Romans 12

If you know me, you know I hate silence. I can't get still. The quiet and splendor of being still before God is something I struggle with quite often. My mind is always racing. Always dreaming. Not always here.

Last week, I sat with dear friends, who graciously let me invade their small group for the evening. My main reason for joining them was so I could take part in the LOST season finale festivities. So when it was suggested that we pray for a time, I won't lie, I was anxious to get to the real reason I came. I mean, come on, it was going to be three hours long and after that we had to see who got voted off of American Idol and I was out in Jersey and I had to work the next day. (I know how shallow that makes me look and I take any of the criticism you wish to throw at me. I'm just being really honest.) So as prayer requests were made and not made, Romans 12:12 was stated. The group was memorizing this scripture.

"Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulations, devoted to prayer" Romans 12:12 NASB

B quoted it this way.

Be joyful in hope.
Patient in affliction.
Faithful in prayer.

Ginny Owens' was played in the background as a time of reflection before we prayed.


"The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to

Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone"

God spoke to me in that moment. The prayer time was spent lifting up each of the requests as I kept mine close to my heart.

The next morning, I met with Freddy for a meeting about growth communities that quickly turned in to one of many I am sure counseling meetings about my own heart and thoughts. He told me to look at Romans 12. I literally about fell out of my seat. He read the beginning verses to me, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2

I let my thoughts run away with me. I listen when I should be telling myself...

Be joyful in hope.
Patient in affliction.
Faithful in prayer.

I've decided to memorize Romans 12 so I am no longer a prisoner to my own thoughts but being renewed in mind so that I may prove what the the will of God is.