#visual prayer

Visual Prayer for the Happiness, Health, Safety and Universal Acceptance of LGBTQ people

So you look up, and wind from angels’ wings moves the hair from your forehead, and you hear a thundering, rolling, powerful cry, borne of experience and battle: 

“WORTHY! Worthy is the Lamb who was slain! JESUS is worthy! 

He is worthy to receive power [and many angels raise their swords] 

and wealth [and many angels look to the souls of the earth] 

and wisdom [and many angels cover their faces as they remember the cross]

and strength [and many angels glance toward His defeated foes]

and honor [and ALL the angels lift their eyes and wings toward Him]

and glory [and all the angels bow, sweeping their wings low and whispery]

and praise [and all the angels erupt in holy flight]!

Comparison and the Christ-follower

Yes, believe, me, I know. Jesus has been pointing out how often I have been comparing lately - and it’s an ugly picture. His correction came as I was studying John 21:22. Peter and Jesus were having a conversation about the fate of John, who was probably just out of ear-shot. Peter wonders, “Well, what’s going to happen to him?” (Suz translation.) Jesus pointedly said that it was not Peter’s concern what was going to happen with John; Peter needed to focus on following Jesus.

And the light went on: all of the good and beautiful things that God is doing around me are for His glory, under His care, and right. God was saying to me, YES, I’ve ordained this devoted woman to be hysterically dry-humored and capture the attention of the United States; YES, I’ve allowed that woman to create significant Bible studies that are sweeping the nation; YES, you are small and unknown and devoted and doing what I’ve asked. *Don’t take the bait of envy.* Look at ME, not at them; look upward, not outward.

Unfathomable God

Every step you take is an invitation to go deeper into God.

Every prayer, every plea; each time you stop and wonder about the growth and stars and color and insects and anatomy; every time a new pair of eyes opens to learn light and dark hues; every difference, every nuance as people of different cultures worship ... deeper.

Every wall, every block, every NO ... deeper. Every emotion ... deeper. Every travesty, every injustice; every harm, every breaking drives us to the T-junction: shall I continue pursuing You, going deeper with You, or shall I turn away from You?

Each YES, each question, each exclamation ... deeper into Him we can step, little by little, hearts open and fears lessening. Every opportunity to explore, every hope ... deeper.

What does freedom on the inside look like?

Less worry, less fear, less anxiety; giving up control and trusting that GOD HAS THIS DAY. GOD HAS ME, sees me, knows me, and loves me. I can relax and trust His love to order this day as He thinks best. I can pray about anything that is making me churn, LET GO, and grab His peace instead. I can quit worrying about performing and perfection and trust that I am loved in my imperfection - even treasured! - by God. I can rest at a deep level, sure and settled, because God is stronger than any sledgehammer, bigger than any boss, larger than any lie, and sovereign over every circumstance.

When I was near her, I asked, “Father, what do I do with this woman?” I was vacillating between thinking she was part of a ring, pimped out for money, or really in need. 

The verse quoted above came to mind like a ray of sunshine burning away fog. If she misused the money, that was on her; what mattered now, between me and God, was what I could and would do, and what my attitude toward her was. 

So I touched her shoulder, spoke gently, calling her “Mama,” a universally understood word. An approachable word, a word without animosity. She turned my way slowly. I whispered a blessing, put in a coin, and left to join my group.