Overwhelmed with my Creator

The crashing waves and the boisterous winds of this life can easily overwhelm the weary pilgrim. This morning in choir devotions, I began to listen as prayer request after prayer request was lifted up to the Lord. Lost loved ones, illnesses, discouragement, family situations. As the list grew, I felt myself become increasingly distressed. There were so many needs. There were so many situations. When it came time to pray, I simply stood there for a moment. I was overwhelmed. I didn’t even know where to begin or how to pray.

The thought suddenly came to my mind, “Lord, today I’m thankful that we can come into Your gates with thanksgiving and into Your courts with praise.”

This thought has been rolling through my mind throughout the day. Prayer is communication. It’s petition and worship. Intercession and thanksgiving. Listening and speaking. But it’s not just communication with anyone. It’s a direct line to the Creator of all things. Prayer is us boldly coming before the throne of grace. In a sense, it is us stepping through the gates into the courts of God. The veil has been rent. There is now access to the holy of holies, but how do we enter?

Do we enter with doubts and fears? Are our minds clouded by the thoughts of the day or the plans of tomorrow? Do we enter with our needs spilling from our lips as soon as we step into His presence? Do we step before the throne distracted and discontent? Are we in a hurry or are we willing to wait on Him?

For we are stepping into the very throne room of the Almighty. Praise should be flow as naturally as air when we enter in, but so often we forget the One whom we stand before. This King is holy. He is victorious and mighty. He is full of mercy and grace. He is righteous. He is faithful. He is the One who is powerful enough to meet our needs, but who also loves us enough to actually do something about them.

This King has blood that washes whiter than snow, scars that testify to a love that is greater than anything we’ve ever known, and stripes that attest to His healing power. He has a voice that calms the most violent of winds and waves, speaks to the outcast at the well, restores sight to the blind, delivers the demoniac at the tomb, puts the world into motion and commands His disciples to go. He has hands that touch the leper and the lame, the young and the old, the rich and the poor. He is the King.

He has a name that is above every name. A name at which demons tremble. A name that sets captives free and breaks the bondage of sin and death. A name that so often begins our prayers. Jesus.

But how do I enter His presence?

When I see Him as I ought, I cannot help but enter with thanksgiving and praise. When I see Him as He is, I become overwhelmed, not with my needs, but with His greatness.

And that is exactly what I want to be, not overwhelmed with my circumstances, but overwhelmed with my Creator.