Always In Need

I recently ventured to Branson, MO, with my parents. Yes, Branson. And I actually enjoyed being entertained by Andy Williams, still alive at age 83!

We also attended the "Miracle of Christmas," an incredible production on the birth of Christ (at Sight & Sound Theatres). At the end of the show, they made prayer available for anyone in the audience. I watched as three "prayer counselors" stood alone in the front of the theater, while perhaps 1,000 people streamed out the other direction. To be honest, I wondered about their disappointment, as so often I watch people leave my own church service without taking advantage of the offer of prayer.

So even though I was on the upper level, I told my parents that I was not going to miss this opportunity. I fought the crowd and made my way down to the front to pray with Jessica. She was a wonderful blessing, and I was assured that many more people would be praying for me throughout the week. I was the only one in the theater who went forward for prayer!

Now, I have no doubt that the needs in that auditorium were enormous. There was not a single person in the room who did not have some kind of burden on his or her heart. Yet, how often the last thing we do is bring that burden before the Lord. I mean, good grief -- we had just watched the most amazing display of God's glory and love through the miraculous birth of Jesus!

What a disconnect; yet I am often guilty of that disconnect myself.

If only we understood the tremendous grace, power, and mercy available to us when we call out to God in prayer. We would truly learn, as Paul did, to pray without ceasing.

May I never pass up an opportunity to have someone else bring me before our Lord in prayer. May I always connect prayer with the power of the Almighty God – and be the recipient of His great grace.

God's Perfect Timing

There are times when I wonder about God's timing.

Last week I was involved in a serious car accident that totaled my SUV. I had been enjoying this vehicle for less than four months, a wonderful provision from the Lord. In the split second before I broadsided a pick-up truck (that was unfortunately waved into a blind intersection right in front of me), I had thoughts of how I was about to destroy a blessing from God. Didn’t He provide this great vehicle for me? And now it was gone. (Amazing how much can run through your mind in that moment!)

As I stood on this side of the road, grateful to be alive, I still wrestled over God’s timing. One minute on either side of the impact, and I would have avoided the accident. Free and clear. Still enjoying my vehicle. That would make more sense, God.

Yet then I realized that a split-second difference could have meant a pick-up plowing into my driver’s side and seriously injuring me. Timing. God’s timing.

As I surveyed the damage, I realized the SUV truly was God’s provision for that moment in time. It absorbed the impact of the collision so well that I believe it saved my life. Four months earlier, and I would have been driving a much smaller car. God’s timing in the broader scheme, as well.

These are days when we learn to trust God's timing in everything, even when things don't always make sense. As we struggle to understand how He is working out His Kingdom purposes, we can rest assured that He is precisely counting off the minutes and seconds. Our lives are in His hands at every moment.

And now He is providing me with another vehicle that is a luxury upgrade—due to the generosity of my brother. It is a burnt-orange color; perhaps not what I would have chosen. Yet I like it because it will represent to me the fire of God’s presence in revival. That’s what I pray and long for every day. And I know God will send it in His perfect timing.

Take the Challenge

I recently read a classic book by Andrew Murray on Humility, written in the 1800s. I’ve decided that we are suffering a lack of truly powerful writers like those of past centuries. Perhaps they were better able to write out of places that were desperate for the Lord, and thus knew His powerful presence in revival. I am surely not one of those writers!

Murray wrote that humility should be perhaps the greatest marker of a Christian’s life. It is in that place of humility that we truly empty ourselves of our own pride and fleshly motivations – and thus let the character of Christ dwell more richly in us.

Murray issued a 30-day challenge to ask the Lord moment by moment to reveal the places of pride in your heart. Upon confessing and repenting of that pride, Murray suggested then inviting the Holy Spirit to fill you with greater humility that represents more of the life of Christ.

I decided to take that challenge. But I sensed the Lord telling me I needed to take an extra ten days. Apparently there was greater work to be done! So I have been fasting and praying that simple prayer, asking the Lord to reveal the places of pride in my heart.

My Painful Discovery
Wow. I have been overwhelmed with what I have discovered. I am a prideful person. There are attitudes of my heart that I did not really consider pride, but the Lord has clearly pointed them out. It has been as simple as being annoyed with people I thought were “too wordy” in their prayers. Or thinking that my prayer has stormed the heavens far more effectively than someone else’s. Ouch.

I’ve also discovered that I really don’t know as much as I think I know. The Lord has convicted me of needing to speak less and pray more. I’m not as smart and humble as I thought I was!

But it is all good. The Lord is always faithful and even somewhat gentle with those who earnestly seek Him.

But don’t ask me how I’m doing with my humility quest. Depending on my answer, the Lord might just tack on another ten days!