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Category Archives: Psalms

Lent Day 22

06 Mar

Dear God, I now have two friends I’ve talked with this week who are experiencing marital difficulties. I know I mentioned one of them yesterday. I texted with a second last night. Life is hard, and our human frailty makes it harder. Help me to be what you need me to be for my wife. I was listening to a podcast yesterday that talked about strained relationships with adult children. And while I can appreciate and relate to that, how many more have strained marriages or are divorced. Oh, Jesus, we need your healing. Oh, Holy Spirit, we need your counsel and your comfort. Oh, Father, we need your love and acceptance. Thank you for making all of that available to us.

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

  • AM Psalm: 119:97-120
  • PM Psalms: 81, 82
  • Jeremiah 8:18-9:6
  • John 8:12-20
  • Romans 5:1-11

Psalm 119:97-120 – As I think about the author of this psalm, I wonder about what parts of scripture he (assuming it was a “he”) had available to him at this time. The books of Moses? Maybe Joshua and Judges. Job? Probably not Ruth or 1 & 2 Samuel. So much of what he knew of you was “law.” And he loved you so that’s what he meditated on. Your law. That’s how he entered into knowing you. By knowing what you wanted from/for him. How do I enter into knowing you? Fortunately, I have a much more complete picture of you because I have both the Old and New Testaments. I have the advantage of learning lessons–paradigm-shifting lessons–Jesus taught.

Jeremiah 8:18-9:6 – “My sorrow is beyond healing, My heart is faint within me!” This is the translation from the New American Standard and pretty close to the New Living Translation. I’ve been using the NIV for this Lenten season, but it had a note that the meaning of the original Hebrew was vague for the very beginning. It translated verse 18 as, “O my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me!” I like calling you my “Comforter in sorrow.” I need to remember that.

John 8:12-20 – The Pharisees had a lot of problems and things wrong with them, but I sympathize with their situation. How were they to know? I certainly wouldn’t have known. But they were also very focused on maintaining their cultural structures. They needed to maintain the influence they had and the standing Judaism had within the current world order of Rome being in charge. Jesus was bothering that construct as well and their ability to see him for who he was ended up being tainted by their desires for self-preservation.

Romans 5:1-11 – Jesus, my reconciler with the Father, thank you!

Father, I am so grateful to be able to be here this morning, worshipping you, meditating on the words that have come through the efforts of so many people starting with those who originally wrote them. I am grateful for the redemption of my soul through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. I am grateful for the laws you gave us so that we might have a chance at the fruits of your Spirit growing in our souls. I am grateful for my wife, my children, my job, my friends, my coworkers, my community, my state, my country, and this world. I am grateful that you meet with me here this morning, your Holy Spirit possessing me and loving me. I offer all that I am to you.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 6, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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Lent Day 21

05 Mar

Dear God, it’s voting day and I am here a little extra early so I can go vote before work. I’m not so much worried about the national or state-wide elections, but more the local elections (sheriff, state representative, county attorney, etc.). Whatever happens today, I put my faith in you and not the candidates who win or lose. You are my God. They are not.

I visited with a friend last night who is having marital problems. We’ve been talking about the same thing for years. Honestly, and maybe I was wrong about this, but I couldn’t help but wonder if both of them wouldn’t be better off without each other. It was a hard conversation for me, and I am not sure I did or said the right things. Please guide my friend through this process. And while I’m praying for others, I want to mention a deacon at our church and his wife. He is facing a grave health situation, and I pray that you will care for him and comfort him. Please comfort his wife and care for her as well through your body.

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

  • AM Psalm: 78:1-39
  • PM Psalm: 78:40-72
  • Jeremiah 7:21-34
  • John 7:37-52
  • Romans 4:13-25

Psalm 78 (I’m just going to do the whole psalm this morning since I always neglect reading the PM psalm in the evening) – This is an interesting history for Israel up through David. I wonder if they sang this or just read it as poetry. I’m always fascinated that the Israelite historians capture at least most of the bad with the good. I don’t know what they left out, but what they included in the bad is impressively bad (including David impregnating a woman and killing her husband). Thank you for this gift.

Jeremiah 7:21-34 – More negative storytelling about the Israelites. But poor Jeremiah. Oh, how my life is so much better than his. I do feel bad for prophets like him and Hosea who had to live truly sacrificial lives. It’s amazing what they had to endure. Why do I ever complain? You have been so good to me.

John 7:37-52 – First, I’ll go back to what I said yesterday about everyone disagreeing about who Jesus was, but, in the end, they were all wrong. No one understood who he was–even those who believed he was the Messiah. Second, here’s our second Nicodemus story. Our little closet Jesus follower also had no idea what Jesus was about to do, but when Jesus is crucified Nicodemus will step up and show his love for Jesus in an amazing way.

Romans 4:13-25 – “[Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Thank you.

Father, walk with me today. Live through me today. Again, help my friend struggling in marriage. Guide beyond any advice or counsel I gave yesterday. It’s on my heart this morning. Please help both of them.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 5, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Psalms, Romans

 

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Lent Day 20

04 Mar

Dear God, we adopted a dog three days ago, and I have never been around a dog so scared and timid. We got her from a shelter after she had been there four months. They’ve had a hard time adopting her out because she wouldn’t bond with people while they were there. My wife and I decided to give her the patient love she needs. But it’s been wild to see just how untrusting she is. I spent an hour and a half in the backseat of the car yesterday with her loving on her while we went to visit my sister, and yet as soon as we get out of that situation she stops trusting me again. This will take a while. Is this how some people respond to you? The church or a parent hurt them and they cannot trust you? Do you hold that against them, or do you wait patiently with your hand out beckoning them to come?

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

  • AM Psalm: 80
  • PM Psalms: 77, 79
  • Jeremiah 7:1-15
  • John 7:14-36
  • Romans 4:1-12

Psalm 80 and Jeremiah 7:1-15 – I’m going to combine these because they made me think of the same thing while I was reading them (that’s probably why they were put together for today’s readings). I couldn’t help but think of Christians (or some who are conservative Republicans who have claimed the label Christian without actually knowing what that means or being a disciple) who want to call the nation to be these things, but they want to do it from power and force. That strategy is not in here anywhere. You aren’t saying that they Israelites need more laws. You’re saying that they need to be persuaded from the bottom up, starting with the psalmist (in this case, Asaph) and Jeremiah. They need to be warned. They need to be loved. They need to be called to you. I was talking with someone Saturday morning about the Church as an institution, and she was saying that like all institutions it needs to have a certain size so that it can be effective. I countered that the difference between the Church and other institutions is that as soon as it starts thinking about size it starts to act like the world and the opposite of what Jesus taught.

John 7:14-36 – As I read this passage I think about those who didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah and those who did–they were both wrong. Those who didn’t believe were obviously wrong (and I’d have probably been in that group if I’d have been there at the time) and the group that believe was wrong because they thought they were getting a leader to conquer and kill. To quote Michael Card in his song, “They were looking for a king to conquer and to kill. Who’d have ever thought he’d be so meek and humble?” (“Scandalon” by Michael Card).

Romans 4:1-12 – I don’t know how wide the net of Jesus’s act of sacrifice and resurrection gets cast. In the analogy of our new dog who does not trust because of what has been baked into her past, do you make that allowance for the person who is so damaged by life that they can’t bring themselves to trust you?

Father, be with me today. My soul is unsettled as I get ready for work. There is a lot to do today, both in my activities and the relationships that must me addressed. Help me be exactly who you need me to be today.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 4, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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Lent Day 19

03 Mar

Dear God, yesterday was a good day. I participate in this app called “We Tree” that has you give your daily “pulse” on how you’re doing mentally, emotionally, and physically (not spiritually), and then you have confidants you share it with. There is a pastor in our town that I check in through this app almost every day. I am supposed to rate myself on a scale of 1-5 in six different areas and then say what I am grateful for and where I need help. As a point of principle, I try to only use a “5” when it is a day where that topic is as good as it gets. Well, yesterday was 5s across the board. After a couple of tough weeks, it was nice to be able to share that. But I don’t want to overlook the prayers that you answered to make yesterday so good in several ways. Thank you Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, for loving me and all of us so much.

Here are the verses for this third Sunday of Lent that Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer has for me.

  • AM Psalms: 93, 96
  • PM Psalm: 34
  • Jeremiah 6:9-15
  • John 5: 1-20
  • 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Psalms 93, 96 – It’s easy for me to overlook the culture of the times these psalms were written. The people back then had many gods and there were gods for everything. Look at the Greeks. Gods for love, the ocean, etc. It was wholly unique to have one God that supplanted all of these other gods. I wonder what kinds of “psalms” were written by these other cultures to their gods. I know there had to have been. In humans, there is a natural desire to worship you. It’s baked in at some level. Even then Native Americans had spirits they worshipped before they were told about the one true God. So that’s what I thought about this morning as I read about you being “robed in majesty.” Or Psalm 96:4-5 when it said, “For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

Jeremiah 6:9-15 – Oh, Lord, help me to be found faithful to you in any given moment. Sharing your love. Praying, serving, persuading, and suffering for your name.

John 5:1-20 – I don’t think I’ve noticed this before, but, off of the top of my head, I cannot think of a time when Jesus proactively went to someone and healed them. It seems that someone was always asking to be healed before Jesus would respond, but, in this case John tells us, “When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?” The event was so much of a surprise to the man that he didn’t even know who Jesus was. From his perspective, a complete stranger had just walked up to him and casually healed him: “The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.” Give me your eyes to see so that I might proactively notice suffering and offer your healing with your power.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 – Modern American Christians tend to think that sexual immorality only came about with the sexual revolution in the 1960s. But whenever Jesus or any of the apostles write about immorality, sexual immorality is usually the lead-off hitter. It’s insidious. And now our society and the modern church is grappling with the LGTBQ+ issue. Where do we draw the lines? Well, this is nothing new. Help me, Lord, to worry more about the soul and discipleship of the person than their sexual activity. I firmly believe that if they can be brought into relationship with you then the Holy Spirit will work out any sexual issues they have just like he has worked them out with me.

Make me, Father, the man you need me to be for the world around me today.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 3, 2024 in 1 Corinthians, Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms

 

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Lent Day 18

02 Mar

Dear God, I have a couple of important visits with people today. One is breakfast and one is lunch. Oh, God, speak to me and make me who you need me to be today. Help me to be discerning about when I should speak and when I shouldn’t. And help me figure out what to say.

So here are the verses today in Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

  • AM Psalms: 75, 76
  • PM Psalms: 23, 27
  • Jeremiah 5:20-31
  • John 7:1-13
  • Romans 3:19-31

Dear God, I just have to start with this. I know it’s a PM psalm, but I came across something two years ago for the 23rd Psalm that I loved.

“Here in the Psalm” by Sally Fisher

I am a sheep
and I like it
because the grass
I lie down in
feels good and the still
waters are restful and right
there if I’m thirsty
and though some valleys
are very chilly there is a long
rod that prods me so I
direct my hooves
the right way
though today
I’m trying hard
to sit at a table
because it’s expected
required really
and my enemies—
it turns out I have enemies—
are watching me eat and
spill my drink
but I don’t worry because
all my enemies do
is watch and I know
I’m safe if I will
just do my best
as I sit on this chair
that wobbles a bit
in the grass
on the side of a hill.

“Here In The Psalm” by Sally Fisher from Good Question. © Bright Hills Press, 2016.

There is so much I like about this. First, it’s one thing to say you are my shepherd, but it’s another thing to own the identity as your helpless lamb: “I am a sheep and I like it.” Right off the bat, I am entering this common story through a different lens. Then, well, it’s just everything. Water is easy to reach. Protection from my enemies (it turns out I have enemies). Just lovely.

Now, for the other passages.

Psalm 75, 76 – These are just straight praise psalms. I try to picture their author, Asaph, writing them. Just writing down his worship of you. Amen.

Jeremiah 5:20-31 – Verses 30 and 31: “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” It’s the line, “…and my people love it this way.” Oh, Father, help me to hear and seek your voice and your voice alone for my counsel and my authority. Yes, you put others in authority over me. Help me to discern when it is you speaking and when it is them. Help me to find joy in your commands and rest in your peace.

John 7:1-13 – What a story. Such open conflict between Jesus and his brothers. And the people didn’t know what to think of Jesus. But I can guarantee none of them thought he was eventually going to willingly be crucified as a sacrifice for them. Those who believed thought he was going to lead Israel. Those who didn’t thought he was a false prophet. I’m convinced that absolutely no one understood what was really going on. And Jesus’s brothers goading him was just another thing he had to deal with.

Romans 3:19-31 – “Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too…” Oh, thank you for the grace of including me in your family. As your child. Oh, thank you.

I offer you all of these things and the two meals I am having with others today as a sacrifice to you. Help me to do and say (or not say) whatever you need me to regardless of what it costs me.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 2, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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Lent Day 17

01 Mar

Dear God, It’s been a hard nine days or so. Seems like it started last Wednesday. Very little good news compared with the challenges. It’s maxing out my capacity for compassion and patience. It makes me wonder if I’m leaning on myself to generate compassion and patience instead of looking for it to grow out of me from the Holy Spirit. Is there a time when a Spirit-filled person can still run out of compassion and patience? I suppose Jesus did every once in a while. Love is not “easily” angered (1 Corinthians 13). Maybe I’m being too hard on myself. Very grateful I’ve been digging into the Lenten journey. I spoke with a dear woman who is a friend/volunteer, almost 80 and very spiritual yesterday. I’ve told her this. “You’ve heard the phrase resting b**** face. Well, you have resting joy face.” Anyway, I brought up Lent and, having grown up Baptist as did I, she saw it as an empty ritual that started with the Catholic church and she had no need for it. I think I was able to convince her to maybe try to see it in a different light.

With all of that said, let’s get into today’s readings from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

  • AM Psalm: 69
  • PM Psalm: 73
  • Jeremiah 5:1-9
  • John 5:30-47
  • Romans 2:25-3:18

Psalm 69 – This was a GREAT psalm. I have a few things to say about it. First, I feel better about what I wrote at the beginning of this. It seems that David is in a similar place where I am. And while he writes psalms, I write these prayers to you. I worship you in this way. Second, it is interesting that David was estranged from his brothers. I guess it makes sense, but it’s still sad. Third, as he writes for the destruction of his enemies, I wonder how his prayer changed for Absalom. David was devastated when Absalom was killed in the rebellion he led against him. It’s so different when it is your child. Oh, how we long for our children to be happy and to be in relationship with them.

Jeremiah 5:1-9 – Verse 1 struck me: “go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive the city.” Let me be a person through the life I offer to you that brings peace to this city and your favor/forgiveness.

John 5:30-47 – Verse 39-40 struck me: “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” May everything I absorb from the Scriptures point me to you, Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

Romans 2:25-3:18 – Verse 3:28-29 struck me: “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.” Oh, Lord, let my heart be completely circumcised and submitted to you. Let me see not the praise of people, but your praise and smile alone.

I am here to walk with you today, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit. Help me to do it well and to hear your still small voice.

I offer this prayer to you in Jesus and with the Holy Spirt, my Father,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 1, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

Lent Day 16

29 Feb

Dear God, there is so much going on today. With my wife. With my children. With my job. With things outside of my job. This particular day is very full, and my heart is unsettled. Oh, Lord, help me to rest in you. Help me to mercifully love. Help me to keep no record of wrongs, but give the grace to others that you give to me. Help me to comfort. Help me to apologize appropriately. Help me to experience your peace and minister your peace. And help me to simply get the work done that is before me.

With that said, here are the passages you have for me today through Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

  • AM Psalms: 70, 71
  • PM Psalm: 74
  • Jeremiah 4:9-10, 19-28
  • John 5:19-29
  • Romans 2:12-24

Psalms 70 and 71 – David had more enemies that I do. Sure, he was the king. People within the kingdom and outside of the kingdom were after him. Even before he was king, anyone who felt threatened by him made themselves his enemy. I’m grateful I don’t have enemies like this in my simple life. Not that I want to avoid enemies if I happen to have them because of my love for and service to you, but I’m grateful I haven’t had to draw that line too many times yet (although there are some who consider me their enemy).

Jeremiah 4:9-10, 19-28 – I have to tell you, these passages today are depressing me. Maybe it’s because there are a couple of issues on my heart that are really distressing me, but I am having difficulty reading these verses this morning. I am sorry that you have experienced and even allowed yourself to experience so much anguish as well. I know your people cause you anguish. I know I cause you anguish. What I feel right now is nothing compared with what you feel with our rejection and rebellion. I am sorry for any anguish I cause you.

John 5:19-29 – Jesus’s judgment is a scary thing. Not that I am scared. I am grateful for Jesus in my life. For the Holy Spirit. For you, Father. And I don’t totally understand how this all works out or where the “cut line” is between eternity with you and eternity without you. I don’t know what the afterlife looks like. But I know that Jesus was more frustrated on a day-to-day basis with the people in the church than he was with the people outside of the church. On the day of his crucifixion, he was likely more frustrated with Caiaphas than he was Pilate or Herod. That doesn’t mean that Pilate and Herod will make the cut. I don’t know how you will do that. But I do know that I am delighted to love and serve you because you bring light into darkness. And this is your world.

Romans 2:12-24 – Let no one blaspheme you because of my actions. Please keep me from that. I am sure I have done things that have caused others to reject you. I am sorry. I can think of one person in particular who seems to have rejected you because of me. Please heal that wound and help that person find you on a path that is completely separate from me.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 29, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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Lent Day 15

28 Feb

Dear God, I want to start by saying thank you. I was carrying some significant weight on my shoulders yesterday morning, and I was praying hard. I know my wife and a couple others were praying for me and the situation as well. It was one of those times when I could feel you answering my prayers. I could feel the Holy Spirit supporting and guiding me. I needed you and you were there. Thank you.

As I start this 15th day of Lent and read the passages prescribed in Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer, I also want to thank you for this journey. I remember the message I was getting during the first week was “wait.” I have some things in my life that still vex me and cause sorrow. I would love to have them resolved now. But the word I get is “wait.” Okay, but I’m still going to bring them to you on a daily basis. I’m going to trust in your timing.

Here are the passages Sacred Invitation has for today:

  • AM Psalm: 72
  • PM Psalm: 119:73-96
  • Jeremiah 3:6-8
  • John 5:1-18
  • Romans 1:28-2:11

Psalm 72 – This is one of those psalms I don’t particularly like or agree with, but there are some interesting things about it. First, Solomon wrote it. I don’t read psalms Solomon wrote very often. I can’t remember how many of the 150 psalms recorded here were written by Solomon. Second, is he writing this as his father dies? It starts with, “Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.” Now he could be referring to himself as both the king and the son, but then the last verse says, “This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.” So this is in interesting context to put all of these other words in. I don’t know what it’s like to feel the pressures of a national leader like a king, so it is hard for me to pray about my enemies licking the dust, but perhaps the view is different from that vantage point.

Jeremiah 3:6-8 – When I read this passage I think about Christian nationalism and how someone with that perspective would take these verses and say, “See, we need to call this nation back to God like Jeremiah had to do.” And I don’t disagree with that statement. I think it’s the tactic that bothers me. The church should not take over the government and mandate Christianity or Christian principles. It has to come from the bottom. The grassroots. It has to come through prayer, service, persuasion, and suffering. Not top-down power. Top-down power will only drive people away and leave Christians worshipping the idol of political power instead of you.

John 5:1-18 – I want to take a little bit different tack on this story. Law vs. persuasion. I just mentioned this with Jeremiah, but now I have it here in this story. “…the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.'” Admonishing through the law. Judging without knowing the situation. There is nothing of you in these words. Jesus, however, said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” Persuasion. He healed him (before any admonishment or forgiveness of sin) and then told him to stop sinning. Love and context vs. judgment and legalism.

Romans 1:28-2:11 – Judgment of others seems to be the theme this morning. Talking about the evil things we do and then judge others for doing. How much does our judging of others only feed the darkness in my own heart. “Be curious, not judgmental.” A quote unverifiably attributed to Walt Whitman. It’s a good one nonetheless.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I am here for you today. Please help me to walk in you. Help me to be curious and not judgmental. Help me to represent you in the world around me so that your glory might shine everywhere.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 28, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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Lent Day 13

26 Feb

Dear God, I just want to sit here before you for a moment and be still. Clear my head and be with you. Really try to grasp the concept that something so small and insignificant as me can have a life lived with the creator of the universe as his father. That your Holy Spirit can be here with me. That this is what you want. That Jesus is my savior, teacher, and he loves me too. I am so grateful.

As is my habit, I missed reading the PM psalms yesterday (Psalms 8 and 84), but I just read them after typing that first paragraph, and they feed into that same sentiment. Just worship and appreciation of you. Oh, Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Today’s verses from Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer are:

  • AM Psalms: 56, 57, and 58
  • PM Psalms: 64, 65
  • Jeremiah 1:11-19
  • John 4:27-42
  • Romans 1:1-15

I thought we might be spending some more time in 1 Corinthians now after seeing a reading from 1 Corinthians (and Mark instead of John yesterday), but today we are in Romans and back in John. So here we go.

Psalms 56 and 57 – The note at the top of Psalm 56 says, “Of David…When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.” The note at the top of Psalm 57 says, “Of David…When he had fled from Saul into the cave.” Two things strike me about this: 1.) He obviously travels with something to write with and he writes down his prayers to you kind of like I do as I type these prayers. Now, his are much more poetic, but he is pouring out his heart to you nonetheless. 2.) It takes stories from 1 Samuel and gives me a look into his prayer life. How was he emotionally and spiritually surviving these trials? He was communing with you in the moment as best as he could.

Jeremiah 1:11-19 – What strikes me in this passage is that you know you are making Jeremiah an enemy of the rebellious people. Jeremiah is about to lead a very hard life as your prophet. This is the role you have for him in history. There are some people still today whom you call to this role. There are others who take this role upon themselves and think they are doing it on your behalf. Oh, help us to know when it is you speaking. Help me to know when it is you speaking!

John 4:27-42 – I love how Jesus sees the situation beyond what that present moment gives him. He sees the “harvest.” He is in Samaria with people the Jews of the time looked down upon, and he sees them as the harvest. He is also able to deny himself essential things like food because he is focused on the moment.

Romans 1:1-15 – As Paul opens his letter to the Romans, I love this line in verses 11 and 12: “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong–that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Father, as I go through this day, help me to be very intentional about seeing everyone and every situation through your eyes. Give me your eyes all day long. Holy Spirit, teach me. Jesus, teach me. Oh, Father, I offer you my life today. Use it how you will.

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

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 26, 2024 in Jeremiah, John, Lent 2024, Psalms, Romans

 

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Lent Day 12

25 Feb

Good morning, Father. I’ve been doing this after my morning shower, but I think I’m going to skip showering this morning because of how my day is going to play out, so I thought I would go ahead and dive into praying to you and going through Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

Of course, as is my pattern over the last 12 days, I didn’t read the PM Psalms (138 and 139). David wrote both of them, and I do notice one pattern in David that I think was a problem for him: anger. Psalm 139 is one of those great, worshipful songs. Different parts of it are often quoted. Rick Mullins wrote a song called “Nothing is Beyond You” before he died that leans heavily on this psalm. But David can’t help himself at the end. He has to lash out at his enemies: “If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.” In the midst of a lot of worship, but is a lot of anger.

I wonder how Jesus would have comforted David in the moment he was writing that. “No, David. Love your enemies. Your hatred is hurting you. They are my children too. They sin like you do. They have walked away. I’m waiting for them to return. Beckoning to them. Calling them. I need you to be part of that call with me. Let’s call them together. Be at peace, David. Be at peace. Remember, my rod and staff comfort you. You might be sitting at a table eating, and your enemies might be surrounding you, watching, but I am with you and they will not harm you.”

Is that how you are comforting me this morning, Father? Are you telling me that the people I might see as an enemy are simply people you want to see return to you as much as a parent wants to receive a child that has rejected them? You need me as your emissary to them. You need me to be your ambassador. Your advocate. You need me to be a lover of everyone.

With all of that said, here are today’s passages from Sacred Invitation.

  • AM Psalms: 24, 29
  • PM Psalms: 8, 84
  • Jeremiah 1:1-10
  • Mark 3:31-4:9
  • 1 Corinthians 3:11-23

I have to admit it is kind of refreshing to shift gears from Deuteronomy and Hebrews (John was okay), and shift to Jeremiah and 1 Corinthians. I’m really interested to see what Jeremiah will say to me all these years later. I came to appreciate his role in the Old Testament and Israelite history when I did the Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz. I didn’t understand him at all before. Now, I might have 10% understanding, but I at least have a foundation upon which I can build.

Father, you know some of the challenges I’m facing right now. Even this very morning, I have some challenges. Help me to share your joy with others. Help me to share your peace. Help me to be the person you need me to be as I do my best to live the life you have for me to live, warts and all.

I offer this to you in the name of Jesus, my Lord, and with your Holy Spirit, my paraclete,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 25, 2024 in Lent 2024, Psalms

 

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