Keep Praying

As they (the disciples) passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:20–25)

In a prayer time with others, we agreed that it often easier to walk by sight than by faith when it comes to praying. Each of us had long-term prayers that had not yet been answered. Sometimes God uses that kind of waiting to build our faith and patience. Sometimes He uses it to show us something we need to confess, like lack of forgiveness. But sometimes He is answering the prayer and does not show us the answer.

I heard the amazing story of a missionary in Africa who had been threatened by the natives who opposed him. However, they didn’t show up on the day they told him he would die. Much later, those natives became Christians and he asked them why they had not come when they said they would. He was told that they did come but the missionary and his co-workers were surrounded by a number of large “giants” and they fled in fear.

Much later, he was on furlough in his home church and told this story. Someone in the church asked the date that happened, then dug out the church records to discover that there had been a prayer meeting that day — attended by the same number of people as the number of giants his enemies had seen!

What can be said to that? Do I have any idea what God is doing because of prayer? Because of my prayers? 

There are two lessons in the words of Jesus. One is to keep praying without doubt in my heart. He hears and I cannot always see or even predict the outcome. 

The other is to keep short accounts. If I have any attitude or action in my life that is contrary to the will of God, He is going to deal with that first, not my prayer request. In other words, unconfessed sin means no answer or delayed answers to my prayers. Keep my life clean and who knows — God may turn my words into giants.

Lord Jesus, this story motivates me, not just to pray about the problems and needs that I can see, but for Your people at work in the world that I cannot see, anything or anyone that You put on my heart. Nothing is too hard for You and no problem or evil is unsolvable or impossible to deal with. You don’t need to show me what You are doing. Just keep building my faith so I trust that You are hearing and doing what needs to be done!

 
 

Patience

Last night’s Bible study raised an interesting question: why do we belittle “doubting Thomas” just because he said:

“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (John 20:25)

How many times have we asked God to prove something by giving us what our eyes can see? After all, faith is defined this way: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)?

After some discussion, we determined that doubt is asking for proof in an attempt to build or reassure our faith or erase our doubts. However, God often answers prayer or does things we did not expect, giving us a faith-builder that was initiated by Him. There is a difference between asking for proof and Him giving us proof because He sees we need a boost.

As for doubt, it is related to impatience, like the child that wants supper now when supper has not finished cooking. Sometimes this is described to a human inability to deal with delayed gratification. This happens to adults too. We want something NOW.

Devotional reading this morning asks: Do I have the patience to wait on God’s timing? The Word of God describes the journey to patience this way:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

“Steadfast” means to endure patiently. It is a trait developed by having it tested by difficulties or challenges. Those tests usually start small.

For instance, when others learn that I quilt, they often say, “I don’t have the patience for that” meaning they want the quilt finished. When I started quilting, I enjoyed the process so much that finishing was often delayed. Now I’m very glad to have another one finished but have learned through making many quilts that the process is necessary. It also built my patience so I can persist on a project until it is done without being antsy about it.

The truth is, God patiently goes through a process to answer many of my prayers. He may give me a requested parking place in a few minutes, but when I pray for someone’s healing, or salvation, rarely do such things happen at the snap of a finger. He could do it that way, but takes time to soften hearts (or build immune systems) in respect to human situations. Not everyone is like Saul, who was persecuting Christians when God confronted him and changed his life. It seemed like an instant zap, and so did my salvation — at least to observers. No one could see the preparation going on in my heart for many years.

God’s process begins by convincing a person that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. But then they hear that they are sinners who need Him. That is a common parking place, but some admit it is true and find out that He loves them enough to die for their sin. If someone resists any of those things, He comes to them in different ways, always looking for a change in their hearts at whatever stage they are in so they can move toward Him.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Thomas doubted that Jesus was alive. When I pray for someone and nothing seems to be happening, I could doubt that God is at work, but the entire Bible declares otherwise. I just cannot see it, like Thomas doubted until he saw Jesus. Basically, this man was saying to the other disciples, “I hear you tell me but I need to see Jesus for myself.” That sounds less like doubt and more like what Jesus wants for everyone — not to believe on hearsay but believe in Him because of a personal and very real encounter with Him.

PRAY: You are telling me again to be patient. I want what You want and I know that You could speak and make things happen instantly, but like most instant stuff in our world, it never turns out with the same power and potential as those things that take time to accomplish. I’ve been told not to pray for patience as it invites trials, but it also produces maturity. May Your will be done.

Faith not sight

 

The bottom line — that is always what I want to see. I read mysteries because I love the endings, especially those that surprise me. When I pray, I’m eager to see the answers which are always something unexpected, a surprise.

The problem with this tendency comes when I am seeing only partial progress. Praying and not seeing answers is like reading a mystery story and stopping in the middle of the book. What happened? Who did it? What was the result? Earlier in this Christian life, God brought the realization that faith needs to endure, even without answers. He is always teaching me to be joyful over partial progress and thankful for baby steps. I still struggle with that.

This morning my prayers were for greater strides. Some on my prayer list seem to be the same for years — not at all interested in spiritual matters or in Jesus. I felt like I might die without seeing any answers. One of my friends said both her parents prayed for their children for years, then died, but she was the only one who had been saved. The rest were saved, but after their mom and dad were gone. I don’t want that either.

Today’s reading strongly scolds readers for taking burdens on themselves, burdens that belong to God. We trust Him to run the universe but not to run our own lives. It misses the mark for me because I am trusting Him to run my life. The problem isn’t lack of trust, but impatience. I’d like to learn all He wants me to learn from unanswered prayer and then quickly see what He does after that. In other words, turn the pages, God. I want to see the ending of this mysterious plot that You are writing!

Another reading from “Born to Battle” by R. Arthur Matthews tells me that the bigger issue is not about seeing the results but continuing to pray for the salvation of souls. I’m not to allow my desire for results to interfere with the work of prayer for those results.

Paul was in jail, yet thought about others: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:3–6) His mind did not see results yet he was certain that God would complete His work.

Later, this man asked for prayer after describing the necessary ‘wardrobe’ and attitude for prayer. He said:

“…and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:17–20)

This is a rebuke too, milder yet a reminder to stop feeling anxious for results and keep praying for them. One more passage comes to mind:

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:14–15)

PRAY: Jesus, I may not see the last chapter, but You remind that You are listening, and I know that You do not want anyone to perish, so I can pray for people to be saved according to Your will and know that You have already written their ending. Forgive my desire to ‘see’ and fill me with that faith that believes in You without any evidence in these matters except Your gracious promises. As a song says, make my heart believe. Amen.

Love is more than actions . . .

 

A friend once said, “Sometimes you have to act godly even when you don’t feel godly.” I’d always thought that attitude came before actions, but have learned there is a measure of truth in her remark. Faith does not depend on what ‘feels’ good nor does obedience. Case in point: Jesus in Gethsemane sweating drops of blood and saying, “Not my will, but thine be done.”

A test of faith can involve doing what God wants me to do, even when my attitude or feelings run contrary. If I don’t listen to that inner whine accusing me of being a mere doormat or a reluctant slave, God often blesses me with a godly attitude as soon as I take that first step.

Consider the sea parting. The first time it did it before the Israelites fleeing Egypt’s armies. The second time they had to first step into the water before it parted giving them a dry path. (Exodus 14, Joshua 3). This is akin to walking by faith rather than by sight. Not seeing what will happen next if I obey is a strong test of faith. Will I obey God rather than heeding everything that shouts at me to not do it?

 This is also what it looks like to abide in Christ:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4–5)

The part that many Christians resist is that word ‘nothing.’ How many times have I thought, ‘I must do something’ or heard other Christians say that. Maybe we do need to do something, but unless it is from a position of hearing God order it, it is still ‘nothing’ and will not accomplish anything of value. Part of abiding means listening to Jesus rather than human impulses or other noises.

I must conclude that the “fruit of righteousness” is about both attitudes and actions. Consider the list:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22–24)

Love rarely acts without the attitude of caring for others. Joy is a faith thing, as is peace and patience; each of them is based on a knowledge of God’s power combined with trust in His sovereign wisdom. I cannot fake kindness, goodness or gentleness. Without Christ, I cannot be faithful and to act as if I am is hypocrisy. As for self-control, that does not mean self in control but self under the control of the Holy Spirit. In other words, I am doing what He wants rather than what I want. If I flunk the fruitfulness test, it is usually because I’m lacking that one thing: self-control.

MacArthur says, “Having been filled” speaks of something that happened in the past with continuing results. He means that the Holy Spirit was given to me when Jesus saved me. He bears the fruit and I clearly remember my attitude changes — love, joy and peace instead of their opposites.

Yet even now, I can block that fruit production with those opposites. I can also block it when I doubt God. However, sometimes all it takes to unplug the flow is a small act of obedience, even when I don’t feel like it. This is the power of salvation; it works even when I’m being a brat. Fruit bearing is not my doing. It “comes through Jesus Christ” because the power is His, as is the glory.

Jesus, You redeemed me that I might glorify God. The only was to do that is to trust You, abide in You, hang on to right attitudes and do the right things — as You command me and whether I feel like it or not. Today is a big test of faith in You. My hubby is having day surgery, not a huge issue but hospitals are not the safest places in the world. I’m struggling to believe that being in Christ is that safest place, but worry nags. May I abide in You and trust You to help me be a godly person, thinking and acting in faith rather than doubt. (PS, surgery done, he is home and feels good. Thank You, Jesus!)

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let my faith be strong. In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me from fear and doubt. Incline your ear to me, and save me from selfish concern. Be my rock of refuge, to which I may continually come. You declare You are my Savior, my rock and fortress. Help me abide in You this day and always . . . (Psalm 71:1–3, personalized)

THINK ABOUT: Proverbs 15:8–9 speaks of acceptable prayer and knowing God’s love. While my righteousness is Christ, being filled with the Spirit is vital as I pray and to experience the wonder of God’s love. Drop all concerns into His care!