Putting the 'u' back in 'Labor'

Contrary to popular belief, this recent initiative of mine isn't a covert operation I'm running for the Canadian government as an attempt to stage a language coup... although that sounds pretty exciting!

This initiative, rather, is in regard to my prayer life. There have been a lot of things that have caused me to look at how I pray, and... more importantly, perhaps... who I'm praying for.

There are circumstances in my life as of late for which there is no action I can possibly take other than to pray. For me, a hopeless (or hopeful, depending on how you look at it) fixer, I am being exceedingly challenged. Essentially, I'm learning -- perhaps for the first time -- how to truly labor in prayer. I'm learning what it means to truly be on my knees... no... on my face in prayer. It's so much more than lip service... it's a labor of tears, love, striving... it consumes time, life, energy. It's a full time job, really. But why would this be happening here? Why now? It's because God Himself is putting the 'you' back in labor.

My prayers are so often wrapped up in my own thoughts, desires, hopes, dreams, reputation, vindication... the list could go on. I've gotten pretty good at laboring and petitioning on my own behalf in these 24 years of life. Now 'you' (yes, you) are invading my heart. The concept and reality of 'you' is invading my prayers. God is putting all the 'you's back in my labor. It's amazing, to be sure, but wow... finding a place for 'you' is pretty painful. I'm staring my selfishness in the face. I'm seeing how little capacity my heart has at times. But praise the Lord for being the first to labor -- to the point of crying tears of blood and giving His life, His entire life... body, soul, spirit and all. He is the one requiring this labor... therefore, He will be the one to see it through to the end. I pray that I will persevere in this labor and see it to the end with Him.

"We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labo(u)r, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me." -- Colossians 1:28-29