How Molly Prays

"Let there be a waiting that is full and plump and beautiful,

that is just soaking and brewing to make a beautiful pot

to pour out for You, steeping excited in the richness

in the whole infusion of the tea You're making in us."

Gentle Knocking

As soon as I invited Jesus to enter my heart I recognized that He had been knocking at the door of my heart for a long long time. I didn't know what that knocking was until I responded to it, then I realized that the knocking was a warm, familiar old friend. Jesus, Savior, standing like a stranger in the night, out in the rain - as if my window were so important that anyone would want to stand under it - serenading me with his gentle, unperturbed, patient silence, simply waiting for me to be ready.

Lately I have become attuned to a new knocking at the door of my heart, and I know exactly what it is. I recognize in it an invitation from the Holy Spirit to worship. I have become attuned to how I postpone responding to this precious invitation, how I distract myself with competing activities, how I wait for the knocking to settle down and leave me alone, how I check in later and am relieved that the one at the door has finally given up and gone home.

But somehow the knocking is coming into focus, emerging from a fog of vagueness into the forefront of my thoughts. I can talk about it now. It is a phenomenon now, a subject to write about, an issue to bring up in conversation. I am turning to face it, I am walking toward the door. I am turning the knob, I am inviting the Holy Spirit in for a nice leisurely visit. I am putting aside my knitting, switching off the TV and tuning in to what my "guest" has to say. Holy Spirit says, "Worship more!" And in that message I also recognize an answer to prayer.

How many times have I asked the Lord to show me His heart? How many times have I asked the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me, to set my feet in the right direction? How many times have I asked for more faith, a deeper walk? Any number of prayers have come forth from my mouth, and this invitation is the answer. I will grow more faith, walk closer to the Lord, find relief from the stresses, have greater clarity and certainty about God's will for me, if I just spend more time in worship. The reward is there. The answers are there.

Do I have the stamina to stay awake in the garden, to stand vigil with my Lord as He prays? Do I have enough desire to commune with my God to fight off inertia, to overcome my laziness, and go that strange new path with no tools, no computer, no pencil and paper even, no guitar or cell phone, just my heart of worship?

The Gift of Giving

When I worked in a flower shop I found that there were flowers that were fresh on Saturday, but wouldn't make it through Sunday to be fresh still on Monday. So when I joined my church I asked a local flower shop if they would donate such flowers for our Sunday morning worship. This shop agreed to do so, and has been faithful to donate every Sunday for almost three years, and I have the dear pleasure of preparing a small fresh arrangement for Sunday services each week.

One Sunday I sat in church during services and gazed at the lovely flowers I'd arranged with such care. I was filled with joy to be able to worship the Lord in this way. I said to God in my mind, "I am so happy to be able to give you this gift!"

God answered me that day most clearly. He said, "You give me this gift? Don't you mean that I give you this gift?" I could only answer, "Yes, Father. You give to me, that I may give back to you."

Truly, even our praise of God is by His grace and is a gift from Him. As the hymn says, "Thou must light the flame, or never can my love be warmed to praise."

"Lord, my spirit's ardent feelings vainly would my lips express.
Low before thy footstool kneeling, deign thy suppliant's prayer to bless;
Let thy grace, my soul's chief treasure, Love's pure flame within me raise;
And, since words can never measure, let my life show forth thy praise!"