1 Kings 3: 9 "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?”
Solomon has been praying a lot. He doesn't feel that he is able to rule God's people. He has been at the high place where he prays when he falls asleep. God comes to him in a dream and asks what his greatest wish is. This is his reply. God is impressed, offering him this and so much more.
Prayer: Lord, I also recognize how ill-equipped I am. I can't seem to move forward in the way I think I should. I need Your guidance to help me. I want to fulfill the plan You have for me, but I am weak. Guide my thoughts, words, and actions in Your name.
Amen
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
May 17, 2017
Psalms 95: 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
and extol him with music and song.
The Psalmist begins with a call to sing for joy to the Lord, whom he called the Rock of Salvation. He reminds us how great our God is. He tells us to bow before our Creator and to listen for His voice.
As I prayed this morning, I remembered all the concerns I have. I prayed for the usual groups and persons who are in need. Then it occurred to me that I rarely praise God, outside of the parts of The Lord's Prayer, which I recite daily. Usually I focus on forgiveness for myself and others even when praying that. The use of praise, especially praise songs, is a practice I should revive.
Prayer: Lord, You are Almighty. You have all of creation in Your hands. I give thanks for all the ways You make my life better. I'm especially grateful for the gift of faith, which helps me to see You in my life.
Amen
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
May 16, 2017
1 Thessalonians 5: 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Paul commends those who work for the Lord. He advises guidance for those who don't. He encourages patience. Then he offers these words.
It's hard to follow this advice. It's easy to commend the good people, unless you are jealous of them. It's a lot harder to find effective ways to guide the "idle and disruptive" folks. Patience is a virtue many lack, especially today. But the last verse, well, it's just not likely to happen. Nobody pays back wrong for wrong? And we choose to do what is best for everyone else? Not in this lifetime! We can try, but we better use a little of that patience on ourselves.
Prayer: I will try, Lord, to work and serve You well. I will look for ways to guide the people who don't advance Your work on Earth. I will try to be more patient. I'm going to focus on what is good for the people I encounter and even those far away. Be with me.
Amen
Paul commends those who work for the Lord. He advises guidance for those who don't. He encourages patience. Then he offers these words.
It's hard to follow this advice. It's easy to commend the good people, unless you are jealous of them. It's a lot harder to find effective ways to guide the "idle and disruptive" folks. Patience is a virtue many lack, especially today. But the last verse, well, it's just not likely to happen. Nobody pays back wrong for wrong? And we choose to do what is best for everyone else? Not in this lifetime! We can try, but we better use a little of that patience on ourselves.
Prayer: I will try, Lord, to work and serve You well. I will look for ways to guide the people who don't advance Your work on Earth. I will try to be more patient. I'm going to focus on what is good for the people I encounter and even those far away. Be with me.
Amen
Thursday, May 11, 2017
May 11, 2017
Matthew 28: 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
The guards were afraid, but the church leaders got together a cover up. They paid the guards to say that the disciples stole the body. They said they would back the guards' story if it was questioned.
It's incomprehensible to me that the leaders of a church would act like that in the face of all the evidence that God was behind the resurrection. Hypocrisy of the highest order was evident. I'm thinking that the point of this for me is to doubt authority. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and lesser amounts of power also corrupt. God is really all we can trust.
Prayer: Lord, You are almighty. You have the best plans for our lives, but we can't see them. Hold us close and comfort us as the wicked world tries to keep us down.
Amen
The guards were afraid, but the church leaders got together a cover up. They paid the guards to say that the disciples stole the body. They said they would back the guards' story if it was questioned.
It's incomprehensible to me that the leaders of a church would act like that in the face of all the evidence that God was behind the resurrection. Hypocrisy of the highest order was evident. I'm thinking that the point of this for me is to doubt authority. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and lesser amounts of power also corrupt. God is really all we can trust.
Prayer: Lord, You are almighty. You have the best plans for our lives, but we can't see them. Hold us close and comfort us as the wicked world tries to keep us down.
Amen
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
May 10, 2017
Matthew 27: 45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.
Jesus is being crucified. The rebels are on either side of him. He has already been whipped, and the soldiers took his clothing. People passing by made fun of him, so powerless now. At 3, he cries out and dies.
The injustice of it and the pain he suffered make it hard to read. I can better imagine the whole world gone dark in midday. How dark must the hearts of the followers have been! To see this man, their teacher whom they loved, treated so badly. How could they possibly foresee a time when things would be good again?
Prayer: Lord, I am so sad when I picture the crucifixion. It's just so unfair, so cruel, and I hurt for the pain Your people have caused You. I confess that I have contributed to that. Please forgive me. I know all my blessings are thanks to Your horrid sacrifice.
Amen
Jesus is being crucified. The rebels are on either side of him. He has already been whipped, and the soldiers took his clothing. People passing by made fun of him, so powerless now. At 3, he cries out and dies.
The injustice of it and the pain he suffered make it hard to read. I can better imagine the whole world gone dark in midday. How dark must the hearts of the followers have been! To see this man, their teacher whom they loved, treated so badly. How could they possibly foresee a time when things would be good again?
Prayer: Lord, I am so sad when I picture the crucifixion. It's just so unfair, so cruel, and I hurt for the pain Your people have caused You. I confess that I have contributed to that. Please forgive me. I know all my blessings are thanks to Your horrid sacrifice.
Amen
Monday, May 8, 2017
May 8, 2017
Matthew 25: 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’"
Jesus is talking about the Second Coming. He has separated the sheep from the goats. The sheep have followed his commands, helping all the people. The goats did not, and now they're surprised that they are being judged for their selfish behavior. They're headed for eternal punishment.
It's going to be a rough time for so many. They have skated through life, thinking that they have the key to the Kingdom, when in fact, they don't. They believed in themselves, not in God. They were not listening to the groaning of their fellow man. I don't want to be part of the silent majority who never stood up for the people who need the most support.
Prayer: Lord, show me how to help Your people. Make plain the path I should follow. I don't want to face You and Your son with a guilty conscience. I want to be a good and faithful servant.
Amen
Jesus is talking about the Second Coming. He has separated the sheep from the goats. The sheep have followed his commands, helping all the people. The goats did not, and now they're surprised that they are being judged for their selfish behavior. They're headed for eternal punishment.
It's going to be a rough time for so many. They have skated through life, thinking that they have the key to the Kingdom, when in fact, they don't. They believed in themselves, not in God. They were not listening to the groaning of their fellow man. I don't want to be part of the silent majority who never stood up for the people who need the most support.
Prayer: Lord, show me how to help Your people. Make plain the path I should follow. I don't want to face You and Your son with a guilty conscience. I want to be a good and faithful servant.
Amen
May 6, 2017
Psalms 51: 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Story of my 2017 so far: stop for a brief interruption, and never finish the piece.
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
David has sinned, coveting Uriah's wife, sleeping with her, and then setting up Irish to die in an attempt to cover his sins up. God isn't fooled, and He takes their baby son. David is disconsolate until the child dies. Then he gets up and seeks to make things right with God. This Psalm reflects his feelings well.
Story of my 2017 so far: stop for a brief interruption, and never finish the piece.
Friday, May 5, 2017
May 5, 2017
Matthew 22: 37 Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
Jesus is being bothered by the religious authorities. The Pharisees ask what is the greatest commandment. That's after the Sadducees have come with their questions about the afterlife, and after a previous Pharisee question on taxes. They hope to trip Jesus up, but he has all the answers.
If only I could follow this command. But I find myself in reaction mode, struggling through day after day. I don't see the big picture in the midst of the activities. I know that there is relief available, but I am on the treadmill, trying to keep my pace going.
Prayer: Lord, I am not a great servant to You. I don't listen for Your voice in the tumult of daily life. I'm letting life dominate me. Help me to find You everywhere I go.
Amen
Jesus is being bothered by the religious authorities. The Pharisees ask what is the greatest commandment. That's after the Sadducees have come with their questions about the afterlife, and after a previous Pharisee question on taxes. They hope to trip Jesus up, but he has all the answers.
If only I could follow this command. But I find myself in reaction mode, struggling through day after day. I don't see the big picture in the midst of the activities. I know that there is relief available, but I am on the treadmill, trying to keep my pace going.
Prayer: Lord, I am not a great servant to You. I don't listen for Your voice in the tumult of daily life. I'm letting life dominate me. Help me to find You everywhere I go.
Amen
Monday, May 1, 2017
May 1, 2017
Matthew 18: 12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?"
Jesus has talked about the children. He says that woe will come to any who cause a child to lose faith. Then he tells about the lost sheep, and he concludes by saying that the shepherd will rejoice more for the one that returns than for the 99 who remained.
I'm sitting here hoping my wayward dog returns home. He hasn't run away in months. I had thought him trained, but I turned my back and he disappeared. It's been nearly 2 hours. I have sat outside to watch for him, but I haven't gotten a glimpse of him. I know that I will rejoice when he returns, but I will also be more cautious next time I take him out. How we must hurt God when we stray. I'm hurting for my pup right now.
Prayer: First, please send Rocky home. His pack is waiting. And I will add a prayer for all Your pack who have wandered off as well. Help them to feel Your presence, and let them know the joy You will feel once they return.
Amen
Jesus has talked about the children. He says that woe will come to any who cause a child to lose faith. Then he tells about the lost sheep, and he concludes by saying that the shepherd will rejoice more for the one that returns than for the 99 who remained.
I'm sitting here hoping my wayward dog returns home. He hasn't run away in months. I had thought him trained, but I turned my back and he disappeared. It's been nearly 2 hours. I have sat outside to watch for him, but I haven't gotten a glimpse of him. I know that I will rejoice when he returns, but I will also be more cautious next time I take him out. How we must hurt God when we stray. I'm hurting for my pup right now.
Prayer: First, please send Rocky home. His pack is waiting. And I will add a prayer for all Your pack who have wandered off as well. Help them to feel Your presence, and let them know the joy You will feel once they return.
Amen
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