Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Prayer, and Creation's Cry

Prayer, and Creation's Cry
by David Brenneman 

Much has been said on prayer...it's a very personal conversation between you and God.  Not a conversation like you have with an acquaintance but with someone far far more personal. 

Was reading my Bible this morning and this was one of several "verse of the day" that I received to read. 

People have wondered for centuries on how or what to say in a prayer.  King David gave hundreds of hours in writing how his heart was with God.  

I woke up with part of a new to me song playing in my mind today.  It relates to prayer in a way. 

"Were creation suddenly articulate
With a thousand tongues to lift one cryThen from North to South and East to WestWe'd hear Christ be magnified
Were the whole Earth echoing His eminenceHis name would burst from sea and skyFrom rivers to the mountain topsWe'd hear Christ be magnified
Oh! Christ be magnifiedLet His praise ariseChrist be magnified in meOh! Christ be magnifiedFrom the altar of my lifeChrist be magnified in me
When every creature finds its inmost melodyAnd every human heart its native cryOh then in one enraptured hymn of praiseWe'll sing Christ be magnifiedOh, be lifted high, Jesus
Oh! Christ be magnifiedLet His praise ariseChrist be magnified in meOh! Christ be magnifiedFrom the altar of my lifeChrist be magnified in me
I won't bow to idols, I'll stand strong and worship YouAnd if it puts me in the fire, I'll rejoice 'cause You're there tooI won't be formed by feelings, I hold fast to what is trueIf the cross brings transformation then I'll be crucified with You'Cause death is just the doorway into resurrection lifeAnd if I join You in Your suffering, then I'll join You when You riseAnd when You return in glory with all the angels and the saintsMy heart will still be singing, my song will be the same
Oh! Christ be magnifiedLet His praise ariseChrist be magnified in meOh! Christ be magnifiedFrom the altar of my lifeChrist be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnifiedLet His praise ariseChrist be magnified in meOh! Christ be magnifiedFrom the altar of my lifeChrist be magnified in me"
- Christ Be Magnified 
Cody Carnes 

If creation were suddenly articulate...Jesus said on at least one occasion in Luke 19:38-40 NASB "shouting: “Blessed is the King, the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And yet some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!” Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these stop speaking, the stones will cry out!”

"...the stones will cry out!" 

Even His creation longs to be with Him. 
Even His creation would have things to say to the world to testify to the truth of God. 

Creation wouldn't wonder if what was said was "right" because it would, in very basic terms, have come from the heart. 

It would be personal.  Would be nothing that wasn't pure.

We over think so much in regards to prayer and our ability to talk to Jesus.  

Yet we have very little difficulty in talking to strangers about something we have in common. 

When you pray you have the greatest of things in common.  Salvation in Christ Jesus. You have the Father, the Son, the Spirit in common.  You have truth, God's truth, in common.  You have unadulterated honestly. Nothing hidden. You have forgiveness available for the asking. You have someone to talk to who's "been there, done that" in everything as we are and will be...yet was without sin. 

We have the best of friends available to talk to who is never too busy for us.

We have the best of friends who isn't going to come down on us for anything just because we asked.

We have the unconditional love of God.  He can't love us more, can't love us any less. 

He is more than anyone that we have ever known or will know.  He's the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We willingly bow to His authority and receive His favor.  

His interest in us is purely personal. We are being transformed into His image Spiritually.  One day it will join a physical body that's worthy of what He's making us into.  

Oh, Christ be magnified in me...
I won't be formed by feelings, I hold fast to what is true

We live in a world where psychology tries to tell us about feelings and emotions.  I know that trusting in those gets me into trouble.  We want to do and be what feels good...all the time.  We are to die to self and live to Christ Jesus.  

Prayer is our heart to His heart.

It's more than repeated words.  It's gratitude more than being grateful. Being grateful can last but a moment, showing gratitude takes time.  Being thankful when people criticize us and being grateful when wronged isn't easy. The world today would tell us to avoid such situations and follow your feelings and remove yourself from those situations.  Jesus said quite the opposite. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. Paul spoke at length about all the things that the Lord brought him THROUGH.  Not a list of things that he avoided because of how it hurt his feelings.  He prayed many times for some thorn in the flesh to be removed.  I would imagine it was some very intense prayer times.  Pleading in prayer with Jesus.  Yet he was still told no.  Our feelings and emotions aren't to get in the way of the necessary transformation that comes through prayer. 

What's interesting is the prayers of children.  Jesus rebuked His Disciples for hindering the children coming to Him. Children don't ovet think prayer. Children believe unconditionally. Children are at times brutally honest in prayer.  Children can teach scholars on how to pray. Feelings and emotions of a child in prayer flow with greater integrity and honesty than most adults. 

My emotions and feelings at times are my own worst enemy.  I get in the way of God by thinking on them too much.  I make poor decisions because of them.  I don't obey God because of them.  I allowed seeds of bitterness in me because of them.  I really know not to put stock in my emotions and feelings ahead of the Word of God.  It's in the prayet Jesus taught. "Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven".  

In becoming a Disciple we set aside self.  We learn to be and behave as a child of God must in order to please God.  We learn through our prayer life as much as our Bible reading and sermons. 

Children's songs such as "Jesus loves me" teach so much about prayer and praying honestly.  

In recent years much of my prayer life has become conversational. Whatever is on my heart and mind is what I talk with Jesus about.  I have a 15 minute or so trip to work. I have 15 minutes or so in prayer to begin my day.  Throughout the day if the need warrants it I pray. The line to Heaven's Throne is never busy. 

What do you need to talk to Jesus about?
What has been on your heart and mind that isn't making sense?  He isn't just your Savior and Lord, He's the most truest trusted friend you will ever have.  

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