{"id":507,"date":"2018-07-12T16:04:02","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T15:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/?p=507"},"modified":"2018-09-04T16:58:41","modified_gmt":"2018-09-04T15:58:41","slug":"how-can-i-be-fully-alive-this-afternoon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prayerscapes.com\/blog\/how-can-i-be-fully-alive-this-afternoon\/","title":{"rendered":"How can I be fully alive this afternoon?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Paul\u2019s letter to the Ephesians, he exhorts them to be \u201cfully alive like Christ<\/a>\u201d (Eph:4:13, The Message). But what does it mean to be fully alive? I believe that being \u201cfully alive\u201d is not some special state we only touch in moments of connection, achievement, joy or participation. To be \u201cfully alive\u201d is to be fully real. When we seek to be fully alive in the presence of our loving Father, we can relax, let it all hang out! We can fully accept ourselves, we can communicate honestly with each other and we are released to engage with the wonder of the world around us in the present moment. We become aware again that we are in the presence of the majesty of heaven.<\/p>\n

However, praying in the afternoon presents certain challenges. I find morning prayers easier to say \u2013 there is something inspirational about the blank canvas of the day and the promise that it holds that causes my faith to come alive. But as the day passes, my expectations can fade. Afternoon for me can be like the tipping point between the hopes of youth and the acceptance of age, or the refreshing experience of new relationships and the stamina required to maintain an ongoing commitment to someone. So I really need to invite God into my afternoon, the afternoon of my marriage, the afternoon of my career, the afternoon of my parenting and the afternoon of my health.<\/p>\n

We are always in the presence of God (Matthew 28:20<\/a>), so let\u2019s take hold of these afternoon times in our lives and days. Let\u2019s press on to be all we could be and use scripture, music, visuals or our senses to engage with the spiritual hunger that is within us. Let\u2019s allow hope to arise in our hearts and faith to arise from our lethargy. Now is the time to be alive and allow God to engage with us in every moment:-<\/p>\n

Afternoon Prayer<\/h3>\n

O Lord, help me to be fully alive in this moment.
\nRight now I choose to become
\nEverything that you have created me to be.
\nFace to face, I long for you.
\nDeep to deep, I draw close to you.
\nHeart to heart, I touch you.
\nMay I feel your perfect love
\nKnow Your heavenly hope
\nAnd receive your gift of faith.
\nMay this moment stay with me
\nFor the rest of this day.<\/p>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n