Week Seven - Shhhhhh!

"Be still and know that I Am God." Psalm 46:10

"The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory." Isaiah 60:20

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  John 8:12

     Since our move last year, I've been able to dabble a little in the Mills Family genealogy, thanks to the resources of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library and their free link to ancestry.com. I've gotten back far enough to find John Mills, Sr., who sometime around 1708 came from persecution in England to the colonies. He was persecuted because he belonged to the Religious Society of Friends, aka Quakers. (My line to the Quakers ended with his son, William, who had the audacity to attend the wedding of his sister to a (gasp) non-Quaker. He was disowned by the Friends. Guess my rebellious roots run deep!)
    
     Quaker worship is unique in that, in more traditional services, the people gather in silence, sit and wait for God's word to come. They feel that true worship comes from connecting with God, seeing Him as He is, and in awe of who He is, we praise, celebrate and give ourselves to Him. Prayer follows a similar pate, seeking to commune with the inner light that God has placed in each of us. It is not unusual to ask that someone be "Held in the light". Imaging holding a person in need in God's loving presence. Literally, taking them to the throne of God. Such a beautiful concept.

     I'm going to break the pattern this week just a bit, because prayer is more than just speaking. Truthfully, speaking should be the smallest part of prayer. I want us to focus on listening, waiting on the still, small voice of God to come. And while waiting, to simply focus on basking in the warmth of God's light. While in this light, remember to also "Hold them in the light" all those that you have been praying for. Take them with you to God's throne. Don't just leave them behind.

     When I was going through a troubling time in college, a dear friend took me to God's throne, and shared a passage of scripture with me, Psalm 37: 3-7. It has lead me through many hills and valleys in my life. Trust, Delight, Commit, Be still and Wait. All of these require we give up control, and completely trust God. Pray through these verses this week, then be still, expecting, listening, adoring. He will answer.

Week Six - And You Are...?

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth." Psalm 8:1a

"He is omniscient, which means that He knows in one free and effortless act all matter, all spirit, all relationships, all events. He has no past and He has no future. He is, and none of the limiting and qualifying terms used of creatures can apply to Him." A. W. Tozer "The Pursuit of God"

"If he ever consciously directs his prayer 'Not to what I think thou art, but to what thou knowest thyself to be', our situation is, for the moment, desperate." Senior Tempter Screwtape in "The Screwtape Letters" by C. S. Lewis

     Two quotes from men of God, and then words from a character much less "godly"! Yet they remind me of the old joke "God made man in his own image, and man has been trying to return the favor ever since!"

     Sometimes we encounter problems in praying because of our perception of who God is. We either see Him in human terms, like ourselves, and project our flawed, limited selves on Him, or we see Him as so mighty, powerful and fearful, that He seems aloof and unreachable, uncaring.

     The truth is that both perceptions are incorrect. No matter how we consider God, His ways, His thoughts, His being is so far above and beyond our limited minds, that we can never know Him complete. But that doesn't mean He won't come "down" to our level, to communicate with us. Even better, have a true relationship with us. Let's not confuse, however His relating at our level, with the awesomeness of who He truly is. These misconceptions come from us, not Him.

     We use symbols, icons and sacraments to help us focus on "aspects" of God, but there is nothing that can encompass all that He is. We tend, as humans will, then to focus on the symbols and traditions rather than the one they point to. Then we not only are not looking at God, but we worship the thing rather than the creator. And a prayer to a thing is worthless. We don't want to loose these icons, because they WILL help us focus and learn. But we must pray to Him as who He is, and not to what we think Him to be. A relationship built on a false perception is false and cannot last, but one focused on He who is greater than our highest expectation, will never fail.

     Our psalm this week is Psalm 123. Pray this psalm to God "not as we think He is, but as He knows Himself to be." I think you'll find it quite revealing!

Week Five - Chasing A Rabbit

"Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words, and blameless in your judgment." Psalm 51:4

     In going through the prayer Psalm this past week, this verse came out to me on Tuesday and said "Hey, look at me!" Usually when that happens, I find there is something I need to learn, so I decided to do what a pastor friend of mine once called "Chasing a Rabbit down a new trail."

     In John Wesley's notes on this verse, the first part speaks to the fact that while other's have been wronged (in this case both Uriah and Bathsheba), the sin to God was even greater. So much so that David says anything God says to him is deserved, and any judgment He gives, he earned it.

     This seemed like a good definition of the verse, and I agreed with it. But there was something more I was needing to learn, another layer to remove. As I kept looking at the verse, it occurred to me that if my sins were greater to God than to others, then others sins against me were also greater to God than to me. Said another way, when someone wrongs me, they sin more against God than against me. It then becomes my responsibility to forgive them of their sins against me, so that they can more directly deal with God. This is why that tricky part in the Lord's Prayer is there, "as we forgive those who trespass against us". By forgiving others, we have less clutter in coming to God, and we de-clutter others to do the same.

     It is also easier to forgive if we do not consider ourselves as the wronged party. Knowing God was hurt more, allows us a freedom to forgive the wrong done to us. Remember, "Love does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices with the truth." (1 Corinthians 13:6)

     I don't claim this as easy. I don't even claim to do it well, or sometimes, at all. My face is the one I see in the mirror each day, and my ego the one that feels the arrows of wrong. But I think this perspective is important. Later in the same Psalm, David says "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me". (Psalm 51:10) I think even David realized the difficulty, and craved God's help. Let us seek His help as well.

     The Psalm this week is Psalm 38. Pour out your heart before Him. Pour out your heart for those whom you have wronged. Pour out your heart for those who have wronged you. Then fill your heart with His Love, His healing, His Spirit.
    

Week Four - Guard Your Heart

"The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."
Isaiah 61:1

     Confession time. This has not been the best week for me to follow my own study. It seems that time has conspired against me, and I let my resolve weaken. No excuses, just truth. It is easy to let "things" get in the way of time with God. When we do, we become weak, tired, broken-hearted. That's why the verse above is so very important.

     Did you know that when Jesus first revealed himself, it was with this verse? At the beginning of His ministry, He was at His synagogue in Nazareth, and was asked to read from the Holy Scrolls. The verse He chose was Isaiah 61:1. Then He sat down and said "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21) Think of it. All the different ways Jesus could have announced His Glory, His Majesty, His Kingdom. Yet the thing He considered most important was to bind the broken heart. He knows our weakness and failures even before we are aware of them, and is there to heal and restore.

     Harry Emerson Fosdick, in his book "The Meaning of Prayer" says (and I paraphrase) that prayer is the deepest desire of the heart. That thing we feel most passionately. I think it is in this passion that God most often will use us. This passion is the individual spark He has placed in each of us, to make us each individual and important in our part in His Kingdom. And it is in this passion the enemy most often attacks, telling us we are not good enough, no one will listen, or even worse, people will listen, and reject us. Our hearts are broken. That's why guarding our hearts is So Important.

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." Prov. 4:23

     Come to Him humbly, contrite, broken. Come to Him with your deepest desires. He doesn't want to take them from us, but to heal them to our full potential.

     The Psalm this week is Psalm 51. Let healing waters refresh your soul. Let sin and guilt be washed away. Let your broken heart be healed.

Week Three - We Are The Church

"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." Romans 12:10-13

     My post this week comes to you from Camp Bluebird, on the mystical shores of Lake Widjiwagan. this is a camp set up twice a year for adult cancer survivors. I can't begin to tell you how much this camp, and these dear friends, have come to mean to me. They are my heart family, as true as blood.
 
     In my experience with them, I have found the true model of what the church, God's people, should be. We love each other, we cry, we share, we fight a common enemy, and we pray. We pray for each other, and often. Our thoughts are never far form each other, and lifting each other to God.

     Prayer is too often thought of as one direction. We talk, God listens, the end. This is fundamentally wrong. It assumes that our words are more important than God's, or that God would not answer anyway. God does answer, but he is not rude, and won't interrupt while we go on...and on...and on.

    Prayer has the dynamic of conversation between God and humankind. It also is communication Between His Church, the Body of Christ. We are to love one another (Romans12:10), have patience with one another (Eph 4:2), encourage one another (1 Thes 4:18), stir up one another to good (Heb 10:24), show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9), and PRAY for one another (James 5:16).

    This can be difficult in the best of situations, because we each have our own troubles and tribulations. But when we pray for each other, and allow others to pray for us, then our burden becomes a shared burden, the weight is lifted to God, who promises to take our burdens and make them light. This is not a dream world, this is not a fantasy, this is not for sometime in the future. This is to be God's Church, here and now.

     Begin by praying for each other. Not about them, but for them. Take their burdens, and pray as if they were your own. If you can pray for someone in this way, then it's almost impossible to feel hate, or fear, or oppression, or anything but love. I wish this for all of us.

    This week's Psalm is Psalm 25. It is a Psalm of spiritual healing, protection and deliverance. Pray this for yourself, and claim its promises. Then pray this Psalm for someone else, but not just a friend. Anyone can do that. Pray this for someone you think has wronged you. Ask for the Lord's help to pray this prayer. You will feel the change, in you.

Week Two - How Shall I Pray?

"Pray then like this. Our Father in Heaven, Holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. *For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever" Matthew 6:9-13   (*Some manuscripts omit this last sentence.)

     There is nothing more uncomfortable to most church going believers than silence in prayer. More than a couple of seconds during a service, and people start to peek. More than 5 seconds, they start peeking with both eyes. More than 10, the organist will lean back over and start playing! It's no wonder then, that Jesus disciples wanted to have something ready to say. Christ responded with a model of prayer that has been useful from that time on. But as useful as that is, it is a MODEL prayer. A form to use when addressing the Almighty. Let's break it down.

"Our Father in Heaven, Holy is your name."
     Getting the relationship down right at the start. He is our Father, we His creation, and we recognize and praise His holiness.

"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."
     We recognize that He is in control. But God is no tyrant. He will not seize control. We must give it willingly.

"Give us this day our daily bread"
     No day is ever promised except the day we have right now. The blessings of God are there for us, and more besides, but our need is only for each day, that day. And that is more than sufficient.

"and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."
     This is a tough one, and not just because some say debts and others say transgressors. Jesus goes on to say in verses 14 and 15

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

     That is pretty iron clad. And it assumes we've already forgiven all those that have wronged us. Matthew 5:23-24 evens says reconcile first, even before leaving a gift at the alter. Do we dare do otherwise?

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
     Being sidetracked is so easy to do, and evil slides in on that temptation. We ask God's help to do what He wills, not what we will.

"for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever."
     I include this not because God needs the honor and praise, but because WE need to remember to honor and praise Him. It is so easy to be into our own selves, and forget that all we are is because of who He is.

     This is your form. Take it, write it out in your own words, and reach out to Him this week. The Psalm this week is Psalm 91. If you've been following this discipline, you've probably already had some obstacles thrown your way. Claim these promises of protection. Know that God will protect you, shelter you. Amen..

Week One - Where Do I Begin?

"Dedicate yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." James 5: 13-14

     I remember when I was young, my Uncle Ed and Aunt Dot would come down from Ohio to visit us almost every summer. Ed and my dad would go out fishing almost every morning, while Dot and my mom would hang out together. I loved seeing them, and knew it was special because they lived so far away (Mansfield) and the drive was a long one.

     I can also remember when they were there, each morning as the rest of us sat at the breakfast table, we could hear Dot in the guest room praying. Dot was not a bit shy about her prayers. From the table we could hear her voice rise, then crest, then fall, then rise again with passion and tears and laughter, sometimes all at once. For a hour each morning, sometimes longer if her heart was burdened, she would meet with Jesus face to face.

     My own young experience was that if prayers were above a mumble, they were too loud. There were no power amps in a prayer closet! As I've grown older, I realize I need that passion, that desire, to meet with God every day, and lay myself out to Him fully, and begin each day fresh. While my voice may not carry quite the same, my heart should cry with just as much love!

     How do I begin, then? By setting aside a time for him daily. Not a time I can work Him in, but a time that is His alone. Everything else works around that. Aunt Dot would rise with the sun and keep going till she was done. While that is hard for many, and I speak for myself here, dedicating the same time each day can be done.

     For this week, find a time that can be just you and God. A time when you can speak just to Him. A time you can listen for Him. Sometimes, the voice is still and small, and it's easy to just talk over it. Give yourself time to listen. More on speaking next week, but it is always a good rule to say, as Samuel did, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears."

     Our Psalm this week is familiar: Psalm 23, the Shepherd's Psalm. Have your Bible open each day, with the words before you. In your time this week, rather than recite out loud what you already know, take those words into your heart. Make them personal to you. Speak them to God. Pray these words as the deepest desire of your heart. And listen.