Psalm 126 & Luke 14

Just before I jump into this first entry I would like to add a post-script to my previous entry. I believe that this is prayer. Journalling and exploring scripture is just as much prayer as kneeling with hands folded and eyes closed is prayer.

This evening I read two chapters and I think I will write on each of them individually.

He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. - Psalm 126:6 NIV

It is interesting that this Psalm opens by speakingof captives being returned and concludes with songs of joy that follow weeping. It is a description of the faithfullness of God. While we are in our deepest sorrow; a loved one is missing, a job has been lost, someone we cherish has died, just to name a few, God still wants and expects us to come to him. This Psalm does not indicate that we are supposed to be overjoyed by tragedy but rather God expects and encourages us to come to him with weeping.

weep. mourn. hurt. Do it before and with God. The verse above tells us that when we go with weeping we will return with songs of joy. Only God has that sort of healing power.

As I come to moments of despair, lack of understanding and pain I must make a conscious effort to aaproach God and allow my soul to weep before Him, knowing he will keep his word and I will return with songs of joy. Praise Jesus!!

I am still learning how exactly to journal here. As a result my thoughts on the second chapter I read will be brief but are powerfully lingering on my brain.

First, go read Luke 14.

Luke 14: 35 ends with Jesus speaking and he says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

A little bit earlier he says, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26 NIV).

Those are extremely powerful words coming from a man who said the greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God and to love your neighbour as yourself.

I have an extremely hard time tryingto figure what to make of this instruction. Jesus said it to a large crowd and if Jesus is saying it then there is something to it. However, that does make it make any sense. That is why I am drawn to the last verse, "He who has ears to hear,let him hear."

Clearly I am nto about ot turn on my wife, my family or myself. Yet I desire to follow Jesus. I conclude then that I in fact do not have ears to hear. that I am not hearing. I am reading the words but they do not make sense. So I ask:

HOW DO I GET EARS TO HEAR?


Lord Jesus,

You are the king. You are the Lord. You are God. I want nothing else than to follow you and to live for you. I want you to rule in my life and I want to follwo your instructions. To follow them I must be able to decipher them. I cannot decipher these instructions on my own. Therefore I come to you my Saviour and humbly ask in Your Name, with faith that you answer prayer: Let me have ears to hear, so that I may hear.

Amen