A Prayer From The Desert

From Daily Readings with the Desert Fathers   Imagine being taken or your inmost self being the possession  of the Holy Spirit. It seems to be the only way to be rid of sin. It seems there is nothing I can do to get rid of it. It has to be the Lord. 

The last sentence intrigues and inspires me. The prayer for guidance could be for so many important areas of life, but this desert Father chose this “that I may remember your presence day and night.” 

It wasn’t guidance in solving a problem or making the best decision for the family. It was guidance to be in the presence of God. Wisdom is this: Ginding ourselves in the presence of God. 

 

Just Keep praying… praying… praying

Our small group just switched up our focus. From a study on James to narrowing in on prayer. The new premise is around circling the promises that God has and praying into them. Simple, right! 

Of course one could take the idea and go off in anger, saying ridiculous things like, “I’ll circle the Ferrari at West-Edmonton mall,” in complete sarcasm, at which time I proceed kicking them in the face (more sarcasm). Of course the words of Jesus were not simply, “whatever you ask you get,” but whatever you ask “in my name” or “according to my will.” The problem is that we think God’s will is some ominous and far off plan that we know nothing about. 

Thessalonians is clear, the will of God for us is to be sanctified (1 Thess 4). But the question of course, is this: What is God’s specific will for me in that sanctification? Well . . . Let’s begin with the base of sanctification, namely, surrender. In order for God to sanctify us, we must give up ourselves to God so God’s will can take up residence in and through us. 

Now that God’s will is at work and he can do as he wishes, then we look at what he promises to his people. We can look at scripture to see his promise of peace or adoption or care etc. But then we look specifically at individuals and how he created them. If we honour creation(with the knowledge of brokenness and sin) then we need to look at who “I” am and how God has made me, along with an assessment of my current situation. For example: You are unsatisfied with the job you have, so we must ask, what’s your passion and what are you good at? Then we ask for God’s peace in letting go of the one job and the revealing of another. Maybe he gives peace to stay put for now and maybe he tells us to move on, but in any case, he draws us closer to himself (THIS IS THE MAIN POINT AFTERALL).

This is the type of promise we circle to pray into everyday. The premise is God actually cares for us and hears our prayers. He is a God who created us for things, namely his work and purpose. SO, when we are dissatisfied or see a need in our life that needs prayer, maybe, just maybe, it’s God saying, “Its time seek me and what I have for you.” This is circling something in prayer and not letting it go. Once we find that thing that the Lord is leading us to, we must claim it. If the Lord has for me, why shouldn’t I? Simple right? 

As I think about prayer, I can easily get confused or angry. I should be able to tell God what I want, whatever it is, and he’ll give it, right? That’s what I often feel (thanks to sin and culture), which leads to disappointment in God. When, it is really my beliefs that have the problem. I need to actually see that God has some pretty great promises for me and us, the church. And in fact, they are better and richer than we could ever ask or imagine. 

 

Consistently In His Presence

Changes in life don’t just arrive. They either blow themselves in like a storm or plump themselves right in between the hours of our lives. Sometimes they are wanted and other times they are not. Then again, other times changes just are, neither wanted nor unwanted. Nonetheless, changes completely project themselves in our lives and in turn disrupt the pattern that has been set.

Here is my discovery. We christians attempt to place certain disciplines in our lives to help us find God, communicate with God and to generally set our minds and hearts on things above. We set a pattern a thriving in our lives and in those moments we find God and bam! we feel at peace and centred or however else you would like to say it. But, when changes a come, its disrupted and we get out of pattern. If the change lasts we can often adjust and move on. But sometimes, like a nest of ants, you just can’t get rid of it. They change nags and irritates and disrupts so much that the discipline hurts for a long time. Like prayer and reading of scripture.

How do we adjust when these major changes happen. I say this as I struggle I go through. I am on a reading plan right now. For ordination I have to read a different translation entirely and have set a course to do so. Recently, life has been disrupted by a series of events that has taken me significantly off course. Not only am I far behind on my reading plan, my silence before God to hear his voice is profoundly askew. My determination has failed me. And here I am.

What I need, A jumpstart. A jumpstart is a shout from God or from life that thrusts me into setting a pattern back up in my life. It forces me to find myself at God’s throne once again. It could be a crisis event, a simple whisper, or odd renewal of determination by me. Whatever it is, I need it. I need the Lord to break into my life to cause a jumpstart that I may consistently find myself in him.

Good ol’ Brother Lawrence is key in this concept. He understood that we must daily find God in the Mundane and everything of life. It is God we find peace and direction and we must be with him to find this. So let’s find it. Let’s strive to be quiet before God so God can show us himself in everything in life. My struggle is not my own. I am certain others have this as well. So, My prayer for us is this: Lord, show us yourself anew. Jumpstart us into consistency with you once again. Amen.

 

God has Workers, Not Sorcerers: Spending Time with God.

As I read about Elisha raising Axe heads all I can think is this: Divination. He is using sorcery. Why else raise an axe head? Then there is a profound incident where Elisha is surrounded by the enemy, but reveals to his servant that there are more for him (in the spiritual realm) than against them.

Have you ever wanted to do miracles and have special abilities and thought, if only I could get closer to God, then I could do magic? Not even in a childish way, but like healing people of cancer, or blindness, or multiply food for famine.

My thought is this: Elisha is a “man of God,” that is what the scripture calls him. But how? Is it because he spends a ton of time with God that God gives Elisha special powers?

This morning I hurried to watch Marc Martel perform on Ellen this morning and therefore lacked in time with God. Regrettably, there are sometimes long stretches where I do not spend much time with God in prayer and thought. In these times I do not feel close to God and often God draws me back to him. So when I made time this morning for God I found Elisha, a man full of the Spirit who knows God’s will. Does God have so much favour on him (even that he can raise an axe head from a river) because Elisha spends time with God?

Here’s where my thought landed: God has a will and a plan and he is acting that will and plan out. The only way to know and be in that plan is to be with God. When I lack in spending time with God and am investing my time in the world, I ignore God without wanting to.

It looks like God simply likes Elisha better than anyone, but I have a peculiar feeling that Elisha spent every moment conversing and aware of God around him. So the answer is “no.” I don’t think God gave Elisha special abilities as a gift because he spent time with Him. But, God was able to work through Elisha because Elisha was in conversation with God.

Today, I have been challenged. I need to spend time with God so can actively participate in the divine. So I can participate in God’s work. If I truly want to be like Elisha, in that I can raise an axe head, I better be listening to God. Maybe he won’t get me to make an axe head float, but I can be sure that I will be blown away by how God will use his servant.

 

Pastor Imprisoned by the Iranians

A Letter to His Flock from the Pastor Imprisoned by the Iranians.

As I have read this story I have found it no bigger than that, a story. He is far removed from me and I know nothing of this man. But it was in reading his letter that he became real to me. Yusef, a modern day Peter, Paul, whoever you want to say. He is a man that is full of grace and truth, refusing to deny his faith. As I write my emotions are full of not anger, nor sadness, but of encouragement.

In North America we do not face “fiery trials” as this man does. Ours are more subtle. Our biggest trial is most likely our apathy. But this man, and his family, face a trial that seems mystical and fantastical to us. He is about to die for his faith. I simply want to make a few observations:

1) His story is affecting Christianity and the world. Media has got a hold of this story and is running wild with it. Never before has he had a better platform.

2) In the midst of this platform and death, his words are full of God’s words. God’s words are infused into his very being. Here is one quote:

“O beloved ones, difficulties do not weaken mankind, but they reveal the true human nature.”

I can feel this statement. He is experiencing this firsthand. His letter is one the church needs to read, hear, and experience together. We need to come behind our brother in Christ and life him up in prayer. He still may be executed, but not in vain. His words are full of grace and truth more than any North American theologian could conjure up. For some reason pressure and persecution draws out christianity.

Think about a hard situation in your life. Most times we either react with God or against him. This pastor is reacting with and in God. This pastor knows his identity. My guess is this situation has helped him stabilize in that reality. He belongs to Christ. His purpose is Christ. His life is Christ. His story is Christ’s story. I am connected to him because of this. This is our Story.

Yusef, I pray God’s richest mercy upon you. May you find peace as you struggle for the gospel. May your work in the gospel change hearts and lives. May Iran and the world see Christ through you. May God strengthen you with His Spirit.