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