Title: You Seek God
Contents
you want God
Psalm 42:6-11
The circus is now on the decline, but in the past, the circus was a great attraction. In those days, when there was no TV and it was not easy to find a movie theater, the circus hall was a mysterious garden that children definitely want to visit. There, Pierrot was there, breathtaking stunts and magical magic were performed, and I was able to see the adorable animals to my heart's content. So, the circus troupe's tent was set up in the market place, and the circus members dressed in posters promoting the circus marched with drums and trumpets, and the children were eager to see the circus.
But what if you want to see it? It would be nice if they showed the circus for free, but the entrance fee was not cheap. So many children roamed around the tent, filling their stomachs listening to the shouts and applause from within.
However, there are bound to be courageous children among them. In the evening, taking advantage of the darkness, they try to get inside the tent by uncovering the weak part of the tent. However, most of these reckless attempts were caught on patrol by the security guard, and they had to turn around after getting a stingy sword.
But every time a circus troupe came to a certain town, strangely, there was a child who came out to watch the performance without admission. Other children get caught trying to trespass and turn around in tears, but this one doesn't fail. So my friends asked me the secret, and in return, they told me how to get candy and gum.
First, we set the timing right after the guard has passed. This is the 'time theory' that says that you can have plenty of time for one round trip.
The second is that you go in backwards, not looking forward. And when you lift up the tent and enter it, you push it in from the hip. This is the 'direction theory' that when discovered, it can appear as if it is trying to come out from the inside instead of going in from the outside.
Finally, when the security guard comes in front of you, he grimaces and says, “I want to go to the bathroom,” as if in a hurry. It is a ‘justification theory’ that gives reasons at the right time. Then, in nine out of ten times, the guard uncle said something like this. “You should go to the bathroom after talking through the front door!” Then, without looking at it, the upper body that was outside will be pulled in. This is the moment when the operation is successful.
In my opinion, the biggest secret to seeing a circus without money is ‘direction’. The strategy of looking outward and pulling in from the buttocks worked. It's a funny story, but it contains a very important lesson.
Guys, no matter what you do, direction is important. Because where you are heading will determine the outcome of tomorrow. The same goes for prayer life. ‘Which direction are you looking in? What are you looking at?’ is the most important factor in prayer. However, there are many people who do not look to God while praying, but only to themselves. There are believers who pray only for really trivial things for the purpose of prayer.
In verse 11 of today's text, the protagonist concludes his prayer by confessing like this. “My soul, why are you discouraged, and why are you anxious within me? you look to God Rather, I will praise my God, who helps my face.”
Guys, when do we become discouraged? Are you getting anxious again? When the direction in which I am standing is not toward God, I become anxious and discouraged. The main character has realized the secret. That's why you turn right and say, "My soul, hope in God." Today we came to pray through the hours of the night. The important thing in this place of prayer is ‘direction’.
? In which direction is the path of your heart now? In today's text, I hope you will learn to pray in the right direction, hoping only for God.
■ First, remembering God in every moment of life is the basis for prayer in the right direction.
In verse 6, the protagonist of this poem confesses: “My God, I remember you in the land of Jordan, in Hermon and on Mount Misar, because my soul is discouraged within me.”
Perhaps this person is in a very dangerous predicament right now. There are people chasing after their lives, and they are running around. I feel death chasing after me like a shadow. So I confess that I am disappointed. He wandered through the Jordan land to avoid the threat, went up to Mount Hermon, and then took refuge in Mount Misal again.
However, what is important is the fact that this person ‘remembers God every moment that death pursues’. This should be the basic foundation of a person who prays. Anyone who says, 'Mom!' when shocked by a sudden event is already wrong. The cry of ‘Lord!’ or ‘Heavenly Father!’ should come out of the person’s mouth when something dangerous happens.
If you think, 'How is that one word so important?', you are mistaken. This single word that is uttered unconsciously proves the direction in which the person's mind is usually held. Even if there are happy things, we must think of God. Even when we encounter heartbreaking things, we must think of God. Even if a crisis comes and you are being chased to the Jordan, Hermon, and Mt. Missal, you must be able to think of God moment by moment. This is the faith that is the basic foundation of prayer.
※ There is a movie called The Sound of Music. It is a masterpiece that is so impressive that no one has seen it except for very old people, but among the scenes in this movie, the most tense scene is the ?pon?t.