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Praying and Pondering Go Well Together

/ Bill Jones / 6 Comments
National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Praying can lead to pondering. And, pondering can lead to praying. They go well together and the Psalms often combine the two.

There are several good synonyms used to define ponder (and I’ll use various ones): meditate, consider, deliberate, contemplate, and muse. The longer definition of ponder that appeals to me is “To weigh in the mind, with thoroughness and care.” It’s not just a quick thought and then move on – the thoroughness and care are critical.

David gives a good example of praying and pondering in Psalm 143. “Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.” (v1-2). David prays for mercy, and then considers that on his own, he isn’t righteous before God.

In verses 3 and 4, he ponders to the point of “Woe is me!”

“For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.” (v3-4)

            Then his contemplation turns in the right direction:

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah” (v5-6)

And, David finishes the Psalm with combinations of praying and pondering – acknowledging how much he needs God’s help and mercy, and giving the reasons he is asking for that help and mercy.  David concludes that all will be well because he is God’s servant.

“Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge! Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.”(v7-12)

It is good for us to ponder long on the goodness and greatness of God, and meditate on what He has done for us. The more we thoroughly and carefully ponder those things, the deeper our prayer life will be.

God’s Blessings, and Continuous Thanks

/ Bill Jones / 6 Comments

Angel Trumpet Plant

As with much in life, God has blessed this blog more than I expected. “I Was Thinking the Other Day About…” reached a couple of milestones over the weekend. It passed 50 followers (now at 53 – the number given in the right top of this screen includes Twitter and Facebook, not just specific blog followers) and has had over 3,000 views (3,039 so far). (Views don’t necessarily mean someone read something, but it does mean they were at least here).

I want to send a special thanks to all of you who follow the blog. It is humbling to think you went out of your way to sign up, and I greatly appreciate your continued support. I thank you all for your comments and input. They’ve helped me learn and think of different things, and from my standpoint I can say I’ve made some good friends. Hope you have too. I hope especially that you have had a few good thoughts about God from the reading.

And I send out those same thanks to all who visit but haven’t followed the blog. The blessings of you being here are true to me, and I hope you are blessed at times in stopping by.

Our God is truly an awesome God. He blesses us in so many ways to learn and grow in Christ. I thank you all for allowing me to be a small part in your life – and I thank our God for the wonderful opportunities.

Thanks and God Bless, Bill

The Lord Will Answer Those Who Thirst

/ Bill Jones / 4 Comments

Hanging Basket Closeup

Here’s a close up shot Sharon took several weeks ago of the hanging basket on the back porch. That was before the weather got really hot, and it’s struggling these days. I don’t seem to be able to give it all the water it needs.

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.” Isaiah 41:17 ESV

Bean Poles and Helping Others in the Wilderness

/ Bill Jones / 2 Comments

Bean Pole

Here is my first ever bean pole structure. I never got around to it until this year. I saw several fancy ones in catalogs but finally settled on getting some 1 x 2’s and attaching them to a top piece. I used bird netting around the bottom third to give the vines a place to start.

The structure worked out great, and the plants did well. I did learn that I let the beans go longer than I should have. They ended up being pulpy and a little stringy – I’ll pick them sooner next year.

Next, I’ll be looking for something to plant on it for the fall (any ideas?).

“(They) brought beds, basins and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”” 2 Samuel 17:28-29

This passage occurs when King David and his followers are running from his son, Absalom, who started a rebellion against him. Those who saw their need, brought food and utensils to help them in their trial. Perhaps we can find someone who has a need in their wilderness, and help them (even something as simple as beans may be just the thing in some cases).