When Words Fail, The Spirit Speaks

  I read a testimony recently about how a person within a congregation was going through a particular trial and when someone prayed, was specific enough in their prayer to request exactly what this person needed.  Even as tears filled her eyes, she was filled with gratitude and relief because she said if she’d even made the request during the sharing of concerns she’d have been unable to speak.

WE NEEDED PRAYER

Months ago my husband became ill.  Regardless, we traveled, since he felt better.  After we arrived, we didn’t make it to church and I had conversation with one of the Pastor’s at the church we attended, via text.  As the conversation continued, I asked him to call me.  My phone rang only moments later.

In a hushed tone, because I was fighting tears, said simply, “Scotty, I’m scared.  Charles is sick, but refuses to go to the doctor.”  He asked a couple questions followed with, “Can I pray with you?”   My response was “of course!”  

When he prayed he was very specific. Among other things, he asked God to ‘Let Charles be willing to go to the doctor, if he needs to go.’  After the conversation I literally felt a profound peace pour over me.  Checking on him, I asked him if he was ready to go to the doctor.  He paused and said, “Maybe”.  Then moments later said, “I’m afraid if I go, they’ll keep me.”   He, nor I, had any idea how prophetic his words were.

SOMETIMES PRAYING CAN BE HARD

Sometimes we hesitate to pray for someone because we don’t know what to pray for; we don’t ‘feel’ anything; we’re afraid of doing it ‘wrong’ or because we are so broken, we wonder if God is even listening.

Prayer isn’t about how we feel or about praying wrong.  God wants to hear our hearts.  When we are sincere in our prayers, the Holy Spirit can (and will) step in and pray for us.  Sometimes, silence with God in those moments of brokenness is the perfect starting point. 

Other times, prayers can begin with tears.  This is when our hearts are hurting and not sure what even to ask for.  The Holy Spirit comes to the rescue and intercedes on our behalf.  When we are feeling too weak to even express our emotions, the Spirit, when we surrender to Him, will speak ‘with groans that words cannot express according to God’s will.’  Romans 8:26-27 

PRAYER IS OUR LIFE-LINE

Our prayer life is our life-line to the Father.  He already knows us and knows what we need, before we ever ask.  But He’s about relationship!  He wants us to be in communication —(to literally talk with Him), and stay in close contact with him, just like you would our spouse, child or best friend.  

As humans, a relationship can only grow with others when there is conversation and ‘getting to know each other better.’  It’s no different with God.  While God is God…as humans we need to not only initiate, but continually nurture communication with him in order to know him better.  

As we grow in our faith, and draw ever closer, we can totally ‘feel’ his presence when we pray.  Perhaps not always, but it does happen.

HAVE CONVERSATION WITH GOD

We need to focus on whom we are speaking to and pray with our whole heart, telling him how we feel, whether broken, challenged, or completely happy!  He wants to hear our voice!  It grows relationship!

There are times when you are angry, or don’t understand something or have things that leave you undone!  That’s okay!  He still wants to hear from you!  And by all means when you are happy, grateful, or filled with excitement, tell him!  It’s likely it took God’s hand to make any and all of that happen!

Reach out in prayer today.  It doesn’t need to be eloquent, or pretty!  Give him praise for all that’s good, let him know you’re glad he’s God; confess ways you’re aware you’ve failed, and share your heart about your needs and desires.  Just talk to him.  Allow the Holy Spirit to enable your heart, mind and soul to pour out your thoughts, and then listen to hear Him speak.

Photo Credit: Prayer

When Our Lives Face Pruning

  Gardening  is such a rewarding  event.  It's so satisfying to see the plants pop out of the brown desolate ground into tiny plants and into full grown producing ones.  Some of the agricultural crops we’ve grown, include pumpkin, watermelon, and tomatoes, all of which grow on vines, as well as the grapes, along the edge of our driveway.

CONNECTED TO THE VINE

Jesus talked about being connected to him is like being connected to a vine.  In fact, he said, he is the ‘Vine’ and we all would have to deal with pruning—-or even being ‘pruned’.

Being ‘pruned’ can be unsettling.  The idea of any part of us being ‘cut away’ seems threatening and uncomfortable.  We may face an ‘identity crisis’ as our self-perceptions, roles or titles are stripped away while our ‘new’ identity is being formed.

IDENTIFIERS

As a new widow, this resonates with me since for 51 years, I was identified with being my husband’s wife.  It’s who I was.  Now, in some ways, I feel myself floundering as I discover who it is God wants me to be, or what he wants me to do.  I want to stay in His will, and as the layers of my old identity are being peeled away, I find myself in a brand new place.

This requires waiting without clear direction.  I feel like I am in an ‘in-between’ place while I cling to all that I was or even still am, while the new vision is coming forth.  God is teaching me the new formula for my life, and it can be scary.

   

The loss of stability and comfort from the years of ‘normalcy’ is now no longer in view.  Everything is different. Yet I can feel myself growing.  It seems daily I face my ‘first year of firsts’.  My heart races and I cry as fear and grieving override what seems like good sense.  Yet, I know God is still ‘growing’ me.

HIDDEN DEEP WITHIN

My pendulum swings of emotions leads to confusion, discouragement or even feeling very alone and forgotten.  But waiting is a part of growth.  There’s a lot of ‘hidden’ growth required and completed, even when we can’t see the fruit, as demonstrated by the tiny seed being placed in the ground in early spring.  Growth isn’t immediate.  It comes after the seed is ready underground!

While I am waiting for the ‘new growth’ to finally, not only sprout, but grow strong and steady, I must rely on God during the wind and storms that batter me about.  Sometimes the ‘challenges’ make me stumble and fall over, feeling limp and weak.  Then the sunshine comes out again and I can feel the warmth of the Father who perks me up and allows me to continue to grow. 

I know that I can lift my eyes up toward the heavens and live my life with the single life source of Jesus.   But, it takes resolve, trust, nurturing from friends, family, and other Believers, as well as, a steady diet of His Word and prayer.

STILL GROWING

The pruning process is almost never described as ‘enjoyable.’  It’s often tedious, scary, intimidating, and a place most people choose not to be.  But different seasons of life, are designed for different patterns, people, places and events that will direct our lives.

As Believers clinging to the life giving Vine, we can trust that God only wants what is best for us.  If we are patient and wait, and especially allow Him to do the pruning we need, we will have growth and maturity that will bring the rewards of good fruit, we all want to see.

Photo Credit: Growing on the vine

Fear Of Rejection--A Powerful Force

  Fear of rejection.  What a powerful force in our range of emotions. Rejection can keep us from being who we truly are, paralyze us to the point of hiding the truth about a situation we are in, or being afraid to participate in living life at all.

A lady I know well has a personality lending itself to being a ‘people pleaser’.  She’d go outside her home wearing the prettiest smile, and having the nicest demeanor, but was crying inside.  Her husband suffered from severe PTSD and it wasn’t pretty.  In his ‘moments’ she was his victim.  On many levels it could have been described as nothing less than abuse.  When she went to talk with her clergyman, he said, “You must be mistaken.  What makes you think…..?”  She was devastated.

Judgement flowed about her, loud and clear.  The response left her fearing she’d lost another part of herself.  Self-doubt radiated from her very being, leaving her wondering what to do next!

Many of us face rejection at some point in our lives.  Sometimes it starts when we are in elementary school because in some way we are different than our peers.  It may be dress, what we think, skin color, and even our faith.

We want connection, but once rejection begins, we lose all confidence in ourselves.  We hear the tiniest whisper, “You’re not good enough!” ;“You’ll never get it right.” ; or even “Why bother? Nobody cares what you think anyway.”  We become fearful of sharing who we really are, and begin avoiding relationships.  

So we try another tactic.  Regardless of who says what, we keep our thoughts private. We smile, nod, and just keeping hiding deeper and deeper within ourselves.  We become broken and reach a point where even our smile doesn’t reach our eyes.  Only those closest to us, can see that, and even if they mention it, we brush it off.

God’s Word tells a different story.  While it recognizes that fear is real, (it tells us 365 times to not fear!) it also tells us fear does not get the final word!  “God’s perfect love drives out fear.”  (1John 4:18) There is no rejection, resentment or resistance about who we are; no pretense; just His Perfect love!  

God isn’t looking for a filtered version of us, he already knows the real us!  He knows our doubts, failures, insecurity…and the truths others don’t know!  He reminds us -- ‘we are his!” (Ps. 100:3)

His love doesn’t need to be earned; we cannot be disqualified from it, and regardless of where we are in life, he will receive us right where we are.  Our circumstances do not define our identity in him.  

Rejection does not get to write our story.  He does!  We no longer need to hide, because we’ve been invited into God’s Light…to be healed and freed!  

Jesus experienced the greatest rejection ever, on the cross; and he knows just how that feels.  He even cried out, “My God, My God.  Why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15: 33-34) He was temporarily forsaken to die and reconcile us with God.  He knows shame, yet he had never sinned.  He gave all for a world who rejected him.

In Christ we have total acceptance; we are seen, and deeply loved.  It’s the kind of love that pushes out fear.  Through Him we have the courage to live authentically, love boldly, and engage in relationships without hiding the real person we are. 

Photo Credit: Rejection