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Matthew 7:7-8

24 Aug

Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Dear God, there’s a call to action here that you require. I’ve always known that, I guess, but still, I have responsibilities if I am going to live in your victory. If I am going to live within your peace. 

I have to ask. If I am going to realize that you are the giver of my good gifts, then I have to first bring my needs to you. I have to treat you like you are my God and not just some guiding philosophy by which I try to live my life. 

I have to seek. I have to actively look for your truth and your knowledge. I don’t know everything. I need to learn from reliable sources and people who are also seekers. 

I have to knock. If I’m not trying then nothing will happen. If my life is not moving then you can’t steer it. If I knock on something and you don’t open the door (and I don’t force it open) then I can eliminate it as an option. If I knock in your Spirit and it opens then I can know it is of you. But if I just sit and think great thoughts with no action then I will never accomplish what you have for me. 

Father, help me to ask, seek, and knock today. I have a couple of life situations that are dilemmas for me. I am seeking your wisdom. I am asking for your help. And I am knocking to see which door opens. Please guide me through the path you have laid out for me. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,  

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 24, 2017 in Matthew

 

Psalm 94:18-19

23 Aug

Psalm 94:18-19 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. 

Dear God, I really like these two verses. The anxiety part especially. But you can only console us if we let you. You can only support us if we ask. I take that back. At any given time, you can support us without us realizing it or asking for it. But we will only realize it was you if we are tuned in enough to think about it. 

I probably need to be better about pointing people to you when they are anxious or their foot is slipping. I see clients at work every day who are in crisis. I need to purposefully point them to you more often. I have relatives who are struggling. I need to point them to you. 

Father, help me to both lead others to you in their distress and to remember to go to you myself from moment to moment. Please bring me the peace and joy that comes from turning my will over and submitting to your will. Please give me the lighter yoke for the one I try to carry on my own. And please show me how to lead others into your presence. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 23, 2017 in Psalms

 

Romans 8:31-32

22 Aug

Romans 8:31-32 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

Dear God, in my journal yesterday, I talked about a check in my spirit. I had some theories about why I was so unsettled, but I just couldn’t tell. Well, I think I figured it out. 

Much to my relief, it wasn’t a lack of faith. It was simply that I was carrying some news that I needed to share with someone. I wasn’t keeping it a secret. I just hadn’t had a chance to share a concern with a board member, but when I had the chance to just share the burden at a meeting yesterday, the churning went away. 

Father, you said it is not good for people to be alone. Sure, you were referring to a man at the time, but it goes for women too. We were built to share our burdens and get input from others. I know someone right now who needs some outside help from family, but so far is refusing it. I’m so frustrated by this. So please help this friend. Help me. Help us all to allow others to be the iron that sharpens us. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 22, 2017 in Romans

 

Psalm 42:11

21 Aug

Psalm 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 

Dear God, this wasn’t the “verse of the day” that I normally use for these journals lately, but I ran across it while I was reading the verse of the day and it completely hit the feeling I’ve had. Over the last few weeks, I have had a gnawing in my gut that is usually reserved for checks in my spirit when I am trying to pray through a difficult decision I must make. I’m not quite sure what it’s about. 

I have some family members going through different crises. Is that what’s causing it? There are a couple of things going on at work that concern me. Is that it? My daughter is about to leave for college and my son is out there on his own in life. Is that it? I almost never get this way without an obvious reason, and not understanding what’s causing the feeling is as frustrating as feeling it in the first place. 

Father, at the end of the day, this verse brings it all home. Why, my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my savior and my God. 

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 21, 2017 in Psalms

 

Luke 18:22

18 Aug

Luke 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 

Dear God, as a fundraiser who works with people of wealth, I guess one of my desires is to help them receive your blessing as they give to the poor. When people decide to donate to our patients through our work–to give to the poor–then I want them to feel your smile. 

I’ll admit that there are times when I lose sight of this. There are also times when I lose sight of giving away my own possessions for the benefit of others. I start to hold on tightly. I start to get fearful about the future. About retirement. Will I have enough? Am I being responsible for my wife and myself? Am I doing the right thing?

Father, as I try to move through these thoughts and decisions, help me to spend even more time just contemplating your Word. I think I need to be more about hearing from you through scripture right now. I have fears with family, with work, and with the world in general. There are actions I can take and actions I should skip. I guess it goes back to the “Serenity Prayer.” God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 18, 2017 in Luke

 

2 Corinthians 10:17-18

17 Aug

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. 
Dear God, all of us need to work on our humility. I need to work on my humility. I went back and looked for the reference for Paul’s quote in verse 17. It gave me Jeremiah 9. Here’s verses 23 and 24:

Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV

[23] This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, [24] but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

So if I want to brag about anything it should be that I had the sense to submit my life to your Lordship, and I continue to pursue you as best I can. 

Father, help me to draw others to you through humility. I visited with a woman yesterday who needs your help. Give her a sense of your purpose for her. Help me, my wife, our children, our family members, our coworkers, our friends, and all who I know somehow have their lives touched by you simply through my acts of obedience to you. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 17, 2017 in 2 Corinthians

 

2 Corinthians 7:1

16 Aug

2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 
Dear God, why is it that my first instinctual reaction to this passage was to reject the idea of being too holy? I think I’ve always feared that being too holy–either in actions or attitudes–would take me too much out of the world and I would lose my saltiness. I would lose any credibility I need to be your representative. 

I guess it comes down to what we mean by holiness and how that gets demonstrated to the world. For example, how will my relatives who are struggling with different life situations right now see me if I act too holy? Will they be repulsed? Will they see something they want?

Father, I suppose it comes down to pursuing you, trying to keep my focus on you and rejecting things that reject you, and then letting you guide my actions from there. I just don’t want to be “holier than thou” when I am with those who are struggling. What I really want to be is their fellow sojourner who can encourage them into deeper relationship with you. And I want to always be deepening my relationship with you too. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 16, 2017 in 2 Corinthians

 

Romans 14:8

15 Aug

Romans 14:8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 
Dear God, I read a piece this morning when I woke up about the underlying cause of divorce. It wasn’t affairs, cheating, lying, stealing, etc. It was, according to the author, living for yourself with an unrepentant heart. I’ll buy that. 

I think it would be hard for two people who are married to live for you, remember that your first calling in our lives is to our spouse, and then end up divorced. Yes, there will be ups and downs. Yes, there will be times of stress when intimacy ebbs and sadness or even fear grows. But that is part of the journey. 

Father, help me to REALLY live for you. Help me to remember the priorities you have for me. Help me to reject self-pity (one of my favorites) and selfishness. Help me to find the line where taking care of myself becomes missing the need you want me to meet around me, and not to cross it. Help me to be such an example of you that it draws others into your light. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 15, 2017 in Romans

 

Revelation 3:14-20

14 Aug

Revelation 3:14-20 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Dear God, last night’s meeting with our group from church was probably one of our best from a standpoint of really getting into what people believe about specific theological issues. While everyone there attends the same church, and most grew up in that church (or at least that denomination) I think some of the people around the circle articulated for the first time what they believe about submission to you, repentance, and salvation. There were some misunderstandings of what other denominations believe. There was some self-realization that people had about their own misgivings about what they believed. 

As for me, my own feeling is that I have me theology, philosophy, and even feelings about all of that, but at the end of the day I’m not sure enough about topics like infant baptism and confirmation vs baby dedications and person decisions. What I know is that you want me to repent of my sin, accept Jesus’ Lordship over my life, and submit to and worship you. 

Father, I give you that. First, I am sorry. Our church repeats a penitent prayer every week. It is good and I confess my sin now. I am grateful that Jesus did what he did and continues to do what he does. I accept your Lordship and example over my life. I give you my worship as my Redeemer and my God, and I accept the yoke you have for me in exchange for the yoke I actually deserve. 

In Jesus’ name I worshipfully pray,

Amen  

 
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Posted by on August 14, 2017 in Revelation, Uncategorized

 

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

12 Aug

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 
Dear God, I had an interesting day yesterday. I watched two loved ones start the process of getting a divorce. And while I don’t disagree with the decision for them to get a divorce (at this point, I can’t imagine them staying together), I can see where N adherence to the simple philosophy of “I am not my own. I was bought with a price” would have made a huge difference back at the beginning. 

And now their children are going to have to adjust, but, again, I think this adjustment will eventually be better for them than the old situation. But I’m worried about them. How will each of them choose to respond? What soil will these seeds of anger and fear find to root into. Can you plant seeds that will find good soil and spring forth your Spirit and glory?

Father, in the midst of this carnage, please plant seeds of your glory that will find good soil. Choke out the hate, anger, fear, and self-pity. Those seeds are being planted as well. Let them dry out, whither and fade. Let your seeds–the seeds of your mercy and forgiveness–choke them out in each life. And help me and others to be seed planters in their lives. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 12, 2017 in 1 Corinthians

 
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