March 24, 2010

• They Will Be Called Oaks (Isaiah 61:3)

  Different people have asked me why it seems we have to pray for the same things so often, whether for the children in the orphanage ministry or for small group members or even in prayer for North Korea.  There can be a desire to see progress and move into something different. 

  I've realized that this continual prayer is like plowing the ground and watering the seeds.  There is a continual need for watering and sometimes it can seem mundane, but there is something that is happening underneath the surface that can only continue to develop if the water continues to be poured out.  And for the bigger plants/trees, it will often take a longer time for life to appear above the surface.  But even then watering is still needed.  And for the greatest of trees, this watering must go on for years. 

  This is the heart of God, also known as the Master Gardener or the Owner of the Vineyard.  He continually pours out and never loses patience.  This is also the heart of a good father and a good mother.  It may seem like its the same prayers and the same actions towards their children over the years, but there is the knowledge that at some point the child will bear good fruit and return a blessing, both for the parents and for the world around them.  Continual prayer can require patience, perseverance, and faith, but I really believe it reveals the Father's heart of God.

  Isaiah 64:4 - From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. 

  • 11:04 am
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