April 04, 2008

STANDING FIRM


Right now much of my blogging comes from a wrestling with where prayer is leading us, who it is leading us to be, how we are to be, in these days.


In some areas and thinking, prayer has become one more weapon in our arsenal against the enemy, or a way of getting what we have decided we should have, rather than the expression of our intimate, loving, friendship with the Lord.


I begin to understand why the long-standing praying communities had 'rules' or guidelines set by the founder to hold the members in their pursuit of Jesus, and their expression of that.


I do not read of those who have kept prayer alive down the centuries having to be THE prophet, apostle, or leader in prayer. In recent times we seem to have moved from having to be prophetic, to needing to be apostolic, and now prayer has become the thing of the moment, with each stream being taken hold of by a man to needs to make sure it grows and accomplishes great things!


God's thoughts on these things are expressed well in His speaking about Jesus (our model) in Matthew 12:18-21.


Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.


He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, til he leads justice to victory.


In his name the nations will put their hope.


How many bruised reeds, and smoldering wicks have been sacrificed under the feet of man's selfish ambition?


Much of the past warfare and 'breakthrough' prayer has used up a huge amount of human strength and ability. Now as God begins to reveal our weaknesses and human frailty, what will we draw on to fight? What weapons will He place in our hands?


If I am standing beside a giant who can conquer my enemies, tucked in under his great arm, I will feel safe and secure, able to join Him in laughing in the face of such enemies because He knows He cannot be defeated and I KNOW this to be the truth.


Does your prayer and mine bring us to this place of KNOWING our God, and therefore standing firm in the face of all opposition?


Culturally some will be warriors and others peacemakers, but we need to move into the culture of His Kingdom and life, for this is our strength and our hope,


Paul writes in Colossians 1


I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness - the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.


Is this mystery at work within you and I? Is this mystery at work in our prayer lives, and especially in the prayers that come forth from our lips?


Do we stand with the giant - the One who has overcome everything on our behalf and laughs in the face of His enemies, or do we feel as if there is something we have to do to help Him, or suggest to Him what He needs to do?


Surely this mystery Who dwells within us will be gloriously revealed if we will let Him have His way through and beyond ourselves, past our human noise and endeavours, and most especially in our prayer.


The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:11&12


So many want to DO (even with prayer), but so few want to BE (especially with prayer) - immersed in God in order that He might move.



1 comment:

  1. Yes and amen..... there may be different days and times and seasons in my own life, but never never has The Lord overlooked the heart cry prayer to just "be" In Christ.
    Yes too, Judith -- Truly Jesus is our pattern and our Giant of the greatest 'I Am' muscle.
    "Keep me/us all in Your shadow, under Your wing... dear Lord, in Jesus Name and for HIS sake" -amen.
    Thank you again, Judith!!!

    ReplyDelete