“The space between us”.

“There is no greater distance than that between a man in prayer and God”.

(Ivan Illich)

I recently came upon this quote, and it caused me to reflect upon the accessibility we have toward God.


As I understand, the predominant view of God’s position is this; the distance between God and us is vastly insurmountable. He is that “old man upstairs”; Dwelling somewhere on the other side of the universe. A place we cannot fathom let alone reach. And we could never hope to close that gap.


Yet we can hope; for God himself has embarked upon an epic journey, crossing time and eternity - the very vastness of space. Standing before us at arm’s length just out of reach; beckoning, calling, for us to come to him. Our Lord has taken all the steps necessary to reach us - save one; and it is this last step that is ours alone to take.


This last step is that of prayer. For in taking the singular step of prayer, we bridge the gap between ourselves and our heavenly Father. We take the last step that closes the gap between lovers. We cross the divide that prohibits embrace, falling into the arms of our savior and glory in his embrace. We move from isolated darkness into the light of his comfort.


I believe that the reason the perceived distance between us and the Lord is maintained is due to the fact that so many fail to take that last step. For when we fail to take this final step, the distance between light and dark and the vastness of the universe pale in comparison to the space between us and our God.


And so it would seem that through prayer my “faraway god” is not so far away after all!

Luther

“The cigarette prayers”.

Last night I watched a video by Bill Johnson entitled “Heaven invading earth”. In the video, Mr. Johnson made a statement that went something like this (I’m paraphrasing here) “The Lord answers all our prayers, except those which violate our purposes” (speaking of our purpose in the center of Gods will). This statement caused me to ponder some of the seasons of my life where my prayers were seemingly unanswered. One particular season I've labeled “The cigarette prayers”. This was a time in my life where I was not serving the Lord. I was living for self, given to all manner of vile activity. Yet it was during these times that after a hard day of self-absorbed living I would lay in my bed, with the last smoke of the day becoming the incense of my supplications and cry out to the God I refused to serve. (I find it curious that compared to other seasons my prayer life may have been stronger apart from serving God). These prayers typically were comprised of me responding to the guilt of a wayward life. And always ended with some form of the following statement: “Lord; take my soul, for if I keep it I will destroy it – keep it for me until I meet you – may I meet you soon”.

It was in this season that I truly believe I was looking for a way out, an escape. I was crying out to a God I didn't know, or better to say a God I refused to know. Asking him to take me; to remove me from my circumstances’ and sin. In that place I believed that it would've been desirable to fall asleep and never wake. This was the heart of those prayers. And yet the Lord mercifully never answered that prayer. In hindsight it has become obvious to me that God’s plan for my life transcended my then morbid escapist mentality.

Mr. Johnson’s statement has helped me refine my perspective on that long dead season, as well as causing me to reflect on all those prayers that if answered would've violated my purpose and destiny in Christ. While we may not always receive answers to certain prayers; and while this may cause us some difficulty, it is an act of God’s sovereign grace. For had my requests been honored; I may have awaken only to find myself dead. In this context I can say thank God for unanswered prayer!

Luther.

“Amazing Grace”.

When contemplating the fact of Christ’s work on the cross, (His death and resurrection) which is foundational to the Christian faith - a fact that every believer knows; yet what does this mean to me? How is the reality of Christ’s death made real to me personally?

First there is the fact of God the Father being omniscient (all knowing), now before the incarnation, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were (are) one. This means that Christ knew me before I was born!

He knew the type of person I would be – and still He chose to die for me.

He knew I would reject His presence for fellowship with the world and still He chose to die for me.

He knew I would be driven by lust – using and abusing others for my own selfish pleasure and still He chose to die for me.

He knew I would impute a myriad of intoxicating elements upon my flesh, having my passions driven by anger and every form of bitterness, and yet still He chose to die for me.

This reality of grace and love I cannot comprehend. It is truly amazing. For in my humanness I would withhold my blessings to all except those I deem worthy. But Jesus gave the ultimate blessing – and the ultimate sacrifice for me in the face of all my sin and failures. And so the question I ask myself is this: how can I live so that the Lord’s sacrifice would be (for my life) justified? Is my response to the greatest of all gifts one of overflowing gratitude or cold indifference? Will I live for the one who died for me, or will I be as one dead toward Him that now lives?

Luther

“Cold Fire”.

Jerimiah 12:2-3a


"They have been planted by you, they have taken root; they go on and give fruit: you are near in their mouths but far from their thoughts. But you, O Lord, have knowledge of me; you see me, searching and testing how my heart is with you...."


I've been going through a season of what I can only characterize as loss of passion. My internal fires have been hampered by winds of adversity and the dampness that comes with spiritual opposition. This causes me to reflect on the condition of my heart; especially as it relates to my spiritual allegiances. As my behavior is a clear indicator of this spiritual reality, I ask myself if I’m withdrawn in presence and affiliation just how far my heart has moved from the Lord. And if I were to be tested would I be found wanting?


I don’t want to be part of those who profess the Lord but whose heart is in reality far from Him.


I once took bricks from a demolition site; I took them to build a fire ring in my back yard, to create a place for family and friends to gather. In like fashion; I hope (I believe) the Lord can find "bricks" in me to build a place for new and fresh fire; a fire that warms cold hearts, a passion that is contagious. This is my hope of redemption from the oppressive forces of apathy and indifference.


And thus my simple prayer becomes, “Lord give me a new heart, a heart that is of the Spirit and not of the flesh, a pure heart set ablaze in your sight”.

Luther.

“Survival Prayer”.

I have always been a fan of crafted prayers, most likely due to my predilection toward knowing what to say before I speak. This particular process begun after an assignment from class (specifically: “Revival History” at WMSSM). The assignment was to choose a classmate and pray for them daily over the break between semesters. This assignment coupled with my recent growing interest in Bushcrafting / Survival gave way to this crafted prayer. I developed this prayer based upon the updated “Ten Essentials” list published originally in the 1930’s by a Seattle based outdoor recreation group called “The Mountaineers”. The list is as follows:

Navigation
Sun Protection
Insulation
Illumination
First Aid
Fire
Repair Kit / Tools
Nutrition
Hydration
Emergency Shelter

I used certain sections from the list as a point of daily prayer for my classmate. While these prayers individually are quite short, the totality I think makes for something anyone would welcome to have spoken over them. (Note: crafted prayers are NOT formulas, I like to think of them as guides in keeping a prayer focused upon a specific topic; with that said should you chose to use this prayer be free to modify it as the Holy Spirit may direct. Also know that this was originally written for one of my male classmates and is worded as such, but is not necessarily gender specific).

“The survival prayer”.

“Navigation – Word & Spirit”.
Father I pray that you guide __ by your word. Make your word known and bring it to the forefront of his mind. Lord guide him by your spirit, let it be the compass that he uses to navigate life. Let your Spirit guide him to the proper application of your word for every situation and circumstance he will face today.

“Insulation – Protection”.
Lord I ask that you would insulate __ from the snares and traps of this age. Father insulate him by your Spirit, giving him spiritual protection from the elements that would bring him to ruin. Allow him to be warmed by your presence, to feel your love wrapped around him like a warm coat in winters storm.

“Illumination – Light”.
Father I would ask that you make __ a beacon of hope; in that you’re light shines through him. I declare that __ is a light in the darkness, that his character is a reflection of Christ. I declare that those who see your light shining through him may find safety as they run to you. May __ be a light on the path of life as you live and move within him.

“First Aid – Healing”.
Heavenly Father I would ask that you be a healer to __ today. If his heart is broken, bind it up. If his spirit is wounded pour in the oil of gladness. Lord, come to his aid in whatever capacity he may be in need of. For you alone are healer so Lord be his healer today.

“Fire- Passion”.
Holy Spirit blow upon the coals of __‘s heart. Increase the heat, the very passion for You within his spirit. Let his life so burn brightly for you causing him to be light and warmth to those that would seek the way of salvation. Lord use __ mightily for your good and for your glory. Let the fires of revival burn within him causing all that he does to point to you.

“Nutrition – Word”.
Father grant __ a spirit of discernment. Allow him to understand your word, to be fed by your doctrines and precepts. I thank you father that your word sustains him as he walks out his assignment in this world. Lord I declare that __’s words will be sustenance to all who would hear, for it is your words that he speaks and it is your wisdom that operates within him. As your words are nourishment to __ so let his words be nourishment and life to others.

“Hydration – Living water”.
Lord, refresh __’s spirit with living water; for he dwells in a dry and thirsty land, a land where people crave water but refuse to drink. Lord, fill him with your life giving word that he may be a cupbearer to the nations, a fountain of life to kings and rulers. Holy Spirit flow through __ and by his service let the peoples thirst be satisfied.

“Emergency Shelter – Under The Spirits wings”.
Lord Jesus, keep __ under your protection today. Place a double hedge of protection around his heart. Holy Spirit place __ beneath your wings. Let your shelter be his dwelling place. Keep him near you in your warmth and light. Shield him from the elements of a fallen world. Holy Spirit, brood over him as he moves in the plans and purposes of the Father.



In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.

Luther.

“An empty boat”.

Niyaha - My home built plywood Pirogue.

My commute no longer takes me over the Black River Bridge anymore. It’s much less scenic as I mindlessly drone down the highway. Yet when I think of what it means to be far from God; either by neglect of spiritual disciplines, on account of a particular trial, or those times when nothing is wrong yet everything is wrong, I think of those mornings that took me over the river, longing to “get out there” but continually being pulled by responsibility to the mundane. At any rate, when I am feeling far from God the following is what I think of.


“So many mornings, as I drive over the Black River Bridge; I see the fog rolling off the water. The sun with its orange hues forced upon the clouds, just peeking above the horizon preparing this small insignificant place for its impending brightness. Its here that I wish I was sitting in a small wooden boat, cautiously paddling in and through the reed lined marsh, looking for you hidden in the quietness. I hear you call to me, - come, come. And yet I continue on to face life’s distractions alone. Leaving you hidden in many waters, and me still yet further away.


(Lord, are you still there?)


I am comforted in these times of perceived emptiness with the end of the following verse:

Psalm 139:18b (NASB)^18 …. “When I awake, I am still with you”.

Luther.