Don’t Pray That! (#1)

Song: Bow Down and Worship Him, recorded by Paul Morton & Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Mass Choir - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQNp4n_5VFE

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…

Death and / for God’s Glory

Songs: He is Here, Brian Doerkson (with song story at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jk3uoU4EBc&feature=related, singing with Christine Dente at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBYgZKkfGYY&feature=related )

Scripture: (from www.biblegateway.com)
Psalm 116:15 (New King James Version)
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.

Isaiah 57:1-2 (New King James Version)
Israel’s Futile Idolatry
1 The righteous perishes,
And no man takes it to heart;
Merciful men are taken away,
While no one considers
That the righteous is taken away from evil.
2 He shall enter into peace;
They shall rest in their beds,
Each one walking in his uprightness.

John 11:1-44 (New King James Version)
The Death of Lazarus
1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”
12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

I Am the Resurrection and the Life
17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Jesus and Death, the Last Enemy
28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?”
They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

Lazarus Raised from the Dead
38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

John 21:15-19 (New King James Version)
Jesus Restores Peter
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Philippians 2:5-11 (New King James Version)
The Humbled and Exalted Christ
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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In doing the other blog this morning, I was looking at John 21:18-29, where Jesus speaks to Peter about the death through which Peter would glorify God. From what I’ve heard about it, my understanding is that Peter, following (a vision of) Jesus, went where he knew he would be captured and killed. I guess I’ve always thought of deaths for God’s glory as only a literal thing. But this morning, it also appeared to be a figurative thing (which, again, could lead to a literal thing) – a death of self-interest, a death of self-will, for the glory of God to be manifested. For me, having lived pretty much the way I wanted, the way I thought to live when I was younger, not really concerned about living for the Lord; and now, being old(er), stretching my hands out in worship and surrender, girded by the Holy Spirit, carried not (necessarily) where I wish (in my flesh).

As Jesus, in verse 8 of the Philippians 2 passage (which also happens to be part of the Sunday School lesson for today!) accepting His Father’s will:

Mark 14:36 (New King James Version)
And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

This reminds me of a story I heard on the Sid Roth television show, It’s Supernatural, with guest David Martin. I initially listened because Mr. Martin was speaking of an African revival (“the Shining Ones”). But in other information I found about it (http://62485.netministry.com/images/Mountaintop.pdf), there is a part in the story where several “great men of God” who died in a singular plane crash seemed to have foreknowledge of their deaths, but still got on the plane.

John 12:24-26 (New King James Version)
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Psalm 139:1-6 (New King James Version)
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

… and my journey with Him continues …

Life (Blog) Imitating Dream

Songs: Glorious Day, Casting Crowns (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqrqPGt11bA)
I Will Follow, Chris Tomlin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ohvhmGSfxI)

Scripture: (from www.biblegateway.com)
John 21:15-22 (New King James Version)
Jesus Restores Peter
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
The Beloved Disciple and His Book
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

Philippians 2:1-16 (New King James Version)
Unity Through Humility
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The Humbled and Exalted Christ
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Light Bearers
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

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The song Glorious Day by Casting Crowns was playing in my head as I opened my eyes. I thought about things that were going on in my life that I wanted to blog about related to that song, but I drifted back to sleep. Then I awoke with I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin having replaced the other song in my head’s playlist. Just as I was going to get up and blog about some things using that song, …

The alarm went off and I woke up for real. I thought of the phrases, “life imitating art” and “art imitating life” as I realized I was dreaming about blogging. Guessed I’d better do it, so I got up and now here I am, blogging about dreaming about blogging. (Although I remember the songs from the dream, I don’t remember what I was going to write about them!!! So, I’ll see what comes out, and maybe even finish some others I’ve started…)

While I wasn’t sure when I went to bed where (or even if) I was to go to a church to worship today, I set my alarm just in case. As I write this, I think about what book of Romans says in 12:1 about “spiritual worship”:

Romans 12:1-6a (Amplified Bible)
1I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
3For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.
4For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use,
5So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another].
6Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them:

[Okay – you know that I didn’t plan to have all of those verses from Romans, right? but I “fat-fingered” the ending verse, and ended up with verse 6 – guess that’s a confirmation that at least I needed to do some blogging today maybe, using my “gift” according to the grace given me?!]

Thinking about worship, thought of what I’d read recently about worship in David Needham’s book, Close to His Majesty: a road map to God [and it’s funny too, that the chapter to which I’m referring is called “GOD … WOW!”, and my last blog, which I wrote before I read that chapter in the book, had me going “wow”] …

Worship … is just as fitting when you hear the voice of God fulfilling your dreams … as it is when you feel His hand destroying them. It belongs in the midst of overwhelming joy as well as in overwhelming grief. … Worship is saying, “Wow!” to God … it is your automatic response out of your own utter smallness to a God too big … too awesome to grasp, bigger and more marvelous, too sovereign, too mysterious, too much beyond anything we can figure out. … Because God, rightly perceived, will always be a God too big. … Whatever we discover Him to be, He is far too big for us in our utter smallness to grasp. We can’t handle it. We weren’t made to handle it. We were made to worship.

[ Made me think of the Chris Tomlin song, (You and I were) Made to Worship, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8KIQTc4L-8&feature=related]

Sometimes I fear, when God is working with me on something, that He is teaching me a lesson that I need to know because I am going to need it, and that the lesson is going to be hard, and the experience in which I will use what I learned will be undesirable. So, I don’t always want the lesson (like that will keep the “bad” thing away… I know, logic like that doesn’t make a lot of sense, huh?). But then it is as if He asks me, “If the ‘thing’ is going to happen anyway and you – or someone else - are going to need the knowledge from the lesson, wouldn’t you rather have the lesson beforehand so you will have what you need when you need it?” I guess so…

I was just thinking the other day about how I don’t like the hard lessons, but that they are sometimes what is needed – what I need. Case in point is when I got a ticket for a “rolling stop” at a stop sign. The officer wouldn’t give me a warning (they never do with me), so I try now to be more aware and careful to come to a complete stop at stop signs. It was at one of those complete stops where someone else speeded through their stop sign and my car would likely have been hit on the passenger side, where my child was sitting, had I done the “rolling stop” thingy. The question is: would I have been as careful to stop completely if the officer had only given me a warning, and I had not been inconvenienced and penalized – going to court, paying a fine, etc.? Maybe [ok, probably] not – maybe one day I’ll get to a point where a warning is enough…

Psalm 19:7-14 (Amplified Bible) – emphasis mine
7The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the [whole] person; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes.
9The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold, even than much fine gold; they are sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb.
11Moreover, by them is Your servant warned (reminded, illuminated, and instructed); and in keeping them there is great reward.
12Who can discern his lapses and errors? Clear me from hidden [and unconscious] faults.
13Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then shall I be blameless, and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.

Lord, please let this be true of me:

Psalm 119:11 (Contemporary English Version)
11I treasure your word above all else; it keeps me from sinning against you.

… and my journey with Him continues …