March 2, 2006

Meditation for Lent

There is silence in Heaven (Revelation 8:1) while God listens to all of our prayers; prayers of praise or despair, prayers of request or thanks, prayers of anger or serenity, prayers of joy or sadness. Not one word is lost. Our prayers are heard, the world comes into perspective, we acquire hope.

We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all – all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. Hebrews 4:15-16

Then God answers, and your life is turned around. There is no room for control, calcula-tions, or conditions. You are forced to give up your ego and respond to God in faith. This my be against all intuition and training, but you must eventually submit yourself to God.

Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. 2 Corinthians 1:20-21

However, you need to prepare before all of this happens. Like a backpacker who spends days selecting clothing, packing food, waterproofing tents, checking the first aid kit, and studying maps. At last you are at the trail head. Up to this point, everything is under your control. Then, nothing is under your control as you meet uncertainties like weather changes, wild animals, your own endurance. You have lived by sight and experience. Now you must rely on faith. And when God answers your prayers and petitions, you must be prepared to hear His answer and follow it.

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. Hebrews 11:1-2

Ched Fine