Tag: prayer

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Only God

Daily Reading

Psalm 140-145

Daily Thought

What makes an evil king evil? King Ahab of Israel, an evil king, was going to war. He asked King Jehoshaphat, a righteous king, to join him. Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” King Ahab had 400 prophets who said “Yes.” They always said “Yes.” Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” Ahab said there was one other, “…but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil” (1Kings 22:5, 7-8).

An evil king wants to hear only good. 

In Psalm 141, we listen to King David pleading for purity. almost commanding God to attend to him, “Give ear to my voice when I call you!” (Psalm 141:1), The exclamation mark is rightly placed at the end–a reverent “Listen to me when I talk to you” would be an accurate translation. David wants help from God; he longs to hear from God, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth” (v 3), and from the godly, “Let a righteous man strike me–it is a kindness; let him rebuke me–it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it” (v 5).

A righteous king wants to hear only God.

Daily Prayer

Lord God, You know the beginning and the end, Your words are wise and good, and You lead into righteousness those who are willing to follow.

God, I will make time each day to read Your Word. Speak to me. May Your Word reveal any rebelliousness in me and may it teach, reprove, correct, and train me to be righteous.

Amen

Daily Question

How does God correct you when you are wrong?

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Draw Closer to home

Daily Reading

Psalm 58-65

Daily Thought

David sometimes begins a psalm with a lot of chutzpah, an audacious honesty which almost oversteps the bounds of etiquette between creature and Creator–“O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!” (Psalm 58:6). “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God,” he cries; “save me from bloodthirsty men” (Psalm 59:1-2). David anchors himself to the one firm foundation he can trust, “the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves” (Psalm 65:6-7). “For God alone, he only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken” (Psalm 62:6).

After he spews, he listens. In his psalm, in his prayer, David pulls on the rope attached to his anchor, an anchor secured to the mighty rock, to his God of strength. When you anchor to the shore and pull on the rope, the shore does not move, rather you are drawn closer to the shore, and this is prayer. 

No longer are the wicked David’s concern, but God’s. David’s heart becomes God’s heart, and he finds rest in God’s goodness, satisfaction in God’s justice and grace. “Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!” (Psalm 65:4).

Daily Prayer

My God, You are the One I turn to when the world around me is in turmoil. In You I find strength and security and peace. I can give my worries to You. My concerns over trouble pale in comparison to Your care over me. I just need to remember, O God, not my will, but Yours.

You have already saved me from sin and death. On the cross you conquered all. What else is there for me to fear? In You, my forever is certain, so what can harm me today? I will walk this world with the confidence, not of my power, but of Your Name. You are my Savior and my Lord, and for me to live is Christ.

Amen

Daily Question

In prayer, do you do more talking or listening?

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I Pray

Daily Reading

Psalm 1-8

Daily Thought

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night. ~Psalm 1:1-2

In front of my childhood home grows a towering redwood, 60 feet high. It is beautiful and strong, a majestic tree. We planted two of these trees on our front lawn when my family moved into the house in 1973. They were 6 feet high then, and over the summer we watched as one grew and one did not. One seemed to find water, soak it in, delight in it, and so it flourished. The other did not, dried up, and died. Today I can point to the spot the other tree was planted, but there is no trace it was ever there.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away. ~Psalm 1:3-4

I was a teenager in 1973, and prayer was difficult. Speaking to someone unseen felt odd. I repeated myself a lot and talked like King James, “Thee” and “Thou.” One day I opened the Psalms and was surprised by the words. They were words for me, the expressions I longed for, “Give ear to my words, O Lord” (Psalm 5:1), and “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers” (Psalm 8:3), and “I will fear no evil for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). I began to pray the Psalms, to walk with a Bible in hand and pray God’s Word back to him. God’s Word became my words, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10), robust words that declared my thoughts and desires. I learned to pray by praying the Psalms, to “delight in the law of the Lord, and on his law meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). 

That man is described as blessed, a man who will grow like a tree planted by streams of water.

Daily Prayer

O Lord my God, early this morning I stop and wonder what this day will bring. What have You set before me? You prepare me to meet the wonders and challenges and opportunities and delights of this world as I read Your Word and delight in it. Fill my heart this morning with Your grace and truth. Give me wisdom, courage, and compassion so that all I do prospers me and those around me.

May I be strong in Your love today. Whether I meet friend or enemy, may my life express Your love. May I do what is good and right, may others be blessed, and may You be praised.

Amen

Daily Question

What are some of your favorite passages in the Bible and why are they favorites?

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Abba Father

Daily Reading

Romans 8-10

Daily Thought

I love when one of my children calls me “Daddy.” My boys started calling me “Dave.” They thought it was cute. All my kids call me “Dave” when I do something ridiculous, “Way to go, Dave.” I guess I deserve that. But “Daddy,” when I hear that word, I turn and smile and the one who said it has my undivided attention. 

“You have received the Spirit of adoption as children, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15). “Abba” is like calling God “Daddy.” My grandkids call me “Bapa.” Same thing. It is a special relationship, intimate, close.

The night before Jesus would go to the cross, he is in a garden in Jerusalem called Gethsemane, praying to his heavenly Father. We get to listen. “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). You can hear the intimacy. This isn’t “our Father who art in heaven,” this is “Daddy” and a deep sigh, and Jesus is ready to do whatever his Father says to do.

We are able to pray like that. We share the same intimacy as Jesus, “we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:16-17), like children with their daddy, that special, personal, unique relationship. That kind of relationship where you can run up to God and lift your arms up and get wrapped up in his. You are never interrupting, because nothing else is as important to your daddy. I never start prayer with, “Hey God, you got a minute.” Children don’t ask that. My children never considered my time because they know I always have time for them. That’s God. We talk to our Father with confidence because we know when we pray, he swipes all the paperwork to the side, turns his chair toward us, lifts us up on his lap, and he listens. And I am ready to do whatever he says to do.

Daily Prayer

Abba Father, You left Your throne and looked for me and found me and saved me and brought me into your family. I am Your child. I wasn’t even looking for You. You came to seek and to save the lost and that was me. Your love is amazing. 

I love this intimacy, that I can climb on Your lap and You are mine and I am Yours. You love me and I love You back and trust You and I am ready to do whatever You say.

Amen

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Miracles

Daily Reading

Acts 16-17

Daily Thought

Jail became common to the disciples, and outcomes were unpredictable; Herod killed James, an angel rescued Peter (see Acts 12:1-7). So when Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, it was not surprising to find them praying deep into the night. But if you think they were praying for themselves, you’d be wrong.

The jailer had strict orders “to keep them safely” (Acts 16:23), but an earthquake struck, releasing their bonds and opening the gates of their cells. If they were praying for a miracle, this was it! The jailer knew it, too, and “he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped” (Acts 16:27). Instead, Paul and Silas had remained in their cell. They traded their safety for the jailer’s salvation and convinced the other prisoners to remain, as well. When the jailer saw this, he asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 

While sitting in jail, their future in doubt, the prayers of Paul and Silas were not for the safety of themselves, but the salvation of others, and the jailer “was baptized at once, he and all his family” (Acts 16:33). That was the real miracle.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, my time is not as important as someone’s eternity, my safety not as important as their salvation. May my prayers and my priorities reflect the values of heaven and may my life point others to my Lord. 

I trust you with all my life and that changes my attitude about everything and everyone. Teach me to love others more, to live boldly, to share freely, to serve like my Savior.

Amen

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A Red Umbrella

Daily Reading

Acts 11-13

Daily Thought

Herod the king discovered popularity with certain Jews by killing Christians, and so “he killed James the brother of John with the sword” (Acts 12:2). Peter was next, but it was not to be. God intervened; “an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And the chains fell off his hands” (Acts 12:7). Peter was led past sleeping guards and open gates and deposited outside the jail and inside the city.

It is fair to ask, why was Peter rescued and not James? Why one and not the other, why not both or neither? I do not know the answer to this, but I do know that neither was more important to God, nor more loved by God, because death is no worse a fate than life to the faithful, and both rest in the hands of God.

Perhaps due to the death of James, when Peter was taken, “earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church” (Acts 12:5). Also, due to the death of James, their faith was lacking. When a servant girl interrupted the disciples and informed them Peter was outside waiting at the door, safe and unharmed, their response was a faithless, “You are out of your mind” (Acts 12:15).

The farming town was in the midst of a long drought and the people gathered at church to pray. Twelve year old Susie came, as well, and it was good she did. By her side on the pew laid her red umbrella. She alone thought to bring one.

“Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were amazed” (Acts 12:16). The disciples did one thing wrong, they did not have faith. Nevertheless, they did one thing right, they prayed anyway. Their prayer lacked faith, but they were faithful to pray. Pray and have faith, but if you find faith difficult, pray anyway. And bring an umbrella.

Daily Prayer

Father God, I know that You are faithful and true. I know that You can do all things. I know that what You promise will happen.

God, I have faith. Help me with my faith. May I trust You and live my life reflecting my faith and confidence in You. When I pray, may I not be surprised, but still amazed, when You answer.

Amen

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Are You Listening?

Daily Reading

Zechariah 1-7

Daily Thought

The word of the Lord often comes to his prophet in dreams, “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses” (Zechariah 1:8). This is the first of eight as Zechariah begins his book: four horns scattered by four blacksmiths, a man with a measuring tape sizing up Jerusalem, Joshua the priest in filthy garments made clean, a golden lamp stand with seven lamps, a flying scroll, twenty cubits long, a woman in a basket carried by two women with wings, and four chariots led by red and black and white and spotted horses. Israel marveled at these visions and wondered at their meaning. They wanted to know if God still cared about them. Was the answer somewhere in these cloudy visions?

Then, as if clearing his throat, God speaks plainly through Zechariah, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart’” (Zechariah 7:9-10). There is the answer. This is God’s will for your life. The dreams may carry Israel’s future but these clear words speak to today. I am reminded of something Mark Twain is said to have said, “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.” It was the clear words of God Israel had disobeyed that led to their troubles. 

Israel feared that God was no longer listening. Her fear was justified. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear” (Zechariah 7:13). How often do we bring our troubles to God and wonder if he is listening when it is we who did not listen to him that led to our troubles in the first place. 

Daily Prayer

God, it is so good to talk with You and I know You listen, not because I obey everything You say, but because Your Son did. He fulfilled all righteousness and through Jesus, I can sit next to You and bring you my troubles and my joys. I share my life with You because You gave Your life for me.

I obey now, not because I have to, but because I want to. You keep changing me to be more like You and more and more I like the things You like. May Your desires become my desires. May I be like You and may others see what You are like by what I do. 

Amen

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Draw Close to Shore

Daily Reading

Psalm 58-65

Daily Thought

David often begins a psalm with chutzpah, an audacious honesty which almost oversteps the bounds of creature to Creator. “O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!” (Psalm 58:6), he demands of God toward the wicked who would wrong him. “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God,” he cries; “save me from bloodthirsty men” (Psalm 59:1-2). He then anchors himself to the one firm foundation he can trust, “the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves” (Psalm 65:6-7). “For God alone, he only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken” (Psalm 62:6).

After he spews, he then listens. In his psalm, in his prayer, he pulls on his anchor, an anchor secured to the mighty rock, to his God of strength. When you anchor to the shore and pull on the rope, the shore does not move, rather you are drawn closer to the shore, and this is prayer. No longer are the wicked David’s concern, but God’s. David’s heart becomes God’s heart, and he finds rest in God’s goodness, satisfaction in God’s justice and grace. “Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!” (Psalm 65:4).

Daily Prayer

My God, You are the One I turn to when the world around me is in turmoil. In You I find strength and security and peace. I can give my worries to You. My concerns over trouble pale in comparison to Your care over me. I just need to remember, O God, not my will, but Yours.

You have already saved me from sin and death. On the cross you conquered all. What else is there for me to fear? In You, my forever is certain, so what can harm me today? I will walk this world with the confidence, not of my power, but of Your Name. You are my Savior and my Lord, and for me to live is Christ.

Amen

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I Pray

Daily Reading

Psalm 1-8

Daily Thought

In front of my parents’ house grows a towering redwood, over 50 feet high. It is beautiful and strong, a majestic tree. We planted two on our front lawn when my family moved into the house in 1973. They were 8 feet high then, and over the summer we watched as one grew and one did not. We watered them both, but one seemed to drink the water, to delight in the water, and it flourished. The other did not, dried up, and died. Today I can point to the spot the other tree was planted, but there is no trace it was ever there.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away (Psalm 1:3-4).

I was a teenager in 1973, and prayer was difficult. Speaking to someone unseen felt odd. I repeated myself a lot and talked like King James, “Thee” and “Thou.” One day I opened the Psalms and was surprised by the words. They were my words, the expressions I longed for, “Give ear to my words, O Lord” (Psalm 5:1), and “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers” (Psalm 8:3), and “I will fear no evil for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). I began to pray the Psalms, to walk with a Bible in hand and pray God’s Word back to him. “Fight against those who fight against me” (Psalm 35:1), robust words that declared my thoughts and desires. I learned to pray by praying the Psalms, to “delight in the law of the Lord, and on his law meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). That man is described as blessed. That man will grow like a tree planted by streams of water.

Daily Prayer

O Lord my God, early in the morning I stop and wonder what this day will bring. What have You set before me? Prepare me to meet the wonders and challenges and opportunities and delights of this world. Fill my heart this morning with Your grace and truth, make me wise and give me courage and compassion.

May I be strong in Your love today. Whether I meet friend or enemy, may my life express Your Gospel. May I do good and right, and may You be praised.

Amen

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Prepare for Battle

Daily Reading

Ezra 8-10

Daily Thought

Ezra’s challenge was to lead a small group of people and priests, singers and servants, women and children, carrying a treasury of gold and silver from Babylon to the temple under construction in Jerusalem. The journey would take them across a desert wilderness ripe with bandits. An armed guard of the king of Babylon was his on request, and it would not be wrong to call upon it. Nehemiah would a few years later (Nehemiah 2:9), but Ezra had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him” (Ezra 8:22). How could he make such a claim, then turn to a pagan king for protection.

Instead, Ezra prepared for battle by getting on his knees. As he set out, he first paused three days and “proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods” (Ezra 8:21). And God listened. Instead of the king’s protection, they marched under the banner of God, “and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way” (Ezra 8:31).

Israel had known leaders large in faith and big in sin. Samson’s physical strength and moral weakness; David’s love of God and Bathsheba; and Solomon, whose godly wisdom failed to restrain his passion for the pleasures of wine, women, and wealth. It was due time for a man of faith so simple and true–he was almost wonderfully dull. Ezra comes off as a bookish scribe, “for Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord” (Ezra 7:10), but he boasted of his mighty God, then walked his talk.

Daily Prayer

Mighty God, worthy of praise, may I shout Your Name as loud as the heavens proclaim You. May I sing of Your goodness and live righteously in this land. May my life announce Your grace to a world awaiting judgment. May I display in what I do my confidence that You are God Almighty, maker of the heavens and the earth. May I get on my knees and fight for righteousness.

You are God and there is no other. I trust my life fully and solely in Your hands, and there is no better place, because You are faithful and true, the first and the last, able to keep me from falling and present me faultless before the presence of Your glory, because at the cross, You paid the price for my sin and clothed me in Your righteousness. How great is my God.

Amen