Illogical prayer . . .

So much of what God does is opposite to what we would do. While we tell ourselves to be confident and strong, He provides strength in weakness. We boast of our skills and position in life, and He says, “Consider your calling . . .  not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong . . .” (1 Corinthians 1:26–27)

Human thinking says contentment is about having all you need, but God gives contentment whether that is true or not. Paul knew this contradiction . . .

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11–13)

We think we have no power over things like the weather, but “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” (James 5:17–18)

We feel helpless in the face of death, and for the most part, we are, yet God is not limited by what is impossible by our logic. Elijah stayed at the house of a widow who was very poor and God stretched her meager resources to take care of her, her son, and this prophet. This was another opposite to human thinking for a small bottle of oil and a small container of flour should not last as long as it did.

But then another disaster struck. The boy became ill and died. The widow called the prophet. Elijah prayed, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?  . . .  O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”

God heard Elijah’s prayer and answered by doing the impossible . . . “And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, ‘See, your son lives.’ And the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.’ (1 Kings 17:17–24)

Elijah’s prayers resulted in God doing what was contrary to reason. In another situation where Baal worship pulled the people into idolatry, this prophet challenged the prophets of Baal. He had a “sacrifice competition” by preparing two bulls . . .

Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” (1 Kings 18:22–24)

This was not a stunt. Elijah was outnumbered, but he prayed that what happened would honor God . . . “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” (1 Kings 18:36–38)

Again, God did the opposite of what seems logical, but fire fell from heaven, consuming the sacrifice and even the copious amounts of water Elijah had poured on it, plus the wood, the stones, and the dust. Who would dare to have prayed like that? Only someone who understands that God can do anything. His power is unlimited.

God, I know that nothing is too difficult for you. Keep my logic and reasoning out of my prayers. Let my requests honor You and may all Your answers bring You glory.

Want to see revival?

Prayer is a mystery. God knows everything and is sovereign over the universe. What difference does it make that I should pray? I don’t know much and certainly cannot control anything, yet He tells me to pray and He will not only hear but will answer.

I’m certain that in this study on prayer, the mystery will prevail. But I do know that prayer is a matter of faith; even though I do not understand how or why, God asks me to pray and I must trust Him and do what He says, whether I understand it or not.

That said, there are some examples of prayer that are larger than my imagination and challenge my faith. One of them happened when Solomon finished the temple. God heard this king’s prayer then told him, “I have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:12–20) In other words, “If you fall into sin and experience my judgment, pray and turn from your sin and I will hear and forgive you, and my judgment will cease.”

On another occasion, Hezekiah was king and realized that God’s anger toward them required a cleansing of the temple. He commanded those in charge and, “They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 29:10–18)

Prayer is not mentioned here, but this is an example of His people turning from sin and calling on God. If my life is filled with uncleanness, cleansing is vital to my relationship with God, but also how will He listen to my prayer for other things if I neglect to keep myself, the temple of the Holy Spirit, cleansed from sin? And the only way to do this is to confess my sin to Him.

Prayer is powerful. Elisha had prayed for a Shunammite woman to bear a son. She did, but the son died. She went to Elisha who prayed to the Lord, and the boy’s life was restored. (2 Kings 4:26–37)

When I read accounts of answered prayer like that one, I relate to the cry of Isaiah. I too would like God to come down, to answer my prayers in a mighty way . . .

Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. (Isaiah 64:1–3)

In the early church, the Lord answered prayer in great power. Since those days, periods of mighty change where God’s power is seen, have been called “revivals.” God breathes renewed life into His people and we become instruments of great changes in the lives around us.

My devotional reading asks about the last time I prayed for revival. It was not long ago, but I’m very aware of the prerequisites for this kind of prayer. This incident from the early church illustrates . . .

Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (Acts 19:18–20)

These were not pagans who were involved in practices that dishonored God, but “believers” who also had spent a great deal of money in their folly. For the Word of the Lord to prevail and increase in a powerful way, these Christians had to deal with their sin, even in a public way.

Revival hinges on effective prayer, and effective prayer hinges on confession of sin, not the sin of those without faith, but the sin of God’s people, my own sin included.

Going beyond petitions

The Japanese use a figure of a drum in which birds have built a nest to express good wishes for their friends. This practice comes from a story about a benevolent king who was concerned for the welfare of his people. He set a drum at the palace gates and said if anyone had a need, or a want, or a wrong to be taken care of, they should beat the drum. He would at once, day or night, grant that person an audience and grant whatever was needed to give them relief. However, such prosperity and contentment reigned throughout the land that no one needed to appeal for anything, so birds built their nests in the drum and filled it with their songs.

Today’s devotional says that God grants me access to Him like the people had access to this king. I know that day or night I can bring my petitions to Him and He will hear me and take care of my needs. But there is a greater blessedness. It is expressed in these verses:

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. (Psalm 145:1–2)

Knowing that my good King hears and responds to me, giving me access through faith in Jesus Christ is a tremendous blessing, yet there is more. Perhaps the psalmist realized what I can see in my own life ­­‑‑‑ that many of my petitions arise from fear or anticipated loss rather than trust and recognizing that the Lord is indeed taking care of His people. I really have no wants and can rest assured of His care. When things arise, I can beat the drum, but I do not have to keep hammering on it. As God assures me of His attention, my prayers of petition could easily become ceaseless praise. Rather than asking, I can be rejoicing and making music.

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Lord, sometimes when I pray I think how I’ve prayed certain requests for a long time. I know that You will answer these and the idea runs through my head that instead of praying, I should be thanking You. As I read about this drum filled with a bird’s nest, You are urging me to move from repetitive petition to repetitive praise. Thank You for the image and illustration, but even more, thank You that You are a King who takes such good care of Your people that we can live in joyful contentment like the subjects in this story. Help me to respond more to the songs in my heart than to any lingering concerns or doubts. I know that You have my best interests at heart, and I know that You are listening. I believe. Forgive my unbelief and open my mouth to praise You forever and ever.

(Clip art source)

Peace on the Learning Curve

Our church is part of a nationwide 24/7 prayer incentive. Members sign up for one hour commitments throughout the day and night for one week. One of my time commitments was yesterday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

When I got there, another woman was in the designated space. She signed up for 2:00 but was still praying. When she came out of the room, her appearance was changed. She looked younger, full of energy and her face shone. I don’t know what I looked like when my hour was over, but spending time with the Lord makes a difference. Being with Him brings more than contentment and joy to our faces.

For one thing, praying gives release from the cares of this world and the pressures of life. As God’s people have learned, we can . . . 

Cast our burdens on the LORD, and he will sustain us; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22, paraphrased)

God takes our burdens from us, and if not, He sustains us as we carry them. He keeps us unmovable in the sense that things do not bother us the same way they would have had we not taken our concerns to Him. The burdens are not as heaven because we know that He is carrying them too.

Yesterday before my prayer time, a friend told me that she was always calmed down when we were together. I was puzzled, and she explained that it was because I am “so well grounded.” Of course I pointed skyward and said my grounding was from God. She said she knew that.

God is the One who sustains. Knowing He is in control keeps my feet on the ground. Not only that, He produces peace in my heart. Trusting Him is not mere words. I know who He is and what He can do so am less inclined to worry. Because He cares, I can affirm Isaiah’s words . . . 

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)

This does not mean that I am never in a flap about something, nor is my life free of problems, trials, and perplexities. It does mean that He invites me to bring those things to Him. I still may have to do the tasks, take care of the issues, and untangle the messes, but not always. Sometime He simply does it for me. If not, He floods my heart with peace and joy so that I can think clearly to do my part and rise above the anxiety that I’d normally feel.

Yet being His child is a learning curve. The curve is gradual or steep, sharp or easy, full of danger or clear sailing, but no matter what jumps in front of me on this curve, God sustains me just as He promises. He keeps me at peace as I keep my mind on Him, trusting Him.

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Lord, today begins with a feeling that this might be a gentle-curve-day. If so, thank You for a rest from the past few days of a steep and uphill path. If not, I know that You are with me. Because You are a solid rock and the source of all things good, I am trusting You for whatever I need. You will sustain and guide me, giving me grace and mercy for every twist and turn, and even on the straighter stretches, of today’s learning curve. 

Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Connected by Faith

Today’s morning reading from Spurgeon says that faith is the only way by which I can obtain blessings from God. Even prayer cannot draw answers from His throne unless they are uttered by a person who believes. But believes what?

Faith is not thinking God will do whatever I ask. Instead, biblical faith is knowing that God exists, being certain that He hears and cares, and having assurance that when I pray, He will send the best answer. His responses are always according to His promises, not according to my desires and whims.

Abraham is called the father of faith. God promised him a son, and even though this man grew beyond the age where most could father a child, Abraham still believed that promise.

No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Romans 4:20–25)

Spurgeon says faith is like a telegraph wire that links earth and heaven. On this wire, God’s messages fly so fast that before we call He answers, and while we are yet speaking He hears us. If that wire of faith is broken, I cannot receive His promises. However, when I am in trouble and trust Him, He sends help on the wire of faith. If faith wavers or is missing, I call to God in vain.

Of course faith is first about knowing God exists. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Faith is next about trusting His plan for salvation, not trying to earn or deserve it on my own. He offers forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ and His death for my sin. He offers Himself and new life. Faith is relying on Jesus for peace with God.

Faith after that is about living in continued trust in all things, including prayer. When I pray, I need to trust Him to hear and answer my prayers, which are often requests. I tell God my needs and trust Him to supply.

But sometimes I catch myself telling God what to do when I pray. This is not faith in God but faith in my ideas and plans. It is also impertinence to think that I can give Him orders. No wonder these prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling.

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Thank you, Lord, for this reminder. The needs out there are great and my prayer list is long. Instead of focusing on what I should pray, I need to first remember that I am talking to You — Almighty God, the sovereign Ruler of the universe. You can do anything. No problem is too difficult. You also love me and will do what is best for me and for Your people. I don’t have to tell You what to do. Faith trusts You to do what is right.

Ultimate control and ownership

Ever since the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, the same question arises in our minds from time to time. We have Jesus’ response in what is called the Lord’s prayer, and the prayers in the Bible offer examples of how to pray. What I notice is the predominance of praise in those prayers.

For instance, in 1 Samuel 2, Hannah has just dedicated her child, Samuel, to serve the Lord for rest of his life. This is a child that she prayed for and longed for and now leaves him in the temple with the priest. He is still very young, in fact, just weaned. I cannot imagine how she feels, but her prayer is filled with clues. All ten verses are filled with praise for the God of her salvation!

Verse 8 says, “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and He has set the world upon them.”

This is Hannah’s world view. She not only sees the power of God, but also His ownership. She knows that He can do what He wishes with her beloved Samuel, making him great if that is His choice. She also knows that even before the child was born, he belonged to God.

These ideas are part of Christian theology, but that doesn’t mean they come easily to our world view. Sin’s notion is that “I control my world” and “Whatever is mine is mine.” Logic and faith say otherwise, but the power of sin ignores both.

Not only that, Christians are tested on these truths all the time. How many people, even God’s people, will say after today that the winner of the US election was not a surprise to God, but rather part of His plan, regardless of who wins? How many will gripe about voters and campaigns and all sorts of reasons why their candidate did not win? Will anyone shake their fist at God and blame Him for the outcome? Will anyone bow their head and thank Him for His sovereign power?

On a more personal scale, how often do I thank God for things that do not fit into my plans? Last month I had an opportunity to purchase some quilting thread. It was on sale at less than wholesale and I use a lot of it. But, for one reason and another, I didn’t get at it and when I finally called to place an order, the sale was over. I didn’t thank my sovereign God for that happening, but I should have. A few days ago, someone with much more experience than I, told me how that brand of thread is manufactured and why it is never a good buy — at any price.

God kept me from wasting my money. Even with a minimum order, I would have spent about a $100. Why didn’t I think to thank Him when I missed the sale? I certainly offered praise after finding out that missing it was a good thing.

The ultimate ownership of things is perhaps an even greater issue. How many people consider their house, car, all possessions as being ‘on loan’ and they are merely stewards or managers of what God has allowed them to have?

One year our garden was particularly lush, but our area was experiencing many hail storms. I worried that my garden would get shredded. Finally, I gave the garden to the Lord, saying, “This is Your garden; if You want to hail on it, that is up to You.”

What strikes me as almost funny now is that the garden was always His. Giving it to Him is not correct theology, but acknowledging that it belongs to Him is more of a biblical world view. That year, God didn’t hail on His garden. I’m not sure what my reaction would have been had He pounded it to the ground, but I do remember being at peace, and no longer worrying about it.

That is the bottom line. People might fight tooth and nail for control and for their rights, but there is no peace of mind in that, only hassle. Trusting God brings peace, ever though there are conditions that go with yielding those things to God. First, I must believe that He actually is in control and owns all things, but I must also believe that He is good and intends good for me. Without trusting Him, I would be wrestling with Him too, and that is about the farthest thing from peace and rest that I can think of.

It’s okay to dump on God

For the past few days I’ve not felt quite right about my prayer time with the Lord. He hasn’t made me aware of sin that I need to confess, yet I’ve felt a bit distant. I know God didn’t move, so have wondered what is wrong with me.

Yesterday was hectic. I had several unexpected chores besides trying to get ready to take a week vacation. I intended to pray while waiting for my granddaughter outside a place where she had an appointment, but wound up running one of those unexpected errands. So I put my list on the night table, and felt dutiful to pray, rather than relational.

God must have heard me, because a still small voice told me, “Just listen, and pray what I put on your heart.” I did, and that helped, but this morning I was still thinking about my denseness, that feeling of not being quite with it while praying. Again, God came through with the reason and the answer.

Today’s devotional reading is about trusting God (I do) and that He is my refuge. (Where else can I hide or feel totally safe?). Psalm 62:8 speaks of both those things, but it was the line in the middle that opened my eyes and made my heart say, Yes, that’s it!

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.

I’ve heard people say that they could not tell God all their troubles. Their reasons were something like, “He is too busy for my silly problems” or “It sounds too much like complaining and that would be a sin.”

Are not the shoulders of God big enough to take my burdens? Are not the ears of God strong enough to listen to my sorrows, even my complaints? Is not the heart of God big enough to gather in all that is on my heart and still have room to love me?

This verse is an invitation. God wants me to dump out the stuff that tends to build up but seldom makes it to my prayer list, stuff like how tired I get with the daily grind, or the anxiety I feel when my space seems always messy and I cannot work in it like that. Ordinary stuff, but I’ve learned that if I don’t talk to God about stuff like this, I either wind up complaining to other people, or my body starts to resent these little stresses and retaliates in one way or another.

I’d been praying. My prayer list is long and requests come in often, but I had not been talking to God about the stuff that bugs me. It seems too little. (He is not too busy for my silly problems!)

Also, I hate to complain. Yet I remember that Job complained throughout his story. He said what was on his heart, not only to his so-called friends, but to God. This man made no pretense about how he felt. He did not put on a brave front during his severe trials (much more severe than mine). Instead, he was the same on the outside as he was on the inside—and surprisingly, the Bible commends him for his integrity.

God says to pour out my heart. Life fills it up with a lot of sludge, and when I feel yucky I need to get rid of this stuff without worrying about dumping it on God. He does know what to do with it.

Double Whammy

As I read 2 Samuel this morning, I was thinking about the way other people behave. Caught with conviction, I asked the Lord to speak to me about the way I behave. Every time I do that, I should duck.

As I read chapter 2 Samuel 12:26-28, I was convicted. It says, “Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal citadel. Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, ‘I have fought against Rabbah and taken its water supply. Now muster the rest of the troops and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will take the city, and it will be named after me.’”

In those days, the one who conquered the enemy got the glory, and it was usually the king or head of the army, not one of his generals. In this case, Joab was David’s general. Considering human ambition and the tendency of those days, I’d not been surprised if Joab simply finished the job and captured the city. Instead, he wanted his king to take the credit. Joab was a noble man.

Sometimes I start something in my own strength, without prayer or even a thought about God. It may not be as momentous as conquering a city, but I’m headed in the same direction as Joab and about to receive some type of recognition for what I am doing. But unlike Joab, I can’t remember ever stopping in the middle of such an activity to ask my King to take over, to empower me or in some way do the rest of it—so He gets the credit and the glory, not me. This glory may come from others, but even when it is what I am thinking in my own heart only, self-glory is sin.

Also, I know that whatever I do, if Jesus is not in it, it is worthless. However, when He is involved, my pride becomes humility. Not only that, Jesus’ involvement means that there will be eternal consequences. How foolish to want ‘cities named after me’!

Then, in a different topic but also convicting, I read this from God is Enough: “When a believer really trusts, he ceases to worry about the thing he has entrusted. When he worries, it is proof that he does not trust. Tested by this rule, how little real trust there is in the church of Christ! No wonder our Lord asked the pathetic question, ‘When the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?’ (Luke 18:8). He will find plenty of work, a great deal of earnestness, and doubtless many consecrated hearts, but will He find faith, the one thing He values more than all the rest?”

How many times have I prayed and told God that I trusted Him with the answer, then stewed about it? Or if I wasn’t agitated, I simply didn’t really believe that the answer was in His hands? Far too many.

Many of my prayers are about the spiritual lives of others. If God saved me (a truly stubborn and hard heart), and if God can take care of my spiritual life, why can’t I trust Him with the souls of others? Is my worry about them a genuine burden (which calls for prayer and spiritual warfare), or is it a reflection of an unbelieving heart?

At first, I thought these two things, the one about giving God glory and the other about truly trusting Him, were not related, but they are. If I wanted a tiny bit of credit for the salvation of souls, or for the growth and maturity of those I pray for, then I would have a tough time handing them over to my King because He would take over, do the rest of it, and get the glory. Perhaps the reason I am anxious for others is that I want some part in their spiritual well-being, even if that part is constantly bringing them to God in prayer?

Oh, I know I’m to pray continually for others. That is not the issue. The issue is whether or not I am praying in faith, really trusting God to do it and really wanting Him to get the credit. Or am I just working hard in prayer thinking that if I don’t, it won’t happen, or worse, thinking that if I do, I’ll be recognized in some way for my efforts?

One thing is certain; Jesus will never give up filtering out the dross and changing the way I think and act. It seems to take a long time to realize that this life I live is not about me.