Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

Recording Your legacy

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She cried out desperately in her pain. Calling to the Lord, she laid bare her struggles and fears. She acknowledged His faithfulness and sovereignty in her life, even through theses trials. She was clinging to the Lord God as to a lifeline.

She was me, nine years ago. 

Reading back through my prayer journal, I was struck at my utter desperation and dependance on the Lord. I addition, I saw all that He had done in my life. Little things. Things I had forgotten and would never remember again, save for the words written on the page. 

I saw the Lord’s faithfulness in my life; His promises fulfilled:

-I will never leave you or forsake you

-You are precious in my sight and I love you

-My grace is sufficient for you.

These memorial stones help me remember the ordinary and extraordinary. My words recorded on the page allow me to look back and see Jesus – in the good times and in the bad. He is there. Jehovah Shama⁠1.

Average days, boring most times. Yet, they are preserved as a legacy and testament to what God has done for me. I can share these stories with others. But only if I record them. Putting pen to paper makes them memorable, not forgettable. It makes them concrete, not a vapor.

Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord. Psalm 102:18 NLT

A friend recently told me “No, I don’t want to talk about that right now. I don’t want to think about that.” But sometimes we must. Journaling records our memories and helps sort through our emotions. Journaling can bring clarity.

The act of hand writing my prayers and journal entries is one way I process events unfolding in my life. Slowing down to write out my thoughts helps me to think more deeply about them. Recording them in a purposeful way opens my eyes to see how I may be reacting, or over reacting! On one occasion,  journaling helped me see the “other side” of a story, and filled me with compassion, replacing the anger that I had felt.

Open up my understanding to the ways of your wisdom and I will meditate deeply on your splendor and your wonders. Psalm 119:27 TPT

A prayer journal can help keep us focused on God’s Word. If a scripture causes us to pause, we can explore why. Writing out our questions helps us slow down and hear what He may be saying.  

“When I record in a journal my meditations on a passage of scripture, I can follow more closely the still, small voice of God as He Speaks through the text.”⁠2 

Am I a prolific journaler? No, indeed. It’s really hit or miss with me. That’s why I record many daily events in my prayer journal. I jot down a phrase or two about what has happened, just as a reminder to me what was going on in my world during that season. Often, I jot a “tweet length” description in my planner, and go back every week or so and expand and expound on those notes in my journal.  

Making memories, one tweet at a time!

What is your preferred method of journaling? Or recording what the Lord has done in your life? Leave a message, I’d love to hear!

Grace be with you,

 

 

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1 Ezekiel 48:35

2 Whitney, Donald S., Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, NavPress 1991, page 209

Why On Earth Should I Pray?

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The scene played over and over in my mind. Like summer re-runs on tv, it kept looping through my thoughts. I re-lived every word. Could I have said or done anything differently? I had no peace about the situation. I tried to act like an adult by not moaning and groaning about it to everyone (not much, anyway). But my soul was greatly disturbed.

I was fighting mad, shadowboxing to try and resolve the situation that gnawed at me like termites on wood. Peace would not come.

During this time of angst, I was out of my normal morning routine of reading God’s Word and praying. Yes, I was reading my Bible each day, but unfortunately, I did not set aside time for a conversation with God. I wasn’t praying like I should have been.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB

God was faithful to place this scripture in my path that week. Like a big old boulder, He plunked it down right in front of me. There was no going around it. The thoughts in my mind were anything but quiet and peaceful. Paul tells us that we pray so that we can lead a tranquil life. I had neglected the one thing that could restore calm.

Could  Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane bring Him peace? He was brutally crucified. That doesn’t seem like a quiet and tranquil life to me. 

The original Greek word for quiet is hēsúchio, meaning undisturbed from without. Tranquil is from the Greek word ḗremos, meaning not easily upset or excited. Jesus could go to the cross because He was in constant contact with His Father through prayer.  His external circumstances did not disturb Him.

The battles and concerns I replayed over and over in my mind were things I should have taken to the Lord in prayer. There was nothing I could do in the circumstances. It was out of my hands; I needed to lay it at His feet. So I did.

It was out of my hands; I needed to lay it at His feet.
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Turning my concerns over to Jesus didn’t change my circumstances. Everything was the same; what was bothering me was still there. The difference was that praying about it gave me the peace of God. Through the power of prayer, I refused to let the situation excite me or disturb me. I had great peace. 

I like to think of it as prayer protection. Everything on the outside is still happening.  But now I am wrapped and protected in the arms of Jesus, sharing my concerns with Him. External circumstances do not disturb me. When I invite Jesus into my life and my situation He walks with me. I’d rather have Him by my side, experiencing His peace, than walk all alone.

Don’t let life’s circumstances rattle you. Give your concerns to the Lord in prayer. Lead the tranquil and quiet life He desires for you.

Father, I thank you that we can take all our burdens to You in prayer, so that we can lead a quiet and tranquil life. Thank You for the peace that prayer brings. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Grace be with you,