Salvation History

 

Yaquina Head Light is the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast. 

"Life is difficult," writes psychiatrist M. Scott Peck in the opening to his famous book, The Road Less Traveled. Peck explains, "This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult."

This truth applies to all of life, including the life of faith. I learned early on in my Christian life that faith differs from feelings. Faith is built on what we know to be true about God. We know truth through God's revealed actions in our lives. Through scripture. And through the Holy Spirit. 

Like an experienced mariner who knows that the lighthouse leads to safe harbor regardless of the fog, prayer is guided by faith. When prayer seems dry, take time to recall God's faithfulness in your history. Allow remembrance and gratitude to be your prayer. This can only be done in stillness. Be quiet and recall events, times and situations when you were aware of God's presence, protection and grace in your life. 

In the Old Testament, the people are commanded to retell the nation's salvation history from generation to generation, as in Psalm 78:

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob

    and established the law in Israel,

which he commanded our ancestors

    to teach their children,

6 so the next generation would know them,

    even the children yet to be born,

    and they in turn would tell their children.

7 Then they would put their trust in God

    and would not forget his deeds

    but would keep his commands.

8 They would not be like their ancestors—

    a stubborn and rebellious generation,

whose hearts were not loyal to God,

    whose spirits were not faithful to him.

Resource for this post:

3 Quiet Time Resources When Life is Hectic