The Effigy 

                             An Original Illustrated Prayer Poem

 

The Effigy~ An Original Illustrated Prayer Poem

 

The Lord had given me this prayer poem several months ago as I was doing a bible study-devotional meditation on Genesis 3 ~the story about Cain and Abel, and studying more about our Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice to atone for our sins.

 

 I was also reading a novel where the town had come out in a mob to burn in effigy the figure of an unpopular political candidate during my Bible study; in the story the author meant for the character to be a Christ metaphor. The parallel struck me that Jesus Christ is God’s effigy.

 

I had hoped to publish my prayerpoem last March but became so ill with such a flare up of migraines and allergies that it was impossible to be online or do any of the digital art that I had previously so loved.

 

The Lord led me to pursue creating art in traditional formats again which has now proved very efficacious toward my healing.

He led me to illustrate “The Effigy” in a mixed media traditional Art format; it is a three dimensional painting, including cut paper, many complex layers, metallic markers, various kinds of inks, paints, colored pencils, I can’t remember all the added media! Oh yes! Glue! Mark laughs at all the glue I use.

 

I give thanks to our wonderful, awesome Creator for saving my soul to worship Him with the gifts He has invested in me to glorify Him, to proclaim His gospel, to tell of His greatness, to sing of His mercy, to tell of His reality, so many things our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ does!

“I will shout to the Lord in triumph,” sang the psalmist joyfully.

 

“ By this I know that Thou favourest me,

Because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

 And as for me, Thou upholdest me in mine integrity,

And settest me before Thy  face for ever.“

Psalm 41:5, 11-12 KJV

 

But who is my enemy?

These migraines that ever come to pull me down  and say,

“you will never finish this or that for the Lord…”

 

They are like big Goliaths who knock me to the floor and send me to the lonely bedroom, imprisoning me in darkness, unable to see straight or think properly or do anything.

 

But Jesus comes eventually as I pray and seek His face continually in my exile, patiently waiting on Him, trusting by faith that He will deliver me out of the pit.

He will not leave me in that place of sickness  for I believe He will keep every promise forever.

Christ is a Holy Gentleman who never lies.

 ”in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;“ Titus 1:2 KJV

 

Sure enough, Jesus comes, He says, Rise up, Take up thy bed and walk!

 

The Lord Jesus Christ is no respecter of persons, His word assures us that God does not show favoritism. If the Lord can heal me, deliver me from oppression, debilitating migraines and allergies etc, He can do this for everyone who calls on His name for help.

 

 But we must be willing to trust Him and wait with patience.

 

Sometimes He does not come the instant we want Him to heal us for He might want us to rest which is something some of us may not like to do. We are often like little ones whose mama, when she puts her baby down to nap, they set up a fierce little tantrum and whine and cry to be let out to go back to play with their blocks or whatever toy they were amusing themselves with before naptime. But mama always knows that babies must rest or get ill and cranky. And so Jesus knows this is true with His own babies. But very often we dislike and resent this treatment, feel it is unfair as we look around us at all the other saints who are not being put to bed and are out playing as healthy as you please and we can get a bitter root. Our kind and good Shepherd comforts us and reminds us that whom the Lord loves He disciplines. And it is to make us holy. (*see Hebrews 12)

 

But God has not singled us out for this special tough love, we must not get upset…but rather the apostles tell us to praise Him for our trials for they produce patience. For all God’s children will have them!

”…for there is no respect of persons with God.“

Romans 2:11 KJV

 

Praise The Lord for His blessings rather!

Praise the Lord for all that He has done for us, and for the blessings He will always give. In Jesus’ name.

 

”Bless the LORD, O my soul:

 And all that is within me,

bless his holy name.

 Bless the LORD, O my soul,

And forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;

Who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;

 Who crowneth thee

with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;

So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.“

Psalm 103:1-5 KJV

 

”Praise the Lord, because He is good!

His faithful love will last forever!

Everyone the Lord has saved

should repeat that word of thanks.

Praise Him,

all who have been rescued from the enemy.“

Psalms 107:1-2 ERV

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for rescuing me from the enemy of sickness, despair, and hopelessness. Thank You for doing all Thy good works in and through me by Your Son who redeemed me through His spotless blood sacrifice on the cross. May Your name be glorified throughout the earth to spread Thy love, faith, and hope abroad and bring every soul who desires to know Thee close to Thy heart to know You and feel Thy love and reality and be made one with You through the blood of Christ as they invite Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior,  in Jesus’ holy name, amen. I love You, Lord!

 _____________________________________________

 

Unto The Least of These, Copyright © 2024, The Effigy, Illustrated Prayer Poem by Suzanne Davis Harden, Through the Indwelling Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Inspired by His Holy Spirit, To The Glory of God the Father, In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen. 

Copyright © 2024, by Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved. 

In The Latter Days

The Prayer poem the Lord gave me today was inspired by a passage in James 1:27

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27 KJV

The imagery in my prayer poem suggests the homeless, but the James 1:27 Bible verse includes all afflicted people, such as the suffering in our neighborhoods and churches, people in nursing homes, and hospitals as well. 

 Some churches have visitation programs where members regularly go and visit the suffering and minister Christ’s love and grace to them. This is a wonderful outreach. It is putting into practice the James 1:27 scripture. 

Some communities have a sizable homeless population. Many of these people are emotionally unstable. God gives some churches and ministers a special calling to help these people. 

If called to minister to the homeless, it is wisdom to do so with others within a church that has a special calling to minister to the homeless and prison populations as well.  

The Bible calls on each of us to love with discernment.

One way we can all lay down our lives in love is through the ministry of prayer.

Prayer is the greatest ministry we have in the Kingdom of God. For no ministry, or minister in the Kingdom of Christ can be started or maintained apart from the practice of prayer. 

In Ephesians we are admonished to “pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Ephesians 6:18 KJV

And  “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV

Jesus commanded us to love one another as He loved us. That is to lay our lives down for each other. 

Prayer is giving up our time, and our attention on our own agenda, not only to commune with the Lord, but also to focus on asking God to meet someone else’s needs according to His will to bless that person. 

We ask His blessing and favor and grace and goodness to fall upon those for whom we are praying. 

God deeply loves the souls we are praying for, keep that in mind, so we are to pray in love for them always. 

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

John 13:34-35 KJV

Unto The Least Of These, In The Latter Days, Illustrated Christian Prayer Poem, Copyright © 2022 by Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved, Music Video-Original Instrumental: God Will Never Disown His Children, Copyright © (P) 2022 Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved. Scripture  Quotations from the King James Bible (Public Domain)

Lord, So Many Suffer

 

“For which cause we faint not; 

but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal;

 but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Unto The Least Of These, September 2022 Christian Prayer Poem & Illustration by S.D.Harden, Through the Indwelling Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Inspired by His Holy Spirit, To the Glory of God The Father, In Jesus’ Name, Amen; Copyright © 2022 by Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved.

Scripture Quotation from the King James Version Bible

When The Lord Turned The Captivity Of Job

In the book of Job, Satan is allowed to sift this man of God and everything is taken from him: his children, his health, his affluence, his reputation, nearly EVERYTHING. (See Job 1:1, 6-12, 20-22)
Despite what looks like an attack of divine wrath upon him for no apparent justification, Job maintains his faith and trust in God and belief that God cannot be punishing him for any known sin he has committed. 

 In the beginning of the book, Job offers sacrifices for his children, intercedes and prays to God on their behalf. (*See Job 1:5)

The Bible suggests that Job’s prayers are more to prevent something evil from happening. After his crisis he laments, “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.” Job 3:25 NLT. 

After everything is taken from Job, he doesn’t curse God, but he is thrown into an abyss of self pity and depression, focusing on his troubles and wishing only for death.

“At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth. “Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived. Let that day be turned to darkness… Job 3:1 NLT (*see Job 3:1, 3-6)

Then his friends come by to comfort him. However, when they hear him talking so negatively they begin to assault his integrity, though they have no justification for condemning him other than the fact that he has been mercilessly persecuted through myriad tribulations.

They are judging him by his misfortunes adding to them by heaping sorrow upon sorrow.
Like Job, we cannot understand our trials sometimes for they seem so unfair. 

Why should we be afflicted when others are not?  We may wonder if God plays favorites. 
Yet the Bible reveals “For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:11 NLT

After studying God’s Word we gain a better understanding of suffering, how God views pain and affliction, and the purpose of trials. 
We will never have all the answers this side of eternity, “

Some people may go through severe trials as Job did, and they come through the long dark tunnel emerging into a broad new path. 

God rewards them with a wonderful new life and all their former misery seems to vanish away in a beautifully restored life through His measureless mercy and grace.

And then there are others who seem to be destined to suffer through serial trials and misfortunes throughout their lives. 

Their Divine Coach gives them short reprieves to sit on the bench for a rest from their suffering every so often, but then He sends them back into the Divine Game as First Stringers, to combat their spiritual Opponent. 

This seemed to be what the Apostle Paul experienced as did many of the other apostles.

 

We are all of us in this war together, but some souls God seems to use to fight in the trenches facing the opposition more frequently and getting more battle wounded because of this. 

Because of his special revelations Paul wrote that he was given a painful thorn to bear:

“So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NLT

Some may seem never to suffer. However, to everything there is a season, and a time and purpose to everything under the heavens. 

Also, some types of suffering go unseen, for appearances are deceiving. Only God knows all hearts. 

What today is, tomorrow may not be. (See Ecclesiastes 3:1)

 “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 NLT

God knows what the limits of each person are and He never gives us more than we can tolerate. (See 1 Corinthians 10: 13)

The Lord tests each of us according to His Word to see if our faith is genuine. 

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 

These trials will show that your faith is genuine.

 It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. 

So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT

God’s Word says that our Heavenly Father chastises each one of His children to make us holy.

“As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. 

Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 

Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. 

But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! 

But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Hebrews 12:7-11 NLT

As we glean from studying the Book of Job, it is never wise to judge people or God by their or our own afflictions.

 “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? “Job.38.1, Job.38.2

 Romans 8:28 reveals that God is working all things together for good to those who love Him. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 admonishes us to pray without ceasing, rejoice always and to give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

After the Lord appeared to Job and counseled him, Job prayed to God and worshiped Him, repenting for his misunderstanding of God:

“I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You. Therefore I loathe [my words] and abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6 AMPC

Ultimately God was angry with Job’s friends who had condemned Job unfairly.

He told them to go have Job pray for them and bring sacrifices for him to offer to the Lord on their behalf.

After Job prayed for them, the Bible says,  “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends…”

God rewarded Job and blessed him with more than he’d started out with. 

The book of Job teaches us that prayer sets us free from bitterness and releases God’s love in our hearts so that He can bless lives through us. 

God will restore us once we throw off the shackles of unforgiveness, which leads to an unhealthy focus on the self, breeding self pity and resentment, the bitter roots of depression,  making our attitudes negative, hopeless, and dark. 

Prayer and Forgiveness open the door to God’s love and light in our hearts and sets us free to experience God’s healing mercy and grace. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Thy immeasurable love and mercy towards each of us. When we suffer through trials help us to understand that You do love us, that You have not forsaken us and never will, and that You suffer with us in our pain through Christ who’s Spirit dwells in us. Thank You for Thy Word that assures us of these truths; bless and encourage all who are suffering through trials and fill them with rivers of Thy peace and strength to make it through, in Jesus’ name, amen.

The Lord Will Wash Away All Our Tears Someday © (p) 2022, Meditations For The Journey, Keyboard Instrumentals, by Suzanne Davis Harden, through the Indwelling Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Inspired by The Holy Spirit, To The Glory of God The Father, In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

All Rights Reserved.