INSPIRASUNS

You all know that I sit on my lanai (Florida term for patio) each morning and evening and spend time with Father. We have a small lake behind us with a fountain that runs during waking hours, usually 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. The fountain helps to lessen the volume of residents who may be out on their lanais conversing. When the fountain is off, trust me, it’s quiet, and you can hear conversations from lanais on the opposite side of the lake.

Well, for some reason—probably an issue with the timer on it—the fountain has not been shutting off in the evening. It’s running non-stop. Oh, and did I mention that at dusk, spotlights shine up from the water to light the waterfall? Ya, it’s a night light show in the evening, like all evening.

I know, right now you are asking where I’m going with this. Well, this morning as I sat on the lanai and began to pray, I found myself veering off thinking about work. I was thinking about it so much that in the middle of my prayer I had to just stop and say, “Lord clear my mind, please clear my mind that I might be with you”. Immediately I felt that tingle all over, and yes, even in my head. It was a rush of a tingle. At that moment I just said, “Thank you, thank you so much”.

I let myself focus then on the face of Jesus as I prayed. I could hear the waterfall in the background and I pictured the waves on the ocean. This too helped me to refocus on what I wanted to do, spend time with our Lord in prayer.

I realized when I was heading back inside that the waterfall has become a distraction. When it’s off, as I mentioned earlier, it gets very quiet. That quiet is what helps me to relax and be with Father fully in prayer. It’s funny, when I walked out onto the lanai this morning it felt different, and no it wasn’t just the 45-degree temp. It felt loud and almost uninviting. Looking back, I wanted to just rush through and get back inside—bad decision on my part. I should have started my prayer with “Lord, please clear my mind that I may be with you”.

When we spend time with Jesus and spend time with Father, our attention must be on Him. This morning I was just going through the motions until I stopped myself. I don’t want to pray like that. I am in relationship with my Lord, and I want to be fully committed to Him, especially when I am in conversation with Him. When we have a conversation with another person, they deserve our focus and attention, why in the world would God not deserve that same respect?

So, from now on, I think my time with Father begins with, “Lord please clear my mind that I may be with you”. Starting with a clear mind allows Him to fill me and guide me fully. What better way to start and end the day than to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

Have a good day friends, may your mind be clear and your heart filled with the love of our Lord. Prayers continue this morning for all who are dealing with this cold weather, prayers also for those in California in the path of the wildfires, and continued prayers for Emily Rea’s return.

Roman’s 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.