Precious Lord, take my hand Lead me on, let me stand I am tired, I’m weak, I am worn Through the storm, through the night Lead me on to the light Take my hand, precious Lord Lead me home
When my way groweth drear Precious Lord, linger near When my light is almost gone Hear my cry, hear my call Hold my hand lest I fall Take my hand, precious Lord Lead me on
When the darkness appears And the night draws near And the day is past and gone At the river I stand Guide my feet Hold my hand Take my hand, precious Lord Lead me on
Precious Lord, take my hand Lead me on, let me stand I am tired, I’m weak, I am worn Through the storm, through the night Lead me on to the light Take my hand, precious Lord Lead me home
Songwriter: Thomas A. Dorsey
Dear God, we sang this song in church on Sunday. My wife lead the singing and she told be beforehand the background of how this song was written (see the interview with Mr. Dorsey above). It reminded me of the background for “It Is Well With My Soul” (Horatio Spafford). Mr. Dorsey wrote this after he lost his wife, and shortly thereafter his daughter, in childbirth. He was devastated. This song was one way he expressed his pain and his faith.
I’ve had my own times when I’ve been tired, weak, and worn. I’m grateful to not be there now, but I know I’ll be there again. No, tonight, my heart is with a friend who just lost a pregnancy. Her situation is similar to Dorsey”s and anyone else who has suffered the loss of a child or spouse. I’ve been there. I know that pain.
Here’s a good rendition of the song:
Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, please comfort my friend tonight. I know she hurts. I know she still has to go through some medical procedures. I am sorry for her. I know many are. We want to wrap her up and let her know she is loved. Let her know that you love her. Please help her to feel your love through this. Help her to find her shelter and comfort in you. Help her to find you through the pain she is experiencing. Be very real to her.
The waves crash in The tide rolls out It’s an angry sea But there is no doubt That the lighthouse Will keep shining out To warn a lonely sailor
And the lightning strikes And the wind cuts cold Through the sailor’s bones Through the sailor’s soul ‘Til there’s nothing left That he can hold Except a rolling ocean
Oh, I am ready for the storm Yes, sir, ready I am ready for the storm I’m ready for the storm
Oh, give me mercy For my dreams ‘Cause every confrontation seems To tell me What it really means To be this lonely sailor
And when the sky begins to clear The sun it melts away my fear And I cry a silent weary tear For those who mean to love me
Oh, I am ready for the storm Yes, sir, ready I am ready for the storm I’m ready for the storm
The distance it is no real friend And time will take its time And you will find that in the end It brings you me This lonely sailor
And when You take me by the hand And You love me, Lord, You love me And I should have realized I had no reasons to be frightened
Oh, I am ready for the storm Yes, sir, ready I am ready for the storm Yes, sir, ready I am ready for the storm Yes, sir, ready I am ready for the storm I’m ready for the storm
Written by Dougie MacLean
Dear God, here are my thoughts on this song I know through Rich Mullins. It’s one of those songs I’ve never paid must attention to regarding the meaning of the verses. I can just sing along with the chorus.
Verse 1: I just picture the song writer, Dougie MacLean, sitting on a rocky coast in Ireland (to hear him sing he sounds Irish) and watching the waves crash against the shore while a lighthouse sits nearby. He’s imaging the relationships between the sailor, the boat, the water, the shore, the wind, and that lighthouse. From nature’s standpoint, the sailor is the only thing that is superfluous. They are all there for him. The sailor needs the boat. He needs the water to travel wherever he is going or hunt for whatever he is fishing for. He needs the shore for his life off of the boat. He even needs the wind, although he doesn’t need the storm. He needs the lighthouse to direct him from crashing into the shore. But none of these things need him. Their existence would be the same if he was or wasn’t there–well, maybe not the boat since the boat would be docked without the sailor.
Verse 2: The confrontations in my life leave me feeling like this sailor: Vulnerable. In danger. Dependent. Needing to struggle to survive. Lonely. “For those who mean to love me.” That could mean so many things. Did they love him and do the right things to confront him, but he rejected them? Did they reject him for the wrong reasons? With the sky clearing and the sun melting away fears…you know, this almost makes me think of someone going through rehab. The confrontation–intervention. The loneliness. The storm of getting sober. The lighthouse guiding to shore, but protecting as well. The sobriety melting away the fears. The tear realizing how others were loving him through the intervention. I could be totally wrong, but that’s what came to mind when I started to ponder the words a little.
Verse 3: Playing with my sobriety theory, the difficult thing about addiction is that it doesn’t really pass with time. Oh, perhaps it does a little, but it’s only one slip away. The distance is no real friend. You can still be lonely, even in your sobriety. But you take us by the hand, God. You comfort us. Love us. Give us peace. And the more we get to know you the more we realize that we have nothing to really fear. You are our hope and loving you is what it’s ultimately all about.
Father, I will never sing with passion that I am ready for the storm. Okay, never say never, but it is hard to imagine egging on Satan, you, or anything else in that way. But there are times when I have to set my face to the wind and just decide I’m going to do better, whatever that “better” might be. Life can be lonely, but I am blessed beyond measure by the wife you’ve given to me. And I’m not just saying that because that is what Christian husbands are supposed to say about their wives. She is unbelievable and amazing. She is so good for me. You do so much in me through her. Thank you that, for at least this moment, I am not a lonely sailor.
I pray all of this in the name of you, your son, and your Holy Spirit,
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:
24 ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. 25 May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. 26 May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’
27 Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”
Numbers 6:22-27
Dear God, this was the Old Testament reading on Sunday, New Year’s Day. While I was reading it I thought about wanting to spend some time with it in this setting. When I sat down this morning to do it I thought I would go back and find the video that came out of the UK in 2020 during the pandemic that was quite beautiful with people singing the song in isolation, but combined through technology. When I searched YouTube for it this morning, I found this international version. I was so moved by it after watching it for just a minute, I called my wife in and we ended up holding each other and watching it. I had chills. She cried. There’s is something about watching your creation worship you and do its best to spread your love into the world that is…well, words fail me.
The part of the song when they repeat over and over again, “He is for you, He is for you.” It reminds me of the scene in Good Will Hunting when Robin Williams’s therapist character repeats to Will, “It’s not your fault.” Will brushes it off at first, but Williams keeps repeating it until it starts to sink in. That’s what this reminds me of.
“He is for you.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“No, you don’t. He is for you.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“No, you don’t. He is for you.”
“What are you doing?”
“He is for you.”
“Don’t mess with me!”
“He is for you.”
“Don’t do it. Not you!”
“He is for you.”
That’s when it starts to sink in. You are for me. You are for my wife. You are for my children. My parents. My siblings, nieces, and nephews. You are for not only the Americans, but your creation all over the world. You are for me. You are for them. You are for us!
Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I pray under your authority that my life would be an extension of you being for your creation. You are my God. Thank you for your blessing. Thank you for keeping me. Thank you for letting your face smile upon me. Thank you for being gracious to me. Thank you for showing me your favor. Thank you for your peace.
[Verse 1] O Holy night!The stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth Long lay the world in sin and error pining ‘Til He appears and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born O night, O Holy night, O night divine!
[Verse 2] Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming Here come the Wise Men from Orient land The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger In all our trials born to be our friend He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger Behold your King; before Him lowly bend Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
[Verse 3] Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is Peace Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother And in His name, all oppression shall cease Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we Let all within us Praise His Holy name Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever! His power and glory evermore proclaim His power and glory evermore proclaim
Dear God, I heard someone ask yesterday what our favorite Christian Christmas song is (as opposed to secular), and I don’t know that this one is my favorite, but it’s what came to mind first. But I have to admit I don’t think I’ve ever paid that close to the lyrics beyond the first verse. But there is one line in there that always stands out to me: “The soul felt its worth.”
I guess that Jesus’s coming tells me everything I need to know about my worth to you. I read a nice editorial by a pastor who talked about the reciprocal nature of Christmas gift giving. As adults, we feel the need to exchange commensurate gifts. But children feel no such need for reciprocity when they receive a gift. I asked my seven-year-old I’m mentoring yesterday what he got his mother for Christmas and he told me he drew her a picture of a dog. So sweet, but the idea that he could even come close to his mother’s gift-giving capacity–regardless of how wealthy she is or isn’t–is ridiculous. The five-year-old who gets a bike for Christmas could never repay their parent. Christmas gifts are a one-way street.
As the pastor pointed out, the same is true with us. There is no way we can ever match you in gift-giving capacity. The only thing we can do is try to match sacrifice. You sacrificed everything for us. You gave us something we can never repay. What can I do, but accept your love, accept your gift, and then try as I might to return your love, much like a child might try to express love to a parent.
Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, you have shown me my soul’s worth to you. Thank you. Help me to be part of showing others what their souls are worth as well. Help me to be your ambassador into the world. You are my king. You are my father. You are my counselor. You are my comforter. You are my advocate. You are my savior. To you be all glory now and forever.
Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck Some nights, I call it a draw Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle Some nights, I wish they’d just fall off But I still wake up, I still see your ghost Oh Lord, I’m still not sure what I stand for, oh-oh (Oh-ooh-woah) what do I stand for? (Oh-ooh-woah) what do I stand for? Most nights, I don’t know anymore
This is it, boys, this is war What are we waiting for? Why don’t we break the rules already? I was never one to believe the hype Save that for the black and white Try twice as hard, and I’m half as liked But here they come again to jack my style
That’s alright (that’s alright) I found a martyr in my bed tonight She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am Oh, who am I? Mmm, mmm-mmm
Well, some nights, I wish that this all would end ‘Cause I could use some friends for a change And some nights, I’m scared you’ll forget me again Some nights, I always win (I always win) But I still wake up, I still see your ghost Oh Lord, I’m still not sure what I stand for, oh-oh (Oh-ooh-woah) what do I stand for? (Oh-ooh-woah) what do I stand for? Most nights, I don’t know
so this is it? I sold my soul for this? Washed my hands of that for this? I miss my mom and dad for this? No, when I see stars, when I see- When I see stars, that’s all they are When I hear songs They sound like a swan, so come on Oh come on, oh come on, oh come on
Well, this is it guys, that is all Five minutes in, and I’m bored again Ten years of this, I’m not sure if anybody understands This one is not for the folks at home Sorry to leave, Mom, I had to go Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?
My heart is breaking for my sister And the con that she called “love” And then I look into my nephew’s eyes Man, you wouldn’t believe The most amazing things That can come from Some terrible nights
The other night, you wouldn’t believe The dream I just had about you and me I called you up, but we both agree It’s for the best you didn’t listen It’s for the best we get our distance, oh For the best you didn’t listen It’s for the best we get our distance, oh
Songwriters: Nathaniel Joseph Ruess / Andrew Dost / Jeffrey Bhasker / Jack Michael Antonoff
Dear God, I wanted to do this prayer a couple of days ago when I woke up with this song in my head, but…well, time just got away from me. It’s been hectic this week, I haven’t felt great physically, etc. Excuse, excuse, excuse. The truth is, I didn’t make praying to you in this way a priority the last couple of days. So here I am now. I need you. I miss you.
This song is interesting. It’s secular, and I have no illusions it’s not secular. But it speaks to that longing that we all have when we are wandering away from you. What do I stand for?
The lyrics of the song are poetic and cryptic. I don’t know exactly what they are saying, but I certainly see intimations. Attack life and you end up with enemies and loneliness. A martyr in my bed tonight? A one-night stand who gave meaning for a moment, but the moment is gone. “Some nights I wish this all would end, ’cause I could use some friends for a change.” What did the attacking of life get me? What did success get me?
Someone mocked me recently for the amount of volunteer work I do. They were a young person who has a pretty empty life. They are still pursuing the money and career. They are trying to attack life, but doing it seemingly fruitlessly. I see a lot of emptiness in them. And I’ll say, as I evaluate my level of volunteerism, it’s not like I do it compulsively. I say no to a lot of things. I go home and spend time with my wife. I take time for myself. But I certainly make sure I have it as part of my life balance.
The last part seems to be singing about his sister’s family. Bad husband (a “con”). Her son, a devastated nephew. So much pain. So much pain.
I was driving yesterday and I saw a family with a sign asking for money in front of Walmart. This doesn’t happen often in our small idyllic tourist town. The police usually snuff them out pretty quickly. But I thought about this family and imagined what their situation might be. How deep in the hole they probably are. What kind of effort and resources it would take to get them out of that situation–this one family. Then how many families there are in that situation. So much pain.
I was just speaking with a coworker about kids in the school and a staff member who is suffering emotionally from working with the students designated as disciplinary problems. There’s just so much wrong.
Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord Jesus, come! Come into our hearts individually. Bring revival to us. Help our marriages. Help our relationships with our children. Help us, Lord. And show us what to do to help others. But let it all start with our simple submission to you individually. Turning loose and worshipping you.
I pray this all in through your name and the power you have,
Dear God, I was reading 2 Corinthians 4 this morning and I came across verses 8-9: “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” Of course, it made me think of this song.
I’m living in great…well, let’s just say I’m very perplexed. And I’ll confess that it has occasionally driven me to despair. But my faith in you always draws me back. And now I can see a lot of providence in the last 8 days of my life. I see all providence. Not that I think some of the things I want to happen will imminently happen now. I don’t expect that at all. But I’m a little less perplexed today than I was eight days ago.
Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I am pressed by certain things, but certainly not crushed. I am struck down by some, but you have sustained me, frankly unreasonably well. I have even been persecuted by some, but I don’t feel abandoned by you. On the contrary. I feel like you are involved in the minuteness of my life that astonishes me. Absolutely astonishes me. So I worship you this morning. I absolutely worship you. And as I go through a sad funeral today, I know you offer hope. Offer your hope through me and those here who are your ambassadors. Show me how to love in your name.
20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”
Ruth 1:20-21
Dear God, I was listening to one of my favorite Newsboys songs this morning that reminds me of Naomi’s situation. It’s called “Lord (I don’t know).” Here’s a link to the song:
The message of this song is wrapped up in the chorus: “Lord, I don’t know where all this is going or how it all works out. Lead me to peace that passes understanding. A peace beyond all doubt.” This could have been Naomi’s song to you. It is all of our songs–especially those in pain this morning.
What Naomi didn’t realize was you were there. You gave her Ruth. You had a plan for this pain. I’m not going to say you wanted her sons and husband to die, but you certainly used it for the benefit of Israel. You used it for the benefit of Ruth. Now, ultimately, it cost Naomi people–loved ones–she could never replace. But you made it count.
I know people today who are suffering. I know a family who just lost a relative in a terrible car accident one week ago this morning. I know of a woman who has a difficult cancer diagnosis and no funding or easy path to treatment. I know people who are recently widowed. I myself have some pain this morning–a metaphorical cloud over me. What am I to do? Am I to claim the name “Mara” and pronounce myself bitter to the world? Or am I to take a look around and acknowledge a few things. 1.) You have given me great love in this life. Love that is often beyond reason. 2.) You have given me a “Ruth” through a relationship with a relative that, well, if I didn’t have it I might be in total despair this morning. And 3.) you might just be using the pain I’m feeling to accomplish things I will never know or understand.
Father, help me to not miss you today. Help me to see you and your blessings all over the place. Please be a comfort to those I mentioned who are suffering and those I’ve forgotten are suffering. Show me the role you have for me to play in their lives. And please help the people in Ukraine. I don’t even know how to pray for the, but, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, please help these poor people. Provide for their needs. Make this stop. Please, make it stop. And use this for your ultimate glory.
I love you, and I thank you. I pray this by the name of Jesus,
There’s tarnish on the golden rule And I wanna jump from this ship of fools Show me a place where hope is young And a people who are not afraid to love
This world has nothing for me And this world has everything All that I could wanted And nothing that I need
This world is making me drunk On the spirit of fear So when you say who will go I am nowhere near
This world has nothing for me And this world has everything All that I could wanted And nothing that I need
This world has nothing for me And this world has everything All that I could wanted And (absolutely) nothing that I need
But the least of these look like criminals to me So I leave Christ on the street
This world has held my hand And has led me into intolerance And now I’m waking up And now I’m breaking up And now I’m making up for lost time
This world has nothing for me And this world has everything All that I could wanted And nothing that I need
Dear God, this song has about 10 layers of truth to it, and I’m not sure where to start. My wife played it for me yesterday morning, and I thought, “I really need to spend some time with this.” In fact, I’m not sure I have enough time this morning to do it justice and really think through it with the Holy Spirit as my companion–revealing to me where I have embraced the things I want in the world that I don’t need.
In the first stanza, when the write says that there is tarnish on the golden rule and they want to jump from the ship of fools, I wonder if he (Aaron Tate) is referring to the church. Disillusionment with the people in the church. Frustration with the selfishness and grasps for power that we see. Disappointment in our failure to love our neighbor as ourselves. Is he looking for a place where “hope” has not yet been jaded by disillusionment, frustration, and disappointment? Where people are not yet afraid to love.
In the second verse, the idea of being drunk on the spirit of fear is real. And it comes with a hangover. Just ask anyone who watches too much news. Fear. Fear. Fear. Be afraid. Be afraid of the future. Be afraid of the present. Be afraid of the past. Be afraid. Come and consume my content. I will feed your fear until you are numb, and when you are done you will be in a stupor. As for me, I can certainly enjoy getting this itch scratched, but the itch is like poison ivy. The more you scratch it the more you must scratch it, all the while you are only making it worse. And then when you say, “Whom shall I send,” I’m either too afraid or too entrenched in my ideology, prejudices, and presuppositions to help anyone do anything.
In the bridge we get the allusion to Jesus saying we did not help him when we saw him (Matthew 25:31-46). They are too hard to help. I heard someone present at Rotary yesterday, and he laid out a scenario of seeing someone in need and asked what we would do in that situation. When I honestly asked myself what I would do, I didn’t live up to the standard Jesus set out here. I would probably have thought the problem was too big and moved on.
The final verse is ironic because the “world” thinks it teaches tolerance, but ultimately pursuing the things of the world–allowing the thorns to grow in my soil (Matthew 13:22)–just puts be further into my selfish World War I trench and keeps me from coming out to love all of your children. But if I can come to you in moments like this…if I can wake up, then I can start to be the man you call me to me.
Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, work in my heart today. Get me out of my trench. Be with me in my conversations. Bless the fruit of the work I do in your name and help me to be a steward of the things you give me.
I pray all of this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
The room was filled with people Who had come to hear Him speak A Simple man with callused hands And dust upon His feet Twelve men were gathered ’round him Like they knew Him as a friend But I had never seen Him Though He said He’d always been
Unlike the other people I had only come to see But when He spoke I noticed He was staring into me I whispered to a woman Who was listening by my side Who is this man? and These words she replied:
Yeshua Ha Mashiach The image of I Am The Mystery of Heaven Come to earth a mortal man Yeshua Ha Mashiach The Lion and the Lamb His eyes are warm and tender But there’s fire in His hand
More than any other prophet His words burned me deep inside Exposing from my hardened heart The truth I could not hide For years I had been waiting For Messiah yet to come But long before I heard His Name I knew He was The One
Yeshua Ha Mashiach The image of I Am The Mystery of Heaven Come to earth a mortal man Yeshua Ha Mashiach The Lion and the Lamb His eyes are warm and tender But there’s fire in His hand
Yeshua Ha Mashiach The image of I Am The Mystery of Heaven Come to earth a mortal man Yeshua Ha Mashiach The Lion and the Lamb His eyes are warm and tender But there’s fire in His hand
Jesus the Messiah The Image of I Am The Mystery of Heaven Come to earth a mortal man Yeshua Ha Mashiach The Lion and the Lamb His eyes are warm and tender But there’s fire in His hand
Jesus the Messiah The Image of I Am The Mystery of Heaven Come to earth a mortal man Yeshua Ha Mashiach The Lion and the Lamb His eyes are warm and tender But there’s fire in His hand
Yeshua Ha Mashiach The image of I Am The Mystery of Heaven Come to earth a mortal man Yeshua Ha Mashiach The Lion and the Lamb His eyes are warm and tender But there’s fire in His hand Yeshua Ha Mashiach
Dear God, this is a song from the 80s that I hadn’t thought about for a while, but was reminded up a few days ago. I can’t remember what brought it to mind. I think it might have been another song that reminded me of it. Anyway, it has a great beat and it’s just a reminder of who Jesus was.
I was listening to the song this morning after I woke up and watched the video above. The actor playing Jesus is interesting because he doesn’t have the typical “Jesus look.” He’s a little more intense than I’m used to seeing. I’m used to gentle-eyed Jesus, but this one seems to have something different in his eyes. I’m not sure which image I like or lean to more. Okay, I know which one I like more. I like the gentle-eyed one. But have I missed something by not considering a Jesus who maybe looked a little more intense? I read last week about Jesus saying he came to burn things down, cause divisions, etc.
Well, I guess I’ll have to think about that. But what I want to look at is just the idea in the chorus that Jesus was your image. God come to earth. A piece of your nature here with us in physical form. The decisions. The mercy. The anger. The wisdom. The compassion. The exasperation. The joy. The peace. The patience. The forgiveness. The sacrifice. The power. The healing. all of it was in him. All of you was in him. To know him was to know you.
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
John 14:8-9
Holy Spirit, Father, Jesus, I need all of your being today and this week. This week, in particular. There are several things going on. Things in different areas of our community. We need your power. Your provision. Your protection. Your wisdom. Your intervention. Your redemption. In fact, we need everything that is you for everything we are. Help us to lean into you this week. Help me. Help each person on my heart right now. Help us to put on your holy armor so that in the face of trials and difficult decisions we might stand. Provide for us. Bless our work. Use all of this to draw each of us closer to yourself.
My life has led me down the road that’s so uncertain And now, I am left alone and I am broken Trying to find my way Trying to find the faith that’s gone
This time I know that You are holding all the answers And I’m tired of losing hope and taking chances On roads that never seem To be the ones that bring me home
Give me a revelation Show me what to do ‘Cause I’ve been trying To find my way I haven’t got a clue
Tell me should I stay here Or do I need to move? Give me a revelation I’ve got nothing without You I’ve got nothing without You
My life has led me down this path that’s ever winding Through every twist and turn, I’m always finding That I am lost again Tell me when this road will ever end
Give me a revelation Show me what to do ‘Cause I’ve been trying To find my way I haven’t got a clue
Tell me should I stay here Or do I need to move? Give me a revelation I’ve got nothing without You I’ve got nothing without
I don’t know where I can turn Tell me, when will I learn? Won’t You show me where I need to go? Let me follow Your lead I know that it’s the only way that I can get back home
Give me a revelation Show me what to do ‘Cause I’ve been trying To find my way I haven’t got a clue
Tell me should I stay here Or do I need to move? Give me a revelation I’ve got nothing without You I’ve got nothing without You
No, oh no, oh no Oh, give me a revelation Oh Lord, oh no I’ve got nothing, now, without You I’ve got nothing, now, without You
Songwriters: David Carr / Mark Lee / Tai Anderson / Johnny Powell / Brad Avery
Dear God, I need some revelation this morning. I needed it yesterday. I’ll need it tomorrow.
Yesterday, I prayed about not getting my branches pulled from your vine. I asked the Holy Spirit to show me when I started to let things of the world disquiet my spirit. I’m glad I did because things ended up happening that definitely disquieted by spirit.
Yesterday, I saw some good people who were in pain. Their only goal in life is to help children and their families, but there is a group of watchdogs in the community who are justifying their existence through their activism and what I think they consider to be righteous anger.
Today, I have some decisions to make. It’s time for me to act. What am I to do? This is where I need your revelation. Show me what to do. I’m trying to find my way. I know I shouldn’t stay here and that I need to move (not geographically move, but taking action instead of blithely standing by). I need to seek out your Holy Spirit and your still, small voice as I work on this issue. I need to seek out Godly counsel. I need wisdom from my wife. I need to know what to do and how to do it. And I need the strength to go through the fallout I will experience from my actions.
Father, I mean this prayer as deeply as I can mean it. Please grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Give me the courage to change the things I can, and show me how to act in that change. And please grant me the wisdom to know the difference between what you are calling me to do and not calling me to do. Holy Spirit, whisper in my ear. Speak to me through wise counsel. And please show your love to those I see as causing harm. If they are wrong and I am right then please reveal yourself to them through whatever means you need. If I am wrong then reveal yourself to me. In the likely event we are both a little wrong and a little right, please work to unite us. And don’t let this pain be wasted. Make it count. Finally, for the damaged and abused people I saw yesterday and everyone like them that they represent, please minister to them. Love them. Encourage them. Be God to them. Holy Spirit, use this pain in their lives as well. Don’t let it be wasted. Refine us all for your glory.
Emails to God 