Today’s the end of 2015. I’m writing from 36,000 feet in the air, and I find myself wishing I could see this year, my life, our country, and the world from the point of view like the one I’m seeing Colorado from.
This year wasn’t what I wish it had been. I wish I had received thousands of revelations. I wish I had spent hours and hours upon hours in my Bible. I wish I didn’t have this feeling that I didn’t do much all year but work to pay bills.
But here I am, with another year behind me, and I still want the same thing that I wanted last January… to know Him more and more and more until everything else in my life follows that.
I changed a lot this year in some ways. I am relying on His grace and mercy alone as I trust that the changes were brought out by Him alone.
God convicted me of a lot. Pride here. Arrogance there. More pride and arrogance spread liberally everywhere.
But this is a necessary part of the transformation that He works in us. This conviction. It is good for us, as long as we stay focused on Him.
And that is why my prayer for 2016 is for grace, mercy, and forgiveness for the pride and arrogance of the American church, of which I have been a great contributor.
Father, forgive us!
Forgive us for thinking that our land can be healed by legislating Your Word and forcing it upon those who don’t know You… those whom we have not even tried to introduce to You.
Forgive us for the lack of love we so very often display.
Forgive us for our selfishness… for caring more about our own rights and privileges and less about the hurting world that Jesus surrendered everything for.
In Your goodness, grant us the grace to see the world through Your eyes… to see ourselves through Your eyes… and to see past how we think You see people so that we can understand how You really see them through Your eyes of infinite love.
Teach us to be a Light in the darkness of depression and loneliness and despair, rather than a gavel that crushes those already struggling.
Transform us into what You are calling us to be, and give us a heart that seeks You first above all things.
This is my heart’s desire.