“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7
A good friend pointed me in the direction of an "All Things Considered" segment on NPR this morning with Tavis Smiley.
It was a good and powerful reminder that we may be too zoned in on success. I am told I have the weakness of personalizing failure, such that I create a negative attitude about myself that is not in keeping with the made-in-the-image-of-God beloved one of our Lord's flock and fold. I've been pondering these words and scripture passage this morning and recalling the somewhat stale cliche` - "God doesn't expect you to be successful, but only faithful." The implication of this is that you can (and likely may) fail in the midst of being faithful.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
--Psalm 46:4-5
The weather forecast is for Seattle to get one day of sunny weather this week and this is it! It makes one grateful for what one has. Each morning I step out of my car in my office parking lot and this is what I see (minus the sun most mornings.) The bald and golden eagle are cruising up and down the river, and a river otter or deer is often walking up the river on the other side. The Spring salmon run should be starting any day.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. -- Romans 12:12
This is a pretty simple verse with good life advice. In what do you hope? Where are your affliction points? Prayer is the umbrella to pop up and put over it all.
