Articles and thoughts by Steve Green.
Scotty’s prayer, and mine too.
January 4th, 2010
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:19-24
Most caring Father, another day and another fresh batch of your mercies greet me, even before sunrise. You are simply astonishing! I gladly join Jeremiah in calling to mind your great love and your great faithfulness. In fact, I’m in a far better position to do so than he was. For Jeremiah lived looking forward to the coming of Jesus and the fulfillment of the promises of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). But I live on this side of that blessed event. How much quicker should I be to praise you, and how much greater should my hope be?
Lord Jesus, the only reason I’m not consumed by God’s just judgment against my sin is because you were judged and consumed in my place on the cross. God has forgiven all my wickedness and will never remember my sins against me, (Jer. 31:34), because you became sin for me, (2 Cor. 5:21). Thus, I look at you and loudly proclaim, “The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jer. 33:16), the Lord, my righteousness!
Father, it’s because of this gospel, this good news, that I also join Jeremiah in remembering and lamenting my wanderings. Though I have the blessed assurance that one Day I will never ever be tempted again to sin, that Day in is the future. This side of that Day, honesty keeps this song on my lips, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” If that’s not insanity, I don’t know what is. Indeed, sin is quintessential craziness.
So, Abba, Father, when I lose gospel-sanity and my heart wanders away, even for a moment, make the gall more galling, make the bitterness more bitter, make downcast feel even more downcast. I don’t want to ever get used to being disconnected from you and the gospel.
In view of your steadfast love and fresh mercies for me in Jesus today, I also join Jeremiah in saying, “The LORD is my portion.” I will wait for you, my God. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ name.
(Scotty Smith is Founding Pastor of Christ Community Church, Franklin, TN, the church Marijean and I have been a part of for 20 years)
6 Comments »
Very Powerful - thanks for sharing
Comment by Jeff Hooper — January 5, 2010 @ 3:15 pm
What a beautiful prayer…if prayers can be that…more likely beauty in honesty. Today I received a call from work and learned of the going home of a dear friend and fellow intercessor.
I know that Barb was ready to meet Jesus. There is nothing like the communion of saints.
This prayer speaks to me of that.
Barb and I shared many prayers together, over 30 years. Oh how she loved Steve Green music…even sitting in the choir loft at Moody Church with your back to those seated there for the packed concert!
Thanks for sharing this entry, Steve and allowing me to remember this dear Moody alum, a true servant of Jesus.
IN Him,
Natalie
Comment by Natalie Kleefisch — January 5, 2010 @ 8:21 pm
Steve,
What a great prayer, I am currently studying the book of Romans, and I had just read Chapter 7, and how through the law we have become conscious of sin, and that the same law that would bring us life in following it, brings us death in our shortcomings. But as in this prayer, there is great hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, that in Him, there is a hope for our Spirit to live and walk in the light of the Lord, even though our flesh desires to do what we oughtn’t. “But God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us.” Thank you for sharing that prayer of Hope!
Comment by Carlos Santiago — January 8, 2010 @ 2:04 pm
A life situation has recently caused me to struggle with and realize how I was focused on the situation and myself, rather than giving it to God. The focus on “me” caused some “angst” that reared its head outwardly as “glimpses” of anger. As with the prayer above, I experienced my own bitterness and gall - all because I focused on me.
A couple of days into my focus on self I “happened” to listen to “Oh, I Want to Know You More” and found myself convicted of my own pride. It took just a few moments into the song to be gently made aware of being caught in the “mire of self” and being bought by “worldly wealth.” The inner “breeze” of the spirit began to blow, convicted me and refocused my heart on my relationship with God and His love, rather than the situation and my personal, selfish reaction to it.
It was a blessing for this song to remind me of my own “wandering” - that my “self” was responsible for my downcast feelings - and that the reconnection to God was my salvation in this (and every) circumstance.
Prone to wander….and thankful for the God who comes after his lost sheep.
Comment by Doug — January 9, 2010 @ 3:21 pm
Dear Mr. Green,
I have been listening to your music since 1997…a friend introduced me to your songs. I have recently been learning more about prayer and came accross “The great House of God” by Max Lucado. It was neat to see him use an idea of a “floor plan” as I just graduated from architecture school. Your songs have reached many and may the Lord continue to strengthen you and put his blessing hands over you and your family. The song household of Faith is a great song for ministries who are reaching out to the younger generation regarding emotional purity, waiting on the Lord for spouse, and how to “throne” God in one’s heart while waiting on God in the area of marriage (to name a few of these ministries http://emotionalpurity.blogspot.com, http://www.setapartgirl.com/home.html, http://www.boundless.org etc.). The song is one that I have been praying for now as you have ministered to my heart that in marriage in the future, I bid the reflection of God’s face in my home and also that this song continues to resignate through ministries and the heart of others here in the States and around the world…
Today as we listen to the continuing “child births” going on in our world, at this particular time in Haiti, I thank you for this prayer… I will be recording it in my prayer journal Mr. Steve! May we continue to “throne” God in our hearts always…may God bless you and continue to speak words in your heart.
Blessings,
Minga Grace
Comment by Minga Ndjerareou — January 14, 2010 @ 3:43 pm
Dear Steve, I was listening to ‘Proclaim the Glory of the Lord’ one day - bought the soundtrack and sang it at church about 16 years ago - I was twenty then. The church was in shock that I could sing cos I was a quiet guy and your songs gave me a voice to express myself and allowed me to be dynamic with the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Since that day I have been singing all your songs including ‘God and God Alone’ at my music graduation and ‘He Holds the keys’ - yes I sang that song too!. My favourite is still ‘When his Kingdom comes’ - I am still singing your songs and my dream is to meet you one day. Please pray for me to be used more in His ministry in South Africa.
You have inspired me and many christians - we may be thousands of kilometres apart - but the word of God still keeps us together - thank you
Neil
Durban
South Africa
Comment by Neil — February 5, 2010 @ 10:22 am