Sometimes its difficult to live in the tension between what is happening physically and what is happening spiritually. Sometimes its hard to believe, or even imagine, that there are so many spiritual realities happening right in our midst and we continually only see what happens in the natural. It can be discouraging and requires us to be in touch with the Lord just to find reprieve by looking through the eyes of the Holy Spirit.
Great Book! Highly suggest it.
Cover via Amazon
My small group just started to go through the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I read the book a few years ago and absolutely loved it, so I suggested it as a good study for us. We had our initial discussion on the first chapter this last week and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Small groups are great because they bring out beliefs and thoughts that we weren’t even conscious of until we were compelled to articulate them during the conversation. Such was the case this last Thursday.
We talked about the throne room of God. Chan shares in the complimentary video about how when he starts praying he envisions God in His true form of glory. He asks the reader what our first words would be if we were to be right there in the throne room as Isaiah was in Isaiah 6. He then says that whatever the answer to that question is, that should be the same first response when we go to the Lord in prayer. Such a profound yet clearly accurate mindset put me in a humbling position.
I shared with the group, that I really don’t do that the vast majority of the time. Rather, I pray from where I am. If I’m frustrated, I pray from frustration. If I’m sad, then that’s where I pray from. Even if I’m overjoyed, its as though I rush into the throne room without pausing to recognize the awesomeness of God in all His glory. I don’t pray from where God is, I pray from where I am.
Now certainly, God is big enough for our frustrations and struggles. Furthermore, He’s loving and gentle enough to not laugh at my problems when the vastness of His glory is considered. Nonetheless, its quite an interesting, and in some ways humorous, juxtaposition.
To envision God on His throne, which is absolute reality, can truly revolutionize not only our prayer lives, but every part of our lives.
Last Saturday, I found myself in a time where I thank God that He’s both big and gentle, because we were in a tough spot. This last week was difficult, it started with the weekend and carried over into the week. In some ways its hard to put a finger on what exactly is the source of the struggles, because it seems to hit us in multiple facets of life: spiritual, financial, relational and emotional. After a time of prayer and thought while doing dishes, I approached Melissa with some cares that were on my heart and beyond what I was talking about, a lot of other stuff came out from both of us as well. That all came to a head this particular night and we were both left feeling our bruises, insecurities and frustrations. We went to the Lord in prayer and as I was praying, there was a spirit of heaviness. I couldn’t envision God on His throne, I just envisioned ourselves in the mud pit of our circumstances. Its been a tough spot to be in.
And yet, as Chan presents and biblically as Isaiah or John would point out, God is on His throne. He is bigger, He is more powerful and more caring than we can imagine. He is big enough for every single care. Even in the times where we can’t see Him on His throne and feel His closeness, He is still there and He’s still helping us. That’s true for me and Melissa and that’s true for all who have called on His name. That’s the point of view that we need to walk in.
Granted, we often need to discipline ourselves to walk in that reality. But that’s the nice thing about truth, its true whether or not we feel it and its true whether or not people recognize it. Truth is just truth and the Lord enthroned is truth, for this we give praise.
Great Book! Highly suggest it.Cover via Amazon
My small group just started to go through the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I read the book a few years ago and absolutely loved it, so I suggested it as a good study for us. We had our initial discussion on the first chapter this last week and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Small groups are great because they bring out beliefs and thoughts that we weren’t even conscious of until we were compelled to articulate them during the conversation. Such was the case this last Thursday.
We talked about the throne room of God. Chan shares in the complimentary video about how when he starts praying he envisions God in His true form of glory. He asks the reader what our first words would be if we were to be right there in the throne room as Isaiah was in Isaiah 6. He then says that whatever the answer to that question is, that should be the same first response when we go to the Lord in prayer. Such a profound yet clearly accurate mindset put me in a humbling position.
I shared with the group, that I really don’t do that the vast majority of the time. Rather, I pray from where I am. If I’m frustrated, I pray from frustration. If I’m sad, then that’s where I pray from. Even if I’m overjoyed, its as though I rush into the throne room without pausing to recognize the awesomeness of God in all His glory. I don’t pray from where God is, I pray from where I am.
Now certainly, God is big enough for our frustrations and struggles. Furthermore, He’s loving and gentle enough to not laugh at my problems when the vastness of His glory is considered. Nonetheless, its quite an interesting, and in some ways humorous, juxtaposition.
To envision God on His throne, which is absolute reality, can truly revolutionize not only our prayer lives, but every part of our lives.
Last Saturday, I found myself in a time where I thank God that He’s both big and gentle, because we were in a tough spot. This last week was difficult, it started with the weekend and carried over into the week. In some ways its hard to put a finger on what exactly is the source of the struggles, because it seems to hit us in multiple facets of life: spiritual, financial, relational and emotional. After a time of prayer and thought while doing dishes, I approached Melissa with some cares that were on my heart and beyond what I was talking about, a lot of other stuff came out from both of us as well. That all came to a head this particular night and we were both left feeling our bruises, insecurities and frustrations. We went to the Lord in prayer and as I was praying, there was a spirit of heaviness. I couldn’t envision God on His throne, I just envisioned ourselves in the mud pit of our circumstances. Its been a tough spot to be in.
And yet, as Chan presents and biblically as Isaiah or John would point out, God is on His throne. He is bigger, He is more powerful and more caring than we can imagine. He is big enough for every single care. Even in the times where we can’t see Him on His throne and feel His closeness, He is still there and He’s still helping us. That’s true for me and Melissa and that’s true for all who have called on His name. That’s the point of view that we need to walk in.
Granted, we often need to discipline ourselves to walk in that reality. But that’s the nice thing about truth, its true whether or not we feel it and its true whether or not people recognize it. Truth is just truth and the Lord enthroned is truth, for this we give praise.
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