Monthly Archives: October 2017

Language of Prayer

Prayer Speak
When I read through the Psalms, I see what I would call a “language of prayer” interlaced through these scriptures. It is a language that is open, vulnerable, reverent and, at times, desperate.

It is a language that reveals truths about God’s character, His interaction with man and man’s interaction with God. For example, in Psalm 46:1, the psalmist shows us that he has found God to be a refuge and a present help in time of trouble. These descriptions of interactions between God and man, and the actual prayers that are detailed in the psalms help me in several ways.

First, it increases my understanding of God and His intentions towards me. Sometimes, during the problems of life, I mistrust God’s good intentions towards me. I tend to question His love for and care of me. At times, I have wondered if God had forgotten about me, or if He was mad at me. When I read how the psalmists felt and saw God, and how God interacted with them, I can see more clearly the truth about God and His nature, rather than be blinded by my feelings or circumstances.

That in turn increases my ability to trust God, because I can see Him for who He is, and more readily believe His good intention for me even if I am not “feeling it.” Being reminded of these truths about God encourages me to choose to trust the goodness of God. The third result is a deepening of my ability to express my praise, thankfulness and love for God. When I am trusting God’s goodness and care, it opens my heart to thank God.

Some of these actions of God are listed below. I encourage you to read them with care and thought, and ask yourself, “Is this how I see God in my life?”  If not, then take some time to pray and ask God to help you to see Him in these ways.

The God of the Psalmists and the Prophets Is Our God Too!
We speak to the same God that the psalmists, prophets and patriarchs spoke to, and we have a relationship with this same God. Perhaps you read these scriptures in the Old Testament and think that such interactions were from of old and not for me today. Yet God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 1:12 and 13:8). God’s character and nature are unchanging.

In Jeremiah 23:23, the prophet in chastising Israel quotes God as referring to Himself as “the God who is near.”
“Am I a God who is near, declares the Lord, and not a God who is far off?”

In context, God is telling the people that He is near to them, but also He knows them when they have distanced themselves from God, and so to speak are hiding out from Him.  The word for “near” is “karove” and it implies a nearness in time, in place and in personal relationship.  Other words for near in this context are: close at hand; neighbor; next to and approachable.

We worship the same God who defined Himself as the God who is near. Read about how the Psalmists describe God’s closeness and intimacy with His people. Let these words encourage you about how God interacts with you today. Again, I ask you to ask yourself these questions: Is this how I see God? Is this how I interact with Him?

Ps. 3:3– God is our protector. God is a shield and the One who lifts us up.
“But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”

Ps, 4:7 –. God is the source of joy.
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”

Ps, 56:8 – God knows our sadness and hurt.
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.”

Ps. 9:12b – God does not ignore us, no matter how we are feeling about Him, or our circumstances.
“He does not ignore the cries of the afflicted…”

Ps. 38:3 – God answers our prayers to Him and He encourages our faint and weary hearts.
“When I called, You answered me; You greatly emboldened me.”

Ps.11:4– God is Sovereign. God is in control, even when things in our life or the world around us are out of control.
“But the Lord is still in His holy temple; He still rules from heaven.
He closely watches everything that happens here on earth.” (TLB)

Ps. 42:8– God is constant. He is always acting on our behalf.
“By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me.”

These are just a few examples of truths we can learn from the language of prayer and praise found in the book of Psalms. I encourage you to read through the psalms to find your own expressions of how God interacts with us.

Snapshots of Compassion

I have always loved pictures painted, drawn, or photos taken.  Currently, I am taking a photography course and it has opened my eyes even more to the beauty and the story (ies) within each picture. As I read the Bible I realize there are pictures of God, of man and even videos (so to speak) of God and man together. I would like to present some to you. In my photo album of God these are filed under compassion and love.

Snapshots of Compassion
Picture this: A man is dressed in dirty clothes with holes and shreds. As we approach we see he is disfigured and has scaly, crusty white patches on his arms. Some of his fingers are missing, People begin to move away from him and murmur sounds of disgust.

Then we see a young man and a small group of his friends nearing the man. The man calls out something. He is calling out for help. His friends shrink back, but the young man moves forward and reaches out and touches the man.  Almost instantly, we see the man’s flesh restored to normal. His fingers are whole. His skin is not scaly and crusty, but smooth and new. Onlookers, still at a cautious distance, gasp. The man in tatters praises God.

Maybe this is what it was like when Jesus looked on the leper with compassion.  This photo is found in the gospel of Mark in chapter 1, we read of the incident in which Jesus looked upon a leper with eyes of compassion and a will to help him.

“A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing,  you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.  Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Mark 1:40-42.

I love the part that says the Son of God was “moved with compassion,” and “I am willing.”  It is reassuring to know that God sees me with eyes of compassion, and that He is willing to help me. On the days when I feel like a leper on the sidelines of life, ignored, cast off, weighed down in my sin, or hurt by another’s sin; I pull out this picture and see God and His compassion. It reminds me of the truth about God and me. I return the photo to the album and move forward with new courage, faith and strength.

Snapshot: A Guilty Woman
There is a small crowd. Men’s angry voices can be heard. Wait! They have stones in their hands. Who is that in the middle of the circle? A women partially clothed is cowering in the dirt. A young rabbi looks on the scene with sadness and indignation. He enters the ring and scratches something in the dirt. Men drop stones and turn away. He turns to the woman, and speaks gentle words of forgiveness and direction. She rises and returns home. (See John 8:1-12).

When I am distraught about my sin, about wrestling with overcoming it, and failing; I pull out this snapshot of truth and am encouraged. Knowing that God views my distress through eyes of compassion helps me trust in Him, stand up, and move forward.

Snapshot: Men with Hard Hearts
The next picture was taken on the Sabbath in the synagogue. The synagogue was a great location for a picture. It was the focal point of the Jewish religious community. People went there to hear the law of God read and discussed.

In this picture we see men sitting, some are in the chief seats and there is a commoner seated on the floor. If we look closely at the expressions we see critical eyes and cold hard stares of the men in the “chief seats.” The man seated on the floor has a withered hand. Look closely at the picture and you will see sadness and fear in his eyes.

Also in the picture is a young rabbi who is looking with compassion on the man with the withered hand. He calls this man forward and heals him. In the next photo we see indignation and grief on the young rabbi’s face while we see anger and hatred on the faces of the men in the chief seats.

It is said that after this compassionate healing took place, the men of the chief seats met in a group and conspired to kill the young rabbi. (See Mark 3:1-6)

I love the fact that Jesus’ compassion for the man leads Him to act on his behalf even when it posed a danger to Himself.  While Jesus felt compassion for the man with the withered hand, He felt deep sadness at the hardness of heart of the other men. Seeing this picture of God helps me to trust Him. He is righteous and has a sense of justice. I can feel safe in confiding my hurts and problems to Him. He stands up to evil and champion my cause.

What’s in Your spiritual Wallet?
The compassion of God is well documented in the scriptures. Jesus manifests the character and nature of God to us (Col. 1:18; John 1:1-3). As we read the gospels we see pictures of God’s compassion.

When I was younger it was the custom for people to carry a wallet for their cash, but also most of these wallets had a section of plastic holders for pictures. Usually people put pictures of their family and close friends. It was a reminder to them of their loved ones and they could whip it out to give others a true description of their family and friends.

It is important to picture these truths about God in our minds and carry them with us in the wallet of our hearts.

In times when I am discouraged; feeling hurt and alone; misunderstood; let down by others; weary and tired of life, or guilty of sin, I pull out these truths of God. I look at them carefully. I put my faith in God anew and trust His compassion for me.  I am reminded I am not alone. I have a Father who understands, who cares and whose compassion is active in my life.

I urge you to read the Word of God, find and keep pictures of God in your spiritual wallet.

“I will rejoice and be glad in Your steadfast love, because You have seen my affliction;
You have known the distress of my soul.”  Psalm. 31:7