Lips to Give…
A friend said she makes her list then asks God what His agenda is – instead of bless her list, she asks what on this list is Your agenda, so it can be blessed.
Mouth hanging open. Simple. (I think I’m slow.) Yes, of course, in our own way we do this – but really, how about making it that transparent? Not what we feel must be done, not how we think we should pray for someone. What, Father, do You want done – how do you want me to pray for them?
“The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19:7 NLT)
His instructions revive us. His decrees make us wise. When we’re counting up the tasks, maybe we should count on Him. Funny to think this is how long God’s list for us is: “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never counts against him.” (Romans 4:8 NIV) In Jesus all sin is removed, nothing left to count, to put on the list.
In that case, since we are given such amazing grace, maybe we need to spread it around. Yep, I want to yell at the guy doing work on the house when he botches it. Grace says: we all make mistakes – don’t yell, ask if he can fix the part that didn’t come out right. “The lips of the righteous nourish many.” (Proverbs 10:21a NIV)
Nourish versus starve. Quick retorts, anger unchecked – those lips starve.
When agenda overshadows compassion, grace is lost. Yes, Father, here are our lists. You know we have much to do in this hurried world. Don’t let us miss the beauty, the hurting, the others frazzled just like us. Let us rest in the truth that if we follow Your list, then everything that we worry didn’t get done, won’t really matter. And as Ann Graham Lotz said in a prayer once: “Open our lips to give Jesus.”
Let our lips and our agendas reflect the God who is beyond time and the God who holds us secure.
parisrenae 
Love your friend’s method of giving God control over her agenda. Such a beautiful act of surrender and submission. I especially loved this takeaway from your article —> When agenda overshadows compassion, grace is lost.
AMEN! Such great truth here.
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Sarah, with you on that, don’t think I will ever look at my list the same way 🙂 Grace has been my go to word a couple of years now, I’m a work in progress. Blessings as you choose to have Lips that Give…
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Beautiful words. Thank you for sharing today over at #HeartEncouragement! Blessings
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Stacey, thank you for stopping by and sharing encouragement – lips that give Jesus 🙂 Blessings as you nourish many…
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How easy it is to go about our own agendas instead of offering our days to Him to order! I started a habit years ago of asking God to order my day before I ever got out of bed. Sometimes I’m faithful to hear Him, and other times I get too busy and get on my own path. Thankful for grace. 🙂
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Thankful for grace too – and that it is lavished on us. Blessings sweet friend as your lips give Jesus…
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Paris, I’ve never been here at your blog. Beautiful words. Visiting from SusanBMead’s.
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Thank you for visiting – the linkups are great resources aren’t they? Blessings as you nourish and share grace… 🙂
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