I am continuing to read A Praying Life by Paul Miller.
The chapter on living life in the desert is rich.
"You cry out to God so long and so often that a channel begins to open up between you and God." p. 185
"When we don't receive what we pray for or desire, it doesn't mean that God isn't acting on our behalf. Rather, he's weaving his story. Paul tells us to 'continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving'(Col. 4:2). Thanksgiving helps us to be grace-centered, seeing all of life as a gift. It looks at how God's past blessing impact our lives. Watchfulness alerts us to the unfolding drama in the present. It looks for God's present working as it unfolds into future grace." p. 187
"When God seems silent and our prayers go unanswered, the over-whelming temptation is to leave the story - to walk out of the desert and attempt to create a normal life. But when we persist in a spiritual vacuum, when we hang in there during ambiguity, we get to know God. In fact, that is how intimacy grows in all close relationships." p. 192
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3 comments:
Sounds like a great book!
Awesome article, I must read this book!
Joy C
Hi Juanita,
I've been living out this theme of living in the desert for some time now, so it's neat to hear someone else's thoughts on it. I've learned many things along the way, but these two things stand out:
1. The desert can be a place of experiencing in intimate ways the depths of God's tenderness (Hosea 2:14)
2. When God seems most absent, it may in fact mean he's surrounding us with extra care and protection. It's easier to quote my friend Maxine on this one: "As I re-read the Exodus story the other day (Ex 14), I had time to think about the times when the Presence disappears from in front of it because it has gone around behind to protect and keep us—God as our rearguard to protect us is, I think, as important a concept as God leading us onward with the pillar of fire."
These thoughts have kept me (mostly) sane and hopeful in my desert-journey. :-)
All the best,
Becky
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