“The only thing that will remain in Heaven of our earthly time is our prayers.” (Vesta Mangun.) “Yet, why do so many struggle with prayer? Prayer is the ultimate experience of life; it reaches into eternity. It is our opportunity to become a part of the eternal purpose of God. Prayer is often constricted to a narrow focus or it may sprawl in our mind without parameters. The ‘sweet hour of prayer’ becomes a dreaded responsibility instead of a privileged relationship. Prayer has been perceived as drudgery, when it is a pleasure- as a hard self-discipline, when it is a self-rewarding sacrifice – as a commitment you can never quite keep, when it is an unlimited communion with God. A lot depends on how our prayer life is conducted.” Teri Spears and Thetus Tenney, in loose-leaf (note/work) book, ‘…first of all…Prayer’ pg. 1 (Introduction). (Italics and bold added by me.)
Category: Prayer
Priceless, Efficacious Tears.
“In one of the six ‘Golden Psalms’ (michtam, in Hebrew), David describes how God values tears:
Psalm 56:8-‘You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?’ God is an avid collector of tears. Tears are the silent, eloquent testimonies to God’s nearness: “He remains close to those who are brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
Did you know what’s physiologically in our tears? A tear is comprised of more than ‘just’ water and includes proteins, enzymes, lipids, metabolites, electrolytes, and even our DNA! If our eyes get irritated, tears are more aqueous (comprised of water). If we are under high stress, our tears are filled with stress-related hormones.
But the chemistry of tears pales in comparison to their (spiritual) value (to God…and us): “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable (hope and) love.” Unknown.
Contrition. Unspeakable love. Not ordinary, everyday words…nor occurrences, sadly, though tears might be.
Is that why God has a supreme interest in…and pays undying attention to…our tears? He is love personified and, therefore, “near to the brokenhearted.” The Psalmist said that ‘God collects tears, even stores them in his bottles.’ ” The Book on Prayer, pg. 248, by Psr. Ken Gurley (italics and words in parentheses, etc., added by me, dkb).
“Try Tears.” General William Booth, The Salvation Army.
“Grown men don’t cry. Again, life lies. Jesus wept. Shouldn’t I?” Ken Gurley, in The Book on Prayer, pg. 258 (italics added by me, dkb, and: I have, time and again, personally experienced powerful breakthroughs to Christ…when I’ve sought Him with all my heart, by His Grace!).
Tears of Faith…Tears of JOY.
“My mother would not be satisfied but urged him (a bishop) with repeated entreaties and floods of tears to see me and discuss with me. He, losing patience, said: ‘Go your way; as surely as you live, it is impossible that the son of those tears ahould perish.” Augustine and F. J. Sheed, Confessions, Book 3, pg. 51 (as noted in Ken Gurley’s, The Book on Prayer, pg. 254).
Fast…or Feast?
“Like all the Spiritual Disciplines, fasting hoists the sails of the soul in hopes of experiencing the gracious wind of God’s Spirit. But fasting also adds a unique dimension to your spiritual life and helps you grow in Christlikeness in ways that are unavailable through any other means. If this were not so, there would have been no need for Jesus to model and teach fasting.” Donald S. Whitney, in his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, pg. 171. See Isaiah 58 for Inspiration re. ‘Acceptable’ Fasting…and note that Fasting is Truly Feasting When You’re Focused on Jesus and His Call.
Hey, Jude! You Sound Like Jesus…
“Jude makes intriguing comments on how to reach those who need God:
First, be filled with faith by praying in the Spirit (v.20);
Second, keep yourself in the love of God (v.21);
Third, have compassion on those doubting (v. 22);
Fourth, rescue others from the flames (v. 23);
Fifth, show mercy tempered with fear (v.23).” Pastor/Author Ken Gurley, The Book on Prayer, pg. 251
Pithy Insights in Jude
“Jude makes intriguing comments on how to reach those who need God:
First, be filled with faith by praying in the spirit (v.20);
Second, keep yourself in the love of God (v.21);
Third, have compassion on those doubting (v. 22);
Fourth, rescue others from the flames (v. 23);
Fifth, show mercy tempered with fear (v.23).” Pastor/Author Ken Gurley, The Book on Prayer, pg. 251.
Cry Out to God
“Working harder and smarter is not always the answer. Since (true) life moves at the speed of relationships, those we try to change usually believe they work harder and are more intelligent than us. TRY TEARS.” Pastor/Author Ken Gurley, in The Book on Prayer, pg. 250.
Ultimate Justice
“(God’s) Love is more just than justice.” Henry Ward Beecher (as found in Stormie Omartian’s devotional, That’s What Love is For, pg. 52.
Are You the REAL Deal?
Functional Agnosticism vs. True Religion – Proving our Worldview by Lifestyle Choices. The Need is Great for Last Day Leading by Total Surrender to Truth and Becoming a Holistic Example of Right Living.
Ponderings of a Sojourner 