Today’s scripture: Hebrews 11 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Terri Brown):
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
I saw this scripture passage associated with the concept P.U.S.H–Pray Until Something Happens.
I have been in spiritual warfare as I struggle with things in my life. I sought guidance because the way I was praying did not feel effective. It felt insincere and hopeless. The hopelessness was not the despondent,“I’m giving up” kind, but rather a futile and what felt like a ‘wasted effort’ in an attempt to work through some issues.
My prayer life needed resuscitation. In my current situation, I decided to ask Siri to handle the CPR and she placed the defibrillators just where they were needed as I was jump started to an alternative style of prayer I had not considered.
Author Rex Rouis led me to PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) from a page of The Mechanics of Faith: Hope-Faith-Prayer (https://www.hopefaithprayer.com/pray-until-something-happens/). Rouis says that “The process usually takes time, and there are no shortcuts. “God does not respond to part-time seekers”.
Ouch! That hurt. Had I only been asking for help when I needed it in lieu of “part-time” quests!
I have many excuses why I’ve been stuck in this “part-time” phase of a prayer life. I know God understands where I have been stuck, and it has been God’s understanding and leading which led me to pursue a deeper involvement in prayer. I feel blessed because God knew my desire; a desire to make changes in my prayer life. Working with God has created some of the changes I needed.
Rouis goes on to say that there are no short cuts, but advocated for “perseverance in prayer,” and having a one-to-one conversation with God. He stated that the ‘Word’ comes alive in us as we communicate with God. He referred to the us of the word ‘Word’ is from the old Greek word rhema. This is described as that deeper, committed face-to-face encounter which truly helps make the word come alive in us.
Guess what happened when I started this face-to-face encounter of having this conversation with God and perseverance in prayer? I experienced the word coming alive in me! It really resonated with me and is something that I have added to my prayer tool box; something that will supplement my prayer life. The way we each pray will be different and work different. But why not give it a try? It has helped me with my prayer, which has helped to revive my Faith.
Thought for the day: Allow God to be present in your prayer life as a partner and be ready to have the Word move in your heart.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.