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1 Peter 3:14-15

11 Mar

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be in dread, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect;

1 Peter 3:14-15

Dear God, I was having lunch with someone last week and the subject of persecution of Christians in America came up. When he complained about it, I was able to push back a little and challenge the idea that we are really persecuted. I think we call the wrong what is happening “persecution,” when reality is that we are losing our influence because our sheer numbers are declining, and, therefore, people are not as apt to go along with our opinions and do things there way. As Christians in American society, we have been in the dominant position for so long that we have a visceral reaction to the society doing things differently that we do.

So, if, on a scale of 1-10 we call this a persecution at a stage 1 or 2, what should be our response? It seems that our temptation is to try to grasp onto that power and influence and not lose it. We make it our idol and start to ignore relationship with you. We start to look to you as more our philosophy and as something to defend. Then we look to political leaders who tell us they will defend us/you. And we start to buy into the idea that you are a God that needs defended. Peter tells us here what we are defending. We aren’t defending you to society. We aren’t trying to claim societal power and influence in your name. He tells us we need to be prepared to defend the hope that is in us. We need to be ready to explain it, share it, and then let the chips fall where they may. And when we do this, we need to do it with gentleness and respect.

Father, I have been convicted lately that I am just not good at this. I am better at talking to others about the virtual cycling program I use than I am about you. Even the words I use are words I should be using for you. Words like “changed my life,” “I do it almost every day,” and “best thing I ever did.” How backwards is that. So help me to share my story of joy and peace in you more bluntly and proudly because you are the hope in me. But help me to do it with gentleness and respect. And do it all for your glory.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 11, 2021 in 1 Peter

 

2 Timothy 1:8-9

09 Mar

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

2 Timothy 1:8-9

Dear God, I wonder what Paul would have to say to modern American Christians. What kind of suffering would he call us to? What kinds of sacrifices? How would he admonish us? What criticisms would he have? What exhortations? And then the best question of all, how would we respond?

Sometimes, I almost feel like the kid who is left alone at home without supervision. Sure, I’m doing most things right. The house is still standing. I’m not throwing any wild parties. But how much is there that I’m not doing? I’m not cleaning my room like my parents want me to. I’m not making my bed. I’m not eating healthily. I’m letting the seeds of lethargy grow.

Taking that analogy, I think the church (and I, as part of the church) is doing that right now. We are doing the worship services. We have some programs that serve people. But are we really willing to get into the weeds with people? Are we willing to expose ourselves to the suffering of others and perhaps even suffer ourselves as we serve them? I have to say that I doubt Paul would only have positive things to say to me.

Father, this is all a process, but help me to make progress in this process. Show me in this moment what I am supposed to do to serve you by serving others. Help me to know how to bring your light, hope, grace, joy, and peace to others so that they, in turn, might find the wonder that is found in submitting to you and your grace.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 9, 2021 in 2 Timothy

 

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

07 Mar

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Dear God, I should probably commit verses four and five to memory as many Jewish people still do today. 

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.”

Maybe I should print it and put it on my bathroom mirror, saying it every morning as I get ready, making it a reminder to me that I am to love yo with all my heart, soul, and strength. I’m often amazed and disappointed at myself for how much I don’t love you with all of my heart, soul, and strength. If I were to assess myself for percentage of heart, soul, and strength with which I love you, I sadly might venture as high as 40%–maybe. Even that feels like it is being generous. In fact, I don’t even think I can envision what it would look like to love you with 100% of my heart, soul, and strength. 

Father, I’m about to speak at a church this morning. I’m going to talk about hearing your word, repenting, and then following your call to do the work you have for us to do. I’m going to tell my story from the last 21 years. Be with me as I tell it. Holy Spirit, be in the room with me. Stir hearts. Speak to souls. Inspire others to love you with all of your heart, soul, and strength. Inspire them to repent, ask for your guidance, and then follow your call. Be glorified in what I do today. Not for my glory, but for yours.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 7, 2021 in Deuteronomy

 

Joshua 1:1-9

04 Mar

After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:1-9

Dear God, sometimes I forget to be strong and courageous. I can be timid and fearful. I can be too cautious as I evaluate all of my options. To be sure, this command to Joshua is not to be reckless, but courageous. Not to be dominating, but strong.

As I go into this day of work, help me to be mindful of this speech to Joshua as he took over for Moses. Help me to do it all under your leadership, following your rules of engagement. Help me to be strong and courageous, working with both compassion and appropriate justice. Be glorified through me so that your will might be done and your kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 4, 2021 in Joshua

 

Isaiah 55

03 Mar

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.” Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”

Isaiah 55

Dear God, this is such a loving message from you through Isaiah. I know it was meant for another audience. You didn’t necessarily say it with a Gentile in the year 2021 in mind. Sure, it might apply to me, but what it definitely says is that you are so good. You are so loving. You want the best for us as your children.

Not that our lives will be easy. Not that we won’t face challenges, sorrow, or tragedies. But you will be there with us through thick and thin. You will reach out and love us. You will comfort us. Ultimately, we will be with you. We will be free from this. But even if we weren’t, the idea that you’re out there loving me is enough for me…I think.

Father, I confess that I am weak. My emotions ebb and flow. My faith is like the wind, blowing this way and that. I know that if I were to really suffer–and I don’t really know what real suffering is–then it would be harder for me to say words like this and believe them. But in this moment, right now, I am so delighted to call you my God. I love you and I want to do my part to be in this relationship.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 3, 2021 in Isaiah

 

Daniel 9:1-3

01 Mar

It was the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, who became king of the Babylonians. During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the Lord, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.

Daniel 9:1-3

Dear God, I don’t know my Old Testament timelines well enough. I’ve ranted about the modern misinterpretations of Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

But they almost always skip verse 10:

This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.

There are times when I think I focus too much on trying to see the forest from the trees, but sometimes I think it is important to ignore the forest and just deal with the trees for which you have given responsibility. Help me to be faithful with these trees.

Then there is Daniel’s response, from I can learn as well. Help me to be pained by my country’s sin, and help me to start with my own repentance. I should probably be more burdened for the impact my country’s sin has on the poor and/or vulnerable. What impact it has on children. What impact it has on the elderly. Marriages. Friendships. Isn’t it interesting that our temptation as Americans is to read this passage and find hope. Daniel’s response was to be convicted, heartbroken and repent. Let it convict me as well.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 1, 2021 in Daniel, Jeremiah

 

1 John 3:16-17

27 Feb

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

1 John 3:16-17

Dear God, I cannot remember if I mentioned this in a prayer the other day, but I know I was talking with a friend about it yesterday. I heard a podcast where two men and a woman were talking about having been to seminary and how they think the examples held up to pastors as those you should emulate are the wrong ones. Even as a society, we often point to those who have accomplished the most with broad influence and power and valued them more than we value the faithful volunteer whose work we never see. One person in the discussion joked that instead of holding up pictures of national leaders who are influential they should hold up a picture of one of the pastors in the conversation who was serving with a seemingly smaller sphere of influence. To the pastor’s credit, he said, “No, we need to hold up a picture of Jesus on the cross. That’s the example we need to be prepared to follow.”

This passage from 1 John 3 made me think of that this morning when I read it. You are my example. You didn’t care about government power or building the kind of power structure the world builds. That was another part of their discussion. One man described the Jesus movement of the 70s and how you had these radical Christians like Larry Norman and Keith Green who went counter-culture. Keith Green made his record label angry because he gave away his records. He bought a piece of property and started a commune for homeless people. But conventional wisdom (what I’m calling the wisdom of man) takes over and says, “Hey, we need to grow our influence and reach. We need to get this out and grow.” Then we start to focus more on strategy and infrastructure and building a kingdom.

I fall into this trap at work. I work at a nonprofit that serves people. It requires staff and money. It requires a facility. And then we meet as leadership and the question we ask ourselves is, what do we need to do to grow? What’s next? And we are certain there must be an answer. There must be something that is next to grow our numbers. But it’s likely we are asking the wrong question. Is the question, how do we add more clients, or is the answer how can we be more effective with the clients we have? How can we make a meaningful impact on a few lives as opposed to a cursory impact on thousands?

Father, I am sorry I do so many things for the wrong reasons. I’m sorry for relying so much on conventional wisdom. I’m sorry for not trying to see each and every situation with your eyes. Let my biblical hero be the widow who left her two coins in the offering. She lived a small life, but it still reverberates through history 2,000 years later.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 27, 2021 in 1 John

 

Matthew 22:34

25 Feb

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.

Matthew 22:34

Dear God, there was something about this particular verse this morning that made me think of our modern politics. These men were so concerned about being right and Jesus being wrong that they didn’t care about truth–seeing it or discovering it. The same is true of our country’s politics today. Those official politicians in power will meet together to conspire against the other side or to support their side, regardless of whether or not their side is right or wrong. And both sides do it. For example, President Clinton’s extramarital sexual escapades were condemned by the right and defended by the left. Twenty years later, the right defended President Trump and the left attacked him for the same reason. Of course, now with social media, that behavior has trickled throughout society.

But I’m above that, right? That couldn’t be me. I don’t judge someone to the point where it keeps me from loving them as myself. Right? Of course, I’m being sarcastic. I’m no Disney Princess. I’m the villain as much as anyone. I have someone I know right now who is hurting because his wife in (I presume) her early 50s died from COVID yesterday. When I went to his social media feed to learn more about her death I instantly judged him for the kinds of posts he had put up while she was apparently dying. Ever since, I have not loved him as myself, but maybe this is the kind of thing, tragic as it is, you can redeem and try to reach and soften his heart.

Father, I need your help to co finished to love you with all of my heart and to love my neighbor as myself. Forgive me for giving into judgment and group think. I simply want to be yours.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 25, 2021 in Matthew

 

“Rise Up (Lazarus)” by CAIN and Zach Williams

23 Feb

https://youtu.be/pw8IgPHRBr4

“Rise Up (Lazarus)” by CAIN and Zach Williams

In the dark and all alone, growing comfortable
Are you too scared to move and walk out of this tomb?
Buried underneath, the lies that you believed
Safe and sound, stuck in the ground
Too lost to be found

You’re just asleep and it’s time to leave

Come on and rise up, take a breath, you’re alive now
Can’t you hear the voice of Jesus calling us
Out from the grave like Lazarus
You’re brand new, the power of death couldn’t hold you
Can’t you hear the voice of Jesus calling us
Out from the grave like Lazarus
Rise up, rise up, rise up
Out from the grave like Lazarus

When He said your name, the thing that filled your veins
Was more than blood, it’s the kind of love that washes sin away
Now the door is open wide and the stones been rolled aside
The old is gone, the Light has come, so

Come on and rise up, take a breath, you’re alive now
Can’t you hear the voice of Jesus calling us
Out from the grave like Lazarus
You’re brand new, the power of death couldn’t hold you
Can’t you hear the voice of Jesus calling us
Out from the grave like Lazarus
Rise up (like Lazarus) rise up, rise up
Out from the grave like Lazarus

He’s calling us to walk out of the dark
He’s giving us new resurrected hearts, oh-whoa
He’s calling us to walk out of the dark
He’s giving us new resurrected hearts, oh

Come on and rise up, take a breath, you’re alive now
Can’t you hear the voice of Jesus calling us
Out from the grave like Lazarus
You’re brand new, the power of death couldn’t hold you
Can’t you hear the voice of Jesus calling us
Out from the grave like Lazarus
Rise up (He’s calling you out, no) rise up
Get me up from the grave like Lazarus

Rise up (You don’t have to stay there)
Rise up (oh, we hear You calling)
Rise up (calling us, calling us)
Out from the grave like Lazarus

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Madison Cain / Taylor Cain / Logan Cain / Ethan Hulse / Nick Schwarz

Dear God, the last few days, I’ve started to put these prayer journals together, but I’ve had too much to say on my phone’s keyboard so I’ve waited to write the bulk of them until I got to a real keyboard. But then I never made the time to actually sit down and pray through the things I was thinking when I started each of these. All of that is to say that I’m sorry I didn’t make it more of a priority to really spend some time with you.

When it comes to this song, I came across it in the last couple of days and it made me think of one particular person in my life. She/he is so locked up in secrets. She/he is so defensive of her/his life choices. She/he is so stubborn when it comes to being open to you. I look at the words to this song, and I just sing them for her/him:

In the dark and all alone, growing comfortable
Are you too scared to move and walk out of this tomb?

I remember several years ago I had a relative who was locked in a lot of secrets. I would tell my wife, “There is so much freedom waiting for him if he would just let go of these secrets. If he would just admit he needs help and let us help him.” Then he did, and he was able to have a pretty peaceful life. He still had struggles. He still had to battle (sometimes unsuccessfully) with addictions, but even though he has since passed on, he was able to have a peaceful last few years of his life.

Secrets, secrets, secrets. They are where we give Satan the biggest foothold in our lives. Secrets. Shame. Self-condemnation. Then we look to vices to give us respite from that shame and self-condemnation. Alcohol. Drugs. Porn/Sex. Food. Zoning out in front of a screen watching what we used to call “TV.” None of it works for very long, and all each of them does is destroy us and our relationships even further. There is no life. There is only death. But moving out of that “tomb” can seem like too much to handle.

Father, help me to be exactly who you need me to be. Help me to face the realities of my life. Help me to be what my wife, children, family, coworkers, and friends need me to be. Be glorified in me for your kingdom’s sake. Help me to rise up.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 23, 2021 in Hymns and Songs

 

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Romans 13:8-14

23 Feb

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Romans 13:8-14

Dear God, I am struck by the line in here, “Love does no wrong to others…” That seems very definitive, and I don’t think it’s exactly accurate. For example, I can think of a lot of mistakes I did with raising my children, and I never did them because I didn’t love them. Nearly all of them were done because I thought I was doing the right thing for them. And then there were times when I was actually doing the right thing, but they didn’t perceive it as the right thing. So this doesn’t feel quite accurate.

I was talking with someone a couple of months ago who is in their 50s, and they were referencing a decision their parents made when the person was in their early 20s. They were still holding on to a grudge over it. This friend has told me this story before, and I’ve told them, “Be frustrated with the decision, but don’t ascribe malice to it. The parents thought they were making the right decision. They thought they were doing the merciful thing.

I was talking with a young woman last night, and we were talking about having mercy for your parents. She is still in high school and, like any high schooler, is sorting through dealing with parents who are flawed–because we are all flawed and we all have flawed parents. I hope I was able to at least plant some seeds of mercy.

Father, make me the example you need me to be today. I just heard about a woman who left her husband because of his alcoholism. She did this for her own sanity, but she also did it for him. She loves him and doesn’t feel like she can enable him anymore. He didn’t see the fact that she filed for divorce as love, but in some ways it is. Be in that situation. Be with the young woman I spoke with last night. Be with the parents of the other person I mentioned. Be with me, a flawed parent in need of mercy from my children and a son who needs to extend mercy to his parents. Be with me, a flawed husband and me a man who needs to extend mercy to his wife. Be with me, a flawed supervisor who needs mercy from my staff and me the flawed subordinate to our board of directors who needs to also extend mercy to them. I am sorry for how I fail you. Sometimes I did it out of love for you and I got ahead of myself and sometimes I did it out of selfishness and vanity. I am sorry. Help me to accept your forgiveness and to forgive myself.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 23, 2021 in Romans

 
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