Dear..
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
"You
can pray." I am not referring to an unique talent someone has in this
particular area, but rather a statement of the biblical truth that all
believers have a
direct line to God our Father through His beloved son, our Lord Jesus
Christ. An immediate gratification you might not get, for often our
desires are misaligned with the will of God. But peace of heart His
Spirit will imbue in
us if we are willing to stay in His presence.
"Be strong in the
Lord." This was the choral offering this morning in church, and though
many more lines of this song was sung, this line struck a chord even as
the Spirit of God deeply impressed upon me the word "to pray."
Prayers,
especially in public has never been my forte when I first renewed my
relationship with our Lord back in 1998. But then neither was praising
Him in songs in public for I had a "vocal" block since my Primary 2
music teacher Ms Gloria Teo left on the impressionable me, an indelible
possibility that my family line was related to the Frog Prince.
I
lead worship in Church today by His grace, but thankfully at the wee
hours of the morning when the congregation might still be drowsy to
notice my less than baritone voice. But matters not, for what pleases
God is an obedient heart.
And prayers or rather, being involved actively in prayer meetings
have been my main stay in ministry this past decade.
God will use the weak if we are willing.
And,
behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east:
and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with
his glory.
Ezekiel 43:2
So the spirit took
me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of
the Lord filled the house. And I heard him speaking unto me out of the
house; and the man stood by me.
Ezekiel 43:5-6
A
vision or was it simply a dream? In my sleep, I saw this clear blue
sky. A beautiful azure blue, a picture of serenity. Suddenly, without
any preliminaries, a bolt of light shone forth, dazzling to the eyes,
yet not hurting. I felt my bodily self being lifted up, and matching my
involuntary movement was this voice that
resonated like the roar of the thunderous waves, yet was clear as the
finest crystal. The words I heard was " to rise like the Oriole."
"Oriole"
is a bird with colorful plumage. This I know but just to be sure, I
looked up the dictionary the next morning. But what caught my eye was
this unknown word "orison." Strange or rather new to me then, "orison"
means "prayer."
It has been a decade since my active involvement
in prayer ministry. But it was never due to an actual response to this
vision. For back then I never truly understood what it meant for me. But
rather, on reflection, I realized that somehow, my service for our Lord
has always revolved around "prayers."
And much as this vision
was received back in early 2000, it was not until year 2009 that I came
across Ezekiel 43:2 for the first time in my life and realized that
these were the words that so vividly described my vision then. And
Ezekiel 43:2-12 was where
our good Lord brought me to back in 2009 as I was praying as regards a
vexing issue my publisher and dear sister in Christ and myself were
facing regarding the cover page of our blessed first art book
"Reflections - A traveler's muse." And for those of you who have kindly
accepted my book, do take a look at the cover and you will see that
Ezekiel 43:12 aptly describe the cover scene in the same blessed book.
Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those
things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in
me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9
Prayers
is a powerful time of communion with our omnipresent
God. Christ always took time in prayers, irregardless of the compelling
circumstances. Prayers is an act of submission to the Sovereignty of
God, that we recognize all things move from Him, through Him and by Him.
The author of today's Daily Bread termed prayer as "the bridge between
panic and peace."
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have
learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both
how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all
things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound
and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:11-13
Prayers
is a time of waiting upon our Lord. And not Him waiting upon us to
receive our list of wants, as many are apt to confuse God for the genie
in the lamp.
Prayers is a quiet time of reflection. A time to
look beyond our present difficult circumstances, to the will of God and
being thankful for His ever present care, much as the dark clouds have
not dispersed.
But my God shall supply all your need according to
his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:19-20
Life
is a journey. Having left the familiar highway of the past 17 years,
for a new route, can be both exhilarating, yet daunting. The tendency is
to either turn back to the familiar path or to wish that we can gobble
up the miles ahead quickly. God is the cartographer.To Him we must seek
every day of our lives in prayers, for only then will we be able to not
just navigate through the treacherous waters of our fallen world, but be
able to claim the victory of the cross, that our Risen Christ has won.
'Be still, and know that I am God:
I
will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.'
Psalms 46:10
Prayers
I am reminded by our good Lord, empowers us, what time and distance
seek to make hapless. As parents, 10,000 km is too far a chasm for us to
effectively shepherd my daughter. But prayers enable us to plug onto
our Chief shepherd, the omnipresent God, to know His will, and to pray
His way as His Spirit leads. For we are the passengers, and God is our
driver.
'....Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest in You, and in Your name we go against the multitude.'
2 Chronicles 14:11
It
has been close to two weeks since I embarked on this journey of faith
to build banking relationships on a platform of trust and integrity,
rather than greed and fear, which has sadly epitomized the industry.
"Threatening Giants" there were, but God is much larger
than such specters. And prayers was the conduit upon which I draw my
strength from Him.
And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.
Genesis 28:16
Like
Jacob, I am blessed to know, experience and acknowledge the loving
hands of God in my life and in this labor of love He has now placed me
in. All glory to our Lord.
God blesses
Eng hieang
11 Oct 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment