BETWEEN TWO CITIES

“Old Man Praying” drawing by Vincent van Gogh on the left and painting by Rembrandt on the right.

No matter how old you are, how devout your are, or what faith you might have, if you desire to pray, prayer is not an easy thing to do with the mind and body we have to use, with all the distractions of daily life, undisciplined minds and itches, aches and pains. Prayer seems easier when you are older and time is coming to an end in this life. Prayer also seems easier right now for me as an American when a new Presidential administration has been installed to hopefully right the wrongs of the past, and gives us hope. All those in new leadership need our prayers, if you believe prayers of intercession for leaders are spiritually and materially advantageous for the nation, as I do and as the Scripture and the Apostle Paul urges us to do.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (English Standard Version)

The ideal attitude of prayer is to be in an eternal dimension of communication with our spiritual immaterial God, and it is an ideal with all the interference from the aforementioned distractions.

The first paragraph of the following Puritan Prayer about Prayer, describes that ideal attitude of prayer.

In Prayer O Lord, in prayer I launch far out into the eternal world, and on that broad ocean my soul triumphs over all evils on the shores of mortality. Time, with its glad amusements and cruel disappointments never appears so inconsiderate as then.

The remaining paragraphs of this Puritan prayer describe further attitudes, attributes and goals of Godly Christian prayer:
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IN PRAYER

In Prayer O Lord, in prayer I launch far out into the eternal world, and on that broad ocean my soul triumphs over all evils on the shores of mortality. Time, with its glad amusements and cruel disappointments never appears so inconsiderate as then.

In prayer I see myself as nothing; I find my heart going after You with intensity, and long with vehement thirst to live to You. Blessed be the strong gales of the Spirit that speed me on my way to the New Jerusalem.

In prayer all things here below vanish, and nothing seems important but holiness of heart and the salvation of others. In prayer all my worldly cares, fears, anxieties disappear, and are of as little significance as a puff of wind.

In prayer my soul inwardly exults with lively thoughts at what You are doing for Your church, and I long that You should get a great name from sinners returning to Zion.

In prayer I am lifted above the frowns and flatteries of life, and taste heavenly joys; entering into the eternal world I can give myself to You with all my heart, to be Yours forever.
In prayer I can place all my concerns in Your hands, to be entirely at Your disposal, having no will or interest of my own.

In prayer I can intercede for my friends, ministers, sinners, the church, Your kingdom to come, with greatest freedom, ardent hopes, as a son to his father, as a lover to the beloved. Help me to be all prayer and never to cease praying.

—- from Puritan Prayers. Click here for the online source of this Prayer

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In the midst of the past four years I composed the following prayer for wisdom in resolving the moral and political issues that emerged hour by hour, day by day, and even on weekends.

Prayer for Wisdom in Resolving Moral and Political Issues

Father in Heaven, give me guidance and discernment by your Holy Spirit in my efforts to resolve the moral conflicts and conflicting political issues in these difficult times in light of Scripture and in my role as a Christian in the world and a follower of your son Jesus Messiah.

Help me to be a light among my fellow Christians and my friends in the world and give me wisdom to rightly form my opinions in these matters and express them graciously and with humility. Let me be always ready to admit when I am wrong, and stand firm when I am convinced by your Word and your Spirit that I am right.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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I have not posted for quite a few months. I had open heart double bypass and aortic valve replacement surgery in June 2020, with an atrial flutter from the surgery, I had cardioversion to shock my pulse from 125-135 bpm to my normal between 55 and 65 bpm. Then after the heart surgery wounds healed, I had a cardiac catheter ablation to eliminate the atrial flutter permanently, followed by Mohs surgery for a spot of squamous cell carcinoma, “skin cancer”, on my forehead near the temple. God is good and now at age 72, He has apparently preserved my life for a few more years, I hope. I am now all healed from all of it, walking an hour a day, and back to normal, and was inspired to post something on this blog today. 

[I believe I have posted the photos and the prayers here at one time or another, but with the new dawn of hope in the nation and the world, I decided to post them again for those who might be interested or value them.]