Prayer & Praise

by Shannon Winslow

  Yes, we look forward to the glories of heaven, but we need not wait until some future time to rejoice. Did you notice all the things in this passage that apply to the present time? God, through our faith, has already given us a new birth, a living hope, an imperishable inheritance, and the salvation of our souls. Through our current sufferings he is refining our faith. We are shielded by God’s power now. Because we believe in Jesus, it is possible to be filled with inexpressible joy, even in the midst of suffering.

  This is not to say that the afflictions you (or a loved one) experience are not real or to minimize anybody’s painful trials. It is only to declare that what seems overwhelming to us now has already been conquered by Jesus (Take heart! I have overcome the world – John 16:33). Also remember that God wastes nothing. Even our suffering can be used by him for our good and his glory. That is especially true if the suffering is for the sake of Christ.

  Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

  When viewed from an eternal perspective, our current troubles are light and momentary. They are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17). So as today’s petition models, let us continue to pray for all who suffer, including ourselves – that God would send strength, patience, comfort, and relief according to his great mercy. But let us also pray that he would enable us to view trials through his eternal perspective, building our faith to new heights as we watch his hand at work in them.

  Let Us Pray

  Have compassion, Merciful Father, on all those who suffer, especially those who suffer persecution for the sake of Christ. Help us to endure whatever trials you allow. And we ask that none of our sufferings would be wasted, but that you would instead work them together for our good and your glory. We pray these things in the precious name of Jesus, who endured all things for us. Amen.

  Let Us Praise

  And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7:10-12)

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  Light and Shadows

  To Thy goodness we commend ourselves this night beseeching thy protection of us through its darkness & dangers. We are helpless & dependent; graciously preserve us.

  I remember how afraid of the dark I was as a child, of the things that go bump in the night. If I had to walk home alone after dark from my grandmother’s house down the road, I would try to stay calm but would invariably end up running hard, my heart pounding all the way. And nightmares sometimes haunted my dreams.

  Unlike me, Jane Austen’s youngest heroine had an insatiable fascination for things that go bump in the night. Catherine Morland actively courted the chance to terrify herself – in her choice of books, etc. And so nothing could have been more thrilling to her than the opportunity to visit spooky old Northanger Abbey, where her lively imagination conjured up dangers that weren’t really there.

  Her heart fluttered, her knees trembled, and her cheeks grew pale… The dimness of the light her candle emitted made her turn to it with alarm… Alas! It was snuffed and extinguished in one. A lamp could not have expired with more awful effect. Catherine, for a few moments, was motionless with horror… Darkness impenetrable and immovable filled the room. A violent gust of wind, rising with sudden fury, added fresh horror to the moment. (Northanger Abbey, chapter 21)

  Although most of us outgrow the exaggerated fears and fantasies of childhood, there is some justification for being uneasy with darkness at any age. No, there probably aren’t monsters lurking under the bed or in the bushes, but crime rates are higher at night, and we’re more likely to stumble into trouble when there’s no light to guide our way. Darkness and evil go hand in hand, especially when we speak of spiritual rather than physical dangers. Jesus said,

  “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:19-21)

  An Austen illustration: Lydia and Wickham might have maintained they were doing nothing wrong when they eloped together. But if they truly believed that, why did they leave Brighton in the middle of the night? Why not in the light of day, when it would have been safer and more convenient to travel? The answer is written above. Knowing their deed was evil – or at least knowing it would be judged so by others – they would not risk coming into the light for fear they would be exposed and their iniquitous plans thwarted.

  The Bible is full of passages contrasting light and darkness, particularly about their symbolic spiritual meanings. (We don’t have space for more than a small fraction of them here, but a word search for that pairing in scripture would make a fascinating study for another time.) We don’t need to go far to find the first example. It’s written right in the beginning…

  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that it was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:3-4)

  In the physical world, which God created, we know that darkness is simply the absence of light. In some respects, it is the same in the spiritual realm. God is light; in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). So spiritual darkness can exist only in places where the influence of God is absent to one extent or another. In this case, however, darkness is not a passive condition; spiritual darkness is actively cultivated by Satan and those who belong to him. Using all the tricks and tools at his disposal, Satan tirelessly works to block the light of truth from shining into the hearts of humankind, to squelch each glowing spark and ember.

  Thankfully, God is just as relentless on our behalf, and he is far more powerful. He sent his Only Begotten Son, Jesus, to show us the way out of darkness.

  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians, 4:6)

  Jesus’ life-giving light was prophesied from the beginning, became incarnate two thousand years ago, and now lives on in this world and in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.

  Are you sometimes fearful anyway? Does the darkness of this world often seem too strong? We shouldn’t underestimate the enemy, and it is wise to beseech God’s protection, as in Austen’s petition above. As it says, we are helpless against the dangers of the night on our own. All this is true, and yet we can live confidently anyway. We have Jesus to light our path, and we know how the story ends: Satan is defeated, darkness and shadows are banished, and our future is bright in heaven. Praise God!

  The city [the Holy City, the New Jerusalem] does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 21:23)

  Let Us Pray

  Holy God of light and truth, powerfully shine the light of the gospel into this dark world. Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit so that we may not tremble in fear when confronted by darkness. Instead, may we stand confidently on the promises of Christ our Lord, reflecting his light to others. It is in his name we pray. Amen.

  Let Us Praise

  You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with
my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. (Psalms 18:28-30)

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  Love and Friendship

  For all whom we love & value, for every Friend & connection, we equally pray; However divided & far asunder…

  Today, jet travel and electronic communications ease the pain of living far away from friends or family. But it was not so in Jane Austen’s day. Travel by horse-drawn carriage was expensive, inconvenient, and slow. And God forbid someone you cared about moved overseas, for you would most likely never see them again. You could write a letter, but who knows if or when it would arrive or you would receive a reply.

  Jane Austen seems to have taken this into consideration when designing the elements of a happy ending for each of her heroines, keeping close family and friends within an easy distance of one another. She arranged that Emma stayed with her father at Hartfield, even when she married Mr. Knightley. She returned Fanny and Edmund to Mansfield Park at the end. Austen settled Marianne and Elinor almost within sight of each other at Delaford, with those still at Barton in that constant communication which strong family affection would naturally dictate. And what about the closest pair of sisters?

  Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelvemonth. So near a vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to his easy temper, or her affectionate heart. The darling wish of his sisters was then gratified; he bought an estate in a neighbouring county to Derbyshire, and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other. (Pride and Prejudice, chapter 61)

  Of course, no amount of wishing, no eloquence of writing, can prevent painful divisions from taking place in real life – by marriage, school and job relocations, by a break in relations, and the most permanent of all separations: death.

  God created us to live in relationships – with him but also with other people. In Genesis 2:18, God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” So he created a suitable companion for Adam in the form of Eve.

  From the beginning, God established marriage and the family as the primary source of human love, nurturing, safety, and companionship. And yet, for most of us, our social support network extends far beyond. Christians are especially fortunate in this respect. We belong to a vast fellowship of believers, but also a group of personal friends we know through our local churches and other Christian organizations. Although these people might not be blood relations, they are our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, just the same – something Paul himself experienced.

  I then, as Paul – an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus – I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains… I am sending him – who is my very heart – back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent… Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good – no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me… And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. (Philemon 9-22)

  I came across this beautiful but little-known passage as I was looking for something to illustrate the close bond that can form when a friendship is founded on mutual love for the Lord. It does that and more. I think it gives us a couple of other valuable takeaways as well. It shows that even the strongest believer needs the consolation of a Christian friend, especially when in dire circumstances. It also teaches us to be mindful of the same need in others.

  If you are in need, don’t suffer in isolation. Seek out the fellowship of other believers. Pray God would provide you the support of a good friend, one like Onesimus was to Paul. By the same token, if you see others in this kind of need, reach out to them in the name of Christ. Ask God if he is sending you to minister to someone who is lonely.

  We need not look far to discover lonely people; they are everywhere, including on our church membership rosters. There are the eccentrics who have few friends, widows/widowers who live alone, people who have no family about them, and those whom illness has left virtual prisoners, shut away from life and joy. Do you know someone like that? We probably all do, if we would take the time to notice. How about making a visit, a phone call, or sitting with that person at church, making sure s/he is included in the next group activity? In addition to your own friendship, perhaps you could ‘share’ your children or grandchildren with someone who has none, like Paul generously shared Onesimus with Philemon. Honorary aunties and grandparents can be a great blessing in return!

  Austen’s prayer petition reminds us to pray for our valued friends, as well we should. If God has given you many, rejoice and be thankful! But we are each also called to be a valuable friend.

  Let Us Pray

  Dear Father in heaven, open our eyes to the loneliness of those around us and how you are calling us to help. Make us especially mindful of the needs of our Christian brothers and sisters, treating them as treasured family in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

  Let Us Praise

  Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? (Psalms 113:2-6)

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  Eye on the Sparrow

  …we know that we are alike before Thee, & under thine Eye.

  For each of these devotional segments, I look for inspiration in the day’s prayer petition. I ask that God would direct me about which truth to illuminate and what Austen illustration to use. This time, the phrase under thine eye immediately jumped out at me. But then I wasn’t sure I heard the rest correctly, because what came to mind amounted to drawing a parallel between God and Lady Catherine de Bourgh! More about that in a minute.

  Are you familiar with the song His Eye is on the Sparrow? It’s an old Gospel hymn, written in 1905 and more recently popularized by a Mahalia Jackson recording and a Whitney Houston film. In part, the lyrics say… Jesus is my portion. A constant friend is he. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches over me. The words hearken back to teachings of Jesus in Matthew:

  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear… Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26)

  “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10: 29-31)

  In the vast universe, we may sometimes feel pretty insignificant; and we are. Yet God doesn’t think of us that way. Jesus assures us that our heavenly Father not only values and watches over each of us, he is interested in the tiniest details of his creation – every one of the birds of the air and even the number of hairs on each of our heads! Nothing is so small as to be beneath his notice. This is where Lady Catherine comes in.

  When the ladies returned to the drawing room, there was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted. She enquired into Charlotte’s domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, and gave her a great de
al of advice, as to the management of them all; told her how every thing ought to be regulated in so small a family as hers, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry. Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great Lady’s attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others. (Pride and Prejudice, chapter 29)

  Forgive the bizarre comparison, but you must admit there is a certain similarity. Both God and Lady Catherine are minutely interested, decisive, and ready to give incontrovertible instruction on all subjects. But, obviously, there is a vast difference between the two in their degrees of wisdom, ability, authority, and their motivating spirits.

  As our creator, God genuinely knows what’s best for us; Lady Catherine only thinks she does. God watches over us in love; Lady Catherine watches over her neighbors with a critical eye. God’s goal is our good; Lady Catherine’s is self-aggrandizement and power over others. God delivers on his promises; Lady Catherine only talks and talks. God is acting within his legitimate authority when he prescribes how his children are to live; Lady Catherine is acting outside of hers when she tells people what to do. God is the King of Kings, the rightful sovereign over all; even Lady Catherine’s perceived superiority over the people in her little world is an illusion. In other words, God is God, and Lady Catherine isn’t! And aren’t we glad for that?