But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Jude: 20,21

Apart from my relationship with God, my most important relationship is with my wife. Susan and I have been very happily married for over forty years. We know each other so well that we often finish each other’s sentences. I intentionally tell my wife, “I love you” many times everyday. Certain other phrases have been spoken between us tens of thousands of times. But, if our communication became nothing more than a series of worn clichés, it would indicate that the love we profess for each other was growing cold. We need warm and vital communication. This involves listening and responding in the moment.

The Old Testament prophets often heard God speak to them. They would then act on His instructions with His authority. Jesus said, “I only do what the Father tells me to do. I only say what the Father tells me to say.” Jesus could only say what He said and do what He did as He listened to His Father in times of prayer.

We do not need to hear an audible voice as God speaks with us. God lives within His children and has given us His word. As we study Scripture, we learn to recognize God’s voice. We must learn to persevere in prayer in order to hear God speak and to see God act. In other words, we’re not supposed to simply “place our order” with God and then wait to see what happens. Jesus says to ask, seek and knock. Literally, He says, “Keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking.” A lot of us aren’t good at keeping on, even though we say that we believe the Scriptures, and we are told: “…fervent prayer is powerful and effective.”

I know that many people have difficulty listening and persevering. I don’t want to mislead anyone into thinking that I do not have this struggle myself. It is much easier for me to talk about prayer or to teach on prayer than it is to engage in certain aspects of prayer. When I check myself with the ACTS  prayer formula (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication), I find certain elements of prayer easy, others more difficult, and some especially hard. If I want to continue to grow in my walk with God, I must exercise those areas that are weak. Instead, as I check my prayer pulse, I find myself focusing on the aspects of prayer that I find easiest and most enjoyable.

I have no trouble with the A or the T in ACTS. Adoring the Lord and giving Him Thanks come easily to me. This is good, because adoration and thanksgiving are two of the most important aspects of prayer. In fact, God’s wrath is poured out on those who fail to offer adoration and thanksgiving.

Whether we study the various aspects of science or simply enjoy looking at the beauty all around us, our hearts should be moved to praise and adoration. Whether we gaze through a telescope or a microscope, or even if we just enjoy gardening and bird watching, we ought to exclaim at the Creator’s wisdom. When the seasons change or a baby learns to speak or we taste a meal or enjoy a symphony, we should be moved to adore the Giver of every good gift who blesses us in countless ways.

I am continually awestruck at how great God is, and I have learned through difficult circumstances to give thanks for God’s great mercies. My heart is full of thanksgiving. When we ponder what God has done to save us, how can we not feel overwhelmed? When we realize our own sinfulness and our utter dependence upon God’s mercy and grace, it is easy to give thanks to God.

A friend of mine remarked, “Anywhere outside of hell is grace.” This is a fact. I know that if God were to give me what I deserve, I’d be destroyed. This helps me to keep a sense of perspective, even when circumstances are painful.

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