Philippians 1:9-11  I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding.  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns.  May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

This past weekend, I had to finish a job that I had begun two weeks previously.  I had finish painting the trim of my house. Everything done except for the two highest parts…and that was a problem for me. Because I did not have a ladder that would adequately reach that high, I had to lay on my back on the slanted roof and contort my body in abnormal ways in order to reach under and paint the last remaining boards.

I was not ok with this.

It is not just that I am afraid of heights. I have an adverse fear to falling from them.  
 
My positioning seemed both unnatural and unsafe.  Not only was I reaching my body off the roof in such a way that I was staring several feet down towards my hard driveway, but I was unable to position myself in a way that gave me the peace of mind that I could stop my slide if I ever began to slip towards the other edge.  Add to that the uncomfortable need to hold a small bucket of paint in one hand and a paint brush in the other and I was completely aware of the fact that if I did begin to have problems, I would not be able to stabilize myself.
 
So, I prayed.
 
For the twenty minutes I was up on that roof scared out of my mind, I talked to God.  I told him of my frustration, I confessed my angst, and in faith I thanked Him for protecting me. And, I wondered why I don’t pray as diligently when life is good.
 
It was like looking in a mirror and realizing that I have neglected the very thing that I talk about so often. It took stress in my life to bring me to a place where I really began to recognize that God was with me, wanted to help me, and even more importantly just wants to be in relationship.  
 
So, for the past several weeks I have been examining how I approach God.  Do I recognize my need for Him every day or do I wait for the difficult ones? Is prayer something I do because I am scared, unsettled, angry, or in need; or is it something I do because the Creator of the Universe has invited me close and I want to get to know Him better and invite Him to come close?  
 
Well, the trim on my house is painted…I hope to not have to worry about that for several more years, but my journey towards Christ is not complete. I am still growing.  I am still asking questions.  And, I am still pursuing Him.  Because I have come to realize that I sometimes neglect God, I have made a conscious effort to change that.  Little by little, I will figure it out.  And, I am not going to give up until I do.

I Have A Question

Would You Pray With Me?