I’ve been writing in my Bible for several years now—highlighting phrases and sometimes talking out loud to God as I go; offering praise and laying out my requests. I sincerely want to absorb what he’s telling me through his word.

I have no magic bargaining chips or leverage power to use against the Creator of the universe; and our relationship is never enhanced when I’m impatient and demanding.

God, being himself, can show up whenever, however, and wherever he pleases and quite often surprises me; but when I go seeking him, I must approach him respectfully. Simply, I must acknowledge that he is God and I am not.

Lately I’ve been asking that God, the Father, give Jesus, the Son, all the names and faces that weigh on my heart; because Jesus said…

All that the Father gives me will come to me,

and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

John 6:37

What could possibly be any better than that?

 

I don’t want to waste God’s time—or squander potential miracles—by praying ineffectively OR by praying ineffective prayers. The people whose names and faces I take with me as I enter the throne room of God are much too precious for that.

 

Maybe it’s just the particular pray-ers I’ve spoken with recently, but a number of them have told me they’ve been thinking the same thing: they want their prayers to count. Some said they’d been asking God to show them how to pray better and how to pray better prayers.

 

God doesn’t do things the same way every time…at least not in my life; so I figure it’s good for me not to repeat the same prayers until they become a rote-racing checklist.

 

I’ve read a lot of books about prayer and I’ve heard a lot of different people pray over the years; but it’s the praying experts who truly touch my heart—and I heard one of those just this week. She was praying quite loudly, effectively muffled by the walls between us, but easily heard just the same.

 

I’ve a little basket of small devotion books that Faith Cora likes to “read”; never mind the fact that she sometimes “reads” them upside down. Because it’s not a matter of what the eyes see, but more precisely and wisely what the heart knows; and from whom, and how recently, the pray-er was instructed.

 

 

The religious leaders of that day…

 

…asked Jesus,

 

“Do you hear what these children are saying?”

 

“Yes,” Jesus replied.

 

“Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say,

 

‘You have taught children and infants

 

to give you praise…’”

Matthew 21:16

 

 

Who taught them?

 

 

O LORD, our LORD,

 

your majestic name fills the earth!

 

Your glory is higher than the heavens.

 

You have taught children and infants

 

To tell of your strength,

 

Silencing your enemies

 

And all who oppose you.

Psalm 8:1-2

 

He did. God did. God, himself, did.

 

When Faith rejoined her mommy and me, she asked if we’d heard her praying. Her mommy said yes and asked what she’d prayed about. Faith said she’d prayed for her baby brother and her Day who had a tummy ache. I told her that the Bible says that God likes to hear a little child’s prayer the very best of all.

 

 

…Jesus said,

 

“Let the children come to me.

 

Don’t stop them!

 

For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those

 

who are like these children.”

Matthew 19:14

 

I’m just hoping that I’m not too old to learn some more.

 

 

 

The 2016 primary voting in TX is over; so I will…

 

Pray God’s will for my country

 

Not be afraid

 

Recognize the power of quiet

 

Address what I believe is important

 

Not be compelled to provide an answer to every question asked

 

Not bite at bait (bait stinks to high heaven)

 

Keep my eyes on the prize of the high calling

 

Respond

 

Not react

 

Be quiet in God’s presence

 

Listen more than I talk

 

 

“Be still, and know that I am God!

 

I will be honored by every nation.

 

I will be honored throughout the world.”

Psalm 46:10

 

 

He’s got it and he will.

 

 

“…he knows where I am going.

 

And when he tests me,

 

I will come out as pure as gold.

Job 23:10

 

 

And with his help, I will.

 

 

 

I love words and am often so struck by a phrase that I’ll mull it over and over throughout the day. Thus far today, “comets are most visible against the black sky”— originating in Max Lucado’s blog post “Worried Enough To Pray”—is resonating in my head.

 

And circling around in there for the past two days:

 

The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,

 

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,

 

‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming!

 

Clear the road for him!’”

Matthew 3:3

 

I was part of a leadership group, of like professionals, for many years. One of our practices was to share an object, with the group, which had special significance to the sharer. Each member would verbalize an observation about the object; and we would then occasionally relate back to it as we presented a case study. It encouraged thinking outside the box in ways that often brought surprising illumination to the presented study.

 

My brain works in tangential ways; and my words, following my thoughts, often change directions mid-stream—making perfect sense to me, but sometimes disconcerting my listeners. It reminds me of watching a water bug skitter across the top of the pond—you never know its next direction. It’s also a great way for me to inadvertently start a rumor, if not very careful! 🙂

 

That said, I’m considering how Max’s phrase fits with Isaiah’s words—quoted by gospel writer Matthew to describe John the Baptist’s ministry.

 

The time distance between the Old and New Testaments was over 400 years—a very long time for God’s people to not hear from him directly; and a dark and quiet backdrop against which to emblazon a fiery shouting comet:

 

‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming!

 

Clear the road for him!’”

 

I jokingly say that I began teaching Sunday school before I was born—not really, but truly for a lot of years. It was tons of work and, in the way God blesses teachers, I learned way more than anyone who ever sat in my classes.

 

I learned over time to pray for my students and to ask the Lord’s Spirit to teach the lessons through me. One of my main objectives was that the Scriptures would become practical and applicable to our daily lives—and not just dressed up Sunday morning words.

 

It’s a practice I work to maintain; because of what use is God’s word to me personally, if I don’t allow him to change me through it?

 

So my takeaway, from the intersection of Max, Isaiah, John, and Matthew’s words, is to allow God’s truths to blaze through my life into whatever darkness surrounds me.

 

Amen and amen.