Then they went into Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, he was teaching them as one having authority. Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out, “What do You have to do with us, Jesus-Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are – the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit convulsed him, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so they began to argue with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee. Mark 1:21-27
My words…
Praise
Praise be to the Holy One of God whose presence ensures that unclean spirits have a really bad day. They are not powerful enough to withstand Your authority. They wish they could, but when You give them an order, they must obey. And they often do so kicking and screaming. The scribes and teachers of the law did not see through their own piety and recognize the Son of God standing in their midst. The demons saw clearly through their own wickedness and recognized You as the only One they would be forced to obey. They disobeyed a direct order from their master and obeyed You instead. They know the fullness of Your power better than I. Here is where I can take a lesson from an unclean spirit: Obey the Holy One of God!
Prayer for me
Obedience happens for a reason. I have spent nearly a lifetime obeying: You, parents, bosses, rules and regulations. I obey because there is a reward attached, and I focus on the reward. When I obey You, there is a reward attached, and I most definitely focus on that everlasting reward of life with You in a place without sadness and pain. But when I obey You, I am drawn to the truth that You are pleased. Especially when I do it with a full heart, not kicking and screaming. The more fully I obey, the broader Your smile. Therein lies my reward.
Forgive me
Disobedience happens for a reason. I have spent nearly a lifetime disobeying: You, parents, bosses, rules and regulations. I disobey because I lose sight of the reward. I plant my wants and needs in front of my own face and do what I please. I don’t think about the impact on anyone else. It’s called pride. When I disobey You, I am drawn to the truth that You are displeased. Therein lies my confession and request for forgiveness.
More praise
What reason could I possibly give for not obeying You when the wind and waves obeyed Your voice, when the sun and moon obeyed and held their places in the sky during Joshua’s battle with the Amorites, when the Red Sea split in obedience for Moses? The seas and the sun obey You gladly; they do so in submission to their Master. How much more should I obey You – the Master of my life, the One who has proven His love for me? How much more?
I will praise the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will boast in the Lord; the humble will hear and be glad. Proclaim Yahweh’s greatness with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and rescues them. Psalm 34:1-7
My words…
A prayer of praise
To whom do I offer praise when the rays of the sun warm my face and when the winter wind stings it? When I am light and carefree and when I am bogged down with trouble? Whom do I exalt when I witness the defeat of evil and the victory of righteousness?
You.
Who gathers innumerable circles and forms a sphere? Who holds infinity in His hand? Who exists in a black hole and the depths of the ocean at the same time?
You.
Who cools my overheated spirit when I am enraged by evil? Who whispers comfort when my heart is twisted and my hands are wrung out? When I am terrified for my child, who reminds me that You are in control? Who gathers my distress and fear and flings it across the universe?
You.
To whom do I glorify for my moments of immeasurable joy and contentment? When the crocus and iris greet me in spring, at whom do I marvel? Who is ascribed all honor and power when the thunder shakes my house?
You.
Who encamps around me when the Enemy assails me with arrows of doubt and barbs of skepticism? Who rallies His armies and orders His archangels to draw their swords and stand against my Enemy on my behalf? When I think about death and tremble, who brings His words to my mind to sustain me?
Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities and intended to break into them. Then Hezekiah strengthened his position by rebuilding the entire broken-down wall and heightening the towers and the other outside wall. He repaired the supporting terraces of the city of David, and made an abundance of weapons and shields. He set military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying, “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria or before the large army that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. He has only human strength, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people relied on the words of King Hezekiah of Judah. 2 Chronicles 32:1, 5-8
My words…
Praise
Lord, to You everything is now. You see the city of Jerusalem surrounded by Assyrians while King Hezekiah rallies his terrified people, and You see me writing this prayer to You – all at the sametime. Do you glance along the line of events spread out before You and see the ancient, pagan Assyrians and the modern-day reprobates as living in the same camp? They both defy the armies of the Living God. They laugh at things I don’t find funny, and they sneer at truths I hold dear. They prey on the defenseless and flaunt their arrogance. They take what is not theirs then mock their victims. They poison the airwaves with toxic lies, claiming You, their Creator and Savior, are powerless, deaf, and vindictive. I live a non-violent life, but I claim these “Assyrians” as my enemy.
Praise be to You – the God whose eye is trained on my enemies. They never wander from Your sight or hide from You. Just as You saved Jerusalem, so You will save me. Although Hezekiah’s army was outnumbered on the ground, they weren’t in the air. The Israelites did not wield a sword or launch an arrow. You unleashed Your heavenly warriors to vanquish Sennacherib’s army. And when he fled to his home, his children welcomed him by killing him. Complete defeat.
Prayer for others
When I hear of children being shackled and starved in their own homes, of the elderly being murdered for a social security check, of women being abused because they cannot defend themselves, of missionaries imprisoned for proclaiming Your name, I know the “Assyrians” are at the gate. You see all, and Your army is greater in number and strength. Fight for them, Lord!
Prayer for me
So, here’s the hard part. I live under the covenant of love and forgiveness. If I understand it correctly, I am to love my enemies. When I read the account of Sennacherib’s defeat and assassination, I cheer. When I read the news report that a rapist came to harm in his jail cell, I smile. Is that wrong? The fact that I am questioning my reaction leads me to believe that it is. These evil-doers may be reprehensible, but they are souls – souls worth saving. They are sinners. I am a sinner. You are the One who saves all of us Assyrians.
He who testified about these things says, “Yes. I am coming quickly.” Amen! Come Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20
My words…
Praise
There is one single truth that can make a gloomy day bright, or a futile task worthwhile: Jesus is coming back! If I want to ignite my listless spirit or jump start my deadened heart, I need only to remember that You, Lord, will once again make Your presence known here on earth, and every pair of eyes will see You, and every knee will bend. The Apostle John, the one who sat at your feet, listening to every word You said, longed desperately to see You again. To live apart from You must have been hell for him, for how could anyone who has been in Your presence want to be anywhere else?
Prayer for me
Lord, Your creation astounds me. I love being a part of it. Cotton balls growing on brown stems. Amazing! A baby’s first tooth poking through pink gums. Delightful! I can’t get enough! However, my physical world with all of its joys and discoveries and memories can be a powerful distraction from anticipating Your return. During my most joyously fulfilling moments, I would prefer You stay in Your heaven. And then during my most dreadfully soul-shattering moments, I pray for Your return. You must think me a little child. Grow me, Lord, to always desire to see the day You come back.
Forgive me
Forgive me my tight grasp on what is physical. You have blessed me with a life of abundance, and I, at times, allow what I see to cloud what is most important – what I can’t see.
More praise
I praise You for living within me because as long as Your Spirit abides in me, I will never lose that soul-sustaining hope of Your return. Knowing I will see You again gives purpose to my life…and my death. Come, Lord Jesus!
Just then someone came up and asked Him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” He said to him. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he asked Him. Jesus answered: “Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself.” “I have kept all these,” the young man told Him. “What do I still lack?” “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard that command, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions. Matthew 19:16-22
My words…
Praise
Lord, I praise You that You are the God who interferes. You say, “Do it my way. Here let me show you.” The wealthy young man felt You stepped over the line. You asked him to do something outside his ability – so he thought. I rejoice that You step in the way and say, “I love you too much to sit idly by and withhold instruction, warning, encouragement.” You do not ask of me something beyond my ability. You hold high expectations of me. You do not lower the bar. You teach that striving for perfection, wholeness, completeness is attainable, and You tell me how. I don’t have to guess or figure it out on my own.
Prayer for me
Your word compels me to live differently from my natural inclination. Left to my own compulsion, I would hit back instead of turning my other cheek. I would hoard my possessions instead of sharing. I would never give up my place in line for anyone. Keep drawing me back to Your word. Interfere with my life! It’s the only way I will grow in wisdom, and it’s the only way to know You better.
Prayer for others
So many people hold to a belief in a god that C. S. Lewis calls a “Life-Force.” It’s a very easy god to claim, for this god has no morals, no mind, and won’t interfere. Lewis said, “This Life-Force is a sort of tame God. You can switch it on when you want, but it will not bother you. All the thrills of religion and none of the cost. Is the Life-Force the greatest achievement of wishful thinking the world has yet seen?” I know so many people who claim to believe in this god – the god who expects nothing of its believers, the god who is controlled by a switch. Reveal to them, Lord, the truth, and rend their curtain of wishful thinking.
More praise
When my life grows complicated, and I am faced with many choices, I look to You and say, “Please just tell me what to do.” Why would I refrain from turning to the One who knows all, the creator of wisdom? I call You the God who interferes because it’s Your interference that saves me. I thank You and I praise You for being an interfering Father.
Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, Saul and Barnabas came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed God’s message in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos. they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God’s message. But Elymas the sorcerer (this is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul – also called Paul – filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at the sorcerer and said, “You son of the Devil, full of all deceit and all fraud, enemy of all righteousness! Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord? Now, look! The Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Suddenly a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul, seeing what happened, believed and was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. Acts 13:4-12
There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium, or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. Deuteronomy 18:10-12
My words…
Praise
Oh, Lord, at the same moment when Your son, Paul, battled Elymas, the son of the Devil, were Your holy armies at war with Satan’s in the unseen realm? Was the enemy held back from claiming any more ground when Paul rebuked the sorcerer and You struck him blind? Did Satan shake his fist at Your archangel who rejoiced over Sergius Paulus’ astonishment of You? Does Satan tremble with rage that Your children continue to read this story and praise You? I hope so!
Prayer for me
Lord, let me never forget the reason You warn me against specific evil practices: You know the damage that will result, and You love me too much to remain silent and let me stray into it.
Forgive me
Elymas was warned of the evil of sorcery, yet he chose that vocation anyway. Forgive me when I choose to neglect Your warnings and pervert Your straight paths. You know I do not practice sorcery, but You know the sins I do practice. Please forgive me.
Prayer for others
Since Elymas was born a Jew, I assume he was taught the Law and the Prophets from a young age. He attended synagogue school and memorized Your holy words. He knew what You had to say about sorcery. But something happened, and he decided to trade in a life of adoration and reverence for You for a life of trickery, deceit, and self-exultation. His parents must have been ashamed of him. His Jewish acquaintances may have shunned him. He tied a blindfold over his spiritual eyes and strode through life, living every moment for his own gain. My world is full of Elymases – those who embraced Your love at one time then ground it into the earth beneath their shoes. They are energized by lies and use that energy to twist the paths walked on by those searching for You. The Devil tightens their blindfolds, and they are numb to the pain. Just as You loved Elymas and grieved his choices, so do You love all who have turned their eyes from You and carve out a different path. They cannot escape Your love. You remain alongside them, arms waiting to embrace. I pray that the Devil loses his children back to You – that You reclaim them from their kidnapper.
Thank You
You blinded Elymas so that he would see what You wanted him to see. Thank You for your steadfastness – You never stop forgiving, never stop instructing, never stop loving.
More praise
I praise You for Your plan to save Your creation from all evil and gather us to Yourself in a place You are preparing now. My hope is that I will see Elymas there.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Bless the Lord, O you His angels, you mighty ones who do His word, obeying the voice of His word! Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His ministers, who do His will! Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Psalm 103:1-5, 20-22
My words…
Praise
How blessed I am! Blessing upon blessing! More than I could number. These blessings do not flow because of my deeds or because of some uncanny coincidence. They flow from You because it’s what You do. You can’t hold it in. Blessings gush forth like water breaking through a dam. But what about You? How may I bless You? It’s a staggering thought. You dwell in the heavens surrounded by hosts of angels and armies. You hold the planets in the palms of Your hands and wear a crown of stars on Your head. You know all. You own all.
I am just a child, limited, bounded. But my spirit is driven to bless You. So I lay my blessings at the foot of Your throne. They may be vapid, but they are genuine. When I marvel at an eclipse, I bless You. When I thank You for buttered corn, I bless You. My prayers are meant to bless You as are my meditations. I bless You when I share Your words with others and when I accept those shared with me. I bless You when I see a bird on the fencepost and remember that You know the number of its feathers. When I ponder on what heaven is like, I bless You. And when I thank You for Your blessings, I bless You. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Prayer for me
Lord, help me bless You more deeply and more often. Reveal to me new ways to bless You. They are endless just as Your blessings are to me.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I revel in my blessings and neglect to give You praise. You are the source of the blessing. I am only the vessel loved enough to carry it.
Prayer for others
Lord, I pray for those who don’t feel blessed. They may be neglected, abused, terminally ill. Their loved ones may be suffering, and they feel helpless. “Where is the Lord?” they cry. “Where are my blessings?” Show them, Lord! Reveal to them Your hand in their lives, Your promise to love them through pain and sorrow, and Your plan to welcome them into a new home with a new body someday. Receiving Your blessings through suffering is the ultimate spiritual experience. But that is another topic for another prayer.
Thank You
Thank You, Lord, for blessing me. My eyes fill with tears as I write this because I am overwhelmed by Your love and care for me. I can’t express my true gratitude. Maybe there is a heavenly language with words that can adequately capture my thoughts, but I don’t know that language. So Holy Spirit, translate it, please.
More Praise
As a child, I learned that old hymn, Count your blessings, name them one by one. I have never done that. It may take all day. It may take all week. The list would never by exhaustive because there are blessings of which I am unaware. I wouldn’t be surprised if I could only name a small fraction. You, on the other hand, could count how many times I have blessed You. Whatever the number, it is not nearly large enough. But I am happy to add to it during the days I have left to live.
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1-2
My words…
Praise
All praise to the One who stands at the finish line, the bright stanchion of faith whose countenance is a cloud by day and fire by night. As long as I keep my eyes on You, I never fear of losing my way, wandering off track, tripping over snares, and skinning my knees. And even though I see You as the prize when my race is done, You are so much more. You run beside me, training, spurring, protecting. I turn my head to find You there, confident in the fact that I will not lose step. And when I slow to a walk, which I am wont to do, You do not race ahead and leave me alone and ashamed. You lift my head and remind me of the sweet rest awaiting me at the end. And I am off and running again!
Prayer for me
No one knows more than You how easily I am distracted. I could blame it on the lightning speed society of which I am a part – so much to see and hear around me. But I know that even if I sat in a field with nary a tree or person around, I would find something on which to attach my thoughts, and off they would flit, riding on the breeze like a dead leaf in autumn. It’s as if I can’t keep control of where my mind wanders. How absurd! It’s my mind. But sometimes I think it isn’t my mind. It’s been hijacked and taken for a joy ride through daydreams, and wishful thinking, and rhetorical questions. A black fog appears. Minutes, hours, and days of running blind until I just stop and call out to the One standing at the finish line. You appear through the fog, and my sights are re-set. The distractions will never evaporate. Help me to recognize their uselessness and worthlessness.
Forgive me
The writer of Hebrews calls these distractions “the sin that ensnares us.” I take my eyes off You, and sin is there, grabbing my attention. It’s so very pretty…on the outside. Forgive me when I decide to allow sin to avert my attention. It’s my decision, and it’s always a bad one.
Prayer for others
Lord, I am not the only distracted disciple. We are a large team of runners, tripping over each other, sometimes shoving each other. How can we be a light to others if we keep being drawn off course into the fog? We trip over the snares of doctrine, ideology, traditions and drag others down with us. But You keep shining, Lord! And we get back up, so grateful that You never give up on us!
Thank You
I can’t run this race alone. Thank You for lacing up and running with me.
More praise
You are the perfecter of my faith. You take my bumbling, ankle-twisting, air-gasping race and present it to the Father as one run by a gazelle. And it cost You – in blood. But I have resolved to not let one drop go to waste. I’ll keep running until the day when our hands touch at the finish line.
Because of God’s merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79
My words…
You know how much I want to be like you, Lord. You are the perfect pattern of how I should live while I am breathing. But I’m not sure if I would want to pattern my life after Yours if You had not visited my world populated with breakable skeletal structures, vulnerable skin cells, paralyzing fears, overwhelming ignorance, devastating power struggles, and so on. Your compassion must have filled every crevice of heaven for You to choose to grow in a maiden’s womb, be born in a dirty stable, and endure the company of white-washed tombs, broods of vipers, and those of little faith. And while many throughout history reject Your divinity and mock your teachings, I choose to repeat the inspired words of Zechariah and declare You to be the Dawn from on high. Life can be likened to a bad night’s sleep. I toss. I turn. I cramp. I reach for the bottle of pills and toss some more. But when the first rays of sunlight force away the night, there You are – the first light, the day-spring who lights my path so I may joyfully tread the limiting, vulnerable, paralyzing, overwhelming, devastating paths of the world with You.
Entering the house, the wise men saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route. Matthew 2:11-12
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, “Do you know what I know?”
My words…
I often wonder what compelled the wise men to travel for months to visit a child king of a foreign country in which they shared no social, political, or religious ties. They knew the prophesies: a King of the Jews would be born in Judea, and He would lead His people to freedom, but they really had no stake in that event. So I asked You, Lord: Why? And You answered me: “It’s what wise people do.” I have pondered Your answer for days, and it has lightened my heart. Wise people embrace prophesies and watch for their fulfillment. They act on signs sent by You. They sacrifice their time and their wealth when they find the One who is worthy to receive it. And they know to whom they should offer their purest worship.
The world sees a child in his mother’s arms living in a simple home in Bethlehem. Just a child. The wise see a King, the Hope of the world who lived and died and rose and now sits at a very special place, waiting to return. Because that’s what wise people do.
