For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.Hebrews 4:12-13
Dear God, while I think “word of God” CAN refer to Scripture, I think to limit its definition to that in this passage would be to miss the breadth of your power and how you interact with us. What I read in this passage is the ways the Holy Spirit convicts us.
So what are the ways that you use to reach us? Well, they are limitless, really: Scripture; sermons; reading books, essays, articles, etc.; friends; dreams; and, of course, that still small voice–“What are you doing here, John?” (1 Kings 19:13). The questions I need to continually ask myself are, am I putting myself in position to hear your voice, have I limited the avenues I allow you to use to reach me (isolate from friends, don’t worship you with others (i.e. go to church, etc.)? Am I worshipping you and listening for your still, small voice? Am I bringing my ideas, beliefs, and behaviors to Scripture and testing them against your original word?
Father, guide me. Make my path straight so that I might find my way into being the most of who you need me to be that I can. In return, I seek only your peace in my life and my over my soul.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Hebrews 4:12-13
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.2 Timothy 3:16-17
Dear God, it’s interesting to note that at this point Paul was referring to Old Testament scripture only and didn’t realize that his own letters would one day be considered Scripture. I wonder if that would have scared him a little or made him doubt his statement here. I know he was confident about himself and his place in your church, but I doubt he would have been confident enough to say that his writings should be taken to be Scripture. It’s a reminder that these books were written by real people, and while I believe they are divinely inspired and useful to teach me, the writers probably have more in common with me than I realize.
But to get to the point of Paul’s message here, Scripture can only be useful if we actually use it and use it effectively. There are many ways to do this. Some just sit down and read it. Some take copious notes. Some participate in Bible study classes that guide them through it. Some read commentaries. And some, like me, use it as a jumping off point to journal prayers to you.
Father, teach us to use your Scripture to know you and to find the relationship with you that we need. Be glorified in me and speak to me in these times with the words you want me to hear so that I might be the man you need me to be in any given situation.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Romans 8:14-17
Romans 8:14-17 NIV[14] For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. [15] The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Dear God, I make jokes about “free will” and wanting to ask you one day if you regret that little aspect of our humanity, but I know the alternative is worse. I know that without it we would be the slaves Paul mentions here. Instead, we are your children.
So what would it be like to be slaves of yours? I can’t even fathom it. I guess it would mean serving a God who controls us through fear. In fact, I think it plays into the theology that a lot of people have about you rewarding Christians for good behavior and punishing for bad behavior. This theory was debunked by Job and so many others thousands of years ago, but I suppose it is hard for humans to separate love and relationships from setting conditions on both.
Father, I’m not here praying right now for any kind of reward other than relationship. I know that knowing you and loving you is good for me. I know that you are the only rest my soul can find. So I submit to you willingly and freely. Thank you for loving me.
In Jesus’s name I pray,
Amen
Jude 18-21
They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.Jude 18-21
Dear God, community and unity. That’s what we need to be about. That’s what I need to be about. Whenever my kids would tell me when they were little that they didn’t want to go to church because they didn’t get anything out of it, I would tell them, “Well, maybe God will have you there for someone else, and church is where that person will find you.”
I was thinking about it while I was praying with my wife this morning. I have some friends right now who live alone. Some are widowed. Some are separated from their wives or divorced. They are sitting and making life decisions in a vacuum. And in some cases they are making bad decisions. I was also thinking about my own internal struggles and how I don’t think I would do nearly as well if I were didn’t have my wife to be there to help me think through things. I do NOT do well in isolation.
Father, I worship you today and thank you that you use my wife, my friends, my family, and my coworkers to guide me. Help me to be what you need me to be today. Be glorified in me and though me so that others might find strength, wisdom, and comfort through submission to you.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
Dear God, I wonder what it was like to stay away from sexual sin in Paul’s time versus now. I just spent a few days in New Orleans, and there was certainly no shortage of ways to sin sexually that would have been available 2,000 years ago, but that’s because I was in New Orleans. And maybe Thessalonica had similar opportunities. But what about small towns. Yes, I know our little town had a whorehouse 150 years ago, but now we have something so much worse and easier to keep private. Pornography. Especially pornography available through the Internet.
Then there is the ability to secretly order women and even young girls (or even boys) on the Internet. The more I learn about human trafficking the more I see just how dark our hearts can be, and it all starts with us allow my ourselves to give into a little “lustful passion.”
Father, help me to keep myself pure and love everyone I can. Help me to be part of a solution for our society and not a helpless observer. Help me to know what that path is. Help me to know how to parent my children in this world. Please protect them. It’s all so overwhelming, I simply have no idea where to start. I guess I will just ask that you start with me.
In Jesus’s name I pray,
Amen
3 John 5-8
Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.3 John 1:5-8
Dear God, it can be difficult to know when it is time to stop supporting a ministry or missionary. It’s easy to make the decision to start supporting something, but how do you know when that calling might be over?
I am in an interesting position b cause I raise money for a nonprofit where we rely on repeat donors. In fact, our whole fundraising plan is built more around repeat donors than finding new ones. But I start to worry about donor fatigue. Are we still communicating our work to the donor? On our end, are we living up to what the donors think they are supporting?
Then there are the missionaries and nonprofits my wife and I support. Are we doing a good job of evaluating that support? Do we continue some of them solely because we are afraid of hurting someone’s feelings or are we legitimately giving because it lives up to the spirit of this passage?
Father, help me to see my fundraising and my giving with fresh eyes. Help me to feel what you have for me in the joy of both giving of my resources and serving you. Be glorified through my charity and change the world through every facet of my life.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Psalm 24:14-15
The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.Psalm 25:14-15
Dear God, I tend to king of blow off verses–especially Psalms–that mention enemies because I just don’t have many people who are actively out to get me, but I think my thinking is too concrete. The truth is, I have demons out to get me. I have powers and principalities of this world who want me to fail and be ripped away from you. I am vulnerable to the without you, your love, your grace, and your protection.
I haven’t normally included Satan and his minions as part of my enemy list, but the truth is that they are probably the leaders of it. I am always so limited in my thinking and my prayer life. I forget to look beyond what I can see and recognize the evil around me that comes only to steal, kill and destroy.
Father, I will keep my eyes only on you. Please keep me from the traps of my enemies.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
2 Samuel 7:18-29
2 Samuel 7:18-29 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord ? “What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord. Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant. “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way. You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God. “And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever. “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’ For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant. And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!”
Dear God, I think it’s important to know the context of this prayer. David is established as king, living in the palace and at peace with the world around him. Then he gets an idea about building a temple for you, he tells Nathan about it, and Nathan’s response out of his humanly wisdom is, “Great idea. Go for it.” Of course, as a prophet, Nathan might personally benefit from having a temple, but I think all of their motives are good. They want to worship you through the building of the temple. But that’s not what you want. You tell David, through Nathan (not directly), that his offspring will build the temple. You have other plans for him. The result of this news is a humble prayer of worship.
So here is a little word from me to tell you how grateful I am. Even doing this prayer to you this morning, I have felt like I hear your still small voice speaking to me. “Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?” (I love that line from David’s prayer). This makes me think that before I go back to work I need to sit down and read through 1 & 2 Samuel again. There is so much wisdom and so much of you there.
Father, as I go through this day and the next few, traveling with a good friend, help us to be iron for each other. Sharpen him through me and sharpen me through him. Be glorified in us so that others around us and our family and friends might be touched by you trough our lives.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Jeremiah 2910-14
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. 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. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”Jeremiah 29:10-14
Dear God, 70 years, huh? Well, I guess that’s a start. 😉
Of course, I am kidding. The world is yours. I am yours. Everyone is yours. Everything is yours. I think the passage that is probably better applied to our individual lives, as opposed to this one that is addressed to a nation, is Romans 8:28 when Paul talks about you working for the good of all of those who love you. But even there “good” is vague. There were decisions my wife and I made for our children that they didn’t like that we did for their good. And the. There is the other thing you have to consider–what is for my good vs the good of others? You have a plan for my life and it might be different than someone else’s life.
Father, help me to joyfully submit to the plan you have for me, worship you thoroughly, and be sensitive to the needs you put around me so that I might have as much impact in the world as you need me to have. And I pray that the plans you have for our nation are the same as what you had for Israel except I hope it doesn’t take 70 years for your favor to return.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Psalm 62:1-2
Psalm 62:1-2 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.
Dear God, it is hard for me to wait quietly. It’s hard for me to be patient. I’m more comfortable with the idea of being ok motion and purposeful. Strategic patience? That’s what I have to do. I journal these meditations on scripture because I don’t trust my mind to process my thoughts without the discipline of writing my thoughts down.
So I guess this is how I wait quietly before you. I sit. I think about scripture. I try to hear if you have anything to say that me through it. And then I talk to you about it. Doing this has changed my life more than anything else I’ve ever done.
Father, I wait before you. Give me what I need today. Give me this day, my daily bread. Feed me what you need me to have and love others richly through me. Make me wise and make me humble. But when it t comes to the things in my life that concern me, I lift them to you and ask that your kingdom will come and your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Emails to God 