Golden light on dew-kissed roses
Heralding the grace of day
Cooing doves, at morn’s awakening
Dusty hooves of foals at play
Wheat fields, like a tawny ocean
Rippling in the wind’s caress
Dancing streams, their spray asparkle
Pensive pools in quiet rest
Air perfumed with scent of jasmine
Wind chime’s soft melodious ring
Dappled earth through filtered sunlight
Gamb’lling lambs at start of spring
Miracle of baby’s birthing
Brand new breath, a lusty cry
Old man resting, children’s chatter
Puff balls in a dreamy sky
Cells and segments of an orange
Neatly packed with tasty bliss
Warm embrace of two young lovers
Tenderness of mother’s kiss
These and countless other blessings
Are bestowed on us each day
Pointing us to God’s compassion
Showing us His love-filled way.
He surrounds us with His beauty
Fills our souls with untold wealth
Lifting them from deep depression
Into happiness and health.
Yet His greatest gift of goodness
Starts its journey steeped in death
Wounded Saviour hanging, dripping
Blood for us with His last breath
Cursed that He might buy our healing
‘Tombed to fight for all our souls
Breaking forth in glorious vict’ry
Empty grave, and men made whole.
What a song our hearts are singing
Let the church bells toll and toll
Jesus is our Lord and Saviour
‘Tis indeed well with my soul
More and more, these days, it takes courage to be overt in
one’s profession of faith.
I remember the trepidation I felt as I examined my patients and braced myself to witness to them and offer to pray with them. No matter how often one does it, there is usually some resistance in one’s spirit. We have an enemy who tries to discourage us. But when we are obedient, ther’s nothing to touch the thrill in one’s spirit as you feel the approval of God.
Looking for clues. Seeking guidance.
Sometimes, while I examined my patients and told them what
to expect the following day — the day of their surgery — I’d look for clues
about their spiritual journey. If I saw a Bible or devotional on their bedside
table, I knew I could talk to them about my experience of the way God comes
through when we pray.
Often, though, there were few clues, even in the
conversation. Then I’d have to rely on the Holy Spirit, and my own courage. As
a general rule (which I admit, I broke on occasions), I’d offer to pray with
them unless I felt a strong sense that I shouldn’t. For example, one of my
patients told me she was a witch. I prayed for
her, but it would have been unwise to offer to pray with her.
The macho man; steeling myself to obey
Part of the adventure of the Christian life is in the joy of obedience in the face of the enemy’s opposition. Sometimes I’d have to steel myself to be obedient. I remember seeing a real macho man on my premed round. He had a Men’s Health magazine beside him and was abrupt in his manner, answering all my medical questions in monosyllables. Still, I felt no check in my spirit about praying with him, although I wasn’t sure how he’d respond. With my heart racing a little, I said, “I’m a committed Christian and I’ve seen how faithful God is in responding to us when we invite Him to be involved in what’s happening to us. I’d love to say a prayer with you if you would like me to.”
He nodded curtly and said, “‘Kay.”
As I left, I felt the usual thrill in my spirit for taking the
plunge, but I wondered what his inner response was.
The following day I visited him. He was a completely
different man. He greeted me cheerily as I entered and shook my hand warmly.
“Dr Walker, thank you so much for praying with me. You’ve no idea what
that meant. I went into my operation completely at peace and am feeling so
good.”
It was obvious, now that his monosyllabic stance beforehand was not surliness, but terror at being in hospital and facing an operation.
I left with a spring in my step.
Be encouraged. God is with you
I don’t think there’s anything that pleases God more than one of His children expressing His love to someone who is fearful. And what better way than to offer to pray with them. The Bible tells us that His perfect love drives out fear. Be assured, God is with you and you will be blessed.
We were in the supermarket the other day, when a bent and
wizened old lady approached us. She muttered through a mouth that had few
teeth, “Please pray for me.”
She then poured out a litany of problems with her family
that so burdened her to the extent she was prepared to confide in complete
strangers.
We listened, and when she had finished, I said, “Well,
let’s pray right now.”
She looked surprised, and, I think a little shocked that we should pray in such a public place, but she consented, so we stood in the supermarket and prayed. As we did so, the peace of God rested on her. You could see her countenance change and she thanked us profusely.
Different dynamics
I have found there is a completely different dynamic in praying for someone and praying with someone. If I have the choice, I’d sooner pray with a person any time. When one prays for a person, at best, the person is a passive recipient of someone else approaching God. When one prays with them, they are included in coming to the Throne of Grace. At worst, they are witnesses to your intimacy with God. At best, they experience that intimacy themselves.
Opening the gates of Heaven
Sometimes our prayer opens the gates of heaven in a very special way that touches hearts supernaturally. Early on in my Christian walk, I befriended Emmanuel, a wonderful Black man and we had glorious times of prayer together. Usually this was during the day, in a church or other public place, but one day I suggested we meet together at his house. It was in the dark days of apartheid; in my ignorance, I didn’t appreciate the peril for a White man to enter an African township at night. There was a real danger I would not return alive. It was dark before I reached the township and soon I was hopelessly lost in the maze of unmarked dirt roads. I stopped a passerby and asked for directions.
“Give me a lift to my house and I’ll give instructions
from there,” he said.
On the way, I told him I was going to pray with Emmanuel and
he said, “Can you pray for me?” I agreed..
When we arrived, I said, “So shall we pray?”
He looked surprised. “What, now?” I nodded.
Then, though it was late at night, he woke his wife and
children and called them into the main room. As they knelt and I prayed, the
power of God and a tangible peace descended. The heavens were open to that
little family. Everyone was hushed with awe. We were afraid to move. Eventually
I had to get to Emmanuel, but my helper would not let me go until I had given
him my contact details and put him in contact with my beloved friend.
How different it would have been if I had just said,
“Okay, I’ll pray for you.”
God’s opportunities are there
Don’t throw away an opprtunity to pray with someone in need. Apart from anything else, it sometimes opens the door for conversations about God with people who have questions.
At this time of the year we are used to seeing the Babe in the manger. It is always a time when we can be thrilled with the wonder of it all.
Yet, think of it beforehand. Think of the Holy Foetus attached to Mary’s womb, gaining succour from a placenta that was to become the afterbirth. This is God? That tiny, budding life? How amazing is that?
Then, think of the wonder beyond the stable and the Babe to the Man, the very Word of God, who spoke all He walked amongst into being. Now he debates with sceptics and arrogant men of learning, allowing them to deride Him, mock Him and scorn His words that came from the same mouth that created them.
And the wonder goes on through Calvary, the empty tomb and the free gift of eternal life offered, incredibly without any obligation to accept it.
We do, indeed have an amazing God.
Amazing
The body of God Forming slowly A clump of cells A tiny brain Eyes Fingers Mouth Cord, placenta God, two inches long Drawing nourishment from Mary Amazing.
The Word of God Speaking light Speaking earth Speaking sea And stars The moon Lilies of the field And man Speaking all of creation into being Now debating with sceptics Contradicted Ignored Vilified Amazing
The love of God Selfless Giving Healing Joyous love Exploited Doubted Denied Nailed to a Cross And there, fully expressed Amazing
The blood of God Falling to the ground Earth-shattering Veil-splitting Blood A scarlet ribbon Rippling through eternity Buying freedom For you For me Changing history Letting the eyes of God Meet mine And yours, if you will Amazing
The power of God Life-giving Stone-moving Heaven-opening Glorifying Power Available to all who believe Amazing
Free choice for man A gift from God Setting his destiny Light Or darkness Loneliness Or comfort Life Or death God’s favour Or wrath God lets us choose Respects our choice
Choose light Comfort Life Choose God And stand amazed
