Wisdom from Ages Past

One of my students gave me a most appropriate gift yesterday, considering my love of history: A book on the prayers and faith of our nation’s presidents.  This morning I read one of George Washington’s prayers, and was stunned by the spiritual depth, and passion expressed in it.  This is a prayer, Washington wrote in his journal when he was just twenty years old, long before he became the renowned Father of Our Country.

“I beseech thee…that as thou wouldst hear my calling upon thee in my prayers, so give me grace to hear the calling on me in the Word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace…Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, Gracious God, the good work for which thou hast sent it.”

I love the connection Washington makes between the offering of prayers to God, and the receiving of God’s message to us, through His Word.  Even as God hears our prayers, listens to our pleas, He also enable us to hear His message, and follow His direction.

I am also challenged by the all-encompassing work of the Word of God in our lives. Washington seemed to envision the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word as holistic in its power and scope. God’s Word working in us, give us direction, wisdom, power, and faith. God’s Word works in us to accomplish His great purpose!

I was thinking this morning on my walk about God’s Word being inspired–breathed from God through the prophets and onto paper for generations to hold, read, and know. God’s Word was inspired. And it still is inspired.  Every time I read it, God is breathing life from it into me!

Oh, the precious gift of God to have His Word. I am challenged afresh to value the Scriptures not just with lip-service, but with reverent study, praying as Washington did, that God would use His Word to accomplish His purpose in me.

 


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