Category Archives: Jeremiah

Dear God, I have a funeral to attend today. It’s one of those where I know the husband pretty well, and while it will be hard and sad to say goodbye to his dear wife, it will be a privilege to be there for him and his children. Please live through me today, Father. Live through me today with my wife, with my work, with my children, and with my friends. “Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.”

Here are today’s passages from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

• AM Psalms: 121, 122, 123
• PM Psalms: 124, 125, 126
• Jeremiah 25:8-17
• John 9:18-41
• Romans 10:1-13

Psalms 121, 122, 123 – I had two thoughts while I read these psalms this morning. The first was about a workshop I went to yesterday about mental health needs and resources in our community. Our children are struggling. Our children need help. Those who care for them need help. Their parents. Their teachers. Their church youth workers and Sunday school teachers. There is a lot of pain, and the church actually has the answer, but I fear that they American Evangelical church is offering the wrong answer right now. It is offering more rules. It’s not offering what Jesus taught us to offer. Oh, Father, help us offer you to them. Reconciliation to you. Freedom in you. And when I say them, I mean not only the children, but their parents, teachers, youth leaders, and Sunday school teachers.

My other through was from what David said in 122: “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.'” I just picture the scene of one of David’s friends, advisors, confidants, or whatever talking with him and saying, “Let’s go to the house of the LORD,” and David lighting up with that idea. It paints a great scene.

Psalms 124, 125, 126 – From this group, I am reminded of how you provide for me personally and the nonprofit where I work. One of our current campaigns is not going well, and there is a tendency in my heart to panic. But I have to ask myself the questions: Am I trusting in you in this moment? Have I taken too much credit for what has come before? Oh, Father, if I have taken any credit for the good you have done to our clinic, please let me know. If I am not trusting you enough, I am sorry. I do trust you, oh God. I repent of attaching my ego to our fundraising success. I am sorry.

Jeremiah 25:8-17 – As I was flipping through Jeremiah today and remembering how long the book is, it just made me think about this poor prophet’s life. There was no “best life now” for him except that he got to live in your presence and hear directly from you. But I would imagine that his daily check-in with friends on his emotional health would not have been filled with much good news. I am unbelievably fortunate to live the life I live.

John 9:18-41 – Reading the story of the blind man healed and the Pharisees being so upset about it makes me think about how all of us in the church can get focused on the wrong priorities–including me. Holy Spirit, please speak to me. Teach me. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see.

Romans 10:1-13 – I just have to reprint verses 1-4 here: Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. I seem to be coming back to this theme this morning. Perhaps it is my own biases that are bringing me here, but I am simply concerned about some in your church who are acting like Pharisees but can’t see it. Holy Spirit, help me to hear you clearly, repent where I need to repent and then act when I need to act. And let anything I do be done in your love.

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

Amen

Dear God, one thing I have NOT liked about going through this devotional book for the last 34 days is that it has taken away some of the flexibility in the approaches I sometimes take with these times with you. Like yesterday, we sang this lovely song in church. I took a picture of the page in the hymnal so I could remember it for later and look at it later. It’s the kind of thing I might have focused on this morning to help keep these times with you fresh. Now, as I’ve done this 34 days in a row and I have 13 days left I am finding myself not as enthusiastic as I was at the beginning of this seasonal commitment. But then again, maybe that’s also part of this journey. Getting beyond the emotion of it and pushing through. Finding you when my enthusiasm isn’t there. Disciplining myself to submit to you and hear from you.

Speaking of hearing from you, I think I heard from you this morning. I have a complicated thing to deal with from my work, and I felt like you gave me a word about that this morning. Thanks for that too.

With all of that said, here are the passages from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer. Please speak to me as I read them this morning:

• AM Psalm: 31
• PM Psalm: 35
• Jeremiah 24:1-10
• John 9:1-17
• Romans 9:19-33

Psalm 31 – What strikes me here is how down David could feel. I’ve said this before, but I’ve had people read my prayer journals and ask if I’m doing okay. What I tell them is I’m normally doing just fine, but some of this pain is inside me and it comes out through these prayers to you. It’s nice to be reminded that David himself, the most revered king in Israel’s history, felt this way often. I’m so impressed that he was vulnerable enough to share it in this way.

Psalm 35 – When I see these psalms of David where he is wishing ill on his enemies and claiming himself to be innocent, I am now experiencing them in a different way since I first discovered this concept a month ago. The concept is to think about David writing these words on behalf of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband whom he murdered. David was not alone in his life as a victim. And his abusers were not alone in their lives as abusers. We are all in both camps: abusers and victims. And when I say abuser, I’m not talking about child abuse, sexual abuse or things that are that heinous. I just mean people who sometimes either accidentally or intentionally cause harm to others. We all do that.

Jeremiah 24:1-10 – I would imagine the people being exiled were desperate in that moment. Downtrodden. Forlorn. But you were working it for their good. You were using it to refine them.

John 9:1-17 – It seems like Jesus did these things on the Sabbath intentionally. And maybe not. Maybe he healed so many people on the other six days it didn’t get mentioned, but the Sabbath healings always caused a stir. Either way, the Pharisees were split on who Jesus was. I would imagine Nicodemus was in the “Jesus is Messiah” camp. Your current church is split on so many issues. Oh, Holy Spirit, make us one. As Jesus and you and the Father are one.

Romans 9:19-33 – Paul’s words at the beginning of this passage, right after talking about you choosing to show your mercy to this one or that one, remind me of the lesson Job learned by the end of his story. Who am I to question you. You are God and I am not. They will be done.

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

Amen

Dear God, I’m working a little faster this morning so I’m going to jump right into the scriptures. I just want you to know really quick that I love you, I am grateful for you, I am humbled before you, and I am sorry for the times when my selfishness overrides everything else. Thank you for your love, grace, and mercy.

Here are the passages today from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

• AM Psalms: 102, 108
• PM Psalm: 33
• Jeremiah 23:9-15
• John 6:60-71
• Romans 9:1-18

Psalms 102, 108 – I like the juxtaposition of a psalm of lament and a psalm of worship. While I don’t feel lament in this moment, I have certainly felt it this week. It’s been a hard week. At the same time, I was worshipping you as well. Oh, keep me in a heart of worship, even in my times of lament.

Jeremiah 23:9-15 – Father, there are people in my community (not pastors) who I think are lying prophets, but I am not 100% sure I am right. Speak to me and inspire me, Holy Spirit. Speak to me and inspire me to do what you want me to do. Correct me when I’m wrong. Encourage me when I’m right. And always fill me with a spirit of your love. Let me always communicate love.

John 6:60-71 – Still finishing up the sifting of the disciples story. Jesus not only speaks of Judas in verse 70, but I think he is speaking to Judas. He knows Judas is struggling with what he just heard. He knows it’s bringing up anger and disappointment in him. Oh, Father, let me never be driven to sin out of my disappointment in you.

Romans 9:1-18 – There are parts of this passage that are hard to read. Oh, thank you for grafting my branch to your vine.

I offer this to you in Jesus’s name,

Amen

Dear God, there is something to be said for sisters. I was able to have a great visit with my sister yesterday to talk through some of the things with which I was struggling. It was good to have someone who has known me my whole life and has history with some of the things that were bothering me. I was very grateful to have her yesterday. Thank you for that relationship in my life.

One of the families I’ve been praying for where one of the spouses is sick had to be put on hospice yesterday. They expect her to pass by the end of the week. I’ll say that their son’s birthday is in a couple of days. Please don’t let it happen on his birthday. But comfort them. Love them. Knit them together. Strongly support her, her husband who adores her, and her children who love her. Oh, Holy Spirit, please be very present with them and pray to the Father for them.

Here are the verse from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer for today.

• AM Psalms: 101, 109
• PM Psalm: 119:121-144
• Jeremiah 18:1-11
• John 6:27-40
• Romans 8:1-11

Psalms 101, 109 – First, I want to stop and remember why I am doing this Lenten series in the first place. I want to really sink into this experience of Jesus doing what he did for me. For us. I want to really meditate on that and appreciate it. Next, I want to just say that Psalm 109 is an example of one of those psalms where I appreciate what David is feeling, but I wouldn’t take this as prescriptive from you. It might be descriptive of his experience, and I appreciate the vulnerability of him writing this down and articulating it so well. Also that he shared it so that others would see it. But it’s hard to read in light of Jesus and the New Covenant he brought us.

Jeremiah 18:1-11 – I am so glad I had the Bible in a Year podcast two years ago to help me understand Jeremiah more. And the analogy here is powerful. The potter with the clay. I am very malformed. You are constantly remaking me into your image. Oh, help me, Lord, to be in your image.

John 6:27-40 – Jesus was who he said he was. I would not have believed it then, but I believe it now. I’m so grateful to be alive now and not then.

Romans 8:1-11 – Holy Spirit, live in me. I know you do, but there are times when I crowd you out with my own selfishness and sinful nature. Live in me. I make you welcome here. Jesus, thank you for breaking any condemnation from the Father onto me. Thank you for your life, death, and resurrection.

And now as I go into this day, walk with me, Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. Help me to take you to others. Help me to love others. Help me to bring you everything that I think is mine and lay it at the foot of your cross. And help me to know how to love this family who is losing their precious wife and mother.

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

Amen

Dear God, my heart is incredibly heavy this morning. I learned some truths last night that I’m still trying to process. How could this have happened. To some extent, I think I feel let down by you as well, but I’m not sure. A couple of really important good things happened in the midst of all of the terrible. I don’t know. I apparently made a huge mistake that I prayed through at the time and since then. Did you lead me the wrong way? Did I not hear you correctly? I know I’m not the start of the current pain being experienced, but I now understand in a new way the role I played in contributing to it and making it greater. I know that anyone who reads these prayers I make to you doesn’t know what I’m talking about, and I have to keep this publicly vague to protect the privacy of others, but I didn’t want to not be transparent about the raw emotions I’m currently feeling.

With that said, I’m really hoping to find something in the scriptures that Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

• AM Psalms – 97, 99, 100
• PM Psalms – 94, 95
• Jeremiah 17:19-27
• John 6:16-27
• Romans 7:13-25

Psalms 97, 99, 100 – After reading these three psalms together, the last line of Psalm 100 is what sticks with me (maybe because I was distracted while I was reading them): For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Oh, LORD, please be good in my situation. Let your faithfulness continue through all generations.

Jeremiah 17:19-27 – I’ve tried to do better about having a day of rest when it comes to the Sabbath, but I could certainly be more intentional. But I also wonder how much this passage is about loving you and leading by example.

John 6:16-27 – The people wanted to know how you, Jesus, got to the other side, but you ignored that question and told them a truth about themselves. Holy Spirit, help me to ask the right questions and pursue the right answers.

Romans 7:13-25 – This whole thing about my sin nature, doing what I don’t want to do and not doing what I want to do . Yeah. I feel that.

Father, show me your path for me today. Please, show me your path.

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

Amen

Dear God, I want to start again by praying for my couple friend where the wife is very sick. I spent a lot of time praying for them last night during a sweet worship service at our church. Oh, Father, please be merciful. Oh, Jesus, please be merciful. Oh, Holy Spirit, please be merciful. Show their friends and family how to love them. Heal her. Give her strength. Support him. Give him strength. Support their children. Give them strength. Father, show me what you would have me to do for them.

While I am here, I have the three women who work with me who were pregnant. Two have now had their babies and one is still due in September. Please take care of all three mothers and their babies. And prepare their siblings for their new roles and big brothers. And for my friend pregnant with triplets, please protect her babies and her. Please protect all of them.

Here are today’s passages from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer:

• AM Psalm: 89:1-18
• PM Psalm: 89:19-52
• Jeremiah 16:10-21
• John 6:1-15
• Romans 7:1-12

Psalm 89 – Wow, this really took a turn. It was all happy and worshipful until verse 38 when it starts talking about you forsaking David. Was this during Absalom’s uprising? I don’t know. But it’s interesting. Of course, you never broke your promise to David. It just didn’t look like it in the moment. We can almost never see what you are doing in the moment.

Jeremiah 16:10-21 – I heard Father Mike Schmitz point out one time that after the exile, the Israelites really didn’t have a problem with idol worship anymore. Yes, the Pharisees were very legalistic by the time Jesus came along, but (and this is me, not Father Schmitz, talking) this almost seems like a kickback reaction to the Israelites being unfaithful and exiled. An accepting of the words of prophets like Jeremiah by them generations later.

John 6:1-15 – I wish we knew more about Andrew. It seems like every story about him is sweet and positive. I need to spend some more time with him at some point. In this story, he is the one who found the boy with the bread and the fish. He didn’t know how it could work, but he somehow saw the potential in it when the others saw impossibility. I think back to Andrew following John the Baptist and switching to Jesus. I think about him recruiting his brother Peter. I think about how brothers can often be opposites, and these two seem like opposites. Yeah, I like Andrew a lot.

Romans 7:1-12 – I wonder what Paul coveted. Much like I know the vices of my heart, Paul knew the vices of his own heart, and here he reveals that coveting was high on his list of personal vices. I also read this and think about someone I know who walked away from you because they decided it was easier to get rid of the “rule maker” to deal with the guilt of their sin rather than address it and accept your grace for themself.

Father, as I get ready to go into this day, help me to walk with your grace. Help me to remember the suffering of those around me, pray for them, and then serve in some way. I worship you as my Lord and my God.

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

Amen