“Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it because it was well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!”
Luke 6:46-49
Then His mother and brothers came to Him, but they could not meet with Him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.” But He relied to them, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.” Luke 8:19-21
My words…
Praise
Lord, You are a servant God. Jesus, You served others every day of Your earthly sojourn. You provided the perfect example of how to be a do-er of good. The hands that used carpenter tools on blocks of wood and stone were the same hands that healed infirmities and restored hope. How many did You heal? How many did You comfort? How many did You teach? Throngs of hopeless souls crowded You, yet You never turned any away. You must have been exhausted each night when You finally were left alone to pray. Then You rose again the next day only to be thronged again. You didn’t get much you time, did You? I praise you for being the God who makes the most of every moment. You are not an idle God. You are a God of action.
Prayer for me
I call You Lord in my prayers. I proclaim You as Lord of my life. I sing Jesus is Lord. But if I don’t do what You say, I have no right to call you Lord. Those who live under a lordship, act according to the Lord’s words. When I don’t act according to Your word, You have every right to wonder, “Why do you call Me Lord?” I am a reader of scripture and a say-er of prayers, but the more I read, and the more I pray, I learn I am called to do more. You’re not asking me to end wars, eradicate slavery or eliminate poverty. No. You’re asking me to be a person who acts in the face of a single need. I understand it in my mind. I am moved by it in my heart. But my hands hang at my sides. Prick my heart, Lord, to “dirty” my hands doing Your work.
Forgive me
Forgive me for being blind to the needs of those around me as I busy myself attending to my own wishes. I have loads of me time when what I should have is loads of You time. How many times have I asked my child to complete a task only to hear, “Do I have to?” or “Can I do it later?” or my favorite, “Am I getting paid?” Yet, I must admit, You have heard those same responses from me, haven’t You? Forgive me for being an ungrateful child.
Prayer for others
Oh God, I know You bless those who use their hands to bless others: those working with the refugees, the orphans, the prisoners, the unwanted. These do-ers are Your mother and Your brothers. They grow weary at times. They are ridiculed, sometimes by the very people they are helping. But they have built their lives on a foundation. You are that foundation. They stand firm through the punishing winds of self-doubt and persecution. Give them the strength of body and heart to continue in Your work. They have every right to call You Lord.
Thank you
The best part about being Yours is knowing that You hold me dear even when I don’t live as You desire. I disappoint You, yet You continue to bless me, You continue to love me, and my heart is overflowing with thankfulness.
More praise
Lord, You are the secure foundation in a world where everything shifts. And what peace of spirit this secure foundation provides! Glory to God in the heavens! He is not a misty, nebulous god. Oh, no! He is a rock! A solid rock!
My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted up by the Lord. My mouth boasts over my enemies because I rejoice in Your salvation. There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides You! And there is no rock like our God. Do not boast so proudly or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by Him. The bows of the warriors are broken, but the feeble are clothed with strength. Those who are full hire themselves out for food, but those who are starving hunger no more. The woman who is childless gives birth to seven, but the woman with many sons pines away. The Lord brings death and gives life; He sends some to Sheol, and He raises others up. The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth; He humbles and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage pile. He seats them with nobelmen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; He has set the world on them. He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness, for a man does not prevail by his own strength. Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered; He will thunder in the heavens against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give power to His king; He will lift up the horn of His anointed. 1 Samuel 2:1-10
My words…
Praise
Lord, I praise You for Hannah. She seems to know You so well, and her words cause me to nod my head and say, “Pray on, sister!” For this is a prayer of one who suffered in her body and in her soul. She was barren – childless for years. And in a culture that valued a woman according to her ability to bear children, Hannah felt worthless. After a time, she must have felt forgotten by You. And although her husband loved her unconditionally, she was scorned and ridiculed by her rival wife, Peninnah, who gave birth and rubbed Hannah’s nose in it. Hannah endured the taunts, layers of barbed taunts that cut her heart. She could not stop crying; instead, she stopped eating. I know what You planned for Hannah, Lord. I read the story. You heard each one of Hannah’s spoken and unspoken anguished pleas. But how much more powerful was Your bountiful answer (in Your time) after years of maternal drought? She knew who had blessed her womb, and she wanted the world to know, also. Her prayer, preserved over centuries, is one loud shout of praise to the One who changed her whole world. I imagine her raising her hands to You, laughing and crying at the same time as her timeless prayer reached Your ears. She became a mother to a son. And not just any son. Samuel grew to be a great judge of Your people, Israel. (I wonder what Peninnah thought about that?) Like Hannah, I praise You for being the God who listens to the feeble, the starving, and the childless.
Prayer for me
How many times, Lord, have I drug my heavy heart before Your throne, asking You to lighten it? How many times have I come to You when everything is falling apart, asking You to fit the pieces together again? You know the number. Now compare that to the number of times I have raised my heart and hands to You in overwhelming joy when I have been blessed by You. You know that paltry number as well. Hannah dragged her heavy heart before You for years, pleading for Your favor. And when she received it, she praised You in a way worthy of Your blessing. I desire to emulate Hannah. My prayers do not compare to her triumphant gift of praise and adoration to You. But I am just as blessed. Teach me, Lord, to praise you better. Help me, Lord, to praise you often.
Forgive Me
Forgive me for neglecting to give You the glory for the innumerable blessings You wrap around me like a blanket. Especially forgive me when I insult You by believing I made the blanket.
Prayer for others
Today I pray for those who have waited so long for an answer to prayer and are beginning to lose hope. Their faith is teetering. They believe You have turned Your ear from them. I don’t know how to encourage them. “Don’t lose faith,” I plead, but yet they do. Hannah’s womb was barren of life for decades, yet her faith grew. I pray that those who remain in prayer will remember Hannah’s prolonged plight and her victory through You.
Thanksgiving
Lord, I know a modern-day Hannah. She has prayed to You for a child for thirteen years. And now, You have blessed her with a little one growing in her womb. Some may credit the medical treatments. Some may say it was chance. But we give glory to whom glory is due. Thank you, Lord, for this precious answer to prayer. Our hearts rejoice in the Lord!
More praise
Lord, look at my heart. My praise for You lives there. Most times I cannot form the sentences worthy enough to Praise You. This is one of those times. Hannah said it so much better that I ever could: There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides You! And there is no rock like our God.
What does the worker gain from his struggles? I have seen the task that God has given people to keep them occupied. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him. Ecclesiastes 3:9-14
There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from Him? Ecclesiastes 2:24-25
My words…
Praise
Lord, Solomon offers so much wisdom in this book, and I am struggling to understand Your message of Ecclesiastes. But that’s all right. I have prayed that You will open my mind and heart to absorb Solomon’s words. Some of his words penetrate my spirit: “He has put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end.” You have placed eternity in my heart! As a child, I studied math, and I learned the concept of infinite numbers – numbers without a beginning and end. What a mind-blowing concept! You are infinity – eternity. You have no beginning and no end. However, Your work has a beginning and end; Solomon writes that I cannot discover that work. Of course, I can’t. You are God. But I have learned that You have a job, too – like me. You work. You are not idle. But what is Your compensation? Do You have a benefits package? According to Solomon, You work so I have Someone of whom I can be in awe. You provide a place where I may lay my praise, which is what eternity-hearted people desire to do. And that pleases You. Praise the Lord!
Prayer for me
I have a job. I have a home. I have a family. So I have a lot of work to do. My jobs are often repetitious and unfulfilling. The same thing, day after day. Instead of rejoicing in the work You have given me, I grow bored and resentful. I don’t seek out ways to enjoy my work. Help me look upon my work, not as drudgery, but as a gift from You.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I feel the work I do is beneath me. Jesus washed his disciples feet, and He is the Son of the Almighty God! Forgive me for being ungrateful to You for blessing me with work. You see those who suffer from unemployment, and yet I complain about commuter traffic and unfair wages. Forgive me for these blatant expressions of discontent.
Prayer for others
Father, I pray for those who seek work but have yet to find it. It is good for us to be occupied, to have a job to do. But so many are without work, and feelings of uselessness and inadequacy abound. For those who seek to find a job to do, I pray You will show them the path toward work. And for those who are unable to work, I pray You will provide for their needs. I also pray for exploited and abused workers world-wide, forced to work in unbearable conditions for hours on end, without a day of rest. Most labor silently, powerless to stand up to tyrannical, greedy employers. But You see them. Work for them, Lord! Bring them rest and a chance to eat, drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Thank you
Thank you, Father, for the blessing of work. I am happy to show my gratitude by enjoying my life – eating and drinking and giving thanks to You. Thank You for placing eternity in my heart. What a gift – to realize Your infinite existence apart from this temporal world.
More Praise
Lord, I praise You as the One who longs to see me enjoy my life while I am alive on this planet. You long to see me laugh, eat, drink, and dance! And to smile as I commute to work each day! I praise You as the God who works, who is not idle. I do not understand Your work, but I know it includes answering prayers. Let this one be answered in a way that brings You glory.
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know. Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. Acts 2:22-25
I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven gold lampstands, and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe and with a gold sash wrapped around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool – white as snow – and His eyes like a fiery flame. His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters. He had seven stars in His right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and His face was shining like the sun at midday. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look – I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. Revelation 1:12-18
My words…
Praise
Praise and adoration to the God who makes a tomb the setting for the single most transformative event in history. But it makes perfect sense. What other place draws the living and the dead together in one place? It was a part of Your plan that Jesus die. Really die. Jesus’ body was lovingly placed in a rich man’s tomb, closed off from the living by a boulder. You watched as Satan and his angels pumped their fists in celebration. Too bad for them their party was short-lived; it was also part of Your plan that Jesus would not hang out in the tomb for long. Luke tells me You raised Him up because death, for Jesus, was painful. Not just the act of dying, but the act of being dead. It pained Jesus to be apart from the living. It pained the living to be apart from Him. It was as if creation was off kilter while Jesus remained in the tomb. A boulder was no match when placed up against Your plan. Even a boulder the size of the planet Jupiter could not contain Your glory. Not possible. The name of Jesus is not associated with death. Jesus is life. Jesus is freedom. I rejoice that the only body held captive by Joseph’s tomb was Joseph’s.
Prayer for me
Lord, I fear, over time, my spirit has been worn down, like water flowing over a rough stone, wearing it smooth. Jesus, the Son of God, died and is now alive. Heard it a thousand times before. My spirit does not always awaken like the spring blossoms, lifting their petals to heaven in a show of praise. I have spent more time Easter shopping than I have Easter rejoicing. Help me rejoice in the fact that Jesus’ tomb never smelled of decay, for Your body did not lie there long enough! Remind me of the joy that Mary felt when she found the tomb empty. Pierce my worn spirit so the dazzling glory of the risen Christ will illumine every crevice of my heart.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I disregard or take for granted the one glorious event performed on my behalf to ensure my spirit will not remain in a tomb but will be lifted up one day.
Prayer for Others
Father, today, on this Resurrection Day, I pray for those who at one time believed in You, believed in Your resurrection and what it stood for, but they have turned their hearts away from the empty tomb and now walk their own paths. They lost something (or perhaps someone) and in the melee lost their faith as well. I know so many of these wayward souls, and my heart breaks for them. You see every wayward soul – how Your heart must ache. Refresh their hearts with a glimpse of the empty tomb. Resurrect them, Lord!
Thanksgiving
Lord, I share in the gratitude expressed by a woman from India who shared with me her journey to find You. She worshiped the idol gods of India throughout her childhood and adolescence. She slept on the steps of the temple, praying to the gods for spiritual fulfillment on earth and beyond. But the more she learned of these gods, the more she determined they were not gods at all. She went home and reasoned that god was dead. But You saw her and heard her and sent a servant to speak with her. He knocked on her door, but she refused to listen. But when he said (through the door) he worshiped a “living” God, she opened her door to hear more. You did the rest. She found her God who lives, who hears, who moves on this earth and beyond. And she dedicated her life to You as thanksgiving. Words are not enough. All that I do in Your name I dedicate to You as thanksgiving.
More Praise
Oh, to see You as John saw You in Your revelation to him! Head and hair white like snow, fiery eyes, feet like bronze. And Your voice, like cascading waters! But even more magnificent, Your words, “I am alive forever and ever.” Six words that shower Hope on all who have gone before, all who are now, and all who will be. Eternal comfort for those who believe. And what’s that You’re holding in Your hand? The keys of death and Hades. Since You defeated death through the single greatest act of love in history, You, and only You, are worthy to hold those keys. Like John, I fall at the feet of the First and the Last – the Living One. Hallelujah! You are risen!
23 Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. Acts 2:23
My words…
This prayer, O God, is for You alone. I dedicate these words that tear at my soul on their way to the page. For no other topic could both rip my heart open and heal it at the same time. The cross. Two perpendicular beams – a simple construction for such an earth and heaven-shattering occasion. But You had it planned from the beginning – before the beginning. You knew which tree would be felled to form Your cross. You knew how many lashes to expect, the explicit insults that would be hurled, the number of thorns on Your crown. The exact weight of the cross was known by You as was the number of steps it would take to bear it to Golgatha. The Plan was horrifically blood-soaked and wonderfully perfect. Put God to death so I could live. It is hard to contemplate for too long at once. For a time, I couldn’t hold the image of You being held on the cross by the weight of my sin. I covered my eyes with my hands and thought about rainbows and tulips. But now, I open my arms wide to the cross, just as You did while You were nailed to it. If I don’t embrace the cross, I insult Your Plan. I wish The Plan could have been different – not so brutal, not so heinous. But I know that there was no other way. For if there were, You would have determined it. I often wonder about the cross after You used it to change the world. Was anyone else crucified on it? Was it stained with someone else’s blood as well? I rather hope not. But it really doesn’t matter, does it? The cross is gone, decaying under layers of dirt. But Your glory still radiates, illuminating the path to You. And one day, I am going to run to You, knowing full well I couldn’t have made it without those two precious perpendicular beams.
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” 5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let Us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. Genesis 11:1-9
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord evaluates the motives. Proverbs 21:2
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17
My words…
Praise
Lord, I have noticed that there is something within mankind that drives us to go farther, move faster and build higher. We are constantly asking the question, “What’s next?” I have always believed this innate need to achieve comes from You. The people of Shinar, so long ago, concocted a plan – a progressive plan: build a city with a tower that reaches to the sky. This plan seems perfectly natural to me. A group of people wanted more than what they had. If I read the account correctly, I don’t think You had a problem with that. The problem arose when the motives of the people of Shinar became apparent. They wanted to stick together in order to make a name for themselves. They wanted to affix their name to this progressive city. We like to do that kind of stuff – affix our names to our accomplishments. I bet the people of Shinar would have named the tower “The Tower of Shinar.” They would be just one in a long line to do so. Consider the Colossus of Rhodes, the great pyramid of Giza, the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower, the Hoover Dam, Trump Tower. The list is endless. But before the Shinarians (Shinarites?) could get the project off the ground, You intervened and, in the end, the people of Shinar didn’t accomplish either of their goals: they didn’t stick together or make a name for themselves. How confused they must have been! One moment they are planning the dimensions for the next level of the tower, and the next, they are thinking their co-workers have lost their minds, babbling incomprehensibly. They are left to group together according to language and wander to a new home. You knew that when man is perfectly unified, he will accomplish his goal, whether it be honorable or dishonorable. Only You can know the hearts and motives of mankind. Praise and exultation to You – our Creator – who knows the inner-most reason behind everything we do, even when we pretend not to know ourselves.
Prayer for Me
Lord, I pray again that You test my motives. Open my spiritual eyes so I may see the reasons I do what I do. In whose name do I work? In whose name do I write? In whose name do I teach? The answers should always be in Your name. When You see me attempting to build a tower in my name – crush it.
Forgive Me
Forgive me when I step in and try to take the glory away from You. Without You, I could not accomplish anything of worth in my life. You are the One who fuels my good deeds, so You should be the One who receives the praise.
Prayer for Others
Oh, God, I pray once again for Your workers who labor tirelessly for You, never wanting or expecting any recognition. They are Your knights without being knighted, they are Your heroes without receiving medals. They refuse to make a name for themselves. But You know their names. You hold their crowns. Grant them a heavenly reminder that they do not labor in vain. Place Your cool hand of comfort on their spirits to refresh them in their work.
Thank You
How remarkable is language! Just another element of creation that reflects Your glory. I am amazed by how children learn it, and I can’t! After studying French and Spanish, I can only utter greetings and inquiries as to where to find a restroom. But I am grateful all the same.
More Praise
Father, Spirit, and Son, there are so many languages uttered by so many, but the most beautiful words of exultation in all the known languages could never adequately express my praise and gratitude for You. You are Ever Mighty, Ever Near, and Ever Loving. Such simple words, but they are from my heart to Yours. Please take them.
Woe to those who drag wickedness with cords of deceit and pull sin along with cart ropes, 19 to those who say: “Let Him hurry up and do His work quickly so that we can see it! Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel take place so that we can know it!” 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Isaiah 5:18-20
Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them. 2 So I admired the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. 3 But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun. Ecclesiastes 4:1-3
The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18
My words…
Praise
Oh Lord, You see every stunningly beautiful moment in the universe – the explosive birth of each new star, the graceful flight of eagles, every babies’ wobbly first step. Do You smile each time? But You also see every act of evil in Your kingdom – the bloodied bodies of terrorist victims, the innocents forced into slavery, the victims of every human predator. Do You cry each time? You knew, from the beginning, that Your creation would suffer from the evil schemes of those whose hearts are dark and cold. Innocents would suffer, some more than others because evil isn’t fair. You knew we would be led along, some of us dragged along, by those who excel at oppressing others. But You never planned to leave us alone. When we cry out to You, You will respond. Honor and glory to the One who rescues his children from oppressors.
Prayer for Me
Lord, I am bombarded by the evil around me, and I begin to lose hope. So much suffering caused by so much wickedness. I am grieved that Solomon’s lament is just as applicable today as it was 3,000 years ago. Strengthen my spirit to withstand the waves of hopelessness that follow the successes of evil-doers. They do not rule! Open my eyes to see You working in the aftermath.
Forgive Me
Forgive me when I judge evil-doers as unworthy of Your love and Your salvation. Judging is Your job. They are so mixed up, calling good evil and evil good. They don’t realize they are walking in darkness because they have yet to see The Light. My heart is blackened by malevolent and vengeful thoughts. Cleanse my heart so I may see those who perpetuate evil as Your children, too. You loathe seeing them perish. Forgive me when I wish they would.
Prayer for Others
I pray for those who choose to believe evil is not real. They witness evil, but they call it something else: neurological anomaly, illusion, perception. In doing so, they remove the need to call on You for deliverance. (Remove the evil – remove the good.) Show them what is real: Evil roams the earth, binding those who are weak; You provide the strength to break the bonds. I also pray for those innocent ones who are surrounded by evil. They see the path taken by their fathers, their mothers, their friends, and they step onto that path themselves. Provide a roadblock, Lord! Save this generation from the sins of their fathers! Pierce the heart of those who have yet to commit an act of evil but plan to do so. Thwart the plan! Provide an escape! And I pray for those who think they are safe in their own homes but learn predators are relatives. Their wounds are deep, but You have the balm to soothe their pain so they can move ahead to a life You have in store.
Thanksgiving
Thank You for the strength You provide to Your servants who battle evil every day and do not falter. They stand and fight against heartless sex traffickers and ruthless slave masters. Bring them the victory! Strengthen their mettle so they will continue to battle those who do not value innocence and freedom.
More Praise
Lord, You are more powerful than any evil force at work. The forces of evil know You and tremble. And they should! Praise be to the One who is a mighty rescuer and a gentle Father. To You be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
13 When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?”14 “Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.” Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked Him, “What does my Lord want to say to His servant?”15 The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15
My words…
Praise
Jesus, is that You? Standing outside Jericho holding a sword? Scholars seem to think so since no other heavenly being would accept Joshua’s act of worship. No other heavenly being except the Lord God would make dusty ground holy. But a sword? I shouldn’t be surprised: You always say and do what is right in every situation. Joshua needed to see You, needed to hear You. There he stood, surveying one of the most fortified walled cities of the ancient world. His army of inexperienced wilderness wanderers posed zero threat to Jericho and its wall. Then You appear, armed. Joshua asks a fitting question: Are You for us or against us? Will You show Your allegiance to us or to our enemies? When I read Your answer for the first time, it just didn’t sound right. Neither? Why wouldn’t You be for Joshua and the Israelite army? But You had assumed a title that dispelled all my doubt and confusion. You are the Commander. You lead a heavenly army. The outcome is decided. Joshua’s allegiance is to You. Not the other way around.
Your response is a beacon with its origin at Jericho, beaming across the centuries with no end in sight. You are my Commander. You fight for me. My allegiance is to You. Not the other way around.
Prayer for me
When I read passages such as this, I realize how narrow a focus I have of You, Jesus. You are the Suffering Servant, the Prince of Peace, the Good Shepherd. You are meek. You are gentle. But as Commander of the Lord’s army, You take up arms against the powers that would harm me. How many times have You already rescued me from an unseen foe? How many, Lord?
Forgive me
There are times when I have faced my own wall of Jericho. I stand outside the wall and despair. The wall is too big, too strong. I can’t breach it by myself. But there I stand, despairing. Forgive me for not casting off despair and stepping in cadence with my Commander. Forgive me for being a deserter instead of a sure believer in the power of the Captain of the Lord’s army.
Prayer for Others
I learned this week that a special person I know has just stepped up to her Wall of Jericho. Cancer is marching through her body, leaving mutated cells in its wake. Another friend – a single mother- stands in the shadow of her Wall of Jericho, unable to control the abusive actions of her teenage son. And a dear friend who is dedicated to her Alzheimer-afflicted mother even though her mother has no idea it is her daughter who continues to visit – has been standing at her wall for years. Fight for these servants, Lord! Remind them that You have brandished Your sword for them! You are their Commander. The wall will come down, and what lies beyond the wall is victory – Your victory. Give us the faith to see Your victory as our victory as well.
Thank You
There is no one else who can fight for us the way You do. Thank You for taking up the sword on our behalf. Thank You for keeping it unsheathed, in Your hand, at the ready.
More Praise
Lord, Jesus, You stare down the forces of evil in the heavenly places; Your sword strikes powerfully and sure. You fight for me. You fight for all who declare You as their Commander. We praise You, our Steadfast Leader, our Tireless Captain, our Almighty Commander.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 And he said, “I heard You in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
11 Then He asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 Then the man replied, “The woman You gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”
13 So the Lord God asked the woman, “What is this you have done?”
And the woman said, “It was the serpent. He deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:8-13
Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? 7 If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 Then He said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground! Genesis 4:2-10
My words…
God, you know it all – every answer to every question. Yet you posed questions to Adam and Eve and their son, Cain – questions to which You already knew the answers. You knew the hiding place of Adam and Eve, yet You called out to them. You witnessed the deception and knew the origin of their shame, yet You inquired after the details. You knew the source of Cain’s fury and the result of his actions, yet You questioned the whereabouts of Abel. Why? I think it’s because they needed to answer You in order for them to learn the condition of their hearts. Something You already knew, but they hadn’t figured out. You asked the perfect questions to lay open the hearts of this family and bring their sin out in the open. No more hiding. No more deception. They messed up, and they didn’t want to re-live it. I don’t blame them. But You’re all about the condition of the heart – shining a light into every corner so it can be cleansed.
A Prayer for Me
The questions You posed in Genesis transcend time; each of these could be asked of me every day. Many of them I really don’t want to answer. I squirm. Sadly, we’ve had conversations such as this before:
God: Did you do something I commanded you not to do?
Me: You talkin’ to me?
God: Why are you acting this way?
Me: Uh, because it’s what I want to do.
God: Where is your brother?
Me: What brother?
Father, I pray that You continually question me. Question my intentions. (Why am I doing this?) Question my actions. (What am I doing here?) Force me to examine my own heart and realize my intentions, so that when You question me again, I will have a ready answer – an answer worthy of Your question.
Forgive Me
Forgive me when I close my ears to Your voice or drown it out with my own pathetic excuses or smart rebuttals. I realize that the only reason You question me is to lay open my heart for me to see…and repent. I repent.
A Prayer for Others
Oh God, I pray for the hearts of those who refuse to seek You. They certainly know who You are. They have heard Your name from the lips of many. But they are shackled by arrogance, ignorance, or fear. Break the shackles, Lord! Set Your questions on their hearts and in their minds, leading them to sincerely ponder the answers. Bring them into the path of your servants here on earth who will lovingly guide them toward the truth.
Thank you
Thank You for being the God who questions. With You, there’s no lecture, sermon, or tirade but a series of nudges moving me in the direction I should go. You make me think and wonder, and Your gentle Spirit is my teacher.
More Praise
Lord, You are the God of reason. You are not arbitrary or fickle, hurling thunderbolts like the gods created by man. You are changeless and constant. I praise You for your faithfulness to me. You will not leave me, I know that. Your questions are placed on my heart to draw me closer. Only a God of unsearchable love would act that way.
Yahweh, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!
You have covered the heavens with Your majesty. 2 Because of Your adversaries, You have established a stronghold from the mouths of children and nursing infants to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place, 4 what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him? 5 You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him lord over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet: 7 all the sheep and oxen, as well as the animals in the wild, 8 the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea that pass through the currents of the seas.
9 Yahweh, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth! Psalm 8
My Words…
I Praise You
You know everything, Lord. Everything! You know all there is to know about stuff that man doesn’t even know exists. I heard it announced just this week that scientists have detected the sound of gravitational waves emitted from two black holes merging 1.3 billion years ago. One point three billion years ago! And we’re just hearing it! I always think of You at times like this. The whole universe is at Your feet. You not only hear gravitational waves every day, You know everything there is to know about them. And that’s because You know everything. This truth directs me to another truth: You can do anything. You could pull together the four corners of the universe, tie them to the end of a stick, rest the stick on Your shoulder and carry us off to another place – and we wouldn’t even know it.
You could.
Or You could stop all matter from moving, keeping every particle, every molecule perfectly still – like pressing the PAUSE button on creation. Then You could rest again.
You could.
My existence compared to Yours shouldn’t register on the life-o-meter. My life could be just another tiny whiff of space and time to You.
It could.
A Prayer for Me
King David’s inspired words remind me that You assigned me dominion over parts of Your creation. I have dominion over the blue whale. He could crush me with a flip of his fin. You would not have given me this assignment if I did not hold a special place in Your heart. Me – in Your heart! What an honor! But I flit away my time contemplating what I think about myself and what others think of me instead of what You think of me. Will You remind me, Lord? In Your own way, in Your own time, place on my heart reminders that I hold a special place in Your creation.
Forgive Me
Forgive me when I fail to appreciate my place in Your kingdom. You have crowned me with glory and honor. How dare I take that for granted. How dare I.
A Prayer for Others
Father, today I pray for those who feel as if they have no worth. Like the college freshman I heard crying in the hallway outside my office. Thinking no one was nearby, she pleaded with her boyfriend, “Don’t break up with me! Did I do something wrong? I’ll change!” The young man mumbled something and left her alone, weeping in the hallway. I could not get to her in time to tell her that she did not need to change. She was loved by Someone so much greater than the one who was causing her heartbreak. Lord, there are millions of such souls around the world – those who have never been told they are priceless children – children of the Almighty Father God. You love us just the way we are. Send comfort to those who have yet to realize their worth as Your children.
Thank You
It’s times like this that I am thankful for math and science. I never thought I would thank You for subjects I barely passed in school. Scientists rely on numbers and formulas to learn about Your universe, and when I learn more about Your universe, I learn more about You – Your order, Your design, Your omnipotence. Thank You for creating a way for us to catch a glimpse of the magnitude of what You have created.
More Praise
All praise to the One who listens to the symphony of gravitational waves in harmony with other tones yet to be discovered by man. Yahweh, my Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth.
