Its Neglect ~ A Strange Inconsistency

Interior with Woman Teaching Child to Pray

I trust there are none here present, who profess to be followers of Christ, who do not also practice prayer in their families. We may have no positive commandment for it, but we believe that it is so much in accord with the genius and spirit of the gospel, and that it is so commended by the example of the saints, that the neglect thereof is a strange inconsistency.       

- Charles Spurgeon

Restraining Prayer, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit v. 51 p. 327

Painting - Interior with Woman Teaching Child to Pray

Pierre-Edouard Frere, 1819-1886

public domain via Wikimedia Commons

A Simple, Solitary Act of Worship

You've probably had the experience when God often uses simple, solitary moments to encourage us in some aspect of our walk with Him. He did that for me yesterday when we were out for supper where we routinely stop for fish.

As we were waiting for our food, I noticed a man over My Beloved's shoulder who was also waiting for his meal. I shouldn't have been surprised, but when it arrived, the gentleman folded his hands, bowed his head, and I'm sure he was thanking God for it.

Here was a man eating dinner alone, yet who took a moment to acknowledge where this provision really came from. My Beloved and I had done the same a few minutes previous to that, but this gentleman's prayer got me to thinking....

Is my prayer at mealtimes just a habit? If I had to eat alone in a restaurant, would I pray as intentionally as this man did? I know that I would thank God for the food, but would I talk to Him just in my mind and get on with the meal?

Or would I be reverent enough to offer my gratitude for God's provision as a moment of worship, as I felt I was viewing that very moment? This gentleman had no one's hand to hold, no one to share the moment with, no one expecting him to bow his head and pray.

That spoke volumes to me. God used that moment to speak into my heart about this simple, solitary act of worship that expresses gratitude for our daily provision.

Image ~ Grace, Eric Enstrom, 1918

Mighty to Save, Out of the Cave or On the Field

As with many of you, I watched the ongoing rescue of the Thai boys soccer team and prayed each day for their safety from the flooded cave. As days went by and the boys began to be carried out and reports told of the miraculous undertaking, it was evident that God was intervening on their behalf.

A news caption read, "A miracle or science, or what?" It was certainly a miracle that everyone got out of the cave when they did, as the water pump failed. It reminded me of the crossing of the Red Sea. When the Israelites had crossed safely to the other side, the water rushed back. But either way, by miracle or the use of science, it was God's doing, by whatever means He chose to save the team.

There were also people praying to the Buddhist rain god, imploring him to "keep showing us mercy," yet the rain itself was the cause of the calamity. Such a god is impotent to help as the ongoing rain kept coming down. No, there needed to be a higher power who could, indeed, have mercy and provide a way of escape. His name is Jehovah, and He worked mightily to rescue and save those twelve boys and their coach.

While Thailand is a land of Buddhism, Jehovah has raised up a Christian witness of His love and Redemptive plan in the locality where the boys live. One of the articles that I read included a poster image showing pictures of the boys and the admonition to "Stay Safe." The caption noted that a local Christian church of relatives and friends had made the poster and were praying for them. Another article mentioned that one of the soccer boys had been taken under the care of the church when he came from Myanmar when he was seven years old.

I googled the church and found Mesai Grace Church in the northern province of Chiang Mai, Thailand, a Christian congregation that is powerfully on the move to rescue Thai boys, not only to save them from the perils of the cave, but to save them from a life of degradation--and using soccer to do it. It's a compelling story of rescue.

How their cave ordeal will affect the boys will be seen as time passes. Surely, Jehovah is calling them to Himself. It is the kindness of God that leads to salvation (Rom. 2:4), and their rescue was certainly by His kindness, His mercy and His grace. I pray that He will continue His work in their hearts and through the Acts of Grace Church there in the city of Chiag Mai.

Jehovah is mighty to save, whether out of the cave or out on the field.

Image via Freepik

We Ask The Same

Sharing a thought from my quiet time today. The teacher of the class I'm taking on Spiritual Disciplines at church encouraged us a few weeks back to pray the Psalms as we read through them. He suggested, for example, that since today is the 5th to read Psalm 5, 35, 65, etc., adding increments of 30 for that day's reading. As we read, we are to express some of the thoughts in the Psalms as prayers. I think this approach to prayer has opened my eyes and heart to much that could and should fill my prayer life.

As I read today through Psalm 35, where King David is praying for rescue from those who seek his demise and destruction, my thoughts went to our own nation's leader. While I'm not comparing our president with King David (but keep in mind that KD had his own set of weaknesses and wrongdoings), and I am sometimes myself bewildered by our president's words and actions, I pray that God will strengthen him in his inner man and draw him to Himself so that he may govern in wisdom.

Some are reacting with hatred, malice, and maliciousness. The acid that overflows the hearts of those who spew it will eventually destroy them. I pray that it will not also destroy those of whom they often speak against, those "who are quiet in the land."

King David implored God not to keep silent. We ask the same of Him today.

Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me;
Neither let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously.
For they do not speak peace,
But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
And they opened their mouth wide against me;
They said, "Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!"
Thou has seen it, O Lord, do not keep silent;
O Lord, do not be far from me.
Psalm 35:19-22

Painting ~ Camille Monet Reading 1873, Pierre-August Renoir 1841-1919

Worship the Habit?

I had read this statement by Oswald Chambers in his book My Utmost for His Highest many, many years ago, and it changed the way I thought about and attended to my quiet time in the scriptures. I came across it again recently and want to share it with you. Perhaps it may impact you as it did me.

Your god may be your little Christian habit―the habit of prayer or Bible reading at certain times of your day. Watch how your Father will upset your schedule if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes. We say, 'I can't do that right now; this is my time alone with God.' No, this is your time alone with your habit.

I know that prayer and Bible reading are essential to faith building, and I don't think Chambers is downplaying a regular, routine time for it, but rather asking us to consider why we're doing it. I had a tendency to being tied to my routine instead of being tied to the Savior. I was easily annoyed and out of sorts when my schedule was upset or my attention was required someplace else, like caring for my children or answering the phone when someone needed to talk. I had God boxed in on my schedule, and when I missed "my quiet time with God," I felt undone. Not meaning to be irreverent, but I didn't get my fix that day.

God used Chambers' words to cause me to consider my ways and my thinking. I realized that my quiet time had been more about me than about God. My worship wasn't to be tied to my little quiet time corner. God is bigger than that, and my communion with him needed to enlarge as well, wherever and whenever that might be.

Painting ~ Reading in An Interior, Carl Holsoe 1863-1935

Sunday Ponderings ~ God's Holiness

Been pondering this afternoon on a comment made in our Sunday School class. The topic was God's holiness and how it affects believers and unbelievers. Part of the discussion was how a biblical understanding of God's holiness affects how we approach Him. The comment was made by someone in the class that prayer enables us to understand that God is far greater than we are, holier, more powerful, and all-knowing. We come to Him acknowledging our dependence on Him. In her words, "It puts us in our place, and Him in His." Much food for thought.

It makes me think of the current casual approach to God, that it is more self-focused and feel-good religion rather than an expression of understanding the majesty and worship of the Holy God. I couldn't imagine approaching Queen Elizabeth in the same manner as some 'worshipers' approach God. The queen is merely human, deserving of much more respect than some give to God Himself. How much greater honor and respect is due to God, but God is often approached buddy-style.

God chooses what He receives as worship.

Where is the honor? Where is the respect?

"A son honors his father and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?" ~ Malachi 1:6 

Painting ~ Afternoon-Yellow Room 1910,  Fredrick Carl Frieseke 1874-1939

From the Bookshelf ~ The Names of God

I keep a book by my bed and read a few pages most nights as the light is about to be turned out. Recently, I've been reading and meditating on the prayers from Tony Evans' book Praying Through the Names of God. Each prayer focuses on a different name for God found throughout the Scriptures. I've found that understanding more of His attributes and character builds my faith and trust. I've begun to be more at peace with situations and circumstances because I'm understanding a little more about the nature of the God of the Universe and His relationship with mankind.

Each prayer follows the acronym ACTS--Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Sharing with you today the Adoration of Elohei Ma'uzzi--The God of my strength.

God is my strong fortress, and he sets the blameless in His way.

2 Samuel 22:33

Elohei Ma'uzzi, you are my strong fortress. You are the God of my strength. In you I find all that I need. In you are power, might, and force. I praise you for your mighty hand. I lift up your name to give you honor because of your greatness. Your creation testifies to your power. The mountains rise to proclaim your strong arm. The ocean depths reveal your force. The moon keeps its place because of your great strength. The sun flames as a result of your own creative prowess. You are to be held in the highest esteem, and I praise you, Elohei Ma'uzzi.

~ from Praying Through the Names of God by Tony Evans