Disturb

I read this prayer by Sir Francis Drake years ago and fell in love with it. I found a copy of it recently when cleaning my nightstand. On top of my nightstand is a beautiful mess of favorite books, Bibles, journals, and pens. A notebook that I don’t open often is there too. It stands between old Toastmaster magazines and a filled up journal.

My inspiration notebook. It’s like Pinterest but it’s real paper and glue and stickers and clippings from magazines, and printed pictures, and other mementos. It’s notes from friends, advice from mentors, critiques and praises from audiences, drawings from my kids, prayers and favorite Scripture. It’s a collection of things that touch me. That inspire me or encourage me. Make me laugh or cry. Cause wonder and gratitude. The things in the notebook help me remember.

I remember that I am God’s masterpiece and He has gifted me with unique talents. He has placed people in my life for me to love and encourage. To show them Jesus.

That’s hard and messy sometimes. I don’t always do it well and sometimes I don’t do it all.

I remember that I don’t want to be a casual Christian. My dream is not to be comfortable. I want to do the hard things Jesus calls me to. Forgiving, serving, surrendering, sharing and loving.

So when I’m tempted to think that what I want is a comfortable life I read this prayer again and let it do what it does. Remind me. Awaken my heart.

Disturb me, Lord.

“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 arrive 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 wilder seas, where storms will show your mastery, where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
We ask you to push back the horizon of our hopes, and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.
This we ask in the name of our Captain, who is Jesus Christ. ”

― Sir Francis Drake

Succumb