What is your need?

“He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;

He sendeth more grace when the labours increase;

To added afflictions he addeth his mercy,

To multiplied trials, his multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done;
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, his grace has no measure,

His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of his infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth and giveth again.”

This poem by Annie Johnson Flint reminds me that He is capable to provide in the hour of need.

I have a friend who has begun to experience the slow death of a parent.  As a friend this is hard for me to watch. Seeing my burden she recently said to me, “It will be okay. It will be the new normal.” In her tone it was as if she was saying to me: grace will come in my time of need. Her kind of confidence inspires me. Is it true that God can and will provide for you? Can he show up for you be it through the strength to survive exam season or the strength to endure the kind of emotional turmoil associated with the loss of a loved one?

In your hour of need Satan says, “See this! There is no hope! Things will not get better, only worse!”

This is not the way that the God of hope speaks to his kids. It has never been this way.

Deuteronomy 8 tells the story of the Israelites in the desert, called daily to place their hope in his grace for manna. They had to depend on the grace that was declared for them daily! Eventually the text says that they knew that they were called to depend on the Word of the Lord in their need (v.3).

What is your need today? Look at it, be strong and bring it to Him. The Israelites had to come to know that they would not exhaust his grace. They had to come to a place where they knew that it would come; that it was there to be appropriated.

In our desert places, we are able to distract ourselves from feeling what is going on. Take that feeling captive to his throne and then receive from his multiplied mercies. It is strange to me that after years of experiencing His mercies, the mercies are still not yet a guarantee in my mind, but that they must be appropriated by faith.  It is interesting that my friend has begun to see a pattern and inadvertently passed on her testimony – when there is human need there will be God’s provision. Students in particular, I pray that in your time here at Redeemer you would begin to see a pattern and that your lives would (almost inadvertently) pass it on to another generation.

 

Christmas Spirit

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.  “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Matthew 2:1-6

This is a powerful story, with profound implications. Imagine what the coming season would be if our contemporary neo-Herodians  were actually successful in removing the Christ out of Christmas. What indeed? 

As one who has known Christmas both with and without Christ, trust me when I  tell you it would make all of the difference in the world. 

Remove The Christ and I contend that we remove the elements of the season that are most meaningful, including:

·         Anticipation

·         Foreshadowing

·         Drama

·         Compassion

·         Ritual

·         Transcendence

·         Meaning

·         Beauty

·         Redemption

Without His story, life, example and Spirit, we have just another empty winter festival… a corpse without a soul.  Indeed, one need not probe deeply to determine that it is because of His Spirit that we connect this season with generosity, compassion, altruism, caring, family and peace. It is because of His incorporation into the narrative of the season that we celebrate the very things that are most meaningful and compelling.

A friend of mine once commented that it seems that at Christmas the world actually reflects on “the way things ought to be”. People should not be lonely at Christmas. There should not be fighting/poverty/hunger/hatred at Christmas. There should be goodwill at Christmas. People should care at Christmas. Families should love each other at Christmas… etc. There is a juxtaposition between the is and the ought.

Where does this seasonal imperative, the sense of “oughtness”,  come from?  Where, indeed?

Be assured it did not come from the Roman feast of Saturn that once occurred on the same date. It did not come from the pagan rituals of northern Europe. And it does not arise from the culture of the office party, or of Christmas radio programming. It is ground into the biblical narrative of the generous, gracious God who has given this undeserving world the ultimate GIFT, at an unimaginable cost to Himself.

This Gift, and the generosity of The Father who gives it, changes everything.

Redeemer’s Cornerstone

Unless the Lord builds the house,

its builders labour in vain.

                     Psalm 127:1

 

Human beings are builders. From the early pages of scripture we learn about building. Cain built a city named Enoch. (Gen. 4:17). Houses, an ark, a tower, storehouses, wells, altars, walls, cities, and temples are the literal buildings mentioned in scripture. But there are figurative buildings as well: families and nations to name two.

 

Today we talk about building other things: a resume; a profile, or a community. It is a metaphor that speaks to creating something that is organic. These buildings become representative of who we are and are often used as identity markers.

 

Where does this desire to build come from? As image bearers of God we can trace our yearning for building to the Master Builder. He laid the earth’s foundations (Job 38:4). Not only is he the builder, but also architect of his city (Heb 11:10). Quite simply, God is the builder of everything (Heb 3:4).

 

This verse from Psalm 127 tells us that in order to build anything of value it requires both God and humans building together. That is how the tabernacle was constructed. God was the designer and architect: the blueprints are laid out in detail in the pages of Exodus. And when completed it was filled with God’s glory (Ex. 40:34-35).

 

Building is a metaphor used in Scripture to describe how we are to build. But how do we discover the blueprints? First, we start with the foundation, which Paul reminds us is Jesus Christ himself (1 Cor. 3:11). Jesus is the cornerstone of a foundation that is secure. As promised in Isaiah, those who trust in this precious cornerstone will never be dismayed, they have no need to panic (Isa 28:16).

 

The wise human builder is the one who both hears and puts into practice Jesus’ teachings (Matt. 7:24). As listening and obedient followers of Jesus we build with gold, silver and precious stones that will reveal the quality of a building in the Day of Jesus Christ and for which a reward is promised.

 

Psalm 127:1 is etched into the ceremonial cornerstone of Redeemer’s academic building. It serves as a reminder to us all that God’s glory is revealed when we build on Jesus the Cornerstone and we labour by hearing and obeying what He taught us.

 

 

“So, what are you going to do with your major?”

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place….And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this” (4:14)

 “So, what are you going to do with your major?” was one of the most popular questions I received at family gatherings while in my undergrad. This question can be tricky in a world with very few straight lines and many guaranteed surprises.

In dependence on Him we plan and act by taking steps in accordance with what we perceive to be his will, but when one comes to a point of decision how can one definitively know their “calling”?

The story of Esther is a fascinating example of a calling that seems to be stumbled upon. The Persian King Xerxes finds himself in need of a queen due to the surprising noncompliance of his former wife. Esther is discovered to be “lovely” and is chosen to be Queen (2:7). In the meantime, one of the men in King Xerxes court has it in his mind to exterminate all of the Jews and convinces the king to make this happen through an edict (Xerxes does not know that his Queen is a Jew).

Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, sends Esther a message, “if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place….And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this” (4:14)

In undergrad you are in a position where you get to choose your major, and, in some ways, your line of work, but the path is not entirely clear. “And who knows” where you will invest the working days of your life? In truth, nothing is certain and no one knows where God is taking them in his service.

What is comforting to me about this text is that there is both an invitation to humility and an empowering vision of stewardship. An invitation to sober-minded humility is given by Mordecai “relief for the Jews will arise from another place” – God doesn’t need Esther to change the world, he is capable of doing it (4:14). A vision of empowerment is also conveyed, “for such a time as this” many privileges have been given. Mordecai will not let Esther forget this.

Since Esther’s time, God’s kingdom has not stopped moving forward. He still determines the times and the places that each one of us shall live (Acts 17:26) and He still grants us the resources and relationships to steward (1 Peter 4:10, Gen 2:14; Matthew 25:20-21). Given that you are at a unique point in God’s story, where might he be pleased to use you?  When it comes to communicating the trustworthiness of our God perhaps your posture of dependence could communicate more than your plan ever could?

31 Ways to Pray

Day 31: Prayer of Praise

“And they were shouting with a great roar, ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!...Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.’” Revelation 7:10, 12

 

The book of Revelation is riddled with descriptions of heavenly creatures and crowds who constantly sing praises to God. Every time that we offer up a prayer or a song of praise or engage in worship, we are joining in the worship of the heavenly host before God. Turn on some worship music and spend some time exalting God’s Name and praising Him for who He is and what He has done. Then conclude this prayer month with a prayer of praise, thanking Him for how He has revealed Himself to you throughout this month.

 

Day 30: Prayer in Jude

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24-25

 

One day life on this earth will be over and we will stand before God as the Judge in the heavenly courtroom. Satan will be there as the prosecuting attorney and Jesus will stand as our defense. He alone will be able to “present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy”. The world is full of pain, brokenness, wars, violence and rampant evil. Creation groans as it awaits the second coming of Christ to usher in the new creation. Pray that Jesus would soon return and bring us to live in the glory of the new heaven and new earth, where our faith will be sight. While we wait, pray also for the testimony of God’s people to continue to disciple new followers of Christ.

 

Day 29: Prayer of Jonah

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry...When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.” Jonah 2:2-3, 7

 

It is never too late for God to intervene. Never. If Jonah can be delivered from the inside of a whale, God can certainly deliver you from what threatens to undo you. Jonah was inside of a whale for three days, which would have given him plenty of time to sit and think about what he had done. And in this time we read that he waited and longed for God’s forgiveness and deliverance. Jonah needed to sit in silence for three days inside of a fish to realize his mistakes and what God wanted him to do. What are the longings of God’s heart for you? Spend some time in silence during your prayer time today, simply listening to what God would say to you as you wait on Him. This doesn’t have to be for long - try 5 minutes and see what truths God reveals to you.

 

Day 28: Prayer of the Centurion

“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Shall I come and heal him?’ The centurion replied, ‘Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, “Go,” and he goes; and that one, “Come,” and he comes. I say to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.’” Matthew 8:5-6

 

In verse 10 we read Jesus’ comments on this man’s faith: “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith”. This man had confidence in both the goodness of Jesus and the power of Jesus. He was not Jewish and would have followed another religion. However, he believed in the healing power of Jesus. Have you been surprised when you have seen faith like this in others? You can have faith like this too – pray for it.

 

Day 27: Prayer of Daniel

“Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame – the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.” Daniel 9:7-11a

 

As believers in the efficacy of Christ’s death in making us the righteousness of God do we sometimes forget about the sin that still rears its ugly head in our lives. Do we take our position in Christ for granted, not recognizing the state of our hearts? Covered with shame. We don’t like to think of ourselves like that. But notice that Daniel, praying for all Israel, repeats it. True prayers of confession admit the extent of our faithlessness before a righteous God. Can we be honest enough with ourselves to pray like that when we acknowledge our sin for what it is? When we do we can trust in the abundant love of our God who is faithful and just to forgive and purify us.

 

Day 26: Lord’s Prayer

“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity comments on the peculiarity of our ability to pray “Our Father.” He explains that these words mean that you are putting yourself in the place of a child of God. To put it bluntly, when you pray this you are dressing up as Christ. If you like, you are pretending. Because, of course, the moment you realize what the words mean, you realize that you are not a child of God.

 

You are not being like the Son of God, whose will and interests are at one with those of the Father: you are a bundle of self-centred fears, hopes, greeds, jealousies and self-conceit, all doomed to death. So that, in a way, this dressing up as Christ is a piece of outrageous cheek. But the odd thing, Lewis comments, is that God has ordered us to do it.

 

What does having God as your Father mean for you, despite your unworthiness? Write a letter to God telling Him, what your fears are, what your joys are, what is going on in your life. Your Father would love to hear your heart.

 

Day 25: Prayer of the Disciples

“’Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:29-31

 

The disciples were in a place of persecution. They were living a public life for Jesus and were at the point that they realized how vital their boldness for Christ was. How’s your boldness? Do you live a life unashamed of Jesus or do you not speak of him out of fear? Do you allow Him to interrupt your assumptions and routines and to use your as a testimony of who He is and the power He possesses? Today, let us not only pray for more boldness, but to actually practice it. Ask God for opportunities to share your faith, to share the hope that you have, to interrupt your daily routines and conversations and season them with conversation of Jesus. This is the kind of prayer he delights to answer.

 

Day 24: Prayer of Faith

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” James 5:16b-18

 

How often do we see this kind of faith? Do you know anyone with this kind of faith? Jesus said, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 18:18). In the same thread James wrote, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” What does this sentence mean to you? What things in your life could use an extra dose of faith? Try this: Go outside and grab a rock or a pebble. Put it somewhere that you will see it every day. Let this stand as a reminder to put your faith in action, by asking God for those things that need just a bit more faith. Trust in God’s provision.

 

Day 23: Prayer for Knowing God’s Will

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have no stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:9-12

 

Discerning the will of God can be a daunting task. It almost seems sometimes that when we go to ask God for what His will is, other voices—our own, our parents, our friends, our culture and even the evil one—can begin to talk. Sensing the leading of His Spirit isn’t always clear. His will for our lives runs deep in the routines of class, work, conversations etc. Seek God’s will today in prayer: “Lord what does it look like for me to live a life that is ‘worthy’? What does it look like to please you ‘in every way,’ this day?” He cares about even the seemingly trivial things. His will is not limited to the future. Listening is the key to this prayer.

 

Day 22: Prayer of the Holy Spirit

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 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.” Romans 8:26-27

 

When we cry, the Holy Spirit takes our tears and transforms them into a prayer, a prayer for deliverance, for help, for forgiveness, for joy. There are some wounds that go too deep to find words and some joys that are too great to be expressed with vocabulary. What aspects of life, or this world, make your heart cry out for God’s healing? What situations or people do you carry as a burden in your heart that seems too heavy for words? Ask God to intercede in these situations and ask the Holy Spirit to carry these burdens to the Father in a way that only He can do.

 

Day 21: Prayer of Stephen

“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:59-60

 

What people in your life do you need to forgive? It’s incredibly difficult to truly forgive those who have hurt you, who have misused your trust and who have made you question yourself and the call that God has placed on your life. Is there someone who comes to your mind? Write out a letter that expresses how this person hurt you as well as how, with the strength of the Holy Spirit, you forgive them,. Then either destroy the letter to show that you’re not holding on anymore, or maybe, if it is wise, give it to them as a sign of forgiveness. Cover this letter in prayer, remembering how much Jesus has forgiven you.

 

Day 20: Prayer of Mary

“His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful.” Luke 1:50-54

 

Mary was the most unlikely woman to be the mother of the Messiah. She was not rich, nor powerful, nor in a high social standing. God called this lowly woman to the incredible task of bringing the Saviour into the world. It doesn’t matter how incredible or impossible the task might seem, God equips the called. Life is filled with excitement, anxiety, surprise and confusion and on top of this the future isn’t always laid out as clearly as we would like it to be. Sometimes we feel called towards something that seems far too out of reach. Sometimes we are working on something that feels tedious and inconsequential and we want more than what we’ve been called to do. Talk to God about your current situation and your plans for the future. Recording it in a prayer journal might be helpful to refer to later and see how God has worked.

 

Day 19: Prayer of Jesus

“My prayer is not for them [His disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you have me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:20-23

 

When he was about to die, Jesus prayed for us. He prayed that we would be united as the body of believers. Redeemer is a unique blend of denominations, all seeking the same God, saved by the same Christ, filled with the same Holy Spirit. Focus your prayers today on our unity and then on our unity with the global church, asking God that we would remain unified in our mission to be Christ-like children in this dark world. Perhaps you can pray together with a friend, especially one of another denomination, showing the unity that we have as believers in Christ. As this verse says, the reason we remain unified is so that Jesus is glorified and all would know that He is the Son of God.

 

Day 18: Prayer of Jehoshaphat

“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name...” 2 Chronicles 20:6-8

 

Before going into battle, Jehoshaphat remembered the history of God’s help in giving the land of Israel to His people. Reflect on our beautiful country of Canada and recall how God has blessed us in a free land where we are able to proclaim His Name freely. Spend some time praying for our country, for our leaders, for God’s protection and for His Name to remain honoured.

 

Day 17: Prayer of Ezra

“But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.” Ezra 9:8-9

 

In the midst of feeling the guilt of their sins, Ezra sees a glimmer of hope. God has not turned His back on them in their sin, but looks upon them in grace and mercy. Although we often want to avoid naming our sins and thinking about how far off the path we’ve been, there is healing in confessing our sins before God. Knowing that you are forgiven and viewed under the covering of Jesus’ cleansing blood, offer up a prayer of confession. Then bask in His grace and love.

 

Day 16: Prayer of Habakkuk

“How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.”

“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 1:2-4, 3:2

 

Habakkuk’s prayer is a call for God to do something about evil. God sees everything that happens and sometimes seems slow in responding to the evil and wickedness that surrounds us, but He never abandons victims of injustice and cruelty. Pray for those around the world who are affected by the evil that runs rampant across the globe. Keep in mind persecuted Christians worldwide and especially the current situation in Iraq, Syria and the Ukraine.

 

Day 15: Prayer of Amos

Then I said, ‘O Sovereign Lord, please stop or we will not survive, for Israel is so small.’” Amos 7:5

 

Humans are fragile. Our governments and systems are fragile. God is incredibly powerful and nothing is too great for Him to do. God’s majesty and strength is unmatched and His abilities and knowledge have no end. In view of how great and awesome and sovereign our God is, Amos was calling for grace so that God would not destroy the Israelites because of their sinfulness. What do you think of when you reflect on the holiness and magnitude of our God? Offer up these thoughts as a prayer to Almighty God.

 

Day 14: Prayer of Hezekiah

“In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, ‘This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.’ Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ‘Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly.” Isaiah 38:1-3

 

I’m sure we all know people who are suffering physically for various reasons. Prayer is a powerful thing, for we serve a healing God, One who feels our pain along with us. Intercede for those you know who are sick or have physical ailments, believing that God can heal today just as He did when He walked this earth.

 

Day 13: Prayer of Paul

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together withal the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-20

 

Paul is essentially praying that we would understand the love of God, but he also says that it is too great for us to understand, that it surpasses knowledge. How do we understand something that cannot be understood? The love of God is at the centre of the Gospel and the centre of all history. The more deeply we enter into the richness of the Gospel, the more deeply we realize we can still yet enter into it. Think about this: it is the greatest thing that we could ever spend time focusing on. Although we may not be able to understand it fully, we can experience it, read about, talk about it, see it in action. Write a love letter back to God, expressing how thankful you are for His love, how much you love Him and how you wish to see His love working in areas of your life.

 

Day 12: Prayer of Job

“You formed me with your hands; you made me, yet now you completely destroy me. Remember that you made me from dust – will you turn me back to dust so soon? You guided my conception and formed me in the womb. You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together. You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.” Job 10:8-12

 

You are on this earth for a reason. You have been given the life that you are living to fulfill God’s

plans for you. You live to see another day, so God is not finished with you yet. Life is a gift. Health is a blessing. Breath is not a guarantee. Commit yourself, your actions and your thoughts, to God in your prayers today. Guided by today’s verse, reflect on what it means to give Him your life, to surrender to Him.

 

Day 11: Prayer of Nehemiah

“You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea. You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for your knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters. By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take...In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly.” Nehemiah 9: 9-12, 33

 

Returning to the land of Israel after the exile, Nehemiah remembered the history of what God had done for Israel in the past, recognizing His incredible power, faithfulness and honoured Name. Reflect on your own history and the history of your family. How has God been present in the past? What does that mean for you and the situations you find yourself in today? Maybe even write down the history of how God has worked in your life, as those in the Bible did. Recalling what God has done in the past as an incredible way of encouraging us for the future.

 

Day 10: Prayer of Asa

“Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, ‘Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.’” 2 Chronicles 14:11

 

Asa was facing the impossible. His small army was no match for the hordes of the enemy. There was no hope in human ability. However, in the face of his enemies, Asa asked God to work through the impossible. He essentially was asking in faith for a miracle of victory. He knew that God’s power and might is beyond any earthly foe. What impossible war are you fighting? How do you trust in God’s sovereignty and deliverance in the midst of it? Let your prayers be saturated in faith (even if it’s faith as small as a mustard seed,) and believe in God’s miracles of victory.

 

Day 9: Prayer of Jabez

“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” 1 Chronicles 4:10

 

The name “Jabez” means, “he causes pain”, or “sorrow”. Every time someone called his name, they would essentially be declaring that he caused pain and sorrow. What negativity has been spoken over you? What lies about you do you believe? Bring these to God and ask Him to speak truth into your life, declaring who you truly are, what your identity is in Him.

 

Day 8: Prayer of Elisha

“And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, ‘Strike this army with blindness.’ So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.” 2 Kings 6:17-18

 

Ask God to open your eyes. Open your eyes to the work that He is doing in your life, your family, your studies, your church, your city. Open your eyes to the broken hearted, the depressed, the less fortunate, those who need a helping hand, and those who need to see Jesus. Open your eyes to what needs to be changed in your life. Open your eyes to the army of God that surrounds us and protects us from enemy forces. Ask God to open your eyes to these things and keep them open as you go about your day.

 

Day 7: Prayer of Elijah

“At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: ‘Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.’ Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.” 1 Kings 18:36-38

 

In this short, simple prayer, before the crowds and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Elijah prayed that God would reveal Himself as the only God of Israel. In what area would you like it to be evident that God is King and Lord? Ask God to reveal Himself in that situation, whether it is a global issue, family circumstance, health problem, etc. He is the only true God.

 

Day 6: Prayer of Solomon

“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:7-9

 

We all feel incapable and weak at times, even the wisest man who ever lived. Reflect on what seems impossible in your life and spend time seeking God’s guidance, wisdom and strength.

 

Day 5: Prayer of Hannah

In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1 Samuel 1:10-11

 

God cares deeply about the things that lay heavily on our hearts. He sees each tear we cry and each burden that weighs us down. Bringing the desires of our hearts to Christ and knowing He hears and cares is a deep blessing. Reflect on what causes your heart to weep bitterly and how, when you do receive what your heart desires, you can dedicate it back to God.

 

Day 4: Prayer of Samson

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes” Judges 16:28

 

Samson had disobeyed the laws of being a Nazirite. He had given away the secret of his God-given strength and had suffered the consequences for it. Now, given the chance to destroy the Philistines, Samson asks God to remember him; to remember the strength that had been given to him before. Is there some gift from God that you used incorrectly (or maybe didn’t use at all)? Let today’s prayer be focused on the gifts that God has given you (both talents and spiritual gifts,) and ask how those can be used for His glory.

 

Day 3: Prayer of Abraham’s Servant

“Then he prayed, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’ – let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.’” Genesis 24:12-14

 

We all have many requests of God: healthy relationships, good grades, a positive housing situation, a successful career, etc. Throughout Scripture we see multiple examples of people being open and honest in bringing their requests to God. What requests are burning in your heart that you can bring to God?

 

Day 2: Prayer of Jeremiah

“Although our sins testify against us, do something, Lord, for the sake of your name. For we have often rebelled; we have sinned against you. You who are the hope of Israel, its Saviour in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays only a night?” Jeremiah 14:7-8

In this prayer, the appeal is to His Name. It’s the anchor to this prayer. Indeed, the theology of Name and what it represents is a powerful part of Christian prayer. The context for this prayer is that due to its sins, Israel has no right praying to God or expecting Him to answer prayer. The plea, then, is to His Name – for the sake of His revealed nature, His reputation, for what it is He has invested in His name. May your prayers today be for the sake of His name.

 

Day 1: Prayer of David

“Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” 1 Chronicles 29:10b-13

 

This prayer of adoration proclaims who God is and recognizes that all things come from Him. In your prayers today, focus on giving God the glory for all He has given you and praise Him for who He is, being specific in how you have seen Him work in your life.

Teach Us to Pray

“This then is how you should pray:
  Our Father in heaven,
  hallowed be your name,
  your kingdom come,
  your will be done,
   on earth as it is in heaven.”     Matt. 6:9-10


I grew up on a side street off a main busy road that ran through our neighbourhood. When I was a young girl, old enough to cross that road on my own, I would leave the house around 4:30 in the afternoon, cross the road and meet my dad. He carpooled to work every day and that was where the driver would drop him off. It was a great part of my day as we walked the short distance home, carrying his lunch pail in my one hand while he held my other. I looked forward to being with him.


This memory from years ago came to mind while thinking about the struggle I have looking forward to meeting my heavenly Father in prayer. It isn’t that I don’t want to pray. But it seems like I’m often going to God with a long list of things to pray for.


There are members of my family and others I want to know him so I ask for his Spirit to draw them to himself. There are those who are not well physically or facing their last days on earth so I ask him to comfort them. There are others who are struggling with various things in life and I ask him to give them strength and guidance. I pray for leaders to have wisdom in decision making and for protection for those facing persecution for their faith. I ask him to bless my day. By the end of the list time is up and I need to get on with other things.


I don’t think there is anything wrong with these prayers. But I sometimes feel like I’m treating God like a big dispensing machine: putting my requests in and expecting blessings to come out. My relationship with him has not changed at all and I feel dissatisfied.


In Darrell Johnson’s short but powerful book, Fifty-Seven Words that Change the World, he reminds me that when Jesus taught his disciples to pray, the first half was completely focused on the Father: “make your name holy”, “make your Kingdom come”; “make your will done.”


It is good to pray for others. But what Jesus was teaching about prayer is that my heavenly Father is the other who should be the priority. I realize I have not really focused my thoughts on God, listened to his heart or paid attention to his concerns. I haven’t gone to meet and be with my heavenly Father at all like I did with my dad when I was a child.


Johnson points out that when the focus is on the Father—his glory, his kingdom, his will—it covers everything on my list. His life opens up to me more deeply and richly. And answers come before I even ask.


Want a fulfilling and meaningful prayer life? As Jesus taught, focus on your heavenly Father and you will enter into the life of the Father, Son and Spirit in ways beyond your imagining.

Your Kingdom Come

Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done here on earth as it is in heaven   Matthew 6:10

The student leaders of Church In The Box chose The Kingdom of God as their theme of the year. In thinking about the theme as I prepared an initial talk on the subject, it struck me again that many people have little idea of what it actually is.

The late theologian George Eldon Ladd wrote with insight and clarity about the Kingdom of God. His writing on the subject was certainly a benchmark for my generation. I found that his writing continues to be of personal and pastoral benefit as I grapple with the tensions inherent within the biblical texts. In piecing together the dozens of scriptures which refer to the Kingdom and putting them into a coherent whole, he wrote:


“The Mystery of the Kingdom is this: that the Kingdom which will one day change the entire external order has entered into This Age in advance to bring the blessings of God’s Kingdom to men and women without yet transforming the old order. The old age is going on, yet people may already enjoy the powers of The Age To Come “


We can taste now in part what we shall experience in full. The Kingdom of God is now, whether we can perceive it or not, and it will yet be fully consummated in the future. The future has invaded the present and we can begin to experience it now.


In my life, I have had the privilege of meeting and even knowing people of Kingdom Influence. Their lives bore evidence of the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom in who they were and what they did. This would include business people, housewives, mothers, students, missionaries… people of all walks of life. What they shared in common was brokenness about the way things are, and a deep conviction that God did not want things to stay that way.


I think of my friend, Kevin Rogers, who felt God calling him to plant a church in the most desolate part of the post recessionary City of Windsor. This church has been a catalyst for vitality and  blessing in that neighborhood. Addictions are broken, lives are redeemed and a whole neighborhood changed.  I think of our Redeemer students who have directed much agape love in the direction of Hamilton’s downtown core. I think of those like James Tughan and Chris Cuthill whose Flagship Art Gallery serves as a beacon in the midst James Street. There are Redeemer grads who have planted businesses down in the urban core that are making a difference.


Can you think of examples?  Are there people, or communities that reveal fingerprints of His Kingdom? What experience might you have of His inbreaking rulership? What would you like to see? What might God be calling you to do?