Do we pray blessings upon God during our prayers, and bless Him by our actions as we live out our lives? Perhaps this perplexes us because we don’t know how it could be possible for us to give anything, much less a blessing, to Almighty God the creator and possessor of all things? So what are we to do, or what do we have that we should find valuable enough to consider a blessing for God?
What has God chosen us to do, and how does it relate to the promises He has in store for us? We can go to work every day and do something we are only mediocre at, and then go home and paint a masterpiece on a piece of canvas. Perhaps we work all weekend long planting flowers in our yard, and notice that they never look as good as our neighbor’s, but the maintenance we do to our house outshines every other home on our street. It is the same in faith, sometimes the pastor wants us to serve on the church board and we are miserable at it, but when we teach a class it is pure joy, and people line up to be in our class. Do we simply meet a need that we think serves us best, or has God chosen us for a task that serves His will?
How strong is our hope in God, and our faith in Jesus Christ? Do we turn towards the promises made to us in God’s Holy Word, and the gospel of Jesus Christ with absolute confidence? Do we trust with the faith that Abraham had in God, or do we need to touch the wounds of Christ like Thomas before we can bring ourselves to believe fully? Well, there is hope for us either way.
Who are we that God would care for us, and love us so? Given how small and insignificant we are in comparison to our Lord, the creator of all things, what is it that he sees in us? Are we simply a creation that He has taken a liking to, or is there more to us, and a deeper origin of His love? Does He love us just because He can’t do otherwise? No, looking at the detail in His creation it is hard to fathom that He does anything without great purpose and forethought… so why? This is a great mystery, and a question David asked long ago in Psalm 8; a question that we continue to ask ourselves today.
As men and women we tend to look at our problems and seek to resolve them ourselves, but as Christians we are meant to look at our problems, especially those that we believe are insurmountable, and ask God to take them. The worldly see the problems we face, and they are quick to rob God of the glory when He works for us, and they can explain away our rescue, but when God does the impossible, He becomes undeniably real to those who were once doubters. So shouldn’t we praise Him in our darkest and most violent storms because it is here that the Lord can use our rescue as undeniable evidence to those who do not believe? It is here that our faith is strengthened, and our hope made real… even to us.
Have we wandered from the Lord our God, and worshipped one or more of the many worldly gods that entice us? Have we sought delight in power, wealth, or possessions, and for all our worldly successes, found ourselves lacking? If this is who we are then it is time to return to the Lord and become complete in Him. His anger with us has been overcome, and put to rest, on the cross at Calvary, and we can return to live once more in the merciful comfort of His shadow. Through our faith in Jesus Christ we are made to blossom again.
We go to our mountains, our upper rooms, and our quiet places to pray because we feel close to God there, and feel like we are doing what Jesus Christ taught us, but something else occurs here… we are transformed spiritually, and often times physically. Jesus was strengthened at Gethsemane, and changed in appearance when on the mountain with Moses and Elijah. What is it about us that is changed in our prayer closets, quiet places, and on our own sacred mountains? What occurs within us in our close moments of prayer with God, and during our peaceful walks with Jesus down our own thoughtful roads to Emmaus? Do we visit these places with great expectation? Do we anticipate the quickening, and joy of an encounter with the divine?
We would go hungry to feed our children, or thirsty to quench a dying friend’s thirst, but what are we willing to do without for the sake of Jesus Christ, or our Heavenly Father? What degree of discomfort would we be willing to face? Moses led the Israelites for 40 years in the desert, but would we walk a few short miles to church? Abraham was willing to place Isaac on the altar as a sacrifice, but are we willing to give our favorite suit of clothes to charity if the Lord asked this of us? Paul risked his eternal soul when he abandoned a life dedicated to following the law, and followed Jesus instead, so let’s ask ourselves what we would be willing to risk, give up, or what hardship we would endure for our faith.
As believers in Jesus Christ we are the children of God, and as such He loves us. As His children He has taken upon Himself the responsibility for our upbringing, and maintaining our wellbeing. This responsibility extends beyond simply clothing, feeding, and housing us… it includes our spiritual education, and discipline as well. God disciplines us to teach, and train us, which is different than punishing us which comes as a form of retribution. Discipline is administered to those we love, while punishment is put upon those who have harmed, or acted against us in some way. As believers we are disciplined by God our Father.
We claim to be brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, and yet we argue, and even deny one another’s faith. Nothing can destroy an individual congregation, or the greater Church, quicker than if it becomes divided. There are points on which we might disagree, but are they significant enough that we believe that they would prevent us from receiving the promise of eternity? Are we willing to harm the family of God over a childish point, or our own sense of pride and stubbornness?
When we face great difficulty, or are taken captive by some form of trouble, we turn immediately to God, and begin to search His Word for relief. Those who rarely read the Bible do so when they are hurting, and pour over its pages until at last they latch onto a key verse or two that help them deal with what they are facing in their lives… then they memorize them, and recite them time and again in prayer. There is nothing line feeling separated from God, or a serious problem to bring us close to Him… is this where we are today? Are we in the midst of trouble, and seeking, or returning to Him for relief? Well, He will reveal Himself to us in such times.
When we are young in Christ, God holds us close to Him, and tends to us like a mother does her child, but as we age in faith we grow spiritually, and our lessons become more difficult, while likewise, the price we pay to learn them increases. So it is that we suffer from time to time, but there is one way that we can reduce the intensity of our trials, and be led gently by the Lord… come to Him with new lambs in Christ. Like a shepherd watches closely over his ewes, so does God watches over us when we come to Him with our young in Jesus.
Many Christians today have a defeatist mentality; they look at how the dark forces of the world have turned against God, Jesus, and the Church , and in their despair they proceed to wring their hands. So what are we to do when faced with such seemingly overwhelming odds? God’s Word tells us that we are to pray, and lean faithfully on Him. What we see today is not the first time that Satan has mustered his forces and marched against the Church. The history of Christianity is filled with such moments as these, and has always emerged triumphant. Are we praying as we should, or leaning sadly on our own misunderstanding of today’s events?
Loving one another is such a basic tenant of our faith that we wonder why Jesus had to go to the trouble to declare it a new commandment like He did. We see this love in His every action and learn its importance through the way He treats those around Him… it is easy to love those who love us back, or who treat us rightly, but the love Jesus teaches us extends to our enemies, and yes, to those who betray us. Is this who we are? Would we be this way naturally, and without being commanded?
Have you ever been in prayer and found yourself unable to express yourself to God in words? In that moment did the Holy Spirit well up in you, and with a moan, a groan, a sigh, or even in a deep tearful silence, did you feel a connection with the Lord that was far beyond your ability to express in words, or even understand the depth of? This is prayer at its very foundation. This is the language of the soul. Have you experienced it?