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“When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!’” (Matthew 14:14-16, NASB)

I am involved in several prayer groups and I often pray for people I’ve never met. Most of the time I feel like I do not have enough information when it comes to requests for prayer from people, especially when I do not know them. It is imperative I seek God’s mind.  Of consideration is that God may be at work in a person’s life using the very thing (struggles, suffering) that I am asked to pray against.  I do not want to pray contrary to what God is doing in a person’s life, thwarting what he ultimately wants to accomplish. I don’t want to beat against that door God has closed.

The internal, heart issue God sees and is dealing with is much weightier than the surface or external issue, whether it is health or other problems, that we can see. These heart matters are much more important in light of eternity than temporal suffering (I Corinthians 4: 17, 18).

This is a hard one for us to embrace but we do have strong precedence in scripture for it. The most extreme example of this is found in Matthew 16: 21-23:

“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.’”

I don’t want to be a stumbling block to the work of God! And an emissary of Satan, to boot, fighting on the wrong side! Seeking the mind of God in prayer, setting our minds on God’s interests, is of utmost importance.

None of us wants to suffer nor do we wish to see others suffer. At the same time we know that hard things can make us stronger in our faith and relationship with God. As believers in Jesus Christ, not only do we have peace with God and rejoice in our hope of a future with God for all eternity, but we can know with certainty that our trials here are working in us perseverance, character and hope (Romans 5:1-5). Or can if we allow it.

If we would set our mind on God’s interests as a follower of Jesus Christ we must take Jesus’ words deathly serious. They must become our life’s creed:

“‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it’” (Matthew 16: 24-25).

“‘For,’ indeed, ‘what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’” (Matthew 16:25). There are some things more important than others. It is imperative I seek the mind of God when I pray! Too much is at stake. Eternally at stake.

We have to give up others’ lives to God as much as we give up our own as we seek God’s mind and will for them in prayer. There may be tears in the offering, but God will turn those tears to jewels of joy … one day.

We must begin to see things from God’s perspective, to have the right perspective for life and prayer.

“When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!’ They said to Him, ’We have here only five loaves and two fish.’ And He said, ‘Bring them here to Me.’ Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. (Matthew 14:14-20, NASB)

When it comes to praying to God (likened to the disciples talking to Jesus) about a need you are aware of, I indicated that our initial approach to God should be to seek his mind in the matter. From there we can move to the next “paragraph” in our talk with God.

There are things we can be quite certain about as being God’s will, or not, and can speak to directly with confidence. When prayer requests or needs come to us, we may already either, 1) know it is God’s will based on scripture (e.g.: we can always pray for a person’s salvation, for God desires all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth: I Timothy 2:1-4), or 2) know it is not God’s will, again based on scripture, and therefore we cannot pray for it, even when a person makes a prayer request for such a thing (e.g.: I John 5:16,17). There are some things we can know without a doubt and pray accordingly, as we are growing in knowledge of God’s word and ways.

But then again, I’ve found there are many times when I do not have enough information, or “intelligence,” needed to pray about a certain issue. Here is where I try to be very careful so that my prayers do not end up beating against a door God himself has shut.

Photo by Schick

Even when to pray a certain way makes perfect sense to me (that the door should be opened, like the disciples believed they should send away the crowd to get their own dinner), it may not be at all what God has in mind. Because he has, so to speak, bigger fish to fry.

To be continued ….

“Now when Jesus heard about John (the Baptist, beheaded), He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’” (Matthew 14:13-15, NASB)

I’ve pointed out that John the Baptist had been beheaded and his disciples came and told Jesus. Undoubtedly Jesus was deeply affected by this news: he and John were cousins and had known each other all their lives. Jesus also knew John had been sent from God as the forerunner to Jesus and his own ministry as the Messiah. He wanted a secluded and quiet place to go to and be alone. But when he and his disciples got to that place, a huge crowd was already there awaiting him. It was anything but quiet and he was far from alone. Jesus, moved by compassion for the milling crowd, welcomed them, giving up his own desire for seclusion to heal and teach those in need.

Then, after hours of serving, the disciples came to Jesus “and said, ‘This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves’” (Matthew 14:15).

As I read these words I thought, “Oh my goodness. Do I sound like that when I pray? How bossy and rude, to talk to GOD that way!”

That’s exactly what was taking place. The disciples were talking to Jesus; I liken it to me talking to God in prayer. The disciples saw a situation that they couldn’t handle (feed thousands of people) and made their best, most reasonable decision and proceeded to tell Jesus what he had to do. Humanly speaking, it makes perfect sense. The disciples had a concern for the masses who needed to eat, but it looks different from the compassion Jesus had, doesn’t it.

I wonder how many times I’ve come to a conclusion similar to the disciples’ when I see a great need. Operating from my own human store of compassion and wisdom, I make the same kind of decision as the disciples made. Then, I go to God and tell him what he ought to do in the situation. Sounds rather pathetic and presumptuous when put in that light. Well, it does to me.

I felt quite convicted. Again.

Honestly, how often do we approach God just like the disciples did? “Here’s my plan God, now I figure if you just do XYZ things will work out fine.” It’s a wonder God doesn’t have sore ribs from laughing at us.

That’s a nicer mental image than him getting red in the face in frustration with us, wouldn’t you agree?

When we approach God in prayer we should be asking him what he wants to do, not telling him what we think he should do.

The point of prayer is not to get our own way but to align ourselves with the mind and will of God.

Recalibrate. That is what I’ve been trying to do, making adjustments in my prayer life. Stop myself from just running into God’s “room” and blurting out my ideas as to what needs to be done, like a little kid who runs to his daddy with his childish ideas. Instead I come first of all seeking and listening for his thoughts on the matter at hand.

So the scenario in Matthew 14 could have read, “and the disciples, seeing the need of the crowd for food, went to Jesus and asked him, ‘what should we do in this situation? We can’t come up with any viable solution, but Jesus, we are sure you’ve thought of something else because that is what you do, what you are good at. Would you let us know what your thoughts are so we can meet the needs we see?’” And then listen for his answer.

So the scenario in my prayer life could look a lot like that too, with practice. From that form of entrance into God’s presence, we can then move to the next “paragraph” in our prayer (Matthew 6:9, 10).

Happy New Year! I ran across this story and had to share it with you as a new year’s greeting. Click on this link. God bless you in 2015 as you pursue Him. http://morningstoryanddilbert.wordpress.com/2014/11/17/the-blind-man-knows/

“And John’s disciples came and took up the body (of John the Baptist) and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there privately in a boat to a solitary place. But when the crowds heard of it, they followed Him [by land] on foot from the towns.  When He went ashore and saw a great throng of people, He had compassion (pity and deep sympathy) for them and cured their sick.” (Matthew 14:12-14, AMP)

Jesus and his disciples had climbed into the boat to head to a “solitary place,” a place purposefully away from people. But when they got to this place I called “No-man’s land” in my last blog post, there was anything but solitude because a huge crowd of over five thousand was waiting for him, clamoring for his attention.

My love of and need for solitude in my quiet little life makes me keenly interested in how Jesus handled the noise and commotion and demands on his time and person. Jesus was the perfect human being, having all the emotions and physical limitations we humans have, yet with the significant difference of no sin nature. Instead of a fallen nature, he had the nature of God. He was fully human yet fully God. The compassion he felt for the milling, noisy (probably smelly) crowd was straight from his God-ness.

We have no excuse for not having that compassion as well if we have been indwelt by God’s spirit, given to us when we put our faith in Christ Jesus for our salvation. So I look at these incidents in scripture and try to read between the lines. Actually, Jesus’ response to people is pretty much “out there”; he cared more for them than for himself. So hard to do for those of us with so much “self” to deal with. But doable nonetheless.

Jesus’ compassionate response was not based on emotion. So often mine is. Emotions are so wishy-washy. They can change in a moment from hot to cold. Not a good idea to operate that way. Jesus’ response to the clamoring crowd came out of his God-love for people. Solid. Stable.

“When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34, NASB)

“… and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.” (Luke 9:11b, NASB)

In the full light of that kind of love I am convicted of my lack of compassion. Not lack of emotion. I have plenty of that. Compassion. The kind of compassion Jesus had. God-love. I want that kind of care for others. I should have it since Christ lives in me.

God, help me be sensitive to Your spirit. Stop being “me” so much (critical, judgmental, impatient) and be more of “You” (the opposite of the aforementioned).

As I wipe my tears of contrition and continue reading, I am struck by another insight, right there for all to see, yet so often missed. I almost suck air. Is that my reflection I see? (Continued in next post.)

Your heart is heavy, sorrow weighing it down. Your cousin, who had been imprisoned unjustly, executed. On a whim! So outrageously evil, but no one dare cry out against it.

You could have done something, tried to intervene to get him released. But at the same time you knew in your heart you mustn’t do it. Not from fear though. You had to hold yourself back from acting on his behalf. One of the hardest decisions you’ve had to make. Family and friends look at you strangely, accusingly, wondering why the silence on your part, especially since you’ve been outspoken on so many other issues.

Now it is too late for intervention. He’s dead. But you know at the same time it had to be this way. Never mind the ‘why’ of it.

The need to get away alone presses in. You are exhausted from the daily demands and now this traumatic news. You want some time to grieve; a time to cry out to God and dump on him all the emotions swirling inside. A little time to let God comfort and heal your heart is all you need now. A little time.

“And his (John the Baptist’s) head was brought in on a platter and given to the little maid, and she brought it to her mother.

12 And John’s disciples came and took up the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

13 When Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there privately in a boat to a solitary place.”

(Matthew 14:11-13a)

As I read this passage this morning I was struck by a few thoughts that stopped me in my tracks. One of the first was of Jesus hearing of John the Baptist’s beheading. Oh how that must of pained his heart. Though he and John lived far apart and didn’t see each other on a daily basis, they were family and spent those special feast days together with other cousins, aunts and uncles.  All their lives as long as they could remember, at least once a year, if not more often, they had these family reunions in Jerusalem.

I’m guessing Jesus and John were kindred spirits. They both had a deep sensitivity to God’s spirit who was strongly at work in them. I’m also guessing they understood each other without having to say a lot. It was something they just weren’t able to explain or share with their other cousins and family members. The others didn’t have that same depth of connection with God. This was not a bad reflection on them; it is just the way God worked.

Jesus and John also had a unique relationship due to their callings from God. The Father revealed it to them both. They each knew who they were before God and each knew his calling. Then it was shown them who the other was: John, come in the spirit and power of Elijah as the forerunner of the Messiah, announcing his arrival, calling the people to repentance, preparing them to receive their Savior; Jesus that very Messiah, the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice to take away the sin of the world.

When John was arrested and thrown into prison Jesus hadn’t intervened because he knew in his spirit he had to keep hands off. He always and only acted on his Father’s voice, and his Father had been silent.

Now John was gone.

The pain in Jesus’ heart called for privacy. Alone time. Alone time, that is, with his Father.

Haven’t we all had those times when we need to unload our burdened heart and the only one who can take the strain of our pain is God, our heavenly Father. Perhaps those of us who tend to be introverts sense this more keenly, but surely it comes to us all at one time or another. There is something in being in the presence of God, blurting out all our hurts and confusion and unnamed pains to him, letting the bag of burdens we carry roll out of our hands and off our backs into his capable hands. It is real. It is deep. It is what we need in those times of the unbearableness of life.

This is what Jesus was sailing off for, I think. He climbed into a boat and pointed to No-man’s land. There is where he’d meet with his Father. There, alone with his Father would be comfort and healing and restoration.

But he didn’t get that in No-man’s land. Instead of getting, he had to give. Again.

Christmas is more a cultural phenomenon than a Christian holy day. It is not a God-ordained feast day, such as Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles, which he commanded Israel to keep. In fact, we do not even know the exact day of Jesus’ birth. It has been a matter of debate and speculation for centuries. The closest indication of a time period that I know of from scripture is found in Luke 2: 1, 2. Pinpoint that decree of Caesar Augustus and you have a general timeframe, but still without a definitive date.

I found an interesting “History of Christmas” on the History channel (google: Bet You Didn’t Know: Christmas).  It only took a few minutes to watch/read through. Some of these historical facts I had heard before, but a few were new to me. What it pointed out was the cultural rather than Christian or biblical historical roots of my favorite holiday.

What we celebrate as Christmas was unknown to Christians until the third century. Historians think it began as a “Christian icing” overlaying the pagan feast of Saturnalia, to divert people from the drunken feasting done during the shortest days of the year, as they anticipated the return of the sun and longer days. In fact, such year-end celebrating, likened to that of the Mardi Gras we know today, has been going on for centuries under various names. Now folk party under the name Christmas, though there is in it neither Christ nor Mass, the special church service which gives us the name we know and love.

Santa Claus’ family roots can be traced to St. Nicholas of Myra, who was known for his kindness in giving gifts, especially to those in need. He is known in the Netherlands as Sinterklaas and his day is celebrated separately from Christmas. Our common image of Santa Claus was made popular by a Coca Cola ad in the 1930s.

Evergreen trees came into the picture in England in the 1800s, imported from the German tradition, and the Christmas holiday itself finally made its way acceptably to the American States in the mid-1800s, along with the tradition of sending Christmas cards.

Gift giving has evolved as well, becoming more and more commercialized, and less about the gifts the wise men gave Jesus’s parents, since the days of the Industrial Revolution.

What I have enjoyed since childhood is a 150+ year old American twist on the international Christmas celebration. Americans began to emphasize a family-oriented holiday celebration. Thank you Americans!

I have fond memories of Christmas. My parents taught us it was Jesus’ birthday and those days were filled with church Christmas programs, extended family get-togethers, food and gift exchanges. Since I grew up in central Michigan, I always associate Christmas with snow and outdoors fun in the cold.

That little historical jaunt into the history of Christmas made me relax a bit about the whole Christmas deal. My husband and I have tried to use Christmas as an opportunity to emphasize the wonder and meaning of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ; a time for reflection on and worship of him. We’ve made it a point to give Jesus a birthday present along with the other gift giving we do.

The truth of the matter is, however individuals or families choose to celebrate, or not to celebrate, Christmas is really a matter of little consequence. God didn’t command us to observe Christmas. It is a human construct. Therefore, we have great leeway in how we observe it. Spiritually, it is neither “here nor there,” so to speak.

What is of utmost importance, however, is how we live out the other 364 days of the year. God does have a lot to say about that in his Word. If we are not living in obedience to him and his Word every day, we deceive ourselves. Christ can never be the center of our Christmas if he is not the center of our lives the rest of the year.

Have a wonderful Christmas holiday, however you observe it, honoring him whose birth we celebrate—on Christmas and every day of the year.