a picture of prayer

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." - Colossians 2:6-7

i'm picturing a tree. 

Something like a big Magnolia tree that is easy to climb and full of white buds. 

Some more traits of my tree:

- withstands storms

- grows constantly, no matter how old or big

- provides shelter

- sheds leaves to be carried by the wind

- soaks up the sun

- thirsty for rain

- solid and always reaching upward

So maybe this is what Paul means when he tells us to live in Him. If i grow my roots in Jesus and the foundation of the Word, i will be unshakable in any storm. No matter how old i get, i will always be growing and learning. i have the opportunity to provide truth and grace to those around me, therefore acting as a haven of trust and comfort. The more i am strengthened in the faith, the more Jesus i will give off... and He will use that overflow to bring others to Him. i will bask in the Son. i will thirst for wisdom and understanding, which bring full life with the Spirit. i will be solid but forever reaching for and relying on my Father, who is the reason i live. i will bear fruit in His name; this is a command and a fact from John 15.

When we choose to build ourselves in Jesus, He showers us in love and rewards. It's a choice. He allows us this freedom because of how He loves us. Why is sin in the world? It would be easy for Him to take it all away but that would mean taking away our freedom of choice; we would all just be forced to love him like little clones of a perfect world. What kind of love is that? 

He allows us to make mistakes and learn that He's the answer. 

This is why Paul says to continue overflowing with thankfulness.

To overflow with thankfulness. i know how easy it is to overflow with love toward others when the Spirit is upon me, but how do i overflow with thankfulness? Like any other relationship, God simply wants us to spend time with Him. Communicate with Him in prayer. So here's my picture of prayer.

It's standing at the end of a pier and only hearing the water and the wind. It's getting lost in God's glory as if on top of a mountain where you've left everything else in your mind at the bottom. Closing your eyes in worship and not being able to stop yourself from reaching out with an open heart to accept His fulfilling love. Getting soaked by the rain, knowing it won't hurt you and giving thanks to the Lord. Getting on your knees and confessing everything you know He already knows but still wants to hear. It's feeling how small and powerless we are on our own and being filled with the miracle that through Him nothing is impossible. Driving, just you and God, singing and admiring the works of His hands..

It's so much more than laying in bed, dutifully talking to Him in your mind with droopy eyes.

Let Jesus captivate your mind and remind you that nothing in this world is more important than His kingdom. Let Him take your hand as you step off the pier and onto the water.

The piers in my mind, from the Cayman Islands and Hanalei Bay, Kauai.