"THINK LONG" ~ Session 4: days 22-28

... so that is where we are on Monday, starting Session Four, in "Draw the Circle" (at least that's where I am, and think we are, if I'm on track with the Online Study emails) ... "Think(ing) Long" which is exactly what I'm doing as I'm praying, I'm also prone to more long thoughts ... (or is that different?) because actually I'm probably thinking too long (and not enough praying, if that makes sense). As Mark Batterson writes in the intro to this:

"We can't dream big without thinking long. We often want God to do things at the speed of light, but in God's Kingdom, things happen at the speed of a seed planted in the ground that has to take root before it can bear fruit." ...Mark Batterson, Draw the Circle

[Personally, I think I'm way past "dreaming big" anymore, yet it does not stop me from thinking long and hard, especially about those hard hearted souls. (sigh) However, I love the image of speed with the seed being planted ... then of course, nourished and watered to grow but that part about taking root ... well, let's just say I don't see that root happening (read Parable of the Sower, which explains about seeds and this root effect - has been a long time favorite of mine from Jesus' parables) and so as far as bearing fruit ... that will take a big miracle (as I've watched this in my own life and how long this takes to cultivate to bear fruit and I am a willing, thirsting soul that wants Jesus' Living Water) ... so I'm thinking really long ... and some souls don't have that long to get sprouting even nor do they even think that they need to believe in Jesus (double heavy sigh) and round and round it goes. The seed(s) get more hardened and seemingly impenetrable, so then I think even harder and longer and deeper as I  truly wonder as I release it to God and His perfect timing (or do I?) That's what all of this is about: trusting God to be God and be good, even with the hardened one(s) that I find impossible just to live with so my prayers turn back to me and my heart, my need to change, my changes that need to take root and what I need to concentrate on, in my own life, because this is all I really am accountable for when I stand before Him - and boy, do I have a lot of growth to do, although I'm thinking my roots go down pretty deep by now, almost like a sequoia, just not as firm and strong ... so back to working on me, His seed in me and what iBelieve.]
I digressed but continue with what Mark Batterson writes:

..."This is about trusting His timing - and with the Lord, "A day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" (2 Peter 3:8) ...

[my interruption again]

that's exactly right

because these more than 40 years

seem like a century to me

of praying for at least one of the lost souls

who just seems more set and comfortable with his own

beliefs

as

my heart grows weary with deep concern

multiplied by others that don't want

to accept or believe in Jesus

and my heart grieves as

the spirit groans

my flesh

cries out for an urgent fix

as I grieve yet another loss

which I can't grasp

as I wonder

how long?

how Our Heavenly Father

must ache as He watches and waits

for each of us to repent, to come

to seek, to be saved

from our selves

but

an eternity? 

God

that's forever

(much more than a thousand or 40 days or years)

"... We need more patience and more persistence ... and that's a by product of time and experience." Mark Batterson, Draw the Circle

I just can't "Draw a Circle" larger enough to encompass all that
my, how the enemy is working hard and overtime so we must PRAY even harder and longer (that takes no thinking, just much faith and trust) as long as it takes ("alat" instead of "asap")
which brings me back to THINKing LONG
because I've been thinking long about this too
as you probably know from the way I wrote last week, perhaps you already sense what I'm going to say and do (yet we're so close to the finish - just one more session) no, it's not give up, not stop thinking, never stop believing, nor praying ... however, I've decided to not post daily, but put them all here - for the whole week (since I do them all on SONday anyways, it's the same for me), it'll just mean one long blog post for y'all to visit, however, and whenever, you'd like ...

Session 4

Days 22 - 28

Joshua 14:6-12

Day 22 "Pray Fleece" Judges 6:33-40 "When God gives a vision, He always makes provision." Judges 6:37

Day 23 "Not Now" Acts 1:4-5 "Sometimes God's no simply means not yet." Acts 1:4

Day 24 "Find Your Voice" 2 Timothy 3:14-17 "If you want to find your voice, you need to hear the voice of God." Jeremiah 1:4

Day 25 "A Prophetic Voice" 1 Corinthians 14:3-4 "Prayer is the way we recognize potential in others." Numbers 11:29

Day 26 "Game with Minutes" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Change of pace + change of place=change of perspective" 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NASB)

Day 27 "Double Circle" Matthew 17:18-21 "If you want to break the sin habit, you've got to establish a prayer habit." Matthew 17:21 (NKJ)

Day 28 "Quit Praying" James 2:14-17 "Don't just pray about it, do something about it." Matthew 25:23

No, I'm really not aware of your situation or circumstances, nor have I clearly stated mine, yet we can still pray for one another  as we are prompted, because I know and definitely believe that God does know, and has known, long before we ask, think and pray: so without a doubt, He's got this taken care of, He is God (and we are not) He is in control, He is far more patient and persistent than we are,  He loves every one of His creation and is waiting ...  and longing to draw each one to Him,  so He  really does care, and about what we pray He's listening, so keep on drawing the circle and pray His thoughts, being far above our thoughts means  He's thought about this as we Think Long HE THINKS LONGER and HIS THOUGHTS count far beyond ours HIS PROMISES matter immensely for HE IS ALL POWERFUL ALL KNOWING ALL LOVING and HOLDS US ALL in His Hands

because HE'S "An EVER PRESENT HELP" OURS
40 more promises (pdf print link) from 365 Promises

Enjoy a Blessed Week!