8–Full of Nice Surprises

After our short July 4th Independence Day break (yay America!), we return to Summer Fun with Biblical Numbers.

Step 1: Relax. Ask Jesus to visit with you. Tell Him any concerns on your mind. [As usual, I will include the beginning of my responses as an example for you to read or skip over.]

[Dear God, thank you for sitting with me today. You know how grateful I am for the happiness we shared over the weekend with the parade and the cookout and most of the grandkids here. Thanks for the progress in answering one of my big prayers this summer. I feel like I’m always asking You for things, but You said to bring our concerns to You so I am. Big time. God, please help me with …]

Step 2: Read the prompt. What word, question, image, feeling stands out to you?

EIGHT is like a ribbon easily untied to reveal a gift. Eight, in Jewish tradition, is associated with celebration. Eight symbolizes the Resurrection because it occurred eight days after Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. Eight may also symbolize the Sacrament of Baptism since that is how we become eligible for our own resurrection. Eight also symbolizes transfiguration because our bodies are transformed at our resurrection. In addition: eight people survived the flood. Circumcision, a symbol of a covenant with God, was performed on the eighth day. And the numeral eight, on its side, is the symbol of infinity which means “without limits”, which is, of course, our God.

Step 3: Talk to Jesus as you would a good friend. Tell Him how you feel about what you read. Did the prompt have anything to do with the concerns you had when you started prayer?

[After reading the prompt several times, the word and image that stands out is infinity/outer space/the unknown heavens. If I think about this too long I’ll get a headache. There’s just so much more of You to be revealed. I joined Kirk’s bible study on the Book of Revelation to better understand his church’s view on it, and sometimes I think your Second Coming is right around the corner. There is so much sin in the world. And on so many levels–from world governments to our individual selves, to me. And yet the world is so beautiful. As is outer space. As is the tiniest little bugs I find crawling on the leaves in my garden. And each one of us has to transform from our childhood understanding of You to our adult understanding and even that won’t come close to knowing all about You. It really will be quite a surprise, quite a gift to unwrap, when we finally meet You face-to-face. All of it feels happy and optimistic to me.

But right now in my earthly life, I need Your guidance with two situations. Please help me know if I should ____ or _____. And regarding the second situation, I have no idea what my options are. Please tell me what I should do next. Why do I feel like You are saying ‘nothing’? That’s a tough option to take. But I will listen for Your help.]

Step 4: Contemplate. Aaah. Exhale. Let God speak to you. Just relax in the silent presence of God.

[I need more time to contemplate, Jesus. But it does feel good just to know You are listening. I promise to listen for Your advice too.]

Step 5: Pray: How do you feel about what God said to you? Sometimes you get a clear idea, feeling, memory or word in your mind as an answer. Sometimes, the answer doesn’t come until hours after your prayer has ended, when God can catch you in an unguarded moment. Either way, wrap up your feelings and thoughts into a prayer.

[God, I was just thinking about the nuns who taught me You were everywhere. Last night in my Bible-in-a-Year program, I read Psalm 139 “Where could I go to escape from you? If I went up to heaven, you would be there, if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there… you would be there to lead me.” I also heard this on a show I was watching a few nights ago. I always feel three incidents of something like this is a message from You. So thank you for reassuring me that You’ll lead me and that You are always with me. I guess You are saying that it’s not time for me to make those two decisions yet. I can wait for another day.]

Step 6: Take something to keep in your heart until your next prayer session. Writing down a word, phrase, memory–no matter how short–will help you see God’s presence in your life over time.

[You are there.]