God, Prayer, Pain

 

God, Prayer, Pain

Job 2:4 “And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.”

John 15:8 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

     “Father, I want to be like You.”  If this is our first expression to Him, it is powerful.  This is the big rock to fit in the prayer jar, so to say.  All other smaller ones can fall in and find their place.

     Really, how does God influence this place?  He is greatly limited in the affairs of men because He has constrained Himself.  He recognizes a man’s sovereignty and resists not to meddle with him.  So how does He act?

     Through your prayers, God is not shoved into movement.  By prayer and fasting, He does not force people by His hand to conformity.  In other words, this is not witchcraft.  We do not implore a Spirit to do our bidding.  In fact, God is not a contractor.

     So what does “prayer” do?  First, prayer is simply talk with God that makes us aware of Him. Second, prayer bounces our character against His.  Lastly, we change (bear His fruit) and so change this world.  

John 17:15 "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil."

     Jesus knew about pain.  Leaving his disciples behind, He foresaw that pain would spur His new church to grow.  Physical and emotional struggles would keep Her reaching for the Light.  A new plant in the desert.  She needed Him to grow.

     Run from pain?  Pain explodes the boundaries.  It bursts forth new bud.  Pain in hope bears fruit. Primarily coming to God with our ‘owies’ to kiss them is childish.  Getting back on the horse to ride is perseverance.  Maturity is behaving like Christ through the struggles.  And to behave is not to hit the panic button.  Even so Lord, please help us.

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