Thou Art Mine

Father God,  

When the reflectors come on and I see an ugliness in me that I didn't expect it is a devastating feeling. Hidden feelings. Secret agendas. Wanting my own way. My own selfish desires.  

Please forgive us when these creep in, Father. Save us from the root of these--from regarding our will over your own. Pride that we regard our will above yours.  

Father, when we think we know better than others, when we think we are more apprised of a situation, when we think we have more inside information, more knowledge, more insight we are setting ourselves above your wisdom. 

I pray for protection from the enemy, but I also pray for your to protect us from the will of our flesh--the one who tells us to do what we do not want to do and prods us to not do what we want to do. Protect us from the temporary, finite, earthly desires that please only for the moment. Protect us from the urgency of our flesh and its desire to be stroked and filled.  

Instead, Father, fill our spirits. Fill us with the eternal. Fill us with the infinite. Fill us with vision that goes far beyond anything that our flesh wants or desires.  

Father, if you must (and I know with me you do) empty us. Empty us of what we have hoarded so that we might be filled with the grace and gifts you have intended. If we are full there will be no room for what you intend. Empty us of everything and all that would cause these clay jars of ours to be full of something other than you. 

This morning let us come to you house truly to see you. To hear you. To sit with you. I pray you would help us come not so much for what is in it for us, but how can we come and bless you this morning? How can we lift and exalt your precious name? 

Father, this morning you know where my heart is at...and you know the condition of it. You know the fleshy, blood-filled parts and you know the parts that are growing hard, filled instead with some type of gall. Flush our hearts, God. Flush these clean, so that the blood of Jesus might flow unimpeded.  

Father, I fear failing. I fear failing you. I pray for these feelings of being overwhelmed. Like a river swollen far too large for its banks...and I don't even know which issue to press or address or engage first.  

Please, Father, come today. Come and remind us that your word says the river will not overflow us. The fire will not tendered upon us. Remind us that our names are: Thou Art Mine. This is what you call us because of Jesus. We are not orphan. We are not prostitute. We are not harlot. We are not abandoned wife. We are not lost. Our names declare that we are yours.  

Please help us to remember and see. Help us to live in this place. Help us to remember that the reflections we see in the mirrors do not have to be our realities. You can transform even the ugliest of us into someone of extraordinary beauty if we surrender and are washed in the blood.  

Thank you. Thank you.

Amen and amen