In Praise of God

“Behold, he is praying.” These words reveal the state of Paul’s heart after his conversion on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9:11) As we read his letters, it is quite obvious that prayer is one on the defining characteristics of this man of God. The fact that God has seen fit to include these prayers as a part of Scripture means that they are given to us, not for our “reading enjoyment”, but for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Well, I must admit that, until lately, I have not really thought of Paul’s prayers as given to “correct” or “reprove” me…and yet, how clear it is that they are exceedingly helpful in revealing where my prayers are misguided, weak, focused on worldly rather than spiritual priorities, and the like. And so, in the Bible study class I am currently teaching on the book of Colossians, we will be taking the second half of class for a lecture/discussion time on the prayers of Paul. I am anticipating a prayer-transforming time in these sections of Scripture and I would like to invite you to join us in this study on prayer by way of the audio available on this website. For the next eight weeks, lectures should be available online each Thursday afternoon or early evening. If you would like the seven-page handout which will be used over the course of the lectures, it is available here.

If you have any questions, you can comment on the blog or email me: kristiegant@inpraiseministries.com. I am greatly excited about this study! May our prayers be so transformed that we will, more and more, be known as women of prayer!

Recently, I was asked to share what I do when I do not feel close to God.   In the hope that you may be encouraged (as I was as I formed my answer), here is how I responded.

When I find myself not feeling close to God…

First, I remind myself that this is a frailty common to man, and while it should not be treated lightly, it is not unexpected.   God will work this, too, for my good!

Next, I thank God for making me aware of this lack of closeness and causing me to care about it (because I know there are many who are not close to Him and do not even realize it or care much).   As I pray, I recall former times when there was a sweet intimacy and I ask Him to work in my heart, pulling me away from whatever is currently usurping or disturbing my affections, and again moving my heart toward Him.

I read works written by people who know/knew God well.  I find many Puritan works especially helpful, such as those by John Bunyan, John Flavel and Jeremiah Burroughs.

I spend time meditating on the greatness of God–          

His sovereignty

His power

His love for His people

Etc.

I tell someone close to me, such as my husband, how I am feeling and ask him to pray for me (sometimes I will ask a few others as well).

I review all I’ve learned from the psalmists who felt far away from God.  I read and reread psalms such as Psalm 73, 77 and 88 and review the notes I made when I first studied and wrote lessons on these psalms.

Finally, I wait on God.  Intimacy with God is not just something I can wish into being or produce on my own . . . as with everything else, it is a gift from God.  I know He is faithful and will bring me into greater intimacy with Himself in His own timing.  So, as I thankfully and expectantly wait,  I do the things I know to do which foster intimacy (Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, confession, talking about God with others, etc.) and I constantly remind myself that even though I do not feel close to God, He is close . . . and my lack of feeling does nothing to diminish the reality of His care and love for me.

A few days ago, I was watching my friend’s son running around playing with my daughter who is his same age, and I realized that Merry (my daughter) is already spiritually privileged.

You see, my friend is Muslim.  She is not a Christian.  She will tell you that.  I am a Christian and I tell her that.  Some days we visit and she asks a question, or a topic comes up, or I ask her a question, and I get to share more about Jesus with her.  Christianity is foreign to her, as foreign as my language is to her, and hers to me.

It is also foreign to her 3-year-old son.  It is not to Merry.  She hears about Jesus and learns from the Bible every day.  She has heard the gospel over and over, directly spoken to her, her siblings, from her Sunday School and Awana teachers, from our friends, the list goes on.  The most her little friend will hear about Jesus is what he overhears in his mother’s conversation with me. . . and it is in English, a language he does not understand.

Romans 10 rings in my heart tonight. . .especially verse 14: “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”

Please pray for the gospel to be brought to Muslims around the world who live in darkness, complete darkness, without access to the scriptures and without ever hearing the gospel, for my friend who now has the a Bible in her language, that she would read it regularly (it IS the power of God unto salvation!) and also for Merry, and her little friend, both of whom have yet to bow their hearts in submission to Christ’s blood and redemptive work on the cross.

Happy New Year. 2010 WOW! I am looking forward to this coming year. In my house this is a significant year, because our oldest child is graduating High School. Very exciting! With the start of the new year, I always enjoy looking back at the last year. I enjoy watching the “year in review” on the news shows and reading the “best of” lists in the paper. I find it interesting to be reminded of the significant stories of the year. As I look at them or hear them on the news, some of them I remember and sometimes it’s, “oh wow, I didn’t remember that”. While reviewing the history of the world around me, I also like to look back and take inventory of my own life.

In my family life 2009 was spent keeping up with two teenagers. Keeping up with them physically, by driving them places and attending their events and keeping up with them mentally and spiritually as they grow and face life’s challenges. Parenting teenagers requires much strength!

In my spiritual life I look back on 2009 and ask, What did I learn? Where did I grow? Where did I struggle? Upon reflection, I notice that I learned some new things, like what Paul taught in 1 Thessalonians about how to disciple people you love, and how God is our comfort. I’d like to write more on that sometime. Last year I was reminded of some truths, like, what you watch and listen to has a direct impact on your thoughts and therefore your actions. This is a truth I have to constantly be reminded of. I don’t know why it doesn’t sink in more thoroughly, but I do know that when I see my weakness, I am humbled and reminded of God’s mercy.

So, I’ve learned something new, been reminded of truths I already know, and I continued to wade through difficult theology that takes time to learn. One thing I am trying to understand is the idea that it is God’s power in me that allows me to become Holy. It is not just me doing things (although there are things I must do). I am still learning what it means that it is God who does it. I am purposing this year to study more and learn more from scripture on this subject. It is clear in God’s word that it is He who works in us, but how this happens in my life on a day to day basis is not clear to me. I’ll let you know what I learn!

I encourage you too to take inventory of the past year. You too hopefully learned something new and continued to grow in old and new areas.

To God be the Glory!!

With the coming of the new year, I am reminded of the good gift of newness.

New books, new places, new-fallen snow, new clothes, new ideas…there is an anticipation, an unspoiled-ness about “new.”

As we celebrate the new year, let us remember that God is the Master at making new things:

He created all things.

He continues to create even today. (We’re looking forward to some good friends’ new babies in 2010!)

His mercies are new every morning. (Lam. 3:22-23)

He gives new spiritual life to His people (”Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Rom. 6:4; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17)

God’s people look forward to a new heaven and a new earth. He will be with us, and will make all things new. (Rev. 21)

As we anticipate the time when He returns (see Adina’s post below) and makes ALL things new, we rejoice in the new things He has already given. May you and yours see His abundant blessings this new year.

Elijah has been very excited for snow.  He thinks that because snow comes down out of heaven, and so will Jesus when He comes, that when it snows for the first time (that he can remember) Jesus will be coming back!

It snowed for the first time the other day.  Sadly, Jesus did not come that day.

But Elijah said to me in the car yesterday, “I’m ready for Jesus to come back,” (in a very excited tone).  We talked about what “being ready” means, and I was reminded by this conversation with my 4-year-old that Jesus is ON HIS WAY!!

My heart is desperate for the return of Christ, BUT even more desperate for more to be called to serve Christ, especially (for me) our children, some of our dear friends who are hearing the gospel and getting Bibles for the first time in their life these past few weeks, and family members who we have prayed would repent and believe the Gospel.

May our hearts be drawn to plead even more fervently for hearts to bow in submission to the God who made us and believe in His Son, Jesus Christ who came in humility to save our souls!

Jesus is returning!  Father, make us eager, make us ready!

Meditation #4 on the preciousness of Christ:

 “Who, then, is the Lord Jesus Christ?  In common parlance, men term Him, ‘our Saviour.’  But do the great body pause and reflect who Christ really is?  Do they regard Him and the CREATOR of this world–of all worlds?  of their being–of all beings?  Do they consider that ‘all things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made?’…

But what a grand and glorious truth is this to the believing soul–the absolute deity of the Saviour–the essential Godhead of Christ!…

Precious in His Deity–

Precious as ‘God over all, blessed for evermore.’“

Octavius Winslow

May your heart be moved by gratitude and love as you ponder meditation #3 on the preciousness of Christ:

“In the hour of adversity, of trial, of sorrow, oh, how precious is Christ in the experience of the believer!

It would seem, beloved, as though we had never really known Him until then. Certainly, we never knew from experience that there was so much that was human, tender, and compassionate in His heart until sorrow touched our own…

Precious humanity!  that bears each burden, that is touched with each infirmity, that soothes each sorrow, and that succors each temptation of His people.”

Octavius Winslow

Meditation #2 on the preciousness of Christ:

“How precious, then, is our Lord Jesus as ‘bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.’  Think of His perfect humanity–

a humanity free from sin, and therefore capable of dying for the ungodly,–

a humanity laden with sorrow, and therefore capable of sympathizing with the afflicted.

 Precious to our hearts as God–precious as Man–

precious as both united in one–

inconceivably and eternally precious is He,

whose name is ‘Wonderful,’ to His believing saints.”

Octavius Winslow

When we speak of something as being “precious” we usually mean that it is very dear to our heart, and thus, greatly loved or treasured.  It is something that has great value to us…something which we are careful not to waste, ignore or treat carelessly.

“Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious…”

1 Peter 2:7

For each of us, the Christmas season is a good time to pause and ask:

Is Christ precious to me?  How do I know?  What evidence do I have that He is truly precious to my heart?   Do I ever regard or treat Him as less than precious?

In the book entitled The Precious Things of God, Octavius Winslow provides many wonderful meditations on the preciousness of Christ.   I would like to share a few of his thoughts with you over the month of December.  It is my hope that these meditations will result in a more passionate love for Christ, in an increased joy as we celebrate His birth, and in a greater anticipation of His next advent!

Meditation #1 on the preciousness of Christ:

“But to whom is Christ precious?  This is a most important question.  He is not so to all.  It is a privileged class, a peculiar people, a little flock,few and scattered, hidden and unknown, who feel the Saviour’s preciousness.  Only to the believer is Christ precious…”

Octavius Winslow