Category: Prayer

Last weekend, I was blessed to have some extended quiet time with the Lord. He spoke to me beautifully about the power of quiet reflection. In the upcoming posts, I will be sharing some of the lessons He taught me during this special time spent in His presence.

Our lives are so full of busyness and noise. However, if we take time to step back and listen for the Lord’s voice in whatever environment we may find ourselves, we can be blessed and refreshed in a special way. This is a new way for me to encounter God–to experience Him with a quieted mind and heart, no matter how distracting my current surroundings may be. There is a certain power I discovered in this kind of communion with God. When you settle your mind before the Lord right where you are and tune in to His blessed presence, He can truly speak to you in a special way.

My personal favorite reflective exercise has been Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina is reading of the Word combined with reflection. It provides a great opportunity to draw closer to God as His Word penetrates deep into our hearts and minds. Such reflective time spent with God in nature is particularly refreshing. Our Lord speaks in a profound way when we encounter Him through His creation.

May you draw closer to the Lord and hear His voice today!

Samson is an interesting Biblical figure. He is usually portrayed as a strong, mighty hero, and his story is often listed among the top Biblical accounts.

However, upon closer inspection, it seems that Samson seems to have had more downfalls than victories. Although there were numerous instances in which he was “filled with the Spirit of the LORD,” he desecrated his holy Nazarite vow several times which implied disrespect for this sacred ordinance, got engaged to a Philistine woman, grieved his parents, and, finally, fell in love with another evil Philistine woman and revealed to her the secret source of his strength. And in all his career as judge, he was only listed to have “called on the name of the LORD” twice.

Although Samson was ordained by God to defeat the Philistines, and although God graciously filled him with His Spirit numerous times, Samson would probably not be the most exemplary Biblical role model for us to follow. As God’s children, we would not want to let God’s Spirit control only some of our actions and victories. We would desire to live a constant, prayer and Spirit-filled life, where our hearts are closer to God and where His Spirit controls our every action, thought, and word. We ought to call on Him always, not just in times of most desperate need. We would do well not to rely on ourselves or the qualities that we think make us strong, but rather lean on the One who is the only source of strength.

Meditating on the tragic story of Samson prompted me to write this prayer.

Lord, help me not to err like Samson,

Strong though he was.

Render me to be full of Your Spirit,

But not insensitive to His leading.

Grant me to call on You always,

Not just in times of dire need.

Help me not to violate my purity

By consorting with the world.

May I put You first,

Above my fleshly will.

Be my everything,

Not just my aid.

For I’d rather be weak, relying on Your strength,

Then able to knock down pillars,

Yet, at heart, be far from You.