Dear Lord. Thank you for your goodness and kindness to me. Thank you for rescuing me from sin and its consequences. Thank you for doing so out of love and showing me that as you loved me first, so I can love you in return. My life was going in the wrong direction, I was faltering and failing, but in your mercy you delivered me and I’m thankful. When I had no hope or purpose in the world, you gave this to me in abundance and I am grateful.
It’s on the basis of these truths about you and what you do that I look to stay connected to you. I am only fruitful because of the connection that I have to you. You are the source of life, energy, strength, character and the wherewithal to endure. You are the source of these things and so I commit to stay connected to you.
I acknowledge how difficult that can be when my mind and my eyes stray from you and even the good that you’ve blessed me with can become a crutch when I place more attention to the gift than the giver. When other issues, other goods, other causes take up too much attention and crowd out the priority of connecting to you, honouring you, worshipping you, desiring you above everything and everyone else. I acknowledge the tendency and thank you for the help you give me to put everything in its proper perspective.
You are the Lord and the King and at the same time, you are my brother and friend. I thank you for being all this for me. And I long to stay connected. Stay connected because your faithfulness has been so evident in my life. Stay connected because truly you have done so much for me and I am glad. Stay connected, however, because there is the rest to come. Stay connected because of the rest I find in you now and the rest that follows as you lead me along those paths of righteousness.
You have shown time and again that when people stay connected to you, that you do great and wonderful things through them. Give them the strength to remain faithful and fruitful in living for you. Give them the wisdom to navigate the distractions and opportunities that come their way. Give them the focus to remain on track despite everything that comes their way. This is what you do to those who stay connected. So I commit to staying connected to see the rest.
I can stay focused on you as my one and only King – as I stay connected.
I can truly love my neighbour, whoever they may be – as I stay connected.
I can produce fruit that will last for your glory – as I stay connected.
I can make disciples teaching them to observe all that you command – as I stay connected.
I can serve faithfully with the family of God that you have blessed me with as we do Kingdom business in unity – as I stay connected.
It is your good pleasure for those who serve you to be blessed with your presence. It is your delight to be with those who are sold out to seek your Kingdom first. All this happens in the context of every growing, ever meaningful intimate relationship. The expression of what it is to stay connected. This is the commitment I pledge to you, that I do not pledge out of any sense that I can do it in my own strength. It’s something I put to you depending on you to get me through as I stay connected.
Thank you for hearing and answering this prayer. Not just for me, but all those whose desire is to see you. To be with you. For your honour, for your praise, for yours is the Kingdom, the power and glory now and forever.
(Photo by Oscar Ivan Esquivel Arteaga on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 