Wednesday is for Prayer
From the archives of December 2008 and my old blog
Why is it that silence is a better medium for the voice of God than the cacophony of sound we typically immerse ourselves in? We are addicted to noise and yet it is the addiction that most often drowns out the voice of the living God. The radio is on in the car, the TV is on in the kitchen (and the bedroom, and the living room, and the family room!), the computer is on in the den. Sound and images rush at us in nearly every waking moment.
So the Still-Small-Voice wakes us from our slumber and opens our eyes to Himself.
“I want you, not your activity. I want you, not your accomplishments. It isn’t important what you do if I am not with you. You need me. Don’t you remember? Without me you can do nothing. Won’t you sit with Me? Won’t you just sit with me and enjoy the friendship we have? Don’t you remember how much I was willing to endure so that we could have these times to just enjoy one another?
“You are so busy, busier than I want you to be. And you are lonely too. You are lonely for Me and don’t even know it. You haven’t been listening. Oh, you make a show of listening. You read my word, but not undistractedly. You mark up your Bible, but more as an exercise in discipline than a desire to cherish and apply. So tonight, I decided to steal your sleep so you and I could have a talk.
“Slow down. When you want to talk, I’m right here. I’m always listening but let’s have a two way conversation. Be quiet for awhile and let me show you what I want you to see in my word. Let’s try that for awhile.”
Okay. Let’s.
“Lord, thank you that with all my failures. With all the things I haven’t accomplished, Your love for me is not diminished since the day You purchased my soul with Your blood. Help me to live by faith and not by accomplishments. Amen.”
ChosenRebel's Blog 
Good stuff Marty! I found that living in a performance driven world, and being accepted or rejected based on my performance wired me to perform. My ability to perform well in certain areas and receive “my reward” only exacerbated the problem. Performance even works its way into living for an audience of one.
It is in those times of silence, solitude, and reflection that Father is rewiring my orientation toward him. It is there I realize that life continues on in the world and the kingdom whether I am there or not. I am not so important.
In this place of unimportance, alone with him, I truly begin to see his otherness. I am accepted and loved, not based on what I do or don’t do, or because of my helplessness, but because of who he is. Now I can worship in spirit.
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Kevin, You are right on target. Our culture does wire us to perform. I sometimes think that faith-supported missionaries (like-myself) are more prone to it than others. Every month we right letters to prayer and financial supporters to inform them of work to which God has called us and the subtle temptation is to begin to see, or feel, or think, that we somehow have to justify our existence.
In a sense, we do. We have to be accountable for the resources that God’s people use to enable our ministry but the temptation to begin to live by performance can be mamouth (Sp?).
How gracious is our God to pull us aside and show us the nonsense of our thinking and draw us to himself!
Blessings brother.
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Amen – to this Marty and Kevin.
When we come to God based upon our performance we are denigrating our need of a Savior.
The prayer you wrote is a gem and great reminder:
“Lord, thank you that with all my failures. With all the things I haven’t accomplished, Your love for me is not diminished since the day You purchased my soul with Your blood. Help me to live by faith and not by accomplishments. Amen.”
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Steve,
You are kind. Isn’t it great to know that God knows all our sniveling stupidity and still loves and uses us for His glory?
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Amen, Another well written challenge to my soul. thank you.
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My brother is a bit biased, but I appreciate it. Thanks for visiting Karl. You always inspire me to love Jesus more.
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Comments from the old blog:
Patricia – Dec. 17, 2008 –
This really convicted me. Thank you, Pastor Marty….:)
Marty Schoenleber – Dec. 17, 2008 –
Patricia, you are always a great encourager. God bless you sister.
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