I Dare You

I have a dare for you. It's one of those that you might jump at, but later realize that you have bitten off more than you can chew.
I dare you to say the following prayer. First read it and absorb it. Read each line carefully, then read the questions that follow, and then pray it on your own.

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
Exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

Which of these lines is the most difficult for you to pray? Why?

FYI, the origins of this prayer are unknown, but John Wesley was the first to publish it.
I am going to lay off posting (maybe a week or so) until I have memorized this prayer and the prayer from the last post.

I dare you to memorize them, and pray them every day.

God Is Good, God Is Great

"God is good. God is great. Let us thank Him for this food. Amen."

Do you remember when you were first taught to pray? Do you remember your first prayer said at the dinner table?

How about this one? It gets my father-in-law in trouble when he says it:

"Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Biggest pig gets the most!"

Tracy and I couldn't resist buying this book we saw at Barnes and Noble. It's called "First Prayers." We bought it for Fischer, but I think I am going to enjoy it more than he will!

Here is a prayer found in the "Thank you for my food" section:

Thank you for the precious food

I eat three times a day.

Some children eat just once a week

In countries far away.

I wish that I could help them,

But I don't know what to do.

Please, God, will you make sure

That they have three meals, too?

Wow. Amen.

Rowan Atkinson Invisible Man

Rowan Atkinson is one of my favorites. Who else could come up with this stuff?

Sabotaging God

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
- From "Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath

I heard the song above while driving home this afternoon and found myself really identifying with its message. I got really excited about seeing others through God's eyes, seeing past their surface to their hurts.
But it's one thing to get excited about lyrics, and another to live them.
I can sing this song in my car on the way to work, and then lock myself away in my office the rest of the day. Somehow, when I pray that God opens my eyes to help others, but then cut myself off from humanity, it seems like I'm sabotaging God's answer to my prayer.
Any other times you've sabotaged God's answers to prayer?

• "God, help me get well." (But I refuse to go to the doctor, exercise, etc.)
• "God, I need a job." (But I expect the perfect employer to call me without any effort on my part.)
• "God, heal my marriage." (As long as it doesn't take too much of my time.)