RSS

Author Archives: John D. Willome

Unknown's avatar

About John D. Willome

I post a blog of daily devotions that are my prayer journals based on scripture.

Acts 23:1-5

16 May

23 Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”

2 Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth. 3 But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”

4 Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”

5 “I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’”

Acts 23:1-5

Dear God, I guess it is time for me to do a little repenting. At least, according to what Paul indicated here. There are only a handful of times I can remember Paul apologizing for something, but this is one of them. And apparently Paul felt very strongly about not speaking evil of any of your rulers. His actions here supports what he says in Romans 13:1-5. I don’t think there is any American who has not broken this…what do I call it? Rule?…this rule over the last 10 years. No matter which end of the political spectrum you’re on, including dead in the middle, I would venture to say that all of us have done it. I certainly have.

Interestingly, I don’t really have a hard time with this concept in my immediate life. Well, no, I can’t even say that. As I sit here this morning, I can think of a few people to whom I owe more respect than I’ve probably given them.

Father, yes, this is something I really need to repent to you about and also do better. Much, much better. Whether it is politicians at a national, state, or even local level, or anyone else who has some amount of authority over me or my community, or even people without authority but are simply your loved children, I need to be better about how I speak about people. Including those who are actively opposed to things I am doing or to whom I am actively opposed. I need to do better. I need to see them with your eyes. I need to pray for them. I need to find your role for me in the midst of what they are doing. I need to walk with you in ever way, including this one. I am sorry for my carelessness in this area. I truly am.

I pray this to you in the grace offered me through Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 16, 2024 in Acts

 

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

15 May

11 Send your grain across the seas,
    and in time, profits will flow back to you.
2 But divide your investments among many places,
    for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.

3 When clouds are heavy, the rains come down.
    Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls.

4 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
    If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

Dear God, I would summarize this passage to say, “Live vibrantly in your ignorance.” I’ll never know your whole plan. How could I? In fact, I don’t necessarily want to. In fact, I definitely don’t want to. For anyone who has seen the movie Encanto, there is a reason they don’t talk about Bruno. Knowing the future is a heavy burden.

On the other hand…I will say that I was reading that Nancy French memoir Ghosted: An American Story this week, and there was one part where a prophet spoke a word to them about their future. My first reaction was, “Oh, no way. I don’t want to hear that.” But the prophecy spoken over them actually (and accurately) warned them of some bad news they were going to get, but to not believe the bad news. It would be wrong. So when the bad news came they ended up responding through the comfort you gave them through the prophecy and they held on until everything played out and they didn’t have to worry.

I’ll say that I could use a word like that for a couple of the sorrows in my life. I would love for someone credible to come up to me and tell me with your voice that you see this sorrow and it’s part of the plan. That’s all I would need to hear. I don’t need to know how it works out. I just want to hear that it’s part of your plan. Frankly, I would also love to hear if it is not part of your plan and there is something I can do that I haven’t thought of to address it. Either way, it would be an extra comfort to tangibly feel that reassurance. Right now, I’m just believing it anyway and trying to listen to your Holy Spirit for comfort and any instructions you might have for me.

Father, I am just going to do my work today in my ignorance. I don’t know at any given time if I am doing something that will bring fruit for your kingdom. I do know that, looking back, you have provided for us unreasonably well, and I am grateful. Both in my work and in my home life, you have provided for me very well. You have given me good friends too. And I cannot forget my amazing wife. And oh how I love my children. So here I am to worship you, work hard today, and celebrate the things you are doing that I can both see and not see. Through all of this, help me to do it for your glory. Help me to decrease as you increase.

I offer this prayer to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 15, 2024 in Ecclesiastes

 

Tags: ,

Acts 1:15-26

14 May

15 During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”

18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)

20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’

21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— 22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Acts 1:15-26

Dear God, I noticed that, in the Catholic church, it is the feast day for Matthias. I really wish we knew more about him or how the rest of his life turned out. All I can find is that he preached the Gospel and was crucified. So he is to be respected. He is certainly to be respected.

My issue with this story is that I still think Peter was forcing something that didn’t need to be forced. He was tired of waiting for what was next so, in my opinion, he decided for himself what was next: Let’s replace Judas.

To set the stage, they had returned from the ascension, during which time we have no one recording Jesus telling them to replace Judas. And Jesus obviously didn’t do it while he was with them for the 40 days. But now they were sitting around the house waiting, and, again, this is what I think, Peter got restless and wanted to take some action. And after the lot fell on Matthias, I don’t know what happened. I don’t know if they gave him some sort of oath. Did they give him a special vote among the other 11? Did they lay their hands on him and pray over him? I know he was there later when the Holy Spirit descended upon them. But what else happened that changed anything for Matthias or for the 12?

Oh, how there is a lesson here for me. Don’t get restless. Don’t force things. Don’t get impatient with your timing. None of them knew that the one of the guys all of them were afraid of, Saul of Tarsus, would really (in my opinion) be Judas’s replacement, as literally selected by Jesus. How could they? He wanted to imprison and kill them. How could they possibly have known?

And there is so, so much that I do not know. Even today. I am coming to the end of what I call “fundraising season” at work. Every day, I have had fundraising things to work on. It’s normally been a good time of year for me to take a vacation. And as I go to work today, will I look for things to do, or will I wait on you, pray that you guide me, and just worship you through my being and take you everywhere I go?

Father, I want to be your…well, I just want to be yours. I want to lead with worship of you. I want to move through my day as someone who is completely submitted to you. I want to love others. I want to offer them your true Gospel: the reconciliation between you and us through Jesus. I want to be a source of helping people heal. I want to know what is possible in the world that I cannot see. Well, that isn’t true. I’m okay with not knowing that the Sauls of the world can become Pauls. But I do want to be open to what is possible. I want to be open to praying for angels to watch over people. I want to be open to the idea of praying for radical healings. I want to be open to whatever path you have for me to walk. All for your glory, oh Lord. All for your glory.

I offer this to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 14, 2024 in Acts

 

Tags:

Orientation, Disorientation, and Reorientation – Revisted

13 May

Dear God, I found the podcast I was looking for yesterday from Voxology Podcast. It’s called “The Only Way Out is Through.” I first heard this back at the end of December, and it really helped me to think about the seasons of life with you. I am pretty sure I journaled about it back then because it impacted me so much. My wife and I were talking about it the other day so I wanted to listen to it again, but I had a hard time finding which one it was. But here it is. I found it. The discussion of “orientation, disorientation, and reorientation” begins at about the 21-minute mark.

They tie this Walter Bruggeman’s work on the psalms and how he ties them to these three categories (sometimes a psalm can be in more than one category). Examples would be a psalm of orientation (life is good) would be Psalm 45. A psalm of disorientation (life hurts) would be Psalm 13. A psalm of reorientation (there is surprising new life) would be Psalm 30.

Between this and all of the psalms I read during Lent, you have given me an appreciation for them that I have never had before. You know that I’ve never particularly liked a lot of psalms. Some of them are nice. Psalm 1. Psalm 23. Psalm 51. Psalm 139. The ones that feel like they fit within my theological structure are easy for me. But then there are the ones that call for the death of my enemies through many generations and stuff like that that really bother me. But I’ve learned to see these passages as “descriptive” and not “prescriptive.” They aren’t telling me to feel that way. They aren’t saying you endorse those sentiments. The psalmist is letting me in on his (I think they were all men) feelings at that given time.

I have a pastor friend right now whom I know is going through a difficult season. I have mentioned a woman whose son is suffering from addiction and in bad shape. I have another friend dealing with cancer. Still another has a son who has a tumor that is difficult to remove. Then I have my own disorientation, although, interestingly, I feel the disorientation less and less and feel reorientation more and more. And I suppose that’s the way it goes. When you are young and are fortunate enough to not have experienced disorientation yet, you feel naively secure. But into every life a little rain must fall, and sooner or later we all fall into a time of disorientation. That can often come about very suddenly. But reorientation doesn’t happen overnight. I don’t get rid of disorientation all at once. It’s a process of becoming reoriented. Right now, from the disorientation that started for me 15 years ago, I am mostly emotionally adjusted to, although the sorrow still remains. It’s just that the sorrow doesn’t disorient me like it used to.

I find myself still typing here, so this must be important for me to work out with you. One of the things they mentioned in the podcast is going through disorientation in community. We should not go through it alone. That’s important.

Another thing they mentioned was that the modern church with contemporary music tends to only have Sunday morning songs of orientation. But those songs do not fit what everyone is experiencing. There is disorientation in the room. There is reorientation in the room. The Book of Psalms includes all of this. Our modern contemporary churches mostly do not.

Father, help me to use the disorientation and reorientation of my life to be a blessing to others. Thank you for walking with me through this. Thank you for the man who, several years ago as I lamented over my disorientation (that’s not what I called it at the time), labeled it for me as being “disappointed” with you. I was disappointed with you. I was scared and frustrated. I was hurt and confused. But you were gentle with me.

I am reading Nancy French’s memoir Ghosted: An American Story. She doesn’t use this language, but applying what I’ve learned here to what I’ve read of her book, she describes being disoriented by a sexual assault by a church leader when she was 12 years old. She was disoriented for a long time. It wasn’t until she met her future husband when she was 20 that the reorientation started to happen. I don’t know enough of his story to know if he had experienced disorientation up to that point, but shortly after they started dating he experienced a health scare that could have killed him–disorientation. But they walked through it together with each other and their community of friends. That’s about where I am in the story, but I can see reorientation happening. I also know enough of their story to know that more disorientations are coming. They are for all of us.

Okay, Father, I have to get to work, but I have enjoyed this time with you. I’ve enjoyed hearing your voice. Thank you for being with me yesterday for that Sunday school lesson. I pray that your Holy Spirit found fertile soil in which he could plant good seeds. I pray that people will remember the words spoken and not me. And I pray that if I was wrong about anything you will correct me and help them to forget those words. Thank you for gently reorienting me. I know there will be more disorientations to come. Help me to not be afraid, but to simply walk through the valley of the shadow of death with you.

I offer all of this to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 13, 2024 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories, Psalms

 

Tags: , ,

“The God Who Disappoints” Revisited

12 May

Dear God, I know I have prayed about this Voxology podcast episode called “The God Who Disappoints” before, but I came across it again yesterday while I was looking for something else and it feels like an appropriate topic for Mother’s Day. Why? Because sometimes life just doesn’t work out the way you think it will. We have our dreams of how we hope things will work out. Maybe it’s our careers. Marriages. Relationships with children. Behaviors of children, grown or young. Church. Friendships. Health. Standard of living. Whatever it might be, we have our hopes and dreams and then there is the reality of what we live.

I was visiting with a mother who called me yesterday about her adult son who struggles with addiction. I know she’s not a perfect woman. None of us are. I am sure her son has legitimate beefs with her just as my children do with me. But this woman loves her son so much. Oh, the pain she is feeling!

Then I think back to Mary and Joseph. Jeremiah. Manoah and his wife (Samson’s parents). Moses. Paul. Peter. David. Jonathan. Elijah. Job. Even Jesus. In fact, I suppose if my life is too rosy I should probably question what I’m doing because I can think of very few people in the Bible who had rosy lives that turned out exactly like they wanted them to.

So what exactly is it that you are offering me in this relationship? What do you bring to the table. Theoretically, I bring you all of my worship and praise. What do I get in return? The answer: relationship with you. Comfort in this life. Peace. A joy that comes from loving others and loving you sacrificially. Everything I have is about you, Father. And I’m not going to even mention an afterlife with you because I don’t want to just use you or manipulate you so that you will let me into heaven. I want to be with you now. I want to know you now. I want to learn from you now. I want to be a better man through knowing you and allowing you to form me through the struggles.

Father, I confess that I have been disappointed with you in the past, and by past I mean as recently as this morning. But that is my selfishness, and I am sorry. To paraphrase Job 38, who am I to question your wisdom with such ignorant words? Where was I when you laid the foundations of the earth? No, Father, I am here to be formed by you and your Holy Spirit. I am here to submit myself to you. I am here to then be your ambassador into this world. My life is not about me. It is here for you. I surrender it to you. Thank you for the goodness you show me. Thank you for giving me more than I deserve. Thank you for forgiving my sin. Thank you for being the God who sees me.

I offer this prayer to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 12, 2024 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

Tags:

The Way —-> Christians

11 May

Dear God, I just finished working on the Sunday school lesson I’m teaching tomorrow on Acts 10:1-11:26. It is so interesting to see the whole thing from a macro level. The realization I kind of came to at the end was that you used a faithful Roman officer to set the stage for The Way for Jews to transform into Christians for us all. No one knew it at the time. Cornelius didn’t know it. Peter didn’t know it. the apostles back in Jerusalem who were agitated about what they heard about it didn’t know it. The Jewish people who went with Peter to Cornelius’s home didn’t know it. The people Cornelius gathered in his home to hear Peter’s words didn’t know it. The Roman soldier who accompanied Cornelius’s two servants to retrieve Peter didn’t know it. There are so many characters in this story and not one of them knew what you were doing on a larger scale. They were just in the moment and prayerfully making their way through each one as best as they could.

I’ll point out another thing. While it doesn’t say Cornelius was praying at the time of his angel visit, it does make a point to say that he “prayed to God always. And Peter had his vision from you, Holy Spirit, while he was intentionally praying. things just don’t happen unless we spend focused time with you. I don’t know if these prayer journals are giving me the pinnacle of what prayer time can be, but I am grateful for them for helping me to spend time with you in conversation and to learn from you. And sometimes I am wrong. Like Peter responding the Holy Spirit, sometimes my first response is, “No, Lord.” But you slowly burn off the chaff little by little so that I can become who you have for me to be.

Father, keep me in the moment. I don’t need to know what you are doing? Frankly, there is no way I can know. And I don’t really want to know. But I know I love you. I know I want to know you and your will for me. Your call on me. So help me to do that. Help me to do it in love. Help me to be exactly who you need me to be. And help me tomorrow as I visit with this Sunday school class and teach the lesson I believe your Holy Spirit has given me to teach. Prepare the way. Prepare hearts. Help me to know what to say and what not to say.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 11, 2024 in Acts, Cornelius

 

Tags: ,

Matthew 18:15-17

10 May

“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
Matthew 18:15-17

Dear God, I heard someone refer to this passage recently, tongue in cheek, as their “Matthew 18 rights.”

I kind of had an experience like this lately where I asked to speak with a local church leader privately about something he was pursuing that concerned me. The great news is that this pastor, whom I believe truly loves you in a completely earnest way, is pursuing a line of theology that concerned me. But we have a good relationship, and I felt like we could talk about our disagreement constructively. I asked to meet with him, we had a great lunch, agreed on very little in terms of the specific topic, but then were able to leave still loving each other and assuming the best in each other. Like I said, I absolutely do not question his motives or his love for you. And I don’t think he questions mine. It’s just that, when it comes to this specific issue, we see your will and call on us differently.

I guess I’m relating it to this passage because I didn’t feel the need to publicly call this pastor out. My first reason is my respect for him. The second reason is kind of what I’ve been praying about earlier this week: I’m not 100% sure I’m right. I have my biases. He has his. I am “sure” I’m right. He is “sure” he’s right. Well, maybe we are. Maybe we are both hearing your call. And Maybe we aren’t. Maybe both of us are missing your call on us at some level. What I’m grateful for is that we both have hearts to completely serve and love you.

Father I was scheduled a few weeks ago to teach a Sunday school class at a church that, since that time, is going through a possible split over the LGTBQ+ issue. As I’ve worked on the story of Cornelius, Peter, and the Jerusalem apostles over the last two weeks, and as I continue to work on the lesson, my prayer is that you will infuse it with your presence, your words, and your will for the people who will hear the words I say. Use me. Remove me from the process. Love through me.

I offer this prayer to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 10, 2024 in Matthew

 

Acts 11:19-26

09 May

Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)
Acts 11:19-26

Dear God, I was listening to the Holy Post podcast this morning, and one of the hosts was talking about a recent medical emergency in his family. This host likes to take stories that others tell from their lives and ask if they can make a sermon illustration out of it, so someone asked him if he could do that. He said something to the effect of, “I need some more distance from it before I can do that.” In other words, “Too soon.”

I mention this because the new, young, soon-to-be-named “Christian” church had no idea what was going on in the moment. The Holy Spirit was leading them step by step, keeping them on a need-to-know basis, and there was very little they needed to know. In fact, had the Spirit revealed everything to them at once they might have goofed it up somehow. No, they needed to struggle through it.

So why should I be any different? Why should I get to understand what you are doing in my life, my community, my country, and my world? You are so much bigger than me. I mean, even that sentence is a laughable understatement. You are timeless. You are all-knowing. I am just here doing what is in front of me. Help me to be okay with that. Give me your peace.

Father, I give you my heart today. I give you my work. I give you my love. I give you my inconvenience. Help me to be a blessing to your world. Help me to love others on your behalf today. Help me to call others to you. Help me to draw closer to you myself. I’m about to write over 100 letters to people who attended our event the other night. Help me to say what you want me to say for their sake, not mine. For your sake, not mine. For your glory, not mine. Quickly, I pray also for the father of a coworker who is having heart issues. I pray for the heart issues of a loved one in my own family. I pray for the family that is burying a woman today who suffered greatly, and now they are suffering even more. Oh, Father, in each of these situations, make this pain count. Heal bodies. Heal souls. Heal hearts. Heal wounds. And use all of this to draw each person involved closer to you.

I offer all of this to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 9, 2024 in Acts

 

Tags:

Acts 11:1-4, 18

08 May

Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. “You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” they said. Then Peter told them exactly what had happened.

When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”
Acts 11:1-4, 18

Dear God, it would be so much easier if I could just know when I am right and when I am wrong. I mean, really, how much am I wrong about right now in my opinions, theologies, or whatever that I am just sure I’m right?

It’s too bad these verses in Acts 11 get separated from the story in Acts 10 because taken as one narrative, it totally flips the intent of the story. If we just read chapter 10, we might think Cornelius is the protagonist of this story, but in reading the whole thing as one, we realize that Peter is really the protagonist. It is his journey we are tracking. We show his evolution on the issue of Gentiles (right after chapter 9 when we get the conversion of the biggest Gentile advocate of all, Paul), and then the influence he has on the believers back in Jerusalem.

I was talking with a local pastor the other day about the LGTBQ+ controversy in his church. It’s hit a divisive level to where there is a new church starting because of it and some of his members are leaving. And I know both sides are just sure they are right about this. They are just sure they know you Jesus or any of the apostles would respond if they were here to make the same decisions. It could be that if it had been anyone less than Peter himself explaining the acceptance of Gentiles into your kingdom, this would have been the cause of the first recorded split in the Christian church.

I attend Catholic Church with my wife. There is a lot of the theology I agree with. There is a little of the theology I don’t agree with. Am I right or wrong? I don’t know. But I know the Catholics I worship with appear to really love you. And I really love you. So as long as we are truly pursuing you and your Holy Spirit, I will count our disagreements as meaningless.

Father, I am sorry for when I have been wrong. Well, let me put it this way: I am sorry for the times I’ve been wrong and then judged others through my ignorance. I don’t pretend to know your heart on all of these issues. I can only look at my life, evaluate the level to which I am striving to keep myself in right relationship with you, and then encourage others to do the same. And then to love my neighbors as myself as I go. So thank you. Thank you also for getting me through last night. Thank you for answering my prayers. Thank you for touching lives both in that room and then through the work we will do with the patients because of the resources people shared with us. You are amazing, God.

I pray to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 8, 2024 in Acts, Cornelius

 

Acts 10:44-48

07 May

Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.

Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
Acts 10:44-48

Dear God, tonight is the night. The nonprofit for which I am the director is having its fundraising dinner tonight for 280 guests, and I am nervous. I guess the question is, what am I nervous about? I have a few choices:

  • Will we raise enough money?
  • Will people have a good time?
  • Will those there like me?
  • Will the board members there be impressed with me?

These are the wrong things to be nervous about, but I confess it is where my heart can go very easily. Will it be a success on paper and touch my insecurities?

My wife asked me last night how she could pray for me, and I confessed all of this to her—not that she didn’t already know. Then I asked her to pray that your Holy Spirit would envelop the room. That you would touch hearts. That you would inspire people to love you more and love their neighbors as themselves. That I would decrease and the people there would only see you. That you will change lives.

I see this passage from Acts 10 and I realize Peter was in a lot the same position I am in. He is the carrier of the message. He is the human channel for you to use. But what it’s really about is making way for the Holy Spirit to move and work. Even the Jews who traveled with Peter were amazed and changed. You touched every life in that room that day including Peter’s.

Father, I guess I will start with me. Please touch my life tonight. Change me. Teach me. Use me as your channel to love others. Be glorified in my words. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, oh, Lord. For your glory, not mine. My utmost for your highest. Let your Holy Spirit touch each heart in that room tonight, including mine. Oh, Lord, my Lord, I know you hear my cry. Let this night make a difference in lives there tonight, but also beyond into our community and world.

I offer all of this to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 7, 2024 in Acts

 
← Older posts
Newer posts →