My
kids always say I have a hotline to heaven... Well...I may have found
an answer to why they feel that way....I have often wondered about it. I
am so thankful that God has answered so many of my prayers.. and this
scripture seems to say why... :)
Praise His Holy Name!
read on....
Luke 18:1-8 (New International Version) ( amplified)
The Parable of the Persistent Widow (My take on this....is the Squeaky Wheel gets oiled )
1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should
always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a
judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there
was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me
justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But
finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what
people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see
that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack
me!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And
will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to
him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will
see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man
comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
My
favorite proverb or idiom is....The Squeaky Wheel gets Oiled. :) It
fits me. :) This scripture is actually applying the same
principal. It teaches to be persistent in your petitions to God because
he is a Just God. You can do it humbly but without letting up
(Hebrews 4: 14-16 amp. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly
draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor
to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find
grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and
well-timed help, coming just when we need it].)
This
means ...we can boldly draw near to the actual throne of grace...the
wonderful privilege Christians have through prayer to approach our
gracious God, with full confidence that HE hears our prayers! We get
the attention of the Big Guy!! Wow! When I am praying like this....I
believe with all my heart in His Justice....believing there will be an
answer....It may not turn out exactly like I hope ...but there is no
doubt when I pray...that God enters the picture.
This
scripture stood out like a beacon to me yesterday in church. The
reading was on something else but it was like there was a light shining
right on that scripture and I was drawn to it and mesmerized...and I
knew it was speaking to me. As I have meditated on it this
morning....I realized....it is saying what is in the core of me....
Believing Persistence... :) Maybe another way of saying FAITH. I took a
spiritual gifts inventory years ago that Fr. Ted gave us at church. I
was amazed when Faith was at the top of the list of my strengths. The
definition of Faith according to the inventory is knowing what you hope
for, having a conviction about things you cannot see, trusting God,
believing God’s Word, and obeying Him. (Hebrews 11) or my take on that
.....being able to see God's Big Picture and believing it. :)
To
be tuned in to His Big Picture ....it is important to spend time with
Him daily in His Word and in prayer and worship. To draw away from
everything but Him.....like the example Jesus gives us of going into the
mountains to be with the Father. Also important is to get rid of
inner junk...sin..yuk that we collect every day...that separates us from
God. Confession is awesome. Even though we are encouraged to
boldly approach the Almighty and His throne of grace it is good to do it
with humility and...submit to His way of answering it. :) But WOW!!
He answers!!! As I said...not always like I hope....and it may take
some time for me to understand that... I may not have the all the
pieces as He does...to understanding why things turn out the way they
do... BUT...there is no denying HIS PRESENCE in what is going on... I
love clues..and figuring out a puzzle so if I can get past the
disappointment of my own expectations.... I can be the detective and
find the treasure He has waiting for me... or...having Faith...in the
unseen hand of God. :)
I
see this kind of persistence in my kids. I see their approach to
life by the way they followed instructions when they got lost in the
store from me when they were little... :) It was interesting to see
the way they would problem solve their dilemma. :)
Jeff
's persistence in always going to the front of the store for the
manager... This is what he was instructed to do...and he did it exactly
as he was told without delay. They were awed at his mature approach.
:) He got results!
Lara
persistently screaming her head off for help right where she was at..
That was another instructed option... :) Trust me she got
results!...haha...that baby was not gonna stay lost. :)
Missy
walking up and down every aisle over and over until she found
me....persistently...no matter how long it took. Maybe not in the
instructions....but she was effective in her determination. She
never for a minute thought she would fail in that quest! :)
and
Josh...who persistently never felt lost.... :) Definitely not in
the instructions...but it is how God made Josh and that inner
confidence on finding his way has proven to be very effective in his
life. He knew exactly where he was...and he was totally confident
that he was where he was suppose to be.
Their
Faith is a wonder to see...especially as each grows in the Lord and
applies those early instructions on where to go and what to do when
Lost. ( you can't help but see the play on the word Lost :) But by
the Grace of God...and early instruction by our parents and the
Church.....we would all be Lost.... :) "I once was lost but now I'm
found....was blind but now I see... " Praise His Holy Name!
I
pray this scripture & my thoughts this morning blesses you as it
blesses me to share them... and most of all... Fuels your Prayers! :)
Elaine
