The Scum, and the Dregs

The scum, and the Dregs

In recent weeks, my heart has been stirred to learn how to pray more strategic. Not just my own wishes or hopes, but to pray the very heart of God on the matter. While I didn’t feel like a book that laid out some step by step process or procedure was what I was looking for, I opened my browser to see what was out there. I came upon a page of quotes by Lilias Trotter that I had discovered last year. (I have a bad habit of leaving a page open as a way to "save" it on my phone-- and some for a year or more at a time!!) Here is what she says:

“How all the tenor of helplessness and failure... is only meant to make way for the prayer-life of Christ in us, and in fellowship with Him in it which will "make all things new" - no longer a weary wrestling to get access and answers, but catching His thought and swiftly asking alongside in His Name - His the upper tone, ours the undertone so to fill in the harmony.

Praying down rather than praying up - that is the summing up... that the velocity and power of anything that comes down, gains in a ratio of high proportion with the height from which it drops: Even from an aeroplane, a pencil falling will take on the force of a bullet. What might not our prayer power be if it comes down from the throne of the Priest. “Prayer is the true and lasting will of the soul united and fastened into the will of our Lord by the sweet inward work of the Holy Ghost”— so it was defined by Mother Julian of Norwich 400 years ago (31 July, 1913)”  (Emphasis mine)

Yes!! Praying down rather than praying up. I found that Lilias wrote these words of reflection after listening to Samuel Zwemer at the International Sunday School Convention in Zurich in 1913. A little more digging, I unearthed a wonderful little booklet he wrote simply titled, “Prayer.”

This thirty page booklet packs a lot of potency. He writes about taking hold of God with our emotions. He says this:

“The psychology of prayer also includes taking hold of God with our emotions, our passions and our deepest feelings. We find them all in the prayers of David- awe, fear, sor­row, joy, love, hatred, jealousy, passion. All these emotions exercised in the right way find their place in secret prayer. Here they need not be stifled. The only cure for hypocrisy is to lay hold of the source of all sincerity-secret prayers. This is what David meant when he said, "Pour out your heart before Him." The scum, and the dregs. Paul makes reference in his Epistles once and again to his tears. It is worth while to look up the references.” (Emphasis mine)

Wow. Yes! I immediately thought of the note I found a little over a year ago that my Nana had sent to me when I was in a very dark and hard place, and dearly in need of “pouring my heart out” -- the scum, and the dregs.



:::::: from October 12, 2018 :::::::

Making some room in the closet this morning to put the air conditioner away, I found a plastic bin with old pictures. I was having a great time reminiscing, when this little card fell out of the mix of photos. From 2002 when I had to dropout of college the second time to go back into treatment for an eating disorder. Those years were so dark I hardly remember reading these notes from my Nana. She was a prayer warrior and a woman of deep faith. She never got to see my healing, but she never doubted. I’m not sure exactly how heaven works, but I believe she is in my cloud of witness; those of faith that have gone before me and who’s lives still bear fruit in my own life. And here, 16 years later these words still hold comfort as I feel afresh the sting of not having a degree in a time of unemployment. Some days I get weary of feeling like trauma has a way sinking it’s tentacles into so many aspects of life. What wisdom POUR OUT YOUR HEART— trauma kept in festers and worsens. When we empty our hearts to God, we have room to receive the joy.

Saturday--

Daddy just brought your address. He came to pick up Mark

So-- I want to get this to you today. 

I am sending you many prayers and much love!

I know God will never leave you or forsake you.

And He will get you through this time Victoriously!

This too shall pass Katie

you'll be able to comfort others with the comfort

He's given you.

We all love you so much and are rooting for you.

Hugs + much love

Nana

Monday Sept 2--

Dearest Katie, 

Thinking of you much and praying for you much!

God is faithful and will bring you through this!

I read this scripture this morning. Ps 62:8

"Trust in Him at all times, pour your heart before Him.

God is a refuge for us.

Weeping endures for a night but joy comes in the morning

There's much joy coming Katie

Just take Jesus' hand-- He will walk you through!

Hugs and much love

Nana