What Should Be the Center of Our Every Prayer?

"...to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever, Amen."  Jude 25

Keddie's thoughts: "Jude asks for God's eternal glory to be revealed in all the fullness of his wisdom and saving grace. If God glorifies himself in these, then his believing people will also come to glory through his Son who died for them on that awful cross. To pray for his glory is to pray for his enabling grace and, with his answer, to receive the assurance that we will be kept from stumbling and brought holy so as to glory in his presence. In the modern Christian obsession with prayer requests - that too often are concerned with our comfort - we too easily forget that the highest prayer of all is for God to glorify his own name. We forget that his glory is the guarantee of our own. His glory is in fact our highest goal. It ought therefore to be our greatest joy and the very center of our every prayer."

Candy's thoughts: I just love the idea that God's "glory is the guarantee of our own." We are seeking the good of the One who is entirely committed to our best future state. We could never come up with a better plan for ourselves than the one which He has for His own glory.

*Taken from Gordon Keddie's book entitled Prayers of the Bible. See previous posts for image of the book cover.

A Scalpel for Healing, or a Hammer for Harm?

"The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Prov. 12:18

Prayer: Gracious Jesus, I love words. I especially love the way you use words to bring me healing, freedom, and hope. You never shame me with words. You never manipulate me with words. You never hurt me with words. You never flatter me, but you do bring great encouragement. You never repeat my failures to others; you only bring my sin and brokenness to the throne of grace. You never say too much or too little. You neither mince words nor waste words. You alone have the words of life.

My prayer is simple yet necessary: grant me greater stewardship of my words, Jesus. As you speak to me, please speak through me. I'm painfully aware that my words can bring great harm and death, even as they can be a source of hope and life (Prov. 18:21). If I'm not careful, my words can have the effect of gangrene (Eph. 4:29).

You tell me that my words are a sure reflection of what's filling my heart: "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). So no mere promise to avoid gossip, idle chatter, reckless words, or coarse jesting will be enough. I must constantly be preaching the gospel to my heart. May the overflow of your grace be obvious to all. I want my tongue to be a scalpel for healing, Jesus, not a hammer for harm. I pray in your merciful name. Amen.

Candy's thoughts: Such a good prayer! I love how Scotty Smith describes God's words in both negative and positive aspects ("You never..." and "You bring me..."), and then he does the same for us ("gossip, idle chatter..." and "a source of hope..."). May we always remember that if we are tempted to speak words of harm, that at a minimum we would follow Job's good example and "...put my hand over my mouth" (Job 40:4a).

The Time of Old Age

                           

"Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent."   Psalm 71:9

Peterson writes:

"Old age is a time of special need. This prayer expresses the foreboding that when strength fails and usefulness diminishes, life itself will lose its meaning. But God does not love us for what we can do for him, or for our usefulness to society, but for what we are."

"PRAYER: Almighty God, help me to find the meaning of my life, not in the size of my paycheck nor in the list of things I can accomplish, but in the eternal purposes you have set for me in Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray.  Amen."

J.C. Ryle on Practical Religion

“Do nothing that you would not like God to see. 
Say nothing you would not like God to hear. 
Write nothing you would not like God to read. 
Go no place where you would not like God to find you. 
Read no book of which you would not like God to say, 'Show it to Me.'

Never spend your time in such a way that you would not like to have God say, "What are you doing?” 

J.C. Ryle

The Importance of Praying for our Church Leaders

"Brethren, pray for us."  1 Thess. 5:25-28

Keddie's thoughts: "This is a plea for prayer support for God's ministers. Pray for your pastor. He would be blessed hearing that you pray for him.  Paul is not a "prince of the church" that cannot call his spiritual children "brethren" and mean it from the heart. Neither is he above standing in the need of prayer. Congregations that never pray for their pastors, elders, deacons, and missionaries can only wither on the vine, as God removes the leadership and ministry they have no heart to support. But if you want God to do your pastor some good and be blessed yourselves in the process, then apply this injunction every day in the secret place of your prayers."

Candy's thoughts: Of course this blog post sounds self-serving for a pastor's wife to recommend, yet Scripture instructs us in the discipline and importance of praying for our leaders. Even I need a reminder to do so.

Bonhoeffer's Prayer

I never grow tired of hearing this song on a CD entitled "He Will Not Cry Out" by Bifrost Arts. The music is lovely and the lyrics are inspirational.

"Bonhoeffer's Prayer"



Lyrics:

Lord, early in the morning, we cry unto You.
In You, there is light, when I cannot see. In you, there is love, patience, and peace. Lord, I do not understand Your ways, but You know the way for me.

A Better Prescription

Scripture: "Be anxious for nothing."  Phil. 4:9

Keddie's thoughts: "Paul does not talk about the things our world likes to believe will give peace of mind. Things like good health, job security, and the right medication may indeed relieve anxiety. But we need real solutions, not temporary palliatives. He echoes Jesus's teaching in Matthew 6:8-9 that we turn to the God who knows the things we need before we ask him. Anxiety is often well founded. There are all sorts of nasty and uncertain events in life. Even so, anxiety inevitably rests more on doubt about God than on certainty about future woes. Whatever our circumstances - good or bad - Paul's counsel is to "rejoice in the Lord always." His powerfully practical theological reason is that "the Lord is at hand" (v.5). Anxiety is understandable enough, but at its root it is atheism. Rejoicing in the Lord is faith in action, looking to the Lord who is there and who loves his people."

Candy's thoughts: Ouch. Like a doctor who gives us a serious diagnosis after examining our symptoms, Keddie's conclusion is a tough one to deny. We act like 'practical atheists' when we continually fret and worry even though we have the Biblical option to turn to the God who knows everything about us, including our fear and sadness. Let's pray that the Lord would help us to trust him more and more, especially in the midst of difficult circumstances that threaten to undo us. "I believe, help my unbelief."

John Calvin on Prayer For Others

Eph. 6:18a  "With all prayer and petition for all the saints..."

John Calvin's thoughts: "There is not a moment in our life at which our wants ought not to urge us to prayer. But there is another reason for praying without ceasing - that the necessities of our brethren ought to touch us. And when is it when some members of the church are not in distress, and needing our assistance? If at any time we are cold in prayer or more negligent than we ought to be, because we do not feel the pressure of immediate necessity, let us instantly reflect how many of our brethren are worn out by varied and heavy afflictions, are weighed down by deep anxiety; or are reduced to the worst distress."

When God Interrupts Your Plans

Here is a great article on why our plans often get interrupted.

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/when-god-interrupts-your-plans

Mother's Day

In my various roles as grief counselor, pastor's wife, and sorrowing mom and daughter myself, I know first-hand just how brutal Mother's Day can be. So many wonderful tributes to so many wonderful mothers and that is how it should be. But there are many people who have less than Hallmark-card relationships that are hard to admit to the world, let alone celebrate. The obvious ones are those who have lost their own mothers to death. While this is somewhat to be expected, it is hard when it has just happened, or happened long ago and many years have passed and that ache is still there. Of course there are the moms who have lost children to death. There are those of us that of course are immensely thankful for the kids we have here on earth, but there is still the one phone call that will not come in today, one less person in that picture around the family table. There are moms who never got to hold the baby they once carried in the womb upon whom many joyful dreams were shattered by a doctor's discovery of no heart beat. Many women never even got to that point - never able to conceive. There are both daughters and sons who have estranged relationships with their moms. Some mothers, quite frankly, are very difficult to be with - opening up breaches in the family dynamics each time they are together. And kids do this as well to their mothers. This is not an exhaustive list, as the above examples are but a few of the ways we can say Mother's Day "is complicated." So what to do? How to survive such difficult circumstances? My suggestion is to embrace those that God has placed in your path. Missing your mom? Hug that elderly woman in your church who is alone now - bereft of her children. Missing children in your life? Volunteer to babysit for that haggard single mother who just might like to grocery shop alone for once. Difficult relationship with your mother? Remember that God said "Honor your mother and your father," reminding yourself that Scripture does not add "...unless they are jerks to you." There is great blessing in reaching out to others who are suffering silently or alone. All this may not exactly take away the pain that you feel, but perhaps it will be God's way of redeeming a loss that has become an important part of who you are today. Happy Mothers Day!

Is There a "Perfect Church?"

“If I had never joined a Church till I had found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all! And the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect Church after I had become a member of it. Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us.” 

Real Repentance vs Fake Humility

Scripture: Read Daniel 9:1-13

Keddie's thoughts: "True prayer consists of confession of sin (vv. 5-13). Daniel confesses sin in specific terms. There is nothing here of the easy, generalized "we all sin in thought, word, and deed" approach so popular today. This confesses nothing and is no better than a means of evading any real facing up to our particular personal sin. Undefined sin is unconfessed sin. And "admitting mistakes" is not repentance, nor is "moving on" reformation. Confession requires self-conviction."

Candy's thoughts: How true! Telling God that we are messed-up people without specifying our actual sins costs us nothing. Anyone can say "I am the chief of sinners," but unless we go through the list of our transgressions, we are just puffing up ourselves with a showy fake humility without having to make any real change.  We need to count our sins "one by one," reflecting upon them, considering our motivation when committing them, and planning our strategy for recognizing our tendencies and stopping them before they begin. It is very encouraging to know the truth of 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Monday Music

This is my very favorite collection of songs about the book of Revelation, composed by my very favorite modern hymn writer, Michael Card. Please listen and take in the beautiful lyrics and music that are meant to encourage us as we traverse life with all its challenges.

Link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emsKFfg4u-Y

Lyrics:

I saw the Holy City 
Descending from the sky 
So brilliant with the light of God 
The city is His bride 
There is no temple in this town 
No sun, no moon, no lamp 
For God's own glory is it's light 
Illuminated by the Lamb 
And God Himself will wipe the tears 
From every weeping eye 
No death, no pain, no mourning cry 
And every tear made dry 

CHORUS: 
And now our God will dwell with them 
The new Jerusalem 
And He Himself will walk with them 
The new Jerusalem 

And so let all of those who thirst 
Come now and drink for free 
And to the one who overcomes 
Come now and you will see 
Behold the old has passed away 
Now everything is new 
The Alpha and Omega's words 
Are trustworthy and so true 
And God Himself will wipe the tears 
From every weeping eye 
No death, no pain, no mourning cry 
And every tear made dry

Battling the Unbelief of Despondency

Steve and I recently listened to a great sermon by John Piper entitled "Battling the Unbelief of Despondency." I heartily recommend that you listen to this short message (under 20 minutes long). The most helpful suggestions that Piper made are included below. 

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/battling-the-unbelief-of-despondency#fight-unbelief-like-christ

As I mention these five steps in Matthew 26:37 and following I want you to fix in your mind what it is that threatens your tranquility most, what it is that causes despondency or disheartened feelings to rise most often in your own life. What’s the shell that Satan drops most frequently into your life? And then as I mention these five steps that the Lord Jesus took when the bomb dropped in his life, I want you to translate them immediately into your experience, because they’re all relevant. Alright? There are five of them.

“Whatever Satan fires at you, its fine to say, ‘Take it away Father. You’re stronger than he is.’”

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1. Jesus chose some close friends to be with him. Verse 37: “And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.” So he didn’t withdraw. He took the inner ring, his most precious and trusted friends, and he pulled aside with them.
2. He opened his soul to them. Verse 38: “Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.’” I can imagine their mouths dropping open, their King confessing his weakness. He opened his soul to them.
3. He asked for their help in spiritual warfare. Verse 38, second half: “Remain here and watch with me.” Another text says “pray,” and another, “Don’t let yourself come into temptation; stay here and fight with me. Fight with me.”
4. He poured out his heart to the Father in prayer. Verse 39: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” It’s just fine to pray that the bombshell that has dropped into your life be taken away. That’s just right. Whatever it is that Satan fires at you, it’s just fine to say, “Take it away Father. You’re stronger than he is.”
5. But finally, he rested his soul in the sovereign wisdom of God. Second half of verse 39: “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

So here’s the lesson. When Satan drops a bombshell on the peace of your life the initial shock waves of emotional response are not necessarily sin. What is sin is not to do what Jesus did when the bomb fell in the Garden of Gethsemane. Sin is yielding to depression. Sin is not taking the armor of God. Sin is not waging spiritual warfare.

But Jesus shows us another way. It’s not painless, but it’s not passive either. And I want us to follow him in it.

Do Not Lose Heart!

"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart."  Luke 18:1

"A long serving pastor was asked how he coped with the terrible trials he faced over many years in his congregation. He answered quietly, "I prayed till the matter was settled." That's the challenge: to pray for as long as the reason for praying is still in place. It's a long way to Australia, but will you get off the plane before you arrive simply because you can't wait that long?  If a widow's sheer doggedness can get satisfaction from an unrighteous judge, how much more will our dogged prayers obtain from the righteous Judge?"