Pray!
Let us come
into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2.
How many generations have prayed in many languages, drawing near to God in all
His glory? As a young girl, I saw my Dad clasp his hands and bow his head
in prayer. His love for His Lord Jesus outweighed his weariness from the day’s
work, as he prayed a German prayer. “Komm
Herr Jesus, sei unser Gast; and segne, was du uns besheret hast.” (English:
“Come, Lord Jesus, be our Guest; and bless what you have bestowed.”)
His glory? As a young girl, I saw my Dad clasp his hands and bow his head
in prayer. His love for His Lord Jesus outweighed his weariness from the day’s
work, as he prayed a German prayer. “Komm
Herr Jesus, sei unser Gast; and segne, was du uns besheret hast.” (English:
“Come, Lord Jesus, be our Guest; and bless what you have bestowed.”)
Dad
learned this prayer from his Dad, Jacob Siemens, a traveling evangelist,
auctioneer, and farmer in the early 1900’s.
learned this prayer from his Dad, Jacob Siemens, a traveling evangelist,
auctioneer, and farmer in the early 1900’s.
As I recall this scene over and over in my mind, I wonder what Dad thought as
he prayed, and what kept him faithful. I wonder now what it takes to
pray. I wonder why the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to
pray.
This is the 4th Rule from the Red Sea Rules. The Israelites
are faced by the Red Sea on one side and the six hundred charioteers of the
Pharaoh of Egypt coming after them. It is then, in their panic, they prayed. When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel
lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them,
and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to
the Lord. Exodus 14:10.
The sea closed over the Egyptian soldiers and they could not continue their
rush to threaten the Children of Israel. They cried out, praying to the
Lord. Their prayer was genuine and real. They prayed from the heart
and not from a written prayer for their time of indescribable fear.
Fear began their prayers and just as the Israelites did, we can pray rather
than panic in times of overwhelming heartache and stress. Whose wisdom do we
follow, God’s or Man’s, whom God created?
When my Mother was a little girl, her little brother had scarlet fever. Her Dad
took Mother and her older sister to the barn and knelt down with them in the
soft fragrant hay. He prayed through his tears for the healing for his
son, Paul. He added, if God wants him back, he would give him back to God.
Anna Suderman met him at the door, saying he was sleeping well. It wasn’t
long afterward he drowned in the stock tank in twelve inches of water.
(From The Lines are Fallen by Anna
Daisy Siemens)
While visiting with my Aunt Irene, she named five generations back of those who
were faithful. She wondered how many more that she didn’t know. One
Thousand Generations? But it is because the Lord loves you and is
keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that
the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from
the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know
therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful
God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep
his commandments, to a thousand generations. Deuteronomy 7:8-9.
Why do we pray? We know the love
of God, the love that strengthens our faith and gives us peace. We surrender to
the Will of God and do not question His Wisdom. His love is an oasis of truth
and joy in a world of deceit and greed. It is His steadfast Presence that
leads and guides us in His Way.
of God, the love that strengthens our faith and gives us peace. We surrender to
the Will of God and do not question His Wisdom. His love is an oasis of truth
and joy in a world of deceit and greed. It is His steadfast Presence that
leads and guides us in His Way.
How can we be sure God hears us? He
hears short prayers and long prayers. He looks upon the heart. When Jesus
prayed to His Father God in Heaven, God already knew what Jesus would say. He
knows what is on our minds.
hears short prayers and long prayers. He looks upon the heart. When Jesus
prayed to His Father God in Heaven, God already knew what Jesus would say. He
knows what is on our minds.
We do not have to pray alone— “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything
they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For
where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Matthew 18:19-20.
they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For
where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Matthew 18:19-20.
God makes a Way
for us. He made a way for the Israelites and He made a way to save us.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If
you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on
you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:6.
for us. He made a way for the Israelites and He made a way to save us.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If
you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on
you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:6.
Praying is seeking for Him and listening
for Him. “Be still and know that I am
God. I will be exalted among the nations I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of
hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm
46:10-11.
for Him. “Be still and know that I am
God. I will be exalted among the nations I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of
hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm
46:10-11.
Should we wait to find our Lord? Every
‘tomorrow’ is upon us. Each ‘tomorrow’ spent with God brings less concern
from the world. Begin early in the morning. But, seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and they will add all these things to you. “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own
trouble.”
‘tomorrow’ is upon us. Each ‘tomorrow’ spent with God brings less concern
from the world. Begin early in the morning. But, seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and they will add all these things to you. “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own
trouble.”
Mother
told me she prayed each morning while in her eighties, “This day is yours. May
it be according to your will, Oh, Lord.” She lived expecting God’s Love.
told me she prayed each morning while in her eighties, “This day is yours. May
it be according to your will, Oh, Lord.” She lived expecting God’s Love.
Trust in
the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
him, and he will make straight your paths. Be
not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It
will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your
bones.
Proverbs 3:5-8.
the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
him, and he will make straight your paths. Be
not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It
will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your
bones.
Proverbs 3:5-8.
If you
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will
be done for you. By this, my Father is glorified,
that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the
Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If
you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have
kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. John
15:7-10.
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will
be done for you. By this, my Father is glorified,
that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the
Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If
you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have
kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. John
15:7-10.
See what
kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children
of God, and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is
that it did not know Him. Beloved, we
are God’s children now, and what we will be, has not yet
appeared; but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone
who thus hopes in Him purifies Himself as He is pure. I John 3:1-3.
kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children
of God, and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is
that it did not know Him. Beloved, we
are God’s children now, and what we will be, has not yet
appeared; but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone
who thus hopes in Him purifies Himself as He is pure. I John 3:1-3.
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