Passing Life's Tests

We all experience times of frustration, anxiety, pain, loneliness, and desperation. Sometimes those feelings are consequences of our own actions, and other times they are not.

All of life's experiences, both positive and negative, are God's way of molding us according to his will. As God says in Jeremiah 9:7 (ESV),

I will refine them and test them,
    for what else can I do, because of my people?

It might make us uncomfortable to realize that God constantly refines and tests us, including by subjecting us to various trials, but who are we to question his will?

How, then, do we pass these tests of life? The answer appears many places in the Bible, including Psalm 145:18-19 (ESV),

The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
    he also hears their cry and saves them.

That's it! The answer is not complicated. Simply, we must give our lives to God and submit to his will. So in our prayers today, let us humbly ask God to forgive our sins, and let us dedicate this day to him.

Advice from Hebrews

The book of Hebrews contains many important spiritual points. For example, in 2:1 (ESV), the author speaks to people who, while they might be called believers, have let their faith grow stale:

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

We all fall into the trap of letting our faith grow stale. To me, this passage from Hebrews says that we must work diligently at our faith. Read the Bible, contemplate on its message, ask God for guidance, etc. Our faith must be active.

And the best path to active faith: Pray Without Ceasing!

Psalm 119

I once heard Charles Stanley say that, when we kneel down to pray and we don't know what to say, that's a good sign that we need to stay on our knees and keep praying!

In similar spirit, when I find myself struggling to pray, I often turn to Psalm 119. Clocking in at 176 verses, Psalm 119 is well-known as the longest chapter in the Bible. (For example, in the audio Bible that I have loaded on my MP3 player, Psalm 119 is almost 18 minutes long.)

Now, regarding Psalm 119, I find that its length, itself, is an attribute, because it forces me to focus on spiritual matters for longer than I otherwise might. But length, along, is not what makes Psalm 119 so special. Rather, Psalm 119, from beginning to end, is one of the most beautiful prayers in the entire Bible. A constant theme throughout the psalm is the joy that comes from complete trust in God, and the overwhelming delight in obeying his commandments.

As a small example, verse 10 (ESV) reads,

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

What a beautiful, one-line prayer. And Psalm 119 is full of such verses!

So as a useful prayer tool, spend time with Psalm 119. Whether reading it or listening to it, Psalm 119 forces us to remain focused in prayer for 15-20 minutes. And afterward, you'll feel spiritually renewed!

The Ten Commandments

Several times, I have quoted Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV),

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

I like this verse, because it boils our job down to a simply, easy-to-recall statement. But if we dive deeper, what are his "commandments"? Of course, the Bible is full of instructions on how we should conduct our lives, and I believe that an active prayer life involves constant study of the Bible.

But if you seek a condensed set of instructions, head right for the Ten Commandments, which appear in Exodus 20:1-17. (They also appear in Deuteronomy 5:4-21.)

Make Exodus 20:1-17 a regular part of your Bible reading, but as you go through the commandments, recall that Jesus advised us to interpret the Ten Commandments as liberally as possible. For example, the 5th commandment says, "You shall not murder." OK, easy enough. Just don't murder anyone.

But in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that, in addition to the strict definition of murder, we also are guilty of murder if we are angry at someone, or if we insult someone, or if we utter anything bad about anyone. (See Matthew 5:21-22). By this definition, all of us are guilty of murder!

The point is that we should interpret each of the Ten Commandments as liberally as we possibly can. Read the Commandments again and again. And then,

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

What to be proud of

It's easy to take pride in earthly possessions, accomplishments, and social standings. But the very first commandment tells us not to let those things come before God in our lives. Indeed,  Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV) tells us that, if we must boast, don't boast about earthly things. Rather, boast about God.

Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight.

I've posted previously about how the book of Habakkuk presents a similar message. And I also posted about how David got himself in hot water by boasting about his earthly possessions.

As we pray this weekend, let's try to place God where he belongs: above everything else!

Acknowledge Sin

Walking in faith does not mean that we never sin. In fact, God understands that, due to human nature, we occasionally will sin. But what really angers him in when we show no shame or remorse for our sins. This theme appears throughout the Bible, including in Jeremiah 6:15 (ESV),

Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
    No, they were not at all ashamed;
    they did not know how to blush.

We must recognize sin, and when we sin, we must repent and show genuine remorse. As God says in Jeremiah 3:12-13 (ESV),

I will not look on you in anger,
    for I am merciful;
I will not be angry forever.
Only acknowledge your guilt,
    that you rebelled against the Lord your God

God's grace is am amazing gift! But to receive that gift, we must "acknowledge our guilt." We should search our lives and acknowledge times that we've disobeyed his commandments. Because, as written in Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV),

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Food that Truly Satisfies

Each day, we face forks in the road. At each fork, one path pleases God, and the other doesn't.

First, we should recognize those times that we choose the wrong path, and we should ask God for forgiveness for those times. (And repent quickly! Don't wait for God to grab your attention through some kind of punishment!)

Once we repent, we should ask ourselves a tough question: Why do we sometimes choose the path that doesn't please God? God asks us this very question in Isaiah 55:2 (ESV),

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food.

The first two lines of this verse ask us: Why do we disobey God? Are we openly rebelling against God? Or are we just spiritually lazy? Does disobeying God provide us with temporary enjoyment?

Whatever the reason, figuring out why we sin is an important part of removing sin from our lives.

The next two lines of the passage command us to leave sin. Seek God. He is the "rich food" that truly satisfies. Seeking God provides more than just temporary enjoyment--it provides eternal satisfaction!

We are not Clever

As we become older, we accumulate knowledge, whether through life's experiences or through formal education. Although intellectually satisfying, a downside of accumulating knowledge is that we can become convinced of our cleverness. But as written in Proverbs 3:5 (ESV),

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.

Paul explores this topic further. In 1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV), he writes

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Not only are we not clever, but our attempts to become clever inevitably backfire. As Paul quotes in 1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV),

What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him.

That is, we cannot possibly understand God's ultimate plan! These passages imply that our prayers need not be complicated philosophical exercises. Rather, we should humbly acknowledge God's greatness and offer our lives to him.

The Suffering Servant

Someone starting to explore the Bible might ask: Which parts are most important? I previously tried to make a case for 1 Corinthians 15. But one also could make a case for Isaiah 52:13-53:12, a passage known as the Suffering Servant. Read the whole thing, but here are a few highlights from the NIV translation.

My servant will act wisely;
    he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
...
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
...
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
...
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
...
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied
...
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.

The Old Testament contains many prophesies of Jesus' arrival, some of which offer more specific details of his life. But the passage of the Suffering Servant is the richest in terms of theology. The passage hints that Jesus will not be a king of military leader, at least not in the traditional sense. Nor will his life be "triumphant," as humans define that word. Rather, he will be put to death as an atonement for all sins. AND THEN, after having died, he somehow will live to "see the light of life" and be awarded a "portion among the great" and the "spoils with the strong."

So this passage, written centuries before Jesus' arrival, predicts his death, gives the reason for his death, and also predicts his resurrection!

Today, read the entire passage of the Suffering Servant, and keep it in your thoughts during prayer.

Fear not, for God is with us

There are various passages in the Bible that advise us not to be anxious or fearful, but rather to trust in God. For example, in John 14:1 (ESV), Jesus says

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Again, in Philippians 4:6 (ESV), Paul says

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 In Isaiah 41:10 (ESV), God speaks through Isaiah saying

Fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Those passages don't promise that life always will be easy. Those passages don't promise that we'll avoid difficult times. But much as Moses advised Joshua, we should realize that God can do anything, so we should submit to him. Believe in him, trust in him, and then leave the consequences of life to him.

A Simple Prayer of Praise

In our prayers, sometimes we struggle with what to say. Or perhaps we might feel that our prayers have grown stale and repetitive. At those times, it might help to remember why God created us.

God created us to praise him, not because he necessarily "needs" the praise. Rather, by praising God, we align our thoughts, desires, and priorities with his. And, ultimately, God wants us aligned with him. Everything in our lives should remain secondary to praising God.

So a great way to reset our prayer lives is to offer a simple prayer of praise. For such an example, turn to 1 Chronicles 29:11 (ESV),

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

Today, offer God this simple prayer of praise.

Actively Seek God

For some people, at specific points in their lives, God might do something dramatic to grab their attention. (Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus is one such example.) But, in general, God doesn't work that way. Instead, he wants us actively to seek him.

But actively seeking God should not be complicated. In Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV), God says,

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

That's it! Simply put, we must ask God to expand our spiritual understanding. James (one of my favorite books in the Bible) says something similar, in chapter 1, verse 5 (ESV),

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

These passages suggest that, if we wish to grow spiritually, we cannot sit back and expect that growth to happen by chance. Rather, we must ask God for that growth. Try that in your prayers today!

God's Message to Cain

The beginning of Genesis 4 finds God displeased with Cain, although the chapter is not clear on the reason for God's displeasure. Whatever the reason, Cain can respond to God's displeasure in two ways: (1) change his behavior to align with God's will, or (2) pout. Of course, Cain chooses the latter. God then says to Cain, Genesis 4:6-7 (ESV),

Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.

The same applies to us. When we suffer the consequence of our own wrongdoing, how do we react? Do we recognize God's discipline as serving a purpose to bring us closer to him? Or do we pout and blame others and pull further away from God?

Whatever the state of our lives, God's message is clear: We are to obey him and resist sin.

Backward Priorities: Putting Life's Successes Above God

Modern society encourages us to strive for "success," whether professional, financial, or social. Indeed, we celebrate successful, driven people. We shower them with awards and accolades. We seek to emulate their behavior and work ethic.

But that constant drive for success can be a problem if, in our pursuit of such success, we lose focus on building spiritual successes.

Habakkuk 1:15:16 (ESV) provides an example, speaking of a fisherman,

He brings all of them up with a hook;
    he drags them out with his net;
he gathers them in his dragnet;
    so he rejoices and is glad.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net
    and makes offerings to his dragnet...

The fisherman becomes so enthralled with his professional success that he actually begins to worship his net! He becomes identified with his net. He ranks his net as greater than God.

Do we do the same? In our pursuit of professional, financial, or social success, do we lose sight of accumulating spiritual success? Make a goal for today: Before you go to bed, try to have made some kind of spiritual advancement. It's not hard -- just spend a few minutes in simple, meaningful prayer.

Advice for Pleasing God: Isaiah 33

Isaiah 33:15-16 (ESV) offers wonderful advice for how to please God:

He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,
    who despises the gain of oppressions,
who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe,
    who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed
    and shuts his eyes from looking on evil,
he will dwell on the heights;
    his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks;
    his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.

The first line is straightforward: It requests that we conduct ourselves, both in action and in speech, according to God's commandments.

The next two lines caution against attempting to accumulate earthly pleasures and treasures through means that violate the first line. Simply put, earthly gains mean nothing to God, and worse, earthly gains greatly anger God if they are acquired through sinful ways.

The fourth and fifth lines demand that, in addition to obeying God, we also must avoid condoning when others disobey God. That is, sin is toxic, whether conducted by us or others. Avoid all sources of sin.

The final three lines describe the rewards that accrue to those who obey God.

Isaiah 33:15-16 not only provides great advice, but it also serves as an effective prayer. Try reciting it a few times throughout this day.

Paul's Road to Damascus Conversion

If you could be transported back in time to witness one biblical event, which would it be? The transfiguration, the last supper, the crucifixion, the resurrection? All of those are great choices.

But my choice: Paul's "Road to Damascus" conversion. The story appears three times in Acts, in chapters 9, 22, and 26. Paul also alludes to the event several times in his letters, specifically 1 Corinthians and Galatians.

The early church needed someone with multiple citizenships, so that he could travel across borders. The early church needed someone highly-educated and well-versed in philosophy. The early church needed someone who could write in elegant Greek, yet communicate in Aramaic and Hebrew. The early church needed one of its fiercest enemies to make a dramatic, and highly conspicuous, turn toward God. And, perhaps most importantly, the early church needed that person to suffer greatly, in order to demonstrate that his conversion wasn't about accumulating material gains for himself.

That person was Paul.

It's hard to imagine an event that has so-altered the course of history. Even if you're already familiar with the story of Paul's conversion, go back and re-read those three chapters in Acts. I always come away amazed at God's power to accomplish whatever he wants.

In our prayers, we should humble ourselves before that power, and acknowledge the inevitability of God's will. Then, we should volunteer as instruments in God's plan, in whatever way he needs us.

Esau Sell's His Birthright

Genesis 25 tells the story of Esau, who comes in from the field exhausted and hungry, selling his birthright to his younger brother Jacob in return for some stew. At that time, family possessions and blessings typically passed through the eldest sons, but after the transfer of birthright, God's plan for humanity operated through Jacob's bloodline, all the was down to Jesus.

But what exactly did Esau do wrong? Was selling his birthright really a sin? According to Hebrews 12:16-17 (ESV), the answer is "yes,"

[Esau] sold his birthright for a single meal ... afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Esau desired a pleasant, yet fleeting, satisfaction in the form of stew. And to gain that satisfaction, he turn his back to heavenly promises.

Do we do the same? As we seek to satisfy our cravings, or accumulate earthly possessions, or gain the admiration of others, or increase our social status -- do we turn our backs to God's will, even for just a moment?

We're all guilty of such actions. As we pray, we should recall those moments when we acted in such ways, and repent.

Keep Striving in Faith

We should view faith as a lifelong journey, a journey that involves a constant desire to keep God's commandments, and a constant desire to exalt him, not ourselves. We must avoid thirsting for earthly approval or adoration, which, in all cases, eventually withers away anyway. Instead we must strive for heavenly approval.

During this journey, there inevitably will be times when we struggle. There will be times when we stray from God's will. Equally damaging, there will be times when, becoming distracted by the pursuits of this world, we begin to drift away from our spiritual objectives and become lax in religious zeal.

We must fight through those struggles! We never should become complacent in spirituality. Don't wait for God to come to you; actively seek him!

I take great comfort from Paul. Arguably the most impactful Christian, Paul also had those spiritual struggles that we all experience! In his letter to the Philippians, after describing what he wished to achieve through faith, Paul then admits (3:12-14, ESV),

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own ... But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

A Vision of Heaven

My last several posts have been rather dour, with emphasis on sin and contrition. So for today's post, let's turn to something far more pleasant!

Chapter 37 of the book of Ezekiel includes a prophesy of a reunited kingdom of Israel. Yet, the prophesy also serves as an obvious vision of heaven. As written in Ezekiel 37:25-27 (ESV),

They and their children and their children's children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

This beautiful promise of peaceful union with God gives us hope. In your prayers today, meditate on this vision, and try to feel even a fraction of that peace!

God's Arms Are Always Open

Every moment of every day, we face forks in the road of life. For every one of those forks, one branch pleases God, and one branch does not. We should look back at the decisions we've made at each of those forks. Each of us, at one time or another, has picked the wrong branch, either through carelessness or through deliberate disobedience to God. As written in 1 John 1:8 (ESV),

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

God wants us to strive for spiritual perfection, but when we inevitably fall short of that goal, he wants us humbly to acknowledge those sins. As written in Joel 2:12-13 (ESV),

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.

Note the line "rend your hearts and not your garments.'' What God seeks, above all else, is a humble heart filled with genuine remorse. Keep the words of Joel on your mind today as you pray.

Prayers of Contrition

Throughout the Bible, the prayers to which God most often responds involve some form of confession. God desires a humble and contrite heart, and that means that, in our prayers, we constantly must offer our contrition.

Now, to unbelievers, that might sound like a depressing manner in which to live one's life. After all, how can it possibly be enjoyable to constantly be confessing our imperfections and sins? Paul gives the answer to this question in Romans 6:22 (ESV), where he explains that humbly submitting to God leads to eternal life!

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

So conducting our lives in humble and contrite fashion is not depressing at all. Rather, it leads to the glorious hope of eternal life!

So today, in your prayers, issue a heartfelt confession to God. Here is a good example from Jeremiah 31:18-19 (ESV),

You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined,
    like an untrained calf;
bring me back that I may be restored,
    for you are the Lord my God.
 For after I had turned away, I relented,
    and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh;
I was ashamed, and I was confounded,
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.

Endurance in Faith

Living in faith allows us to bask in God's peace. As Paul wrote in Philippians chapter 4 (ESV),

... in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

But living in such faithful peace also carries a large responsibility. Specifically, we cannot backslide into sinful ways. Hebrews chapter 10:26-27 states (ESV),

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Note the phrase "if we go on sinning." The phrase doesn't say "if we sin," because sin is an unfortunate, and uniquely earthly, part of life, even among believers. But as believers, when we sin, we must recognize that sin and repent. As Luke writes in Acts 3:19 (ESV),

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.

Don't wait for God's punishment. In our prayers, we should explore our hearts and actions for thoughts and deeds that run counter to God's will, and humbly ask for forgiveness. Then we can return to walking in God's peace!

Exalt God, and God Alone

I once heard Jack Graham say that most sin is the consequence of not enough prayer. I agree completely. Related, I once heard Charles Stanley say that, if you're having trouble praying, that's a good sign that you need to get on your knees and pray. Those guys are much smarter than me, so I won't try to expand upon their points.

Instead, let me add that, in addition to insufficient prayer, many sins stem from our desire to seek earthly approval, whether from friends, colleagues, neighbors, family, and even strangers. Our desire to gain approval and seek praise from others often leads us to act in ways that run counter to God's will.

So don't seek to exalt yourself. Rather, live to exalt God. As written in Isaiah 2:22 (ESV),

Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?

Everything is God's. Nothing is ours.

In Matthew chapter 19, a young man claims to have obeyed all of God's commandments. Jesus tells this seemingly-righteous person (ESV),

If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

In response, the person goes away depressed, because he had many possessions.

Jesus is demonstrating to the young man that, although he has obeyed the letter of the law, his mind is in the wrong place. He views his earthly possessions as his, or even perhaps as rewards for his ability to keep the commandments. But as Psalm 24:1 (ESV) tells us,

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.

Do we view our homes, bank accounts, careers, families, cars, and even our bodies as our own? We shouldn't--they are blessings from God! Keep Psalm 24:1 on your mind as you pray. Memorize it. Recite it over and over. And do so without ceasing!

David's Census: Taking Pride in One's Achievements

I posted previously about David's affair with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband. In that story, David's sins are obvious.

But turning to 2 Samuel 24, we find David sinning again in ways that are less obvious. In that chapter, God commands David to conduct a census. (In 1 Chronicles 21, it is Satan, presumably under God's command, who orders the census.) For reasons that aren't clearly stated, God then becomes angry with David. Why?

I suspect that David's sin was not the census itself, but rather David's attitude toward the census. David likely took great enjoyment in conducting a formal measurement of the extent of his power. Wouldn't we all! But David's achievements were not due to his own cleverness or abilities. Rather, he had humble faith in God, and, therefore, everything in his possession came from God. By taking pride in his earthly achievements, David sinned against God.

Are we guilty of similar sins? Do we count our achievements and attribute those to our own hard work and/or intelligence? If so, we're falling into the same trap as David. Yes, some careers require maintaining up-to-date resumes listing accomplishments and/or awards, but if you have such a career, recognize that those achievements are blessings from God, not trophies representing your cleverness.

To David's credit, he realized his sin and humbled himself before God, 2 Samuel 24:10 (ESV),

But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly."

Simply put, don't take pride in earthly achievements. Like Solomon wrote, they are vanity. Rather, in everything, give thanks to God.

God Does Not Forget

David is one of the most celebrated individuals in all of humanity, but that doesn't mean he was perfect. One of the most famous, and unsavory, stories in the Bible occurs in 2 Samuel 11. The chapter describes how David sets his sights on the beautiful, but married, Bathsheba. David impregnates Bathsheba, and after some unsuccessful attempts to cover it up, David arranges for the murder of Bathsheba's husband.

The second-to-last sentence of the chapter reads (ESV),

And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son.

Problem solved, right? It seems as if David has managed to brush this problem under the rug, now that Bathsheba's husband is out of the way.

However, we then arrive at the last sentence of the chapter (ESV),

But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

That sentence, which contain the first mention of God in 2 Samuel 11, should send chills up our spines. God doesn't forget our sins, and he especially detests when we smugly convince ourselves that we're "good." To David's credit, he later confesses in the truly beautiful Psalm 51 (ESV),

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgement.

What a prayer! What a confession! Is it any wonder that David, despite his sins, stands as such a remarkable example of humble faith. So the lesson: Don't wait for God's wrath. And don't try to push sin out of your mind. Acknowledge your sins before God. It sure worked for David!

There is none good but God

Matthew Chapter 19 contains a strange conversation, and different Biblical translations present the conversation in different ways. According to the KJV, someone addressed Jesus as "Good Master," to which Jesus responds,

Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.

As John Gill explains, Jesus was not denying his "goodness." Rather, the person, at this point in time before the death and resurrection of Jesus, clearly viewed Jesus not as divine, but rather as a skilled teacher and theologian. Jesus simply tells the man that no earthly being is truly "good."

An important point to emphasize in our prayers is that we are sinful creatures. Even Job, a seemingly "good" man, eventually was brought to his knees (Job, 42: 2-6, ESV),

I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted ... I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know ... I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

None of us comes close to Job's goodness, and look at how he humbled himself! We should seek to mimic such humility in our prayers. Try it. As difficult as such prayers are, you'll feel a remarkable sense of joy from humbling yourself before God!

Everything Under the Sun is Vanity

On the surface, the book of Ecclesiastes, attributed to Solomon, is the most morose book in the Bible. Yet, taking a step back and absorbing its main message, we can find something comforting and uplifting.

The book consists of 12 chapters, but I believe the book's main point can be ascertained from reading chapters 1, 2, and 12. First, at the beginning of chapter 1 (ESV),

All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

That word "vanity" comes up a lot in Ecclesiastes. (Some less-literal translations use words such as "meaningless" or "useless.") Solomon is saying that everything we do, everything we see, everything we pursue, everything we desire, and everything we find satisfying are ultimately empty and meaningless. So what's the point of even living? Morose, indeed!

In chapter 2, Solomon describes his life's journey seeking fulfillment. He mentions riches, land, houses, vineyards, treasures, alcohol, female companionship, esteem, and power. He had it all. Reflecting upon these pursuits in verse 11 (ESV),

I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

The book continues with this theme. So if nothing "under the sun" provides fulfillment, what should we do? The answer finally comes in the final two verses of the end of the book (12:13-14, ESV),

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

It's a simple, yet powerful, message. Do not become distracted by the ways of this world. Yes, we must work, but we shouldn't let professional success (or lack thereof) define our lives. Yes, we may enjoy sports, music, or politics, but if not properly prioritized, those pursuits can distract us from our reason for existing.

Simply, fear God and obey him. Let that be the foundation for your never-ceasing prayer.

Proof of Jesus' Resurrection? 1 Corinthians 15

Christians and non-Christians alike agree that the validity of Christianity hinges on the resurrection. Now, being strong in faith means that we shouldn't need unequivocal proof of that event. In fact, in the 20th chapter of John, Jesus (lightly) rebukes Thomas for demanding such proof.

But, unfortunately, we all face times in which our faith wavers. And when we face such wavering, there's no better place to turn that the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians. It's arguably the most important chapter in the entire Bible. Importantly, 1 Corinthians 15 was written before any of the gospel accounts, making it the earliest written account of Jesus' resurrection. Further, Paul mentions in verse 8 that he actually encountered the resurrected Jesus. (Of course, Paul is referring to the famous Road to Damascus event.)

For a moment, let's view Paul's claim of seeing Jesus through the lens of a skeptic. Let's consider two possibilities.

First, perhaps Paul was insane, or misinterpreted what he saw. This seems unlikely, because in verses 5-7 (ESV), Paul notes that the resurrected Jesus appeared to lots of other people,

He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

For the insanity/misinterpretation theory to hold water, all of those eyewitnesses must similarly have experienced insanity or misinterpretation. That seems unlikely.

Second, perhaps Paul was lying, most likely for his own personal gain. However, even a casual reading of Paul's letters marks this theory as even less likely than the insanity/misinterpretation theory. Before encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul was fairly high up on the pecking order of Jewish intellectuals. He was living the good life! But after encountering Jesus, as Paul comments in Philippians 3:8 (ESV),

I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

Paul also notes in 1 Corinthians 9 that he intentionally avoids reaping material gain from his preaching, lest such rewards compromise the validity of his testimony. So Paul gained nothing of earthy significance, and, in fact, lost everything, including, eventually, his life. That's quite a price to pay for some alleged deception!

So it seems unlikely that Paul was insane or misinterpreted his experience, and it also seems unlikely that he was engaged in deception. By process of elimination, it seems likely that Paul was telling the truth about the resurrected Jesus!

All of which brings us to the final verse in 1 Corinthian 15 (ESV), a verse that should remain on the forefront of our minds as we pray,

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Nineveh Listens to God: The Story of Jonah

Jonah might be the most fascinating of all the Old Testament prophets. It's not a long book, so it's worth reading the whole thing.

A consistent theme throughout the Bible is that, despite out sinful natures, if we listen to God and repent of our ways, God will forgive us. In the story of Jonah, God sends Jonah to warn the people of Nineveh: repent of your ways or face destruction. Jonah's message can be summed up in chapter 2, verse 8 (ESV),

Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.

In contrast to much of the Old Testament, the people of Nineveh take this message to heart, and they repent! As Jesus notes in Matthew 12:41 (ESV),

The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

So the question for us is: Do we "pay regard to vain idols"? That is, even if we believe in God, do we push God out of our minds to focus on earthy matters, such as money, career, gossip, immorality, etc.? Worse, do we try to justify such behavior on earthly terms? If so, we are forsaking God's love and peace. In our prayers, we should repent of these ways and make God our priority.

Jacob Wrestles with God

Few Biblical passages hold mystery quite like Genesis 32, in which Jacob wrestles throughout the night with God. What is going on in this chapter?

(I once heard Jack Graham give an interesting sermon on Genesis 32. What I write in this post borrows from that sermon.)

Prior to Genesis 32, Jacob's life consists of less-than-noble behavior. He selfishly demands his brother Esau's "birthright." He deceives his father, Isaac, into giving him, rather than his brother, the blessing commonly bestowed upon the eldest son. Fearing Esau's wrath, he flees to a relative, Laban. His time wish Laban is full of more deception, with each man deceiving the other. Eventually, Jacob flees from Laban.

To put it mildly, all of this deception and fleeing does not seem to befit the father of all Hebrews!

And then we reach Genesis 32, where Jacob enters territory controlled by Esau's army. Seemingly in big trouble, Jacob prays a simple, yet beautiful, prayer in verses 10-11 (ESV):

I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant ... Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau ...

Prior to this point, the Genesis record offers no indication of Jacob humbling himself before God. That same night, during their wrestling match, God injures Jacob's hip, leaving him permanently limping.

Yet it's obvious that, as a result of his newfound humility toward God, Jacob has undergone a transformation. In fact, no longer will he be called "Jacob," but rather "Israel." Sure, he's lost his healthy hip, which means he won't be fleeing any more. But he's gained something much more valuable: his soul!

In our own lives, do we behave similarly to Jacob? Do we deceive and flee, and then repeat. When God tries to speak to us, perhaps by (figuratively) injuring our hip, do we recognize that message and transform our lives?

Try a simple, humble prayer like Jacob's. And then listen for God response!

What God Wants and Doesn't Want: Isaiah 66

Isaiah is one of the most dense and thought-provoking books in the entire Bible. In this post, I discuss the very last chapter of Isaiah. I encourage you to read it in full.

But I particularly enjoy the first few verses of Isaiah 66, because it summarizes, in concise fashion, exactly what God wants and doesn't want from us.

First, what God wants, from verse 2 (ESV),

This is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word.

And then, what God doesn't want, from verse 4 (ESV),

When I called, no one answered,
when I spoke, they did not listen; 
but they did what was evil in my eyes
and chose that in which I did not delight.

Simply put, God desires a "humble and contrite" heart. And when he speaks to us, we must listen and adjust our lives accordingly. How does he speak to us? One way is through the scriptures. That is, those verses are written to us! God is telling us, in verse 4, to live in his spirit, not in pursuit of earthly pleasures and treasures.

So as your prayer (without ceasing!) today, keep these powerful verses in mind.

What Does "Pray without Ceasing" Mean?

St. Paul commands us to "pray without ceasing," which, of course, inspired the name of this blog. But what exactly does that mean?

To me, "praying without ceasing" does not mean that we remain on our knees all day, droning on and on. After all, Jesus warns us against doing that, especially in public places, in Matthew 6:7-8 (ESV),

When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the pagans, for they think that because of their many words they will be heard. Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Rather, I believe that "praying without ceasing" means that we should constantly be "God-centered" in our thinking. As we go about our day, every single good thing that we see, we should recognize that as a blessing from God.

For example, I awoke this morning feeling healthy, and I had the opportunity to enjoy a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee. Simple pleasures, indeed, but as a sinner, I don't deserve them. Instead, God should have struck me down long ago for my sins, and he would have been justified in doing so. Yet, God not only keeps me alive, but he provides me with the necessary resources that I can enjoy a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee. Why does he do this? Because he is loving and forgiving.

But recognizing blessings in the easy part. "Praying without ceasing" also implies that we should remain God-centered when things aren't going so well. But as Paul notes in Romans 5:3-5 (ESV),

We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

If we endure and "pray without ceasing" during those trying times, our faith will strengthen!

So in summary, I view "praying without ceasing" to be a "Godly" state of mind. That said, we also should pray frequently throughout the day, the sorts of prayers in which we kneel down and talk to God. But I'll save that discussion for a later post!

God's Forgiving Nature

Chapter 26 of Leviticus, despite some terrifying language, delivers a comforting lesson about God's love and forgiveness. I encourage you to read the entire chapter, but a few highlights from the ESV translation:

If you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments ... I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache ...

And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins ...

Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins ...

And if by this discipline you are not turned to me but walk contrary to me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I myself will strike you sevenfold for your sins ...

But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, but walk contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins ...

But if they confess their iniquity ... then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham ...

Two messages here. First, God's discipline, unpleasant as it might be, serves a purpose. And that purpose is to bring us to him. Second, God tries again and again and again and again to bring us to him. It's never too late to confess and turn to God. But don't wait! Enjoy that grace now! Start with a simple prayer of humility and confession.

The Gift of the Psalms

As prayers, it's hard to beat the power and beauty of the 150 prayers contained in the Book of Psalms. If you fear that your prayers have grown a bit repetitive or stale, try reciting one of the psalms. I believe they are a gift to us to assist in our prayers.

I enjoy "audio" Bibles, and I especially enjoy the Book of Psalms in audio format. My favorite audio bible is the dramatized ESV version available for free at Faith Comes by Hearing. Do yourself a favor, and download the 150 psalms, and put them on your phone or MP3 player, or burn them to a few CDs. Then sit quietly and listen to one or two psalms at a time, meditating on the message. You'll enjoy your prayer experience!

Psalm 23, labeled as a "Psalm of David," is arguably the most famous, (ESV),

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. 
He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

When I encounter a Biblical passage that is difficult to comprehend, I like to turn to the work of 18th century English theologian John Gill. His Exposition of the Bible, freely available online here, gives a detailed interpretation of every verse in the Bible.

As an example, consider 1 John 5:16-17 (ESV), 

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

Why does this mean? Doesn't God forgive all sin? Paraphrasing John Gill's explanation, "death" doesn't mean death of the body, but rather death of the soul. And the soul dies when we harden our hearts to God and persist in our sinning. Jesus says something similar in Mark 3: 28-29 (ESV),

Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin...

So the theme is similar to Daniel's prayer: When we pray, we must submit to God with a humble heart, a heart that acknowledges our shortcomings. And we should do this without ceasing!

Daniel's Prayer

At a later time, I will write a more complete post on the fascinating book of Daniel. But in this post, I'd like to focus on Daniel's prayer of remorse. Recognizing that Babylonian exile is Israel's punishment for abandoning God, Daniel, praying on behalf of Israel, confesses to God and asks for forgiveness.

The following parts of the prayer come from Daniel 9 (ESV),

O Lord ... we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. ... all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away ... For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.

Note the wording in the middle few sentences copied above. Although sin certainly angers God, what really angers God is coldness of heart that leads us not even to acknowledge our sins. This same theme appears throughout the Bible, including in the book of Revelation.

So what's the lesson? We all sin, but we shouldn't compound our problems by ignoring our sins, or by trying to justify our sins according to earthly terms. That sort of attitude leads to coldness of heart. Rather, we should maintain an open heart through contrite, and never-ceasing, prayer.

Moses' Speach to Joshua

Moses is such a fascinating character. In reading about his life, I often return to the point in Deuteronomy when he offers encouragement to his successor, Joshua.

After their long journey in the desert, the Israelites were on the verge of entering into the Promised Land, and they knew they were in for a vicious fight with the land's current inhabitants. Due to an earlier transgression, God had already informed Moses that he would not enter into the Promised Land. So Moses turns to Joshua and issues this advice, Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (ESV),

Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Implicit in this advice is that the journey will be difficult. But so long as Joshua doesn't turn from God, he will be taken care of.

In our day-to-day lives, we rarely, if ever, confront challenges of the magnitude faced by Joshua. Nonetheless, the same advice applies: God is with us, so we need not fear.

The "Hope" in Faith, Hope, and Love

In 1 Corinthians, Paul speaks of the three things that remain: faith, hope, and love. These three things should be on our mind when we pray.

Faith and love are easy to comprehend. They are the foundations of Christian faith. But what about hope? What should we be hoping for?

I have written on my fascination with the book of Revelation. In addition to the thoughts put forth in that post, the book of Revelation contains two of my favorite Biblical passages, both of which relate to "hope." First, John writes to one of the churches, Revelation 2:10 (ESV),

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

And second, in the part of the book that prophesizes the coming of God's kingdom, John writes, Revelation 21:3-4 (ESV),

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Although it is difficult for us to grasp the infinite joy of God's kingdom, these two passages attest to its greatness. I believe this gives us "hope" in our prayers.

The Book of Revelation

Revelation tends to confuse readers, to the point that many avoid it altogether. But I find Revelation to be one of the most fascinating books in the entire Bible.

Parts of the book are very difficult to interpret. For example, regarding the "Great Tribulation," generally thought to begin in Chapter 9 with one of the angel's trumpet blows, different theologies disagree on whether believers will experience none, some, or all of the tribulation.

I will not wade into these issues of interpretation. Rather, I wish to make two points.

First, we should take Revelation seriously, because Jesus himself endorses its prophesies. To see this, note that Revelation shares much in common with the Old Testament book of Daniel (chapters 7-10). Jesus attests to the inevitability of Daniel's prophesies, and in doing so, Jesus uses imagery that eventually appears in Revelation. Matthew 24: 15-31 (ESV):

So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel ... there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. ... Immediately after the tribulation of those days ... they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Second, regardless of whether one reads Revelation literally or symbolically, the book issues an important message about our attitude toward God. Throughout the various calamities described in Revelation, many people, due to their hardened hearts, refuse to admit to their sins and repent. During these calamities, God is doing everything he can, short of subverting our free will, to turn hearts toward him.

This second point holds important implications for how we pray. It's our responsibility to open our hearts to God. So regardless of what we actually say when we pray, the most important thing is to open our hearts to him. And do this without ceasing!

The Lord's Prayer: A Perfect Model

Whether new to pray or not, we often struggle to articulate our prayers to God. At those times, there is no better model of prayer than the one suggested by Jesus. People often recite the Lord's Prayer similar to how it is presented in the gospels. Another method is to use the Lord's Prayer as a template for prayer topics.

The Lord's Prayer consists of (roughly) five topics. As a prayer challenge, pick five times throughout the day (say, 8:00, 11:00, 2:00, 5:00, and 8:00), and at each of those times, spend a few quiet minutes focusing on one of the topics. You'll feel closer to God at the end of the day!

Topic 1: Our Father, who art in heaven, hollowed be your name.

Quite simply, we are humbling ourselves and praising God. He is the alpha and the omega. He breathed life into us and made us part of His plan. He is worthy of our praise.

Topic 2: May Your kingdom come, may Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

God has a plan that cannot be thwarted. Here we pray that things happen according to God's will, not ours. And we offer ourselves as instruments, in whatever capacity He needs us, to bring that plan to its completion.

Topic 3: Give us this day our daily bread.

Our mission in life is not to be successful, as nice as that is. Rather, our mission is to exalt God and do His will. In order to do that, we need sufficient food, shelter, and health. God knows this, so here we ask for neither riches nor poverty, but rather sufficient sustenance to complete our mission. If you are rich, pray for strength that you do not become emotionally attached to your prosperous life.

Topic 4: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

We all stumble and break God's law. We ask for forgiveness in proportion to the mercy we show to others.

Topic 5: Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil.

We ask to be lead away from temptation and trouble, whether caused by our own fault, or not.

Free Digital Bibles

An active prayer life involves continuous reading of the Bible. Pick one book in the Bible, and read it over the course of one or two weeks.

It's much easier to dedicate time to Bible reading if you always have a Bible with you. Thanks to the wide proliferation of smartphones, that is now possible. This post summarizes a few options, with emphasis on "free."

Online Bibles

If you are sitting at a computer, my two favorite sites are BibleGateway and BibleHub. Both sites have clean interfaces and allow comparison of verses across different translations.

Smartphone Apps

Lifechurch.tv offers the YouVersion Bible App, which provides access to many Bible translations, including some audio options. The App requires an internet connection, although some translations can be downloaded and used offline. BibleGateway offers a similar app.

Audio Bibles

Audio Bibles are an extremely useful method for "reading" the Bible. Listen on a phone or MP3 player while you walk, or burn to a CD for your car. The website Librivox.org offers free audiobooks for many public domain books, including Bibles. But my favorites audio Bibles come from Faith Comes by Hearing, which offers dramatized versions, complete with sounds effects! (Note: Faith Comes by Hearing has a smartphone app. Also, some files are available as free podcasts on the iTunes store.) Do yourself a favor and download an audio Bible. You won't regret it!

Ebooks

Public domain translations, such as the King James Version, can be found with a simple Google search. But for two easy-to-read free Bibles, check out the New English Translation and the English Standard Version, both of which are available for free on the Kindle store.

Pray Like Job

The book of Job enjoys exalted status as one of the great pieces of literature ever written. But it also tends to frustrate readers, because it doesn't appear to answer the very questions it poses.

But I think the book of Job leads to one of the most powerful conclusions in the entire Bible, and that conclusion has important implications for how we should pray.

Most people are familiar with the book's setup. Goaded by Satan, God afflicts Job, a wealthy and righteous man, with various financial, family, and health calamities. The purpose is to test whether, faced with such adversity, Job will blaspheme God.

That's just the setup. The majority of the book follows the philosophical thoughts of Job's friends, who insist that his suffering offers proof that he must have committed some sin. Job never blasphemes God, but he does strongly question God's motivation for allowing such suffering.

And then enters God. As readers, we're excited finally to learn the answer to the book's central question: Why is Job suffering? Instead, God issues Job a several-chapters-long tongue lashing, which begins with, Job 39: 2-4 (NIV)

Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? ... Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.

I see the book's major moment to be not God's tongue lashing, but rather Job's response, Job 42: 2-6 (NIV):

I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted... Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know... My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.

Now that's a prayer! Basically, Job humbles himself before God and repents of his questioning God's will. God must have been pleased with this response, because He then removes Job's suffering and doubles his original state.

I believe the book's main point is that we cannot comprehend the magnitude of existence and the power of God's will. Instead, when we pray, we should humble ourselves before Him and submit to His will.

The Language of Prayer

Many of us pray standard prayers, such as the “Our Father.” Or often at the end of the day, we pray something like, “Heavenly Father, thank you for such-and-such, help me with such-and-such, give me such-and-such… .”

But rather than a mechanical listing of things, prayer serves as a way to align ourselves with God's will by having a conversation with Him. Unfortunately, to me, having that conversation introduces another problem: What do I say? My prayers don’t sound like those elegant, powerful prayers I hear from learned theologians. Rather, I sound like some guy mumbling random thoughts, often with bad grammar!

Evidently, I am not alone! As Paul writes in Romans 8:26-27 (NIV):

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.

As Jesus says in Matthew 6:8 (NIV):

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Why worry about elegant phrasing and proper grammar? After all, what is perceived as “elegant” and “proper” is entirely earth-based and subject to change. But the “groans” of the Spirit, as Paul puts it, remain constant. Those spiritual concerns are deeply embedded inside us, because, as stated in Genesis 1:27, we are created in the image and likeness of God, probably not in a physical sense, but rather in a spiritual sense.

So I believe that the purpose of prayer is to align our spiritual selves with God. Whatever His will might be, we must align ourselves with that will, and we do so by conversing with Him through prayer. Don’t lose sleep over the actual wording of that conversation. Just have that conversation!