Praying To See More Clearly
This is from Streams in the Desert:
The Answer is God
"For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?" (Rom. 3:3).
" I think that I can trace every scrap of sorrow in my life to simple unbelief. How could I be anything but quite happy if I believed always that all the past is forgiven, and all the present furnished with power, and all the future bright with hope because of the same abiding facts which do not change with my mood, do not stumble because I totter and stagger at the promise through unbelief, but stand firm and clear with their peaks of pearl cleaving the air of Eternity, and the bases of their hills rooted unfathomably in the Rock of God. Mont Blanc does not become a phantom or a mist because a climber grows dizzy on its side." --James Smetham
Is it any wonder that, when we stagger at any promise of God through unbelief, we do not receive it? Not that faith merits an answer, or in any way earns it, or works it out; but God has made believing a condition of receiving, and the Giver has a sovereign right to choose His own terms of gift.
--Rev. Samuel Hart
Unbelief says, "How can such and such things be?" It is full of "hows"; but faith has one great answer to the ten thousand "hows," and that answer is GOD ! --C. H. M.
No praying man or woman accomplishes so much with so little expenditure of time as when he or she is praying.
If there should arise, it has been said--and the words are surely true to the thought of our Lord Jesus Christ in all His teaching on prayer--if there should arise ONE UTTERLY BELIEVING MAN, the history of the world might be changed.
Will YOU not be that one in the providence and guidance of God our Father? --A. E. McAdam
Prayer without faith degenerates into objectless routine, or soulless hypocrisy. Prayer with faith brings Omnipotence to back our petitions. Better not pray unless and until your whole being responds to the efficacy of your supplication. When the true prayer is breathed, earth and heaven, the past and the future, say Amen. And Christ prayed such prayers. --P. C. M.
Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except
that which lies outside the will of God.
"Had we the faith to see God in everything as it meets us day by day, every chapter of life’s history would be a new story of the romance of heavenly love in its magical power to transform darkness into light, difficulty into triumph, sorrow into joy, and the earthly into the heavenly." A. B. Simpson
These quotes really lifted me up. I was reminded of God's omnipotence and the fact that His Spirit lives in me giving me great power if I'm willing to give Him control. If when I stagger in disbelief, His Spirit does not falter nor fall. But do I really believe?
I was reading my bible and my eyes were getting blurry - I just couldn't seem to read because the letters were melting into one another. I was reading about the power of the Holy Spirit. He was there in the beginning - Genesis 1:2 - "the Spirit of God" hovered over the face of the waters". The Spirit of God has been with Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, ... Peter, Paul and all the apostles. When the Spirit of God was with these people, nothing was impossible. Do I believe that?
I read the story of when the king of Aram was coming to kill Elisha. He and his army had infiltrated Dothan where Elisha and his servant were staying. Elisha's servant was terribly afraid and didn't see any way out of the mess. He knew they were surrounded by the enemy. Then Elisha prayed that God would open the eyes of his servant so that he could see the unseen warriors sent by God.
Seeing the unseen
2 Kings 6
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
After they entered the city, Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”
“Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
The servant's eyes were opened and then he could see that those with him and Elisha were greater than those with the Enemy. Can't you just imagine? The servant looked out the window and all of a sudden, he sees thousands of warrior angels ready to protect them. God does that for me, too. I may not be able to see the hedge of protection that God provides, but I know it's there always! If I could just hold on to that thought. With the Power of God on my side, what can man do to me? What then shall I fear?
As I continued to read about how God gave Elisha victory over his enemy, I realized that there I sat, struggling to read the blurry words on the page - wanting desperately to see so that I could put those powerful words in my heart, was I not believing that God could help me? Why in the world was I not asking God to help me see the words clearly?
So... I stopped and I prayed. Please Lord, You know how precious Your Word is to me. I want to be able to read this passage clearly so that I can soak up the great truths of Your protection, Your provision and Your faithfulness. I love this story of Elisha and the servant. I can almost see the mountain side covered with Your mighty warriors! I believe You sent Your warrior angels to protect Elisha. And I believe You do that for me every day, too. So I'm asking that You help me see the words on this page clearly, no more blurry lines, no more tired eyes from straining to make out a word. Lord, I believe You want me to read Your word and I believe You have the power to help me see clearly so that I can read what You have provided for me.
I raised my head, afraid to look at the page of my bible. Honestly, I guess I didn't believe that God would help me see the page better. Finally, I got up my courage and looked down. It wasn't drastic, but the words weren't so blurry any more. Okay. It's better. I think it really is. Maybe a little...
But then my eye was drawn to the back inside flap of my bible cover. I saw a plastic sheet. I looked closer and then remembering what it was, I reached for it and drew it out. Then I laughed out loud.
God does have a sense of humor. It was a plastic magnifying sheet that I had forgotten was even in my bible. God answered my prayer! I put the sheet over the page I was reading and the words were magnified. I was able to read every word clearly. Thank You, Father! You are the greatest!
Maybe I shouldn't have prayed just for clear words.
Maybe I should have prayed for my vision to be 20/20!
The answer might not have been exactly what I expected. But God answered and He made it possible for me to read His Word easily - no more blurs.
LORD God, Creator of the Universe, All Powerful, All Knowing and Loving Father, I am thrilled at how You answer even my prayers spoken with little faith! Thank You for showing Yourself to me in little and big ways. I try to be strong in my faith, but sometimes I forget You move mountains! You created with great intricacy and detailed design the whole Universe. Why do I doubt that You will make a way for me to read Your Word? Once again, You've given me just what I asked for. Wow! What if I really believed Your promises? I love You and I'm so thankful that You loved me enough to send Your Son to save me. Thank You so much! And Father, please help my unbelief. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Coram Deo
