Praying for Others

“We don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” (Romans 8:26 NLT)

When we offer to pray for someone, we are taking on a serious responsibility. We don’t have to know what to pray for or what words to use. All we have to do is open up our spirit so that God can have unlimited access.

The spiritual reservoir inside us is a lot like a rural farm pond. Most days it is just a repository for run-off water. A pond can be a peaceful place to sit and meditate, catch a few fish, or maybe take an occasional swim. But it is most useful during a fire. Rural areas don’t have fire hydrants.  Fire fighters often use the water in ponds to put out fires. Farmers usually allow access to their ponds for neighboring fires. Similarly, our spirits can be used by God to extinguish fires nearby. The Holy Spirit can siphon our prayers to rescue others. We can help by keeping the easement to our spirits clear so the pathway is accessible. This involves clearing our schedule and our mind as much as possible. We don’t have to give God instructions on how to put out the fires. All we have to do is grant the Holy Spirit full access.

Spiritual Reservoirs

“God says, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.” (Acts 2:17 NLT)

Most of my days are filled with dusty clouds of chaos. However, I have experienced unexpected outpourings of grace and peace followed by moments of spiritual clarity. I wish I could hold on to these moments.

Farmers know that ponds are a great way to store up rainwater run-off for future use. They pick an area with a natural valley and create a dam at the lower end to hold the water in. Some areas require a bit of additional excavating; other areas need a bit of extra clay soil to keep the water from seeping through.

Could a spiritual reservoir be made using similar methods? What if we could take valley experiences and depressions, shore up the boundaries with dams of faith, and line the bottom with impermeable trust? Would this allow us to have perpetual pools of grace and peace?

Discernment Training

“Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” (Hebrews 5:14 NLT)

Infants have difficulty digesting solid foods even if they are pureed. Babies should not be given solid food until they are able to sit up, hold their head up, and have control over their gag reflex. Otherwise, they are likely to choke.

Digesting solid truth requires a certain level of maturity as well. Unfortunately, many of us are still spiritual infants. We don’t have adequate head control. We have developed a palate for things that are false, immoral, and naughty. Thus, we find ourselves choking on what is good, wholesome, and true.

The discernment to recognize right from wrong is a skill that is developed through training and constant practice. Our conscience is only as good as our standards. Since our values tend to fluctuate based on external influences and personal desires, following our conscience is not always equivalent to doing the right thing. Spiritual discernment allows us to access a higher conscience, one that is beyond our human minds. Tuning in to the Spirit requires a great deal of discipline and focus. Frequent practice and obedience hone our senses. As we continually open ourselves up with expectation and reverence, we are able to recognize truth, develop discernment, and choose goodness.

The Messiness of Life

“God made men and women true and upright; we’re the ones who’ve made a mess of things.” (Ecclesiastes 7:29 MSG)

Some days this world seems wonderful--full of kindness, laughter, love, bravery, generosity, compassion, and fairness. Other days, the world feels messy--full of sickness, hopelessness, violence, oppression, divorce, abuse, poverty, unemployment, betrayal, addictions, desperation, manipulation, toxic attitudes, poor choices, bad behavior, natural disasters, physical deterioration, and mental degeneration. The messiness of life often overwhelms its beauty.

God created us to be good and true. Yet, humans have adulterated everything, adding junky fillers to suit our taste for temporary pleasure.  We pump ourselves up with vanity, insincerity, ambition, posturing, greed, and self-absorption. Instead of seeking purity, simplicity, and virtue, we chase after admiration, excitement, and power. We invest in drama rather than in authenticity. And life gets really messy and yucky.

“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.” (Psalm 71:20-21 NIV)

Lord, only You can reset our lives to Your intended settings. Forgive us and restore us.

Confirmation Bias

“And now they’re back in the sin business again, manufacturing god-images they can use, Religion customized to taste. Professionals see to it: Anything you want in a god you can get.” (Hosea 13:1-3 MSG)

Let’s say you are reading reviews online for a product you really want to buy. You are likely to be swayed by the reviews that affirm your preconceptions. This tendency is called confirmation bias. The inclination to believe what we want to believe makes us blind to the negative qualities of those we love and to the positive traits of our enemies. Confirmation bias can lead to distorted thinking and irrational behavior.

Our beliefs about God are often influenced by our expectations. We want a god who brings comfort, order, healing, contentment, security, peace, and prosperity. We don’t want a god who is too demanding, who makes us uncomfortable, or whose standards require us to reevaluate our dreams.

This is why conservatives and liberals are able to interpret Bible verses to conform to their preexisting ideas. More often than not, we assume that God wants what we want. We ignore directions, signs, and intuitions that point us away from our preconceived notions. We customize God to fit our presumptions instead of shaping our beliefs according to His vision.

Lord, we are imperfect beings with skewed ideas. We filter truth through our contorted human perceptions. Please correct our vision, so that we may understand You and have an authentic relationship with You.

Spiritual Discernment

“I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do...” (Ephesians 1:17 MSG)

Discernment is defined as the ability to distinguish, apprehend, recognize, or perceive by our senses or intellect. Spiritual discernment allows us to know God, to sense His presence, to distinguish his nudges from our own impulses, and to recognize His revelations.

Knowing God personally and being under His influence can be glorious but also weighty. Spiritual discernment is a heavy gift that comes with great responsibility. It requires a great deal of endurance, focus, and dedication. It isn’t something that can be turned on and off based on what else is going on in one’s life. It’s a constant weight that one must bear with reverence and commitment.

Flooded

“The floods have risen up, O Lord. The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves. But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore--the LORD above is mightier than these!” (Psalm 93:3-4 NLT)

These days, I’m flooded with bad news: a friend with cancer is enduring severe pain and fatigue; tornadoes and storms are damaging property and creating instability; a friend is going through a painful divorce; financial difficulties and work-related stress are wrecking families; others  are suffering from loneliness, hopelessness, depression, anxiety, addictions, and desperation.

When we have to face wave after wave of difficulties, it is natural to feel overwhelmed. However, if we give in to despair, the floods may carry us away from our post. We must stay rooted, firmly anchored to our purpose--reminding ourselves and others that God is mightier than the violent floods and scary storms.