A Simple but Powerful Prayer

I received a call from a dear pastor-friend yesterday that his wife has cancer...and wouldn't you know it - it's a rare kind that the doctors haven't seen before. As you might imagine, they are experiencing a range of emotions and questions. One thing my friend said was, "You know it's weird because we don't really have a pastor to walk with us and listen to us." That's true, although their congregation has been through this before, so some members will be able to relate.

I know my friend fairly well and he's like me - a fixer, a problem solver. I know he's wrestling with what all the options might be to to remedy this. But really, it's out of his hands. No matter if it's his wife or someone else, he is incapable of fixing or solving this. Now, that may sound hopeless, but it's not meant to. In fact, it's a statement of maturity and faith because God wants us to trust Him and surrender everything to Him. God wants to do a transforming work within us and the only way that can happen is if we allow Him.

I've said that Tammy and I pray every night, "Dear God, the Church is in your hands. I'm going to bed. Amen". This prayer is transforming because it brings about the peace of God that surpasses understanding. You can substitute "the Church" for anything that might feel like a burden or that you feel the need to control. Try it:

"Dear God, my job, my relationship with my spouse, my burden to want to control my kids, my grief over losing a loved one, my marriage, and yes, my spouse's cancer is in your hands. I'm going about my day (or I'm going to bed). Amen." You can pray this at the beginning and end of each day.

I Can See Clearly, but...

I've been a little cranky this week. Part of the problem is that I finally graduated to another level of "maturity". I got bifocals! I've been a grumpy old man all week. These things take some getting use to. I have to keep turning my head if I want to see clearly. I like the fact that I can now read again without having to bury my face in the text, but I am finding out that I can't just take these new lenses for granted. I have to actively focus and pay attention to what I'm looking at if I want to see clearly.

And that's the other part of my crankiness this week. I have been tempted to lose focus on doing the spiritual disciplines. Because I was in Ohio last weekend, I got out of my daily rhythm and it's showing. For me, spending time in daily silence and solitude help me to see things more clearly - but I have to focus. I have to be intentional. When I'm not, it's frustrating. I get upset easier - kinda like wearing these new bifocals. But if I stick with it long enough, I will be able to see clearly again. I will be able to see things from God's perspective.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Restoration of the Soul

From the Psalms, we read alot about our soul, but the most famous and well-known one is:

Psalm 23:1-3
¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; ³ He restores my soul...

I like to watch the TV show, "American Restoration". Owner, Rick Dale is an expert restorer of classic objects and artifacts. Rick has built his career on an unbridled passion and unique skill for transforming the rustiest and most beat-up items into like-new products that can fetch a big price tag. He doesn't shy away from a challenge and has worked on items as varied as a beaten-down 1940s gas pump, a rusted-out 1950s soda machine and a classic jukebox with a complex mechanical design, upping the value by restoring them to mint working condition.

God wants to do the same with us. At times, we may feel as though we are just a hunk of junk, rusted out, beaten up, dented, damaged, ready to fall apart - but God is passionate about restoring our soul back to its original mint condition. God is in the process of making all things new. (Revelation 21:5). This not only includes creation (the heavens and the earth) but includes our very soul (our being, life).

God is the Master Restorer and just like Rick Dale, He has an eye for seeing the value in each one of us - even though we have not yet been fully completed. (Phil. 1:6). Allow God to restore your soul. Get a glimpse of how much He cares for you by reading Psalm 139. Each one of us has value in His eyes (even though we might not feel it or see it) - but then again all we have to do is look at the cross.

Responding to God's Grace

In Exodus 34:6, God reveals His character to Moses and says, "…the LORD God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness". In Psalm 103 David writes the same thing, adding that God does not deal with us as we deserve, but that He removes our sins as a father has compassion on his children.

The Bible tells us that God is love (not that He has love, but that His very nature is love). Within that love must also be judgment based on how we respond to His love - but here's the deal: Only God has the right to judge, not us. His agape love is perfect. His judgments are perfect. Oftentimes, we feel (after we have responded to God's grace in our life) that we are now able to judge others who are "living in sin". And maybe like Jonah, we end up getting ticked off when God shows them grace and they don't get what they deserve! Ouch.

Praise God we don't get what we deserve. 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.

Maybe the reason Jesus hasn't returned yet, is because we haven't "returned" back to God and His grace...