Teach Me to Surrender

I always come back to the knowledge that it's in the moments that I'm the happiest,

the most contented--

that I fall.

Scripture even says

"Be careful if you think you stand, lest you fall."

And how little I heed that warning.

How often I go my own way

and allow my head to be turned by pretty things or kind words or even my own fleshly heart.

And how it makes me ache,

knowing that the only person who causes this is me--

me.

Oh God,

how I need You!

Every hour I need You.

Teach me to surrender my desires,

my emotions,

my plans,

my dreams,

my heart,

my intentions,

my affections--

all of me--

To only You.

You are my God--

please teach me to live that way instead of stumbling around in the darkness

groping for the path beneath my feet.

Shine a light into my heart and make me new again--

pure again.

Oh God,

I can't do it on my own,

and I need You.

Hear my prayer, Lord Jesus,

please.

Grateful

Tonight I'm so infinitely grateful.

For you.

For what God is doing in and through us,

for bringing us together--

for giving us a future and a hope.

I'm thankful for warm beds and midnight movie-watching

I'm thankful for the way you make me laugh and the way you hold my hand

I'm thankful for the way you pry the thoughts out of my head

and the way you gently correct me when I'm wrong

I'm thankful for your goofy moments and for reminding me that life's too short to be serious

I'm thankful for the people who love you and who have embraced me

I'm thankful for your thrill about diesel trucks and turbo-boosts and hunting birds and Taco Bell

And that grin that spreads across your freckled cheeks and lights up your blue eyes

Never in all my days could I express the amount of love I have for you, my friend

You are a God-send and a friend,

and I love you.

Thank you for taking a chance with me.