Lent - Keep it simple

River Course

John 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

Yesterday, I spoke of an invigorating walk beside the sea; there is also something refreshing about walking by a river that is in full stream. However, nothing is more quiet and unobtrusive than the source of a river as it rises in some solitary heights with only a slight greenness among the moss and heather, or the gentle trickle of water at the edge of snowfield to show where the stream begins to flow.

Fed from a cloud filled sky, the rain water trickles down among rocks or gorse till it gathers strength, bores its way through rocky channels, wears down resistance, if necessary flowing underground till it emerges on the valley below, widening out into a road stream, bringing life and fertility to a whole region.  This is a picture of the life of prayer, in its origins, and its middle course. For many people it stops here.

But this is not all; the river seems placid, but all the time it is moving gently and steadily towards its goal. Presently it leaves the fertile fields behind and flows under bridges, past wharves and factories of great industrial towns. It has become a highway for trade, a place for commerce of many regions. More than that: filth and rubbish and worse are thrown into its muddy waters. For a moment it seems as though the river with its clear blue-green waters, has been hopelessly defiled. But it flows on undisturbed, its waters clear and once more it refreshes and fertilises the land through which it flows, till at last - it slips out to sea and loses itself in the infinite ocean, it's goal. All along its course it has moved with steady purpose.

This is a picture-parable of the life of prayer.

Prayer

Father, I bless and thank You for a brand new day and for the fresh opportunities and challenges that this day will bring. Thank You, that Your mercies are new every morning and I pray that I will walk worthy of You today and be a faithful witness in thought, word and deed, demonstrating a Christ-like attitude to all with whom I come in contact.

Keep me ever-focussed on You Lord, and keep my heart steadfastly trusting You for all my needs and necessities. Help me not to function in my own strength, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. May I stand firm in the truth of the gospel of grace, and remain steadfastly looking to Jesus, trusting in Him to supply His sufficient strength for all occasions. Teach me all that You would have me to learn today and give me the courage and strength to press on toward the goal for the upward call in Christ Jesus. In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen.