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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: ANNOYED (04/05/18)
There are times in life where I find it so hard to be still and I can feel times of anger which can be righteous anger but even so. I guess I need to just be still and talk openly to God and listen to the Holy Spirit during these times. For me the hardest thing is just to “be” as I am constantly on the go and these are times that I find it hard to just sit still sometimes. I have my bible handy to which I can turn to when I feel the need or a gentle push of the Holy Spirit speaking to me. I should pick up His Word every day but I do find this difficult and this all has to do with being able to sit still.

When I get up in the morning I will often say Good Morning Father and that is about as far as my talking with God goes. I then get up and get busy with things that I need to do without thinking for a minute that I should talk to God first thing in the morning. I do find it difficult speaking to God and I often feel as if my words are not relevant or I feel lost not knowing what to say to Him. I can talk to friends and family about how I am feeling but I should be talking to God, but I don’t so hence more often than not I end up getting annoyed with myself. I know I have the prompting of the Holy Spirit and there are sometimes that I talk to Him but not often enough.

I remember the year before last going to a conference that was on prayer and basically conversing with the Holy Spirit and after the conference on this particular Sunday afternoon I got home and spent an hour lying on my bed just pouring out my heart to God. The time went by so quickly that I was surprised, and I felt like I was walking on air I felt so good. But alas I have not been able to do this very much since then.

I do have a sheet by which I do follow for certain periods of time. It is basically on how to spend an hour with God every day and it is split up into 5-minute segments totalling one hour. I can do this for a few days and then something happens, and I don’t do it for a while and I end up feeling guilty. I could start all over again and start off slowly and not run before I can walk. I do try and spend about five to ten minutes a day in the Word of God and I use the Every day with Jesus one-year bible as I like how this bible is set out plus it gives little segments of thought at the end of each day. There is also a prayer and further study of the scriptures if you want to get into this.

I long to be able to sit down and be able to pray but this is something that I have always found difficult and I guess this has something to do with my not so good relationship with my earthly father. I realise this is not the same and that my relationship with God needs to be different and I know I will get there eventually. The times that I do manage to have time with God I feel so much better and my day runs smoothly and when I don’t then sometimes this is a different story.

I could start off my time with God today which would be good. I have also felt led to take communion at home once a week (unless church is doing communion during the Sunday service then I won’t partake of bread and wine at home). When I have done this before about four years ago this was because I was led again by the Holy Spirit.

I know God does not expect miracles, but I do have a heart for prayer and I guess I need to learn not to be annoyed with myself and just learn to be in His presence day by day, after all I have everything to gain but, I still need to learn to be still in His presence!
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This article has been read 387 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
04/13/18
I enjoyed this. I understand what you mean. It's difficult for my mind to be still as well, but I think you make some great points.

I've just a few minor suggestions. Shorten your paragraphs a bit and put double spaces between them to give that needed white space. Write out numerals at least to ten, but many suggest to a hundred. You could tighten up the writing some. For example, I might edit like thus:

As I wiggle in my chair, I sigh. Often I find myself filled with righteous indignation.
Even though I try, I realize I need to focus and talk to God. Just saying, "Good morning, Lord," isn't enough. I can jabber with my friends, why is it hard for me to have a conversation with God? As important as speaking, I need to listen to the Holy Spirit. That's super hard to do. Be still. Me?

That's just a quick example to show you some of the things you can combine to tighten it up and avoid repeating words or ideas, and I sense you've a great subtle sense of humor so I'd love to see you develop that more too.

Overall, you did a nice job of writing on topic while delivering a powerful message. Keep writing!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
04/13/18
I enjoyed this. I understand what you mean. It's difficult for my mind to be still as well, but I think you make some great points.

I've just a few minor suggestions. Shorten your paragraphs a bit and put double spaces between them to give that needed white space. Write out numerals at least to ten, but many suggest to a hundred. You could tighten up the writing some. For example, I might edit like thus:

As I wiggle in my chair, I sigh. Often I find myself filled with righteous indignation.
Even though I try, I realize I need to focus and talk to God. Just saying, "Good morning, Lord," isn't enough. I can jabber with my friends, why is it hard for me to have a conversation with God? As important as speaking, I need to listen to the Holy Spirit. That's super hard to do. Be still. Me?

That's just a quick example to show you some of the things you can combine to tighten it up and avoid repeating words or ideas, and I sense you've a great subtle sense of humor so I'd love to see you develop that more too.

Overall, you did a nice job of writing on topic while delivering a powerful message. Keep writing!
Christian Belyea
04/13/18
Annoyed at yourself--I've trekked through those times many a time. I, too, was a sporadic pray-er and reader of the Bible. But now I make time to spend time with my Maker. It is that which makes or breaks my day. True, I live alone and have the luxury of no pressing morning details, but maybe if you set your alarm clock an hour before getting up to spend some quality time with the Timeless One, your days would go much smoother. Also, just talking to Him here and there throughout the day matters to Him. He wants us to tell Him what's on our minds, especially what is annoying us. Sometimes, I just pause for a moment and say, "Jesus, I sure do love You," and that turns my troubling day into a terrific day. One thing, though: pay attention to your punctuation. You are a good writer, but you want to be an accomplished writer--right? Anyway, keep up the good work. Job well done!
Nancy Bucca
04/13/18
You have a lot of different thoughts in this which I'm sure a lot of people can relate to in terms of spending time with God. It is the most important thing that any of us can do, and something that I think we all struggle with.

With all the ideas you are trying to convey, this would be easier to read if you broke them down into smaller paragraphs. That way, if the reader wants to revisit an idea, he/she knows exactly where to look.

Overall, good job. Thanks for sharing this.
Larry Whittington
04/15/18
What is God's gift to you -a doer or a prayer? You have very nicely expressed your annoyance with yourself for not using more time in prayer but have you thanked God for all the time you have been able to do something for others. You can express this while you are doing the act. "Thank you God for helping me do this housework for my family. In Jesus name, Amen." Your work will be lighter and you joy will be fuller.

Also when you are writing. Thank God for helping you write something that may be a help to others.

Your thoughts and feelings are real keep expressing them.
Dennis Gallemore
04/26/18
Thought-provoking essay.