Not wise enough to discern what is good or not…

Not once but four times yesterday the Lord gave me opportunity to speak with people that were on my heart and I wanted to talk with them. Two were friends who have been on the church prayer list for months and both of them were there for the first time in a long time. Chatting on the phone or with email is not the same as face-to-face, never mind the matter of hugs.

The other two were a surprise as well, consider a crowd of nearly 500 people. I wanted to introduce a teen to a woman whose son is the same age and considering coming to church next week. This boy would make a newcomer feel welcome and be glad to do so. I could not see him, but the next thing I knew, he was giving me a hug and getting the other boy’s name from his mom.

The last surprise involved a couple with a baby bump. I wanted to celebrate with them, but again, the crowd of people makes finding anyone a challenge. However, as we prepared to leave, they were in front of us and we rejoiced with them in anticipation of their first child.

Today’s devotional points out that God is good, and I should be thankful, not because of good things like those four instances, but because He is good. I am not wise enough to judge whether some things are really, in their essence, joys or sorrows; but knowing that He is good means I can be absolutely certain that everything He provides or permits must be good, including my recent illness. I’ve learned that I can be thankful for the trials. The key is being able to see the events of life with His eyes.

That is not always the way life comes to us. This last few weeks were wrapped in “rough coverings” and seemed worthless, even as if this came from the enemy and I did not want to accept what was happening. However, I would have lost something special. As the devotional writer says, be aware that we should not fight against the most unlikely for it may be a blessing from God that is temporarily disguised. As I learned first hand, submission is the route to victory, and very soon adds thanksgiving. As the chorus says, I can…

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:4)

Knowing God and realizing the truth about Him is vital to discerning the value of both “coincidental surprises” and unpleasant disasters. He is in charge and because of that, no matter what is happening, I can praise Him.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6)

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13)

PRAY: Jesus, of course I prefer the pleasant places, the pleasing surprises. I loved the calls from my adult children this week, their gifts and their thoughtfulness. I love it when my hubby does chores so I can have extra sleep and when my brothers both called the same day. I don’t like the struggle of trying to sleep with a persistent cough, yet am glad to have nights with no coughing at all. But what joy to realize that You use the unpleasant things to bless me also, to teach me that You are not absent but drawing me into a deeper relationship with You and a deeper understanding that love is not coddling me but preparing me for the surprises of how deep and wide is the love You have for this slow-to-learn child. Praise Your name, now and forever.

Why neglect prayer?

Prayer is linked to the blessing of a productive, fruitful life. If I am not praying, then a phrase from the Song of Solomon describes my situation, “ . . . my own vineyard I have not kept!” (Song of Solomon 1:6)

Jesus told His disciples a parable to encourage their prayer life and “not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). From the context, lack of prayer usually means lack of faith. I also get discouraged when prayer is not answered. However, not praying can mean that I have unconfessed sin in my life, or I am trying to handle life’s challenges on my own rather than seeking the guidance and power of God. I can blame prayerlessness on busyness, but if I am overwhelmed and do not pray, there are far more serious issues than a loaded schedule.

Today’s devotional reading points to Matthew 5 for indications about attitudes toward prayer. I can see several connections in what Jesus said . . . 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Poverty of Spirit is helplessness. Instead of despairing over my weakness, I need to consider that being impoverished is a blessed condition and let it draw me to God who has already placed me in His kingdom. He will take care of my emptiness.  

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” This could mean grief over a loss, or grief over my sinfulness. When a loss breaks my heart, what better comfort is there than that which God gives? When sin fills me with sorrow, there is no other way to find comfort but to confess that sin in prayer.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Meekness is an attitude of utter dependence that is certain God will give me what I need. I don’t like feeling helpless, but I do like experiencing God’s responses to my needs — needs that I have expressed in prayer. Neglecting prayer to “bite the bullet” and “do it myself” means missing the glory of receiving His grand gifts.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” The usual response to this hunger is “try harder” – but it does not work. It only frustrates me until I eventually must go on my knees before God and admit that I cannot satisfy my own desire to be a righteous person. Far better to pray in the first place.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” suggests that if I am not treating others with the same grace that God treats me. When that happens, I cease to enjoy His mercy and stop praying as that well appears to be dried up. That is, if prayer becomes dry, I should not stop praying, but ask God to show me what I am doing that blocks His answers. 

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” This is perhaps the most precious promise of all. While some say this points to the future and is about seeing God in eternity, I know that sense of seeing Him at work in my life and of having a deeper vision of Him when I pray. Obviously purity of heart is vital to this for sin puts up a barricade. Even though Christ died for my sin and I am accepted by God because of Him, and even though nothing in me can earn or deserve the favor of God, when I harbor impurity in my heart, my prayer life is hindered. As the psalmist said, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm 66:18) 

Even with all this and more from Jesus’ words in Matthew 5, neglecting prayer isn’t all about what it does to my life. Prayer is also about giving God the praise that is due Him. For that, we are to, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him and bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4) 

When I neglect prayer, then I have also turned my back on God.