Chris' prayer: Steven Curtis Chapman's "Only Natural"

Advertisements. Newspaper and magazine articles. Television shows. Music. We are constantly bombarded with messages that tell us both what "natural" is and how we should do "what comes naturally." It is natural, for instance, for men to sow their seed, to desire physical intimacy as a primary need. It is natural, we are told, to protect our own interests, to look out for ourselves. It is natural to seek justice for those who have wronged us, and also somehow natural to seek to avoid justice when we have wronged others. It's only natural.

But, as Chapman explains, we are not called to be natural. We are called by God to be supernatural. We are called to rise above our natural instincts. Indeed, what other creatures are able to move past instinctual urges, to supersede them?

One way that we are able to reach past natural instinct is by forgiving others. Taken logically, it doesn't make any sense to forgive people when they hurt us, and indeed, we see this on a national level all the time. Nations don't want to be seen as weak and vulnerable, so they avoid asking for forgiveness for the wrongs they have committed. On a personal level, we do it, too. It is not easy to place one's self in the vulnerable position of asking for forgiveness. However, we have all experienced the relief and grace that comes with not only asking for forgiveness (whether it is granted or not), but also in providing that relief and grace for others. By sharing in the grace that comes in saying or receiving "I'm sorry," we are able to become more than what is natural.


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Catie's prayer: Steven Curtis Chapman's "Only Natural"

Only natural, only natural

I want to be genuine. I want to be real. I'm not sure that is always the case though. I like to think that I am not fake, but I wonder how many times I'm not. I really hate it when people are fake or you can obviously tell that they are acting fake, but I know I am guilty of it as well. I want to be real though. I'm not really sure what "real" for me is at this point is though.

Katie's prayer: Steven Curtis Chapman's "Only Natural"

There are many things people my age believe to be "natural." Some examples: having sex before marriage, going out and getting drunk every weekend, wearing revealing clothes, taking illegal drugs, getting a C in a class and being ok with it and other such destructive behaviors.

I'm not like them, in fact, I'm the opposite. The reason: Jesus and the high importance I give Him in my life. So I began to think, what would my life be like if I had never gone to lifeteen? How would my life be different if my faith wasn't quite so important? In all honesty, I would probably be exactly like all those other people my age. I wouldn't have the amazing "Jesus-friends" that I have. I would probably be at the bar every weekend. I would have gone a lot further with my first boyfriend. And I probably would have tried and maybe even been successful in committing suicide last semester, cause without Jesus, and without the friends I have because of Jesus and my faith, my life would have been hopeless. So I'm glad I'm not "natural." My life is so much better with Jesus. I'm glad that

I've got the Spirit of the living God alive in me,
Giving me power so I don't have to be
Only natural.

Jen's prayer: Steven Curtis Chapman's "Only Natural"

´Cause when I look at you I see
A prisoner set free from his chains
Acting like he´s still a slave
To the prison he´s been set free from

Isn't this the truth? Even after I am set free from sins, I still look in the mirror and see that old self. Steven talks about how this is natural, but luckily we have a spirit living inside us that makes us supernatural. Awesome.

Jesus, I pray you fill me with your spirit so I don't have to be only natural. Let me see myself through your eyes: free of my past.

Megan's prayer: Steven Curtis Chapman's "Only Natural"

I'd say that most of my appearance is "natural." I still have my natural hair color, I don't wear makeup very often, and I've even started to let my hair dry naturally - a big mop of curls.

I like this naturalness. I'm not trying to hid who I am - I'm happy with showing everyone who I am, naturally.

Today's song made being "only natural" sound like a bad thing, and I guess from the song's viewpoint, it somewhat is. If being natural means living with God, I don't want to be "only natural."

I´ve got the Spirit of the living God alive in me
Giving me power so I don´t have to be
Only natural, only natural