But will God indeed live on earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built. Listen to Your servant’s prayer and his petition, Lord my God, so that you may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant prays before You today, so that Your eyes may watch over this temple night and day, toward the place where You said: My name will be there, and so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. Hear the petition of Your servant and Your people Israel, which they pray toward this place. May You hear in Your dwelling place in heaven. May You hear and forgive. 1 Kings 8:27-30
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
My words…
Praise
Your servant David desired to build a special place for You knowing full well there can never be a building worthy enough to place Your name. But if anyone in history had a heart for honoring You on earth, it was David. And if anyone in history had the means for building the most glorious dwelling ever built, it was Solomon. Only the very best materials and the most skilled artisans were used. By earthly standards, it was beyond compare. You honored David and Solomon by consecrating the temple and placing Your name there. You – the One who lives in the heavens and has beheld beauty beyond that which can be imagined – dedicated the building made of cedar and covered in gold as the place to bear Your name. You recognized it as the very best that David and Solomon could accomplish. For Your chosen people, it was the place where You would hear their petitions, their exultation, their cries of repentance. Nothing base or common was ever to be practiced in the temple. It was a place set apart for worship. But over time, Your people desecrated it. Your enemies destroyed it. All that is left are artists’ renderings. You, not surprisingly, had Your own idea of a temple to place Your name, and it did not include walls of cedar and gold. In fact, it did not include walls at all. Your presence dwells within Your children. We are walking temples. Praise be to You, God, who has seen fit to place a part of Yourself in me.
Prayer for me
When I contemplate the reality that You, the God of which the highest heaven cannot contain, have chosen me as Your temple, I am flooded with both types of fear: the one where I drop to my knees in reverence and awe of Your perfection, and the one where I am terrified of Your judgement because You have been witness to my every thought and action – for my entire life. But then You remind me – You consecrated me, set me apart for a purpose, just as You did Solomon’s temple. So, Lord, I pray that I will become the temple You are proud to indwell.
Forgive me
Forgive me for the times I do not act like Your temple, for the times when I complain more than I worship, for the times I question more than trust.
Prayer for others
Lord, Your church is a collective temple, a group of believers with a consecrated purpose. And Your church is huge and diverse, covering the globe, lifting up praise together on days of worship, being a light in a dark world. But like Solomon’s temple, Your church is the target of enemy warfare from within and without. So today I want to lift up before You every single collective temple wearing Your name. No request is too big for You! Some temples have allowed their purpose to lapse. Others have forgotten their purpose altogether. I pray they seek You first and then keep out of the way of Your Spirit working among them.
Thank You
I am so happy that I don’t have to travel to a sacred place to offer up my prayers and praise. You are within me always, making it very convenient for me to worship You and for You to guide me. And for this, I offer You my deepest gratitude.
More praise
Oh Lord, You dwell among the heavens and within me as well. How different I am because of You! How proud I am to wear Your name – the name that is above all names!
And as the apostles were saying these things, He Himself stood among them. He said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. “Why are you troubled?” He asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Touch Me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”
Then He told them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you – that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures. Luke 24:36-39, 44-45
My words…
Praise
Jesus, I am so happy You chose to stick around earth for a while following Your resurrection. I am so blessed when I read the encounters You had with Your disciples. Most all of them reacted the same way upon seeing you: joyfully terrified beyond belief – and confused. Those of us living a couple of thousand years later may not understand the confusion. You did mention to Your apostles, on more than one occasion, that You would suffer, die and rise again on the third day. But it seems they did not fully understand Your meaning. Nor did they fully understand the Psalmist’s prophetic declaration that the Messiah would not see decay. So, as a final parting gift, You dispelled the confusion and opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. Wait. What? You opened their minds to understand the scriptures! I wish I could have seen the apostles’ faces as the epiphanies unfolded in that place. Suddenly everything they had heard You say made sense. All of their questions were answered. And with this influx of understanding, I can only believe they clung to You, knowing fully Your true nature. Only You, so full of love, would choose this way to prepare them for what lay ahead.
Prayer for me
Your words tug at my thoughts. As You know, I spend a lot of time thinking about what I read in the Bible. At times, I am overwhelmed by the density of the verses (Hebrews) and at other times, I am just as confused as the Apostles (Nephilim?) It is during these times that I ask of You the same gift You imparted to Your apostles following Your resurrection: Open my mind to understand the scriptures. I desire a deeper understanding of Your word. I desire more epiphanies!
Forgive me
Forgive me when I neglect to depend on Your power – Your Spirit – when contemplating Your words. I long to know You better, but that cannot be accomplished if I rely on my own understanding of scripture. Forgive me when I do not treat Your words with the respect they deserve.
Prayer for others
I pray for those servants who have taken on the mission of getting a Bible into the hands of everyone on the planet. Your words are power – power enough to change the lives of people and change the direction of nations, and because of this, owning and reading the Bible has been outlawed in many countries. So I pray for those who risk their lives in order to own a Bible. Open their minds to understand the scriptures!
Thank You
I am grateful for every Spirit-drenched word You left behind. I wish there were more! I would love to read exactly what You, Elijah, and Moses discussed during Your time of transfiguration. A few more verses about what happens in the unseen spiritual realm would also be heartening. But I believe Your wisdom determined the canon, and I thank You that everything I need to know to live the life You intend for me is found within Your two convenants.
More praise
Jesus, when You stood among Your disciples as a risen Savior, You imparted the perfect words to allay their fears and fill their hearts: “Peace to You. Why are you troubled? It’s Me!” And that is just one message among hundreds that I go to in scripture when I am fearful and confused. Your words are eternal and transforming in every culture and every age. The best part? Each word was written out of love for me, love for Your children. And that is why I hold them close.
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; His glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. Isaiah 6:1-4
Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16
My words…
Praise
I sneak away to a quiet place and close my eyes, so I can create my own mental image of what Isaiah saw in his vision so many years ago. I see You sitting on a throne of crystal with prisms forming an arc above the throne. Beams of colorful light explode from each prism forming an iridescent halo over Your throne. And your robe – it billows throughout the temple yet never touches the floor. It was fashioned by angels who wove fine threads of silver and gold to create a perfect seamless garment. They interwove beads made from light, light of every hue from the lightest yellow to the deepest blue. The six-winged Seraphim swoop and hover around your throne, their eyes covered out of respect for You. Their wings are made of clouds and stardust; their voices strong, clear like bells in perfect harmony. They love to worship You – it’s all they want to do for eternity. Their worship is so intense that even the walls and the floor tremble in praise to You. The room fills with smoke, but not a smoke that stings the eyes or burns the nose. It is a moist, pleasant smoke which feels like dew on the skin and smells so clean like the air in the Garden of Eden. I am moved to worship, but I utter only one word: holy. It’s the only word worthy of this vision. I open my eyes. The image is gone. But my spirit has been fed by what Isaiah saw. I am amazed by the fact that the most glorious image of You I can imagine is nothing compared to Your true likeness. And I am joyful that I will one day join the Seraphim in worship around Your throne.
Prayer for me
After meditating on Your holiness, my heart drops when I contemplate Peter’s exhortation for me to be holy. Holiness is found in places like Isaiah’s vision with angels and praise and smoke. Your words have been gathered into a book called the Holy Bible. I have never described myself as holy. It’s like the top rung of the ladder I have yet to reach. But when I dwell on Peter’s words, I gain a practical definition of holiness: Live each day with my mind and heart focused on the surety that I will see You, Jesus, and while I’m waiting for that moment, behave like You would want me to behave. This I can do. Not perfectly, but with Your Spirit teaching and exhorting me, the top rung of the ladder doesn’t seem out of reach.
Forgive me
Forgive me for allowing the torrent of unholiness around me to affect my desire to be holy and to hinder me from recognizing the holiness of others. Forgive me for my unholy actions: cynicism, doubt, impatience, pride. It’s time for me to examine my every action and ask myself, “Was that holy?”
Prayer for others
I pray for those who have convinced themselves that living a holy life is unattainable. Their past actions have been so damaging, they believe they are beyond redemption – they are too damaged to live a holy life. Send a convincer to them, Lord – someone who will share Your promise of love no matter their faults. They have the same opportunity to live a holy life as I do.
Thank You
Thank you for showing a snippet of Your glory to Isaiah. Just this glimpse of Your majesty has sustained the spirits of millions of Your children for generations. These visions are gifts that I hold in my mind so I may remember Your unrestricted wonder whenever I want.
More praise
Highest praise to You who is thrillingly, amazingly, and lovingly holy!
How long, Lord, must I call for help and You do not listen, or cry out to You about violence and You do not save? Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted. Habakkuk 1:2-4
The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; He examines everyone. The Lord examines the righteous and the wicked. He hates the lover of violence. He will rain burning coals and sulfur on the wicked; a scorching wind will be their portion. For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds. The upright will see His face. Psalm 11:4-7
My words…
Praise
I live in a violent world with violent people. Habakkuk did, too. He and I share the same frustrations: Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. Habakkuk witnessed one nation conquering another, hauling off the king of the weaker nation, murdering his sons in front of him before gouging out his eyes. I hear of a shooter murdering school children, a sniper firing a rifle at police officers, and a truck driver steering into a crowd of sightseers. As a person who changes stride to keep from stepping on an ant, I cannot fathom the mindset of premeditated violence on another human. I don’t want to understand it. But You understand it, Lord. You witnessed murder in just the second generation from the creation of mankind. And the violence hasn’t stopped since. We cry out to you, “Where are You, God?” But You have provided all we need to stem the course of violence – Jesus offered so many perfect examples: love your enemies, turn the other cheek, go the extra mile. But the violent man turns a deaf ear to Your words and sets a destructive course. In doing so, he stands in the way of Your judgement. I praise You as the God who knows the heart of every person, making You the perfect One to judge both the peaceful and the violent.
Prayer for me
Keep me, oh Lord, from losing hope in a world where the wicked keep violence in their back pockets, ready to use when the notion arises. So much senseless violence wears on my heart. But meditating on Your word and being reminded of Your justice keeps my heart light. Help me look to You more each day.
Forgive me
Forgive me for questioning Your love and care for Your creation when I inquire: Don’t you see what is happening, Lord? Why don’t You act? You see everything, and You act according to Your limitless wisdom. Who am I to question You?
Prayer for others
Father, today I pray for those who choose violence as the first reaction to an injustice. They refuse to consider any other alternative. Perhaps they use violence to fill a hole in their hearts, a hole carved out by prejudice, hatred, and anger. Their acts of violence widen the hole and spur others to be imitators of their beliefs and actions. I pray they will look to You to fill their hearts and chase away the need for violence.
And there are so many grieving families around the world, their hearts ripped open at the loss of someone they held dear. I pray that these recent events will not drive them away from You but closer instead.
Thank You
Thank You for the intended acts of violence that never occurred because of Your intervening hand. For the vehicles that never crashed, for the bombs that never exploded, for the victims who did not perish – I thank You. Perhaps even my life was one that was spared?
More praise
Lord, You created violence within nature. But the earthquake and the tornado do not select those who lie in their paths. The lion and the spider do not hate their prey. The violent man selects his victims, hoping to hear their cries of pain. But You see him Lord, from Your place in the heavens. His acts of violence will not go unseen. And for this, I praise You.
Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: death has been swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15: 50-58
My words…
Praise
I spend a lot of energy battling corruptibility. Each trip to the grocery sets off a race: Can we eat the berries before they grow mold sweaters? Can we drink the carton of milk before it curdles? Or better yet: Is there really an anti-aging anything? It’s a race against decay because everything on earth is destined to die, decompose, and wear out. Our sun has about 5 billion more years to burn (You know the exact number!) But burn out, it will. My skin is drying out, my eyes are losing sight, and I can never remember where I parked my car as I exit a building. I am part of Your creation, designed to die. Unlike the sun, I will burn out much sooner, and honestly, it scares me at times. But because of Your definitive victory over death, I won’t be battling corruptibility when I am raised to meet You. Paul tells me I will be wearing incorruptibility and immortality. Even though I cannot imagine that, it makes me smile! There is a part of me clutching my earthly ties, what is familiar, what is comfortable. But there is also a part of me that can’t wait to hear the trumpet and – in a flash – stand victorious over death, wearing my new clothes.
Prayer for me
Paul writes these words to kindle my spirit, urging me to remain steadfast and immovable in my adoration and dedication to You. Sharpen my focus on things above so I may loosen my grasp on what is corruptible.
Forgive me
Forgive me for giving into the temptation of believing that life immortal may not be that glorious after all. I allow my finite, narrow mind to control my expectations of what You have in store for me. My life on earth has been a blessing from You. I have seen such beauty in nature and experienced such love from family. But the purest joy I have experienced on earth during my entire life will not compare to what I will know when the mystery is revealed. Forgive me for comparing what is corruptible with what is incorruptible.
Prayer for others
Years ago, I asked a family member, “What do you think will happen after you die?” “Absolutely nothing,” he replied. His response made me sad. Sad for him. I pray for him today, Father, and others with the same mindset: what they see is what they get. Their spiritual eyes are clamped shut, unwilling to gaze upon what could be. Open their eyes, Lord, to see the truth and live for something other than what is here and now. Give them a glimpse of what is eternal.
Thank you
Because You conquered death, Jesus, so too may I live immortal, victorious, and incorruptible. Maybe then, I will know how to thank You in a way worthy of Your sacrifice. Until then, accept my deepest gratitude. I offer it from the very center of my heart.
More praise
Lord, You are the balm that alleviates the sting of death. You offer that balm so we, the heirs of Your kingdom, will realize inexhaustible joy when we are raised incorruptible. The mystery of life immortal will be revealed, and I await the day when I can rejoice in harmony with the trumpets.
The Angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land I had promised to your fathers. I also said: I will never break My covenant with you. You are not to make a covenant with the people who are living in this land, and you are to tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed Me. What is this you have done? Therefore, I now say: I will not drive out these people before you. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a trap for you.” When the Angel of the Lord had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. So they named that place Bochim and offered sacrifices there to the Lord. Judges 2:1-5
So now, say to the men of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem: This is what the Lord says: I am about to bring harm to you and make plans against you. Turn now, each from your evil way, and correct your ways and your deeds. But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless. We will continue to follow our plans, and each of us will continue to act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'” Jeremiah 18:11-12
My words…
Praise
How often, Lord, have Your children disappointed You, ignored You, disobeyed You? You draw up a plan for our lives, a plan hinged on our obedience to You with peace and prosperity as the promised reward. But we never live it out as You plan. We try to manipulate the plan to better suit our desires. And when that happens, life doesn’t work out right. We find ourselves in Bochim, our personal place of weeping and seeking repentance. But then, before long, we are right back to following our own plans. It happened with the Israelites. It happens still. I bet you’re growing sick and tired of it. (Then again, maybe not since You are slow to anger – abounding in love.) You delight in seeing Your children happy. You know what we should do in order to experience the highest level of happiness and contentment here on earth. Your plan is not difficult to understand, and we have You empowering us to live it out. But for some reason, we fight You. Why do we have to drive out the Canaanites, Jebusites, Asherites, and Amorites? Let’s just let them stay, and we will make them slaves. They will not influence us. Then the downfall begins. After so many times, I imagine You turn Your eyes away. You ask us to remove the traps, but we are confident we can sidle up next to them and remain safe. How foolish we are for not holding fast to Your plan. How remarkable You are for loving us anyway.
Prayer for me
I know Your plan for me: a more disciplined life. You are asking me to drive out time-wasting habits and spend that time with You, serving You, learning from You. But I can be stubborn, holding tightly to my interests and whims which take up more of my time than they are worth. So again, I petition You to strengthen me toward self-discipline.
Forgive me
Like the Israelites in Canaan, I am guilty of sizing up Your plan for me and deciding that my idea is actually better. My plan is better than Yours. What arrogance. What foolishness. Forgive me.
Prayer for others
Father, I pray for those who have served You in the past but have allowed their faith to weaken because of the influence of others close by. Your plan for their lives interferes with how they have been living for years. Weaken the influence of those around them so they will think of You…remember You. Open the eyes of their hearts so they may see Your plan and embrace it once again.
Thank You
Thank you for being the God with a plan. And I am so grateful that You love me enough to have a plan for me.
More praise
Lord, You are not arbitrary, irrational, or impulsive. With You – there is order and design. You not only designed the workings of the inner ear, the process of pollination, the laws of thermodynamics, but You designed a plan for me which leads to a life of spiritual riches and contentment. I put my faith in Your plan because You see what I cannot, and You know what I do not. I praise You for being a Father who plans for His children.
Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take a stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. Ephesians 6:10-17
My words…
Praise
Praise be to God in heaven who sees everything I can’t! You see the vile tactics of the Devil and his forces – a relentless battle in the heavens. Even after Jesus stepped from the tomb, proclaiming victory over death, Satan battles on. Unlike earthly wars, You do not battle Satan to control territory; You battle for my heart. Your motivation does not spring from hatred, arrogance, or greed but from love. Love for me. You do not leave me vulnerable, without protection. You wouldn’t do that; it’s not how You treat Your children. You thwart the schemes of Satan by providing me with my own armor. Armor from You forged especially for me! It isn’t heavy or ill-fitting, and best of all, it contains no chinks. I am battle-ready and confident wearing it because the flaming arrows of the Devil will not penetrate it. I am unworthy to wear it, but I accept it as a gift from You.
Prayer for me
The Devil has a quiver of arrows aflame, each directed at me – the flaming arrows of pride, doubt, indifference, prejudice. Stir my spirit to strap on Your armor each day and be ready to stand against unseen forces that delight in wearing away my will to serve You.
Forgive me
Forgive me for giving into the temptation to shed Your armor. Satan’s lies are so believable and custom-made for my ears. Forgive me when I lower my shield, lay aside my sword, and pay attention to the lies.
Prayer for others
Battles are chaotic, noisy, painful, and terrifying. Some of us would rather run than fight. But You’re not encouraging us to fight – You’re preparing us to stand. So today, I pray for all who continue to stand against Satan’s wiles. When they tire, they don’t fall. They stay standing. Like the mother who throws off bitterness and forgives her child’s killer. And the couple who decides to confront their problems and stay married. And the church that rebuilds after an arsonist attacks. Continue to grant them courage and strength to stand in the face of evil.
Thank You
Thank You for fashioning my armor of truth, righteousness, peace and faith – all characteristics of You. And I thank Your armies of heavenly hosts, including Gabriel, and Michael the archangel. They battle for me because of their devotion and adoration of You.
More praise
I fill my mind with images of the battles in the heavens – Your armies of angels never tiring, holding the line. Your battle plans are perfect because You know the enemy. You know his weaknesses. He cannot out-smart You. He cannot out-maneuver You. All majesty and praise to the One who protects me. You are my Savior.
I exalt You, my God the King, and praise Your name forever and ever. I will praise You every day; I will honor Your name forever and ever. Yahweh is great and is highly praised; His greatness is unsearchable. One generation will declare Your works to the next and will proclaim Your mighty acts. I will speak of Your splendor and glorious majesty and Your wonderful works. They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They will give a testimony of Your great goodness and will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. Psalm 145:1-7
My words…
Praise
How thrilling it is to consider Your wonderful works! I reflect on Your splendor during this spring season, and my mind fixates on flowers. I compare Your glory and majesty to the very blooms You created. Your children, young and old, are drawn to their beauty; we gather them into vases and bring them into our homes. We adorn ourselves with them on very special days. We offer them as gifts to those we love the most. We place them on the monuments of those we long to remember. In a world of so much ugliness, the sight of just one blossom is a comfort to our eyes – a balm for an aching heart. And, oh the variety! The array of species affirms Your creative power. The shape and texture of the delicate petals declare Your artistic virtue. The hue of each blossom is determined by You because You created color. A graceful flower bathed in sunlight trumpets Your splendor so much more than my words will ever convey!
Prayer for me
King David and the Psalmists expressed praise to You that could only come from a Spirit-filled heart. That same Spirit resides in my heart, but my praise to You sounds stale and common. Nothing that comes before Your throne should ever be common. So I pray that I allow Your Spirit to move me to praise You in a way that is holy and worthy of who You are.
Forgive me
Lord, I am sorry that I do not declare Your mighty works every day of every year. I neglect to praise You as You deserve. It is easier for me to complain to You and repeat my personal petitions than it is to proclaim Your glory as an act of adoration. Forgive me when I do not allow my heart to break open and pour out praise to You.
Prayer for others
Today, Lord, I pray for those whose hearts are not reminded of Your glory when they gaze upon an exquisite flower in bloom. They choose not to believe in the existence of the Creator of that beauty. To them, it’s just a flower. Stir their hearts, Lord. By Your Spirit, use the beauty of Your creation to transform those who have turned their hearts against You. The petals of a vibrant dahlia declare Your glory!
Thank you
The beauty of Your creation is not appreciated by the ant or the warthog or the raven. My fish are not mesmerized by the loveliness of the blooms growing in their pond. The daisies and roses and irises were made for Your children to admire. They were made for me to admire. Thank you, Lord, for this lovely gift.
More praise
Lord, You are beautiful. We, Your people, are drawn to You. We wear You like a corsage and share You like a bouquet. You are a balm for our aching hearts, and we are filled with joy at the sight of You within Your creation. I praise You for Your mighty acts!
Then Jesus and His apostles came to Capernaum. When Jesus was in the house, He asked His apostles, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Then He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent Me.” Mark 9:33-37
My words…
Praise
One (just one) of the greatest examples of Your love for us is Your long-suffering in the presence of our immature, petty preoccupation with status. You had just shared with Your closest group of friends that Your suffering and death were imminent. As You walked toward Capernaum, considering the cross that lay ahead for You, Your followers lagged behind, engaged in a verbal power struggle over who would be called the greatest. I wonder – did they choose sides, some backing Peter and others backing John? Or did Thaddeus, James, or Matthew present compelling cases for themselves as greatest? I believe You were saddened by this exchange, yet You didn’t rebuke. You didn’t punish. You taught. And like so many of Your lessons, You used a visual aid – a little kid. But this kid was a first-century kid, one accustomed to being in the lowest position within the household and community. Then You presented a simple lesson that has been the most difficult for mankind to embrace: If you want to be great – be a servant. You not only sat among Your followers, speaking this truth to them, You showed them what it means to be great. You touched the untouchable. You dined with the outcast. You conversed with the downtrodden. No one was off-limits. And You did all of this because You wanted to. Father, Son, and Spirit. You are the Servant-God who acts not out of duty, but out of love.
Prayer for me
Your followers remind me of me. You knew their hearts, yet You asked them why they were arguing. What did they do? Clam up. How many times have Your words caused me to question my actions? What do I do? Clam up. Help me to be honest about my intentions and motivations as I measure them against Your teachings. Continue to sit with me and teach me as You taught your apostles.
Forgive me
Forgive me for the times when I thought and acted as if I were greater than another. Forgive me for thinking, “Why would I help those who can help themselves?” or “That woman needs help, but not my help.” or “If I help that man, I am just enabling him.” When I look on those who are weak, hurting, and needy, I should see You. Forgive me for neglecting You by neglecting others.
Prayer for others
It is apparent, throughout history, that man’s definition of greatness does not include the word servant. There are many who have been called The Great: Ramses, Cyrus, Chandragupta, Alexander, Qin Shi Huang, Herod, Catherine. You witnessed their rule. Man’s view of what constitutes greatness is skewed. Lately, I would need to attend a sporting event to view someone who is The Greatest. So today, I pray for those who are great in Your eyes – the silent servants who would never argue over who is the greatest. You are holding a place for them at Your table. On earth, they are last, but with You, they are first.
Thank you
How grateful I am that You teach me Your truths. In doing so, You are showing me the best way to spend my few moments while on earth. Thank You for showing me an example of true greatness. I wouldn’t be able to find it from any other source.
More praise
How blessed was that child in Capernaum whom You pulled close to You and held! I imagine that child will never forgot being singled out that day by the Son of God. While on earth, You changed every life You touched. Yet You continue to comfort and heal today from Your throne in the heavens. Praise to You, God, who is The Greatest by loving those who are the least.
Where then does wisdom come from, and where is understanding located? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the sky. Abaddon and death say, “We have heard news of it with our ears.” But God understands the way to wisdom, and He knows its location. For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When God fixed the weight of the wind and limited the water by measure, when He established a limit for the rain and a path for the lightning, He considered wisdom and evaluated it; He established it and examined it. He said to mankind, “The fear of the Lord is this: wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding.” Job 28 : 20-28
My words…
A Brief Prayer for wisdom
Father, I feel as if I’m leaking. Leaking what? I’m not sure. So many questions pile up in my mind, pushing against the edges of my heart, and I feel weakened. How do I make the best decisions for my aging parent? How do I impact a direction-less child? How do I show love to those who defy You in my presence? Then I read these ancient words, and the leak is plugged. I catch a glimpse of Your power and Your intention for me. The answers to my questions are found in the well of Your wisdom. You know where I can find it, and You have shared its location with me. So I come to You again, like so many times before, seeking another measure. It’s as though I use it up, drain my reserves, and I need a refill. But I don’t think it’s supposed to work that way. I think it is supposed to grow in proportion to my trust and devotion to You. So I pledge to continue to keep my heart tuned to Yours. A thimble-ful of wisdom from You is worth more than an ocean of liquid gold or a fountain of recognition. Fill my spirit with refreshing wisdom. Fill it to overflowing. You’re the only One who can.
