Wow Lord, the end of November – and the end of six months of prayer journaling!! Looking back over this month I see I have only missed one day in the whole month! I’m learning lots, growing…and I don’t know whether it’s me or not (in fact it’s probably not me at all but you!) but I really do feel as though I am handling things in a calmer way than I used to before I started this prayer journal. Thank you for the way you have blessed me over this past six months.
It would be interesting to know how many of us that started off prayer journaling on Daniel’s recommendation that are still going. I wonder if I’m the only one or not? Speaking of which, Daniel was very good again yesterday. He talked about several things out of John 6. First and foremost was the ongoing lesson that the way in which you lived your life was through dependence on and obedience to the Father. Even the food to feed the five thousand only came after you had prayed and given thanks. Your words constantly refer not to your own power, influence and motivation but to that of the Father.
Re-reading the passage this morning I think the thing that struck me most was that even from this early point you always had your eye on the end game – and were dedicated to seeing it through unwaveringly. Your relationship with Judas Iscariot is also shown in this chapter – and seems to me so full of grace. To treat someone whose heart was not entirely with you – and who would ultimately betray you – with such inclusiveness is to me entirely amazing.
It’s that brother of mine’s birthday today. It’s pretty hard to know how to pray for him but, though he scarcely deserves it, I pray you would bless James today, Lord. May I offer to him even a fraction of the grace you extend to all sinners. Birthday dinner tonight, so I had better get a move on. I pray we would have an uneventful family time tonight – and that I would manage the extra dynamic of having Linley here as well. Bless her as she gets out there job-hunting today.
I pray all in the mighty name of Jesus…Amen