Million Praying Women

There is a quotation attributed to King Alfred the Great that has walked with me these past weeks. Or, I smile, should I say instead, rode with me? If thou hast a fearful thought, share it not with a weakling, whisper it to thy saddle-bow, and ride forth singing.

It goes right along with Christian's journey to the celestial city in Pilgrims Progress, a book I've never read through from beginning to end but rather absorbed scene by scene. Christian is at the foot of the hill called Difficulty. At the bottom is a spring of cool fresh, pure water. Christian drinks deeply to refresh himself and then begins to climb the hill. And-he goes up singing.

Sometimes it seems like we come to one of those hills almost daily. Some of them are small hills that simply brim to the top with the grinding repeat of life's dailies. Others loom bigger, a grandson loses a best friend, a still bigger hill, a son or daughter faces surgery. Then one the size of a mountain; someone we trust makes a decision that blows up in front of him. Some of the shrapnel hits us in the face. But each of us has a choice to make. We can face our hill of difficulty by drinking deep from God's Word and taking the first step upward-with a song in our heart-or we can turn aside.

We see the ministry of singing in action when the Moabites and Ammonites came to make war on Jehospaphat, King of Judah. Before the people went up to battle they stood before God. When He told them what to do they obeyed. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22: Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, they were defeated.

Going forth in obedience, and singing as we go, gives us strength and power to climb the hill of difficulty. Therefore, let us climb singing. Or as King Alfred the Great puts it, let us ride forth singing.

PRAYER:
Courage, Lord, how we need it. Courage to face difficulties, courage to climb mountains, courage just to simply go forth singing into a new day. But Lord you have called us to give the sacrifice of praise. We do it now out of simple obedience. Praise be to your Holy Name for your love that endures forever, for your grace that keeps on reaching downward to us, your people. We praise you that you all-powerful, all-good and that you purposed to save us before the world even began. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus, thank you, Holy Spirit.

Lord, we also praise you for what you are even now doing in the hearts of the men we love. Teach them that you are powerful and worthy of praise. Teach them to make melody in their hearts to you Lord for you are great. Give them words to sing forth your praises wherever they might be on their climb upward. Open a fountain of joy in their hearts as they ride forth singing into their week. In Jesus' Name, Amen.