Bible blog monday June 11th

A Prayer For The Prayers Lifted By Others (Inspired by King Solomon's prayer 1 Kings 8:22-60)

 

 

Lord, there truly is no other like you.  We could search our whole lives for something greater and will have only spent our lives seeking in vain for something that does not exist.  You are uncontainable and immeasurable and what joy that brings ours heart, what confidence we can rest in with this as our anchor during the storms of life.  No matter what our biggest problems or struggles are they cannot surpass your greatness, your wisdom, your power.  You are an awesome God who loves us and keeps your covenant of love with us as a promise and a hope to see us through all our days.

 

Lord, my prayer is for the those who are lifting up their voices to you in need, who are seeking you as their helper.  I know there are so many out there going through an array of situations and are in need of your guidance, your comfort, your vision.  I ask lord that you would hear their spoken and unspoken supplications, requests and hearts desires.  Hear your servant and all those who are lifting up their voice to you today. 

 

Lord, hear from heaven and forgive those who need forgiveness.  May your spirit wash them anew and allow them to feel the freedom from the bondage of sin, shame, and fear.  Hear from heaven and uphold the cause of those who are feeling to weak or burdened or confused to move forward.   May they feel you near and know that they are not alone to carry these burdens that weigh them down but that they have a father who loves them and will sustain them, support them, lift them up and place them firmly on solid ground.  Hear from heaven and teach us the right way to live, the right paths to take.  Guide those who are stumbling in darkened moments and help them to hear your voice clearly.  Once you have been heard I ask for your spirit to give aide and strength for each person to move in the direction you are calling even if their path still feels dark and uncertain.  May we all find peace in knowing that you will never leave us, you will never fail us, you will always lead us to place of growth, of greater knowledge in who you are, and place where your glory can and will be revealed in some way.  I pray lord, hear from heaven the prayers of those whose hearts are humbled and that you would answer and do for them according to your will and word.  May hearts be surrendered to you and willing to trust you lord in all things and in all ways.

 

Lord, I ask that your eyes be open to your servant's plea and the pleas of those who are lifting up their voices to you.  Hear them whenever they cry out to you.  Calm their spirits.  Encourage their hearts.  Give wisdom to their thoughts.  May you be their constant source of joy and peace no matter what each moment brings.

 

Praise be to you Lord, our God and savior.  Not one word has failed of all the good promises you have given.  May you be with us always and never forsake us.  May you turn our hearts toward you and guide us to walk after you always.  May everyone know that the Lord is God and that there is no other like you.

 

AMEN

June 9: Of Humility, Stubbornness and Expert Consultation

1 Kins 5:1-6:38

Acts 7:1-29

Psalm 127:1-5

Proverbs 16:28-30

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain."

Bad enough there are many things I know I do NOT know, worse that I am so bad at asking for, and taking, instruction.  If you are like me, there are many places in your life where you suffer from an overly generous estimate of your knowledge, your wisdom, your understanding, your abilities. 

One of the best examples: after 13 years in a career in finance, I thought I was doing extremely well.  Good job, responsive clients, good pay, as late as March of 2008.  I thought there was just one way to go, and it was going to be good.  

By December that year, I was out of a job, amidst a crisis that made one doubt whether jobs in finance would come back.  Not what I had planned, not what I had wanted.  

It turns out, though, it was EXACTLY what I needed.  And not just me - but the family I'd neglected, the children who'd grown up pretty much without me, the wife who'd raised the kids almost entirely on her own.  If I'd been permitted to choose the path of my life, I would have chosen more of the same - and it would have been devastatingly wrong.  I would have worked my (rather generously proportioned) hindquarters off, but I would have labored in vain.  Praise God He knew better.  Praise God He built the house despite me.

You'd think that, after being made aware of all that, I would have learned my lesson.  But the heart is stubborn, and change is difficult, and so I still find myself trying to build without asking for guidance and direction.  

Father, before You build my life, rebuild my heart.  Show me what I must do to change, so that I turn to You for the guidance I need so that the life I build, the life I help build for my family - none of that is in vain.  

June 8

Psalm 126

This week we heard the news of two very successful and talented people taking their lives, celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and fashion designer Kate Spade. The CDC tells us that suicide is now the 10th leading cause of death in our country and among people ages 15 to 34, suicide is the second leading cause of death. 45,000 people die by suicide each year; that is 123 people each day.  Combine this with the dramatic rise in opioid addiction and death and we have a national epidemic of hopelessness.

How can this be? We live in the most prosperous nation on earth, with unemployment under 4%, and the most amazing technological advances. We are better educated, we travel more, we have bigger homes and cars, we have more leisure time and we receive the most sophisticated medical care.

So why are so many Americans frustrated and hopeless?  Could I suggest that Psalm 126 gives us an answer. This Psalm points to the truth that joy has nothing to do with acquiring or achieving something. Joy is the result of being in a relationship with the living God. Happiness is dependent on "happenings" while joy is anchored in seeing the fingerprints of God in your life. Joy is rooted in connecting with God's bigger story and your role in his plan.  

In verse 3 these joyful travelers state, "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." There you have it in just a few words.  Joy is the sense of delight that arises when we are connected with God and his mission in our life. The order is first seeing God do great things and then finding it produces joy.

Could it be that the crisis in America is actually a crisis of faith? The vast majority of people have lived under the illusion that if they become rich, powerful, popular and own a lot of big toys they will find happiness. But one day they discover that acquiring these things does not deliver joy. Joy depends, not on our acquisition of something, but rather on our encounter with someone. Happiness possesses; joy appreciates. Happiness grasps; joy beholds.

Augustine, the church father, put it this way, "Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee."

Look for the fingerprints of Jesus in your life and you will find joy.

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, June 7

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2018

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." (Acts 5:29-32)

While the Book of Acts often receives the tagline of the "Acts of the Apostles," looking deeper, we may clearly see that the Holy Spirit deserves the proper credit for what transpires.  Remembering back to Acts 4:22-31, we find the early disciples praying and seeking God's guidance in spreading the Gospel to an unbelieving and challenging populace.  They had staked their very lives on their testimony for the risen Christ.  They were confident of God's standing with them, and the fruit of that boldness comes forth in the following chapters.

Please notice that Acts 4:31 explains that their boldness came from the filling of the Holy Spirit.  These men and women had come from ordinary backgrounds, but the Holy Spirit had empowered them to "turn the world upside down."

Some observers have speculated that we don't see such powerful movements of the Holy Spirit in the U.S. today because of weakened faith and complacency with sin.  One manifestations of our diminished faith lies in our tendency to trust ourselves more than God's power.  We reason that our expertise and study have prepared us to tackle any situation.  While God has certainly endowed us with wisdom and great teaching, failing to trust God completely in God and not seeking Him desperately may leave our outreach and discipleship efforts lacking.

I accept responsibility for having believed God for too little.  For assuming that certain challenges are beyond His ability.  For trusting myself instead of the Holy Spirit.  For seeking worldly solutions to spiritual issues.  For not standing boldly for Christ in each moment.

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Luke 10:2)  Whose harvest field?  God's!  May we be ready workers — and seek after others — to venture into the harvest field.

Lord God, thank You for showing us the apostles' example of trusting completely in You.  Thank You for the faithfulness of those workers who have gone before us and have plowed, sowed, and watered the soil of our lives and those before us.  Thank You that the testimony of Your Word doesn't change with cultural shifts or human decision.  Make us ready workers for Your harvest field.  Increase our faith and boldness.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we may experience the full joy of seeing transformation in our lives and in those of our family, friends, and neighbors.  We love You and honor You today.  In Jesus's Name, amen.

June 6

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Psalm 124

Is it only me or is it easy to get caught up in thinking we don't stand a chance to face our giants?  In most cases, there is no natural way to face our mountains, whether it's finances, a doctor's report, a lost family member, a broken relationship, and the depressing list that seems to just go on intimidating us by taking on its own personality and just does not let up.  Now David had numerous encounters with his share of giants, and each time, God delivered him.  David must have written this Psalm upon some occasion of great deliverance which God brought him through.  He is very careful here to give all the glory to God.  "Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.  We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare, the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.  Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth". (v.6-8) I think when we get overwhelmed by life it's helpful (although not easy) to say "If the Lord had not been on our side.....(v1-2)" and fill in the blank with the occasions that God has made a way and delivered us when we saw no way out.   In Deut. 31:6, 31:8, Joshua 1:15, and Hebrews 13:5, God promises He will never leave us or forsake us and it easy to misplace in our memory the times He has stood by us in our time of need. We all have battle scars, but God continues to be on our side seeing us through. As we go into the day, I pray God reminds us of each day our Lord spent on this earth and the record of his deeds of love.  I pray we turn to our Bible and search for the words Jesus spoke which by the power of His Spirit now guide and lead us. I pray we keep His triumph over the grave close to our hearts so that when our giants seem big, we remember the God we serve is bigger. I pray at the end of today we take time to write down how we saw God carry us through our day.  Jesus never said our days would all go smoothly, but He did promise He would be by our side.  For that I give Him honor, praise and all the glory.

Randi

Blog post Monday June 4th

A Prayer For The Power Of The Lord To "Cut To The Heart" (2 Sam:29,31,33-34, & 36 Acts 2:37 & 47)

 

 

Lord, you are able to be lamp of light in the darkness to those I love as well as to me.  Your way is perfect and your word is flawless.  You are a shield and refuge to all in need and who seek you.  You give strength, you make perfect the paths we walk, you enable all to stand in victory who call on your name.  Remembering these things, who you are and what you do, I lift up my prayer today.

 

Lord, there are many I love and care deeply about who are not walking the path you call them to.  Many walk-in darkness thinking it is light.  I have watched with a heavy heart as they stumble and fall and struggle to get back up only to continue to walk down the same darkened path.  There are no words I can speak no actions I can take, in and of myself, to aide them.  What they need Lord is your power, your conviction, your intervention, the revelation of your Holy Spirit to "cut to their heart" and reveal to them the truth of where they are and where they need to be. 

 

Lord, I am encouraged by what I read in Acts today.  You gave your disciples the wisdom and ability to speak and live so that those around them, those who heard and watched, were "cut to the heart", convicted and changed.  In one day you did not merely open the hearts, eyes and minds of a few but 3,000 lives were changed, 3,000 men and women were "cut to the heart" with conviction.  They heard about the corruption of their generation and were convicted and changed not just for their life time but for all of eternity.  After that day we read on that you, not the disciples, but you, the Lord, added to that number daily.  Your power at work changed lives and brought many to you.  That is what is what I ask for today, keep adding to that number Lord and include those I love amongst them.

 

Lord, it was your power that changed lives and it started with the 12 disciples.  You grew them, you challenged them, you empowered them and then you set them where they needed to be at the right time so that you could use them to "cut to the hearts" of those around them.  Lord, I pray and ask that you would work in me first and foremost.  Cut to my heart and convict, teach, challenge, and grow me.  Empower me to speak truth and to live it and I ask that you would prepare hearts, especially the hearts of those I love deeply, to be ready to hear you, to be ready to experience you, and to be ready to be changed in great and eternal ways.  I pray that you would "cut to their hearts" and make yourself known to them in ways they never have.

 

Lord, the lies and messages of this world that sit in opposition to your truth, seem so loud and so strong.  Help me to remember that they have no power or authority over you.  You can crush them in an instant.  You can cut them from the hearts of those trapped by them without struggle or delay. Help me to always go back to how I began this prayer and to remember who you are and what you do and to find my hope, my peace, my joy, my passion, and power in that alone.

 

Lord, that day in Jerusalem you "cut to the heart" and changed lives.  I pray and ask with urgency and great longing; please do it again today and "cut to the heart" of those I love and for whom my heart breaks.

 

AMEN

June 3, 2018

"They all joined together constantly in prayer…" Acts 1:14 "Then they prayed…" Acts 1: 1:24

Lately I've been thinking a lot about prayer. I read somewhere that nothing good will happen, "as long as prayer remains an afterthought, a formality, a mindless mix of duty and manipulation, something we do but usually don't do and rarely if ever do with any meaning and vitality, with confidence and clarity."  For a long-time prayer was for me just that, a mindless mix of duty and manipulation. I did pray but somehow in a rush, always ready to move on to more exciting things.

 I heard sermons on prayers. I read books on prayer. I agreed that prayer was one of the most powerful weapons in our spiritual war. Yet my prayer remained superficial. I had to reach the end of myself, I had to see all my brilliant ideas leading only to exhaustion and frustration, before I was willing to understand.  "Prayer is the portal that brings the power of heaven down to earth." When we surrender to the will of God, when we open the channel of prayer, miracles happen. Sometimes things don't work out, and I am disappointed. Then it's always helpful to remember that God's will is good, pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2) God knows what he's doing. Looking back, many so-called disappointments turned out to be great blessings.

Our loving Father answers prayers! Recently I started to read again, "Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge." The author, Mark Batterson writes: "I have a handful of prayers I pray all the time. Because of their frequent repetition, I call them prayer mantras. One is that God will put my books into the right hands at the right time. I've prayed this prayer thousands of times… "His book was my gateway to salvation. Few years ago, I was in a friend's house and she had this book on her coffee table. I happened to sit right next to it. She started to tell me about the book.  Next, she told me about Grace Church and she invited me to attend that following Sunday. I said yes, and that Yes changed my life forever. Through that "YES" I got to know the Lord. My coming back to the Lord was someone's answered prayer. Thank you, Mark Batterson, for praying over your books.

What a God we serve! He exceeds our wildest dreams and imagination. Let's keep praying. If praying is a struggle let's invite God to talk to our heart. He knows the language of our hearts!