‘No matter how much we suffer
No matter our doubts
No matter how angry we get
No matter how many times we have asked in desperation, ‘how long?’
Prayer develops finally into praise.
Everything finds its way to the doorstep of praise.’ – Tim Keller
We maneuver, strive, fight and expend ourselves hoping to strong-arm our circumstance into submission. Hoping that our changing circumstance will give birth to praise.
But the doorstep of praise can be this very moment.
Because the doorstep of praise is an altar of revelation and response:
‘…I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up… And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!’ (Is 6:1,5)
This is an altar where we offer our whole self – not just the best parts of us – but even our suffering, doubts, anger and desperation (Rom 12:1, Matt 22:37).
We come to this doorstep of praise, this altar, when we recognize who God is and who we are:
‘…God is in heaven, and you are on earth, therefore let your words be few.’ – Ecc 5:2
Lord, help us to cease from our striving and offer everything back to You upon the altar, the doorstep of praise. You are worthy of no less than all we are, and all we have, even the hidden places of contempt can be offered back in view of Your mercy. Here we are, Lord. In Christ name, amen.
Offering,
AB