WATCHWORD:
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing,
18 give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Meditation:
Do you mutter?
Do you mutter? Does your spouse? Carol and I both mutter. The Hebrew word for meditate means to mutter, to speak to oneself, out loud.
After two months of living 120 miles apart during this pandemic, we discovered that we were both mutterers when we finally got together. We both would say that our muttering is born out of our isolation, but also it is born out of our prayer-life, talking to God.
Sometimes my muttering comes out as song, hymns of praise. Amazing Grace, or Peace Like a River, and so many others, often start out in the shower and are carried out into my day. A good start.
It has been said that we should pray as if everything depended on God and act as if everything depended on us. There is real truth there, the exercise of our faith in God, and the realization that with faith comes the responsibility to act. James states, in his epistle, “faith without works (actions) is dead“. And Paul admonishes us to “Prayer without ceasing“! Pray without ceasing? Really?
John MacArthur, in his book Grace To You, makes this statement: To “pray without ceasing” refers to recurring prayer, not nonstop talking. Prayer is to be a way of life–you’re to be continually in an attitude of prayer.
Putting all that together, does that mean when a Christian lives their life, actively following Christ in all ways, imitating Him, that is a form of praying without ceasing? I believe so. So, if my prayers are spoken out loud, muttering, that’s a good thing.
I once wrote an essay entitled “Talking Prayers to my Dog”, where I described walks with my dog while I muttered, often prayers, but also too much complaining and whining about how life was unfair. Still, I believe that God could sort all that out.
This morning Oswald Chambers told me “There are certain things in life that we need not pray about – moods, for instance. We will never get rid of moodiness by praying, but we will by kicking it out of our lives (not allowing moods to dominate our attitude). Moods are nearly always rooted in some physical circumstance, not in our true nature. We have to pick ourselves up by the back of the neck and shake ourselves; then we will find that we can do what we believed we were unable to do. The Christian life is one of spiritual courage and determination lived out in our flesh.”
So, back to muttering, praying without ceasing, living as a Christian, and closing the door on those moods. Hmmm. Can I do all that on my own? I can with Jesus.
Let me close with this, and a question to Mac McKinley: here is something that maybe you could work on, a little scrap of words that came out of my mutterings this morning. See what you can make of this:
When you speak to the air, do you have even a care … that when you are alone, … you know that God is there?
From our Poet Laureate:
One Pole Fisherman
I’m a one pole fisherman don’t you see.
Over time I’ve come to find one fishing pole is enough for me.
Oh, I’ve tried two, three, and even four or more.
But taking care of those poles sure can make you sore.
Just about the time a fish has one pole a bending there’s sure to be another one
or two that needs attending.
Over the years I’ve come to find there is more to life than constantly being behind.
After all there’s only so many you can eat; then you find yourself giving them away to
everyone you meet.
So, in your life if you find you have too many poles in the water.
Just come over to our clan and, become a one pole fisherman.
— Mac
Bulletin Board:
From Beth — You did such a good job getting us into our sandals and taking a long, exhausting walk through the Holy Land.
Ah, thank you, I think.
Closing Prayer:
Dear God, In the morning, O Lord, I will direct my song and my prayer unto You and will look up. Good morning Lord! This is the day that you have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
With gratitude, I thank you for preserving my life for one more day. With gratitude, I thank you for your ultimate gift of love for me, in the form of your son and the sacrifice of his life on my behalf. Because of this overwhelming gift that I often cannot comprehend, I humbly submit to you. I know Lord, that I am a mere human and cannot instruct you, but you Lord can instruct me. So, teach me your ways that I may rely on your faithfulness. Teach us to number our days and to use our time wisely.
I don’t know what this day holds, but I know that you hold the day. It was you that laid the foundations of the Earth and therefore understands every part of it. I know that you keep the sun in the sky, the stars in place, and have created this Earth for me to inhabit and enjoy. Throughout this day, may I be keenly aware of your presence in everything I do.
All honor and glory to you, Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
