Today our thoughts and prayers are with the millions of people who have been affected by hurricane Irene on the east coast. I know quite a few people out that way, and have been thinking of them and praying for them as they weather the storm.
It seems like events of this nature often serve as rallying points for prayer. A huge storm hits and causes people to be relocated, damages property, and puts people without power and food, and we rally with prayer. Someone we know gets very sick, and we rally with prayer. Someone has to make a big decision in life, or comes to a turning point in life, and we rally with prayers. And this is a very good thing.
I believe that it's good for us to have times of more intense prayer. Yet, at the same time, I often wonder why we need something "big" to stir us up in our prayer lives. I know we humans are awed by the "big"ness of something, and yet, I cannot help but think that there are so many small things in life which call for an equal fervency to prayer.
One line which I learned growing up has to do with what I know as the second commandment. The commandment says not to take the name of the LORD our God in vain. The meaning which I learned says that we should "call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks." And I think that this is instructive for three fairly significant reasons.
First, call upon God in every trouble. While it is natural for something larger to bring out greater feelings and emotions in us, that probably is not the best impetus for prayer. God wants to hear everything, not just the big things. Calling on Him in every trouble may mean talking to Him when major things happen, and when "minor" things happen. God wants to hear from me about the aches and pains from a good, long run just as much as He wants to hear from me about my concern for the people on the coast affected by the hurricane.
Next, praise. One of the tendencies I have witnessed in people is a great desire to pray when things go wrong, but not necessarily to give thanks when things go right. Just think of it this way. Did you praise God that the sun came up this morning? Or that you could get out of bed? Or that you had food for breakfast? Or that He has provided a job by which you have income? Praise of God isn't something that is reserved only for Sunday mornings, but for everything in life.
Finally, give thanks. Saying thank you is one of the best acknowledgments when someone does something for you, or gives you something. When you give, and no thanks are returned, it smacks of ingratitude. If you go out of your way to present a nice gift to someone, and they act as though it's nothing special, you are likely to wonder if they really view it as a gift. And since everything in this life is a gift from God, giving thanks to Him is only appropriate, no matter how big or how small.
I want to encourage you to be praying for the big things in life, such as when hurricanes strike and affect to many people. But I also want to encourage you to be praying for more than you may be right now in life. Yes, bring troubles to God, both large and small. Also, remember that God is to be praised for who He is and what He has done. And give thanks for the many gifts that He continues to pour forth into your life!
It seems like events of this nature often serve as rallying points for prayer. A huge storm hits and causes people to be relocated, damages property, and puts people without power and food, and we rally with prayer. Someone we know gets very sick, and we rally with prayer. Someone has to make a big decision in life, or comes to a turning point in life, and we rally with prayers. And this is a very good thing.
I believe that it's good for us to have times of more intense prayer. Yet, at the same time, I often wonder why we need something "big" to stir us up in our prayer lives. I know we humans are awed by the "big"ness of something, and yet, I cannot help but think that there are so many small things in life which call for an equal fervency to prayer.
One line which I learned growing up has to do with what I know as the second commandment. The commandment says not to take the name of the LORD our God in vain. The meaning which I learned says that we should "call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks." And I think that this is instructive for three fairly significant reasons.
First, call upon God in every trouble. While it is natural for something larger to bring out greater feelings and emotions in us, that probably is not the best impetus for prayer. God wants to hear everything, not just the big things. Calling on Him in every trouble may mean talking to Him when major things happen, and when "minor" things happen. God wants to hear from me about the aches and pains from a good, long run just as much as He wants to hear from me about my concern for the people on the coast affected by the hurricane.
Next, praise. One of the tendencies I have witnessed in people is a great desire to pray when things go wrong, but not necessarily to give thanks when things go right. Just think of it this way. Did you praise God that the sun came up this morning? Or that you could get out of bed? Or that you had food for breakfast? Or that He has provided a job by which you have income? Praise of God isn't something that is reserved only for Sunday mornings, but for everything in life.
Finally, give thanks. Saying thank you is one of the best acknowledgments when someone does something for you, or gives you something. When you give, and no thanks are returned, it smacks of ingratitude. If you go out of your way to present a nice gift to someone, and they act as though it's nothing special, you are likely to wonder if they really view it as a gift. And since everything in this life is a gift from God, giving thanks to Him is only appropriate, no matter how big or how small.
I want to encourage you to be praying for the big things in life, such as when hurricanes strike and affect to many people. But I also want to encourage you to be praying for more than you may be right now in life. Yes, bring troubles to God, both large and small. Also, remember that God is to be praised for who He is and what He has done. And give thanks for the many gifts that He continues to pour forth into your life!
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