Psalm 121

 There comes seasons in our lives when we are forced to sit down and think of where we are, and how we got to where we are. It is in those moments of contemplation and inactivity, what I call plateau seasons, when we decide if we want to grow deeper in our commitments. 

These seasons are difficult.

These seasons of plateau are when we begin to question our involvements and commitments. Some occurrence has ceased our growth and blinded our sight in order to continue walking on our path. We begin to consider the decisions we have made, trying to discern if we made the right choices or not. 

These seasons are difficult.

 Growing up, we develop certain convictions about the world and our faith, which for the rest of our lives, the storms of life test. Situations in life rages against our convictions attempting to sway us from our confession and professions. Hardship causes bitterness and subtracts from us passion. Our plateau season is when we have been battered by the waves and winds of life and suddenly discover we have no strength to continue. That is when we are forced to sit in inactivity. We begin to consider if our convictions are worth it or not. 

These are difficult seasons. 

In those times, it seems the entire world is working against our convictions, working tirelessly to sway us away from faith and all the good things we said we would never let go. In those difficult times are when there is the biggest preparation for our next climb. When we sit down and begin to think about our commitments, we must remember truth. Truth rescues in momentarily struggles. The old saying is, the sun is always shining even when it rains. We must not be discouraged. There is a lifting coming soon. Help is coming from on high.

KD

Honest Prayer #2 - Battling Sin

While I am by this dried up well, battling against my disobedience, I hear the voice of the Shepherd and Guide and I remember he said “whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within him.” Within me I feel dry and thirsty. I see no water, no streams to flow from within me. There is only dry land around me so I yell again, hoping I knew if God heard me. I still think he cannot hear me. I am stuck by this dry well with the faint voice of my Savior who is also called the Living Water. I am weary of thirst and need refreshing from this drought that I am in.

While I am talking to myself, I have found someone who also has felt like I do at times.

In Psalm 42 and 43 I find encouragement from someone who has felt like I feel in my life. They are also gasping for living water for their souls. There is dryness in their life that only the living God can quench. They feel distant from God because of their sin and brokenness so much that they are experiencing drought in their relationship with God. Here I find comfort knowing that I am not alone. Many have come before me experiencing the same, and many also live now and walk with God feeling the same as me. But I still want living water from the living God. I know I had neglected him and dug up my own well that I am trapped by. I learn this well cannot hold water. I know I am struggling because I have depended on my own strength and turned my heart from my Savior. I have leaned on my own understanding and trusted in my flesh. I feel like I am trapped in a desert and cannot generate enough strength to know where I can meet with God. Instead of living waters, the only type of liquid I get is my tears which roll slowly from my eyes to the side of my mouth every morning and evening.

Worse than this struggle I am experiencing, people are mocking me! I hear the enemy who is louder than the whispers of my Shepherd. My enemy tells me that my God has forgotten me by this dry well. The enemy hangs around me, telling me every moment “your God is nowhere to be found.” So it causes me to remember those times when things were good; those times when I used to sing aloud to God and praise him with my heart and soul; those times when tears of joy flowed instead of tears of sorrow. I not only joined in praise but even led those who sang with shouts of joy and thanksgiving. I remember all those good times and wonder why I am in a period of dryness now.

So I begin speaking to my soul! “Why Soul!? Why are you so disturbed?" Why are you so discouraged?” I tell myself to hope in God! Then I remember the words of my Shepherd again when he said blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. So I remember a place of waters and begin to be encouraged that God owns all the oceans below and the waters above. I hear clearer not only God’s voice but a song that is coming from his lips. I know God is near and begin to forget my brokenness and struggle. I used to worship with those who had joy in God, but I had come to be in the presence of those who didn't believe and oppressed me. Now I am beginning to have hope in God again. He has rescued me from being oppressed by the enemy. He has rescued me from the dominion of darkness. What is my prayer now? I know he is near, so close! So what do I do?  I reach out my hands and tell him that I trust in him. I tell God that my confidence is in him and no one else. God stirs my heart to desire him more; and as I desire him, he walks me beside still waters, the Spring of Living Water where I find nourishment and strength. 

There is progress, my condition is getting better but I need to be set on a path. I ask him to send his light and his truth to guide me. I remember that having fellowship with God means to walk in the light. I remember that Jesus is the truth and through him we have received from the fullness of God’s grace one blessing after another. Instead of sitting next to the dried-up well, I get up to go on a journey to the destination he has for those who love and fear him, the place where he dwells. Sorrow is gone now, and I see how he works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. I go to God, and find that I do not delight in sin but instead he has become my joy and delight. I have God who is my joy. I have God who is my delight. I have God who is my strength. I am still on this journey even now towards God’s holy mountain. I will not reach perfection in this life but I am certain God is making me perfect as I walk on this journey with him.

As I remember long ago, when I worshiped with others, now I am with other believers who are on this journey towards the same place; God’s holy mountain. It is a journey; I will not be perfect overnight, but over a lifetime leading to eternity. God will continue to work out something until that day when our Shepherd and Guide come to live with us. The times when I wander may come because I am prone to it. But I carry this with me, that God who began a good work in me will complete it until all things are made new. I serve a God who accomplishes what he starts. I serve a God who is faithful and keeps his promises. I serve the God who is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. My soul! Trust in God! Love Him!

Isaiah 48:21

Union With God

Reconciliation

Romans 5:9-11 “⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood,how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

Though the story of mankind has become now, a tragic one, it didn’t begin as one. The story of mankind began in fellowship; a union with the Triune God. It began in union with the Creator God of heaven and earth.

Maybe you are familiar with a method of evangelism popularized over the years that begins sharing the gospel by stating how mankind is in sin, and progresses in describing 1) the death of Jesus saving sinners, 2) Jesus washes away sins when individuals believe in him, 3) growing in fellowship and disciplines and 4) having hope of eternal life in Christ. As this is a model of evangelism that many utilize in spreading the gospel, I believe the beginning of the method neglects the grand story of God’s work.

Something tragic happened, yes. Sin entered the world, and distorted relationships. Union between God and mankind; mankind and mankind; mankind and himself; mankind and creation; creation against creation. Yes, sin is the enemy. But it is not the beginning of the story. The story of mankind does not begin in Genesis 3, instead begins when God saw void and empty and filled it with himself, making something glorious out of it.

Before we meet with Paul in Romans 5, we must travel back to Eden. We must travel to where mankind walked with God without the impulse of sin. We must dive into the grand biblical story of how God has related to his people. If reconciliation is the “removal of enmity and the restoration of fellowship between two parties,”[1] we must understand the relationship before the enmity came; we must discover between who the enmity was; and why the enmity was. We will briefly explore the beginning of the mankind’s story and come back to understand the significance of Paul’s words.

Where does our story begin? Our story begins with the One who is not dependent upon any other being to exist. He is by himself sufficient. We are the products of his work. God took what was formless and void and made something good out of it. He took what was disorder and spoke and made it order. By his word and by his hand he formed mankind from the elements of the earth, and breathed life into them. You know the story! He created everything, and after he finished with each one, he called it good!

The only thing that was mentioned as not-good was that man was alone; therefore God made for him a friend and a mate. Man was not good on his own but needed a helper, someone to help him multiply and fill the earth. The end of Genesis 2 does not give us too much information about how mankind lived with God before abruptly entering into chapter 3.

Chapter 2 does end with something significant. Verse 25 states, “The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” What is significant about this statement? It isn’t anything other than, that in pure relationship and union with God, there is nothing shameful about who mankind is and what they were created to be. One study bible comments, “the unashamed nakedness of the man and woman indicates their still uncivilized and innocent status.”[2]

Before Genesis 3, before the fall, mankind was in a relationship with God that was good. Mankind walked in innocence and integrity with the Lord. As the NET Bible notes, “Mankind had no sense of vulnerability, shame, exploitation, and exposure (such as the idea of “uncovering nakedness” either in sexual exploitation or in captivity in war.)[3]

The story of mankind began with fellowship with God. There was no sense of corruption.But next in Chapter 3 is the story of our fall. The man and woman sinned against God, and received the punishment of alienation from God in result. Exploitation had then entered into the world, and was entering into all spheres of life. Sin brought separation and enmity between God and mankind. There was a bridge between mankind and God that needed mending. God was in rightful judgment against mankind and the world.

Our beginning was in fellowship, when we sung: “And he walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.” But man sinned and was alienated from God. Instead of the blessing of God’s communion and friendship, we began to endure the curses brought by our disobedience. Instead of peace, we were hostile towards God and against his will and purpose. Instead of trusting in the Lord and having our confidence in him, we turned away from him, each one of us. We became the bush in the wastelands, dwelling in the parched places of the dust, in a salt land that no one dwells. We were cursed because we were far from God. We were in desperate need of God. Without God we were left dead. Like a tree without the living water of Eden. We gave into our desires and passions and boasted in ourselves. We trusted in ourselves, and believed a lie that we were capable of being sufficient without him.

Because of our fallenness, we were without the ability to please God, with even what we think is our best thoughts and action. We became subjected to God’s wrath. We earned death, physically and spiritually because of our acts, and could not receive salvation because of our actions. Our relationship was broken with him. We were unfaithful to God. We disobeyed him and will continue to disobey him. Our marriage with him was broken. God told us that the only way that our relationship would end was if we died by eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We chose death, and death did us part with Lord. God burned with anger against us. And we were deserving of his wrath. He was upset with us for not listening to him.

Who could restore us in our relationship with God? Could the animals? No. Could the earth itself, as if it could speak on behalf of mankind? No. Could the celestial bodies? Could the sun, the moon, and the stars? No. Could we? Certainly not! We are part of the problem! Who will rescue us from this body of death? Who is the one able to restore us to our relationship with God? Only God himself, the maker of all things is able to mend the union between mankind and himself.

How did God do that? How did God despite the fallenness of man in choosing death choose himself to make us new and bring them back into fellowship?

To symbolize both the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life, God sent his son Jesus the Messiah and Savior to earth to die on a tree made in a shape of a cross to justify mankind before the Father. Jesus Christ died a bloody death on the cross so that no one in the world may perish, but by believing may receive eternal life through him.

Here we meet Paul in Romans 5, as he says that we have been justified by the blood of Christ. We were enemies of God. We were not his friends because of our sin but Christ came in as the mediator to reconcile our relationship with God.

The way the enmity was overcome was through the work of Christ, taking away the cause of our enmity; sin. Man sinned and therefore became enemies of God but because of Christ’s death, we can be saved from God’s wrath. Our friendship is reconciled to God through Christ dying for the ungodly. Though we were undeserving, God continued to show us he is relentless in his love for his creation because he died for us even though we were still sinners.

Other passages speak of the implications of this reconciliation:

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 says, “6From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Meaning: “Christ’s atonement satisfied God’s anger with the world and, as it were, frees Him to love the world, to extend His grace and love to all. Man can receive forgiveness and respond in love to God. Therefore those already reconciled in Christ become ambassadors to proclaim to all mankind: ‘Be reconciled with God.”[4]

Paul speaking of the new position for Gentiles included in the promises of God, reminds us in Ephesians: “13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”

In Colossians, he writes: “19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

In other religions, while most of them realize the presence of sin, salvation is based upon man reaching to God as if we can attain salvation. While in Christian faith, God is the one who reaches to mankind to restore fellowship; for us to be reconciled to him. “The NT affirms that the reconciliation of the world to God is possible on the basis of the work of Jesus Christ.”[5] God is the one reaching to mankind, even becoming flesh and making his dwelling among us. He has made it possible through the cross for us to be in union and fellowship with him. The curse of our physical death and spiritual death has been lifted from those who believe upon his Son. And now instead of curses, blessings flow one after another through the One who was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. What a wonderful trade! We chose death but because of God’s unconditional, unmerited love, he still offers us life.

“In the ancient world the initiative for reconciliation was usually made in one of two ways. A third party could seek reconciliation, or an alienated party could take the first step. The latter is what is found in the Bible….The person seeking reconciliation is said to “be reconciled” to the other person—the effects of the reconciliation are upon the injured party. In these instances the offenders can only confess their fault, offer reparation, and seek forgiveness. The final decision rests with the injured party, who will either grant a reprieve or continue the estrangement.”[6]

We receive newness of life and forgiveness upon confessing our sin against God and believing in Jesus. And God through his Son Jesus has promised that we are his children and we have new fellowship with him. Reconciliation does not end with our reception of it from God. But we are instructed by Paul that we have received reconciliation, and have become ambassadors of Christ, as though God is making an appeal through us begging others to be reconciled to God.

We are instructed to tell others of this wonderful truth, that God made Jesus Christ who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we may become the righteousness of God in Him. The Psalmist reminds us, that the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. Jesus tells his disciples at the end of Matthew to go and make disciples of all nations because he has authority in all places. In the beginning of Acts, he tells them they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, then Judea, Samaria to the ends of the earth. What are they going to witness about to all the earth in which God’s authority resides? God and sinners reconciled. They are to announce God’s triumphant victory over the powers of darkness and principalities that lock humanity in chains and oppression of sin. They are to witness to the truth about Jesus that he is all-sufficient and the One through whom forgiveness, life, and blessings are flowing.

Our story began in fellowship and in union but resulted in enmity with God. God demanded holiness in our living with him. We sought after other things, and received the penalty of death. But God did not leave us. He still pursued us to restore us to him. We now have the opportunity to be reconciled to God. Though we have discussed that our story begins in Genesis where there was union between mankind and God, the goal of our reconciliation is not a repeat of Eden. It is not to go back as if the old Eden is the conclusion of all things.

But the goal of reconciliation is towards an even greater future.

It is a future where mankind will not be made with the products this earth. But our bodies will be composed of the elements of the new heavens and new earth. We will resurrect receiving glorified bodies like that of our Lord, Jesus Christ. If God’s grand story begins in union and fellowship, why then does it enter into a long period of time of disobedience and then finally redemption? What is the point? It is that forever and ever, the redeemed will sing the praises God and say there is nothing like his grace and love. Those who have been made righteous will shout unto God with a triumphant voice declaring that indeed his power is great and beyond all; certainly that his grace he expressed in kindness to us in Christ Jesus is incomparable. God is saying to us, his people, though we have sinned against him choosing death, he still wants to redeem us. He says, “come to the well and drink” “ask for the bread of life and eat.” And those who the Spirit draws near have no choice but to receive his grace and thank him for his love forever.

 K.D.

---

[1] Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2000.

[2] The New Oxford Annotated Bible, NRSV.

[3] The NET Bible, First Edition.

[4] Horrell, J. Scott. “Cross Notes.” Unpublished  Class Notes for ST 104 Dallas Theological Seminary. Spring Semester, 2014.

[5] Manser, Martin H. Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser, 2009.

[6] Norman, Stan. “Reconciliation.” Edited by Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England, Steve Bond, E. Ray Clendenen, and Trent C. Butler. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003. 

Honest Prayer #1

Has not God been wonderful to us? Hasn’t he? He has sustained both you and me! Look at how you have been restored and revived after difficult times. Trouble has come, but he has delivered you. The struggle has become more than real to you, it's reality and more. But lift up your head! Sorrow has come, but soon it vanished and joy overtook you. Pain had its effects but could not linger forever, soon hope kindled in your life. There is a line in a favorite song of mine that says, "Have you not seen how your longings all have been granted by what he ordains?" Take a moment and think about this wonderful truth. Your body longs for water, and there is water that not only satisfies your thirst but provides nourishment for your health. You desire relationships? God provides other individuals to love and grow with. You long for food? God not only grants food, but he also grants them in variety of flavor, and assortment in color for our restless and curious minds. Have you not seen how our longings all have been granted by what he ordains? Take some time to thank God for how he has crafted you, and the world around to preserve us.

The following are reflections over some Psalms: A walk through David's troubled soul and how it can help us through our troubles. #2 will be following up.

 I love reading through the Psalms, and one of the things I enjoy the most is how my emotions relate with the writers. The biblical writers are emotional and real as they come before God in honesty and integrity of heart. I love it. They do not shy away attempting to put on a show of how they feel about circumstances or about God. Let us take a psalm of Asaph for an example. Psalm 73. When the writer disagrees with how God is dealing with wickedness, she lets God know. She says from verse 21, "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you." This prayer was moved by seeing wickedness all around and witnessing God's inaction. This is serious, people. Run to God with all of your emotions and thoughts. He will not be surprised by them. Fear him, and be honest with him. David while in a cave, prays, "I cry aloud to the Lord, I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him, before him I tell my trouble." Psalm 142. Have you been moved with depression, confusion, or trouble so much that you are stirred to pour out your heart to God? Pour it all out before him. He listens. It is important that we do not neglect God in those times, but fasten ourselves to him in those moments. In our weaknesses is where he is waiting to catch us, and hold us dear to him. Learn this, and practice it.

In Psalm 142 David is crying. He is weeping..."No One Is Concerned For Me!" Must I remind you this is King David? The one through whom Jesus will come through. This man is terrified at times, yet he rejoices at times. He is quiet and other times he is loud and filled with praise. What is amazing about the depth of emotions David goes through is he presents them before God! May we learn to run to God whatever emotion we feel, and through whatever circumstance we are in! David's whole life is involved in his devotion and relationship with God; physically or spiritually, the two are merged and presented before the Father who loves to hear his children. Nothing is hidden from the Lord. David could not hide anything. His life was laid bare before God. We cannot hide anything from God either. Why not speak up in honest heart? 


     K.D.

Be Still My Soul

All around us is indications of how the Lord works throughout the world. In the day, we have sunrise till the sun reaches its highest point in the afternoon and sets in the west for sunset. In the day, we have clouds that move all around the sky providing shade for a location; we may never see that same cloud again. In the year, we have seasons where not only the temperature changes but the environment changes along with our bodies reaction to it. The color of leaves change appearance and texture. Things are constantly changing all around, but is always going through the same process that God is wonderfully orchestrating. We also go through seasons in our life where things change to become more joyful or sorrowful. Our appearance change, and our texture even changes at times. But the result of the process is always that God is faithful. Things do change all around us and also within us but God has not abandoned us, and will not abandon us. He works through the seasons. Let us be still to know that he will guide us. Read the words of this old hymn.

1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.

4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.


Kingsley

Blog about Goat.

I haven't had goat meat in a long time. Having goat meat used to be a privilege for me, something we only had on special occasions such as Christmas and Easter so on. My appetite for goat vanished one day maybe seven or eight years while I was eating a chewy piece at home. Goat meat has a distinct smell if you haven't had it before. It smells like... goat. While I chewing, I was imagining a male goat staring and yelling at me in his language. I was eating some rice and stew with the meat in it. Suddenly, I began to feel sad for this imaginary goat that was yelling at me. But ... I kept eating. I was hungry. I was eating for a few more minutes and began to hear again this goat yelling at me. I couldn't eat anymore and decided that day I couldn't eat goat anymore. I broke my promise a couple of times after that because I was craving it, but I don't think I can eat goat regularly now.

Now, forget about me eating goat for a moment.

An African proverb says: "The very thing a goat likes to eat most will give it an upset stomach."

Paul writes in Romans 8:12-14, "Therefore brothers and sisters, we have an obligation but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Paul also writes in Galatians 6:7-9, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

The lesson behind the proverb is there are things that seem pleasing to the eye and satisfying, but it only ends in destroying our lives. No one denies the temporary satisfaction of sin, but it never fully and permanently satisfies. Yelling at the person who cut in front of you on the highway as my doing yesterday, only causes more problems in anger in my life. The very thing we like to enjoy in sexual sins, worshiping material things, jealousy, anger, selfishness, envy, and arguments only makes us upset in the long run. It never truly satisfies. Paul says if we walk by the sinful nature then we will end up dead, reaping destruction. But since we have been renewed by the blood of Christ because of grace, we have a different orientation and obligation. We should walk with the Spirit and put to death sexual sins, worshiping material things, jealousy, and so on. God has given us a new appetite for the blissful things of heaven. We will reap life when we live to please the Holy Spirit. We can eat of the fruit of the Spirit; peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those things will never upset our stomach. We will only grow healthier.

Kingsley

Take Heart!

I asked a lady a couple of weeks ago, what she would consider a good life. She said to believe in Jesus, and not have anything go wrong. Paraphrased: to live life without any problems.

First, that seems like a boring life, everyone needs some sort of stress in life. Without being engaged in relationships, events, and occupation, life would be extremely boring. That will be a problem! Many believers fall into this kind of thinking. We don’t want anything to go wrong. It is a bad thing disguised as something good I think.

Why do I say that?

Because we think because Christ died on the cross for sins, reconciling man to God, and making a new creation, life should be smooth on out. But we must not forget God’s work is not done until death and sin are finally vanquished. His work continues today. We join in his work of releasing those in captive and many forms of slavery. We will feel the pain in the struggle.

Jesus says in John 16:33, that WE WILL have trouble in this world, BUT TAKE HEART, HE HAS overcome the world! We miss out on an incredible opportunity to take heart in Christ’s victory when we focus on the wrongful things that have been done to us, and are going on around in the world. They will continue to happen, because that is the state of the world today until sin is finally arrested and death destroyed. We wish it were not, certainly! But it is until The Lie of Satan has reached full manhood and then trampled. But now, we have the joy in taking heart in the one who overcame the world! 

Do not lose heart, brother, sister. Take courage in the grace of the Lord, and do not let your heart slip in discouragement. Guard your heart.

Prayer

Praise His name, I'm fixed upon it.

The name of our Lord brings salvation ultimately, but there are many other graces that flow from him, which give him other names. I am thankful. He is our shield. He is our very great reward. He is our great inheritance. He is with us. He is our Blessed Redeemer. Our King, our friend.

The Psalmist said "How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD."

Praise His name, I'm fixed upon it.

I wanted to blog about my thoughts on prayer, but I can sing, tell of God's faithfulness forever and never get tired. I think it is time his redeemed began to sing the songs of redemption. Now is the time to sing with Moses and Miriam: The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation! People who have received grace will always be grateful. The song of the LORD will always be on their lips and on their hearts. Thankfulness overflows for the side of Christ from which blood and water is forever overflowing bountifully into and out of our lives and hearts. Praise the LORD, O let all that is within me adore him.

Let the "amen" sound from His people again;
Gladly forever adore Him!
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in us adore Him!

Now to prayer.

The biggest privilege given to the redeemed for their walk in holiness is prayer. When the first believers received the good news, they did not receive a copy of the bible, nor any other curriculum or type of devotional. They still had the word of Christ and had teachers. But what was readily available to them regardless of location, intellect, gender, or any classification was prayer. Prayer is a blessing, yes, a privilege. But we do not have that perspective. God is helping me through that myself. We have heard stories of others who call themselves prayer warriors and pray without ceasing for others going through tough situations. We have heard the stories of those who pray for long hours even days and it frightens us. Is that even possible, we say. How did something that is supposed to be joyful and powerful turn to be neglected by the majority, and adopted only by a few? There are always the justifications for why we do not pray as we should. Time is one of them, and the list goes on from there. My purpose is not to explain all the reasons, nor give a limit to how long or often we should pray. I believe that will come to us through thrusting ourselves upon Jesus. From the plenty of defenses we give for not praying, there is one thing at the root of them, which the Lord made me aware of, and made me pursue repentance. My writing is all the result of self reflection.

This is the conclusion I came to:

Prayer is humiliating.

Prayer is humiliating. It is begging for mercy, for help. We live in a society that worships self-sufficiency. We do not often consider asking for help. Asking for assistance is looked down upon. You are supposed to be independent from the time you can walk. You are supposed to let the whole world and your surrounding know that you are able and capable on your own. We do not need the help of anybody. The structure of society is set up for the individual, therefore the individual must by him or herself secure the way to the top. I can go on right. Here in the midst of the roar of society that overwhelms us saying "We are the source of our own strength, We can achieve happiness through whatever means we wish," is God's whisper... "Call to me and I will answer to you."

At first his voice is a joke. I laugh. Not that I need him, but that he would think that I need him, I say to myself. Still he whispers ..." if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face..."

On August 08, 2008 (8/8/8), something happened to me that I have not told a lot of people. I will never forget that day, and remember it vividly. It was any other summer day in Texas. Hot! I was a teenager in the home of my parents, and still my eyes were being opened by the realities of the world. I woke up that day thinking it would be any other normal day. I woke up at 7am, brushed my teeth and the like, and got ready for work. Through a good friend I had gotten a job fixing assembling furniture in new schools around the DFW area, and I had the opportunity to bring my friends to work with me in the surrounding cities. I read my daily bread that morning as usual and said a quick prayer for protection before I left to go pick up my friends for work. What you don't know is that I was driving illegally at this point in life. I did not have the money to go through Driver's Education at school, plus I was months away from turning 18 in order to get my drivers license so I decided to do what-I-gotta-do. I did not have a Driver's License. Not only that, the previous summer, I had worked long hours (10 -14 hour days) at Six Flags Over Texas (as a costume character) to save up for a car, and in a couple of months I had enough money to buy my first car, 2001 Toyota Corolla. I named her Rosetta, for she taught me many languages, and spoke one I couldn't understand. As a teenager, I did not know cars were supposed to have, uhh registration, inspection, or insurance, so I just drove my car without any papers. Even despite warning from family. I had to get to work to get money, I thought. That is important to me, I could drive. I tried to be smart while driving by giving myself some rules: 1, no speeding  2, no texting and driving, 3, pray when you see the po-po. For a while, my rules worked for me. I had driven the entire summer without the bother of any police officer. Things were going well. Then came 08/08/08...

We had arrived at work that day and received our assignments. We would spend the majority of the day assembling chairs in classrooms at our own pace one after the other. Lunch finally came, and we went to Subway. I had been watching commercials about this new sandwich from Subway called The Sweet-Onion-Chicken-Teriyaki Sandwich, and that day, guess what? I got me one, and it was good! It was one of the best lunches I have ever had till now. On the way back to work, I was feeling satisfied, and overjoyed by finally trying this new sandwich. I turned up on my CD player one of my favorite songs at that time, Switchfoot, Meant to Live. It is such an exhilarating song that I kept my foot on the accelerator till it reached 50, then 60, 70, then 80, and then 90. The speed limit was 40. I drove down the highway through the town to the lyrics "We were meant to live for so much  more... have we lost ourselves?" I had certainly not only lost myself, but the law, and one of my own rules. Before I could realize it, I did not have the time to exercise my last rule: "Pray when you see the po-po," and a sheriff headed towards the other direction caught me slowing down at 77 mph, turned around and came to give me a big-fat ticket. I just now finished paying for that ticket a couple of years ago. Whew!!

That is not the end of the story.

According to the law, I was supposed to be in jail that day, and my car confiscated . I had never done anything that bad, I thought. My life was over, my parents were going to send me back to Africa. There were many things that were going on inside of my heart that day in addition to getting the ticket that day. I had lived my life for so long without purpose, and I felt unloved. I was battling with being a believer still sinking in the lusts of my flesh. I felt no help was on the way, I felt no help was possible. That day, I wanted it all to to be over. I wanted my life to be over.

I was sinking in sin.

We had church service that night that I did not even want to go to, but I had to go because I played the drums. Church service was like any other normal service, lot of rejoicing, people dancing and shouting and praising God. I kept looking around at the people and thinking if it was all fake. Had everything I believed in God been a hoax? Had I been tricked into believing in this God who did not exist? Where is he? Why didn't he watch over me? I did not feel him in my situation. Even if I knew I couldn't drive when I couldn't, why didn't he provide me with the chance to do Driver's Education and get my license, and drive legally? Why was I playing the drums for his praise, and did not feel any joy in my life? Where is he? These questions and more ran throughout my mind as I sat playing the drums. I thought, if he did not give me a sign for his existence and why he wanted me alive that night, I would give up on church, and even on life.

Something happened to me that was very powerful that August night. And I would not care what anybody says. It was very real to me. I had not notice that it was God till after it happened when God reminded me of his faithfulness to me.

I sat on the drums playing the rhythm for this popular song: "Shout to The Lord!" I felt someone whispering in my ear, "shout to me." I was reasoning with myself... what? I thought. Again, "shout out to me." By now, I had thought the title of the song is called Shout to the Lord, I would be sinning if I did not shout out to him. I would be singing a lie to him. So I began to shout to the Lord, and singing from my heart. At the moment, all the frustrations of my heart were poured into the shout of praise. And I couldn't say "why" anymore. I was shouting...

Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
Let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand,
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.


I sang the mountains bow down... Then I thought in my heart, if the mountains bow down, then why not me. I was overwhelmed at this moment. And was immediately tossed on my knees. My eyes filled with tears in front of the whole congregation. Embarrassment was the last thing I was worried about though. Something was happening to me. I was shouting, tears flowed from my eyes, my nose ran, I was still trying to play the drums but I was overwhelmed. The Lord heard me. The Lord was near me.

Some other things happened after that, but the main thing I discovered that night was God was real, and was not finished with me. Call out to me, he whispered! He urged, I responded, I was humiliated, but I was lifted out of my misery. That day began my close devotion to the Lord. I threw away most of the music I had, anything that was going to hinder my walk with him. I wrote the words of this song "I Will Never Be the Same Again," on a piece of paper and kept it in my wallet. I looked at it throughout the days to remind me of the new life I had in Christ.

I was sinking in grace.

Prayer is certainly humiliating, and it will always be in this side of life. That is one of the paradoxes of the kingdom of God. Descend to ascend. It is still a joy though. God shares his glory with no man so much that the only way they can receive help is humbling themselves. We should proclaim that we are weak. We are powerless! We are poor! We are dead! We are all these things unless he gives us life, riches, power, and strength! Praying will be humiliating as we seek a powerful God to come to our help, from the point of salvation and all the way through our walk in holiness. In our walk in holiness, maybe it is through digging holes in ourselves in humiliating-prayer that we will be filled to be holy. Prayer where we can denounce the lies of the world saying that we are sufficient in and out of selves, and proclaim our Lord is all sufficient!!

It is ancient truth from Genesis to Revelation, that this is how the Lord deals with his people...

And it shall come to pass

That whoever calls on the name of the Lord

Shall be saved.

For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,

As the Lord has said,

Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

Joel 2:32

Christ modeled the way for us.

 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2

-Kingsley

"God perceives the imperfections within us, and because of his love for us, urges us to grow up, his love is not content to leave us in our weakness.. no soul will ever grow deep in the spiritual life unless God works passively in that soul.." - John of the Cross