Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Bold (emotionally) (08/30/07)
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TITLE: A Lion's Meow? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marita Vandertogt
09/01/07 -
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I have two cats.
They’re orange and a tad chubby and thus endeth the similarities.
Cats are creatures that only those people who are allowed to live with them, can understand.
Sammi sleeps, and when he wakes from his twelve hour nap, opens his mouth in a giant yawn, and walks toward his food bowl, to check the contents. If it’s empty, he lies back down in front of it. Just an occasional meow in the background of what I’m doing even reminds me that he’s there. He’s learned over the years, that his bowl will be filled and his water dish freshened, and accepts the pattern of life we’ve created here.
The other one, not so much.
Missi, the smaller of the two, constantly feels the need to wind her chubby little body around my legs when I’m cooking supper. She manages then to lie directly in my path if I haven’t acknowledged her yet, and in the wee hours of the morning, when the food dishes have been emptied overnight, reminds me that breakfast is just around the corner, and I should start getting up now to get a good crack at opening that can. If I dare turn over and continue to sleep, she’ll jump off the bed, walk boldly over to the door and begin bumping against it until the knocking sound drives me from the covers toward her little throat. I would, of course, never harm the cherub. But the deed is done for her. I’m up. Sammi, on the other hand, lies on the kitchen floor waiting patiently. Both of them end up getting fed, but that much sooner because of the boldness of the smaller ones’ actions.
Now this is a very loose analogy into my behaviour with God, very loose. I don’t, for one minute think that if I bother Him enough, maybe step up my actions toward Him He’ll respond that much quicker. Or will He?
When I talk to him, through prayer, the voice inside my head is usually timid; soft. I work up a plea like state that whispers requests, then with apprehensive amens, I close the door and leave the petitions meekly at His feet, and wait, much like the bigger cat.
But I wonder if that’s what he really wants. The timid. The shy. The waiter. The whisperer. Maybe – just maybe He wants a prayer warrior, bold enough to confront Him with His own promises. Bold enough to take hold of some of the Scriptures laid out for us, to trust. And trusting takes courage from a heart brave enough to roar “but You said!” Not in anger, never in anger. But in expectation.
Is God pleased with the one who calls him into a situation with confidence, standing firm and holding on to what He’s told us. Holding so firm,so as to not let go until a solution is underway. Does it please Him, if we step up and claim that which He’s left us with, to help us move forward, and victory by victory, walk away with the results of the promise.
I find that when I claim the promises of God, and stand firm on them in a kind of “Lord, this is what You promise in Your Word” kind of approach, that my faith starts to bulk up, and grows bolder with each claim.
So, I could lay and wait, like Sammi, with an occasional soft meow to remind Him of my presence, or I could take the more aggressive stand, and try to move the Hand of God by standing firm and boldly approaching His throne. I believe God is pleased with those whose hearts move confidently toward His will, and with the power of everything He’s equipped us with, move out and claim the victory.
Maybe instead of the kitten’s meow, He’d prefer the roar of a lion.
By the way, I wonder if Paul would have ever been able to write as many letters as he did to the churches, if he’d owned even one cat, much less two.
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