Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Who Knows? (part 2)

"While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept.  I thought, 'Who knows?  The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.'" 2 Sam. 12:22

"Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.  Who knows?  He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing."  Joel 2:13-14

"Let everyone call urgently on God.  Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.  Who knows?  God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."  Jonah 3:8-9

I want to know!!  I don't like worrying and wondering and waiting. . . "who knows?" is not an answer that brings me comfort . . . but  Philip Yancey writes, "By bringing us into the presence of God, and giving us a glimpse of the view from above, prayer radically changes how we experience life."  Of course. . . how can I spend time in the presence of Almighty God and not come away changed, encouraged, hopeful. . .

When David's baby became ill, he "pleaded with God for the child.  He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground.  The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them."  (2 Sam 12:16-17).

Intercessory prayer is hard work. . .  it means a change in perspective, a change in focus, a change in attitude . . .  it requires sacrifice, humility, effort. .  . it offers no guarantees, no assurance of results, no easy answers . . . and, at the end of the day, I thank God for the privilege of partaking in His work.  Who knows?  I don't know, but I'll pray.