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Open our eyes, Lord
Monday, December 14, 2015
Third Week of Advent
Numbers 24:15-17
This is the utterance of one (Balaam) who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled. I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob.
Yes, it is right to take seriously what happens in your mind when you are listening to God. What do you hear? What do you see? Sometimes it seems whacky, but it rarely really is. Margaret is especially good at paying attention to pictures she sees in her mind while she is praying. They might include popcorn, or monkeys, or who knows what?
Usually when she bravely decides to share her picture, it quickly becomes helpful. God loves it when we let him use our imaginations to share with each other what he wants us to see, hear, and know.
So I can become more open and receptive to what’s going on in there. I also can become more patient. Our pastor Jeff reminded us yesterday that God’s calendar is entirely different from ours. And waiting is what faith does until God’s answer shows up.
How do I do that? To add a strand to Ecclesiastes, four strands are not easily broken: prayer, scripture, silence and community. There is settled-ness and holiness in this process. The Hebrew word “qavah” means both waiting, and binding together.
Joy comes … in the morning. Sleep well, and wait for the Lord.
Put our frantic selves to sleep, Lord, and fill us with dreams. Let me rest without ceasing, and pray without fear.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1410
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