I look forward to quiet times, whether it’s at home, walking or just sitting down by a pond or river and watching ducks frolicking in the water.  It quietens my spirit. I marvel at God’s creation and for me it is worship.

Worship is important to me when I’m alone or corporately, in a church service. I have not been blessed with an ear for music or with a great singing voice. Music is like a foreign language, however; I can enjoy listening to music that calms your soul. Not the heavy metal or with trap sets but piano, guitar or accordion music.

While sitting here, I can hear the distant sound of our tenant playing his accordion. I can’t pick out the words of the song but I know it’s a hymn. He is worshiping by playing his accordion and I’m worshiping as I listen to him playing. It’s a quiet time. He just stopped but I can still hear the music in my mind.

I was just thinking of the words of scripture that says worship in spirit and in truth. The verse is found in John 4:23–24. Jesus speaking

“The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth”

What does Jesus mean? What or who is a true worshiper? I think I know what Jesus means but I will do some studying. This is a quote from Delesslyn A. Kennebrew of Christian Bible Studies. “True worship, in other words, is defined by the priority we place on who God is in our lives and  where God is on our list of priorities.”

a work in progress

I was reading a book written by a missionary and she said that we must pray with importunity. To be truthful, I did not understand what the writer meant. The first thing I did was search the word. importunity to find the meaning, It means a persistent plea or to almost beg someone to do something. It simply means, praying with fervor and intensity.

Do you remember saying as a child, please, please pretty please when you wanted something from your friend. This was a more humorous way to get what you wanted,  I don’t think this is what is meant here.  Can you imagine praying and saying please, please, pretty please to God. Unfortunately, that may be the way that God looks at some of the prayers that we pray.

I think we would get the picture if we studied the story that Jesus told, to his disciples, about the woman and the unjust judge.

Luke 18,1-8

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Jesus said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. ³ And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

⁴ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸ I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

If you’re like me, you sometimes become distracted in praying. My mind wanders. It could be to a ball game, fishing, relationships or some other distraction. I would suggest that if we are praying with fervor and persistence, there should be no room for distractions. If I need something, I should be able to concentrate on what I’m asking for.

We should be to the point. No beating around the bush. If we are asking God for help in making a decision, then that’s what we need to focus on in our praying. We pray and to be truthful, often, we forget what we prayed for.

Today, I’m going to fervently seek God for…..make a note and keep revisiting your request until you know that God has answered the prayer.

Note: I prayed this morning, orally and for one specific situation that has been troubling me. I made a note of the date..I will pray this prayer request with importunity.

 

in progress