Do you find yourself praying more these days? I know I do. There are so many thoughts that run through my mind in any given hour. God, at times, floods my heart with Scriptures assuring me of His presence and His peace.
Yesterday I had errands to run and I found myself feeling guilty that I was outside of my house. I kept thinking the "gestapo" was going to stop me at any moment and direct me back home! This morning I got up from my nice warm bed at 6:15am so I could shop Senior Hour at my local supermarket. They open from 6-7am exclusively for Seniors and those with compromised autoimmune systems. As I was driving there, in the dark, I might add, I thought, what kind of a world do I now live in that I have to do my shopping at this time of day? How did I get here, Lord, I wondered?
I awake in the morning and wonder how I am going to fill all the hours of my day. I find myself becoming lazy and undisciplined. The less I do, the less I want to do. How can I go on for 3 more weeks? I realize how soft I've become, how accustomed I've become to the flesh-satisfying enticements of this world.
As I pray, I'm reminded to be thankful. I'm reminded of the blessings I have - a warm house to shelter in, a refrigerator and cupboards full with provision, a soft comfortable bed to lay down in at night, a TV, a cell phone and a Kindle to provide entertainment and blessed connection to those I can't be with right now. My family and I are still healthy and soldiering on. I'm reminded it could be so much worse. It could be so, so much worse!
Tonight as I was reading my nightly devotions, the Scripture reference was Psalm 18. Psalm 18 is one of my favorite Scriptures. I just wanted to share part of it with you to encourage you as it has, once again, encouraged me. I love the word picture it gives:
Ponder these words:
"In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He brought me into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me." vs 6-19
Do you see the picture here? Do you see how God responds when we call out to Him? Do you see that God is angry at what distresses us? He fights our enemies from the heavenlies. He does battle on our behalf; He rescues us - because He delights in us!! This was such a reminder to me of the fact that He does hear and answer my prayer; He is moved into action when I call upon Him. I may not see with my eyes in that moment what He is doing, but I can know that He is responding.
Remember as you spend time in more concentrated prayer during these trying times in our nation, that your prayers are not for nought. God hears, He listens and He responds! Think of this word picture the next time you pray. Whether you are praying for personal concerns, for our government officials, for the church or for the sick in our nation and around the world, God hears and is moved by our cries for help.
Read this entire Psalm when you have time. It is such an encouragement of God's care for us, at all times. Let it inspire you to pray and spend time in His presence.
