45Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. 46"It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be a house of prayer'[b]; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'[c]" (Luke 19:45)
Last night, I returned from a trip to the Osanri and Kwang Lim prayer mountains. It was an awesome, awesome experience!! I went to declutter my mind - to slow down, to seek God. But God's nearness in the quietness and beauty of nature just blew my mind. God esteems prayer because it honours Him. He esteems it because it glorifies Him when He answers our petitions.
One lady in our team - a 65-year-old woman - taught us something profoundly touching through her testimonies. She prays about the smallest things. She is a housewife and cooks for her Peranakan family. She prays for God to help her cook a good meal for her family. She prays that He will strengthen her knees so she can go up and down the mountain. She prays. She had been an idol-worshipper for all her life, but her daughter prayed for more than 30 years that she should come to know the one true God. Because of that faithful prayer, God appeared to the elderly lady in dreams - until she could no longer deny his Lordship. I had never heard God save a person in Singapore through dreams before (I thought God only moved through dreams to reach out to people who live in lands where the gospel is closed). That night, my eyes were opened to a new truth.
I learnt that wars are won and fought on prayer. Because when we pray, we plug into God, the greatest power there is. And He moves on our behalf. When we pray, He does more than we can do to take lands, transform lives and do the impossible. No wonder Jesus wants the church to be, above all, 'a house of prayer'.
Prayer today: Father God, may I be, above all, a person of prayer. And help me hear you clearly when I do, so we can dialogue each day as daughter to Abba Father, servant to King, friend to friend. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
To bow like a saint
Fri night, when we heard that Rich was in critical condition, God led me to this passage in Finney's book "Power, Prayer and Passion". I was struck by why God led me to it.
It said - to pray effectually, you must pray with submission to the will of God. It spoke of King David. When his child was sick, David agonised in prayer and refused to be comforted. But as soon as he heard the child was dead, he laid aside his grief and arose. While the child was yet alive, he did not know what was the will of God and so he fasted and prayed. He did not know but that his prayer, his agony, was the very thing on which it turned, whether the child was to live or not. He thought that if he humbled himself and entreated God, perhaps God would spare him this blow. But as soon as God's will was clear, and the child was dead, he bowed like a saint.
After God led me to this passage, I began to realise that it was likely God would take Rich home. But I was still disappointed in God that He would do so, because I thought He should honour the prayers of his saints. It is only now, gradually, that I'm beginning to see that God had more in mind - for our good, and His glory...
Prayer today: Father God, Finney wrote of David, "But as soon as God's will was clear... he bowed like a saint." Even as you call me to pray, help me not to be disappointed in you when your answers come in a different way from what I expect. Help me, as soon as your will is clear, to bow like a saint. To submit to your higher purpose. "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Cor 13)" You have your reasons for the things you do - help me to trust always in your loving, wise ways. In Jesus' name, Amen.
It said - to pray effectually, you must pray with submission to the will of God. It spoke of King David. When his child was sick, David agonised in prayer and refused to be comforted. But as soon as he heard the child was dead, he laid aside his grief and arose. While the child was yet alive, he did not know what was the will of God and so he fasted and prayed. He did not know but that his prayer, his agony, was the very thing on which it turned, whether the child was to live or not. He thought that if he humbled himself and entreated God, perhaps God would spare him this blow. But as soon as God's will was clear, and the child was dead, he bowed like a saint.
After God led me to this passage, I began to realise that it was likely God would take Rich home. But I was still disappointed in God that He would do so, because I thought He should honour the prayers of his saints. It is only now, gradually, that I'm beginning to see that God had more in mind - for our good, and His glory...
Prayer today: Father God, Finney wrote of David, "But as soon as God's will was clear... he bowed like a saint." Even as you call me to pray, help me not to be disappointed in you when your answers come in a different way from what I expect. Help me, as soon as your will is clear, to bow like a saint. To submit to your higher purpose. "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Cor 13)" You have your reasons for the things you do - help me to trust always in your loving, wise ways. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Spiritual weapons
Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!" 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plowshares, mattocks, axes and sickles [h] sharpened. 21 The price was two thirds of a shekel [i] for sharpening plowshares and mattocks, and a third of a shekel [j] for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads. 22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them. (1 Sam 13:19-22)
In the battle against the Philistines, the Israelites were severely handicapped - because they lacked weapons. "Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel." When I first heard this preached recently, I was shocked. How could the Israelites have allowed themselves to be in such a vulnerable position? Strategically, it was unbelievable. So I thank God for the weapons He has given us - Eph 6:14 "Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." God knows in any battle, we need weapons, and He has given us a full arsenal and the battle manual.
Prayer today: Father God, you have given us a full arsenal and battle manual. Help me O God to use your weapons - to walk in your truth, righteousness, faith, peace and to pray always in the Spirit. You alone are sufficient. In Jesus' name, Amen.
In the battle against the Philistines, the Israelites were severely handicapped - because they lacked weapons. "Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel." When I first heard this preached recently, I was shocked. How could the Israelites have allowed themselves to be in such a vulnerable position? Strategically, it was unbelievable. So I thank God for the weapons He has given us - Eph 6:14 "Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." God knows in any battle, we need weapons, and He has given us a full arsenal and the battle manual.
Prayer today: Father God, you have given us a full arsenal and battle manual. Help me O God to use your weapons - to walk in your truth, righteousness, faith, peace and to pray always in the Spirit. You alone are sufficient. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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