Tag: Prayer

Focus on Me

by Innermost Being, posted in Faith and Culture

These are troubling times. If you are not disturbed, you’re not paying attention.

As a follower of Christ, there have been many times that I have wished for God to speak to me in a way that left no doubt that it was him. I have asked to hear his voice audibly, like Samuel did.

If you aren’t going to speak to me outloud, God, could you at least make it really clear that it is your voice in my head and not my own??

I no longer watch mainstream news on TV, but I watch YouTube videos and read content on Substack. People are obsessed with covering everything that DJT says and does, and not without reason. The things he does, the things he gets away with, are disturbing to anyone who still has a working moral compass. We want to shout it from the rooftops, “This is not normal! This is not right!”

And yet….because we pay so much attention to him, DJT sucks up all the oxygen in the room. That’s exactly what he wants. He believes he is the center of the universe and that everyone should exalt him.

Last week, I noticed that there was incessant speculation about DJT’s absence from the public eye. Was he sick? Was he dead? He says he wants to get to heaven! Is he sincere? Wait, he’s fundraising off of it!

In the midst of this, I heard the words, focus on me. Three simple words. Focus on me.

I have been encouraged this year by the 23rd Psalm. I’ve memorized and prayed it in the middle of the night. The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. No matter what happens, I belong to him. He is sufficient.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. No matter how dark things get, even when it seems like evil is winning, I need not fear because God walks with me. His presence comforts me.

You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. My cup overflows. God provides everything I need. Even in the midst of adversity, even when the enemies of truth surround me, I rest in his protection.

Thank you, God, for reminding me that I need to keep my eyes on you and to listen for your voice. You are in control. You restore my soul.

Your Father Knows What You Need

by Innermost Being, posted in Prayer

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:8

Jesus described God as a father – as your Father. God is neither male nor female. But God is attentive and caring like a parent is (or should be).

When we pray, we often tell God everything that is happening in our world as if he doesn’t know. I am guilty of this. I lay down to sleep and immediately start telling God about all the bad things that are happening. It is as if I am telling him that he should be concerned about the things that concern me. As my pastor put it, God doesn’t need our intelligence briefing. He knows.

God wants us to come to him with our needs, even though he already knows what they are. He doesn’t even mind it when we lay our burdens at his feet.

In teaching us how to pray, Jesus said that our Father knows what we need before we ask, therefore…

  • Praise his holy name
  • Pray for more of him
  • Let go of our ideas about how things should be and ask for his will to be done
  • Ask him to provide our daily needs
  • Ask for forgiveness
  • Pray for deliverance from temptation

God is omniscient, all-knowing. He knows what we need. He knows what our future holds.

Father God, thank you for loving a sinner like me. You are my ever-present help in times of trouble. Help me to let go of my worries about this broken world and to trust your omniscience and omnipotence. I pray for those who are suffering and for the oppressed. Amen

Praying for Justice and Peace

by Innermost Being, posted in Prayer

When asked how people should pray for the United States, David French said to pray for peace and justice; grace and mercy.

Red states versus blue states. Us versus them. Division. Discord. Name-calling. Blaming. This is the state of America today. The country has been torn apart at the seams.

Mr. French described peace as a band-aid and justice as the stiches. Peace without justice is a temporary fix for what ails us. We will never have lasting peace as long as injustice abounds. No justice, no peace.

Pray for justice for the poor, the sick, the homeless, the oppressed, and the marginalized.

Mr. French noted that justice should be holistic. Justice requires balancing the needs of immigrants who are fleeing danger with the needs of legal residents. Justice is impossible without the due process of the law.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

The Lord calls me to live in peace with others. His love and peace must rule in my heart. And yet… I am also called to stand up for justice. That’s what Jesus did.

Jesus had compassion for the sick and the marginalized. He defended the woman the crowd wanted to stone for adultery. He spoke out against greed, hypocrisy, and self-indulgence.

I must also speak out against injustice. I can’t ignore the fact that immigrants are being mistreated by our government. I can’t ignore the fact that the nation’s leaders are breaking laws, firing people who stand on principle, and denying due process.

The United States is in great need of spiritual healing. Pray that God will change the hearts of the people and our leaders.

Guard my heart and mind

by Innermost Being, posted in Spiritual Growth

Today, I began my day as I often do by reading news. This is not good for my mind and heart. I read about acts of injustice. I read about acts of revenge and cruelty. My heart became troubled and angry. My mind became anxious.

When I opened up my Bible app and began a guided prayer, I read a favorite verse in Philippians:

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

The fourth chapter of Philippians is full of encouragement for believers. Paul continued,

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Lord, fill me with your peace. Guard my heart and mind. Remind me to start my day with you, my Savior. Focus my thoughts on good things – on truth and on love and on the beauty of your creation! I praise your holy name. Amen.

Father, bring up there down here

by Innermost Being, posted in Prayer

I learned the King James version of The Lord’s Prayer when I was a kid. Many churches still recite the King James version, even though we use a more modern translation for other Bible verses. The prayer is so familiar that we may recite it by rote, not pausing to let the words sink in.

The prayer that the Lord taught us to pray is the topic of a Lenten sermon series at my church. We are studying the prayer phrase by phrase, but with a less confusing translation.

Our Father who art… Perhaps because my first Bible was a King James, I didn’t realize how confusing the old English verbs are. God is an artist, but no, he is not up in the clouds painting.

…in heaven. We think of heaven as a place far away and in the future. It’s the place we go when we die, right?

Last week, Pastor Bob said that the real word is heavens not heaven. Our Father is in the heavens, in the air around us, as close as our next breath. He is everywhere.

In 2 Corinthians, chapter 12, the Apostle Paul spoke about being caught up to the third heaven. The first heaven is the created world. The second heaven is the spiritual realm. The third heaven is God’s home.

May your kingdom come

Today, my pastor asked, “What was the gospel that Jesus preached?” I was thinking to myself, the Good News of Salvation. That wasn’t the answer he was looking for. Jesus preached that the kingdom of God is near!

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 4:17

It’s hard to grasp what Jesus meant about the kingdom of God. When we hear the word kingdom; we may imagine a castle 🏰 or the range of a king’s rule.

May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

My pastor described the kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven in the book of Matthew, as the range of God’s effective will. It’s where God’s will is made known and put into practice.

Our culture reinforces the notion that heaven is far away and in the future. We think of heaven as up there. Earth and hell are down here.

God’s kingdom is not some far away place. Heaven is not some far away place. Both are near.

Heaven is life lived fully with God.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

Father, I long for your will to be done right here and now. Bring up there down here.

🏰 ❤️ 🏰 ❤️

The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours)
Song by Matt Maher

Father, let Your Kingdom come
Father, let Your will be done
On Earth as in Heaven
Right here in my heart