Punch in the teeth
Staring into the flames of the fire pit always steadies my thoughts. This season has brought heavier realities than others, both personally and to some of our friends, so reflection is needed.
Have you ever wanted to call down fire from heaven like James and John wished in Luke 9:54, or bark back a rebuking word, “May God slap your face!” like Paul in Acts 23:3? I know the Word says, “Do not take revenge…” (Rom 12:19), but I’ve found myself praying bold angry prayers at times, willing God to act the way I want. Perhaps more like a willful child but, in truth, I don’t think that’s all bad; in fact, I think God loves a bold stance in prayer, especially when it calls for justice. I daresay, I haven’t worked that muscle near enough when praying for folks or myself.
Someone once told me, “When the enemy exacts a toll from your life, ask God to make him pay!" Make him pay for that, God! That’s such a satisfying prayer in the heat of the moment.
The book of Psalms captures many such moments, especially from King David. He was often attacked by enemies, running from kings and sons, betrayed by friends and foes, and yet was found crying out to God in the midst. The emotional honesty of David’s prayer life is one of the reasons why God called him the man after His own heart. We get a glimpse of God’s emotional chemistry, too, for we were made in His likeness.
Psalm 3 is a good one. David is lamenting his many enemies crowding in, and asks God to rise up and deliver, but not only that, he asks that He “break the teeth of the wicked.” Literally, punch them in the mouth! When you’re confident in God’s friendship, as David was, you can ask boldly of God. A friend of mine calls it “praying illegal prayers.”
When you're confident in God's friendship, you can ask boldly of God
I was sitting by my fire pit, asking God to “make the enemy pay,” “break his teeth” types of prayers regarding the reemergence of cancer in Jen’s body. As I then gathered wood from a distant pile, a neighbor intersected my moment with his lawn mower.
Conversation soon found us in heartfelt territory, a place we hadn’t been before, and he shared painfully of his niece’s fight with leukemia, and who was presently in intensive care. I felt a calm boldness rise up, and I asked him if I could pray, as our family was experiencing a similar challenge. He agreed, so with hands on shoulders I prayed my version of “break his teeth” out there by the wood pile. I covered the points of his family and mine, ending with the phrase, “Do it, God!” as the amen.
He looked up saying, “Wow, this was meant to be. I feel so encouraged, I got goose flesh all over.” I told him about the goodness of God, and how there’s no other way to face such days than to put our confidence in the God who loves. We spoke a long time, and he promised that he and his wife would be remembering us. I thanked him, and with a wheelbarrow full, I traipsed back to my pit with fuel for the fire.
Back with my thoughts and the burning coals, I wondered how that interaction had actually happened. It came out of the blue, when doing something else. We’d never interacted like that before. I think God punched the enemy. He turned that cancer assault on its head and used it to engage the goodness of God in both of our hearts.
Encouraged, I shared it with Jen when I went inside. This is the way we’ll fight this fight. We’ll meet each day honestly, pray for healing and presume on the goodness of God, turning the attack on its head.
I’ve heard it said, “You always know where you are with God, but you seldom know what He’s gonna do next.” His heart never changes towards us, but He’s always doing a new thing. Therefore, our confidence can’t rest in what He is or isn’t doing in us or around us, it can only rest in who God is, His unchangeable character, and God is good.
Sitting around the fire a few days later, my neighbor stopped by again. “Hey Rus, great news, my niece is out of intensive care!”
“Praise the Lord!” I said with a knowing smile. “Isn’t God good?”
Pretty good response from a “break his teeth” prayer. King David concludes similarly after asking the same in Psalm 3 saying, “From the Lord comes deliverance. May Your blessing be on Your people.”
Friendship with God empowers teeth-breaking prayers. What illegal prayers are you praying these days?