Encouragement

Some More of the Sum

by Terry Barlow
09/19/20
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To believe in the power of prayer and to say all the right things about the importance of prayer without actually making prayer a regular habit is as futile and meaningless as believing the Bible is the inspired word of God without ever owning one or actually reading it and thereby benefiting from its contents.
 The easiest part to omit in prayer and the most elusive part too is the listening part. That also happens, ironically, to be the most transformative part. Why is this the part of prayer that's so readily overlooked? Because it feels so often like facing into a void, we tend to a-void it. We fear that God has nothing to say to us or that we are incapable of hearing, or that we have alienated and angered Him and so we are getting the "silent treatment." All or any of this is enough to make us uncomfortable with the discipline of quietly listening to God.
 Still we first we have to go beyond the mere reading about or talking about the power and importance of prayer and actually pray and listen as we pray, and make a regular practice of it. We can begin by being honest with God about any fears and doubts we have and include them as a vital part of our prayer and He will do what He does so well, meet us where we are. More often than not what God has to say to us is surprisingly practical, as in reminding us to get our oil changed or to pay a particular bill, since He is a very practical God and wants us to honor our word at all times even in seemingly small things.
 Remember, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them TO pray not HOW to pray. (Luke 11 v1) The how of it came later. If we determine to do it and to carve out a place and a time for it, the how-to-pray part will come on ts own. And then as it does we have to get beyond only asking and enter into the quiet and stillness of listening. How vast is the sum of God's thoughts toward us individually and collectively. (Psalm 139 v17-18) Although that sum is incalculable God still wants us to calculate some of it, if that makes sense. We are still to be mindful of some of those thoughts, some more of the sum of those thoughts. Those thoughts also translate into plans. His  fabulously unfolding plans for us. 
 This requires for us to be ever reaching beyond our grasp, touching that which we cannot yet hold but will one day and soon at that. One of our 🏈 football coaches used to say that if we could extend ourselves to touch the ball then we could also manage somehow to catch it. It was a definite possibility! 

A significant part of my purpose in living this day, Lord,  is to uncover more of the incalculable sum of Your thoughts toward me and toward us as Your people,, it us to uncover and calculate some more of the hidden, incalculable sum of Your unstoppable thoughts and plans.