prayer

Waiting (on the Lord?)

Sometimes the wait seems…

…so long.

…and fruitless.

…and pointless.

…and well-deserved.

So I keep on waiting.

What else am I to do?

He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

He brought me up . . . out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. —You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world. We all had our conversation in times past in the lusts our flesh.

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed. —Out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. —We went through fire and through water: thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.

—PSA. 18:16. —Psa. 40:2. -Eph. 2:1,3.Psa. 61:1,2. -Jon. 2:2,3. -Psa. 66:12.Isa. 43:2.

Source: Daily Light on the Daily Path

Know Who You’re Talking To?

How frequently I forget The Jesus Option in my long-running woes and spur-of-the-moment desperations!

How easily I pray a bit and quit!

How often I petition God earnestly…while suspecting He doesn’t have in mind to satisfy my need!

Now, reading this a few minutes ago, I don’t know what to make of it:

If you and I knew who Jesus was—really, really knew—would we pray differently? […]

He commended people who gave Him no rest in these concerns.

Two blind men gave Him no rest. They cried out to Jesus, and not only did He ignore them, He walked into someone’s house. They had to barge in after Him before they got satisfaction Matthew 9:27-31.

The Syrophoenician woman gave Him no rest. She begged to the point of harassment, and Jesus gave her no encouragement. But she would not be put off until she got satisfaction Mark 7:24-30.

Maybe Jesus was waiting to see how badly they wanted what they wanted, and how strongly they believed He was both merciful and able.

What is it that you wished for today that you kept to yourself and didn’t even think to pray for because you didn’t believe God would be willing to grant it?

Once again, many thanks, Andreé Seu (‘If you knew’).

Committed to Dangerous Aid

Turmoil has severely limited food and other necessities in several countries across the Middle East and North Africa. Aid is in high demand. Churches and individual believers are responding, but very much at their own risk.

[…]

In a region where believers are often threatened even during peace time, Christians are especially at risk now–even when they’re doling out desperately-needed aid.

“We think humanitarian effort and helping people in conflict is something everyone will respond to favorably. But they [Christians] know that as they do this, this actually makes them more visible, and it actually puts them in more danger, more in harm’s way,” says BGR’s Jeff Palmer.

[…]

“They choose to do this because the love of Christ compels them,” Palmer explains. “They can’t sit and watch this as people suffer. They can’t watch and not take advantage of what’s happening right now to help people and to make Christ known.”

As believers continue literally to risk their lives for the sake of serving others throughout the Middle East and North Africa, pray for God to provide them with courage and wisdom.

Source: Even Christian aid workers not safe in volatile regions

PS: You could also add love and faithfulness to that prayer list.

How to Be Perplexed

Paul admitted to being “perplexed but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8). I am curious about what could perplex a mature believer like Paul to the extent that despair was in the ballpark of contemplatable reactions. He doesn’t go into detail, so we must imagine.

[…]

I would suspect that what perplexed Paul was what has perplexed God’s people of all time—God seeming to act inconsistently with his promises or character. One psalmist asked God: “Why, O LORD, do you stand afar off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1). That’s my perplexity too. Recently I prayed according to Hebrews 6:11 for “grace to help in time of need”—and I felt no different afterward, no abating of symptoms.

There are two different choices you can make at that point. You can be perplexed in doubt, or you can be perplexed in faith. Francis Schaeffer had said that there are at all times only the two “chairs” in the room: unfaith and faith.

[…]

Here is the other way to be perplexed when your soul is in distress. The first part of the sentence may be the same:

“Lord, I’m perplexed. I came to the throne like You said [but at this point it takes a different turn] and I didn’t feel any differently after I prayed, nor any abating of my distress. I am tempted to think You didn’t hear me. But I will not go there. I know that You require faith. You said in your Word that if anyone would come to You he must believe that You exist and that You reward the one who earnestly seeks You (Hebrews 11:6). So I will believe that You heard me. I believe that as soon as I asked for help, You heard me and You are working something out. I will put my trust in You. Help me to be perplexed without unbelief.”

Really, you would do well to read the whole piece: How to be perplexed.

Egypt: Fasting and Prayer

While many fear the Muslim brotherhood could hijack Egypt’s revolution, one organization says there’s a spirit of hope for Christians in that predominately-Muslim nation.

President of IN Network USA Rody Rodeheaver says, “There is a rejoicing. I think there is a genuine joy on their part that [President] Mubarak has stepped down and that there is some hope for change and maybe some real freedom and a voice in the country.”

[…]

Rodeheaver says Christians have set aside the next three days for fasting and prayer “that the revisions of the constitution will not shut out the Christians.”

[…]

Rodeheaver also says Christians are reaching out to help Egyptians adversely affected by the poor economy caused by the riots. “They used to be poor, and now they’re extremely poor and quite destitute. So our staff is reaching out to these people and trying to provide groceries.”

Source: Egypt: a window for the Gospel

Crazy Behind the Wheel

Or on the sidewalk.

Or in Walmart.

I hope I get pulled over for illegal cell phone usage; then I can tell the officer what I was really doing. Maybe plant a seed.

[…]

My son who lives in the heart of Philly says it’s no good now with everybody packing a cell phone and moving their lips as they walk down the street alone: “You can’t tell who the crazies are anymore.” Personally, I find the whole development liberating. I can talk to God all I want while cruising down Easton Road and nobody cares anymore. Between the tweeters and drunkards and prayers, it’s hard to tell who is crazy.

I like that!

And if you are a Christian, you really ought to read the rest of Andrée Seu’s piece at World Magazine Blog.

Above all, love God!
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