God interweaves all things together for good, for those
who Love the Lord and work according to His Purpose.
Luke 9:6-17
6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done.
And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.
12 Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.”
13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.”
They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men.
And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Prayer.
Location - Desolate or lonely place.
Goal - Nourishment.
Possibility - With God nothing is impossible.
Jesus said - Always pray with hope.
Jesus prayed quite often. In isolation.
His own prayers demonstrated His Company was to be alone with Father God and privately. Jesus said we pray go into a prayer closet and pray quietly. Which can be a quiet portion of our own mind, soul and heart. If we wanted examples of Jesus saying this, we would easily find them. The woman who wanted to touch Jesus, didn't even tell Jesus. Nathaniel in John's Gospel, Chapter One, was absolutely delighted to find Jesus had seen him praying under the tree. When Jesus healed the daughter of Jairus, He asked the mourners to depart. The deaf man was taken to a quiet area, so he would understand the prayer and the answer.
And what ties together these Scripture Verses?
Some of our prayers would embarrass others. Or look foolish - and then we feel silly praying impudently. Jesus didn't say this word to substitute for impudently, "insistently." Instead Jesus said pray persistently if we feel we are dealing with God as a Harsh Judge. Jesus explains Love does not insist on its own way.
If we imagine what Jesus' prayers looked like with Father God, what would we see?
"Father, You want me to cross the Sea of Galilee 3 times tomorrow?" "What would You have me say to the deaf man?" "You want me to do what with mud and my saliva?" "You want me to call Herod a what? Why?" "Really, James and John are bringing me their mother ? Thanks for letting me know."
When Jesus healed Lazarus, from being dead, Thomas said, "Ok, well now we are going to die with Him." So what would the Disciples have said if they knew what Jesus knew. Private Prayer isn't such a bad thing?! Remember, when the Blind Men were going to exercise their faith loudly - the crowd called for them to be silent.
Selecting our Scripture wisely is an important subject for Belief. We bring our hearts forth when we call judgment on faith. The crowd booed and hissed for the men to not bother Jesus. Jesus felt very differently and wanted the men to verbally explain their prayer. We can well imagine the men felt humble to have been put down by the crowd and blindly asking the Messiah to heal them.
Jesus brings Joy. Jesus finds Life is Joy. Father God finds His Creation is Good. And delights looking inside mankind proclaiming the Light of Christ is in mankind.
This year we see this hope. And we see Jesus giving opposite advice from John Chapter One about the Light of mankind and taking us to the Second Chapter of John. Which we have also witnessed this year.
John 2
24 But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all. 25 He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.
How should we decide about how we will put forth our prayers to Father God and sharing with others?
James the Brother of Jesus Christ had real insight having grown up with Jesus, Mary and Joseph. James said always feel free to ask God for wisdom and believe without being a double-minded man, shaken by waves. King Solomon wrote, probably, in Proverbs - do not be afraid of sudden fear. We will look for and find the balance of an unshakable Kingdom brought by Father God who upholds the Universe by His Word.
Why be loud in our hopeful prayers?
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,
but blessed is he who keeps the law.
The Law is the Spirit of God and His Love. The blind men had such hope, their faith told them wouldn't be cast down. They would continue to pray and call to Jesus Christ with all their heart.
Why be quiet in our hopeful prayers?
Matthew 7:6
Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Hannah found out right quickly. She is a perfect example of loud prayer can absolutely have supreme criticism. David knew the hardship of faith.
1 Samuel 1
12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.”
Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
Hannah was not going to insist on her own way. I Corinthians 13.
The foolishness of faith.
Constantly, we find faith is a miracle someone would scoff at. God, Himself, says the work of mankind is to Believe. The Seed Parable says so much is going on - all around us. Look at these verses today - there was not going to be any way Jesus would feed us. And He did. Millenniums later. An ongoing miracle where far more than 5,000 are fed. And Jesus can feed us even when we scoff. His tenderness will touch us. Before Jesus fed the crowd He was busy healing and Saving the entire world.
All those chairs are not 2 million chairs
and this is prayer as well.
Many prayers have been prayed
this year.
Abba, Father God,
I Believe in God and, sometimes, I feel Lost.
I Believe in Love, when sometimes I'm afraid.
I Believe in the Light of Christ, when the world erupts in anger.
I Believe Light overcomes darkness, when life looks bleak.
I Believe in Good Health and Your Healing Word,
when people speak of a new normal.
Remembering God healed Spanish Flu, Bird Flu and Swine Flu.
God has healed so much. And is Still Working.
I Believe Jesus Christ saves the world,
even on the days I pray fiercely for those I Love.
I Believe in answered prayer,
when I doubt, and reach to look at what is good
and noble and pure. I remember Answered Prayer.
I Believe Forest Fires Cease, having lived a Tri-County Fire,
as we pray for Australia and the Northwest USA.
I Believe Jesus Christ.
We ask Jesus to dwell in us and those we Love always,
and helping us find God First.
Jesus, Son of God - Bless, Heal, Sustain, Comfort, Guide
President Donald Trump, and his family,
Vice President Pence and his family,
The White House Staff,
especially those in need of healing today
God Bless Them!
And God Bless President Trump for free Regeneron for
Us ALL.
Safety and wisdom for:
Governor Abbott
and all 50 United States Governors and our Legislatures
Praying for Elliott, Harby and their family
for complete blessing of healing.
I believe Jesus is healing Elliott.
God Speaking His Word with Strength.
And we pray, Abba,
open His arms to all
of His Good Creation.
In Jesus Christ, His Highest Name, Amen.
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