Author: astherainandsnow

“He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. And he said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll and fill your stomach with it.’ Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

“And he said to me, ‘Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel… But [they] will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because [they] have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. [A]ll my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them… whether they hear or refuse to hear…’

“[Then] the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the Lord being strong upon me. And I came to the exiles, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling… overwhelmed among them…

“And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.'” Ezekiel 3:1-5,7-11,14-17

In order to pronounce truth, we must know it. We must open mouth, take it in, and digest it. We must receive God’s warnings and promises and revelations of who He is and how He works, into heart and mind. Sometimes we have to wait for comprehension and specific direction. We must have ears that listen and thoughts that absorb and hands and feet willing to apply and adorn His word.

Why is it that some of the loudest people voice opinions from ignorance or vitriol? Why is it that those transformed by biblical truth are often timid and hide it away? Entrusted and changed by life-giving words, we must go and speak, obedient to the One who convicts and commands, not inhibited by those who complain or condemn.

How faithful am I to sow God’s word into my conversations? To listen for specific needs and respond in kind with provision God offers? To share biblical insights on world and personal events? Am I taking time to ingest his Word and praying through it to have discernment and discretion? No good watchman is not alert or unwilling to act. How would I rank?

Lord, connect all my synapses to hear, study, and understand your word. Honor and enable my resolution to give it out appropriately with boldness and joy. Keep me diligent in my responsibility no matter the response, trusting You with every result.

“Clap your hands, all peoples!
    Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
    a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
    and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
    the pride of Jacob whom he loves. 

God has gone up with a shout,
    the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
    Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth;
    sing praises with a psalm!

God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!” Psalm 47

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Nation fights nation, each strutting political, economic, or military swagger to establish their supremacy and to best or destroy another. Tribe attacks tribe, party battles party, institutions wage conflict against institutions. But the King of kings reigns over all, as Ruler and Shield against dark forces and the forces of men. Men of earth are subdued in a moment by the God of heaven. (Ephesians 6:12)

In unsettled times, under shaky authorities, on crumbling moral or trembling economic foundations, we can hold secure in the Most High. As Shield He hems in His own, guarding our eternal inheritance and keeping our lives. He is a trustworthy Ruler who reigns in infinite power, wisdom, and goodness. (Psalm 11:1-5; 91:1-6,11,14-16; 139:5; 1 Peter 1:3-4)

Has our worldview shrunk to provincialism, where we think God is all about us? How need we expand our understanding of the King of kings and ages, and more widely intercede for and trust His sovereignty and care? Has my scope of prayer narrowed on only my life, my people, my interests, or am I worshiping, and seeking, the Lord of every nation and tribe? The shield of His promises and banner of His love cover His children of every tongue and generation. (Philippians 2:10-11; Revelation 7:9-10)

To broaden our view and knowledge of the Ancient of Days is to expand our love and concern for His world. Taking time to familiarize ourselves with His hand through history and way with nations as revealed in His word will aid us in recognizing His work in the world today. Paying attention to His expansive majesty in creation helps us recognize our smallness against the vastness of His love and realm. Would we, with confidence, plead for keen spiritual sight, heart willingness, and Spirit-heightened awareness to promote and exalt His supremacy in all the earth? (Psalm 8:3-6; Daniel 7:13-14)

“Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of man!
Glory and honor, Praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be Thine!” ~Joseph A. Swiss (1823-1904)

Lord, cause me to be still and know that You are God over all nations. May my life exalt You in my corner of the earth so Your praises extend to its end. (Psalm 46:10; 48:10)

“David lamented over Saul and Jonathan his son:..

‘Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
    How the mighty have fallen!..
You mountains of Gilboa,
    let there be no dew or rain upon you…
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
    the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil...

‘Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
    In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles;
    they were stronger than lions...

‘How the mighty have fallen
    in the midst of the battle!

‘Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
    I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan.'”

“After this David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?.. To which shall I go?’ And he said, ‘To Hebron.’ So David went up there, and his wives… David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in Hebron.  And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king…

“When they told David, ‘It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,’ David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, ‘May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing.  Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.’” 2 Samuel 1:17,19-21,23,25-26a; 2:1-6a,7a

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (2-8)

David was a skillful shepherd, poet, musician, warrior, and leader. God had anointed Him with an upright heart as well as discernment to know his place and assignment at any moment of time. Though he fell into grievous sin in particular instances, he moved from one occupation and exercise to the next with commendable focus and insight. As a man after God’s heart, his senses and will were engaged in God’s plans in all seasons. He moved from deep grief to military strategy, from righteous judgment to gracious blessing as the Spirit led him. (1 Samuel 13:14; 16:7,11-23; 17:34-37; 2 Samuel 1:4-16; Psalm 23; 34)

It is a grace to know both the gifts with which God has endowed us, and the paths He intends for us to employ them. We may prefer certain activities and people over others, and resist His prompting to switch gears to engage in specific duties or ministries, but His will should trump our feelings and excuses. It’s vital to seek and know His personal assignment for me at this time, in this season. His call to me is not His call to another; I’m both responsible and accountable for my personal obedience. (Esther 4:14; John 21:22; Acts 17:26; Romans 12:1-2)

How maturely do we move through God-given seasons? Are there divine appointments we’ve neglected through apathy or unwillingness to change direction? Skills we’ve let atrophy by laziness? How are we practically and actively utilizing the resources God’s entrusted to us for such a time as this?

Lord, give me wisdom, grace, and zeal for every season.

“My beloved is mine, and I am his.” Song of Solomon 2:16

“Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you.” 1 Kings 8:27

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
    and crowned him with glory and honor.” Psalm 8:3-5

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10:27-28

There is a great and glorious knowing as a Christian that the Lord and I belong to each other. Intimacy. Security. Mutual love. Permanence. Unbreakable covenant. Eternal I do. By grace I’ve been pursued and wooed, spoken for and taken and forgiven, adopted into an everlasting family. I’m now in Christ, and He is in me by His Spirit, my seal and guarantee of present sanctification, forever union, and heavenly glory. (Romans 8:15,29-30; Ephesians 1:13-14)

But we are not equals. Mutual belonging has been made possible only by inequality of substance, nature, and will. This One who is like none other, infinite in every perfect attribute, whose glory is above the heavens, has condescended to make me His own. Savior equals not slave, Spirit equals not flesh, righteous equals not sinner, Redeemer equals not enemy. Who God is loves and redeems who we are unto glorious union. (Psalm 86:8; 113:4; Romans 5:10; Galatians 5:1; Ephesians 2:1-8; Philippians 2:5-8)

So why do we keep playing god, allowing ability or accomplishment or success inflate our egos? The less focus on Him, the more puffed up our view of self. Gaze at the Holy One, high and lifted up, to be undone, astounded by His amazing grace. From the vantage point of humble servant to Master, we understand the infinite measure of His love and favor toward us. This is the love- of forever belonging- we must cherish an exhibit in return. (Isaiah 6:1–5; Ephesians 3:17-19)

Daily life as a child of the King is exciting and bears great responsibility. Do others recognize our Father’s eyes in the way we wisely perceive present culture, or look compassionately into hungry souls? How might our mannerisms, and choices, and interactions reflect the grace and practices of God Almighty?

The hope of every Christian is that one day, when we see Jesus face to face, we will be like Him. Alleluia! (1 Corinthians 15:49; 1 John 3:2)

“O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.
Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!” ~Robert Grant (1833)

Father God, may I live as a reflection of You, so all I encounter recognize that I am Yours and You are mine, to the praise of Your grace and glory.

“Saul went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah… Then David rose and came…

“David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. Then Abishai said to David, ‘God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear…’ But David said to Abishai, ‘Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?  As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed… let us go.’ So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake…

“Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them.  And David called.., ‘Will you not answer, Abner?.. See where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.’

“Saul recognized David’s voice and said, ‘Is this your voice, my son David?’ And David said, ‘O king.., why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands?..

“Saul said, ‘I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day…’ And David answered.., ‘The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. As your life was precious in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord.'” 1 Samuel 26:2,5,7-14,16-18,21-24

Had David been looking at this opportunity to kill Saul with his own eyes, the king would not have been alive. But through his life, David had developed a high view of God, and knew that His promises were true, no matter his circumstances. He had learned to honor God in His ways, His order, and to trust His word and timing. What many would have seen as a chance for certain rightful vengeance, David saw as a chance to glorify God and make Him known.

How often is our view of things tainted by selfish ambition, greed, petty touchiness, prejudice, or sinful desire? How prone are we to take things into our own hands, to manipulate circumstances for personal advantage, rights, or prominence? How might a long view help us handle current frustrations and lingering disappointments? How differently would we see and interact with people around us if we took on His sight? Might we care for them as more human than merely help or hindrance?

Oh Father, please transform my limited vision into a clear eternal perspective, that I see Your people and ways with sanctified eyes, and learn to respond and behave with wisdom and grace.

“You are precious in my eyes,
    and honored, and I love you…
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:4,6b-7

“For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6; Romans 11:36; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:16

Paul, who’d been raised in the law and set free by the gospel, understood for Whom he’d been created. Every inch of his life up to his conversion had been deigned by his Maker as part of his story and would serve him in his new life of faith and ministry. A life driven by zeal for self had been transformed into one captivated by God Almighty and His purposes. From his crucifixion to Christ on the Damascus road forward, Paul no longer lived for himself but for his Savior, surrendered by faith to Christ living through him. (Acts 9:1-6,15-16; 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18; Philippians 3:4-9)

We must establish the for whom to realize the necessity of through whom. Going about daily lives from shotgun start to exhausted finish, it’s easy to be all about our own thing. We report for duty, make plans, do chores, accomplish tasks, check lists, and can easily close the day without thought for our high purpose or spiritual mission. So much horizontal activity. After all, there are many responsibilities and wants and urgencies to tend to, so let’s just get them finished.

But we have been made for the Lord God and His glory, not ourselves and ours. He is preeminent above all gods, and to glorify Him is our chief end. When we believe that He is the One for whom we exist, we also recognize we’re not capable of honoring Him without living through Him and His power. In the flesh we may be willing, but we’re helpless against the foe of darkness without our whole will swallowed in the Lord’s, and our weakness enveloped in His strength. (Exodus 20:1-3; Matthew 26:41; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Ephesians 6:12; Philippians 2:13)

What needs reorienting in our understanding of purpose? How will we break out of provincial thinking and narrow ambition to attune to God’s high and holy call? Once we acknowledge we were made for eternity, and actions here below have significance in heaven above, will we endeavor with zeal to proceed in and through Him? (1 Corinthians 3:11-13; 2 Corinthians 5:1-2,10)

Lord, teach me daily to live for You, through You, and unto Your glory.

“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew… There is a remnant, chosen by grace… 

“What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking… Did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!.. If their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?.. 

“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches… They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.” Romans 11:1-2a,5b,7a,11-12,15,17-18a,20-22

As a devout Jew, Paul did all the right things to gain righteousness. Then God Almighty stopped him in his hell-bent tracks and saved him, exchanging self-effort and pride in credentials with faith and surrender to Christ’s credentials on his behalf. Now as humble recipient of God’s lavish, kind grace, he was compelled to share and spread that kindness in truth to everyone everywhere God led. (Acts 9:1-6; Philippians 3:3-6)

Recognition of the Lord’s amazing, unearned grace and lovingkindness overwhelms all sense of desert and puffery. If we really grasp that the severity of God’s holy judgment on sin ushered in the magnificent love gift of salvation on the cross, we are at once undone, grateful, and ready, ready to go anywhere that God calls. (Isaiah 6:1-8; 53:4-6; Romans 11:33-12:2; Ephesians 2:8-10;

Are we too busy running around in mind and activity to contemplate the kindness of God in saving us? The suffering and ultimate sacrifice of our Savior on our behalf? When is the last time we bowed, and thanked Him? Let us never forget or grow callous to recall! What does His grace applied to our hearts look like in the way we apply grace to others?

Where is Jesus compelling me to scatter His beauties today: whom to love? Whom to tell about his kindness and severity? Whom to serve willingly and generously? How does His grace change the vantage point from which I assess my neighbor, perceive the lost, pray for and pursue my loved ones? (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)

“Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul.
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole.
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.” ~Seth and Bessie Sykes (1940)

Lord, let me never get over what Your kindness has done for me, nor cease to tell of it to this dark world.

“When David and his men came to Ziklag, the Amalekites had… overcome Ziklag, burned it with fire, and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way... David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam… and Abigail… And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God…

“So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor… David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor…

“And David struck [the Amalekites] down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. David recovered all that [they] had taken, and David rescued his two wives. Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all… 

“‘As his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike…’ When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Here is a present from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord.'” 1 Samuel 30:1-2,4-6,9-10,17-19,24-24,26

David, the loyal warrior, was crushed to discover the Amalekites’ raid on his city and capture of everyone there, including his wives. Devastated and heart-wrenched out of love for his own, he was targeted for blame and stoning by bitter fellow sufferers. Drawing strength in the Lord, he pursued and overtook the enemy, retrieving all who’d been taken.

Jesus knows and loves His own by name, and when we’re taken captive by the enemy, He grieves over our captivity, far-country wandering, and rebellion. Many blame Him for their painful loss, the harsh consequences of sin, or their loved ones’ foolish enslavement, but He does not waver from His holy purpose of redemption. Made of mercy and compelled by love, He pursues His own to return us to Himself. And when He does, all who have been a part rejoice together for the lost who has been found. (Luke 15:3-7,10,31-32)

Have we thanked Jesus today for rescuing us from sin’s captivity? Out of gratitude, where have we joined His rescue mission for the lost? We may practically pursue through friendship, teaching, or on-hands ministry, or join the battle by prayer or resource support. Everyone willing and on His side can participate in His efficient, saving work and the praise and joyful fellowship that follows.

When moved by the death sentence that hangs over the lost, how will we respond? Fueled by love and compassion, we can join Jesus in relentless quest for His children in our part of a needy world.

Father, awaken me to the lost around me, break my heart with what breaks Yours. Include me with You in irresistible pursuit, that Your grace abound and love is magnified.

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
    May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
May he send you help from the sanctuary
    and give you support from Zion!
May he remember all your offerings
    and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! 

May he grant you your heart’s desire
    and fulfill all your plans!
May we shout for joy over your salvation,
    and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
    he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with the saving might of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They collapse and fall,
    but we rise and stand upright.

O Lord, save the king!
    May he answer us when we call.” Psalm 20

May the Lord answer. May His name protect. May He send help. May He give support. May He remember all your offerings and regard them with favor. May He grant your heart’s desire and fulfill your plans. May He? Of course He may! He owns gracious permission to do what He exists to do. Can He? Indeed He can! He is able to do exceedingly beyond what we ask or imagine, to make all grace and favor abound to His people. Does He? Let’s shout a resounding Yes! We know He saves. He does and will answer from heaven. His name is undeniably, absolutely trustworthy. He does all this and we can shout for joy over His salvation and extol His name! (2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 3:20)

So if these things are true, and this plea is a pledge of blessing pronounced in God-backed promise, why do we not live as though we believe it? Why do we moan ‘woe is me’ and claim God absent, or silent? Why do we fret over the known and fear the unknown and wrangle to ascertain help from earthly resources? Why do we languish in charity and sacrifice, or wrestle for control over today and the future? Lack of faith leads to doubt-filled decisions lead to instability in spirit and daily routine.

Will we sing these blessed truths over ourselves in prayer, and rise in hope and zealous faith? How measures our holy expectation regarding His name’s power to save and protect? What evidence are we giving- in demeanor, discussions, decisions, and practical action- that the Lord has answered our cries and is fulfilling our plans?

And over whom can we pronounce this blessing, and pray for its wash of favor? Do we take enough time to learn of others’ needs, and understand their weaknesses, doubts, and fears? How attentive are we to speak or write these benedictions and so to match truth’s balm to each particular condition with benevolence and care? The gracious God who is kind to meet us enables us to minister His solid graces to others.

Lord, keep me steeped in Your truths and singing of Your innumerable blessings, that I might impart hope and the salve of truth to a needy world.

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.*” Matthew 6:5-13

*some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Communion with God through Christ is a gift to all believers, made possible by the rent veil. When we settle into rote prayers comprised of list-checking, we lose the sweetness of thoughtful, genuine communion to sour ‘samey’ mantras of verbiage void of meaning. Repetition may come easily and give some obsessive sense of a task accomplished, but what it holds in memorized words or routine phrases it lacks in significance and substance. (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:19-22)

Perhaps we’ve moved from benign rote repetitions to recitation, taking hold of Scripturally-based, well-honed prayers of others. While these are helpful in giving form and focus, especially as Jesus exemplified, they are models, and not meant to become meaningless. Taking deliberation to personalize them helps deepen our pleas before a God who knows our minds, hearts, and needs.

Real is patterning prayer after Jesus in breath-taking worship, heart-wrenching confession, agonizing intercession, blood-sweating dependence, and soul-captivating submission. Are these our prayer companions? Real is enthrallment with Him, so that every word whispered or voiced thereafter is heaven-inspired and infused with His hallowed majesty. Real is repentance emblazoned with holy light and fire. Real is seeking and surrendering to God’s high will over my lowly passions. Real is determined dependence on His daily provision for body and soul, for practical and emotional, for goods and grace. And real ties everything into Jesus, for He is the sole way to God and most worthy of our praise and trust.

Have we reverted from initial fire in prayer to fading embers? Does prayer even have a primary place in our spiritual disciplines? What saps our holy passion or attention to get in secret and lift ourselves to connect with the Almighty, and what can we do about it? How willing are we to take the steps necessary to deepen and persevere to the heights of communion with Christ?

Good Father, reignite my affections and mind for Thee. Keep me persevering in the work and worship of prayer, to the building of Your kingdom and praise of Your glory. In Jesus’s name, amen.