Peace in Flight

 

As I settled in my seat for the transatlantic journey, I mumbled how long the flight might seem if the three-year-old girl's uncontrolled screaming continued. Whatever the little one wanted was being denied as both parents and grandmother tried to restrain her flailing limbs with a seatbelt. Failure to ignore the situation was obvious as each passenger squirmed uncomfortably in their tightened seatbelts. Some gently offered assistance and others held bribes of treats, but as the official announcement ordered the "prepare for take-off", all shrugged off to their assigned areas, leaving the parents to wrestle the uncontrolled and very loud protests. 

My inner frustration turned toward heaven as I prayed for peace. I prayed for the noise to stop. I grumbled my own prayer-filled words, selfishly begging for peace and comfort. My praying was no different than the little child's tantrum. Directed at heaven, my secret whispering actually spoke loudly in protest for what I wanted & thought I needed. I was whining for my own soothing and comfort!
An author, AW TOZER, wrote: "Don't allow yourself to become satisfied with shallow, self-centered praying. STAY with God in prayer until He leads you to pray at the level He wants." 
My practice of prayer needed a change! I asked the Lord to change my heart to stay with Him, learn His ways, be more like Him and want His desires. 

Earlier in the month, a friend had asked, "What makes a person holy?" Most believers know that God has told us to "be holy as He is holy"; but we don't often ask how one keeps being holy. I took this question frequently into my studies, desiring God's definition to keep His children holy so they could serve Him, the Living God.

Scriptures declare believers are God's holy people, His saints, His treasured children.

  The Holy Spirit "set apart" those God had called; (1 Peter 1:1).
    In 2 Co 1:12, there's the possibility to live in God-given holiness with a clear conscience.
    In Ephesians 1:4, God chose for us to be holy & without fault IN Christ.
    Colossians 1:2 defines God's holy people as "those who are faithful brothers & sisters in Christ." and in 1:13 says, "HE has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins." One of my favorite verses explains the results of reconciliation. Col 1:22 says, "HE has reconciled you to Himself... and brought you INTO HIS OWN PRESENCE and you are holy and blameless AS you stand before Him without a single fault."  
    The author of Hebrews explains that holiness is found only in Christ's sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.
Almost every NT book declares God's holy people, but for many, the "how" question lingers.
Is there something one does to stay holy in spite of daily activities?
How does holiness react to the interruption and discomfort of a noisy flight?
I know who I am in Christ, but in that flight, it was practicing a recent memory verse that taught me that holiness is marked by God's Presence. His Presence sets me apart.  
 

Moses was in dialog with God immediately following dealing with angry Israelites. He begged the Lord to continue to look favorably on them. He prayed, "Let me know your ways so that I may understand you more fully." His constant longing was to enjoy God's favor.
In Exodus 33:16, Moses voiced his new understanding: "For YOUR PRESENCE sets me & your people apart from all other people on the earth." (NLT)

As I know my God's ways, His promises become more defined and confident in my daily practices. He promised never to leave me nor forsake me. Knowing I am in His Presence, I practice living the reality of being set apart from all other people on the earth. My attitude and solutions to difficult moments become different. This is the difference we need to know.
His Presence makes me different.
As I grasp this truth, I imitate Him and want His desires to be my desires.

The noisy flight continued, but my prayers changed. I thanked God for His Presence & asked for His desires to become mine. I envisioned my Lord with me and began to ask His Presence to gently place His hand on the little one. I knew His Presence could soothe her. His touch could give her peace. I prayed His Peace for her parents and grandmother.

Then, my prayers enlarged. I asked His precious Presence, who offered His own life in sacrifice, to give them eternal life.
He could give them eternal peace. I began to pray for a family to have opportunities to hear the Gospel, to receive His mercy, and know His grace.
I prayed for each one to become children of righteousness who lived in His Presence. 

I stayed with God. The joy of praying for others on God's level filled my mind.
I lost track of time as I envisioned their salvation. I thanked the Lord for the privilege to pray God's will for them. As these thoughts thrilled my heart, I became aware that the plane had become peacefully quiet. 

I smiled. I believed the temporary peace was an answer for His future grace in this precious family. I understood His Presence set me and His people apart from all people on the earth SO THAT we could partner with His Son (1 CO 1:9) in the message of reconciliation.
Our message begins in prayer, asking His Presence to call out from us His Son's plea. His appeal to "Come back to God!" begins with our prayer for hearts to be opened. 

1 Corinthians 1:9 "God will do this, for He is faithful to do what he says, and He has invited you into partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." NLT

"For the Benefit of Others"...

This week, my hiking Guide is focusing my attention on the "walkie-talkie" tool divinely provided as He leads me onto the path of prayer. He introduced these open connections with Home through His continual communication, and for my benefit speaks loudly and publicly on several occasions. His outspoken purpose is to teach each hiker how simple communication can be, and show His thankfulness when specific words are quickly heard.

Before He shows His reaction to an earthly crisis, His public connection is a simple conclusion of his private continual communion with Home. Our trek takes us to the family and enclosed grave of a beloved friend. In the valley of Death, we become part of the crowd smelling decay and trapped in grieving unbelief. We catch a glimpse of the Guide's heart in unison with Creation among those who grieve, yet we also see his deep intimacy and confidence speaking aloud to His Father God.
 
In John 11:41-42, Jesus prays aloud and publicly "for the benefit of others". His spirit, constantly in communion with "Home", concludes his communication on this crisis with a glance upward and "Homeward" to thank His Father for the response which creates belief in the hearts of his followers.

Knowing that Jesus was in constant communion with his Father, I believe this time in front of Lazarus' grave is just a continuation of His spiritual talks with His Father. Along the path, Jesus and his Father communicated the reason for what happened, the timing of his arrival, confronting unbelief, and the hope of showing who sent Him. His concern is for the spectators who need to believe.

The Bible declares Jesus was greatly moved two times in this scene of death. He was moved deeply when he saw death's grief in his friends and the bondage of death at the enclosed grave. Disobedience against God caused death to invade His Creation, and confrontation with this enemy moved the heart of the Creator.
Jesus lifts his eyes toward "home" and speaks aloud. Through his words, he draws the crowd, family, disciples and  me into his ongoing conversation with his Father. I believe his public prayer was intertwined with His private communication with His Father.
"Father, I thank you that you have heard me (discloses intimacy along the path). I knew that you always hear me, (confidence) but I said (aloud & publicly) this (conclusion of this conversation) for the benefit of the people standing around (drawing others into our conversation) SO THAT they may believe that you sent me." (from Home to be their victory over death).

Christ's example teaches me that my path conversations with the Guide are encouraged to be constant and unceasing.  During occasions when I'm given the opportunity to draw others into our ongoing conversation, may it be to strengthen their belief that God sent Jesus to give Life.
Praying aloud and publicly should be to draw others into His Presence where I'm already in communication with my dearest Friend.