Category Archives: John

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

Matthew 5:43-45

Dear God, it’s important for me to remember that you love your enemies to, and that includes me. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to sometimes withdraw your presence from someone who is hostile towards you or flaunts unholiness in your face, but you are always there to reach out to your enemies and ready to forgive. You expect no more of me than you are willing to give yourself.

Speaking of enemies, I was at a funeral the other day and we read the 23rd Psalm. “You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.” How do you feel about that line? It strikes me as something David was communicating to you as he sorted out the fear or need he felt at the time with the fact that you had given him victory over a lot of enemies. But should I pray that? Is that statement true? In light of what Jesus is saying here, could it more rightly said that your table for me, regardless of my enemies’ condition, is enough and I am content with it?

Father, I don’t think I have many enemies, which is good, but as I go through the day I know there are people I don’t like. Help me to love and pray for them. Help me to let go of my need or desire for a nice table and to embrace you for the God who loves me and knows better than I do what good gifts I need as you channel my life to fit into your plan.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:19-24

Dear God, were you bigger than being worshipped in Jerusalem all along? Did the Jews have it wrong?

I wonder what parameters I’ve put on my theology (or I’ve been taught by others) that are just wrong. I’ve told people before that I’m pretty sure that when I get to Heaven I will learn that 90% of my theology was wrong. That’s where your grace comes in. That’s where praying like this and working out my faith with fear and trembling comes in. That’s why I need to pay attention to your still small voice, while being careful that my own wisdom and humanity to pose as your voice and lead me away.

Father, thank you that I’m able to worship you anywhere and anytime. Thank you that you accept my worship. Thank you that you accept my sacrifices. Thank you for forgiving me of the sins I commit and for redeeming me through your sacrifice.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.

John 8:31-34

Dear God, I don’t think people usually link “the truth will set you free” to being a slave to sin. But that’s the whole idea of Jesus’ grace. Cutting the knot of our sin and setting us free. But when I have a sin that is hidden and protected then that sin has a power over me.

Although I worship in a Catholic Church, I am not Catholic. And although I don’t believe reconciliation (a.k.a. confession) is necessary theologically, I do think there is something to be said for it psychologically. One, it forces someone to consider what exactly their sins are and name them, and, two, it helps the person articulate it and confess it to someone else.

Father, in my life, my wife’s life, and in my children’s lives, I pray against the secrets and ask that you free all of us from the different types of slavery we might have allowed ourselves to be subject to. Give us the courage to confess our sin to you and to others, and help us to turn to you as our savior and redeemer.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Dear God, what did you tell them? You told them about your death and resurrection, and you did it to help them know that, no matter how bad things look, you’ve got this. Prophecy isn’t so we can know the future. It’s so that when the future unfolds we will be assured that you knew it was coming all along. So we can have peace in you.

There it is again—the word peace. I talked about that with you on Thursday. The line I use about you a lot is that you usually keep me on a need-to-know basis and I very rarely need to know. But there’s also the aspect of being able to look back on a period of time and see how your hand was moving. I can see you at work and even the benefits of some suffering. It’s these times that we need to set up monuments in our own lives like the Israelites did in the Old Testament so that we can remember your goodness the next time we face a trial.

Father, help me to be at peace. Help me to let go and love others beyond how they love me. Help me to simply keep myself pure and love everyone I can, for your glory’s sake.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

John 6:53, 60, 66-67

Dear God, this passage still divides Christians today. In fact, it’s one of the key things that kept me from being confirmed Catholic with my wife. And I’ll confess that if I had been one of the ones who participated in this conversation 2,000 years ago then I would probably have walked away too.

So I guess my question is, when/where do I draw the line when it comes to discerning theological truths? How do I figure out when something is a deal breaker, when it’s something I can agree to disagree, and when it’s something for me to embrace? When my wife started to attend a Catholic church and I joined her, there were many things I could embrace because I readily agreed theologically. Then there were things that I decided I could agree to disagree on. Then there was this issue of Transubstantiation that I decided was an area they believed in to such a paramount extent that I simply couldn’t be confirmed if I didn’t embrace it as well. And now here Jesus is, using this issue to push His disciples and when they start to push back He doubles down.

Father, I’m not leaving, but I’m also not able to embrace the Catholic vision of your body and blood. But I have given you all of me that I intellectually, emotionally, and physically know to give. If there is more I need to give to show my love for you then please reveal it to me. I don’t want to hold anything back.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

John 8:12

Dear God, smart aleck first response to this passage is, “I won’t have to, but do I still get to?” But I guess there’s some truth in my response because there is a part in all of our hearts that still wants to indulge ourselves and pursue some amount of darkness. As the Charlie Peacock song, “In the Light,” says, “I’m still a man in need of a savior.”

But what does it look like for me to walk in your light today? I think that the first thing it means is to consider my life worth nothing to me, but to complete the task you have given me, the task of testifying to your grace. (Acts 20:24) it all starts with the humility and decreasing so you can increase.

Then I need to reject some of my sinful nature as I realize it is popping up. If I’m judging people harshly, being selfish, or pursuing cares of this world instead of trying to see it with your eyes.

Next is to lead in love, not insecurity. I need to proactively point others towards you and reach out to those in pain. In my specific situation at work, I need to help others do the same.

Finally, I need to be about glorifying you and your name. I’ll be speaking for a moment in front of a large group tonight. Help me to point all of them to you. I will talk to several people today. Reveal yourself to them through me. Do all of this for your glory’s sake and so that I might be in your light.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.”

John 17:13-19

Dear God, how does Jesus pray for me? This is how. He asks that you protect me from the evil one. He asks that you make me Holy by your truth and teach me. He offers himself up for me as my sacrifice. There is a lot of love from him in this prayer.

How do I pray for others? Is this how I should pray? If I pray for my wife, children, parents or friends, would this prayer cover the important stuff? Let me try.

Father, please protect my children from the plans Satan has to steal, kill and destroy their lives. Teach them your word, which is truth. If you need me to sacrifice anything in my life for them, please reveal it to me. I offer it to you and them. I pray all of the same things for my wife, parents, extended family, friends, community and world. Protect us from evil. Teach us truth. Use me however you will.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

John 3:19-21 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” 

Dear God, first, I want to pray for your light. I pray that I will embrace it in my own life. I pray for it in my wife’s life. I ask that my children will embrace your light and let go of any darkness they think they need. 

And then there is the need for your light in the world. In politics. In business. In churches and nonprofits. In friendships and marriages. 

And what does your light bring? Freedom. Peace. Love. Joy. Patience. Gentleness. Faithfulness. Kindness. Self control. (Galatians 5:22-23). That is what I want for my world. That is what I want for my life. 

Father, I’m sorry for anything I try to conceal for what I think is my own preservation and protection. I offer you my life, my service, and my ego. All I ask is for your Spirit in return. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen