Walk and Pray

My walking partner has been a little under the weather the past few days, so today I took my morning walk alone. Back when I worked less and had a little more free time, I used to walk alone a good bit. And it never fails, those are some of my best times with God. Not always the most fun, but it never fails that at least a nugget of insight comes from it.

So today, as God and I walked and talked (and now I’m singing that in my head – although this morning it was my own version of “Watch and Pray” transferred to “Walk and Pray”), I had some questions for Him. Questions about my life and where I’m headed and what He wants from me. He reminded me of my word of the year and prompted me to remember what verse I picked to go along with it…one I haven’t focused on as much as I have on my verse of the year in the past. This year’s word is SHINE and the verse to go with it is 2 Corinthians 4:7, which reads, “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”

Yes, God, let your light SHINE in my heart. 💜 Shine so brightly that others can’t help but see You in me.

You know what word really jumped out at me this morning, though?

Power.

It took me back to my life verse, 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power and love and self-discipline.”

There’s that word again – power. I had never really focused on that part of the verse. I always honed in on the not having a spirit of fear part. But God has given us His Spirit – one of power, love, and self-discipline.

I really started to think about it all.

God, use me. I don’t know what Your purpose for me is, but use me. Help me to focus on the path You want me to take. Help me to take interest in the things You’d have me pursue. Empty out my heart of the fear and cowardice and chaos that has been hiding in the corners, and fill the empty space with Your light, Your power, Your love.

Anything is possible for my God. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

God, make the person you created me to be SHINE. She’s been beaten down and hidden, tied up and silenced. Help her to not be afraid of the freedom that comes with trusting Your Spirit. Help her break free of the bondage of cowardice. Give her Your clarity and Your vision. Help her to see herself as You see her.

I pray that God shines out of me. That when people look at me, they can’t help but see Him. That they will see His Spirit, His love, and His power, see His light shining from this simple clay jar.