Atmosphere

My church kicked off the year with a season of prayer and fasting. I skipped the fast part, because I’m an awful person without food, but I really leaned into the prayer portion. Since then my pastor’s sermons series “Atmosphere” has been about prayer, pray like you breathe, writing for your soul, and spiritual warfare. So far it’s been very influential.

I realize how much of my life is lived in this cloud of anxiety and fear.  I get ahead of myself, plan too far out, panic about things that most people never even think about and rarely seek the Lord first. What would life be like if I did? The perspective, focus, and boldness that can transpire from the atmosphere created by closeness with God. Damn, how great does that sound! I long for that.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.