Embrace Prayer! I often pray and find solace in my soul as I pray. At times I delight with words found in;
Philippians 4:6-7New Living Translation
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.“
So why EMBRACE PRAYER…Because “embrace” means more than to just agree with something or to grudgingly accept it. Embrace means to be content with it—or even love it! How do you show God that you’re focused on the new things he’s doing?
”It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.“
Hebrews 11:8 NLT
”Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.“ Romans 12:2 NLT
thedailylily.com 
As I read the title of and then the blog, Sara, I felt that God has given a real-time directional here for His will: “Embrace Prayer.”
We are instructed here in the verse you quoted from Phil 4 to “pray about everything”. As I read Romans 12:2 in the blog and further on in the chapter, I see we are told to “keep on praying” (vs 12). And found in I Thess. 5:17 to “Never stop praying”. But, I think that it’s your prophetic words, “Embrace Prayer” and understanding of the definition you provided, that will make ‘prayer’ a game changer. It makes me think differently about prayer. And you did say, ” …but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.“ So this seems to help answer your question, “How do you show God that you’re focused on the new things he’s doing?”
It seems to me that you show us here also in Philippians 4:6 that to “Embrace Prayer” will greatly help transform our thinking as, “His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.“
There sure is a lot packed in this blog to help us look into and help answer and live out your question, “How do you show God that you’re focused on the new things he’s doing?”
I love the photo of the shoes…what a great visual reminder.
The Word of God, aka Bible, has answers for us to guide our prayers through life and pivots signals to focal points along our way.
I find myself and many others are enjoying the joys of grand parenting and beyond one grand for some, which means we have a generation of younger ones around as parents. Now age differences and family dynamics may be beyond the scope of our previous thinking and emotions.
I’ve asked this question in great sincerity of God and others that might have help, “How do you [I] show God that you’re [I am] focused on the new things he’s doing?”
I have found building generations into my family structure has been on the weak side of my thinking. Why? One might ask me? Mainly, because grands before me may have not shown me or told me much more than my own feelings and how to join a clique (self help books) of like minded thinkers. I have often heard; “The parents can figure that out! I play, rock, tell a one liner and buy a toy and off I go. Etc etc. I and a few friends I know are in that bundle. Of course we pray with much emotions for our bundles of joy to be more blessed. All Good! So why do I need this scripture; “let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.“
My focus deals with myself for not wanting to change my fun. Therefore, I may minus out any further building or proclaiming God’s might (this covers a lot of territory) to all generations to come.
Yet, the gentleness of the Holy Spirit lead me into truth. A beautiful prayer prayed through many generations and given to us to EMBRACE! And, I do focus and Embrace my prayer on the words of the psalmist.
“Even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might
to all the generations to come.”
—Psalm 71:18 (NRSVUE)
Matthew 18:3,4 “And he (Jesus) said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven… “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven….”
In the above scripture vs 2 tells us that Jesus actually called for a young child to come and stand by him as he shared this story. And, then vs 5 Jesus tells them when you welcome one of these children because of me you welcome me.
Now these scriptures sure can switch the mind in action when given some deep thought. And, change just might happen.
A few months ago my granddaughter, age mid 3 came to visit me. I had not seen her for over a year since she lived across the pond so we had to get to know one another in my home setting and not just face time. She saw my curved staircase and immediately wanted to try them and see what she might discover. Her father laid some ground rules. She would hold the rail and I would walk behind her for safety. When returning I would walk in front of her. She followed the rules with great precision and full respect for her Dad. How would I determine that? For months often we followed those rules and then one day months later being a few weeks before age 4 she explained the rules had changed because she could go alone now at her home. But, since my steps were curved and her steps were straight we stilled needed a little practice. She would hold one side of the rail and I could hold the opposite rail and we walk together. Then she paused and with that little face and sparkling eyes she said, “Grandma now we can walk together. I love you!”
“And, a little child shall lead them.” My mind just seem to dance with joy and I could see in my mind the great value of Jesus calling that little child to come and stand beside Him so the hearers could understand he was teaching them and it called for a mind change. “Whoever humbles himself like this little child.” How did that child humble themselves for the people to see by walking and standing by Jesus when He called them forth? They obeyed. My granddaughter obeyed her father. She lead me to followed his instructions and I obeyed. We earned trust, build our faith and now we walk together hand in hand and in love.
Is it always easy to follow rules? No, not for me! Is it worth it to follow rules? Yes, absolutely… When our hearts are humble and we embrace prayer we begin to pray about everything. We find ourself walking hand in hand with our Redeemer and love, peace, joy and Hope shine in and through us. Jesus invites us to come and stand by Him as a standard barrier.
“Even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might
to all the generations to come.”
—Psalm 71:18 (NRSVUE)
Thank you for these really good lessons, Sara; and for revealing and explaining Matthew 18:3,4. And for more meaning to focus with Psalm 71…”Yet, the gentleness of the Holy Spirit lead me into truth. A beautiful prayer prayed through many generations and given to us to EMBRACE! “
The footnotes for Romans 12:2 from the (NLT) says: “Paul warned Christians: ‘ ‘Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world’ that are usually selfish and often corrupting. Wise Christians decide that much worldly behavior is off-limits for them. Our refusal to conform to this world‘s values, however, must go even deeper than just behavior in customs it must be firmly planted in our mind: ‘ let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.’ It is possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be proud, covetous, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant. Only when the Holy Spirit renews, reeducate, and redirects our mind are we truly transformed (see8:5).”
I love waking up in the mornings and leisurely holding my hot mug of black coffee or a tinge of milk to give it the temp just right for me. And, opening my daily news right here on the daily lily. I often find Debi has been digging for resources to remind us of things we have studied and might just be applicable for today.
Then Tammy seems to find footnotes in her Bible that reboots the thinking with hum maybe we did study that and enjoyed the study but forgot to keep our walking shoes conditioned and shined for walking. Like the quote from Tammy’s notes:
“ It is possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be proud, covetous, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant. Only when the Holy Spirit renews, reeducates, and redirects our mind are we truly transformed.” This thought gave way to Ps 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.”
As I walked through this lesson with high hopes for myself, family, friends and church family at large with PRAYER focus looking to make sure my feet were on solid ground I spotted;
A short story from Vickie of Columbia NC, a Methodist ministry of Plymouth NC…She was out walking countryside on a cold January day…
“You know, those fuzzy dandelions you pick and make a wish for whatever your heart desires, and then blow as hard as you can and scatter the seeds everywhere?
The idea is, they say, that if you blow all the seeds away until the stem is empty, your wish will come true.
I didn’t.
It seemed to me to be almost a miracle to find a dandelion in January.
And you don’t squander miracles like these.
But I did whisper prayers for people I know who are struggling tonight.
I did pray for people I hold in my heart.
That’s (prayer) so much more powerful than a wish.
And I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, this is God’s will for us all.
God said so.
…agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you….The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” (2 Corinthians 13.11b, 13).”
Tammy’s notes spoke to me thru Vickie’s story…The Holy Spirit truly does …redirect our mind and we are truly transformed. A dandelion will never be the same for me as it was when I was a child but better! Prayers are power!
I appreciate reading the footnotes that Tammy shared as well as the short story by Vickie…really helps keep the focus on prayer. And goes right along with what Sara wrote, “Embrace Prayer! I often pray and find solace in my soul as I pray. At times I delight with words found in; Philippians 4:6-7New Living Translation”
Prayer is the one thing we should Embrace and focus on. I often find it’s not a real popular subject until we have a need and realize we need prayer. Not easy to find others to join in or encourage one in. Don’t you just love this, Rejoice and Pray?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…” “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17).