#138 Praying Mantis ( 28 may 07)

'Then Job answered the Lord and said, I know that thou can do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from Thee.'
Job 42:1-2

For the self righteous amongst us, Job was a good man, and did not deserve to lose not just his cattle, but his children and worse, his very dignity.
Yet, the story did have a happy ending and Job was blessed with even more than what he had lost.

In my days of weakness, I sometimes harbour the thought that much as it is nice to have the bountiful blessings at the end, I wasn't too keen to endure the sufferings in between.
No pain, some gain is fine, lets leave the rest to those made of stronger fibre.

God knows our limits, and deprivation and a broken spirit does made us more receptive and atuned to His will.
The story of Job does reminds us that God is the great I AM. In a less than succint manner of putting it, He is not just in charge, but totally free to do what He wills.
Thankfully, we have a graceful and loving Abba Father.

..Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while………'
Mark 6:31

In my early journeys with the Lord, I never really felt the desire nor acknowlege the necessity to spend time with Him, be it in prayers, in reading His Word or even doing His work.
It was only in times of despair and troubles, that I find it less bothersome to want to come into His presence.

'And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed'
Mark 1:35

Fastforward to the present, the presence of the Lord is what I seek when my soul is awakened in the mornings and whenever I felt the innate prompting to come into His presence, for time with the Lord is always good. And broadening that relationship from a personal to a corporate level, with like minded believers, one direct privilege of being involved in these various prayer groups the past few years is this great ressurance and inner peace and joy that fills my heart, mind and very soul, whenever I come into the presence of the Lord as a corporate body.
I am also blessed to hear the acknowlegement by many of this 'same great feeling' whenever they join us in the presence of the Lord.

'There is no fear of God in their eyes'
Romans 3:18

Good things should be shared, for in blessing others, we are indeed blessed by the Lord to be able to give.
The eyes is the window to one's soul and a godly heart is reflected in this outward glow, that the skilful hands of a plastic surgeon can never replicate, for inner peace and joy is a gift from God.
Over lunch yesterday, with a brother in Christ, we were talking about making preparations for the times that will come, when without the mark of the beast, commerce was not impossible, and our very daily living will be a challenge. The Lord put the thought into my heart that such times are already here with us.

In the determined pursuit of material success and worldly recognition, the often quoted traits of the hallmarks of success are true grit, ambition, self before others, prestige and status as the trophy and a ruthless spirit.
The good old fashioned values of love, selflessness, ethical behaviour, perseverance and kindness, contentment are passe.
It is the law of the jungle and it is a common perception that those who carry the traits of the beasts of the wild will do well in this sinful world.

'Is not the Lord your God with you? And hath He not given you rest on every side?...'
1 Chronicles 22:18

Much as I like to believe that my patches of silvery grey hair are the expressions of the wisdom from God, it will not just be unbecoming but sinful for me to start digressing from the call of the Lord our God, if I were to start to observe and classify people into beastlike or Christlike, by their facial structures.

Only the Lord knows.

It is better to remind oneself of how truly the Lord our God has indeed given us rest on every side, by His provisions, for He knows our needs in this sinful world, and the peace and joy that gives us the reassurance as we walk with Him, every moment of our lives in this dark and difficult world.

'Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God….'
1 Chronicles 22:19

The Lord has and continues to honour His promise to us, not just in the world to come, but also in this present world.

What about our response??

'For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God'
Romnas 3:23

The praying mantis is an insect that took its name from its prayer-like posture.
The praying mantis is considered a 'beneficial' insect as it preys on other household pests like mosquitoes and flies and by itself is not a nuisance for it does not bite humans, damage the furniture nor carry any disease.

Much as we might want to go out to the world to do good, to please the Lord our God with our good works, the Bible reminds us of how Lord Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our race always took time with the Lord our God.
For like Job, who after a period of struggle finally truly understood that it is the will of God, and not ours that must reign supreme and that in learning to let go and let God, will we see His grace and be able to partake in His blessings.

Prayers is a very important step in helping us to know God, to know His will, for in spending time in communion with Him, can we truly know Him and be sanctified by His Spirit and be empowered and be filled with the fullness of His grace and love.

As Phua Chu Kang(our local sitcome blue-collar hero) will say, lets not play, play but rather pray, pray.





God Blesses

Eng Hieang