God Hears Prayer Letters

Genesis 1:2 uses Hebrew words tohu wa-bohu, “formless and void,” to describe the earth into which God spoke Creation. It may also denote a state of chaos, disorder, utter confusion and commotion. The only other biblical use, Isaiah 34:11, concerns God’s judgment upon Edom. I’ve been thinking of this word in relation to the Middle East.

I’ve always been fascinated by an encounter Joshua had with the commander of the Lord’s army that resulted in the Israelites taking Jericho with radical obedience and worship as their weaponry. While surveying Jericho, Joshua “looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’ ‘Neither,’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’ Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, ‘What message does my Lord have for his servant?’” (Jos 5:13-14).

Despite all its traditions and trappings, Christmas boils down to the simplicity of a baby in a manger. As we direct our attention toward celebrating this unique birth, let’s also attend to Paul’s words of caution to the church in Corinth: “…I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Co 11:3 NASB). Can we carve out time from Christmas traditions and trappings for personal worship that anchors us to a simple and pure devotion to Christ? Here is a suggestion for worship from a 1999 Vineyard Music album called All I Need: Jesus, Be the Centre.

“Let your [epieikés] be evident to all. The Lord is near.”  Philippians 4:5

Epieikés* describes attitudes and qualities we are to demonstrate while actively dealing with others. It is variously translated as gentleness, patience, forbearance, moderation, graciousness, reasonableness, unselfishness, modesty, kindness, considerateness and temperance.

Recently, within the space of a few hours, I watched a video documenting how Islam is taking over the Western world through high birthrates in Muslim communities, compared to unsustainable low birth rates in Western cultures. Then I saw a CBC documentary about China’s insidious strategy to take over the world through trade and holding governments captive through technology and indebtedness. Then I heard on the radio about how we are reaching the tipping point at which climate change is irreversible and the world is doomed.

This prayer of David concludes an outburst of praise for God’s glory displayed in the heavens and a compilation of seven different ways of extolling God’s law. Even David, who had much experience with God’s majesty and power, and whom God called “a man after his own heart”

The Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs, headed by former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dore Gold, has published a paper entitled, “Is Canada’s Justin Trudeau the Great Reformer of Islam?”

While reading the Gospel of John today, my attention was drawn to Jesus telling His disciples as He washed their feet that they were already clean (except for one) and just needed to have their feet washed (Jn 13:3-10). This was before the cross and the resurrection.

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, [t]here is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone.”