Excerpts from Buried Treasures From the Fields of Life

Weekends, however, are a different story.  It seems that all those tired bodies I have to drag out of bed on weekdays, have a supernatural burst of energy come Saturday morning.  Everybody is "up-and-at-em" bright and early, usually starving, and ready to discuss all the latest topics.  Unless I get up before the roosters, it is often difficult to find a quiet time.     

It's amazing, that when I am busy about my daily routine, I barely notice the everyday noises like cereal bowls and coffee cups.  However, when I'm trying to ignore everything and pray, the tiniest sounds are magnified.     

The cereal coming out of the box reverberates like an avalanche.  Milk being poured brings visions of Niagara Falls.  Even sugar being sprinkled in the other room, some thirty feet away, sounds like a winter hailstorm.  With each scrape of the spoon across the bottom of the bowl, I think of fingernails on a chalkboard.     

It seems so difficult to prohibit all this from my hearing and concentrate on my prayers.  Often it's impossible to focus.  At times, I've become annoyed with myself for thinking of things when I'm praying, that I otherwise can't remember when I need to.       

Don't forget to get furniture polish and buy weed killer for the yard.  Or, there's a sale today at the mall, (of course that could be divine intervention).  If I allow it, these thoughts will invade my brain and take over my thinking.     

A good friend once recommended I keep a note pad handy when I pray.  She said, "When something comes to mind, just jot it down.  Get it out of the way and continue on."  This has proven to be of tremendous benefit.       

The Bible teaches that we are to enter into our closets and pray.  We must somehow learn to shut out the world and bring our thoughts into captivity, in order to have an unencumbered prayer life.  (2 Corinthians 10:5)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.       

We should, likewise, investigate other things that hinder our prayers.  While it may pleasantly remove a tremendous amount of guilt to blame Satan for all hindrances, more than likely, we are at the helm of responsibility.     

What breaches the flow of our prayers?  (Isaiah 59:2)  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.      

Most of us can quote Psalms 66:18 from memory: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.  Even if we know we are not regarding INIQUITY in our heart, we still have to understand that other things can hinder our communication with God.     

In Zechariah 7:13 we find STUBBORNNESS is a factor; Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts.     

Proverbs 1:28-29 refers to APATHY; Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:  For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.       

James 4:3 addresses SELF-INDULGENCE; Ye ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lust.     

We know that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, (James 5:16) and we know that our prayers are heard if we are repentant, (Isaiah 58:9, 65:24).  So, why does it seem many prayers are not answered swiftly?  We already know what God can do.  We have seen His mighty works in times past.       

The Word tells us faith as small as a grain of mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20).  If we believe God is able to do a work, then we have faith.  Therefore, we can conclude that it may not be a lack of faith, but rather a lack of direction.  Sometimes we pray not in accordance with God's will, and our petitions are refused.  (Examples: Exodus 33:18,20, Deuteronomy 3:26).     

We must grow in prayer and the word of God until our thoughts align with His thoughts, and we pray what He wants us to pray.  (John 15:7)  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.     

Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit to help us find His will.  (Romans 8:26-27)  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.     

It is imperative that in these last days we take praying seriously, that we focus ourselves on intercession for a lost world, and align ourselves with God's word and will.  He cannot do the work He intends to do unless He has willing, holy vessels to work through.     

We live in a world full of distractions.  Everywhere we go we are bombarded with brain stimuli.  Every second is filled with sights and sounds that can easily rob our minds and spirits of tranquility, peace, and patience.  We must close our eyes to the seductions of this present world, just as we must enter our closets of prayer and shut out external noises.     

It would seem our modern conveniences serve more to unsettle our worlds than to make our lives easier.  Television and the Internet, while billing themselves as ways to stay updated on the latest news and technology, have robbed us of precious, valuable family communication.  Is it really so wonderful to immediately have the latest news when the news is usually bad?  Do we really want our children to know how many rapes and murders occurred overnight in our city?  Or do they rather need to know that: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble: and he knoweth them that trust in him (Nahum 1:7). 

Becky McQuaig

          Precious Lord, help us all to look past the sights and sounds that steal our attention and rob us of our day.  Help us to set our sights on You and not be distracted by this world; to lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us; to set our affections on things above and not on things below.       

Help us, Lord, to seek Your face and trust You; leaning not on our own understanding.  Help us, Lord, to remember that we walk by faith and not by sight.  In Jesus' name, I pray!   

Thankfuls 

In our family, we have created a nightly ritual of gathering before bedtime and doing Thankfuls, our word for a time of giving thanks to God.  This is when we individually state things we are thankful for that happened that day.  The importance of acknowledging God’s involvement in all our daily activities is always our priority!     

Many times, my mention is of divine help that took place in a work related situation or project.  Often, God provided solutions to questions I know I personally did not have the answers to.  And, of course, I always mention how thankful I am for the family God has given me.      

My daughter's first thankful is always for her mom and dad.  Because of a little coaxing from Becky and me, over time, she has become more aware of the blessings taking place in her own life, and has thus expanded her list to include more and more things.       

But it’s Becky that usually gives the best example of what being thankful really means.  She goes past the obvious and mentions things that are often overlooked, things like, "I'm thankful for the cool weather," and "I'm thankful for a pleasant day at work!"  Her thankfuls express sensitivity to the small things that are usually taken for granted.       

My concerns tend to be more physical, while hers are more emotional in content.  Mine are for the tangible, while hers are for the undercurrent of God's workings: good health, peace, and love.       

Among the three of us, we cover a broad spectrum of things for which we are thankful.  Nothing that happens is too minor, and everything is important.  We firmly believe God is in control of every circumstance that takes place in our lives, either by His ordering the situation or by allowing it to occur.        Romans 8:28 says, all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.     

The distinction between a trial and a blessing is often only differentiated by how we perceive it.  A trial can easily become a blessing if we learn to give God thanks in all things!  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20).  It’s our attitude that makes the difference!     

Our objective, in these nightly sessions, is to impress upon our daughter the importance of a dedicated prayer life, not only for the presenting of needs, but also for the giving of recognition and thanks for all God has already done.  It is imperative that our prayer life goes much deeper than just presenting need after need after need.  God is worthy of our THANKFULS!     

Do the thankfuls flow every night?  Hardly!  Some nights it's not much more than another ritual we force ourselves to go through.  Many times, we are weary and tired from the activities of the day, but we have purposed not to allow our physical condition to dictate our giving of thanks.       

If you haven’t developed a routine of “thankfuls” for your family, I encourage you to do so.  Not only is it a wonderful time for everyone to reflect on God’s goodness and blessings of the day, it is also a great opportunity for your family to share a time of love for one another.      

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you  (1 Thessalonians 5:18).        

Charles McQuaig  

Precious Lord, we have so much to thank you for.  You are faithful to provide.  Your promises are true.  Help us to be mindful of each and every blessing, both great and small.       

Help us to be thankful for the difficult times, as well as the times of abundance.  For it is in the dry season – in the trials, in our times of need that we truly realize how good you are to us.       

It is in our times of weakness that we grow in your Spirit, and your strength is made perfect.  Cause us to receive each day as a gift from you, and to use it wisely and for your Glory.