Category: Prayer

No Hide For Seek

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Do you remember “Where’s Waldo?”

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We spent many hours searching for Waldo and later Sammy (the Christian version…don’t ask me why).

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I came across our verse for today early in my faith journey. I remember being at a church camp where our youth group was having a retreat. We had moved to town the summer between junior high and high school. I was experiencing a mountain of new things and firsts. This retreat was on that list.

The kids on this retreat were excited to learn about Jesus. They were plugged into serving. Their enthusiasm was electric and I wanted it!

On Saturday night, I stood out by the lake. I had grabbed a handful of Queen Anne’s Lace (a flowery weed), held it up to the sky and declared, “In 30 days I’m going to know who you are God.” Thirty days later I was kneeling at an invitation asking Jesus to be Lord and Savior in my life.

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Here’s what I learned then, and keep on learning: God wants to be found.

Some people read the Isaiah verse and think it’s time sensitive, holding a limit to God wanting to be found. It’s like the warped old hymn that says, “He never has failed me YET”…as if he will.

God is not out there playing some cosmic game of hide and seek. He “hides” in plain view. He wants to be found. He might be “hard” to find because we don’t understand how to see him. The goal in this 40 days is get better at seeing him…finding him.

So, how many times have you seen him today?

PRAYER: Oh there you are. Thank you for wanting me to find you. Thank you for not hiding from me. Thank you for being so near. Today I would ask that you would continue to develop eyes that see you and a deeper desire to seek you all along the way. Amen.

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Everybody’s Looking for You

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there. 36 Simon and his companions went searching for Him. 37 They found Him and said, “Everyone’s looking for You!”  (Mark 1:35-37)

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Wouldn’t it be something if we could say that today? “Everybody’s looking for you, Jesus!”

They’re not. And let’s be honest…most days we’re not, either. But that is what this 40 day journey can do for us.

But where do we start?

Maybe we could start like Jesus did. Where was Jesus when they finally tracked him down?

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The crowd hadn’t learned Jesus’ habit of early morning prayer. EMP. But Simon knew. He knew where to look to find Jesus.

I know not everyone is an early riser. I’m thankful I’m wired that way. But whether you have an internal early alarm clock or not, starting your day with prayer–however brief or rote or mechanaical–needs to become as natural as checking the gas gauge before you take off in the car.

It can be as simple as, “You and me, Jesus…let’s do this” to as flowery as the best bishop can speak. Just take a moment or two. Become aware of his presence and desire to be with you in every aspect of this day.

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Not everybody was looking for Jesus then. They’re not now. I know I am. Will you? He’s the one out there praying.

PRAYER: Ahhhh, here you are Jesus. Thank you for showing us the best way to start our day. Thank you for demonstrating the importance, the wisdom, the joy, of starting our day connected not only to the Creator of this day, but the Guide, and the Helper. I don’t know what today holds, but I know I don’t want to face any of it without a clear sense of your presence. Let’s do this thing…together. Amen.

Welcome Aboard.

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I think Lent comes at a very good time of the year.

Typically we start the year out with great resolve, high hopes, and a few plans for improving life. And we usually make it for a few days, maybe weeks…and then we peter out.

My spiritual word for this year is habits. I started out amazingly. I was exercising daily, eating well, and reading through my Bible. The only habit I have faithfully maintained is reading my Bible. Both my healthy eating and my exercise have been inconsistent at best for the last couple weeks.

What has made the difference with my reading?

I’m not doing it alone.

In my church we were challenged as a congregation to read through the Bible this year. But as nice as that challenge is, it hasn’t motivated me. It’s not personal enough.

The difference is I have an accountability partner. I have someone who not only asks, “So have you read your Bible today?” We also discuss some of the interesting, surprising, familiar, and favorite things we read.

My partner? My husband. It’s handy and it’s a blessing.

I have accountability partners for my writing, too.

Why? Do you want the long answer or the short one? You get the short one. When I’m not accountable, I can make all kinds of poor choices. When I am accountable I find I am more successful. And I want to succeed.

There are numerous examples and admonishments to be accountable in scripture.One for today as we think about this faith journey: Encourage one another and build up one another.(1 Thessalonians. 5:11)

It’s not that we can’t or won’t see Jesus on our own, but let’s look together.

There’s joy in the journey…together.

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PRAYER MOMENT: God you are our leader and guide. Your Word tells us you go before and follow behind. You led the Israelites through the wilderness with a pillar of fire and a cloud. A map or sign might be nice, but more than that we want to feel you beside us as we maneuver the hazards of life. Thank you for the encouragement we can receive from other travelers and help us to be encouragers as well. Create good habits in us this Lenten season as we seek to see you, know you, and find you daily. Amen.

Emmanuel…God With Us

 

How interesting that while we have spent this entire waiting for Jesus to be born, for God to enter the scene…He has been with us the whole time.

His love has been present.
His grace has been active.
His power has been manifest.

He is Emmanuel. His name is the reminder that God is always with us.

That’s the best gift of all.

No matter what we face. No matter where we are. He is there.

He will never leave us or forsake us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39, NLT

PRAYER: Ever-present, all wise, and loving God, thank you for the gift of your Son…for what it meant and what it means. Help us to keep Christmas in our hearts and our actions all year long. And make us aware of you blessed presence everyday as we journey into another new year. Amen.

 

No More Waiting

And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. Galatians 4:3-5, NLT

 

We’re almost there. You have been so patient. I’m really quite impressed that you’ve stayed with me to the end.

I chuckled when I read this morning’s text. Who among us can’t relate to the fullness of this season? Our schedules are full. Our houses are full. Our bellies are over-full. About the only thing no longer full is our wallet or checking account. (Insert sad face here.)

But the fullness or right on timeness that Paul is writing to the Galatians about has nothing to do with this and everything to do with God’s perception of time.

We look at Christmas and I imagine our thoughts resonate with Joseph’s:

If we were in charge, we would have picked a different time, a different way…and we would have missed it…and messed it up.

God’s ways don’t make sense. But that’s probably because we don’t think like he does.

He knows best: when and how.

PRAYER: God, you who created time, who are over time, yet in and all the way through it…be born in us today. Amen.

Wait not Weary

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9, NIV

 

Dictionary.com: physically or mentally exhausted by hard work, exertion, strain, etc.; fatigued; tired; characterized by or causing impatience or dissatisfaction, as in a weary wait.

Are we there yet?

 

The question doesn’t belong just to children on long road trips.

As adults we become victims of exhaustion, impatience, and dissatisfaction.

How long do we have to be good and do good?

It reminds me of the question asked of Jesus: how many times do I have to forgive?

We want to know how long we have to keep this up.

But perhaps the problem is with the question itself. Sure we want to see the goal, the finish line. Maybe we would find greater inspiration if we would keep our eyes on the prize instead: the harvest–all the good stuff, the fruit of our labors.

PRAYER: God, we want to do good, to be good, but sometimes we’re just tired. Forgive us for acting like petulant children. Give us grace, strength, and courage to stay the course and keep our eye on the prize–to your honor and glory. Amen.

 

Waiting…Expectantly

 

There’s a HUGE difference in the way believers should be waiting.

If we believe that God is in control. That what happens in our lives has reason and meaning. That even when we can’t see or understand what’s going on…God is still in the business of “working all things for our good” (Romans 8:28).

Then we should be expecting something—anticipating God to do something.

 

As we draw ever nearer to Christmas, I pray that we would find our childlike faith. Watch a child and how they are just about to burst with anticipation.

God is about to break into the scene afresh.

Anticipate it. Expect it. Rejoice in it.

PRAYER: God, I want to believe you are working all things for my good. I don’t always see it. I don’t expect it. Forgive me for doubting and looking for the other shoe to drop. Renew my childlike faith and give eyes to see you working anew and afresh. Amen.

 

Waiting, Steadfastly

But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7, ESV

 

“But as for me…”

Even when no one else will wait.

When waiting makes no sense to anyone else.

I’m going to wait on God.

Why?

Because He is the God of my salvation and I know that He has heard me…and will hear me.

PRAYER: God, sometimes it’s hard to wait on you. Others give up and I feel alone. But as for me…I would rather be without my friends than to be without the God who saves me and hears me when I call. Amen.

 

As a Watchman Waits

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6

 

I have a friend who says God wired certain people to work third shift. I am not one of them.

But I have had to work third shift, and so I get what the Psalmist is talking about.

 

I would start my shift well, but somewhere around 3:00 the hours would begin to drag and staying awake became the hugest chore of all. I would start begging the hands of the clock to move.

I’d scan the horizon for any sign of morning light.

And now I wonder: do I look and long with that same intensity for the Lord?

Advent gives us the opportunity to practice, but are we even looking?

PRAYER: God, we confess that our souls are often very weak at watching. We are consumed with the daily-ness of life. In these remaining days of Advent help us to be faithful watchers, anticipating and longing to see you every step of the way. Amen.

 

Wait…It’s Today

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

 

“How many days till Christmas?”

Isn’t that a child’s #1 question this time of year?

Where would they ever get the idea to wish this day away and hope for one to come?

I’m going to wager a guess it might be from the adults around them. You know the folks who look forward to Friday, or teachers whose calendars mark the days until summer, or grandparents counting down to retirement.

 

We all do it. Maybe it helps to have a date out on the horizon to get through the pain, despair, loneliness, and drudgery of today.

But if tomorrow doesn’t come?

Do you know the day that matters most to God?

 

Give us this day…Today if you hear his voice…Today is the day of salvation.

You have today. Enjoy it. Revel in it. Live in it. Give thanks for it.

PRAYER: Thank you God for today. This day. Keep me here to live to your glory and honor. Amen