April / May 2018 - Vol. 97

young woman in prayer
 .
Coming to the Lord As We Are in Daily Prayer

A reflection for women by Lynne May


Coming to the Lord daily, alone, with just our heart and conversing with him is one foundational aspect of what it means to be a “radical” disciple, a disciple who is “rooted” in Jesus Christ alone. Coming to the Lord, as we truly are, being authentic before him in daily personal prayer cannot be undervalued. It is critical that we come to him daily in prayer, in a solitary manner, fully as we are—to worship, adore, thank, confess, and ask his help for our needs and those of others. Coming to him daily helps to free us from distraction, worry, and lingering preoccupation with ourselves.

It makes us more and more into his image, the image he calls us to bear to others around us. He saves us from our fears. He leads us back should we get distracted. He transforms and renews our minds. He gives us strength to do the things he asks of us daily. He encourages and surrounds us with comfort, truth, and love. He delights when we come to him as we are, worshiping him! As I come to him as I am, he promises that he will totally transform me—because of who he is!

He desires for each of us to find it easy and delightful to live out of our identity as his beloved daughters and for our speech, thoughts, and actions to flow out of a deep sense of this identity. Daily coming to the Source of Life, worshipping him, thanking him, and talking to him allows him to transform and remove anything dissonant that remains either consciously or subconsciously in our minds and hearts. Coming to the Lord in personal prayer keeps us safe, in the light and shadow of God’s safe and loving wings. Here, in the protection of his wings, we have the chance to be authentic and receive the deep affirmation, comfort, strength we need, the real and lasting love and affirmation we seek and thirst for as women. Here, alone with him, we can drink deeply from the Source of Everlasting Life and Love.


This article by Lynne May first appeared in The Lovely Commission, a  publishing venture and brand of Kairos North America. It is is run by Molly Kilpatrick and Mary Rose Jordan and a team of contributors from various Christian communities in North America and beyond. Together they are working to build a culture of radical love, femininity, modesty of heart, mind, and body amongst young women.

Their aim is to inspire and equip young women to embrace and promote a culture of Godly femininity in which we live out our rich identity as daughters of God and disciples of Jesus Christ.

Photo credit of young woman praying by Lightstock.com

.
Return to Table of Contents or Archives  • (c) copyright 2018 The Sword of the Spirit
.