Laced With Grace

I’ve been reading about John and Elizabeth Edwards and their decision to continue a run for the presidency.  The first gut reaction is to wonder how he could do that to her when she’s dying. How could he?

I went to my aunt’s funeral on Friday and a story was read that she had tucked into her Bible.  The tent that we live in was never meant to be permanant – our  “Tentmaker” designed it to be our temporary home for our time on this earth.

Every day – every day – we live with dying.  Living with cancer – or any method of leaving this earth – doesn’t put life on hold, it puts life into “fast motion”.  All of the things that we wanted to do, we better get them done quickly.

Carpe Diem.  Seize the day.

For some, this means taking God seriously for the first time – their spiritual growth is in fast motion.  Ministry, prayer, witnessing – all of these take on a new and urgent meaning.  John Piper (“Don’t Waste Your Life”) wrote an article, “Don’t Waste Your Cancer“.  He wrote it the night before his surgery for prostate cancer.

Why do we not feel this urgency when life is going well?  We just don’t.  Maybe that’s the way that God designed us, or maybe we just get lazy.

For the Edwards family, this means making a choice about campaigning.  If John is running, regardless – this is wrong.  If he is running because it is his wife’s dying wish to leave this life making their dream a reality – I need to rethink my judgment on whether this is wrong.  It may (or does) indicate mixed up priorities, but does not make John Edwards a monster for continuing.

For Christians, the thought of leaving this earth may bring sadness for those we leave behind, but it doesn’t bring despair.   Eternity is what we are meant for!  But how are we going to use the time we have left?

This is a question for those who are looking death in the eyes right now…and for those who can’t see it on their horizon.

How are we going to use the time we have left?

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. – 2 Corinthians 5

(I realize I discussed living in a pit last post I did, like I have said before and I will say again, the Lord LOVES to give me object lessons. I guess he figures I learn best by experience)

I could try to come up with something spiritual today, put it all in a nice little bow. Unfortunately that is not how life is, so I am going to speak from the heart today. This week I was a pit dweller. Sometime last weekend I was pushed and sank into a pit. Not only did I fall into a pit, the water was rising fast. I could not even cry out, well I take that back I did cry out, but I was so loud in my head I could not hear anything but myself. While I was a pit dweller this week, there are 10 things I have learned (or at least the Lord wanted it fresh in my mind):

1. When you cannot pray, others will stand before the throne for you. I had enough wisdom to cry out to all my prayer warriors to cover me in prayers. I could not form a coherent thought myself at the moment.

2. I was dealing with anger, hurt, pride (you know all the ugliness). This week my house was put on the market, I have been painting, cleaning, organizing, etc… One painting job involved painting a ceiling. I am feeling muscles I have not felt in a long time. I did not go to bed this week, I collapsed. I was tired, and I was hurt by another person. During my pit dwelling and wound licking, I got to scrub. I cleaned with 90% cleaner and 10% tears this week. And personally I think I did more scrubbing of the inside of myself then I did of the house. Sometimes that type of scrubbing leaves you raw.

3. I found out God does not mind me tattling. I tattled my hurts; I told God how angry I was at a certain person, I explained my frustration, I even told God what I thought He was not doing. God listened. He also did not solve my problems right away.

4. Another thing I learned is that other people cannot get you out of your pit. Don’t get me wrong, I would still be in my pit if I did not had the encouragement, the prayers, and concern shown towards me this week. Heck, if I was totally relying on my irrational thoughts I would have got in my car and drove away. But thank God, I still had some sanity tucked in somewhere. But you have to want to be rescued; other people cannot do it for you.

5. Moms are good when you do finally break. When you know you officially give up fighting the pride, when you give up being angry, they are a good person to break down to (like when you are sitting in a parking lot waiting for your son, and you just break). Moms listen, and then they lovingly tell you what you need to do. Sometimes friends are afraid to speak this kind of truth, but not a Mother (well at least not mine thank goodness).

6. After a few days in my pit I decided this was God over matter, God is bigger and I have to make the choice to be saved. In the past I have wanted to dwell in my pit, I wanted to lick my wounds; I liked feeling sorry for myself. But that is allowing Satan to gain hold of me, WELL NOT THIS TIME. I cried out to God, I cried for forgiveness, and I asked for Him to intervene and take all this ugliness from me. I took all the encouragement and prayers from friends and family (for that was my only strength) and I said, I am washed in the blood and you have no claim over me. And then I feel asleep for the night.

7. The next day I woke with a new attitude. The next day I woke to praising God. Did my situation change…no. Did I still feel some pain towards the person who hurt my feelings….yes. So really nothing changed, except I gave all over to God to handle.

8. Slowly the person who hurt my feelings has been coming around; this person began reaching out to help me. The Lord is restoring the relationship and helping erase the pain. This is a relationship that was commanded from God to work things out.

9. I was not innocent in all of this the Lord showed me. I was dealing with pride (which Mother so wisely pointed out). The five letter word that has been my weakness in life. God reminded me that no matter how much I learn about him, not matter how far I think I have come. It only takes one incident (and not even a life shattering one) to throw me back into that pit. I am 100% dependent on God; he is my bread of life. He is MY LIFE.

10. The most important thing I have learned is that when you do have a time where you have spent time in the pit, and then you are set free. You realize how much time you wasted licking your wounds. So when you find yourself back in a pit once again, you do whatever you can to get out quickly. Sometimes it is kicking, screaming and yelling, but you know you need to get out as quick as possible. You remember what it is like to be trapped, and this is where the prayers of many standing before the throne for you, are a powerful tool against Satan.

So like the Casting Crows song says:

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will life my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

God heard me all along; God loves me enough to teach me. Yes, I cried, Yes, I complained….but through it all I praised God. And God loves me. He also showed me how important the prayers of my prayer warriors were to me this week, for without them I would be lost.

2 Cor 2: 10-11 “On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”

Thank you Eh-lo-heem El-yon (I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me; ~Psm 57:2). Thank you that you do not turn a deaf ear to me, Oh Lord. You know my heart and only you can save me. So I will wait for your deliverance, for you are my redeemer (Psm 19:14) Thank you for the ones who you have brought into my life to pray for me and with me. And thank you that I in return can do the same. Father if one person is ministered today by you, then it is all worth it. Amen.

John Wesley: God does nothing on earth save in answer to believing prayer.

God has such a sense of humor. I am preparing to facilitate a workshop about prayer. Just to make sure I am ready God sent two people to me in the last 24 hours with this question. If God is in control of everything, why should I pray? It is a very good question. It deserves a good answer. Although, I may botch the answer a little, God has made it very clear to me why prayer is vital and necessary?

We can find the answer in God’s original plan. Adam was given complete dominion over the earth. He and Eve where given complete rule. They were God’s emissaries, the enforcers of God’s will on earth. They were intercessors.

Genesis 2:28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

God gave enormous amounts of authority to mankind. It was established since the beginning of time God would work on earth through us, humans. In His great delight He set the stage perfectly. He created the laws of this world to require human interaction on His behalf. This means God needs us. Have you thought about His relationship in such a way? We know God lacks nothing. He is complete (Acts 17:25) but, He has chosen to limit Himself by working through us, His emissaries.

In the garden Adam and Eve surrendered their rule to the Satan. Then, God sent His only son to become the new intercessor. Christ died, arose and returned to heaven. We, his children, are His modern day intercessors on earth. God needs His intercessors to bring requests for change, provision, protection, etc. to His throne. Yes, we are supposed to ask God for something He already wants to do or give. It is the asking that releases His power to do it.

Christ modeled this prayer: Matthew 6:11 Give us today our daily bread. Do you think God knew Jesus needed food daily? Of course and Jesus still petitioned for it, daily. There are numerous accounts of Jesus praying to the Father, seeking His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Interesting.

Our prayers enter us into the relationship with the Father through Jesus our intercessor. There we intercede for this earth, everyone and everything on it. God wants us to ask Him to release His will on planet earth to save, to heal, to bind, to provide.

This is the beginning of understanding. I did not discuss God’s timing and our expectations. There are enemy factions that play a part in answered prayer. Today, my hope is you are motivated to fall to your knees and ask God to move in your world. Prayer is vital and our King longingly waits to answer.

Father, drive us to our knees with this understanding. It is because of your great love and relationship that our prayers make a difference in this world. Hear us from heaven as we pray for your will on earth. Do mighty things because we ask. In Jesus, our intercessors holy name, Amen

“Next to the wonder of seeing my Savior will be, I think, the wonder that I made so little use of the power of prayer.” —D. L. Moody

I realize this question is not answered in its entirety. In this post I am unable to cover multiple aspects of why we should pray. Such as obedience, praying to increase our faith or praying to bend our will to God’s. There are enormous amounts of scripture addressing prayer and its importance and purposes. I am interested in your thoughts about prayer and how God has used your prayers to effect our world. Leave me a comment. Thank you.