Revelation Chapter 5

Revelations Chapter 5
“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands , and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ “
Revelations 5:11-12, NKJV
 
A Prayer Over Our Children
Father God, may the voice of my child one day join with the voices of Your angels in the praise and worship of You. For You are the triumphing Lion of Judah and Root of David. Let her fall before You with prayers rising to join those of the saints on Your Most Holy Hill. May her mouth sing a new song proclaiming Your worthiness to every tongue, tribe, people, and nation.
     May You, who is worthy to take the scroll and open the seals, be Lord of her life. Purchase her with Your slain blood and make her a kingdom and priest for Your service to reign victoriously on the earth. Oh God, let her unite with the voices of thousands and tens of thousands of worshipping angels. With all that is within her, let her join in the singing of every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea in their praise of You. For You are the Lamb who sits on the throne and who receives praise, honor, glory, and power forever. Amen.
 
Good-bye
 
     Tears drip down my cheeks. I taste the salt water on my tongue. I cannot stop crying. The pain hurts too deep. The wound is too raw. I jump on the trampoline. Higher and higher my legs propel, straining for the sky. With my tears, I will worship You, I silently cry. Water welled and pooled in the corners of my eyes. My hair grazed the tree branches above, but I do not care. Take my pain as my offering, my spirit implores.

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     My nose snuffles. I am trying to control the trail of water down my face. But, I cannot. A river freely flows. Down my cheeks, down my lips, down my chin the tears drip. On my cell phone, I select a song. Pour out Your blessing, oh God, I silently beg.
     Taller I soar, willing my legs to greater heights. I turn my face to the sun, praying the words of the song with every breath. May Your favor be upon me, Lord, all that was within me cried, Shine Your face upon me. Legs vaulted, muscles strained, and body climbed.
     Be gracious to me, Lord. Turn Your face to me, oh God. My face lifted to the sun as my body hurtled upwards, then down. My heart cried out to God. Tears continued to waterfall.
     “Amen,” my voice broke, “Amen …” Wind rustled my hair. My legs sprang high and my feet landed low.
     “Father,” I breathed, “It is so, Lord.” The sun kissed my cheeks. The birds sang their songs. The muscles in my legs coiled and sprang. Salty rivers carved tributaries down my skin.
      “Amen, amen,” I sobbed to the sky. “Amen.” The wind whispered through the mesh walls of the trampoline. The thick springy canvas expanded beneath my feet hurtling me upwards once more. Words from the song washed over me, forming a prayer on my lips.
     “Let your favor be upon me God, on my family, on my children,” my spirit pleaded. “Go before me, oh God. Go behind me and all around me.” A hole ripped inside me. My fists clenched. For with these words I bid farewell. Yet simultaneously, I entreated God to still be with me. Be beside me, be all around me, be within me, be with me.
     My heart bled and tears streaked down my cheeks but the promises of God ministered and soothed. He is for you, He is for you, He is for you. These reminders swept over me, soaking deep within. Slowly, my empty, parched places filled as the Holy Spirit calmed and quieted my heart. Gentle whispers breathed across my soul bringing me to humble submission. Simple were the words but honest and real were they.
     I do not have to understand Lord, I do not need to understand, I finally yielded, all that I need to know is that You are for me. Like a shipwrecked sailor clinging to a lifeboat, I clung tight to these truths as life and breath. You are for me, oh God, you are for me. Again, and again my lips spoke these words, claiming these messages of hope and clothing myself in their mantle. But even as these words were proclaimed with every leap, labored muscle, and gasping breath, the resolution of agreement now burned within my soul.
     Amen, that You are with me and for me, my legs pushed high.
     Amen, even though I cry and the pain pierces, my arms reached.
     Amen, when I do not understand, my face strained with every muscle.
     Amen, though it grieves me to say good-bye, my breath breathed. Amen, because You are God and You are for me.
     Again, and again I let the verses of song and Scripture wash over my wounds. With every leap, I cried out to the Lord. And with every breath, He answered me out of His Holy Hill. Through tears mingled with the wind and sunshine, a new prayer emerged, shifting my focus.
     “Oh God, give me a pure heart, a clean heart,” I pleaded, “make my faith sincere and my conscience upright.” Once more my legs strained heavenward as my soul cried out to God. “Purify me, oh God, and make me clean again.” Tree branches rustled and birds sang. The mesh walls breathed in and out with the wind. Sweat trickled on my brow. But in the early morning heat amidst the quiet, God heard my cry and drew near.
     Pain still radiates core deep and tears still flow. But I trust that God is with me and that God is for me. And for now, this is enough. It can be painful to say good-bye. But sometimes, in the face of farewell, God may be clearing the way for something greater. When we part with a dream, a hope, or a person, the pain is real. But God is there to comfort us. He is there to wrap His arms around us. Even when we are without words and our tears have nowhere to go but down. His tears wash us, they touch us, and they clean our innermost parts. He grieves with us as we grieve our losses. He holds us and He comforts us through Him simply being who He is. Yahweh. God. The great I am.
     Friends, sometimes life circumstances are difficult and painful. We come away bruised and battered. We come away even questioning. Yet, even though we may not understand the why of it all, all we need to understand is that God is with us and God is for us. When our doubt and inner turmoil threatens to consume us, hold onto these truths that you may not succumb. Instead, turn your tears and pain as offerings before the Lord rather than fist them away. For when we allow our pain and grief to separate us from God, we lose out on His greatest blessings. We miss out on the fullness of intimate communion and relationship with God when we pull away rather then press in. For it is from Him that we receive wisdom, strength, and power in our weakness and in our pain. Draw near Him so that you may experience the fullness of His comfort. Draw near Him so that He may gather You in His arms of love. Draw near to Him today.

Philips, Craig, and Dean - Revelation Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5_dzjSIySw
 
A Parents Prayer
Oh God, when my heart is heavy, help me draw near. Let my pain, doubt, and anger not separate me from You but press me deeper into the fold. Help me to trust You, even when I do not understand and my heart breaks. Be for me, oh God and be with me. Amen.
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