piggy back rides

This week's devo has been such a good reminder that prayer is not an action but an experience of being present in God's presence. Prayer for me has always been about talking, and mostly me talking. These last couple days I've been trying to talk less and experience more. In quieting my mouth and opening my heart God has captured me with intimacy this week.

I usually talk to God on my way to class, on Monday instead of talking we just walked, side by side. Yesterday, we held hands. This morning, I found myself wanting a little more. I was a little shy at first, but eventually asked my dad for a piggy back ride to class. He smiled and said yes. I got to rest my head on my dad's shoulder while He carried me to class. IT WAS THE BEST. I might ask for piggy back rides everyday.

I also love the description of prayer as breathing. If prayer is being in the presence and existence of God then there's no way that was only meant for 5-10 minutes a day during a "quiet time". The whole reason Jesus died was to bring us into restorative, intimate relationship. Relationship is life. The breath we breathe, the beating of our heart, what makes us alive, living, present, is relationship.

"Jesus makes clear that He is our destination when He writes, 'apart from me you can do nothing.' Without breathing the breath of Christ we are dead and do nothing. Without being infused with the blood of Christ, we are lifeless and do nothing"

I am blown away at how everything becomes new as God re-unites it with Himself, covers it with Himself, and re-defines it with Himself through the blood of Jesus. I love that walking to class is now united covered and defined by Jesus' blood, and that when I breathe it, enter into it, experience it, I am united, covered and re-defined by Jesus' blood.

And its not just me that rises out of death but everything around me. The wind blows hair out of my face: I'm here. The sun warms my face: I love you. Trees sway: come.

I'm here, I love you, come, I'm here, I love you, come. There is nothing in this world that does not invite me and draw me into relationship with Jesus. It's just harder to notice when I am not present in His presence.

I used to think prayer was inviting Jesus into my day but we aren't inviting Jesus into our reality, He is inviting us into His. Praying is a chance accept the invite.

AND if I may go on for a little longer, let's not forget who we come to in prayer!

"you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: 'if even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.' The sight was so terrifying that moses said, 'I am trembling with fear.' BUT you have come to mount Zion, to the Heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the Living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the first born, whose names are written in Heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."

-Hebrews 12:18-24

AMEN!

May Jesus' blood infuse, bring to life, cover, unite, and re-define intimacy of relationship!