“There's a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him.” (J. I. Packer)
Dear God,
I trust You will get
this letter wherever You are. I’m writing to You because I have a very special
request. This isn’t Your typical prayer because I’m not asking for something
small. I’m also not asking for You to intervene and restore peace in war-torn
countries; to end world hunger and poverty; to heal disease; or to make my
dreams come true. I am asking for a miracle. In
fact, this is the biggest, most significant, and most important thing I’ve ever
asked for. I want to know who You really are, what You’re all about, and
what You’re like.
I’ve spent my whole
life being told by others who You are and who You’re not; what You are and what
You’re not; how You are and how You’re not; and everything in between. I’ve
been told where I would find You and where not to look. I’ve seen so many
different depictions and pictures of You. I’ve heard countless stories about You
(including many people’s personal accounts of their experiences of You).
I’ve heard it said
that You are love and that I only need to look within to discover You. So many
people close down at the mere mention of Your name. In my lifetime, I’ve also
witnessed senseless tragedies and acts of violence committed in Your name, and
several disasters signaling the decline of our planet and civilization. Some
say that if You really existed, You would have intervened, and others say that
these things have happened because we have created them with the free will that
You gave us. Throughout all of this, I
admit that I’ve had my moments of doubting You and questioning You, but deep
down in my heart my faith and belief in You have always remained strong.
Now I’m coming
straight to You. I’m going to the source and asking You to let me get to know You,
to reveal Your true nature to me so that I might live in complete alignment
with You, and give my life to serving Your purpose. That’s what I really want
more than anything else, and in order to do that, I feel I really have to know You.
Our connection has to be direct, personal, intimate, and undeniable.
I know there’s this
tricky thing about faith, which says that true faith is measured by our belief
in that which we haven’t seen, experienced, or had proof of. I hear that, and I
understand it. Rest assured, this request is not a question of faith. I have a
heart full of faith. I believe You are real. I know You exist. I have no doubt
about that whatsoever. I am not asking for a sign or for proof of any of that.
I’m asking to know who You are. I want to feel Your presence and recognize it the way a child knows his mother’s touch or the sound of his father’s voice. I want to know You so closely that I can be as cozy with You as I am with my best friends, knowing that You get me and that You are there for me even when I’m not making sense or going off the rails. God, wherever You are and whoever You are, I’m ready to receive You with open arms and a heart full of love.
I’m ready to live my
life to serve Your purposes and to further Your cause. With my own free will,
I’m coming to You and asking You to let me in, let me see You, not obscured by
others, no degrees of separation, completely revealed, as the true essence of
who You are. I am ready. I am listening. I love You.
Waiting for You,
Chris A.[i]
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