Crying Out

Father God, in Lamentations 3:21-23 we are told; But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Oh Father, I am praying this morning in what might be a very mixed,  maybe even confused and rambling way...praying a prayer of lament; Father God hear my prayer, Oh Father how long, Lord God, I pray for your grace in dealing with me, with each of us. I pray for your miraculous healing and an end to the Coronavirus. And I pray that the day would come quickly so that families can gather, grandkids can visit, and church families might come together in person and in true community once again.  

I pray a prayer of thanksgiving as I am so thankful that most everyone I know is ok, and I confess my pity party as I suffer nothing more than a little inconvenience.  Father, forgive me and thank you for your steadfast love, your amazing grace and your oh so tender mercies.  Thank you for your daily blessings, for provisions, for sunshine, for blue skies, for air to breath and water to drink and food to eat. And Father in this trying time, I pray with a grateful heart for your Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that he would come to seek and save, that he would take on my, our transgressions so that we might be eternally healed, that he would overcome the world. And thank you for your Spirit, your Spirit that is with us that we might be guided and comforted in these crazy days. Oh Lord, May we all take heart.

Father God, I also pray a prayer of petition that more and more and more would turn to you, to know you, to hear the good news of the gospel in many different ways, yes even online.  I pray for first responders, medical professionals, others that can’t stay home, praying that your protection, strength and encouragement would be with them, I pray for the sick and those suffering, for those in need, those out of work, praying that your provision, your healing touch, your comfort and most wonderful peace would be with them all, I pray for those in authority and scientist focused on this virus, praying for wisdom and new breakthroughs.  

Father, I pray for churches everywhere that they might press on in new ways, with technology and with heartfelt love and concern for church families, for friends, for neighbors and the communities in which we live, serving even if serving means staying away for a while. Father I pray for pastors everywhere as they share the good news that is Jesus. I pray your Spirit would be with them! Oh Lord, I pray for people everywhere that might “tune-in”, that there might be spirit filled and joyful worship.

Finally Father, I pray a prayer of great hope, knowing our hope is in you. Father, Billy Graham once said; “I've read the last page of the Bible, it's all going to turn out all right.” Oh Father, like Reverend Graham, help us know and trust in the love you have for us and help us know with every fiber of our being that it’s all going to turn out all right!

Abba Father, I pray this all in the mighty and wonderful and loving and amazing name of Jesus Christ! Amen and Amen!!!

Grace and Peace!

A Little Time On My Hands

While I intellectually understand the need and necessity of social distancing and the need to stay isolated, this can be unsettling in our culture of crazy busy, 24/7 access to anything. And after what seems like a month in this essential period of social distancing, isolation, and self-quarantine, you might find yourself getting a little antsy.  I know I am and I also know how wonderful I have it, still there is this uneasiness, this underlying frustration. Yet, when I can get past those feelings, I am so thankful; thankful that so far everyone in my world seems to be ok.  I am without true struggle and so blessed – I have shelter, food, music, technology, health, freedom and so much more.  

Also, there has been a personal benefit, I find myself crying out, turning toward, praying more.  It has caused me to think deeply about how to and what to do with this time.  You know I used to blog quite a bit, but haven’t written or posted anything since March 7, 2018 – you guessed it I have been too busy.  So, I thought I might capture some of my thinking, my struggles, my journey.  

When I can get past the clutter in my mind, when I can slow down enough, you know when I am not so busy, I sometimes ask what is God teaching me?  I try to see what passages in the Bible come before me, and I try to think and pray it through.  Recently, Psalm 46:10 has come up in several different ways.  

Psalm 46:10 ESV

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

It is said that this was Martin Luther’s favorite Psalm, that he turned to it in trying times.  In fact, he wrote the words and melody to the famous hymn, “Our God is a Mighty Fortress” based on this Psalm. Scholar H. C. Leupold once wrote, “Few psalms breathe the spirit of sturdy confidence in the Lord in the midst of very real dangers as strongly as does this one.”  And couldn’t we all use some “sturdy confidence” right now? That’s the real point of this psalm, that we have a God that conquers all so we can relax, we can know and trust that our great God has got this and he will never leave nor forsake us.  For me it means I can be still, that it is ok not to be so busy; from the Greek this is translated to cease striving and know, it means to stop so that you can see and perceive, so you can find out, so you can get to know, so you can be acquainted with (see Strong’s H3045).

But how do we do this?  Well in this time of a little time on our hands, maybe a little contemplative time.  I read somewhere that contemplative prayer has the key elements of silence, repose (rest and tranquility) and beholding.  Isaiah 30:15 says “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest you shall be saved: in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

So, what am I saying, what is the big idea…the idea; at least for me, is that perhaps with this time on my hands, in this time when I can’t come and go and be in crowds, that I can spend some of it with Jesus.  That I can be still, silent, tranquil and behold the Savior of the world; my Savior, my rescuer, my all in all.  That I can strive a little less so that I can see and perceive, that I can get to better know and be better acquainted with the one that loves me like no other.

To conclude, I have been reading a book written by Brian Zahnd called “The Unvarnished Jesus.” It is a series of daily reflections or devotionals to be used during Lent.  One of the daily reflections focuses on busyness and in it Zahnd writes, “Without some form of contemplative practice we will spend too much time in one of three undesirable mental states: drifting back into the painful past, flitting about in the distracted present, or rushing ahead into the anxious future.”  He continues, “In liturgical and personal prayer we use words to become properly formed and to present our petitions. But in contemplative prayer we sit silently acknowledging the presence of Christ. Each morning I initiate a time of sitting with Jesus with this prayer: Christ I acknowledge you. Christ above me, very God of very God. Christ below me, incarnate of the earth, Christ before me when seen. Christ behind me when unseen.  Christ at my right hand in my strength. Christ on my left in my weakness. Christ all around me filling all things everywhere with himself. Christ within me, formed by faith. Then I simply sit with Jesus for Jesus himself is salvation, peace, and healing.  I pray that you too can find the transcendent peace that comes from learning to quietly sit with Jesus on a daily basis.”

Everyone, by all means connect with others, help neighbors, serve, exercise, read more but maybe just maybe we can use some of this time to connect with Jesus in a transforming, exciting, deep and personal way!

Grace and Peace!