The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Astonished Wonder"
In a sermon yesterday, I commented on my having been a born again believer for more than 49 years in reference to prayers prayed during that time.
"I do not remember most of the ones prayed," I said. "But God does. He remembers every genuine expression of devotion, request, intercession, and confession. Those prayed according to His will have either been answered, or are in the process of being answered."
Of course, this ushers us to wonder regarding our relationship with One who does not need us in any manner, but who faithfully leads us to fellowship with Himself, and then works through our prayers to fulfill His eternal purpose in Christ. "After this manner therefore pray ye… Thy will be done" (Matthew 6:9-10).
"His understanding is infinite" declared the Psalmist (Psalm 147:5). The fact that an eternal Being can somehow commune with finite, created beings must ever present mystery to our minds. This constitutes one of the greatest indications of God's character, namely, that He desires fellowship with us and "humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth" (Psalm 113:6). Our Heavenly Father rejoices in humble, sincere, and trusting communication with us…
"The prayer of the upright is His delight" (Proverbs 15:8).
Ponder this marvel for a moment, before the absolute wonder of such a glory overwhelms your mind. Delight? How can it be that our prayers elicit such strong emotion in the heart of God? That He communicates with us is enough to take our breath away in the marvel of such a seeming impossibility. That He finds pleasure in fellowship with takes away more than breath as we ponder a wonder eternity will not fully explain. Indeed, I find the truth that "the prayer of the upright is His delight" to be the greatest motivation of prayer, especially when remembering how much grief I have too often brought to our Father's heart. "I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy" (Psalm 5:7).
"What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him? And that Thou shouldest set Thine heart upon him?" (Job 7:17).
We should not complicate prayer. God surely would not have us so overwhelmed by its mystery that we find ourselves intimidated. However, a place does exist to sometimes still our hearts, minds, and voices as we contemplate the seeming impossibility of the Infinite in relationship to the finite. Even more perhaps, to realize that our Father emotionally invests His heart in us to the degree of delight in our prayers must lead us, whether physically or figuratively, to fall upon our knees and faces in astonished wonder. Yes, God remembers every genuine prayer we have ever prayed not only in His mind, but also in His heart. He will respond in kind to the fresh prayers of this day, and of all to come. Amid the mystery, there can be no greater motivation to pray, and we join the Psalmist who clearly knew and felt the astonished wonder…
"The Lord taketh pleasure in His people."
(Psalm 149:4)
"One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple."
(Psalm 27:4)
Memory Verse
What hast thou that thou didst not receive?
(I Corinthians 4:7)
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