me to see the beauty you’ve created.

Forty-three years ago, you shoved me into this magnificent madness.
I feel every bit of those 43 years at times.

Yet…

I am grateful for unanswered and answered prayers…
for the beautiful moments and for the painful ones…

I am grateful for the frustrations and challenges…
for the victories and the peaceful times.

I am grateful for times of anxiety…
and for the times of peace.

I am grateful for the beauty you created in this world…
and for the splendor that is to come in the next.

I am grateful for times of loneliness…
and for closeness with family and friends.

I am grateful for the crying…
and for the laughter.

I am grateful for the mundane days…
and for those that keep me on my toes.

I am grateful for friends who betrayed me…
and for those who are still at my side.

I am grateful for heartbreaks and disappointments…
and for times of love and longings fulfilled.

I am grateful for your grace and mercy…
for your salvation and your discipline.

All of my days…the good and the bad…where crafted by you before the world began.

All

days

You knew me.
You know me.

You know the number of my days
and the hairs on my head.

You knew who I would be
You know who I will become.

You knew the sin I would struggle with.
You know the sin that is to come.

And yet you chose me.

Forgive me when the flesh cries out in me.
Help me to remember: It is the death of the flesh which gives me life in You.

Help me to remember: I am BLESSED when people insult me or falsely say evil things about me because of You…I am BLESSED…because great is my reward in Heaven and great is the company I keep.

Help me to remember: To submit to Your hand in my life, whether it is discipline and correction; injustice or weakness; whether it seems fair or not; whether it feels good or bad.

Help me to remember: The people who have gone before me – whose faith may have faltered momentarily – becaue you worked their circumstances out for Your Glory and their good and the good of the people around them.

Help me to remember: When my faith is weak – at that very moment – your grace is sufficient because your power is made perfect in my weakness.

Help me to remember: The vows I take with people, are vows I’ve taken with You.

Help me to remember: In order for you to fight for me, I need to be still.

Forgive me when I have held injustices against the people around me.
Help me to remember: You forget mine.

Forgive me when I’ve found my ways as righteous.
Help me to remember: I am a sinner saved by grace.

Forgive me for the mean things I’ve said.
Help me to remember: I have the power to build up and the power to tear down.

Help me to remember: My battle is not with people but with rulers and authorities and principalities of this dark world.

Forgive me when the good I’ve done has been self-serving.
Help me to remember: In serving others, I am an ambassador for You and You alone.

Forgive me when I have felt sorry for myself.
Help me to remember: Your Son went through much more than I ever will.

Help me to stay the course.

To be still.

To be faithful.

To love because You first loved me.

On the Occasion of my 43rd

Help Me To Remember