"Precious"
It's been one of those seasons. I was hospitalize three times. My son broke his foot and can't drive, his wife doesn't have her driver's liscense yet. So right now they're dependent on his parents (actually me) and his sister to drive them around. But my daughter just received the results of her MRI, and the hernia is so large in one of the disks in her back the doctor wants to remove the disk. She's just 30 and this is very scary for her, and we don't know how much longer she can be a chauffeur. My husband and I are leaving the first of next week for missions work in India and won't be here for either of our children. The doctors have discovered my dad has two aneurisms and needs surgery. A friend's son the same age as my daughter was found dead. Okay...I'll stop. It doesn't do either one of us any good to list the "stuff" going on right now. Lets just say, there's been some tears shed...tears of concern for my family and friends. But they weren't precious tears. I've probably shed buckets full of tears in my lifetime, tears of sorrow, concern, frustration, anger and self pity. I wonder many of the tears in those buckets were precious tears? If I were to be honest right now , I'd have to say, not many. What about you? Please consider with me the following word picture from the Lord.
Picture…a glorious palace where everything is gold, not gold overlay, but pure gold. I cannot even begin to describe how beautiful it was. Sitting on an exquisite display table of gold and ivory there were crystal jars many were filled with all manner of precious stones. There were diamonds, rubies, jasper, sapphires, emeralds, opals, tanzanite, topaz and more that I couldn't’ identify. I asked God, “What is with all these beautiful diamonds and jewels?” He said, “Watch.” I saw an angel take an empty crystal jar and fly down to earth where there was a saint of God weeping for souls. The angel collected the tears that were being shed by the intercessor, put them in the crystal jar and then flew back to the throne room of God. When the angel placed the jar on the display table, the tears had already turned into precious stones.
Hear…the Lord say, “The tears and the prayers of my saints are very, very precious to me. Understand that all of the tears you have shed for my kingdom and my purpose have been stored in heaven. They are like money in the bank for you.”
Consider: Did it seem strange to you for God to say, “money in the bank?” Sometimes God uses words like “saints” that is not a part of our normal vocabulary, but understandable to us. But there are times when God uses words and phrases that are very normal for us and maybe even a bit nonreligious. God does this when he wants to make his word clear to us. So what does “Money in the bank” mean to you? To me it means that that if you need to write a check there is money in the bank to cover it. And the prayers you have prayed and the tears you have shed for the kingdom of God have given you an account with God. I believe He is telling you, that whatever you ask in my Name, that I will do for you. You are rich beyond measure. You need just to ask. Write the check and I’ll cover it for you.”
Prayer: “Father, I know that I shed a lot of tears, but not all of them are for souls or your purposes. Thank you for reminding me that tears that are shed on behalf of others in prayer are very precious to you. But I need you to remind me when all I seem to be doing is crying on my own behalf. I know that you do not mind one bit. You love me, and you want me to pour out my complaint to you. You would rather that I come crying to you, then sit in darkness keeping it all to myself. But those tears dry on my face with no more effect than just a release of some of my hurt. Although you don’t mind, they really don’t help me a whole lot. Give me a tender heart for souls, your loving compassion for people who have yet to learn of that love. Help me to pray with your concern for others. I want to weep for those that you weep for…and not just because I want money in the bank. I want to partner with you in the ministry of tearful intercession for lost, hurt and dying souls. I love you; help me to love others with the depth of compassion that brings tears. In Jesus Name, Amen.”
posted by pastorc @ 2:55 PM
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