Scripture: (from www.biblegateway.com)
Ezra 8:21-23 (New King James Version), emphasis mine.
Fasting and Prayer for Protection
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” 23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.
2 Peter 3:9 (New King James Version)
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
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I remember when I was just starting to participate in prayer at a church I was attending. Since I didn’t know a lot about prayer, I thought to learn from the others how to pray. One evening before Bible study, I remembered hearing someone pray something about God’s glory – for it to fall, to fill the place, to come in its fullness – but when I was about to pray that way I understood from the Lord very clearly, “Don’t pray that!” I stopped, but was confused and saddened – both at not knowing rightly how to pray such that I was being corrected and at not being able to pray for something that I thought would be a good thing, something I wanted to experience.
Later, after Bible study was over, people were hanging around in the sanctuary talking (you know how we do!) when a friend of mine came over to me. She handed me a thick envelope, and as I looked quizzically at her, she asked me not to open it until later. She explained that her husband had noticed that my tires were worn and they wanted me to get some new tires so that my children and I would be safe riding around. I can’t tell you what happened in that moment other than to say that I was quite literally overwhelmed by their gift, their care, their love. I felt as if my mind could not contain the knowledge of how greatly I was being blessed by God, and I trembled, feeling faint. All of my strength was gone as my legs gave way and I leaned back against the back of a pew. I don’t really remember what I said – I hope I said “thank you” – and I don’t know what I looked like or what expression I wore. I do know that I felt as if I would lose my mind for the wonder of it all, as if I was slipping away from all I knew to be real – but then I seemed to come back. This was so unexpected - I had not noticed my tires or their wear, and didn’t have the finances at that time to have done anything about them even if I had noticed.
Later that night at home in prayer, thanking God for my friends, my family, our safety, His provision, all of ways He shows His love and care to and for me and those about whom I care, He shared with me a terrifying answer: that just as I had been overcome by His goodness (in His provision through my friends), that should He answer my prayer and come (as I had been about to pray earlier that evening that He would), others would be overcome by His wrath.
Proverbs 11:31 (The Message)
31 If good people barely make it, what's in store for the bad!
I shuddered to think of the frightfulness of this, and worshiped (bowed low), thanking Him for His mercy, His longsuffering, His goodness, His love in being so patient with us.
Romans 2:1-11 (New King James Version)
God’s Righteous Judgment
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
…and my journey with Him continues…
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