Our hope when we pray is based in the character of God. When we pray, we know He hears us. (1 John 5:14) If we know He hears us, we know we will receive what we've asked. (1 John 5:15) We know He hears and gives because He loves us, cares for us, shepherds us, and is willing.
When we've lost sight of His character, we lose hope and we grow weary in praying. Our hope is based in His character. So when it says in 1 Pet. 3:15, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have," our response should be about knowing Him and His character, that He hears, knows, and loves us, and will respond when we ask. He is an interactive God, not a passive one.
"Do not grow weary in doing good." (Gal. 6:9) Don't lose hope; He's a loving God. (Romans 5:5 - This hope will never disappoint us.)
19 October 2011
Many years ago I saw a vision (or perhaps it was a dream, I'm not really sure which). In this sight, I saw two armies. One was vast, organized, and powerful. It was marching straight ahead, focused on the task of defeating the other army. Then I looked at the other army whose front-lines were about to clash in battle with the first's.
This second army had focused ranks at the front. Like the first army, they were intent on what was ahead. But as my vision panned and I looked further back in the marching ranks, I was alarmed by what I saw. As the ranks progressed further back, the soldiers were discussing things among themselves and not focused on what was before them. Then, further back, there were those who were even fighting among themselves! Finally, towards the back of the ranks, there were those who were turned around backwards, wandering side-to-side, or gazing far away. They were not marching in ranks; they were clueless that they were even moving towards something!
That first, hideous, organized, and powerful army was that of our enemy, coming straight at the ranks of the Christians of the world. The Christians were organized and victorious on the front-lines of battle, but were unprepared and unaware as the ranks were further from what was ahead.
My passion, grief, and heart poured out the next couple of hours to the first friend I found. "We must do something! We must do something!" We must do something for those who are marching into the battle and are unprepared for what is to come. We must do something for those who are fighting at the front to keep them on their feet and treat their injuries. And we must do something for ourselves, who are also in these ranks, to be sure we are ready for what is about to come.
As time goes on, each portion of the ranks of armies will find themselves on the front-lines. The enemy was ready. Are we?
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power...Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world...you need to put on God's full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing." (Eph. 6:10, 12-13 NCV)
This second army had focused ranks at the front. Like the first army, they were intent on what was ahead. But as my vision panned and I looked further back in the marching ranks, I was alarmed by what I saw. As the ranks progressed further back, the soldiers were discussing things among themselves and not focused on what was before them. Then, further back, there were those who were even fighting among themselves! Finally, towards the back of the ranks, there were those who were turned around backwards, wandering side-to-side, or gazing far away. They were not marching in ranks; they were clueless that they were even moving towards something!
That first, hideous, organized, and powerful army was that of our enemy, coming straight at the ranks of the Christians of the world. The Christians were organized and victorious on the front-lines of battle, but were unprepared and unaware as the ranks were further from what was ahead.
My passion, grief, and heart poured out the next couple of hours to the first friend I found. "We must do something! We must do something!" We must do something for those who are marching into the battle and are unprepared for what is to come. We must do something for those who are fighting at the front to keep them on their feet and treat their injuries. And we must do something for ourselves, who are also in these ranks, to be sure we are ready for what is about to come.
As time goes on, each portion of the ranks of armies will find themselves on the front-lines. The enemy was ready. Are we?
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power...Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world...you need to put on God's full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing." (Eph. 6:10, 12-13 NCV)
12 July 2011
Ramblings on Grace...
Grace is a topic difficult to grasp. In the heart we can reiterate the congruencies of it throughout Scripture, know what it means to be in it, know what it is to accept it, and know that we can never earn it. However, in practice it's a whole other thing.
In our hearts the true acceptance of His Grace can be difficult to accept. We know in our minds what it is, but in our hearts do we practice it truly? I just this morning worked on a study that showed me my heart is off-kilter in this. I'm still trying to earn that which is freely given; still trying to make it so I don't have to receive it again. That's completely against Scripture! Grace is an ongoing, over-arching thing that covers us completely from the moment we enter into it throughout the rest of eternity. It can't be earned, it can't be avoided, unless, of course, we flat out reject it. We are fallen beings and it is by Grace we have been restored. It is by Grace we can approach our God. It is by Grace we are forgiven.
So why is it so hard to line our hearts up with our head? Why is it so difficult to grasp that which is never to be re-paid, indeed, never to be attempted to be re-paid? Is it our society that tells us we must earn everything and not accept anything freely? Is it the practice of a child trying to forever please a parent while failing again and again and again?
I've seen some examples in our life where we had to learn the lesson of free acceptance. Once was with my husband's Grandpa giving to him over and over from an abundance we didn't know he had. Another is when friends insisted I eat free at a restaurant even though I shouldn't have been the one to receive the free meal.
It takes humility to accept Grace. It takes humbleness to know that we've fallen and will never measure up. It takes humility to quit trying and to just receive.
I pray for that humility now.
Grace is a topic difficult to grasp. In the heart we can reiterate the congruencies of it throughout Scripture, know what it means to be in it, know what it is to accept it, and know that we can never earn it. However, in practice it's a whole other thing.
In our hearts the true acceptance of His Grace can be difficult to accept. We know in our minds what it is, but in our hearts do we practice it truly? I just this morning worked on a study that showed me my heart is off-kilter in this. I'm still trying to earn that which is freely given; still trying to make it so I don't have to receive it again. That's completely against Scripture! Grace is an ongoing, over-arching thing that covers us completely from the moment we enter into it throughout the rest of eternity. It can't be earned, it can't be avoided, unless, of course, we flat out reject it. We are fallen beings and it is by Grace we have been restored. It is by Grace we can approach our God. It is by Grace we are forgiven.
So why is it so hard to line our hearts up with our head? Why is it so difficult to grasp that which is never to be re-paid, indeed, never to be attempted to be re-paid? Is it our society that tells us we must earn everything and not accept anything freely? Is it the practice of a child trying to forever please a parent while failing again and again and again?
I've seen some examples in our life where we had to learn the lesson of free acceptance. Once was with my husband's Grandpa giving to him over and over from an abundance we didn't know he had. Another is when friends insisted I eat free at a restaurant even though I shouldn't have been the one to receive the free meal.
It takes humility to accept Grace. It takes humbleness to know that we've fallen and will never measure up. It takes humility to quit trying and to just receive.
I pray for that humility now.
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