Lonely?

Usually I’m happy being alone but there are some days that is not true. The Holy Spirit reminded me today of a verse from the days of creation. God made Adam then said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

I’ve thought this was a gender distinction but decided to look up that word for ‘man’ and discovered it is usually used for mankind, not just men. In the above verse, there was only one of them on earth at that time. The Hebrew word is ‘adam’ and it became the first man’s name, but the point is, God said it is not good for any of us to be alone. All of us need companionship and helpers as we go through life. I can also see this in today’s verses:

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Psalm 34:1–3)

The psalmist starts out alone, but quickly changes to include others. First his praise is to God, but that praise is heard by those who are humble and it makes them glad. Finally, he bids them and others to praise the Lord with him. He is not solitary in his worship.

Throughout Scripture, people usually do things with other people. The instances when people are alone are often occasions for God to grab their attention or test them in some way. This is a reminder that spending all my time with others can distract me from hearing God, even from those tests that come in solitude. Yet I also realize the importance of being with others to share our praise and lift up the Lord together. Mutual worship brings mutual edification.

Also, when I get my eyes off the Lord, I begin evaluating life by what I can see or what I cannot see. Instead of trusting Him to hear and answer my prayers, I’m discouraged that nothing is happening. I’m not always in that pessimistic place, but when I am, someone who is not there can pull me out of it as we share our lives and talk about Jesus. Other Christians often remind me of who God is and the greatness of His power. If I am in a slump, I need to call someone and tell them. We might slump together, but usually not.

So I cannot say only men should not be alone. It is not good for women either. We need each other to keep a godly perspective on life and to share in praising God.

Tozer says, “God calls us to magnify Him, to see Him big.” I’ve told others, “Pray big prayers, because we have a big God.” I need to remember those words too, and instead of moaning that nothing is going on, I need to walk by faith realizing that He is still on the throne, whether I can see what He is doing or not.

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Jesus, thanks for these reminders. I will call three Christian friends, trusting You to use them in my life and me in their lives. Either way, fill me with Your Spirit so I can walk by faith today. Thank You that I am in Your family and that I know others I can call and encourage them to walk by faith with me.

Nothing is too hard for God

Do most of us pray big prayers? I’m thinking of those requests that only God can do. When I am with Christians who are praying, much of what is asked is about big and small health issues, employment, and money.

This week some of God’s people prayed a big prayer. Those who are familiar with the world of quilt-making were aware that the huge fire in Colorado was headed for a quilter’s home like a runaway freight train. His irreplaceable stuff was hauled away, but there was no hope for the new house, a dream of twenty years and finished in March.

I’m not sure how others prayed, but I asked God to do what most glorified Him. This huge fire blackened the entire area, incinerating everything in its path. The videos were awful. BUT it stopped 25 feet from this quilter’s home, went around it, and continued to destroy everything else in its path. Most of the response to this has been praise to God who does whatever pleases Him. I cried.

Yesterday I began praying for the boys trapped in a cave in Thailand with the same words, “Do whatever will bring You glory.” I’m certain others have prayed, some the same way. A few minutes ago, it came over the news that four of the boys were rescued, a difficult task, but they are out of what threatened to be a watery grave.

These are big prayers. Am I always praying for things only God can do? Things like political issues, darkness in spiritual realms, crime? Do I consider God big enough to change this messed up world? Or am I like this father of a child with demonic problems?

“And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘“If you can!” All things are possible for one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ (Mark 9:20–24)

Of both requests; the one for the boy and the one for more faith, which was the most important? I’m thinking the latter one. It should be the prayer for all who pray, for all who are burdened by the deeply difficult situations in this world, the unrest, wars, natural disasters, rampant evil, whatever seems totally beyond fixing or change.

Tozer says that the attribute of God we call omnipotence does not really mean that God can do anything. It means that He is the only Being who can do anything He wills to do. He cannot violate His own holiness; He will never lie or cheat or deceive. However, He is the Lord God omnipotent who reigns and can do all that He wills to do. We are secure in His care because He is our all-powerful God.

Before bringing those ‘big’ requests to God, it is likely a good idea to make a smaller one: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” Trusting our capable God without praying can be a total lack of love for a world full of people that need our prayers, but praying boldly but without faith can be brash assumption.

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Jesus, I’m very excited about the answers to prayer this week, those big ones that are on the world’s news, but also others that involve family and friends. You are an amazing God and You can do what most of us would say is totally impossible. One key is believing otherwise; another key is praying for Your glory instead of whatever other reasons I might have. I praise You — that nothing is too hard for You!

Big prayers . . .

Most days I go outside to pray and walk. During that time, I get some of my best ideas. Some of them are solutions to problems. Others are direction for the day or clear indication what to do about issues on my heart.

God is like that with prayer. He speaks and I’m learning to listen. However, His promptings are sometimes unexpected. Consider Paul. Right after his conversion, logically he would link up with mature Christians to be mentored, but that was not the case . . .

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. (Galatians 1:15–17)

The Bible says very little about what happened to this great Christian leader while he was in Arabia, except that it was not a short visit. Obviously God urged him to go there, and met him in that unusual location to give the instruction he needed for the task he’d been called to do.

In the Old Testament, one of Joshua’s prayers resulted in a creative and controversial event that must have shocked this man even as he said it . . .

At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel. (Joshua 10:12–14)

A few scientists think they have proven this true (many think otherwise), but the validity of amazing answers to prayer isn’t about proof. Instead, this is more about the answer to these questions: “How big is your God?” Can’t He do whatever He wants to do?

Jesus said that faith in prayer gives us power. He told one person that “All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23) For me, that means being open to God when I pray. Does He seem to suggest that I pray outlandish requests? I’m pragmatic, hard to convince, and yet not totally skeptical. When I pray, sometimes God puts odd thoughts in my mind, thoughts like, “Why pray for only those few cult members when you know I can change the lives of their entire membership?”

Praying such huge prayers does not mean that I have to be a super saint. The Bible says, “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)

The Bible is clear about this; praying ‘big’ prayers has little to do with who I am and a great deal to do with the size and power of my God.