the 'american sniper' in me

   It is so easy for me when life is going smooth to simply give God a big thumbs up and go on my merry way. Then when life gets tough I kick into prayer mode lamenting my difficulties.  I might even pout a bit.
   Well it is January 2015 and I have several resolutions including losing weight, but the most important resolution has to do with being closer to God.  He is always there, but I have a tendency of fitting him in rather being in day long communion with him.  My prayer is to be praying without ceasing where through out my day I am sharing with God my worries and praising him for the promise of his presence.
   In the war movie Saving Private Benjamin there is one character who is a sniper who is an amazing good shot.  The little side note to his accuracy is he prays before each shot, and he never misses.  Until.. in one dramatic war scene the enemies frenzied attack was overwhelming the Americans to the point where this sniper hurries his shots and no longer is praying.  He is doing it on his own, and eventually is overcome and killed in this climactic final battle.

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   I have had for years this sniper story stuck in my mind as an analogy where I am prayerful and peaceful in my life, and no matter my circumstance I feel God's presence.  Then there are other times where life has overtaken me and I am in panic mode and an attitude of prayer is not evident in my life except to cry out for help.  There is no attitude of communing with God there is only Jeff flaying away trying to do it on my own in PANIC MODE.
   Now please don't worry I am not a literal sniper that you are going to someday here about on the 6pm news, but instead I desire to be in a relationship with God that grows so close I know he is with me and blessing my efforts no matter my circumstance.  What if my relationship with God was so close there was no room for self.  What if my attitude of prayer was such a part of me I could shoot down any attack from the enemy.

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  So here is the end of my Jeff the sniper analogy.  I don't even own a gun, but I desire so much to be close to God and never again just going through life 'fitting in' God when convenient and not hurried.  I don't want to be known as just a Sunday Christian, I want to be a lean mean 'sniper' machine.  Figuratively speaking of course. :)
   May God bless each of you as you draw near to Him.  May your relationship with Him be such that it brings peace to your hearts, and is a testimony to this world.

Jeff

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