Monday, November 25, 2013

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ A Gossamer Robe of Righteousness

Snow clouds are rolling in. They appear heavy-laden - bulging with the impending storm. The trees stand dull in their winter gray armor. The charcoal draping of their branches shout sharp contrast to the billowing white sky.

I'm mesmerized. Staring. Searching. Straining to hear God's voice in the storm coming up over the ridge.

Snowflakes, exquisite in design, fall gently to the earth. Their ballet begins with ease. With grace. But slowly, their free-fall takes on an urgency, a bombardment of frosty pearls peppering down.

How does one snowflake transform into a gossamer robe covering the earth?

How does one prayer transform a life, blanketing the longing soul in the beauty of His Holiness?

It's not in the singularity of one snowflake - one prayer - that transformation takes place. It's in the  persistence of snowflake after snowflake layering themselves one upon the other that the wonder of a snow-laden mountainside occurs.

Persistent prayer has the same effect.

Charles Francis Whiston, an Anglican priest, professor, and author wrote the following poem. Oddly enough he titled it, The Snowflake Poem:


O Lord Jesus Christ,
In obedience
To Your holy claim upon me,
I give myself anew to you this day;
All that I am, all that I have,
To be wholly and unconditionally
Yours for Your using.
Take me away from myself,
And use me up
As you will,
When You will,
Where You will,
With whom You will.
Amen.

Rev. Whiston literally prayed this prayer day after day, year after year, and watched the Lord his God transform him by the power of the Holy Spirit. The persistence of his prayer had a layering effect, creating a beautiful gossamer robe of righteousness over his life - a robe that reflected the glory of the Lord.

Like the snowflake, exquisite in design, powerful to transform in numbers, does my heart bulge with urgent, persistent prayer - the prayers that change my life and the lives of others? 

Snowflake upon snowflake.
Prayer upon prayer.
A gossamer robe of righteousness is woven by the Master's hand.

"But we all, with unveiled face, 
beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, 
are being transformed into the same image 
from glory to glory, 
just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 
 ~ Corinthians 3:18




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6 comments :

  1. Powerfully poetic, beautifully penned. You're amazing. Thank you!

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    1. Your encouragement means so much to me. Thank you.

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  2. ~ Beautiful Nan... Just Beautiful!

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    1. Amy!! I'm so glad you stopped by. You made my heart smile. Thank you.

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  3. Beautiful way of seeing the snow. Thanks!

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    1. Thank you Mary Jane. I was so blessed when I discovered "The Snowflake Poem". It got me thinking **wink**

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