May
In Proverbs 30 we’re introduced to a guy by the name of Agur son of Jakeh. We don’t know anything about him beyond his name because it is the only time he is mentioned in all of the Bible. Well, we do know one other thing: he liked to list things in sets of four. Five times he mentions a list of four things. Some of these things anger him, some of them grieve him and some of them impress him. In vv. 18-19 he says, “There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.”
He says in essence that these things are a mystery to him and yet at the same time they are fascinating to him. Even in our scientific, highly informed age where science has explained in detail how eagles soar, snakes crawl and ships sail (though they have yet to give a solid explanation for romance) we can still be quite enthralled by something like an eagle circling in the air.
There are things like that in the Christian life, one such thing being prayer. What a fascinating mystery prayer is! We are called into this incredible relationship with the Creator of all things and encouraged to come humbly yet boldly into His presence through prayer. Jesus said we are to hallow or hold in highest esteem the name of our God, yet tells us we can address Him as Dada (Abba). Jesus also tells us to come before our Heavenly Father without pretense, being honest and open with the One who intimately knows every detail of our lives and the things that are on our hearts at any given moment. Elsewhere in the New Testament it is implied that through prayer we actually enter into the throne room of Heaven itself. Genuine prayer is a personal encounter with God Himself! Though we know and confess that He is the Sovereign Ruler of all things, yet we also know that our petitions and requests are heard and considered and that He is at work through the very prayers that we have uttered. What a great mystery and yet what a fascinating privilege and blessing we have to be able to pray!
One of the things the New Testament especially encourages is that we should pray together. It’s a blessing and a calling that as redeemed people we can pray together. On Thursday, May 6 we will have the opportunity to exercise that blessing. That day is the National Day of Prayer and there will be an observance and time of prayer in downtown Moultrie at the Courthouse Square. There is more info in this newsletter concerning the event itself, but let me encourage you to join with the body of Christ from all over Colquitt County to pray for our community and for our nation. It will start at noon and should last between 45-50 minutes. Who knows what the Lord might do as His people submit themselves to Him and seek Him in united prayer? I hope you will make the effort to join us!
