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Ephesians 5:15-20

05 Aug

Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:15-20

Dear God, I just can’t live an effective life when I have shame. That’s what I thought after I read this passage and then I went back and read the verses before this about darkness and the evil things being brought to light. There have been times in my life when I’ve been ashamed of my actions. I’ve felt the weight of that shame. I’ve felt the need to hide my deed and hope no one finds out. In fact, I still think about something I did when I was 18 that no one know about but you. I’m grateful you know. I’m grateful you forgive me.

It’s interesting he mentions alcohol here. I actually have a few different friends right now (four or five) who are in the middle of separations and divorce proceedings because of one spouse’s alcohol addiction. Isn’t it funny how nearly every story I hear about someone getting their life back together starts with, “I got sober/clean”? But there are certainly other things we can use to escape reality and avoid the responsibilities of life you’ve given us. TV. Religion/church. Meditation. I was talking with a provider in our clinic about a patient who is an absolute mess both physically and emotionally. She talks about you all of the time, but it’s like she’s invoking your name to just solve everything. In the line between living by faith and living in denial, she is way over the line into denial. Then I heard a story last night of a woman who’s obviously mentally ill. She had an accident going 120 mph through a red light without holding onto the wheel. She had her 11-yr-old with her. She told the officer she was testing her faith in you and she didn’t seem to have any regrets. Yes, mentally, she has crossed way over into the denial of reality and her responsibility in life.

Father, help me to identify anything that gets in the way of being truly filled by the Spirit and then doing the things the Spirit asks me to do. Help me to easily see the times when I cross the line between living by faith and living in denial. Just help me to be the man you need me to be, and forgive me for when I fail because I do fail, and I am sorry.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

In Jesu

 
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Posted by on August 5, 2021 in Ephesians

 

1 Kings 3:3-15

04 Aug

Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor —so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” Then Solomon awoke —and he realized it had been a dream.

He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.
1 Kings 3:3-15

Dear God, someone told me yesterday that I am smart. I certainly don’t feel it. I see all of the things I don’t understand, can’t comprehend, and cannot decipher. I have a particular challenge right now that I think I mentioned yesterday. I’m still sorting it out. I’m trying to negotiate with someone who has all of the leverage and no reason to care about the needs of those for whom I’m advocating. I need a pathway forward for the sake of those I serve. I need your wisdom.

And I need your wisdom not only in this situation, but in everything. My marriage. My children. All of my relationships. Keeping myself from situations where I am led to temptation. You get the idea. In every aspect of life I need your wisdom so that I might be the man you need me to be.

Father, to quote Solomon, “I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.” Help me. Give me wisdom. And when the fruit of your wisdom comes to hear in my life, please keep me humbled before you, worshipping you and thanking you. You are the only reason I am who I am, and I owe you everything.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 4, 2021 in 1 Kings

 

1 Samuel 16:4-7

03 Aug

Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace? ” Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord .” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:4-7

Dear God, it feels like my prayer times with you over the last year have had the same theme: I simply have no clue what I’m observing or how to interpret what’s going on around me. When things look the most confusing or lost is when you seem to be doing something I cannot see. On the other hand, the smoothest path is often the wrong one.

So how do I discern the correct path forward at any given time? This morning, I woke up thinking about a challenge at work. It’s actually a pretty great risk to our clients. I’m not sure what the path forward is and it’s very discouraging. Then a thought occurred to me. I haven’t prayed about this. I haven’t asked your guidance or provision. Even now as I pray I find myself wondering if my struggle with this issue might not ultimately lead to great change for the other organization and help even more clients than just the ones we help.

Father, show me the pathway forward and give us favor with the leadership of the other organization. Please raise up advocates who will have influence over the decision makers and influencers. Give me wisdom and courage. Give them compassion as well as a pragmatic view of the situation. Do this so people can be helped. Do this for your glory. Help me to know how to do what you need t me to do so that others might be helped.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 3, 2021 in 1 Samuel

 

James 1:22-25

02 Aug

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
James 1:22-25

Dear God, this last phrase could easily be taken out of context: “then God will bless you for doing it.” Other translations say something like, “They will be blessed in what they do.” (NIV) Either way, this could be interpreted as doing this for selfish reasons. As of to say, if I do what you say then it will improve my situation. But that’s not what James is saying because the people he’s talking to are living under persecution for their faith and he doesn’t expect that to get better. no, I think the blessed to which he’s referring here isn’t as much of the #blessed philosophy as it is being filled with the fruits of the Spirit.

The more I know you. The more I walk away from temptation and towards your presence the more my life will reflect you and the more your fruit will grow in and out of me. I’ve talked about the fruit of the Spirit many times with you before, but I do it because I think it’s the key. That’s the blessing you have for me. You want to give me love like you have. You want to give me a deep joy in all circumstances. You want to give me a peace that passes all understanding. Patience. Goodness. Faithfulness. Kindness. Self control. These are the blessings you have for me. They are what will see me through regardless the path you need for me to walk to accomplish your will.

Father, give me ears to listen to your word and the different ways you speak to me, and give me the courage and impetus to actually follow your words—whether it’s the things you want my heart to know and change, or the actions you need me to take. More than anything, I want the peace that comes from knowing I’ve given you all of me. I’ve given my utmost for your highest.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 2, 2021 in James

 

Matthew 6:13a

29 Jul

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
Matthew 6:13a (KJV)

Dear God, before I get into this verse, I want to talk a little about my experience at church this morning. In fact, I might end up spending all of my time on this and the verse can wait until tomorrow.

Although I am not Catholic, I attend Catholic mass with my wife. Once or twice a month she is the canter, so she leads in the songs and the psalm. When she does this, I sit in the pew right in front of where she stands so that we can sit with each other when she is not up front. The way the church is laid out, and being a Catholic Church, there is a practically life-sized crucifix right in front of that pew. From my seat, I can literally reach out and touch Jesus’s feet if I want. Normally, I will look up at Jesus during the service. Or during the “Gloria” song I will look at the painting at the top of the church that shows Jesus on his heavenly throne. It is always an interesting juxtaposition to see the crucified Jesus in the foreground and the exalted Jesus in the background. I like the imagery of it.

Today, however, was different. I couldn’t bring myself to look up. I just looked at his feet, with the spike through them and blood tastefully painted on them (nothing too gory). For whatever reason, I didn’t want to approach Jesus with any feelings of equality today. I wanted to be there as if I were really in Jesus’s presence. How would I react if that were really Jesus? How would I act if Jesus was standing in front of me? My answer was that I wouldn’t be able to look up. My eyes would probably only be able to look at his feet—his bloody, hole-filled feet. So during the service I only looked at his feet, and when I knelt on the kneeler to pray, I was literally on my knees at the foot of the cross. The prayers I offered to you seemed to take on a new meaning today. I don’t know that I’ll ever look at praying and worshipping from that particular seat in the same way again.

So now, as I come to you and ask that you lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil, how serious am I about that prayer? Am I thinking of it as kind of an abstract request that isn’t realistic, or am I at the foot of your cross, looking only at your feet—the feet of your son whom you sacrificed—asking for mercy as I make my way through life? What do I do to keep myself out of temptations way? Do I make your job impossible? And when I have evil being done around me or to me, either passively or aggressively, is my prayer truly that you would be my protector, or do I take it upon myself to avenge the wrongs done around me?

Father, as I pray to you right now, I am doing I my best to put myself literally at the foot of your cross. I am asking that you truly keep me from temptation. Open my eyes to it. Open my eyes to my own foolishness. And the only evil I feel I have a right to ask that you keep me from is the evil that Satan wants to do to my soul. All other evils done around me or to me might just be part of your kingdom coming and your will being done on earth as they are in heaven. So take my life, Lord, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 29, 2021 in Matthew, The Lord's Prayer

 

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The Lord’s Prayer — Matthew 6:12b

26 Jul

… as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:12b (KJV)

Dear God, this isn’t groundbreaking theology, but it’s still worth noting: the key concept Jesus included in this prayer is represented by the word “as.” Because I think this word is so important, I doublechecked several translations (NIV, NAS, and NLT) and they all used the same word: as. I think my thoughts are in two directions as it pertains to this passage:

  1. What kind of forgiveness do you offer me that I am supposed to offer others? As I think about yours and my relationship, it occurs to me that you do expect something on my part. You expect humility. You expect repentance. Now, there are times when I don’t know that I’ve sinned and grieved you. But there are other times when I know I have sinned against you and others. There is a reason that the AA 12-step program includes making amends when it won’t do harm to the other person. But there is a step of repentance on my part before relationship with you can be whole. I can’t just walk obstinately doing what I want and then expect to be in relationship with you. The Prodigal Son was not in relationship with his father until he came to the end of himself and repented. And I’m not talking about heaven, hell, and what happens in the afterlife. I’m talking about right now. An important part of my daily relationship with you is humbling myself before you in relation to who you are and the things I’ve done wrong and then asking your forgiveness. Of course, you are quick to forgive me because you love me. So is that my model for the forgiveness I’m supposed to extend to others? That leads me to my next question.
  2. Where do I draw the line when it comes to releasing someone vs. staying in relationship with them? If I am to forgive 70 X 7, does that mean I should just continually take abuse and absorb the wrongs someone else does to me when they are either repentant but incapable of change (I think that’s the 70 X 7 one) as opposed to the person who simply does whatever they want regardless of how it impacts me?

I spent some time with a woman yesterday whose husband is a severe alcoholic. She has school-aged children and finally told him to leave a couple of weeks ago. He would promise to change but never would. Finally, for her own sanity she had to make a hard decision for her and her children.

As for me, I have some incredible anger right now towards loved ones who have repeatedly done the same thing to me over and over again for the last 20+ years. And they’ve never really asked forgiveness for any of it, but I’ve tried to keep showing mercy and grace. Now, however, this last offense has left me wondering if I made a mistake to not walk away 23 years ago. Have I been foolish to try to maintain relationship? Did it cost more than it should have?

Father, maybe I need to understand more of how you forgive me before I can understand how I am supposed to forgive others. I love others. I truly love the people who have wronged me. But if there is no humility–if there is no remorse–is it possible to be in relationship? It seems to me that the answer in my relationship with you is, no, if you have made me aware of my wrong and I do not repent then our relationship while I am on this side of heaven is impacted. So I am sorry. I’m sorry for the hurt I’ve caused you. I’m sorry for the hurt I’ve caused others. Please help me to be willing to examine my heart and my actions as I am confronted with any of these things so that I might be part of your kingdom coming to earth and your will being done on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 26, 2021 in Matthew, The Lord's Prayer

 

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The Lord’s Prayer — Matthew 6:12a

25 Jul

And forgive us our debts,…
Matthew 6:12a (KJV)

Dear God, I started this verse and almost focused on the second part, skipping over the first, so I decided to avoid my mistake of skipping over “Our Father which art in heaven” and going straight to “hallowed be thy name” in verse 9. I don’t want to miss Jesus’s instruction that we should ask forgiveness of you.

The humility to ask forgiveness of you is the first step on the road to discipleship. None of us can come to you in our own power or under our own authority. None of us can stand up before you. You are good and perfect. We are flawed and sinful. You are loving. I am too sensitive and get my fragile ego hurt too easily. I need your mercy. I need your grace. I need you to forgive my debts against you and against others.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that one of the steps in a 12-step program is for a person working the steps to make amends when it won’t do harm to do so. And there are certainly times when it would do harm. But the humility it takes to come before you and before another person to ask forgiveness is an essential element, if not a huge part of the foundation, of the Christian life.

I still remember hearing a politician who called himself a Christian telling an interviewer before a large Christian audience that he had never felt the need to ask you for forgiveness. He had had multiple divorces and affairs. He had left creditors hanging with unpaid debt. Heck, even without all of those things, he was an imperfect human. I was very confused with the audience applauded his answer.

Father, forgive me of my debts, please. We will get to what I need to do about others’ debts to me tomorrow, but for the debts I owe to you and to those around me, please forgive me. I am sorry. I’m sorry I fail you. I’m sorry I hurt others for my own gain. I’m sorry I sometimes pick the path of least resistance for my own comfort and at the expense of others. I’m sorry I sometimes take revenge on others for the wrongs done to me (that gets into tomorrow’s verse, but it counts for today as well). Thank you that the man who taught us to pray all of this is the pathway to you. Thank you that I can stand before you on his authority and with his blessing. Thank you for making a way for me to reach you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 25, 2021 in Matthew, The Lord's Prayer

 

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The Lord’s Prayer — Matthew 6:11

24 Jul

Give us this day our daily bread.
Matthew 6:11 (KJV)

Dear God, what does my daily bread look like? On the surface, I think it communicates that it provides for my basic physical needs: food, shelter, clothing. So to what extent should we be satisfied if those things are met? When is enough enough?

I have a vested interest in the current Big 12 Conference situation since the school I attended will likely get lost in the shuffle. This morning, I read an article about OU and Texas wanting more. For Texas’s part, they are already the wealthiest program in the nation, generating the most revenue. But that apparently is not enough. They want more. And I’m not blaming them. The school I went to has enough, but I want more for it too. We seemingly always want more.

But Jesus didn’t seem to want more in terms of material things. It’s important, I think, to notice what is not in his prayer. He did NOT say, “Give me influence. Give me power. Make my name great so I can make your name great.” He just kept it at the basics. After we ask for your will to be done (see verse 10) then we simply ask for your provision of our basics so that our greed will not get in the way of accomplishing your will.

I mentioned the material basics. What are the other parts of our daily bread about which we don’t normally think? For example, someone to love us. Someone to love. Work to do. I think those things can be as important and critical to our lives as the food, shelter, and clothing that sustain us.

Father, show me what my daily bread is, and help me to be completely satisfied within its provision. Thank you for the food, shelter, and clothing I have. Thank you that I feel safe in my day-to-day life. I don’t experience racism because I’m a white male. Please help to be sensitive to the daily bread that others around me don’t experience and show me my role in being part of your provision to them. Whether it be through giving of material things or the other needs they have, please help me to be your ambassador, your hands, your feet, your ears, and your heart for them. And the them includes my wife, children, family, friends, and the strangers I meet.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 24, 2021 in Matthew, The Lord's Prayer

 

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The Lord’s Prayer — Matthew 6:10

23 Jul

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 (KJV)

Dear God, I confess that I have zero idea what it would look like to see your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. What was Jesus envisioning here? Was it literal, or was it a combo with the idea of your will being done on earth? Well, anyway, if it makes a difference, I ask that your kingdom would come. Is it the end of the time you’ve prescribed for the earth to live without your kingdom in it? Is the the hour? I doubt it. But Jesus seems to have instructed me to ask for it, and I can’t say I’ve ever asked. So please let your kingdom come.

As for your will, we’ll, that does seem like a whole different thing altogether now that I think about it. If we are living among the earthly kingdoms and not yours then your will might look very different than what I want it to be. In an imperfect world, I might not get my perfect outcomes. The butterfly effect of how the things you might have to do to accomplish your ultimate goals is much more than my feeble brain can comprehend. Heck, I can’t even figure out how Baylor will come out of the collapse of the Big 12. How could I possibly discern what actions are required to accomplish your will being done here on earth as it is in heaven? But I do know I trust in submitting to your plan. It might mean seeing things in my life I don’t understand and don’t like. For my children. My wife. My family of origin. My work. My own life, including health, financial security, and career. All of it is up for grabs, but part of the peace I’ve found comes from submitting all of my will to the idea that your will being done on earth as it is in heaven is worth overriding my will.

Father, help me to actually believe and live the words I just typed above. Help me to want to see beyond my selfish desires—both for me and for the ones I love—and be at peace regardless of the circumstances. Let me be part of your kingdom coming to earth. Let me be part of your will being done on earth. My utmost for your highest. I’m sorry I turn that around so often and ask that you give your utmost for my highest. I’m sorry.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 23, 2021 in Matthew, The Lord's Prayer

 

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The Lord’s Prayer — Matthew 6:9

22 Jul

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Matthew 6:9 (KJV)

Dear God, when I was praying through this very first part of the prayer Jesus taught us the other day, I missed an important part: Father. Our Father. My Father. What is the implication here in saying that you are my father? As a man, what is a father supposed to still provide me? As your child, what is it that I should look to you to provide me?

The trick is that most of us get our image of our earthly father mixed up with the image of you as our father. Some of us have good fathers. Some bad. Most of us have a father who is somewhere in the middle–tries their best but flawed. I think I fit in that category for my adult children. So what is it that they need from me now and what is it that you want them to have from me? More importantly, what kind of damage can I do if I get in your way and short-circuit lessons you might be trying to teach them through the path you’ve laid out for them?

As for me and what I think I need from you as my father, here are some things off of the top of my head:

  • Wisdom and discernment
  • Forgiveness and mercy (that probably should have been first)
  • The fruit of your Spirit to grow in me and out of me (love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, self control, etc.)
  • My daily bread (I’ll dive more into that in a few days)
  • Love and acceptance

Now that I look at it, other than giving my adult children their daily bread, I would be pleased if they could get all of those things from me, including seeing the fruit of your Spirit growing in me and then they too would be drawn to you through that.

Father (I always start this last paragraph addressing you as “Father,” but today I’d like to underscore it), thank you for your forgiveness and mercy. Thank you for the fruit of your Spirit. Thank you for loving and accepting me. Please give me wisdom and discernment as I move through this day. Love through me. Show mercy through me. And please provide my daily bread, and help me to know how to use the resources you’ve given me both in my personal life and through my work so that your kingdom will come and your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 22, 2021 in Matthew, The Lord's Prayer

 

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