Tag Archives: tears

Liquid Prayers

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Is there a wrong way to pray?
It seems to me we’re invited to pray in all kinds of ways.

Pray in the Spirit  in every situation.
Use every kind of prayer and request there is.
Ephesians 6:18

We can pray spontaneously from the heart or speak words that the saints have used for centuries.

Our prayers can be praise and thanksgiving or confession and repentance.

We can pray on our knees or stand with our hands raised high.

We can pray at set times or anytime.

We can sing for joy or lament in sorrow.

We can use lots of words or no words at all.

When we don’t know what to pray, “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26) Groans can be prayers.

When all we have is tears, that’s enough.

“Let us learn to think of tears as liquid prayers.”
(Charles Spurgeon)

Perhaps tears are the most precious prayers.

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8

So whether you’re coming to God today
with shouts of praise or groans and tears,
know that He hears all kinds of prayers.
There’s not a wrong way to pray.
Just come.

How Many Tears?

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When I was little, I heard tales about my older cousins that I’m not sure are verifiable, but they made memorable stories. As I am the youngest in that generation, there’s a possibility that by the time the recounting got to me, there was a bit of embellishment.

One such story was that when my cousin cried and refused to be consoled, my aunt would place a potted plant before her and say, “If you’re not going to stop crying you might as well put those tears to good use and water the plants.” My aunt didn’t believe in wasting tears.

ivy

I cry at weddings.

I cry when saying goodbye to loved ones.

I cry during Hallmark commercials.

I rarely cry over my sins.

Rarely, meaning, I can’t remember the last time I wet my cheek with penitent tears.

“….and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.” Luke 7:38

How many tears did it take to wash His feet?

tears

Little confession of little sin results in little love.

“He who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47

Who weeps over their own sin anymore?

Is it any wonder that love falters in our world?

Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way.

Search me and try me, Savior today.

Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now,

As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Tears

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I go into my room, sit in my chair and set out to pray for this desperate, broken, sad world which God so loves.

Words don’t come.

How does one pray for the world?

Finally I say, “Father, show me Your heart for the world.”

And sudden tears spring to my eyes, taking me by surprise.

Oh, I see.

Your heart weeps for the world.

And I wonder, will God be just as relieved and happy as the rest of us when the new heaven and new earth finally arrive?

Does the promise of no more tears apply to God as well?

When He wipes every last tear from our eyes, will that also be the end of our Father’s tears?

god so loved

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  Revelation 21:4