My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
Proverbs 1:8-9
Dear God, I really hope I did right by my kids. I hope I made a difference. I think a lot of parents have doubts and regrets after their children are grown. I certainly have mine. I would hate to have let them (or you) down in this area.
I wonder what Solomon felt like he learned from Bathsheba and David. My assumption would be that he didn’t get a lot from David and his mother was more of the day to day presence. David was probably an example from afar as opposed to a direct instructor. Then I wonder what kind of father Solomon was. We don’t get much here except that the son who succeeded him was cruel. Huh. I guess it’s easier to give advice and talk the talk than it is to live it and walk the walk.
Father, teach me to still learn from my parents, who are both still living, and to know what my adult children need from me so I can give it to them. I love them so much.
I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2
Dear God, as I read this passage of David this morning, the words that strikes me are the verb and it’s adverb: “wait” and “quietly.” He could have used a lot of verbs and adverbs here.
Walk calmly
Run briskly
Pray earnestly
Sing joyfully
You get the idea. But David went the other way. He waits quietly before you. Have I ever waited quietly? What does that look like?
I’ve known people to have gone on silent retreats before. In fact, I attended one once. But I don’t think that’s what David is doing here. I doubt he went on silent retreats. But this makes me think that he did find time to just be still and quiet before you. Maybe he learned to do this as a shepherd when he was a boy. If you’re not used to it, being alone with your thoughts can be hard and scary.
Father, this is probably something I should attempt to do more. Help me to learn to wait quietly before you. Help me to make room for the Holy Spirit to grow. And please protect my thoughts from Satan.
Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.
Proverbs 19:20
Dear God, my ego is an interesting thing. I was in a meeting with some board members of the nonprofit where I work and the topic of continuing education for me came up. It was suggested that, at this stage of my career and given our nonprofit’s current state of development, I could use some training so we need to put money into the budget for that. On the one hand, I completely agree. I could use some outside advice to help us through this next phase of development. On the other hand, however, I’ll confess that my ego shouts out at me that I shouldn’t need this and I can figure it out on my own. I really hate that ego part of myself.
I’d love to sit and try to psychoanalyze myself through this, but it’s really pretty simple. It’s pride. It’s ego. It’s making myself my own god instead of heeding Solomon’s advice here: “Get all the advice and instruction you can…”
Father, I’m always praying about me decreasing and you increasing, but then I see how I react to things like this and I’m faced with how far I have to go. I’m sorry. Help me to accept all of the advice and instruction that is from you that I can. I don’t want to just take things from others without being discerning, but I certainly want to be “wise the rest of [my] life.
“Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before— do not listen to them. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul. Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.
Deuteronomy 13:1-4
Dear God, one of the things that is good about getting the “verse of the day” from Bible Gateway is that it will occasionally give me a random verse with which I’m not familiar. In this case, I’m sure I’ve read this before, but it’s been a long time and I’ve forgotten it.
The actual verse was verse 4, the last two sentences: “Serve only the Lord…” but I think the most important part is pointing out the false prophets at the beginning. I need to being everything I read or hear to you and the Holy Spirit in discernment. Even from people I trust.
For example, I really like the preaching of Andy Stanley, and I’m sure he works hard to vet his teaching for authenticity and accuracy. I’m also sure he’s been unknowingly wrong about some things. I have had the opportunity to preach and I am sure that I’ve made mistakes that made you wince. I’ve worked hard to make sure what I say is supported by scripture and consistent with what I know of you, but I’m sure I’ve been wrong. Heck, I’m sure I’ve put wrong things and incorrect conclusions in these prayers to you, and, because I blog them, someone might accidentally receive and start to believe some wrong theology.
There is a Christian denomination in town that teaches that the congregation must accept what is taught from the pulpit regardless of their personal response to it. Therefore, they cannot visit other churches and they cannot hear teaching from anyone outside of their denomination. That’s too bad on two counts. It’s dangerous to give any human that much power over a group, and it’s so limiting to only hear limited perspectives on you and all that you are.
Father, in the end, there might be some mistakes made, but it finally comes down to verse 4: “Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.” Help me to serve only you and to fear no one but you. Help me to obey your commands, make room to listen to you and your Holy Spirit, and simply cling to you for all of my life.
Well hey Mama, take a look at me now
Things are going fine here in the big town
Hey Mama, if you could only see
All of my friends and how they love me
And I know, you said “I need Jesus”
But mama can’t you see I’m doing fine
Oh yes I know, you said “I need Jesus”
But mama I ain’t got the time, no I ain’t got the time, well no, no
And hey mama, well it’s been two long years
Since I have seen you, how are things you hear?
Hey mama, things they aren’t the same
Since I last wrote you, well things have changed
Yes I know, you say “I need Jesus”
But mama can’t you see I’m doing fine
Oh yes I know, you say “I need Jesus”
But mama I ain’t got the time, well I ain’t got the time, no, no
No, mama, no, no, no mama, mama no
Well, every thing’s going wrong
Yes, every thing’s going wrong
No, I can’t take it no more
Well, every thing’s going wrong
Yes, every thing’s going wrong
No, I can’t take it no more
Well, I need Jesus
I guess, I need Jesus, well forgive me
Come into my life, come into my heart
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus
And I know, you said “I need Jesus”
But mama can’t you see I’m doing, can’t you see I’m doing
Oh yes, I know I’m doing, you said “I need Jesus”
Well mama He is in my life, yes He is in my life, yeah, yeah
Yeah mama, Jesus save me
Yeah mama, yeah, yes
Yeah mama, Jesus save me
Yeah mama, mama, yeah
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Johnny Mac Powell / Samuel Tai Anderson / Bradley B. C. Avery / David Carr / Mark D. Lee
Dear God, there’s so much her, but I’ll start with this. According to the credits, this song was written by five guys. Isn’t it interesting how kids have different relationships with their parents. Boys have unique relationships with their moms. Girls do too, but it’s different still. I’m curious to know how these guys wrote this song and what their conversations were like. This obviously has echoes of the prodigal son story, but he’s talking to his mama and not his father.
In thinking about this song, I’m reminded of the song “The Hard Way” by DC Talk. The beginning of the chorus says, “Some people gotta learn the hard way. I guess I’m the kind of guy who has to find out for myself.” As a parent, one of the challenges is to give that child the leash they need to learn the hard way.
In this song, the mother had to give two years of silence. Sometimes it’s longer. The double-edged sword of stubbornness is that, on the one hand, it can be very hard to break that person’s will and get them to surrender to you, but, on the other hand, when they do come to the end of themselves they are able to apply that stubbornness into serving you. I think of Paul and his zeal for you. When he was killing and persecuting Christians he was doing it out of his zeal for you. But after his conversion, you used that zeal to reach the world.
Father, keep my children close to you. Direct their paths. Don’t let my wife or me get in your way. Give them the lives you have for them to lead. Give them the lives you need them to have for your glory’s sake and the sake of their peace and joy.
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.
Psalm 63:1-8
Dear God, I think the most remarkable part of this psalm is the context. At the top it reads, “A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.” This psalm came out of David not out of a time of abundance, but a time of struggle. We don’t know which wilderness story for David this is. Was it when he was running from Saul? Absalom?
Of course, the last three verses of this psalm are the reason I struggle with Psalms. David shift from praising you to hoping for your wrath for his enemies:
But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth. They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals. But the king will rejoice in God. All who swear to tell the truth will praise him, while liars will be silenced.
Psalm 63:9-11
The truth is, Jesus want me to love my enemies and hope for their reconciliation to you, even if it costs me. David didn’t know that and so he sometimes took his love for you and his humility before you and linked it to his disdain for his enemies. Of course, I don’t know what it’s like to have both the number of enemies David did and the types of enemies he did.
Father, help me to worship and praise you in all circumstances. Help me to glorify you in the midst of my victories and my defeats. Help me to love everyone around me and yearn for their joy and peace to be found in you, whether they are a friend or a foe. And thank you for everything. I do worship you as my God. You are worthy of all of my praise.
The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you! “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”
Luke 17:5-10
Dear God, in relating this story to us, Luke connects the things Jesus said about “faith the size of a mustard seed” and “being a thankless servant.” I don’t think I’ve ever thought of these two concepts as being linked, and, frankly, I’m struggling with it a little. What does my attitude as your servant have to do with growing my faith?
Wow, just asking the question that way almost answered it in my mind. Maybe part of my lack of faith is rooted in my desire to get something in exchange for my faith. Maybe, as a servant, I still expect too much from you and that puts limits on the amount of faith I am able to have. When I am expecting things to turn out a certain way then I can see how it would limit my ability to believe that you will pull it off the way I want you to. But if I simply believe that you are going to do what you want to do and I will work for your service and not mine then when it comes time for me to do your work I will have all of the power and blessing that you need me to have for the situation.
Father, here I am to simply worship and serve you. I release my expectations of what is in this for me. Show me how to be used by you.
Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring. Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—-a stranger, not your own lips.
Proverbs 27:1-2
Dear God, oh, how I struggle with being casual about cool things that are happening to me. An exciting vacation coming up. Some cool new gadget I’ve bought. I’m sure it annoys the heck out of people around me. Not that I’m bragging about how great I am, but o do like to talk about things that are exciting to me.
In terms of leaving it to utter people to talk about me, I also confess to you that I hunger for it. I took a personality test one time and part of the summary said that I’m confident, but I need compliments. I felt like that pretty much nailed me. I told my wife I could translate that to say, “Arrogant, but it needs fed.”
Father, help me to learn to live humbly and play to just an audience of one–you. Thank you for a wife that is patient with me. Thank you for being patient with me. I am grateful.
The son of one of the nouveau riche, Francis of Assisi, was raised as a spoiled and privileged young man. Imprisoned for a year for being on the losing side of a war with a rival city, his friends noticed a change. He found a little abandoned church and spent whole days there praying. He renounced his inheritance and all claims on his family.
Dear God, I read Fred Smith’s blog this morning and, while this wasn’t the point of his peace at all, something struck me. It was a follow-up thought to a conversation I had with a friend yesterday. Suffering is an important tool that you use to teach us and help us grow.
In Francis’s case, I knew that he had renounced his family’s wealth out of devotion to you, but I didn’t know that his transformation included a year in prison. Apparently, he got arrested being part of a militaryexpedition (prisoner of war?) and this changed his life. In his older life, I’msure he regretted his participation in themilitary expedition, but I also wonder if he was ultimately grateful for thefruit of that suffering. It changed his life.
Isn’tit funny? We all know that theonly way we grow is through struggle and yet we do everything we can to avoid it personally, and ourtemptation is to interfere with our children’s lives so that they will avoid it too.I’m as guilty as anyone. Maybe not as much in my personal life, but certainly at work. I like to build a very comfortable, low-stress environment, sometimes at the expense of expanding our services. I talk a good game, but does my reality reflect what I say Ibelieve?
Father, make me sensitive to any actionyou’re calling me to. Maybe it will mean struggleforme. Maybe you’re calling our nonprofit to grow and serve more, but my fear keeps it small. Maybe Ilet my ego and desire to get the approval of others keep me from pushing the envelope.I’msorry. Give me your vision and the courage to follow it. And pleaseblessmy path, not for my comfort, but so that others will beserved from you working in my life.
If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself. You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify. Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the Lord. The righteous despise the unjust; the wicked despise the godly.
Proverbs 29:24-27
Dear God, I wonder how early on Solomon wrote these things. I would say that it’s safe to say that he probably wouldn’t have thought to say such things later in his life. But I’ve spent enough time talking about the fall of Solomon. Let me focus on what he actually said here.
What kind of safety do you offer. I think a lot of us misinterpret this word in this context. We want to think it means that you will put a hedge of physical or even monetary protection around us.
But I learned a couple of years ago that you don’t work that way. And I suppose if I am the kind of person who is loving you with all of my strength and loving my neighbor as myself then that won’t be my goal. In fact, I’d like to say that I want it for my children–and, to be sure, I have wanted your protection for my children–but I’ve come to learn that you use the struggles in my life to grow me into the man you need me to be and I am learning to trust (there’s that word again) that you are doing the same for my children.
Father, I trust you to make all of this go the way you want it it go. The way you need it to go. I’ve prayed a lot the part of the Lord’s Prayer that says, “Your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Use me however you need to to make that happen. I will trust you with the results.
Emails to God 