My Cup Runneth Over, so we're cool.

September 26, 2008 in Prayer/Faith,Uncategorized with 2 Comments

I try to write about encounters I have had in my life that have shaped me.  Good and bad.  I try to reflect on them.  In the process I make myself very vulnerable.  I put a lot of my life out here for a lot of people to read.  It’s pretty insane.  But my goal is for people to see the Grace and Love of Jesus Christ.

I have thought a lot lately about the Crucifixion.  That is the most intense thing to think about.  If you ever feel comfortable in your skin think about, I mean, REALLY think about it.  It will make your heart swell.  Wednesday night we read the prayer Jesus prayed the night before his Crucifixion.

Luke 22:42
“Father, if your will, please take this cup from me. But, not my wish, do it according to your will,”

How much would I really love to pray that prayer?  I am so good at “Father, Please take this cup from me.”  That’s normally where my prayer ends.  If I say “Your will be done.” I normally in the back of my mind am saying, “Only if your will is what i want.”

Did you read that!?  I’m serious!  That’s how my head works.  I want what I want, not what I need.  I want the newest tool. (iPhone) I want the biggest juiciest steak, (not my daily bread).  Your will be done?  Come on, who am I kidding.  I have rarely lived that life.

I am envious of the people who do.  I am also envious of the people who have the gadgets, and steak, and straight teeth, and a full head of hair, and no acne, and a lot of money, and a cushier job.  I’m envious in my vain.  Ya dig? I want to thank God all of the time. It’s hard.  It’s hard to thank God for the bad junk.  At least we have junk, right?  I want to thank God for the half empty cup. Heck. I want to thank God for the empty cup.

But, I only thank God when my cup runneth over. **sigh**

I have issues.  I want you all to pray with me.

God. I love You.  You really are amazing.  God, today I ask that your will is for me to want your will.  God, I want to be the grateful man with nothing.  I want to be grateful in your will.. Your Will God! God, I want to build myself up, to be a better man.  God, I want my crisis to become celebration.  I want to be happy for the empty cup.  Jesus, your blood washed my sins away, and I’m asking again.  God, Cleanse me of my horrible selfish attitude.  God, you are Great.
In the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

With that said, I am going to go, pray that prayer a few more times.

  • Nick Woolever

    I’ve been reading this and see that it is about taking what you have and being thankful, but I’m responding to it in a different way that I somehow thought might somehow fit and be appropriate. I feel more stressed than ever right now, sometimes I show it and sometimes I just smile and act happy like nothing is wrong. I feel like I am the most over whelmed person on the face of the earth. I have major family issues, I’m having car issues, I’m having school issues, issues with girls, I’m having LIFE issues. I see what I have compared to what other people have to deal with, and then I see that my life isn’t nearly as bad as how other people have it. These are things that everyone deals with and I will learn that it’ll all come out ok in the end. But while everything seems to be bad in life I need to see it for how it is and have faith that things do work out and reach what they were meant to be by God.

  • http://www.kriskelley.com Kris

    You know Andy, it is the same for me too. I tend to do most of my “conversing” with God while I’m driving. It is when I have a clear head and I’m not so focused on everything else about my day. Every time I start off by saying I’m so sorry that I am not thankful enough for what I have, but at the same time I am asking for more. I’m asking for a better job situation, answers to my financial problems, my mother & father’s better health, and less stress for me. Then I go right back to feeling guilty because I sometimes forget to thank Him for everything else or to pray for all those other people who have significantly less than me or more problems. It makes me feel selfish. I try to make excuses, like when the overwhelming stresses of my burdens are lifted, I will have more time to pray for others or be more thankful.

    I think I’ll definitely be praying for the same as you. Thanks for putting it into words. :)