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My mind, my heart, my soul ...

Thursday, Jan 9, 2014. How open can you be with yourself? How open can you be to others? How open are you when you are alone, when you are together with God in prayer?

Precess of understanding …

Recently, we had a discussion in a Christian group, how we should phrase a “thank you” letter. Some tried to just mention all the good things, and not mention problems or suffering or conflicts. Others wanted to mention these. Then there was a discussion how to mention the conflicts. Just say “there is sufering as well, but even in the light of this we are thankful to go the way together”? Or say: “suffering is given by God to educate us”? There are quite different ways you can deal with the suffering which is right among us.

Of course, I do not know what type of problems or suffering you face in your life currently. How do you deal with it. Do you have times where you fully talk about it with the Lord, in a prayer? Do you have times where you gain understanding of your own problems, since you start to understand how the Lord sees your current situation?

When I look into the biblical books, they are a fantastic repository of stories of people who faced strong difficulties, and walked in faith. The psalms, for example, reflect the way in which David tried to understand and work with his own difficulties. We find his progress in faith and understanding layed out openly before us.

Talking to the Lord …

I believe that it is an important step to go into prayer with all what moves us. In prayer we meet God and his eternal unlimited wisdom. We talk to him, and we listen to him. We try to see our own thoughts and problems in his light. We see our own success in his light. And he will talk to us, explain to us what he does and why he let things happen. He will lead us into a deeper understanding of his plans and his love and his truth.

It is important not to just ignore things which happen, the good and the bad things. It is important to face life as a whole, and take it as it is. But it is also important to talk it through with the Lord. He has shown so much in the biblical stories. We need to understand this, and see what it means for us and to us today. We need to gain understanding of our own situation. That is only possible when we keep on praying, day by day. He will come to us, with his Holy Spirit, and help us to develop in wisdom and understanding.

The Lord can heal my soul. In the middle of the dark valey, said David in Psalm 23, he prepares a table before you. David is not ignoring the darkness, but he is saying thank you for the light in the middle of it. True freedom comes when hope grows on the basis of clear insight into reality as it is. I love the bible for its complete openness and insight into the world, and for the love which the Lord has for us, day by day! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts