I wrote a book. Okay, it's my third, but I don't feel like I have written any of them. The were borne out of necessity. The first was written to aid my daughters in understanding our newfound faith back in 2004.
The second was written for my sons as they learn to walk uphill on their spiritual journey.
This third, however, was written because I am in such need as a mama.
I have gone through periods of my life where prayer was easy. In fact I almost felt I had "arrived" at some higher spiritual level. How arrogant is that?! Don't worry, I've also had those days and weeks where I heard that "still small voice" calling me to pray, calling me to commune with my Lord and I have either gone to meet with him very grudgingly or I have flat out refused, feeling very annoyed at the thought of submitting myself to His will. And so the pendulum swings back and forth.
If we, as Christians, are to die to self and take up our crosses on a daily basis, what makes us think there are any aspects of the spiritual life we will master and no longer have to tend to? Our faith is not like a bicycle. We don't learn a rule or submit once, take a break and return to the same part of the path. No, it is more like those moving sidewalks at the airport but instead of walking in the direction it is going our faith leads us the other way. If we stop walking we find we have not only stopped moving but have actually lost ground.
What I am finding as I read through this book, and as I endeavor to follow Christ, is that each day I am learning. Each day I am learning to pray, learning to submit my will to His, learning to pick up my cross and follow Him. While practice may make it easier, each new day brings with it its own trials and victories.
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
As we learn to pray and follow the Lord each day, He offers us His mercy for each moment, for each step we take heavenward. Let us keep learning to pray each day. Let us continue striving, walking and accepting His grace.
