Reading:
Revelation 8:5
“Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar
and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes
of lightening, and an earthquake.”
Eugene H. Peterson borrows the phrase “Reversed Thunder” from the poet
George Herbert. “Prayer reenters history with incalculable effects. Our earth
is shaken daily by it.”
From the very beginning of His public ministry Jesus walked in prayer.
He quoted from scripture; He prayed for immediate needs before Him; He
spent long quiet early mornings wrestling in solitude.
We are cocooned by our limited perception of our lives yet under
Jesus’ authority our eyes and ears can be opened to possibilities under His
power and His purpose.
When we are willing to listen and trust and follow.
“Prayer is as much outer as inner. It is the most practical thing
anyone can do. It is not mystical escape, it is historical engagement. Prayer
participates in God’s actions. God gathers our cries and our praises, our
petitions and intercessions, and uses them.” Eugene H. Peterson
And we are included—invited to participate. Astonishing!
Lord, please keep our hearts listening and humbled to act upon your
gift of prayer. May we stay open
to the prompts of your Holy Spirit and respond in faith, especially when we
will never see the results.
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10
Psalm of Worship: Isaiah 55:4
“See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a
leader and commander for the peoples.”
