PERCEPTION.....GIVE US A SIGN
Psalm 86:1-10; 16-17
"Hear, O Lord, and answer me......"
Is it wrong to ask God to show himself, to prove himself, to give us a "sign" of His Goodness?
The Israelites are rebuked and disciplined many times for putting God to the test, for insisting on more evidence of His Goodness and Power than He's already abundantly provided. (Ps 78:41-51) But here the psalmist's motives are clearly not for his own benefit. He is not doubting God or demanding that the Lord demonstrate His character in a tangible way just so he'll feel better. Rather, he wants the evidence of God's Loving Presence to rebuke and shame the people who have no faith in the Almighty, to whom the psalmist owes his life.
Like the prophet Micah, we need not hesitate to pray that God will help and honor us so that His Glory will be revealed to the arrogant and unbelieving. (Mic 7:8-10) (Women of Faith Study Bible)
Our lives are ever changing. Part of our Spiritual Journey calls for us to embrace the moments of change in our lives. Not with the fear and trepidation that so often people exhibit, but with exhilaration and, as Ed Hays said, "with anticipation."
We willingly acknowledge that no matter how carefully we plan, LIFE, as John Lennon once famously said, "...is what happens when we are making other plans."
And we're OK with that because we are Living with Christ.
AFFIRMATION:
Willingly do I drink the cup of this day and all that it holds: All the blessings, All the challenges, All the opportunities for me to learn.
Be with me, Jesus, that I might live this day as Your compassionate disciple.
Make me Aware of Your Presence even when the answers to my prayers are not what I want or expect.
Thank You, Loving God. Thank You, Christ Jesus. Thank You, Holy Spirit. Amen.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:2)
In Christ, Jim
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1 comment:
Maybe, the more we get closer to Christ through prayer and meditation, the more our prayers become like his words...in other words we meld together into one...harmonizing, complimenting, reflecting. I think there will always be selfish motives in my tired, weak human body, but little by little, maybe my spirit can be transfored by Christ's over-powering love and consuming fire. In the end I pray there is nothing left of me, and only all of Him. May it be so fo us all. Amen.
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