Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday May 12, 2009

I read several online newspapers every day and the gist of most is simple: Some things going on in the world sorely need change. Some people are loose in the world and they need to change their behavior or their address.

Prior to reading the above I read several pages of scripture each morning and muse on them. I find from reading the scriptures that I realize things are going on in my life that need changing, and some people going on in my life need changing.

The truth be known I can’t do much about the myriad of things I read about in the papers. I have noticed that if the things I am reading about in the papers really upset me, I simply quit reading them and for some strange reason they no longer bother me. Not that they change, but my perspective on them changes. As I near middle age, I have discovered that regardless of the inflation rate, the depth of the recession or even the interest rate, I will struggle through my days, trusting the Lord.

A prayer attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr and at one time printed for use by the United States Army in Germany and the USO and later neutered by AA states:

"O God and Heavenly Father,
Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed; courage to change that which can be changed, and wisdom to know the one from the other, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."

Notice the prayer asks for divine wisdom to sort out the really tough choices in life.

Knowing how to use the prayer really does help in understanding how to pray about situations and also how to act regardless of the situation. A study of the actions of courageous men and women in the concentration camps reflects knowledge of the dynamics of the prayer.

I learned the truth of asking for and accepting guidance from the Lord in a time of deep trouble for me and for my primary and extended family. As much as I wanted to, it was not in my power to change my address legally. So after much emotional distress I asked the Lord to show me how to bloom in the current address. The results were amazing.

Our Lord's brother deals with this in James 1:5:

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

In the dark time I mentioned I learned the powerful truth that "What/WHO is going inside of you is more important than what is going on around you."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2009 Use with credit

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