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| Picture from my youngest son. |
Once upon a time I was wondering…
When is prayer not meaningful?
Prayer is conversation with GOD - we, who are but dust- get the attention of GOD every time we call His name.
Matthew 6:8-10 “Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come…”. Hallowed means holy, consecrated- sacred, set apart- because it’s special, unlike any other place or thing. In Exodus 3:5, God called out to Moses from the burning bush and told him to remove his shoes because the very ground he was encountering God was holy ground and God wanted nothing between Him and Moses. The physical contact was that important. I just have to suppose that since the ground was that special, then surely since Jesus said, our Father’s name is “Hallowed”… our calling for God’s attention; begs to suggest way more than a modicum of respect - way more, (if ground can be holy… GOD is holier - He made the ground, dust, us).
When we glibly, (insincerely and shallow), call upon God; perhaps, at least one should share that mundane moment and why you required God’s attention… to the mundane. Not that Father God is not aware of what we are doing 24/7, (remember He’s omniscient and omnipresent to boot), but when calling on Father God - it’s kind of an opportunity for us to check-in with ourselves; to identify where and what we are doing… even in the small things. Especially, if you called out God’s name - for His attention, to make Him aware of what and where you are - when your’e doing something super minor, (I want to say stupid). In this, we show ourselves to be the mindless, sometimes thoughtless children we are. At least be mindful that we called on Father God for something small - “Oh ____, I missed the ball!”(Sadly, this is me sometimes).
Do not take the name of God in vain. PERIOD. It’s kind of crazy that people who don’t even believe in Father God call on His Son’s name - Jesus. When was the last time you heard someone call on a pagan god’s name for something frivolous, or even important? Just wondering…
Let me make myself clear on the other side… ALL conversation to God is important - when done sincerely. God is our Father. He delights in hearing from His children… but to simply call out His Holy name in anger, disrespect, carelessly… irreverently… It cheapens God in our eyes, and in the eyes of those within earshot of our vain calling… IF you profess to be a Christ follower, folks are indeed watching closely and so your behavior reflects back upon God. I pray regularly, for Father to put a guard over my mouth… because I see people just like me, doing stupid all of the time… My first grade teacher used to use duct tape!
On another day…
Humans have “SPAN” as in lifeSPAN. Subsequently, angels may be curious with what we do with the space between our birth date and our death date. Angels are incredible beings, but they don’t know what we are going to do before we do it, (in truth, some of us are just as clueless); and they, the angels - watch us, humans…(It’s a little creepy if you think about too long - so don’t…). I wonder, do angels wonder why we do what we do sometimes… Perhaps, those angels that are dispatched by Father God are logical, I presume, and so must wonder WHY we do what we do… Can you imagine the huddle they have sometimes… If they have the time to huddle and chat about their charges… We do keep them busy… And the demonic ones… compile information to create that next stumbling block… Those are the busybodies…
Most humans know that there is a limit to our “life”span. Some are reckless -not so much that they do crazy things, although this is true, but they live as if there is no limit to their tomorrows and so plan only for the moment; if even then. So why do we not treasure our moments more meaningfully? This may be the reasoning behind the angels watching over us so… They intervene only as God directs but otherwise “watch” 24/7.
Why do we humans spend something, SPAN, so costly - on meaningless pursuits? The angels know God gave His Son Jesus for us humans - dust! (Father also gave us - only humans - His image - this is HUGE! Some try to change what God gave at conception as HE was knitting us together... and we say, “…wrong or we don’t like it…” to God! And dare to go against God and natural order).
And look at what we do with our SPAN. The enemy understands we underestimate our precious gift of SPAN and so provides us with vain pursuits… so that we are ineffectual - have no impact upon others that we’ve been given to be around...
An aspect of hell could be to realize the endless possibilities of the what ifs - the things we could have done with our span and didn’t - regret without end.
And the days turn…
I had an epiphany:
What I’ve learned: Father God does not want love that isn’t freely given, subsequently, His love is 100% unconditional, (“…yet while we were still sinners, Christ Jesus died for us…”) … so He gives freely but, it is “anticipatory” - emphasis on the last word. Not so much for Him, because He already knows exactly where we are concerning our affections or the lack thereof for Him, but we don’t know it of ourselves. We lie to Father God and to ourselves… Sadly. I think this is why we are given relationships so we “get” to practice loving others as Father God loves us… Which means not always accepting what our loved ones do, or not do to us, themselves and others. Chew on this last sentence.
We also experience the hurt/heartache, the brokenness that Father God experiences as well... It’s like a given - 100% - that we will have broken relationships no matter what we do… Because folks don’t have to receive someone’s love, (remember - free will). The BIG difference between Father God and us, of course - He knows everything - even the end of everyone’s story… We, of course - do not… But like Him -we don’t give up… He doesn’t seem to give up on folks either, (this is totally a God thing). However, we should turn folks over to Father God rather than trying to get folks to love. Can’t make someone love you. Can’t make someone receive your love.
Only Father God loves perfectly. Of course 😏
Another thing that popped into my head…
One day we, (everybody), will all know all truth about everything. Conversely, every lie will be exposed… With hearing/knowing all the truth as a believer- there will be undoubtedly tears, because of the understanding of the repercussions of the aforementioned “denial” of what was true…
So, these tears of regret, hurt, shame… are these the tears that scripture says God, Himself will wipe away every tear? Isaiah 25:8 and Revelation 21:4
Think about everything you’ve been told and discovering what was true and what was not… You will “see”/realize all the endless positive possibilities that could have been and how life could have been different, for the lack of lies you were told.
Understanding the lies that have impacted my life now, I can still say - on this side of Glory - I still give thanks because even in the lies, I’ve come to understand and see how Father God used evil lies for His Glory and my good… because life has been a journey that Father God has always been with me… no matter what…
Still I think understanding ALL of the lies and the missed impact of other choices - could be momentarily sad… till Father wipes ALL the tears away. 🙂
Just thinking
… And on yet another day
With regards to Isaiah 38 and Hezekiah’s tears… Verse 5 “I have seen thy tears…”
What tears move Father? Surely, all tears of righteousness, but to seemingly change His mind or to be so moved… How I have cried tears… Surely the two Tamars, Hagar, Samson, Hannah in the Old Testament… Mary Magdalene, Martha, Paul, as did Jesus in the garden… So many request for movements of motions - seem to be set and can not be changed… It is the old road less traveled that must be taken… such an unknown. But Father’s beloved are never alone.
Soli Deo Gloria
Nina
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