SET THE SAIL
How Prayerful Dependance Moves us
A few days ago, Life Center completed our January 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. This has become an annual rhythm for us as a church community — and each year I find my anticipation growing for what will take place throughout (and beyond) that collective starting point to the new year.
A few years ago I read a book that gave a metaphor that was so helpful and clarifying for me in the area of prayer. Dr. Carolyn Tennant in her book “Catch the Wind of the Spirit”, described a practice from early Celtic Christians who would prayerfully get into a small boat, and prayerfully set the sails, and prayerfully trust that God would allow the wind to set the direction for their destination.
It sounds crazy, right?
How can you control where you are going?
How do you know where you will end up?
What if the destination is different than what you were planning?
All valid questions. But notice that each of those questions puts ME at the center. They assume that I should be in control. I know where I should end up. I know the ideal of where my life should be heading.
Scripture invites followers of Jesus to a different response. Instead of trying to control we are called to trust.
Trust that God has a plan.
Trust that God knows not only where you are going but also where your life should go.
Trust that God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, is ultimately in control.
In my life, prayer is becoming more a process of setting a sail than handing God the GPS coordinates that I want Him to deliever me to. Prayer is a place that I am learning to surrender to His will, His Wind. Prayer is me learning to depend instead of dictate. Prayer is where I lift up the sails of the life that God has given me, and I invite Him to lead, guide, direct.
In my life, prayer is becoming more a process of setting a sail than handing God the GPS coordinates that I want Him to deliever me to.
It is prayerful dependance.
Which is hard. Because I like independence…and so do you.
We like to call the shots. We often like God to be the supporting character to our lead role. And prayer demolishes that. Prayer puts my body, my mind, my heart, and my soul before the Creator, and I am forced to remember who is Who.
Are you longing for more?
Looking for something different in the year ahead?
Tired of the stress and striving of things not going the way you wish, or even the way you think they should be?
Try this:
Take the GPS coordinates that you are convinced your life should be headed towards, set them aside…
And SET THE SAIL.
So, So Good. Thank You!
Thank you Pastor Tyler. It's a great reminder that HE in in control and has a plan for my life. I need to let go and let God be the wind in my sails and set the direction HE wants for me. I may still try to grab the tiller when I see rocks ahead, but my God is able to steer me through the rocks and get me safely where He wants me to serve HIM.