I just finished a book on prayer by Tom Elliff called A Passion for Prayer. The Lord had pressed upon my heart a while back my need to grow in this discipline. I got this book for free at one of the chapel services last semester and knew it was the Lord's way of pushing me in this area. It was a great and challenging read. It always amazes me how the Lord uses books like these to speak to specific circumstances in my life. This past week, I went back and re-read the portions I had underlined in the chapters "Praying for the Grace to Forgive" and "Praying During the Hard Times of Life." The Lord is gracious is giving me the grace to forgive the person who swiped my computer. Forgiveness usually has to do with restoring broken fellowship, but in this case, it was a matter of me letting go for my need for revenge, trusting God to be my vindicator and not holding bitterness towards the thief. Easier said than done, but, like I said, God is gracious and gave me the strength to surrender the situation to Him. God is a just God so I can take rest in the fact that justice will be done - whether in this life or the next; whether in Christ (if the thief comes to salvation) or out of Him (in judgment).
All that I have in Christ is more than I could ever imagine or comprehend. I was thinking about the Psalms and how they are a collection of prayers (I have been reading and praying through them). I was also thinking about how God hears and answers all the prayers of His children. When I was considering how God answered the prayers of the psalmists, I realized that they all found their answer in Jesus Christ. Prayers for forgiveness - answered in Christ. Prayers for vindication - Christ. Prayers for provision - Christ. Prayers for justice - Christ. Prayers for guidance - Christ. Jesus Christ is the answer to our every need. In Him, we are forgiven. In Him, justice is served. In Him, we are given everything we need. That is why the Bible tells us to seek God's Kingdom above everything else and to live righteously because God knows our every need and provides for us (Matthew 6:31-33).
So, the lesson of the past few weeks can be found in this one theme: trust God and wait on Him. I feel like I am in a period of waiting in several areas of my life. God has given me hints as to what is ahead, but I must be patient and trust Him as things unfold. This waiting time is also a time of preparation for what is in store. Satan knows this and has been throwing his fiery darts my way with a vengeance. As I have committed to developing a deeper prayer life, am preparing for ministry and trying to seek the Lord above all else, I have caught the enemy's attention. Even in this, I need not fear for "greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
On Mountains High
God You are the God of all created things
Before the worlds were formed You knew who I would be
Your ways are higher than the ways of man
So help me trust Your heart as You hold my hand
On mountains high, I'll praise Your Name
In valleys low, I'll do the same
And as the river runs to find the ocean blue
My heart will always run to find You
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