Five Things I Am Learning… Part One

In February of this year I started on my Master’s Degree.  As I was weighing out the opportunities to apply and be in this program, I kept hearing the phrase “life long learner”.  It is not new in my mind, but in light of the journey in which I find myself, the phrase has taken on new light.

It is now September and much water has traveled under the bridge of life and in a moment of pause, I am asking myself this question.  “What am I learning?”  My intention with these posts is to share some of the way in which God is shaping me as a person, man, father, husband and leader.  It is also my hope that in reading you would find yourself encouraged.

I am learning to trust God with what matters most to me.

I am an intense person.  Okay, relationally I am kind of laid back and love to laugh, but my mind is always thinking and “on” if you know what I mean.  Imagine this as your dad.  You see, in my caffeinated backwards thinking brain, everything matters.  Add passion, a bit of fear and you have the recipe for wearing out your kids.

In April of this year, I was reading and praying through Philippians 1.  I got to the familiar verse six of the first chapter “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

As I read the verse I realized something.  I did not pray for my kids with that same confidence.  I was not trusting God to do what he promised he would do in them.  I was operating out of a sense of fear that asked the question; “What if my kids make a giant mistake?”  What if my kids do not listen?”  what if my kids don’t give their best?”  As I sat there reading this verse, I could hear God’s gentle voice. “Leonard, I love your kids more than you do, can do more for them than you can and have better plans for them than you have. Trust me with the confidence of this verse.”

Truth?  I cried.  I cried because I was not trusting God like a needed to.  I cried because I had heard from my Father in heaven words that I needed to hear.  I cried because I knew my kids would get from God what they needed from God. (I also knew I couldn’t give them what he will.)  I cried in relief.

Today, my prayer life for my kids is radically different.  It is filled with the confidence that what God started, he will finish.  In the same chapter, Paul, the writer shares what he prayed with such confidence.  This is now my daily prayer for my kids.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”  Philippians 1:9-11

I am learning to trust God with what matters most to me.  So here is a real life confession, my whole family noticed the difference.  Thank you God the Holy Spirit for revealing your word, instructing my heart and gently moving my prayer life forward in a way that trusts you with what matters most.  Off… we go now.

~ by OFF we go now on September 6, 2011.