I was moved yesterday by a conversation with a friend that caused me such ache and pain. My friend had been falsely accused, draped in lies, and a victim of libel. This morning I was on my knees crying that Truth triumph over lies, honestly over vindictive slander. I read the conditional promise in Proverbs 2, but focused on verse 3, if you cry out. . . . The Bible makes a clear distinction between “prayer” and “crying out to God.” Have there been times in life that seem so hopeless, that even crying seems pointless? This is the exact setting God wants to move in to demonstrate His loving care and powerful hand of protection.
Crying out is a humble reminder of our total inability to accomplish anything significant for God. God’s promise to the prophet Jeremiah years ago is true even for us today. Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). The creator of the universe wants intimate, loving fellowship with the people He created. But a vital component to fellowship is an actual voicing aloud to Him our need for Him.
There are several Hebrew words that describe calling out, but there is one specific verb which generally connotes the action of calling out or crying out loud with great volume.The Hebrew verb is qara and it is the verb used in Jeremiah 33:3. King David used this verb often as we see in Psalms 50:15, Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me, and Psalms 145:18, The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
But what inhibits us? If crying out is a natural impulse, why is it so hard? Many of us find it humiliating and difficult to cry out for help in times of trouble. We prefer to be self-sufficient. We would rather endure tenaciously in the face of insurmountable odds and conclude with pride, I did it! But God works opposite to our lines of reasoning. He wants us to come to the conclusion, God did it! He asks that we recognize our weakness in order to experience His strength, so we can say with Paul, When I am weak, then I am strong. It takes a lot of humility to cry out to the Lord in our distress. But humility before the living God is what we precisely need!
Are you in a in desperate moment? Have you lost your job, persecuted by a professor, in bondage to sin, falsely accused? When Peter walked out to the Lord in Matthew 14:30-31 he was in desperate need for a miracle! If we need God to help in a desperate moment, I pray you call out like Peter: he cried out, ‘Lord save me!’ Immediately the Lord stretched out his hand and caught him.
Whatever your station in life, God wants to hear you cry out unto Him. He will show Himself faithful! “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
Whatever your station in life, God wants to hear you cry out unto Him. He will show Himself faithful! “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
14 comments:
I'm so sorry for your friend. I'm crying just reading how hurt this person must be. Whatever is going on, I'll be praying for them! God will vindicate them!!!!
We have been in an ongoing situation of false accusations. The road has been hard but good. When I begin to feel hopeless and ready to give up the Lord brings encouragement like these verses in Jeremiah 1:17-
"But you dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold I, make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, it's officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord to deliver you."
He brings Christ like hearts along side to lift up my eyes to Him.
False accusations help us to look to God for our testimony. Paul said he doesn't even look to himself as a witness of himself, but to God to judge him. There is much strength to grow in when under attack. I pray your friend allows the work of this experience to accomplish it's purposes of being formed more and more into Christ's image.
Marnee, your words resonate with empathy. I know you will pray for my friend.
I care for you and I'm SO grateful we've been able to remain in contact. (I'm gonna go check out the poem)
B,
WOW! So True, So True. Crying out to God is a mandate set for US by HIM. I'll be crying out to the Lord for your friend.
Jeremiah 33:3!!!!
I cried out this weekend. I lost my home, my car and loss of income and thru this storm I have seen the hand of God over our lives and his sovernthy at best. However, this past weekend when I was most wanting to take in a huge sigh, breath and reflect, our home gets flooded. In a split instance I was angry. I was so angry I was seeing double and bursted into never ending tears. Soon after we bolted out and headed to a small quite resturant. As I was sitting starring at my husband across from the table I looked up and cried out to God and asked what else does he want from me. I have nothing. Just then the television noise caught my attention and the news abchor man was interviewing a pale fragile man with enough strenght to hold on to the holy bible. He man began to speak the following words-" Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I'm not worried about dieing." His family was sitting to his right smiling with joy and the news anchor man was lost with words. We then looked at each other and realized witha smile that we are blessed beyond measure to know and have a creator who is strong when we just can't go on.
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Bianca,
Thank you for uplifting me in a moment of pointless tears. I stopped mid read and prayed about what you blogged about. I will keep your friend in mind & your message. PS... I found your blog via Jasmine's. Thanks for being so inspirational!!
Spoken to the heart. I need to do this. I so need to.
you are encouraging and I'm grateful I'm following your blog, hope to go hear you speak this Sat., I'm crying out to the LORD to help save my marriage
My Mom volunteers for an organization where she discovered an employee was stealing. She had proof and yet my mom had never felt more prosecuted.
She will testify that her "crying aloud" is the reason why this situation all worked out in the end :)
Thank you for this post B, it couldn't have come at a more needed time for me. I cried out last night and still crying out this a.m. Trying to kill the old man that keeps trying to take over!!! And the warfare doesn't help.
Jewels
Bianca, you have no idea how big impact you have made in my life ever since i have attented your studies at CCM. is Se7en Deadly Sins, Women's study going to be available on CD's? cuz i have class on that day i cannot make it. you are such and amazing women of God i pray to the lord that one day i can be at least 1% of a women you are now. God Bless you
I SO hope that God answers each of you quickly :) Don't lose faith...
Romans 3:23
Anonymous, yes, the series will be recorded onto DVD and the audio will be posted for free on iTunes :) We are even hoping to do a live webcast for those who want to be here but live far away (Jasmine).
When we will know its on dvd, itunes or webcast? Will you post it on here?
I'm in Canada so I'm 'reeeeally' far away :)
um... how is it you ALWAYS hit what I need? Sheesh. It's like you read my mind.
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