I guess this week I was convicted of the idea that my prayers will make an impact on my husband's everyday life and his eternal life. I was convicted that my prayers can help my husband better hear God's voice. If my husband is supposed to be the spiritual leader in our household, doesn't it make sense that I pray for his spiritual life? Duh.
Another big point, for me, this week was the idea that our time here on earth is really training for our time in Heaven. As I'm training for a half-marathon right now, this analogy struck me and makes me think, "How much more enjoyable will Heaven be if I am more prepared? If I am closer to God? If I know Jesus up and down? Don't I have more fun and feel more relaxed at a party when I know the host well?"
Am I prepared for an eternity in Heaven with God?
Here's The Message version to the race analogy:
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
I've got a lot of "stuff" to cut out of my life, so I can run without hindrance. I do so much preparation to run, but am I preparing myself and my family for life in Heaven with God?
I map out my run and the distance I am going. I stretch before I go. I make sure I have eaten and have drunk enough water. I tie my shoes. I pull my hair back. I put on the headphones. I take a deep breath.
And I run with a goal. With a destination in mind.
Can I go deeper in my preparation for my spiritual life? Can we map out a course for our spiritual life as a family? We sure can. We started by making a family mission statement.
Even though we have done this, I feel like I need to live this life with the idea that the way we are living our lives here on earth is supposed to be growing us for the future. We should be learning from our experiences, getting to know God through prayer and getting to know ourselves as God made us. Only then can we become what he wants us to be.
So how has my training been going? I'm doing well with the encouragement of my husband and friends. Hmmmm. I'm doing well with the encouragement of my husband and friends. The Daddy's kind words are working. His extra effort to take care of the kids while I run is working. I don't know if he's prayed for my perseverance, but I kinda got a feelin' he is.
So there's my proof. I need to encourage my husband in his "training" through my words, my actions and my prayers.
I've got some work to do.
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