Praying . . .

Like a man after Yah's own heart.  Not that I am implying gender role issues in this very serious matter, but rather as people of the most High Elohim [EL ElYon] we do have an amazing collection of prayers written by the man who was called a man after Yah's own heart.  The Psalms, most of them, were written by King David.  Many, I'm sure, have written articles and books on praying the Psalms, as it is powerful!  There's no vain repetition here, unless we choose to just give lip service, as these prayers are deep.  Some of the Psalms are jubilant praise, while others come from the depth of despair.  The Psalms literally contains a prayer for nearly every issue any of might face.  Let's consider David's experiences and what probably brought joy as well as grief to his heart.

The first we know of young David was the fact he was a shepherd boy that had killed a lion and a bear.  That was his proposed qualification for facing Goliath.  
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living Elohim.  I Samuel 17:36  Most of us learned how that turned out, at a very young age.  It really didn't take much church or synagogue attendance to learn about the little shepherd boy with a sling shot; that slew the giant!  We also soon learn that he became the son-in-law of King Saul, but that marriage wasn't his memorable one.

King David was a mighty warrior, and even when Saul had turned on him, he still showed respect for the King.  Once the kingdom passed from Saul to David, David committed a couple of very grievous sins.  He lusted after another man's wife and acted upon that lust.  Bathsheba is often blamed by the religious folk, but considering she was on the roof bathing, she may not have known anyone was watching.  Torah commanded that Israel build a parapet around the roof for safety, and she may have never considered herself to be within anyone's view.  Obviously when David sent for her, she realized she'd been seen, but there were pretty serious consequences for refusing a King's order, so I'm just not sure how that scenario actually unfolded, but we do know there was adultery, and . . . ultimately murder.  The child that was conceived that night, died at a week old.  I'm sure David had some moments of heaviness and regret throughout his life over that fateful rendezvous, yet it was the second son with Bathsheba who would rule Israel in great wisdom, through years of peace and build the Temple.

David also experienced dysfunction in his family with a son trying to kill him, and a son raping a daughter, not to mention more than one wife to deal with and a son who planned to usurp the throne from the one to whom it was promised.   David ruled over Israel for 40 years.

He had times of great blessing and closeness with YHWH, but he also sinned.  King David knew how to pray . . . We are blessed to be able to read his prayers and undoubtedly all can relate to at least one of his circumstances. The Psalms are the spiritual solution the many emotional issues that plague humanity.
I will declare the decree: YHWH hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.  Psalm 2:7

The Puny Princess

I certainly can't complain about my health.  Like most folks in my age range, there are a few things that just don't work like they used to.  Also like many folks, I certainly wish I'd taken better care of myself when I was younger.  If I were a vehicle, I'd say I put on too many miles on rough terrain and now the warranty is up, but thankfully I'm a work of the Creator's hand.  I'm doing a lot more than many and certainly feel better than I deserve to.

My grand uncle used to say he'd rather wear out as rust out . . . which brings me to this week's topic.  I've mentioned before that I have MS and RA.  I don't suffer nearly as bad as many do with these auto-immune diseases, but these afflictions do remind me of their presence, regularly.  This past week, the RA really made itself known, thus the title.  The rheumatoid arthritis knocked me for a bit of a loop.  I still got my pumpkin canned and met my usual responsibilities; well most of them, but I was in pain.  I didn't have as much strength as I'm used to and I found myself struggling with tasks that had never before been an issue.  Now when that happens, the first thought that invades my brain is the idea that it may never get better.  It's always going to be this difficult and painful.  I do my best to cast that thought out, as that is just borrowing trouble.  I'm not a good patient.  I get on my own nerves when I don't feel up to par.

You may disagree with me on this, but I believe most acquired illness has a spiritual root, and emotional factors.  I'm not talking about congenital issues, but acquired issues.  There are just too many examples in Scripture in which Messiah connected wellness and forgiveness; to ignore.  Then there is the fact that in the Hebrew Scriptures, the people were instructed to present their maladies to the High Priest, not to mention James 5:15.   As a natural health practitioner, I always seek our Creator in helping others and I've done some real soul searching regarding my own health.

I fully attribute my MS to internally melting down as a coping mechanism.  It may be something else for others, but that makes total sense in my life and situation.  In handling this disease from that perspective, I've let go of a number of battles that are not mine and although Abba has not chosen to grant me a full healing at this time, I'm very blessed to continue to be quite functional.  My gait is a bit awkward, and I'm a bit of a klutz, but I rarely suffer the fatigue so many experience.   I've dealt with many others who suffer RA and there is nearly always an underlying embrace and rejection issue.  A sort of push/pull situation in their life.  As it turns out, I'm not 'an exception to this theory.

As I've sought to have Abba's love in me, or to love as He loves, the reality has hit that I'm still guarded in a few areas of this endeavor.  He's placed me in the perfect situations to love without necessarily being loved in return, or worse, but I'm not yet fully trusting His protection in those situations.  This emotional push pull reality is more of a spiritual outreach or attempted embrace, then shield, withdraw or recoil.  It's not easy to do what Messiah did and what He taught.  This "loving our enemy" business is painful, especially when we try to protect ourselves.   Hopefully, now that I've actually recognized it, I'll be able to love without fear, and trust Abba for the protection.  This is not a "name it and claim it," "blab it and grab it," "declare and decree" statement, but a simple statement of fact of faith.  RA will not continue to make this princess feel puny!