Sacred Prayer - a 5-Day Reading PlanНамуна

It’s only the examined life that passes the tests of life. And any life unexamined ends up unfulfilling. The truth is: Passing your days with no soul examination is how you fail your only life.

Didn’t David say, “I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes” (Psalm 119:59 NIV)—because God Himself said, “Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5 ESV)? Didn’t Paul implore: “Each one must examine his own work” (Galatians 6:4 NASB)? Didn’t the Israelites have a sacred pause of reflection and examine after the exodus: “Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses” (Exodus 14:30–31 ESV)?

The children of Israel saw what God did that day; Israel saw the great power of God; Israel reflected on the work God had done; Israel examined how the hand of God had forged an impossible way. At the end of the day, Israel examined God’s hand—and it changed their hearts.

Maybe when we have a sacred rhythm of reliving the day, we see more reasons to keep believing in the Lord. Maybe part of the way out of the hard is to examine our hearts. Maybe there’s no exodus without an examine.

Maybe when we feel lost, like there is no way, we need to make a habit of examining the way we are actually going. Maybe here, in this sacred moment, the invitation is to whisper with God’s people: “Let’s examine and search out our ways, and let’s return to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40 NASB). . . .

Putting pen to paper as prayer, examining feelings and fears and communicating them to our Father, this is needful, sacred work because: Communication of feelings brings regulation to feelings. Only what you name can you regulate. Emotion literally means to move. Emotions are meant to move us toward each other and God, to move us to vulnerably share. Sharing our fears with our Father regulates our fears. Sharing the weight of fears and feelings with another soul, with God on these sacred pages, regulates a whole range of feelings, bringing deep balance and equilibrium to our souls.

Prayer

Lord, today I give You all my fears and feelings, and I ask You to be with me as I examine my heart. Thank You for being my shelter and strength. Amen.