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...

Prayer of Confession

In Sunday's sermon about the Pharisee and the tax collector, Jesus made it clear that comparing ourselves to others is simply wrong - but we all do it. We oftentimes find our worth from downgrading others in order to elevate ourselves. We want and expect others to do and think the way we do because "we've got it all figured out" or "our way is best" - but the more we mediate on Scripture, the more we see ourselves in light of God's revealed Word. About the only thing that I have figured out is that God is full of mercy and grace and that His steadfast love endures forever. The Bible says He loved us while we were "still sinners". I don't know about you, but I still sin. I still fall short of God's standard. I miss the mark - and I especially miss it when I set myself up as a judge over other people's actions.

So here is the prayer that keeps me grounded so I don't get too high. “Lord Jesus have mercy on me, a sinner”. This really should help us keep ourselves in perspective to others and to God.

I was asked to share this again from the conclusion of Sunday's message. Feel free to comment on this blog by adding your own.

- "For times I’ve compared myself to others, Lord Jesus, have mercy on me"
- "For times I’ve thought too highly of myself, Lord Jesus, have mercy on me"
- "For the times I’ve reacted in anger toward someone Lord Jesus, have mercy on me"
- "For the bitterness I harbor(ed) toward church members or family members, Lord Jesus, have mercy on me"
- "For elevating myself above others, Lord Jesus, have mercy on me"
- "For being afraid of what others might think, Lord Jesus, have mercy on me"
- "For trying to get even with someone and teach them a lesson, Lord Jesus, have mercy on me"
- "For insisting on my own way, Lord Jesus, have mercy on me"

Source of Security, Hope, and Encouragement

Psalm 139 has to be one of the most intimate scriptures in the whole Bible. I love how it shows the closeness of God to human beings. I was reminded this morning how much God loves me and wants me to allow Him to love me. It's hard for me to just "rest in God's love" because it sounds too girly or syrupy...It's not very manly-sounding, but that is just my pride and false self talking.

This scripture says that God knows EVERYTHING about me and loves me anyway! Who else would love us like that (if they knew everything about us)? That is something I really cannot grasp (and apparently neither could the psalmist) - but I want to because that knowledge is a great source of security, hope, and encouragement. Here is a little excerpt of Psalm 139:

Psalm 139:1-7 (NLT)
¹ O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
² You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away.
³ You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am.
⁴ You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.
⁵ You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!
⁷ I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

You can finish this on your own - with your Bible in hand and allow God to tell you personally how much He loves you, too!

Being With God in Silence

Yesterday I spent my spiritual retreat day in silence at St. Benedict Center in Schuyler. Silence is an amazing thing - mostly scary and uncomfortable, but I am becoming more and more aware of how God speaks in silence (you know, that still, small voice?) Well, I must confess that I did not hear a direct word from the Lord even though I tried. Throughout the day, I would take periods of time (10 minutes up to 50 minutes) and just sit in silence, hoping God would speak to me.

But silence is not to manipulate God in anyway. It is simply being open to anything God might have for us. It makes us vulnerable to Him. It says, "Here I am Lord. Your servant is listening". Now, even though I didn't "hear" God, I believe in faith that He is doing a work in me below the surface that I can't see yet. Was my time wasted then? Absolutely not! It was time well spent with my Maker and Creator - an opportunity to "fast" from my busyness and just "be" with God.

Here is a quote from Mother Teresa that was passed on to me today...

"The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life. Silence gives us a new outlook on everything. We need silence in order to touch souls. The essential thing is not what we say, but what God says to us and through us. Jesus is always waiting for us in silence." - Mother Teresa