Prayer First Aid.

So Monday night (January 25th), during my quiet time with God, I didn't know what to pray for. I was stuck at a standstill the words weren't there.

I told God, "Father, I honestly don't know what to pray for. I feel like my heart isn't in the right place right now and I want you to soften it and make it Yours. Let my heart, my ears, my eyes, and my mind be open to receiving Your Word and Your Spirit. Fill me."

I ended my prayer like that.

Then last night (Tuesday, January 26th) for my daily devotional, the title was "Prayer First Aid."



I was like WHAT!? WHOAAH!? That's legit.

The first couple words of the devotional were: If you've ever struggled to know what to pray for or how to pray, this list, based on Psalm 25:16-21 will help you focus on some of the most important aspects of prayer.



It outlined 6 points: Honesty, Petition, Confession, Circumstances, Faith, and Dedication. each of them referring to Psalm 25:16-21.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.
[Psalm 25:16-21]

Awesome stuff.

Over and Underneath.

So I changed the name of my blog. It was In Between Dreams - named after my favorite Jack Johnson CD, but I changed it last night because of my new favorite CD. Over and Underneath by Tenth Avenue North.

All of the songs on this CD speak to me on a personal level. Everytime I listen to it, I'm reminded of God's promises and I am at peace.

A big thanks to Tenth Avenue North and their songwriting, but most of all God for His unconditional, unfailing love for you and I.

Peace,
Ant

Sweet Tweets. (1.24.10)

My favorite tweets of 2010 (so far):

"Faith Quote of the Day: 'God does not ask about our ability, but our availability.' - Jeremy Manongdo aka Passion"

"Don't let fear dictate your decisions. It's a recipe 4 regret." - Mark Batterson

"Pray often! (A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing)" - RevRunWisdom

"It's good to carry a Bible in your purse,briefcase or even your iPhone. But the best place to carry Gods word is in your heart!" - Greg Laurie

"You are who you are when nobody's watching" - RevRunWisdom

"Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits." - WGTS 91.9

"Any Dude can love 1000 girls,, but it takes a gentleman to love 1 woman 1000 ways" - RevRunWisdom

"'Humility is simply another way of saying, 'I defer to God's will.' - Sam Storms" - Sarah Myles

"'Hearing God's voice is less dependent on your abilities than on your affections. God is more concerned with your commitment' - Sam Storms" - Sarah Myles

"God's timing is never late. It's perfect." - Kaylee Groves

Follow them:
http://twitter.com/jeremymanongdo
http://twitter.com/MarkBatterson
http://twitter.com/RevRunWisdom
http://twitter.com/greglaurie
http://twitter.com/WGTS919Mornings
http://twitter.com/sarahmyles
http://twitter.com/kayleegroves

Good Monsters.

I haven't blogged in a while. Why?
Here's a list of possible reasons why you don't see a post as often as you should:

• laziness (that's at the top for a reason)
• I have nothing exciting to write about (I always write stuff, but 97% of it doesn't get blogged)
• I'm studying (HAHA that one's good! Actually I'm trying to study a lot more than I have been)
• I'm reading (yes, I read...halfway through books and then pick up another one)
• I'm playing the guitar (with songs with the same exact chord progressions)
  
• I write songs (with words that only stay on paper. They only leave my mouth on special occasion, or it's really good...I highly doubt that)
• I'm cleaning my room (literally everyday...I find a way to make a mess)
• My trash bin ate my blog post (my dog ate my homework several times in high school...I never had a dog)
• I'm sleeping (on average, I get 6 hours of sleep a day)
• God has me doing something exciting (oh yeah!)
• I'm talking to God (always!)
  
• I'm DC chillin' (what?)
• My computer got a virus (oh wait, MacBooks don't get viruses)
  

Oh there are many more reasons, but these are the only ones that are legitimately true :/. I will put a post up soon. Hopefully within this week. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe when I wake up? Nah...I'm probably going to be late for class again.

Good Monsters by Jars of Clay is an awesome CD. I highly suggest snagging it on iTunes.

Quote of the Day: "Never look back unless you are planning to go that way" - Henry David Thoreau

Good night and God bless blogosphere,
Ant

Faithful - Fee.

I first heard this song during worship at one of the Frontline services over the summer. I forgot about it and when I had downloaded Fee's CD last night, I didn't know that this song was on it (I didn't even know Fee sang the song). I didn't hear it until earlier today, and it was good timing because I was feeling a little crappy. A huge smile came on my face. As I was walking to school I was mouthing along with the lyrics and I even outstretched my arms in praise. God is faithful. He is with me everywhere I go. His promises will never be broken. He is awesome. I feel better having the reassurance of God's promises. Today I've have never been so excited to do something that I was afraid and shy of doing: sharing. I will continue on that tomorrow. :)


----

You were before time
and You'll be when it ends
for you have no beginning
and no end
Your word shall endure
without change it is sure
on Your promises
we will stand secure

Faithful
You are ever faithful
You are ever faithful
to us, God
Powerful
You are crowned all-powerful
all the world will bow before
You, Oh God

Your might, your display
in the skies everyday
everything You created
for Your praise
from the cross on the earth
to Your throne you returned
where You reign over all creation
never changed, never shaken

You're the song of our soul salvation
life that cannot be taken
solid rock, firm foundation
never changed, never shaken

Journal (1.5.09) - Change.

Here I am sitting at the airport waiting for my flight. I see planes coming and going. I hear flights changing gate numbers.

Times change. Seasons change. Looks change. Clothes (should) change. Wants and desires change. Attitudes change. Many others things change, but that would take more time listing and it would be redundant.

It's only been 5 days into 2010 and I feel like a lot has changed. Things between a former flame and I are done. I'll leave it at that. But God steps in for a reason. He shakes up things in your life to see if your faith is strong and to see if you keep focus on Him in the tough times. Yeah, it sucks, but ultimately God knows best. It's time to really let go now.

I've started reading My Utmost For His Highest and it's funny how ever since I started reading it, it mentions waiting. It's something I must do. God is now in control and I think it's time for Him to be the author of the rest of my life. I'm going to stop wrestling over the pen and hand it over to Him.

Usually, something like this would have me bawling my eyes out and put me in a depressed and catatonic (at times) state. Not this time. I've changed. God has given me strength to get through things emotionally and He has assured me multiple times that He alone is in control and for me to let go and trust Him. I like this feeling. It's gonna take a lot to get me out of this state because I have God on my side. It's virtually impossible actually. I'm good. I just have to let Him keep changing me. Change is very good. I'm content.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. [Philippians 4:11]

Waiting. (January 4)

So I found the book My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. It belonged to my sister and she let me borrow it.

I've been reading it every day since the January 1 and every time, it has something convicting to say.

Here's the devotional from (today) January 4:

"Why Can't I Follow You Now?"

Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now?" [John 13:37]

There are times when you can't understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings a time of waiting, and appears to be unresponsive, don't fill it with busyness, just wait. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification - to be set apart from sin and made holy - or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt - wait.

At first you may see clearly what God's will is - the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel distinctly is God's will for you to do. But never act of the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God's timing and He will do it without any heartache to disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.

Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come, and it came where he did not expect it. "I will lay down my life for Your sake." Peter's statement was honest but ignorant. "Jesus answered him, '…the rooster shall not crow till you have denied me three times'" (13:38). This was as with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because He did not know himself or his own capabilities well enough. Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him.

- Taken from My Utmost For His Highest (January 4 entry) Written By Oswald Chambers, edited by James Reimann
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I will be posting excerpts from My Utmost For His Highest sporadically and when they are very convicting to myself.

Waiting has been a call from God to myself and it's very fitting that this entry was for today. It's so hard to do, but it's worth it when it's said and done.