Dear God, how easy is it to sit in a pew and grumble about the preaching on a Sunday morning? Pretty easy. Then you try to do it.

How easy is it to grumble about customer service at a some place? Then you fail a customer at your place of business and there’s no excuse for your failure.

How easy is it to grumble about social or economic problems in our communities? Then we try to be a part of fixing them and we realize the solutions are complicated and often come at someone else’s expense.

How easy is it to judge other people about how their children behave? Then our own children make choices the disappoint us and we are humbled before you.

Judging and grumbling are a great part of our human condition. I’m preaching this morning at a small church in my town. I’m filling in while the church looks for a new pastor. I’m nervous. I’ve spent more time thinking about this 10- to 15-minute talk than I’ve spent on most of my other talks. Why am I so nervous? Because I feel the weight of this responsibility. I have people in front of me who have actually come to hear something from you. Have I heard you this week? Will my words advance your Kingdom in Fredericksburg? Will they impact a life that is sitting in the audience? Will they be as a clanging gong and accomplish nothing? Will I let you down?

Father, help me to love you with all of my heart and to love everyone in that room today. Be glorified through me. Make a difference in my life today. Start with me. And then do whatever you want through me. Holy Spirit, be my counselor. Preach to me and through me. Guide my heart in real time and use the preparation I did this week to bring Glory to the Father, to Jesus, and to yourself.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen