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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Purposefulness (Purpose in Life) (05/25/06)
Today's the day Lord. It ends here. I'm tired of passing through these doors unchanged, wearing the mask of lies, hiding the barrenness within. Who was I fooling? I confessed intimacy with the One I could no longer feel. Now this thought causes me to weep. But where were my regretful tears when I walked in darkness and called it light? I left my first love. The familiar path of my religion I have tread to the depth of a grave.

I know that faith pleases You, but my soul aches to feel Your presence as in the former days when I drank from the infinite wells of your love. Why did I leave my heart unguarded against this world? Being full of emptiness has left its bitter taste in my mouth for the final time. Just as the prodigal son realized he could no longer tell himself apart from that which he served, I have come to myself.

I am a child of God, bought with a price, washed in His blood. I am Your house, Father. I have been created to worship, but have been given the will to worship that of my choosing. I choose You, my God.

Though I worship alone, contrary to the multitude, You alone will I worship. Those who knew me best could not see behind the veil of my emptiness. They heard only my assuring voice that all is well. But You know my heart. Look upon this man today, beyond the lips that have worked the words of deceit, into my naked heart. As I drew near onto You, my Home, You ran to me. The shameful doubts of my being that made themselves fat in the fields of my mind have become my fatted calf this day.

Fill my heart with the love of Your Word again; ignite Your fire within me. You are the God of the second chance that I may fulfill Your call on my life. Help me now to walk above my wasted days that I may redeem the time before me.

Even now, as I pass through the door of this church, let those who have seen only the painted smile see the joy of Christ in me, the hope of glory. Let this shepherd, this minister, this man, Your child, bathe in the grace of who I am in You.

It begins here, the rest of my life fulfilled in You.
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This article has been read 1681 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Kate Wells
06/02/06
Oh, I loved this! Pure transparency before our Holy God. My favorite line...
"You are the God of the second chance..." That's our church motto! This was awesome. Kate~
david grant
06/02/06
Wow! Naked is right. Good honesty. I can relate.
Thanks for the boldness to bare it all.

Jan Ackerson
06/05/06
I loved this line:

The shameful doubts of my being that made themselves fat in the fields of my mind have become my fatted calf this day. Awesome.

Ann Stocking
06/05/06
"...beyond the lips that have worked the words of deceit, into my naked heart."

Brutal honesty. Brilliant writing.
Jessica Schmit
06/05/06
Is this yours George? I looked for it and I think this one was yours. If it is, congrats. You are one talented writer. You have an annointing on you. It's abeautiful thing to read someone's work when God has gifted them to carry His words so clearly, beautifully and truthfully. The honesty in the account was incredible. I loved this one. This is such a treasure.
Edy T Johnson
06/05/06
This grips my heart as a prayer I could wrestle with on a daily basis. How thrilling to exchange that superficial happy face for the genuine joy of the Lord bubbling out of my heart. Thank you!
Dr. Sharon Schuetz
06/06/06
You did it again, George. Wow. You hit me between the eyes with this anointed prayer. Thank you for your open honesty.
Rachel Rudd
06/07/06
This part hit me the most..."Let this shepherd, this minister, this man," Thank you for sharing this heart-cleansing, well-written prayer.
Rita Garcia
06/08/06
Perfect title!
Written with the Master's inspiration! You touched my soul with this prayer!!
Claudette Wood
06/09/06
I sent this to a very dear person in my life who has left her faith far behind her. I pray that the anointing I feel in this article will touch her heart and cause her to reflect on the course she needs to begin to steer again. Thank you. I REALLY enjoy everything you write!