“I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15b ESV)
Recently I knew something was amiss between the The Prince of Peace and myself. It is true I have been fighting the battle against life’s curve-balls sustained over months in the strength of knowing I am loved and accepted. It is true God has given me the victory, because I am His son. Still, in the turmoil of the doing and contending for victory against opposition I had allowed myself to focus on the victories and neglect The Giver: a bit like the Israelites in the book of Judges. As a result, my relationship time with Him has suffered being more thankful and relieved I had won the victory than inspired to worship God. I was tired of the contending. Ho, hum I am slow learner.
Prayer can change everything. It can. I believe prayer is at its most real when it comes from a place of humility, a pure and contrite heart. I believe prayer moves mountains in the Heavenlies before anything changes here on earth. It is in the Heavenlies where there is an expectation of a meeting of minds, and hearts, yes God and us. Without the expectation of meeting with God, whether we get an answer or not, the efficacy of Prayer dwindles into a pale imitation of what it once was. It stops at the ceiling. We lose the excitement of the intimacy of our relationship by neglect or carelessness. No human relationship would be healthily sustained under such circumstance, so why should we expect our relationship with God to be different?
I have found that He desires sincerity and effort in our communication along with lives lived in submission to His blessings and integrity.
“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6 ESV)
I perceive Prayer as a dialogue between parted loved ones sharing their delight over the airwaves. Flowing naturally from this place of intimacy are the cares and concerns for each other, being together as one in purpose, even when separated for a time.
God’s heart yearns for those who are suffering, who have turned away from Him, or do not know their spiritual right hand from their left. Through prayer He expects us to know His heart for them too.
“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13 ESV)
Praise God He has called us to take Him with us as we go into the day, whether we feel like it or not, whether we understand it or not. We just have to grab his loving-kindness greedily with both and arms and snuggle into His presence like the intensity of lovers newly married. Maybe it could be seen as older lovers who are familiar, reliant on one another, knowing each other’s heart?
Unless we receive His Love in this dialogue between loved-one and Lover, how can we honestly share what we have known for ourselves?
PRAYER: LORD, hear our prayer: Soften our heart and have mercy on a contrite heart and abide in us. Please enlighten us in our poverty of spirit and love for you so that we can once more come close. May we go into the day with You full of the joy and gladness of being loved and cherished, never to be alone again, and share it, in Jesus’ name, amen.