Sometimes
the revelation
comes quietly.
The door opens a crack,
and the Light slips
in like a cat.
When no one’s looking,
you’re given
a realization
that purrs.
No one needs
to feel the warmth
of what God is doing
in your heart
for it to be real.
Even you
may be oblivious
to the Light
that tiptoes in
and chases out
the shadows
deep inside,
transforming your little house
into a castle.
There are shades of grace
that operate
beyond
our range
of perception.
When you feel most alone,
you are surrounded by angels,
and sometimes
you have to wait
to realize
who’s been there for you all along.
Sometimes,
you have to be willing
to stand in one place
forever
until
you know for sure
the Divine
is the only
spirit moving you.
Like a snow globe,
let the dust
of this world settle
down into peace
beneath your feet –
it’s worth the wait
to eventually
really
be free.
Remember
it matters
what happens
behind closed doors
in the silence of prayer,
and don’t give up.
Matthew 6: 5-11
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Are you struggling to persevere in prayer because it feels like nothing is happening? I assure you that great things are happening if you are taking time to invite the Spirit of the Living God into your heart! It’s inevitable that God blesses that time. Yet, it’s normal to struggle in prayer and important to persevere through dry periods, where we can’t feel the Lord’s presence. Often it’s only in the very long run that we are able to look back and perceive the way God was with us all along, blessing, guiding and shaping us through our challenges, along with protecting us from our own lack of wisdom and shortsightedness.
How is your faith in the power of prayer? Comment below, and I’ll be delighted to keep you in my prayers and provide encouragement to persevere in the silence of contemplation. Truly, there is nothing more important on earth than your relationship with God, and I’m here to help you strengthen that.
Lord even as we seek You in prayer, You can feel so far away from our troubled hearts. Help us to stay motivated to seek You with pure hearts, minds and intentions. Give us the grace of a deep and sustaining relationship with You, so we can have the courage to live out your calling on our life even if it’s against the grain of what’s typically acceptable in our society. Strengthen us by the Light of Your love to persevere in faith through whatever obstacles and trials we face. Teach us to value prayer as a way of connecting with You for Your sake, not just for what we may or may not get from you in return. In Jesus name, we pray.
written by Nicky Gant for http://www.uniteinprayer.org 12/1/2020