Prayer

A Christmas Prayer Thought from Wendy

Christmas is no longer one special day. It has become a season, which comes earlier and earlier, due to all the hype, the commercialism and media advertisements. Nevertheless, as it gets nearer the rush and the busyness intensify. Stress levels mount, emotions become strained. Where is God’s plan in all this? He always had a plan for His people. It was to culminate in the coming of the Messiah. Because of His love for mankind He sent His only Son to be born in our midst, with the given name of Jesus – ” for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Travel back in time to the account of the Israelites, who were on a stressful and difficult journey, travelling through the wilderness. God was leading them, but the trek seemed endless. The people grew weary, they grumbled and complained. They turned aside from God choosing to worship a golden calf instead. Moses, the one whom God had chosen to be their leader, turned his attention from them to intercede with God. He asked whether he might be able to make atonement for their sin. God answered by sending a plague on His “stiff-necked people.” Moses prayed the more after being told to leave with just an angel to direct them to the land flowing with milk and honey. Exodus 33:3 “He used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp; he called it the tent of meeting.” v.7. It was not a one-off exercise. The people used to watch him leave for the tent, and they witnessed the pillar of cloud (a symbol for God’s presence by day) descend and stand at its entrance – as the lord spoke ‘to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.’ God gave this promise:

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” v.14. Moses was not prepared to accept God’s presence for himself alone, so he asked God if it might be extended to His people. The result was that God promised 2 million people His rest!

That same promise, which never fails, is a word in season for each of us when stress, fatigue, conflicts clock in. The Hebrew word for ‘rest’ is navach which implies repose, laying down, a quiet rest. There is nothing more restful than turning aside from all clamour and disturbances to meet with God in prayer, and lay our burdens down, because He is aware of everything that is happening to us. To meet with Him is rest itself. Like Moses, we can tell Him every trouble that is filling our minds, every problem pulling at our heart strings. Our conversation with Him will be perfectly understood. He is waiting to give us rest. However, if we find ourselves too weary and stressed out to want to speak many words, then we should simply experience the rest of His presence, and partake of the refreshment He offers.

We need to seek Him with all or heart,  and desire His presence with us not only as we pray, but I our daily living too. God’s presence has transforming power. William D. Longstaff heard Dr Griffith John, a missionary to China, use the phrase ‘Take time to be holy.’ That was his inspiration for the hymn; Take Time to be Holy, Speak Oft with thy Lord. The second verse emphasises how we should find the time to be alone in His presence:

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;

spend much time in secret with Jesus alone –

by looking to Jesus like Him thou shalt be!

Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness will see.