Weakness is not a horrible thing . . .

 

Life offers occasions when helplessness is obvious. Aging is part of it along with lack of sleep, exercise, or inexperience. Few relish being weak, at least not like Paul did.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7–10)

He knew how to live with that helplessness that realizes ‘I cannot do this’ without Christ. Compared to Paul, I’ve had only a taste of what Jesus will do when I admit to Him that I am unable. Right now, the issue is prayer.

I determined to pray more and found out how impossible that goal is without the power of God. These past few weeks have had more distractions, interruptions, excuses, and feelings of ‘I don’t want to’ than any time in my life. It is affecting me in odd ways. For instance, I usually sleep extremely well, but last night could not. Nor could I pray. I felt helpless, frustrated, even angry but with no reasons or explanations. This morning’s devotions offer this:

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9–11)

Did Paul ever feel that his efforts were worthless or that his life was too far below par to receive answers? Did his focus mess with his confidence instead of staying on the glory of God? He never wavered from God’s words to Ananias at his conversion: “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ ” (Acts 9:15–16)

Paul’s persistence makes me wonder if I will ever ‘grow up’ and fulfill that desire to pray without ceasing. Sometimes I wonder if my prayers even matter. However, a 98-year-old woman on my prayer list recently professed faith after years of loudly saying no to God. A family member is now sharing the gospel after a long time of not walking with Jesus. A man whose wife was planning his funeral last week is well and leaving the hospital. All because of prayer.

World events and massive loss of life is beyond me, as is the evil such as moms murdering their babies, families training their children to steal, stuff too awful to put in print. Like many, I often wonder where is God?

Then those verses from Philippians tell me to love with knowledge and discernment, pursue excellence, be pure and blameless, and I feel helpless in this world of ignorant cluelessness. Most seem content with mediocrity at best and pursuing evil at worst. Does the entire world deny Jesus Christ and totally ignore God? Many days I feel trampled by the herd rushing to get through that wide gate that leads to destruction.

MacArthur says, “Being blameless isn’t easy in a world that unashamedly flaunts its sinful practices. You must guard against losing your sensitivity to the heinousness of sin and unwittingly beginning to tolerate or even accept the sin that once shocked you . . . Diligently pursue integrity with a view toward glorifying Christ in all things until He returns.”

Then he points to this, and I am encouraged:

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24–25)

Lord, You do not ask me to live for You in weakness but because of my weakness. I stumble; You pick up. I falter; You are my righteousness. I feel stressed and You grant joy. You tell me to guard my heart, but I cannot — You are my Savior, the strength of my heart and my portion forever. I am a mere and messy mortal who must pray about everything, bring my concerns to You and experience Your peace — and sometimes experience great surprises. If I am to be a person of integrity who is effective for You, it is only because of You and Your grace.

READ: Romans 7 and 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 again. Consider Paul’s conclusion about being helpless.

 

 

Prayerless?

 

 

READ Isaiah 49–52

Another of God’s surprises — yesterday’s message at church was a condensed version of today’s reading. Our pastor explained how inner temptations, external pressures, and a multitude of distractions threatened the early church, yet their leaders were determined to stick to their primary task of preaching and teaching. Today, this portion of Isaiah reads like a man needing encouragement to keep at his task of speaking the will of God to wayward people. He gets it by praying.

Isaiah prays how God “called me from the womb . . . made my mouth like a sharp sword . . . said ‘You are my servant in whom I will be glorified’ ” yet quickly added his problem: “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing . . . .”

Feeling useless is bad enough, yet Isaiah felt that God’s calling on his life was wasted. He obeyed, yet could not see results. God’s people had not responded as he hoped. However, instead of letting this stop him from praying, he prayed about it!

I relate, at least at feeling my prayers are useless. God knows my struggle when I pray for people but they carry on as if God does not exist. And what about those in high places behaving as if no one ever asked God to give them wisdom for their decisions? This combination of an external lack of response and an internal temptation of thinking “why bother” can put me into prayerless mode, never mind my tendency to be easily distracted.

Yesterday’s sermon pointed to those distractions that stop prayer. I know all about it. I cannot study or work with music playing. Unfinished projects pile up due to lack of focus. I forget to answer texts and must have to-do lists to get anything done. On it goes, mostly not eternally serious — except when it comes to prayer.

My pastor gave me a line after the service: “Prayerlessness leads to death.” Today I note that Isaiah is praying with the same motivations that pressure me to give up praying — such as no answers and no visible change in those for whom I pray.

This reading moves back and forth between what Isaiah says to God and what God says to him. That is prayer. Further, God reminds this servant of truth he already knows. I’m just like that; I forget too easily . . .

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)

Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: ‘Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.’ ” (Isaiah 49:7)

Isaiah is concerned that God has forgotten him, but God says: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands . . . .” (Isaiah 49:15–16)

Isaiah tells God that His children have forgotten Him, but God says: “Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.” (Isaiah 49:22–23)

The prophet keeps praying and God continues to remind him of His faithfulness until the prophet is finally able to say:

But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. (Isaiah 50:7–9)

As I read and write, I realize that I could spend today here, totally distracted from prayer even though, like the NT church leaders, I know prayer is my primary task. God hears. God answers. He may say NO but even then, He is building patience in me, a virtue of completeness. His timing is amazing. I was distracted most of last week. He prepares a sermon that addresses distractions, then lines up today’s reading to put an exclamation mark on the sermon. What is left to say? Thank You, Jesus. What is left to do? Obvious — go pray!