Daily Devotional by Yvonne Harmon

​Mark 9:7

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice,
“This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”

Jesus took Peter, James and John up to a high mountain and was transfigured before them. It was a wondrous sight. There was Jesus talking with Elijah and Moses, and he was glowing in a dazzling white. The disciples were frightened and searching for words that would explain what they were seeing. Verse 6 tells us, “They did not know what to say, for they were terrified”.Finally, Peter as always decided that the purpose they were there was to memorialize this great event. Peter shares with the disciples his plan; “let’s make a memorial, one for Jesus, one for Elijah and one for Moses”. After all it sounded like the logical thing. But then God spoke from heaven with the perfect answer; “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him”.

Many years ago a young lady come up to me one Sunday afternoon and shared with me the mess her life was in. When we said our goodbye’s my body felt like a weight had been dropped on me and was pulling me down into a chasm of despair. I never felt so powerless, as I did that day. When I got home I just fell to my knees and I prayed. The human side of me wanted to take action, to fight, I wanted to stop the hurt, I wanted to speak and everything would change. But I was powerless to do anything that would make a change in her life. Fast forward to today, our world is in so much turmoil and confusion. We are not sure what we are supposed to do during this time of quiet chaos. So we wait, and we listen, but are we really listening. It feels easier to find something to do rather than wait and listen for an answer from God”.

It is in hindsight that I realized that the best thing I could have done for my friend was to pray. One year later, the woman who stood before me on that day was not the same woman I now greeted. I saw the fruit of all those prayers because her life had taken on a newness that I can’t explain and she was so full with joy. Prayer allows us to share with God all the weight and burdens that we carry on our shoulders and he exchanges it for peace, comfort, rest and joy. He tells us to “take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”,(Matthew 11:29-30; NRSV) or “cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you” (I Peter 5:7; NRSV).

I was reading Eugene Peterson prayer quotes in which he shares his insights on prayer. Here is one of those quotes: “Prayer is the disciplined refusal to act before God acts”. This was a ah-hahmoment for me, “don’t act before God acts”. Are you wrestling with a problem that you don’t know what to do, pray, wait for a response and don’t act before God acts.

Have a little talk with Jesus; tell him all about our troubles,
He will hear our faintest cry, He will answer by and by
Feel a little prayer wheel turning; know a little fire is burning
Have a little talk with Jesus, he’ll make it right

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come as a child seeking direction on what to do in this season. You Lord know the beginning and the end of all things. So I come asking you to strengthen me to be able to endure. Prepare my heart so that when you call me to action, I will be ready to respond. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.