Praying Pint

 

Ephesians 1:3-4  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

Ephesians 1:11  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

 

The mystery of how human will interacts with divine sovereignty has long intrigued theologians, philosophers, and believers. The following reflections, drawn from the provided quotations, offer profound insight into the nature of God’s grace, human freedom, and the subtle interplay between the two. They invite us to consider how our will, when surrendered to God, aligns with His eternal purposes, all while preserving the dignity and reality of our personal choice.

Harmony Between Divine Will and Human Choice

The opening reflection sets the tone: “By His grace and mercy, our will becomes the Father’s will when we choose the Saviour. May it ever continue!” This statement encapsulates the transformative power of divine grace, suggesting that through our decision to embrace Christ, our intentions and desires are gently woven into the fabric of God’s overarching will. It is not by compulsion, but by a gracious invitation, that our hearts are drawn into alignment with the Father’s purposes.

The Divine Foreknowledge and Sovereignty

K.G.’s analogy of the master musician is both elegant and illuminating: “As the master musician knows exactly how the symphonic rendition will sound before its notes vibrate upon the air… so God knows precisely what will occur and keeps it under control, though enacted by independent moral agencies.” Here, God’s foreknowledge is compared to an artist’s anticipation of a masterpiece. Just as a composer foresees every nuance of a performance, God fully understands the outcomes of our choices, even though they are made freely. The “inner circle of freedom” is surrounded by the “outer circle of sovereignty,” signifying that our liberty exists within the secure boundaries of God’s omniscient plan.

The Method of Divine Influence

L.S.C. observes, “The will of man is guided by what he knows and what he desires. The divine method of reaching the will is by graciously increasing man’s knowledge and by stimulating his desires, while on the divine side of this method there remains not the shadow of possible failure.” This perspective highlights that God’s approach is neither forceful nor manipulative. Instead, He enlightens our minds and inspires our hearts, ensuring that our choices remain authentic and voluntary. The certainty of God’s purpose is matched by our genuine experience of making decisions, especially the pivotal choice to receive His grace in Christ.

Infinite Love and Wisdom in Election

K.G. further elaborates, “God’s elective purposes are carried out in such an incomprehensible way through the internal and external influences of infinite love and wisdom that man is at no time conscious of any external compulsion, but only of choices and decisions in the exercise of his own free will.” The process by which God fulfills His purposes is marked by subtlety and compassion. We are never forced, but rather drawn by love and wisdom to make decisions that, in retrospect, reveal the handiwork of divine election. Knowledge of God’s sovereign achievements arrives later, often through reflection on His Word, and deepens our appreciation for the freedom we have experienced.

Conclusion

These reflections invite us to trust that our freedom is not diminished by God’s sovereignty, but rather safeguarded and fulfilled within it. The relationship between divine control and human choice is not adversarial, but harmonious—like the interplay of notes in a symphony. As we respond to God’s grace, our will finds its true purpose in the Father’s will, and our choices become part of a larger, beautiful design that only He fully comprehends. May our journey ever continue in this grace, choosing the Savior and growing in the knowledge and desire that God graciously provides. (Stanford)

 

Habakkuk 2:1   I will stand my watch, And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.

 

 

I slowly inched my motorcycle down the mountain road, staring into a dense blanket of fog unlike any I had ever seen.

I was in the middle of holding evangelistic meetings in multiple communities in Montana when a few of us decided to take a quick road trip to Glacier National Park. Things hadn’t gone as planned, however. Rainy weather had already obscured much of the view, and we eventually rode into a cloud that had formed around the mountain. I couldn’t see two feet in front of me.

I couldn’t keep riding. After all, I could barely see my own boots, let alone the road ahead. Further, the asphalt had recently been repaved and there were no painted lines. With absolutely zero visibility or clarity, the only option was to slowly push forward, feet on the ground, scanning for car headlights slicing through the dense fog.

At one point I nearly bumped into the steep rock wall to my right. I didn’t see it until it was inches away. A few minutes later I almost hit the guardrail that separated the road from the cliff on the other side. I was in a tough situation.

It occurs to me that life—especially in our current culture and world—can be like that treacherous, obscured journey through the fog. As we follow God’s Word, we know that we’re ultimately on the right path, but everything around us appears sin-sick and confused. The Prophet Isaiah once warned, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20, NKJV). That certainly seems to describe the fog of our modern world.

We may even wonder why God is allowing the chaos and pain that surrounds us. What is His plan? Why is He seemingly silent as the world devolves? We take encouragement in Isaiah 55:9 (NKJV), where God says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”—but we long to see clearly how the plan fits; how “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, NKJV).

This begs the question: How do we as Christians respond when the fog of life overtakes us?

For the answer, let’s look at the Old Testament Prophet Habakkuk. He found himself in a situation similar to many of us today. He spoke with God and knew His commands. He understood righteousness. He also knew that the culture around him in Judah had grown wicked. I imagine that his heart ached as he saw people doing what was right in their own eyes.

As a result, Habakkuk cried out to God, and frankly he didn’t hold anything back. While Habakkuk wanted his sinful neighbors to repent, God revealed a plan to punish Judah for its wicked ways, and to use the godless Chaldeans (Babylonians) to accomplish it.

Imagine Habakkuk’s dismay. A nation that was far worse, by any measure, would be used to enact God’s judgment on Judah. Evil was going to triumph. Talk about being in a fog and not having any idea of how God’s plan was being worked in the midst of chaos.

Habakkuk desperately tried to make sense of the situation. He struggled in his sorrow and prayed another strongly worded lament. What happened next is very interesting. After he petitioned God one last time, he made a simple statement: “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected” (Habakkuk 2:1, NKJV).

It is in this singular sentence that we can learn lessons on how to respond to the fog that surrounds us.

First, we must live a life of commitment.

Habakkuk went to the rampart—the fortified wall—of the city to wait for God’s answer. He had proposed questions to God in chapter 1, and now he waited patiently for God to respond. Similarly, when we cry out to God, we also need to put ourselves in a place to hear God speak to us. We do this not by going to a physical location necessarily, but by going to our knees, by studying His Word, and by resting in His presence.

Second, we need to live a life of anticipation, expecting to hear from our Lord.

The God that we serve is a God who desires to make Himself known to all people. Like Habakkuk, we should realize our own utter dependence upon God. We must cling to Him and be sensitive to His leading in answer to our prayer.

Finally, we are to live a life of correction.

Habakkuk had just boldly challenged God about the injustices he saw around him. Once he had said his piece, however, he humbled himself. He recognized that God’s ways are perfect, even if he didn’t understand them, and he was ready to be set right. What a lesson for us! Rather than holding stubbornly and sinfully to our personal desires, we must let God’s response shape and correct our views.

Habakkuk’s circumstances had not changed. He was surrounded by wickedness, and judgment at the hands of the Chaldeans was on the horizon. However, in the midst of the fog, Habakkuk called upon the Lord and humbled himself, recognizing that God was truly in control.

The world may look dark, our hearts may hurt, and chaos may envelop us. However, as we live a life of commitment, anticipation and correction, and as we keep a heart of worship and praise to our Heavenly Father, we can trust that He sees more clearly than we ever could and has a plan and purpose for all things.

 

Hebrews 11:11  By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Hebrews 11:13-14  These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

 

Our journey of faith is often marked by moments of uncertainty, impatience, and even doubt. The story of Abraham and Sarah serves as a powerful reminder that faith and obedience are deeply intertwined, anchored in the promises of God. This reflection explores how God’s commands are always built upon His promises, and how understanding this relationship can inspire us to trust and obey, even when our faith feels weak.

Every command from God is inseparably linked to a promise. When God calls us to act, He is simultaneously inviting us to trust in the fulfillment of His word. Commands are not burdens imposed without hope; they are invitations to experience the blessings embedded within God’s promises. In other words, the commands of God carry the seeds of His promises, and His promises call forth our obedience.

This dynamic is evident throughout Scripture. For example, when God commanded Abraham to leave his homeland, He also promised to make Abraham a great nation. The act of obedience was inseparable from the trust in God’s promise. Recognizing this relationship helps us see that our response to God is not merely duty, but an act of faith rooted in His faithfulness.

Sarah, often remembered for her laughter and moments of doubt, is portrayed in the book of Hebrews as a woman of faith. Despite her impatience and initial skepticism, Sarah ultimately believed that God would fulfill His promise. Hebrews 11:11 commends her: “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”

Sarah’s story encourages us that faith does not mean perfection. Like her, we may have seasons of questioning or fear, but what matters is returning to trust in God’s faithfulness. Her journey reassures us that God is patient with our wavering hearts, and He strengthens us to believe and obey.

It is natural to waver in our faith, to become impatient or anxious when God’s promises seem delayed. Abraham and Sarah were not immune to these struggles, and neither are we. Yet, their lives show that faith grows in the soil of God’s promises and commands. When we focus on what God has spoken—both His instructions and assurances—we find strength for today and hope for tomorrow.

• When facing uncertainty, remember that God’s commands are also His promises to sustain and guide you.
• When tempted to doubt, recall the faithfulness of God demonstrated in the lives of Abraham and Sarah.
• Allow moments of impatience to become opportunities to deepen your trust in God’s timing and goodness.

As you read the Bible, keep your eyes open to both God’s commands and promises. Let them work together in your heart to build faith and inspire action. The realization that every divine command is built upon a divine promise transforms how we approach obedience. It is not a burden, but a pathway to experiencing God’s faithfulness.

If you find yourself wavering in faith, remember that you are in good company. Bring your doubts and questions before God, trusting that He is able to strengthen your faith, just as He did for Sarah. Obedience becomes possible when we rely on God’s promises, and faith grows when we step out in response to His commands.

Faith and obedience are not separate pursuits; they are two sides of the same coin. By understanding that every command of God is rooted in a promise, we discover the courage to trust and the strength to obey.

 

 

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Hebrews 11:6  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:8-9  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

 

2 Peter 1:5-9  For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

A simple reflection reveals that human beings are inherently constructed to require the persistent exercise of firm and resolute self-government, self-discernment, self-controlled. We harbor within ourselves a variety of desires and appetites—some deeply rooted in our physical nature, others entirely legitimate and wholesome. However, when these desires are allowed to become the ruling force of life, or when they are gratified with no limits or boundaries, the result is inevitably destructive. Our blind passions are not designed to take the lead over reason; rather, if reason is the eye, then its role is to guide these passions, not be led by them. To live “by nature,” often a euphemism for giving free rein to the basest instincts, is to be governed by the worst parts of ourselves and is a sure path to ruin.

The Inner Struggle: Desire Versus Reason

A closer look within reveals a tumultuous crowd of appetites, clamoring for attention like newborn kittens—blind, yet demanding to be fed. Alongside these urges, however, there is an inner voice that pronounces moral judgment: “You shall, you shall not; you ought, you ought not.” This internal witness makes it clear that we are meant to suppress and restrain these blind impulses, placing over them a will that cannot be bribed, a reason that cannot be fooled, and a conscience that remains true to God. Self-mastery is essential; without it, life falls into chaos.

The Limits of Human Resolve

Yet, the exhortation to “govern yourselves” can ring hollow for those who find themselves unable to do so. Many experience the pain of being unable to rule over their own passions, sometimes crying out in desperation, “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” It is futile to urge a dethroned monarch to govern when his kingdom is in full revolt and he commands no loyal forces. As Bishop Butler observed, “If conscience had power, as it has authority, it would govern the world.” Authority without power is meaningless; conscience may proclaim what is right, but if willpower has been weakened or manipulated, and desires have taken control, disaster is imminent.

The True Source of Self-Mastery

There is, however, a solution that offers a guarantee of success: entrusting oneself to Jesus Christ. When we ask Christ to govern us, He provides the strength necessary for true self-control. This spiritual partnership enables us to achieve the greatest victory a person can attain—the mastery of oneself. As a wise moralist once said, “Every man is a king, and crowns himself when he puts on his own hat.” Real sovereignty begins within; one must first be master within one’s own soul. The paradox is that in order to be truly master of oneself, one must become the servant of Him who alone can empower us for this task.

Transformation Through Faith

In Christ, even the most timid individual can become courageous in struggle, the weakest can be made strong, and the most self-absorbed heart can be opened to love, peace, and joy. The wildest inner rebellion can be subdued. By approaching Him, trusting Him with our lives, and maintaining genuine communion with Him—while patiently practicing the gifts He bestows—He will reassure us: “Fear not! My strength is made perfect in weakness.” His love ignites a reciprocal flame within us, so that the one who brought peace to a raging maniac can also grant us authority over our own inner trials. Thus, the flesh becomes the servant of a spirit set free.

 

 

Psalm 141:3-4  Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!
Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
and let me not eat of their delicacies!

James 1:19-20.  Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God

Romans 8:13   For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

1 Coronthians 9:24-25  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. 

 

Proverbs 25:28  A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1Peter 4:7  The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

Mark 9:43-48    And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

1 Corintians 10:13      No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

 

Malachi 1:8-14  When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

 

There was no question as to what God required in sacrificial animals. They had to be without spot or blemish. He expected His people to offer the choicest animals from their herds or flocks. God wants the best.

But what were the Israelites doing? They were offering blind, lame and sick animals. The choice animals would bring a high price in the market, or would be desirable for breeding. So the people offered the culls, saying in effect, “Anything is good enough for the Lord.”

Before we look down on the Israelites with shock and scorn, we should ponder whether we twentieth century Christians might also be dishonoring God by failing to give Him the best.

We spend our lives building a fortune, trying to make a name for ourselves, living in a status home in suburbia, enjoying the finer things, then give God the fag end of a burned-out life. Our finest talents go to business and the professions, and the Lord gets our spare evenings or weekends.

We raise our children for the world, encouraging them to make a lot of money, marry well, and own a prestigious home with all the modern conveniences. We never hold the work of the Lord before them as a desirable way in which they should spend their lives. The mission field is all right for other people’s children, but not for ours.

We spend our money on expensive cars, recreational vehicles, sailing boats, and high class sports equipment, then give a paltry dollar or two to the work of the Lord. We wear expensive clothes, then get a feeling of euphoria when we donate our cast-offs to the Salvation Army.

What we are saying, in effect, is that anything is good enough for the Lord, but that we want the best for ourselves. And the Lord is saying to us, “Go, and offer it to the President. See if he would be pleased with it.” The President would be insulted. Well, so is the Lord. Why should we treat Him in a way we would not think of treating the President?

God wants the best. He deserves the best. Let us determine with all sincerity that He will have our best. (Tozer)

 

 

2Corinthians 1:4  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Hosea 6:1  “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

 

The Lord Jesus is not going to break’ anything in our lives that does not require breaking. But that of the old which remains unbroken, which we seek to hold back from the processing of His nail-pierced hands, will continually leaven and spoil our attempts to feed others.

“How often we have murmured under trial only to see later the preparation of the Lord Jesus of our hearts that we might be His ministers of comfort in an hour of need in the life of another (2 Cor. 1:4). Afflictions, therefore, many times are the advance token of the Father that we are being prepared for a special ministry of comfort to others. This is a principle seen throughout the Word. All that would be used of the Father in the hands of the Lord Jesus to meet the needs of the hungry-hearted must first be made a blessing by Him. This involves being broken in His hands. This process is necessary because of our tendency to think more of working for the Lord Jesus than becoming a channel for the outflowing of heavenly bread to broken hearts on every side.” -H.R.

“Others come to us in their deep need, and, with our hearts breaking, we are called upon to give out of our emptiness and loss what we seem to need ourselves. We are asked to claim victory’ for others in distress, when it seems that we are in greater distress than they. Thus it was at Calvary! He who had loosed others from bondage was given up, as it appeared, to the full rage of the murderous enemy. He who had done the mighty works of God for others, lay in impotence and weakness in the hands of men. Yes, this is the Cross. Life, power, blessing, deliverance for others – and nothing for thyself, but to lie in the will of the Father, and accept from His hand all that He pleases to permit to come upon thee.” (Stanford)

 

Psalms 94:14     “For the LORD will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance.”

No, nor will He cast even so much as one of them. Man has his castoffs, but God has none; for His choice is unchangeable, and His love is everlasting. None can find out a single person whom God has forsaken after having revealed Himself savingly to him.

This grand truth is mentioned in the psalm to cheer the heart of the afflicted. The LORD chastens His own; but He never forsakes them. The result of the double work of the law and the rod is our instruction, and the fruit of that instruction is a quieting of spirit, a sobriety of mind, out of which comes rest. The ungodly are let alone till the pit is dug into which they will fall and be taken; but the godly are sent to school to be prepared for their glorious destiny hereafter. Judgment will return and finish its work upon the rebels, but it will equally return to vindicate the sincere and godly. Hence we may bear the rod of chastisement with calm submission; it means not anger, but love.

God may chasten and correct,
But He never can neglect;
May in faithfulness reprove,
But He ne’er can cease to love. (Spurgeon)