Disturb Us Oh Lord!

Life is a journey. This metaphor is a familiar one. Recently it has taken on new meaning as we faced changes to the normal routine of life. For some, the changes have resulted in what is becoming known as "The Great Resignation". Currently the US Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting the high of 2.7% of the labor force are quitting their jobs, an increase of about 1%.
If your heart has moved you to be part of "The Great Resignation", you have no doubt drawn upon the courage that the explorer and Navigator Sir Francis Drake felt as he prayed the following.
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
Prayer offered by Navigator and Explorer Sir Francis Drake
Jesus' call to Peter to step out of the boat and walk on water toward him is the courage that is deeply relied upon when one chooses to follow Jesus not only into new ventures but also to remain in difficult situations when it would be easier to run away.
William Borden lived a life which modeled the courage to stay as well as the courage to go and the courage required to make the decision to stay or to go. Borden in his Bible wrote three phrases that flowed from a heart full of courage - No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets.
This kind of courage flows from a heart-to-heart relationship with the One who controls the waters on the Sea of Galilee. Courage comes from intimacy with King Jesus. Cultivating this kind of intimate relationship with Jesus is not done in isolation but with others who are also on the journey praying Sir Francis Drake's prayer.
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