Persistence In Prayer

Luke 18:1-8 is a parable or story with a lesson from Christ that speaks about being persistent before an earthly judge and the heavenly judge to acquire justice. The vehicle or medium to petition God about the injustice is prayer and Luke leads off in the first verse with the encouragement of persistence in prayer - "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

Jesus says that a persistent prayer requesting justice will receive a quick reply - "Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly." (v. 7-8) There have been other supplications I have made to God that the answer has not been "quickly". Healing of my body or the body of a loved one is a prime example. However, persistence in prayer is the lesson and God does not reveal how much persistence is needed.

Even though other persistent prayer requests may not be answered "quickly", I am learning through Luke and Paul to be steadfast in my prayers. While Luke says for us to "always pray and not give up", Paul encourages the believers in Thessolinica and down through the ages - "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

The original Greek word for "rejoice" is chairo (khah ee ro) meaning cheerful or happy. The original Greek word for "continually" is adialeiptos (ad-ee-al-ipe-toce) meaning uniterruped as the occasion allows. The original Greek word for "In" is en (en) meaning through or during; speaking to location of in the midst of something.

When one takes all the original intent behind these words, the verse could read -

Always have a cheerful, happy demanor, pray uninterruptedly as the occasion(s) allow and give thanks at the beginning, during and through all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

The Lord and Paul never said doing this was going to be easy. These words were Paul's final instructions to the believers of Thessolonica in Paul's first letter to them. This instruction is a development of an eternal focus with our mind, body and spirit on Christ so that "our light and momentary troubles will achieve for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (2 Cor. 4:17)

For the best example at how the Christian's life should be an everlasting conversation with The Lord - observe Christ's prayer life. I broke down the prayer-life of Jesus in a recent study that you can read about here - https://www.ncarolinian.com/2012/04/jesus-experience-with-prayer.html

The Past

Does the past exist? Those claiming time travel would say, "yes". I have yet to see proof of that capability. Meanwhile, memories are the record of the past that are usually captivated by an instance of that memory via a picture, sound, smell, song or touch.

Some past memories are worth recalling. Others need to be forgotten for the improvement of one's mental, physical and spiritual well being. The past is finished, we should not live there but learn and progress. What matters in the now is what we do with the information and experiences of the past
combined with the outlook and forcast for the future.

In the movie The Lord of the Rings, the character Gandalf states, "All you have to decide is what to do with the time given to you."

Observing how others have handled and been victorious through the situation you are currently experiencing is a great way to appreciate and make use of The Past. Believers before the New Testament was written had and will always have the Old Testament scriptures and its lessons. Paul, in his  letter to the believers in Rome, stated this idea like this - "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." (Romans 15:4) Christians today have both the Old and New Testaments to draw from for inspiration.

Once you have found your Scripture-lesson of endurance, encouragement and/or hope - hang onto it and push through your situation 'till you see progress. 

To my Christian brothers and sisters, if you have not done this already I would encourage you to start a Faithfulness Journal. Instead of building actual rock formations and naming them like the Hebrews did in the early years with God, write down in a journal the major milestones or benchmarks of faithfulness that God has shown to you. This journal can then be a source of appreciation and praise to God for His care and provision in your past and a declaration of His faithfulness for your future. Just remember to move on, make progress, be an influence and not dwell in The Past.

Garland And Chain

 Proverbs 1:8-9 says,

"Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck."

Some people do not have a father or mother at all. Then there are those individuals who have or had parents that never had proper instruction to give or wise teaching to deliver. 

However, to those people, like me, who were blessed to have a father and mother who knew how to administer instruction and teaching - we should honor them and what they bestowed upon us every day according to this Proverbs passage.

In this Proverb "garland" is pictured as being not only worn on the head, but the son mentioned is graced or favored to have it there to begin with - "They are a garland to grace your head".

As the garland is on the head it is visible to all who look directly at the son or individual wearing it. The garland refers back to both your father's instruction and mother's teaching. With the garland or instruction and teaching being so closely aligned with the head, the analogy is simple to make - our thinking, attitude and actions should clearly be evident from our brain and what we recall as our parental instruction and teaching.

In the same manner that the garland is associated with the head, brain and thought-life, the "chain" is linked with the heart. Just as nobody can miss a garland or wreath on one's head, so nobody can escape a necklace hanging around the neck close to one's heart - a chain to adorn your neck.". Here, again the "chain" is symbolic to both the father's instruction and the mother's teaching. And we should be proud to "adorn" or show them off on a daily basis as a foundation in our lives.

God makes the ultimate set of parents in and of Himself. I believe that if we listen and obey even moreso the instructions and teachings of our Heavenly Father, then His grace or favor will be manifested in smart decisions and our heart will know perfect peace.

I believe God is telling us through Solomon that our thoughts and behavior should honor not only our earthly father and mother and their investment in our lives, but ultimately Father God's personal investment. In this picture of a head of garland and chain around the heart, both our mental and emotional make-up is addressed by The Lord.

In a world so full of mental health conscienceness, God takes care of both mental and emotional health in this verse. I hope and pray those of you that read this have wonderful parents who you can recall great instruction and teaching from. If you do not have this blessing, I hope and pray Christ Jesus is your personal Lord and Savior and that you are leaning on and into Him as your Garland And Chain.

My Wonderful Counselor

One of my all-time favorite descriptive names of God is not just counselor, but Wonderful Counselor cited in Isaiah 9:6.

There are at least three other verses that depict God in this way - John 14:15-17; John 14:25-26; and Psalm 119:24.

The verses in John are the words of Jesus. John 14:15-17 says, "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth."

And John 14:25-26 states, "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

He is describing the nature and role of the third part of the Holy Trinity - The Holy Spirit - who will come and live within believers after His final departure. In these verses, Jesus specifies the Holy Spirit as "Advocate". In the original language that word is parakletos (par-ak-lay-tos) meaning one who comes alongside; intercessor; counselor; comforter; advocate. 

This role of the Holy Spirit is loaded. Not only does the Holy Spirit tend to the needs of believers directly by coming alongside them to counsel and comfort them through the spirit and The Word, but The Holy Spirit also interceeds and advocates on our behalf to Father God for whatever we need but did not ask for.

Psalm 119:24 portrays God's laws, rules and really all His Words as a "delight" and "counselors". "Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors." The phrase "my counselors" that refers back to God's Word, in the original language - iysh (eesh) - means an individual, usually male, whose advice is extremely valued. 

Solomon spoke truth when he said, "A person finds joy when giving an apt reply -- and how good is a timely word!" (Proverbs 15:23) You can always count on God's Word in this fashion. There is not a situation that the Word of God and His Holy Spirit cannot touch in our lives. Hebrews 4:12 states - "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Paul, when he writes his second letter to Timothy, encourages him and instructs young Timothy that - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Finally, we arrive at the original name and title of God I am so fond of - Wonderful Counselor. Isaiah 9:6 states, "And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 

In the original language, the word "Wonderful" is pele (peh-leh) meaning miracle; marvelous; wonder. Then "Counselor" in the original language is ya ats (yaw-ats) meaning counselor; advisor; resolver. 

Place them together while considering the supportive Scripture and you get a Miracle-Working, Wonder Producing, Resolver of issues that lives within each believer and is actively interceeding for them. That is My Wonderful Counselor.

The Rub

Have you ever been driving and gotten distracted enough, drowsy enough or forced by another vehicle coming over from another lane to the beginning of the shoulder of the road? Now-a-days there is usually a rough strip there that catches your attention and makes a loud noise as you run over it to alert you, you are going off the road. This is what I call - The Rub.

The Rub is an attempt to warn you in that moment that your set boundaries are being violated. The rule for staying in your lane at the cost of safety to you and others is in jeapordy when one hears and feels this Rub on the road.

Currently I am in a Rub of Life. The Rub that God has placed in my life that I continually keep bumping into or rolling over is Understanding God's Healing Process. As I or friends or family members get sick and need prayer - I pray. Many times the cases are serious, like at this writing my Dad is in the hospital and been there for days and I have prayed earnestly quoting Scripture and the promises of God.

I am not meaning to treat God like a genie in order for instant gratification, I am looking at how people in The Bible were healed instantly at His touch when they approached Him by Christ's compassion. They were especially noticed by Jesus and their situation taken care of when people displayed faith in Christ's authority as Messiah and healer.

The Rub has come in the past when I have prayed for people's condition and not only did they not get well, they died. The Rub is coming now as I have a host of prayer warriors praying for my Dad and not only is there no answer, the specialist doctors can't agree on the plan of attack. Frustrating in both the natural and spiritual realms.

I base a large part of my view on praying and getting answers to prayer on Christ's very words in Mark 11:24 - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." However, when my faith as a Christian does not see the immidiate action that I expect, The Rub begins and a crash is emienent unless I can gain the proper perspective. 

There is no other avenue I have but trust. I have to back away or navigate away from my boundry of Understanding God's Healing Process and surrender all my attempts to grasp His ways and plans. My Dad and I and many others are perfect examples of experiencing God as same in nature but different in His processes (sometimes immediate, many times lengthy). This is why trust is is relearned so many times, at least in my walk with The Lord, as I continue to keep hitting The Rub.