I’m a people watcher. Not in a creepy kind of way, but in a “this is oddly enjoyable” kind of way. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.
Well, I was watching an old man after he had said something to me and walked away in the produce area at the grocery store the other day. This time I wasn’t staring for my own entertainment, but I was trying to feel out the situation at hand. I decided to walk back over to him and start up a conversation.
After several minutes I invited him to church. He asked me if I’d pray about something. He told me he has a 28 year old granddaughter who is a mother of a two year old, and is 12 weeks pregnant, who just found out she has cancer in both breasts. I immediately told him of different times I have seen God’s healing hand in my life. I asked him if he believed in anointing with oil and healing and he said “yes.” So, I told him how our church does that very thing at the beginning of each service.
I didn’t tell him about the size of the church, the beautiful location, or even the anointed singing and preaching. I told him about an altar we all gather around and pray at before each service.
This past week I had a very special time with the Lord. So special, I don’t feel comfortable sharing much of the details on the World Wide Web. But, I will share this. One night I was reading a book by A.W. Tozer and it said something along the lines of “our hearts being on their knees.”
That stopped me in my tracks. I often like to get on my physical knees when I’m praying, but I had never heard it like this. For our hearts to be on their knees.
I went on to have an extremely special prayer time as I told the Lord I was kneeling my heart before Him. I don’t feel comfortable sharing additional details, but I would like to say one thing today, or ask a question I suppose.
When is the last time you truly knelt down before God with your heart?
In Proverbs it says that a soft answer turns away wrath.
In James it says, humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
In Matthew it says, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Jesus showed us how to pray using this line...
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Forgiveness is not a feeling! Forgiveness is a choice. A couple years back, shortly after I was miraculously delivered from depression instantaneously, a simple saying popped in my mind.
When pride is broken down, healing can come, when healing comes, unity can come, and when unity comes, true worship can take place.
I laid it all out there for those closest to me that evening I was delivered. I allowed my pride to be broken down. I did not care if anybody thought I was not a good Christian because I had fell into depression. I did not care if someone was going to look at me differently from that day forward, perhaps thinking I was weak minded. I let every bit of pride leave. I was healed that evening as mentioned before, and then I felt unity take place in my life amongst relationships I had. Then, I was able to experience true worship.
Forgiving others and sometimes forgiving yourself can be one of the hardest things you do as a Christian. I have mentioned it a time or two before, but I feel it was the hardest thing at different points in my life, to forgive somebody who never apologized or attempted reconciliation.
As a 16-year-old, I was not saved yet. I had made some poor friendship choices and I ended up getting hurt, to say the very least. I remember during that summer, which was by far the worst of my life, sitting on my floor in my bedroom crying. I looked across the room and I remember seeing my Bible. I felt something drawing me to that Book. I remember that moment very vividly. I could not tell you the scripture that I read, but I remember that it was the only thing in my life that gave me any form of peace.
I was saved eight months later. Forgiving those two people was something I was commanded to do as a Christian! I can’t begin to tell you the amount of peace that flooded my life whenever I started forgiving people. Fast forward 13 years later, and God has provided me the opportunity to forgive more people along the way!
What a blessed quietness. What a joyful sound. When you can say those words, not with your mouth— but with your heart! “I forgive you!” Maybe there is somebody who is dead who you need to forgive. Maybe it is somebody who has totally cut you off and wants nothing to do with you. Or, maybe it is somebody that you have cut off and that you want nothing to do with! Perhaps it is somebody who lives in the same house as you.
I love that old gospel song called “Give me that old time religion.” I looked it up on Google today and I found out it was actually a tune that was written back in the 1800s.
Look over the rather simple lyrics below. You’ll be reminded that anything that matters can’t be modernized! Salvation! There’s no new way to be saved! There is no new way to be forgiven or to forgive.
It was good enough for our mothers! And Lord, help us, but it SHOULD help us love everybody. I sure know it saved my father, and when my time comes, and I breathe my final breath, it’ll do when I’m dyin. That thing I’m talking about is that old time religion which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and risen from the dead! It’s good enough for me. It’s good enough for my husband and kids. So, the next time you are people watching, or bump into a stranger, I pray you’d go out of your comfort zone a little, and share with them that old time religion.
Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it’s good enough for me.
It was good for our mothers.
It was good for our mothers.
It was good for our mothers.
And it’s good enough for me.
Makes me love everybody.
Makes me love everybody.
Makes me love everybody.
And it's good enough for me.
It has saved our fathers.
It has saved our fathers.
It has saved our fathers.
And it's good enough for me.
It will do when i am dying.
It will do when i am dying.
It will do when i am dying.
And it's good enough for me.
It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven.
And it's good enough for me.
Give me that old time religion
Tis the old time religion,
Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.
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