Blocked...

If you look back to see when I last wrote a post, you will see that has been three weeks! I have felt, and am still feeling, totally blocked.

I feel blocked creatively, inspirationally and in my communications with God. The cause of all this is unknown to me. Maybe it is because the general situation in the world is unstable and unpredictable (end times??). Maybe it is because I am in need of a break from Lagos - we expats are a spoilt breed here in Nigeria; most of us have chance to go away at least three times a year. However, since my better half has been pretty much self-employed, we do not have the luxury of "free" air flights, so I have not been out of here since January. Sad, I know, as most people in the world do not even get one holiday a year! Anyway, back to possible causes of my block - maybe another reason is that I am hoping that we will retire next year and move to our yet-to-be built home in South Africa. So many of our good friends have already left and I am really finding it difficult to feel settled here. I am longing for the future and not living in the moment.

Note to Rachel: Live in the moment!

This morning when I looked at my blog I saw that today's verse is Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)
For Jesus doesn't change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always totally himself. (The Message)


How comforting it was to read that. The world may change, my world may change, but God does not change. No matter what I am feeling, God does not change. He may feel far from me; I may feel far from Him, but He does not change. I have to believe that and trust Him, no matter what my feelings or circumstances are. Jesus, God, is ALWAYS the same.

Devote...

Recently I have been reading through Colossians and have reached Chapter 4. For several days I have not been able to get past v2 which says:-

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."


The key words for me are - devote, prayer, watchful, thankful.


Why can't I get past this verse? Hmm...obviously God is saying something to me!

Am I devoting myself to prayer - methinks not! Ok, God is telling me to do so.

A definition of devote from the Oxford Dictionary is:
To give one's time, energy etc to somebody or something.

The definition tells me that prayer requires time and it requires energy. Why is it easier to devote my time and energy to watching tv, taking photographs (that often takes a lot of energy!), doing puzzles etc etc, whilst prayer, Bible Study and spending time with God gets put on the sidelines?

That is a hard question to answer. The answer would reveal my selfishness, my short-sightedness and my weakness. Surely I am not those things?? The stark reality - yes I am. Of course, I also know that there is an enemy who makes sure that there are things to distract me from devoting myself to prayer.

I cannot work and strive to suddenly become a devoted prayer warrior, but I can begin by asking the Lord to place a desire in my heart to do so. As with any discipline in life, I can also start with small steps, even if it is only devoting 5 minutes a day to prayer.

Now I am going to write out this verse on a card and keep it next to my chair where I sit and watch TV!

God Likes To Talk To Us...

Today I am posting a link to an excellent message by James Robison from Life Today. I found it very encouraging, especially as I am feeling a tad far from God at the moment. It is good to be reminded that He does like to talk to us!

Life Today has very graciously allowed me to post the link to this message, so please go to the Life Today site and read James' message for yourselves.