Archive for November, 2009

“ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,  neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. “ Isaiah 55:8 NIV

Do you ever get carried away praying your plans for a friend or loved one?  Have you included detailed suggestions as to the perfect answer for an urgent prayer need?

Recently when this happened to me I was reminded of the passage in the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:10.  I am to pray God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.  I had it backwards! I was trying to pray my will from earth into heaven.

I have had to learn this over and over as I pray for others.  My nursing background makes me want to see everybody whole and “fixed.” and not suffering. Just as we do not have the thoughts of God, we often are not on His timetable. He is working in ways we can not discern but, once we pray to the best of our understanding and leading, we must trust Him to work the situation out in His time and in His way.

I realize now it is much wiser to pray for God’s will to be done in a troubling situation. In addition we can search for Scriptures that pertain to the situation and pray those.  The Father loves to hear His words spoken back to Him.  I could never understand why this would be so until a comparison came to me.  It is like a parent who tries and tries to teach a child something and then rejoices when they hear the child saying the teaching back like he was the one who thought of it.  Then the parents knows the child “got it.”
I think God rejoices to hear His children quoting His words back to Him. It shows Him we have been diligent to read His word and to believe it.

I also am learning to pray that the will of the person involved will line up with God’s will.  This is a perfect prayer as it bypasses all my well intended suggestions.

Lord, help me to remember that your ways are not my ways, and that I don’t have answers for others unless your spirit reveals it to me.  Help me to learn to wait on you and discern what you may be doing in any given situation.  Help me to trust more in your perfect timing.

“In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2

I was at a prayer meeting recently where the leader played the piano and we sang the words of the beautiful old hymn, “The way of the cross leads home.”  The actual title of the song is, I Must Needs Go Home. My imagination took flight as I thought of the comparisons of a good earthly home and our heavenly home.

My idea of a good home is one where we are accepted and valued in spite of our deficiencies. We are inspired to be the best we can be but are not constantly criticized
and corrected. The environment is comfortable emotionally as well as physically.

A good home offers warmth and welcome as well as respite from the outside world.
It is a place we can “let our hair down” and put our feet up and rest. Everything about it is familiar and the door is always open. We can feel the cares of life lift when we go over the threshold and experience the fellowship of our family. Sometimes we are embraced and kissed depending on how long we have been away. Many of us have dreamed of home when we have been in a foreign land. Holidays and special occasions evoke nostalgia. In our imaginations we smell the good food that we enjoy at these gatherings.

Going to our eternal home will be proceeded by a festive event called the marriage supper of the Lamb. The words of the song continue with, “then I bid farewell to the way of the world, To walk in it nevermore; for my Lord says, ‘come’, and I seek my home, where He waits at the open door.”

Consider all the above comparisons of a good home and our eternal home. Our home here (if it is a good caring home) is but a shadow of the blessings of our heavenly home.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” I Corinthians  2:9

Lord, Help me to eagerly anticipate and look forward with joy to the place you have prepared for me. Let this help to keep me motivated to serve you with all my heart, mind and soul while I sojourn on this earth and live in the home I have here. Help me to make my home a welcoming, comfortable, accepting place for my family. In the name of Jesus. Amen

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Psalm 42:1 (NKJV).  .

Do you know what it is like to be really thirsty and not be able to get water?  Three days is about the longest most living creatures can live without water. There are a few exceptions, such as camels and elephants which have built in storage systems.

I picture the deer as it runs through the forest seeking water to quench its thirst.  It eagerly laps up the water when it comes upon the flowing brook.

I can relate to the Scripture above which pictures a deer panting for a stream of water. I have often felt thirsty for God when I could not seem to get to Him in a time of trouble.

The longer I am in this situation the thirstier I become for Him. Then when I finally break through to His presence (He is always there, sometimes we just do not perceive His presence) I drink deeply as I enjoy His fellowship and I am refreshed.

The Psalmist compares the deer to his own inner search for God. Scripture promises when we thirst not only can we drink but we will have water to pour out to others.

Jesus proclaims in John 7:37 “ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
I also am encouraged by the words of Revelation 21:6b, “to him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.”

I resolve to run to Him with my spiritual thirst just as the deer runs to the water brook to satisfy its thirst. I always want to drink deeply of the living water God provided in Jesus.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to always be aware of my need to drink deeply of the spiritual water you generously provide. Please give me many opportunities to share this living water with others as I live my life. In Jesus name, amen.

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  John 8:12

Recently I was sure I was guided in a ministry speaking opportunity to promote unity between denominations and races. The people making the decision did not accept my proposal. I was somewhat puzzled. Did I miss hear the Lord (my hearing is not perfect) or was I out of His timing?  It seemed like the right thing. I had spent a lot of time praying over it. What happened here?

As I prayed over this disappointment I tried to see if I missed the Lord. The thoughts have developed as follows.  Since Jesus is the light of the world I have the assurance that when I follow Him as best I can I will be walking in His light. The path may be illuminated just a little ahead of me rather than a fully lighted path.  We have examples in the Bible of moving ahead, even when they didn’t see much, or when what they did see was frightening (the children of Israel crossing the Red Sea for one example).

In addition to the lighted path we walk down, as believers, have the light inside of us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is to pray for guidance and then keep on walking in the light we have and more light will come.

With in two weeks I was offered a similar opportunity to minister interracially in another church. (completely unsolicited). This was what I was seeking but in a different venue.  The Lord opened the door with no effort on my part. Writing my proposal, which was not accepted, helped me to clarify exactly what I felt called to do, as well as think through how it could be accomplished

I take comfort in I Cor. 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

My desire is to reach a place of maturity where I am more steady and immovable and disappointments do not throw me off base. That would be a steady walk in the light I have and look not to the right or the left but straight ahead knowing the light is there
but my vision and hearing may need tuning.

Prayer, Lord help me to reach a new level of trust in your workings as I seek to be faithful to the work you have called me to do.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

I have to confess I am somewhat of a type A personality in that when I need something done I like to get right on it, get it done, and marked off my to do list.  In the assignments God entrusts to us this approach often does not work.

Recently upon arrival home from a writer’s conference my head was swimming with all the writing projects and speaking promotion I could do; however, I have had it with my own ideas that don’t lead anywhere except to frustration.  I want to be a good steward, so in the past I have run ahead with what seemed like the right thing to do, only to end up with no fruit to show for the effort.  It was as if I was saying to the Lord, “Come along with me and bless my idea. You follow me, Jesus.”

A very proliferate writer/speaker said when she started praying five minutes a day over her ministry things really seemed to start happening. I certainly pray over what the Lord would have me pursue, but have interspersed those prayers into my regular time rather than a concentrated focus.

I decided I would try what she suggested as I was trying to sort through all the possibilities presented at the conference.  When I finished this prayer time I heard in my spirit, “Be faithful, not frantic”  I thought this was a very good word for many of us who want to serve the Lord, but sometimes shoot off in too many directions as we try to do our best for Him. (Noble as it is to want to serve Him)

Be faithful, not frantic is now my reminder that I am not to be anxious but to have faith in the Scripture in Psalm 138:8a  “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.” Then I will experience the peace promised in Philippians 4:7.”And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your heats and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Prayer: Lord, help me to stay submitted to your will for ministry and not my own ideas. Help me to stay focused and faithful, but not frantic.