Tag: prayer

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Personality, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Parenting and Proverbs 3:5-6

The last several months have been great with Lydia. It is fun to see her spread her wings with her friends and make decisions apart from me. I have coached her through some challenges and at times bankrolled her, but it is good to see her thriving. And it has made me lean on the Lord even more!

Yesterday, Lydia had her third official driving lesson with her teacher! She has been doing well so far; however, I was a little nervous. You see, I had heard the teacher was taking Lydia on the highway for this lesson.

I have had Lydia driving on both I-29 and I-94 a handful of times, but not during Fargo’s “rush hour.” Obviously, the traffic is nothing like that in Chicago or Atlanta, but it can still be quite fast and busy. There are some crazy drivers at times!

So, over the last week, I had been praying that God would keep Lydia safe. After all, He loves Lydia even more than I do. And, when I saw it might rain, I asked my coworker, Natalie, to pray as well!

On Sunday, I took Lydia out for a quick highway lesson. We practiced merging onto the highway and exiting. I reminded her to be aware of her surroundings and to get up to speed as soon as she could. Then, yesterday, before I left for work, I coached Lydia to speak up if she was in over her head. She is typically pretty calm, but I wanted to remind her she had a voice.

I also reminded Lydia to have a snack before she walked to the school to meet the driving teacher. She admitted she was a little nervous, but I kept my own thoughts to myself! Now, I still deal with fear from time to time, but I am aware and working on giving it to God. I don’t want my fear or concerns to negatively influence Lydia.

All day, while Lydia waited to drive, I prayed during my work breaks. I had read Proverbs 3:5-6 that morning, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (ESV)

I tried not to worry or overthink it, while praying that the teacher would have wisdom and that Lydia would have confidence. The weather forecast predicted rain, but I asked God to hold it off.

And you know what? He did! Lydia did a great job, and traffic was backed up due to road construction, which helped people drive more slowly in those sections. Even the teacher was surprised that they spent more time sitting in traffic, even though it normally flows quickly. However, he told Lydia she did well and passed the lesson.

Lydia texted me on her walk home, and I heard thunder just as she made it into our yard. Less than a minute after she walked inside the door, the rain let loose. It poured on and off for the rest of the night, and I praised God for answering my prayers!

When we trust God with all our hearts, we acknowledge He is in control as we submit our plans, thoughts, and feelings to Him. We remember His love for us and rest in Him, as we let God work on our behalf and do for us what we cannot. Thanks, Lord Jesus!

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God, thanks so much for protecting Lydia yesterday. Our Victory is in You! Thanks for covering us with Your mercy and grace. You are so good and faithful, Lord. Help us trust You more and more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How are you trusting God this week?

Task: As 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #537

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a good week overall. I accomplished quite a bit! Namely, I finished up the insurance updates, which were something I had been meaning to do for a long time! I am grateful I had part of the day off on Tuesday!

I had a meeting about a potential project, but then I learned it was not meant to be. I was disappointed and felt overlooked. But I realized I could possibly still do it on my own. I have some praying to do!

Friday was Juneteenth. I had off work, and we were going to take a day trip. However, I woke up not feeling very well, so we just relaxed instead. We talked about knowing when to get up and go versus taking care of ourselves. The weather was rainy on and off, so it worked out anyway.

Today, I had to work four hours covering inpatient duties. I prayed, and it was an easier day. I was so grateful! I came home to cook and do my Saturday things. Later, Lydia and I went for a drive and explored a bit before coming home to mow and watch a movie.

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personality, Prayer, Wisdom

Priceless

I was reading in Acts 19 recently, which talks about the Apostle Paul in Ephesus. He spent a lot of time there and grew to know those believers well. Through an interesting series of events, the believers began to radically change how they lived. They threw away resources related to idol worship and sorcery, a value of “50,000 drachmas,” when one drachma was worth a day laborer’s wage.

At one point, the local silversmiths and tradesmen resented Paul’s influence on their businesses. So, they gathered a bunch of ruffians and sparked a riot. The local amphitheater, seating around 25,000 people, was full of arguing and confusion. Eventually, after two hours, they were dismissed by the city clerk. If they didn’t disperse, the Roman officials would come to enforce their rule.

The crowd never did lay their hands on Paul, but they did rough up some of his companions. After that, in Acts 20, Paul left Ephesus (modern Turkiye) for other towns to encourage more believers. What stuck with me, though, was the 50,000 drachmas…

I had Lydia help me try to wrap our minds around this. It could be 10 days’ worth of money for 5,000 people, or any other combination. The amount is worth around $6 million dollars in today’s value!

I imagine it would take several of my neighbors and me selling our modest homes together to raise that much cash. The Ephesian believers, at least at that point in time, had their priorities straight. You can read more about them in Ephesians and Revelation 2.

Jesus is greater and more worthy. Following Him is costly, but the rewards are priceless. He is our Lord and King, but He takes good care of us, too. Similarly, we buy good things for our children and sometimes bless them as God has blessed us.

On Saturday, I bought Lydia a brand-new viola. I rented for the last three years and had a store credit to put towards buying one for her. She had some concerns with her rental viola, showing she knows the difference between what is working and what is broken.

I knew it was a matter of time before I had to make a decision, since many high schoolers transition to their own instruments. With it being summer, our schedule is a little more open, and it’s a good time to get comfortable with a new instrument before school starts up again.

We spent two hours at the store, and Lydia tried out five violas! We took notes on each one, and she played each one a couple of times. The last one literally came alive when she played, and she was all smiles. Of course, it happened to be the most expensive!

Still, I learned so much and considered the cost as an investment in her. She has a good ear for music, and she understands things more intuitively than some of her peers. It seems that some students cannot discern the subtleties among notes, problems, instrument quality, and the like, but Lydia can.

Oddly, choosing the right viola felt like a personal test for me. I have faced times where spending a little more money was the wise thing to do, but I went back and forth over whether it was worth it (and if I was worth it). Can you relate?

For example, thirteen years ago, when I was buying my new Subaru, I was unsure whether paying extra for a better backup camera was worth it. In my grief, I wondered if I could get by on the lesser one. But, through prayer, reflection, and some wise advice, I made the better choice. Now, I use my car’s backup camera daily!

When I realized what God wanted me to do on Saturday, I welled up with gratitude. I have learned a lot about how much God values me. I wanted to emphasize that to Lydia, too. She is a priceless treasure and worth way more than the cost of the new viola!

The amount was close to what I expected and planned for, just a little stretch. And I know there will be days when Lydia does not want to practice. I told her that if she decides to quit later in high school, then I get to keep the viola for myself. I don’t have much musical talent, so the thought of me screeching on it is enough for Lydia to take me seriously!

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God, thanks for showing us how precious we are to You. You are worthy of all our praise and adoration. Help us reflect all Your goodness and give You all the glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How has God been stretching you lately? What stood out to you in the post above?

Task: Next time you are faced with a costly decision, think through what is really at stake and how you can trust God to make the best choice. Also, watch this insightful archaeology documentary on the seven churches of Revelation, including Ephesus (17 minutes in)!

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Worship

Celebrating One Hundred Years

As I mentioned previously, my church celebrated its 100th anniversary on Saturday! It was a fun event, and Lydia and I enjoyed seeing old news articles, church bulletins, and pictures from the ’80s (big hair!).

There was food, and some of it was typical party food from a few decades ago. We had small sandwiches, a veggie tray, homemade butter mints, and something my local friends grew up eating: cinnamon bread with cheese whiz and sliced green olives. I haven’t tried it, but apparently many people love it!

I enjoyed seeing so many people I knew. In some cases, it has been years! I saw some of our former pastors and friends who have moved away. It was fun to ask people how many years they had spent at this particular church. A few moved to Fargo around the time I did, but I was surprised that many have been there all their lives!

In 1924, there was a revival in Fargo, and by 1926, 82 people had joined together to hold prayer meetings. An oil salesman ended up becoming the first pastor. Our current building was made in the early 1980s, and the rest is history!

We looked back on some good times and some tough times. We reviewed how those events set us up for today, some of the most exciting days of seeing God move. We also prayed about our future trajectory over the next 100 years, if Jesus doesn’t come back first!

As followers of Jesus, we are called to not stop meeting together as a Church (Hebrews 10:25). That’s where He does His best work!

God is in the business of setting people free. We celebrated 100 years of answered prayers and people being healed. That includes jail ministry and addiction recovery. We’ve had a hundred years of communion, baptisms, giving, mission trips, and community service. God has always been faithful, and He will continue doing so!

We had two guest speakers: one from the North Dakota Assemblies of God church network and the other the leader of our national denomination. They spoke about leaning on Jesus and passing the baton to the upcoming generations. It was a blessing and an honor to have them with us.

One thing that stood out to me is what God can do with the little we have. A hundred years ago, the people gave sacrificially to plant ministry seeds in faith. They showed up each week to serve and were willing to come early and stay late. As we carry on and do likewise, we are helping create opportunities to know Jesus and become like Him.

Finally, I was struck by the laughter and rejoicing around me. It reminded me of a family reunion, and I reflected on how this was just one part of God’s family. We have many more churches locally, regionally, and in our hemisphere. It was exciting and humbling to think about how Heaven will be when we run into people we recognize from all walks of life. Wow!!

Praise God that He is over all our failures and divisions, and also our successes. Jesus is way more important than our choices, feelings, or even where we go to church. He is the Great Shepherd, and He is calling you into personal fellowship with Him today. Connect with Him, and He will lead you where He wants you!

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Lord, thanks for being so faithful. You are building Your Church, and You never fail. Thanks for leading us and guiding us. May we bring You glory in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Did you grow up with church dinners or potlucks? What was one food you hated, and one you couldn’t get enough of?

Task: If you don’t know Jesus personally, as Lord and Savior, I urge you to think about this today. What is stopping you from accepting God’s free gift? This life is so short, and I want to see you in eternity! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Travel, Words, Worship

Rest, Relax, Recap

On Thursday of last week, Lydia and I flew to Illinois to spend time with family. We had a lot of fun at the barefoot shoe expo, but we also enjoyed just hanging out. We ate good food, went to a school fundraiser for my nephew, ran errands, watched a couple of movies, played games, and laughed a lot. We missed my mom and Dave, of course, but we know they would be thrilled we got together.

On Saturday, my sister and I went to the barefoot shoe expo in Schaumburg. We also took Lydia to Woodfield Mall. As we sat in the food court eating lunch, we were people watching. People of all sorts of cultures were there, and many fashions were also represented. We smiled at a few people’s choices, but we know that’s not always the full picture. Among the hundreds of people, some are likely brothers and sisters in Christ. Then I had a thought: I wonder if someday in Heaven, we will recognize each other. “Oh yeah, you’re the one with the tattoos, piercings, hot pink hair, and neon dress at the mall!” 🙂 I hope so!

My family and I also had several other good conversations. We talked about God’s goodness and His patience. It seems that often, someone who is good and godly will die, and God will leave the hateful jerk no one likes. It doesn’t seem fair, but we can trust that God knows best. In fact, 2 Peter 3:9 says (NLT), “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” What mercy! You can also read more here.

We discussed some current events and hot topics. None of us is worried because we see world events through a different lens. We also reviewed some short-term and long-term plans. At various times, we mentioned prayer requests and other concerns. I am so grateful for my family of faith.

On Monday, some of us went to breakfast on the way to the airport. As we waited for our food to come, we asked each other what we were reading for our time with the Lord. Some had very specific Bible reading plans and devotional books. And some were taking an in-depth approach to a book of the Bible. I shared that I had been reading the Gospels and recently moved on to Acts. I like to have two or three different Bible translations open to compare as I go.

Finally, we discussed what Heaven will be like. The new Heaven will combine with the new Earth. It is a physical place, not just a bunch of clouds and harps! Anyway, my family talked about all the cool things we will get to do with our new resurrection bodies. Maybe we will hike mountains without tiring and see all sorts of wild animals with no real danger. Alaska is on my bucket list, but can you imagine how wonderful the new Alaska will be? I don’t have to worry if I don’t get to go in this lifetime – I will have eternity to check it out! I also hope we’ll get to explore other planets or galaxies! Only God knows!

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Heavenly Father, You are faithful and good! Thanks for the blessing of time with family. May we honor You in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When you imagine Heaven, what do you see? Have you ever looked into barefoot or minimalist shoes? (They have three main characteristics: zero drop heel, flexible sole, and wide toe box.)

Task: Don’t be afraid to have important conversations with your loved ones. Your family and friends need to know about Jesus. Ask good questions and be willing to listen to different perspectives.

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom, Worship

Fan the Flame

Last Friday, I attended our church’s weekly prayer meeting. I am glad I went, though honestly, I considered skipping it since it had been a long week. Still, I decided to go with a good attitude and expectant heart, a sacrifice to honor the Lord.

I walked in, sat with a friend, and waved to a few more. It turned out to be a really good experience with the Lord! Just what I needed.

In addition to worship and prayer, we happened to have a special guest. He was an evangelist with roots in our church from about 45 years ago! He told some cool “God stories” and then gave a brief sermon.

The topic was about not quenching the Holy Spirit, protecting His holy fire in our hearts, and fanning the flame of our faith. Satan hates our relationship with God and wants to pull us away from all Jesus has for us. He wants to kill our passion and influence, and he is always looking for ways to get us off track.

So, if you find yourself disinterested or feeling blah about God’s work, then you need to fight to stay close to Jesus. Check your heart and discipline your flesh; consider fasting and re-establishing good boundaries. Get rid of distractions and tune your heart to the Master.

To fan the flame, we must pray without ceasing. Fervent prayer, mentioned in James 5:16, leads to tremendous power and spiritual energy. Prayer, quite simply, is a two way conversation. Sometimes we talk and sometimes we listen. That said, we also must steward our time, energy, and resources. How we love, pray, and serve matters. Let’s choose wisely!

We also fan the flame when we invest in our relationship with God. To start, we do this by praising Him, reading His word, talking to Him, and asking the Holy Spirit to help us. In the parable of the ten virgins, five were prepared with oil, and five missed out because they were not prepared. The oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit and the time we put in with Him to work in our lives. We cannot live off someone else’s faith!

Later, we were all praying together as the speaker closed. He went around and had a word of prophecy for a few of us. This is basically a special insight and calling out God’s truth in our lives. He addressed a few physical conditions with healing prayers. This included a couple of people with gut issues, and he then asked if there was anyone with neck issues. After a minute of no one stepping forward, I said, “Oh, maybe that’s me!” I was surprised!

He prayed for my neck, then asked a few questions about me (to get a fuller picture and make sense of things). I don’t recall all he said in the moment, but the main takeaway was that I felt “seen” by God. Yes, the healing words were important, but the personal connection with Jesus is what meant the most to me!

Sometimes we need those little personalized reminders of God’s love. He does not owe us anything; in fact, the opposite is true! But He is so kind and gracious to bless us. I would have rather stayed home, but in faith, I went, and He had a sweet message for me. Thank You, Jesus!

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Father God, thanks for meeting me on a personal level! Thanks for encouraging me and bringing healing to my life. In You, I have everything I need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you had a personal connection with Jesus lately? When was the last time you felt the fire of faith?

Task: Fan the flame of faith today and don’t let the devil steal your joy. Spend time with Jesus like your life depends on it! Spiritually, it does!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Worship

Finding Grace #531

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a busy but fun week! God is good!

On Sunday, we served at OASIS and sang hymns. Be sure to read about that, if you haven’t already! 🙂

I officially graduated from my church leadership training class on Monday evening! It was a great experience, and I am honored to have participated. I know God will help me use what I learned to teach and encourage others. I hope to continue taking some of the online classes on my own.

Work was really busy, but I had fun using AI to create meal plans. I love teaching about food and nutrition, but hate making meal plans! That’s because people expect me to tell them what to eat, but then don’t actually follow through, even though I put in a lot of effort. It feels like a waste of my time, so I was happy to let AI do that for me! I helped a few people with allergy-friendly meals and was impressed by how quick and easy it was overall! I don’t use AI much, but I’ll gladly consider doing it again for meal plans!

Lydia had two chamber orchestra concerts, one during the day on Wednesday and the other on Thursday night. The music was the same for both, so I prioritized the one in the evening. I sat near some friends and really enjoyed the show!

Last night, I went to church for weekly corporate prayer, while Lydia hung out with a friend. We worshiped for a little while, prayed, and then we had an evangelist as a guest speaker.  I hope to go again soon, as it was a special time to meet with God among friends.

Today, Lydia and I worked around the house and enjoyed the beautiful day. She did some homework while I mowed. We did laundry and dishes, cooked and cleaned. We’ve also done some packing ahead of an upcoming trip!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Gratitude, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous

Sufficient For My Smile

On Monday, I went to the orthodontist for some X-rays and scans to update my MARPE progress. I have not turned my device for a little over a month. My orthodontist wanted more information before deciding whether I am done with that part or need to do a few more turns. We will talk through the plan in mid-May.

I did not see the orthodontist yesterday, but I did have a chance to talk with the technician. I asked a few questions, and she answered them and gave me some insights. We weren’t sure about all the details, but I will soon find out more.

I think my progress is pretty good overall. I am on the bottom aligner tray #13 out of 29 (to start). Later, I will get more lower trays and start the top ones. One difficulty is still eating and chewing. Every meal is still a challenge, and I am favoring softer foods that are already bite-sized or smaller. The technician helped me understand why.

After taking some pictures and bite samples, she confirmed that my teeth aren’t really touching when I close my jaw, except for the very last tooth in the left back. So, when eating, instead of moving my teeth up and down, I kind of have to move my jaw sideways a little to grind the food. And, that’s just barely helping!

It makes total sense, and I am glad I am not going crazy, lol. We agreed it is just par for the course right now, probably not forever. While my upper teeth and palate have expanded very nicely, my lower teeth are going the traditional slow-and-steady route. That’s part of what we wanted to do with the new scans, so the orthodontist can better predict how things will line up in the end.

We also verified that my front teeth are not connecting at all, and they are still likely off in the middle. I can’t quite tell because my bite is “off,” and I’m not currently able to clench my teeth enough to see! She reminded me that the only thing that might help my lower teeth to move toward the midline would be surgery.

To be honest, I practically forgot about possibly needing surgery! I have been patient and diligent in wearing the aligner and cleaning my device to the point that I hoped they would just be enough. So, I was a little unsettled about the reminder, but I am choosing not to get too far ahead of myself. Instead, I will keep praying!

If my bottom teeth remain off-center and there are no other concerns, I think I could skip the surgery. But in theory, if none of my teeth line up correctly (as is happening now), surgery might be needed. However, not only is that probably a lot of money, but it is also a long recovery that I would like to avoid. Still, there could also be some other advantages, so I won’t be stubborn and rule it out altogether.

So, all in all, I am pleased with everything thus far, but I am still not out of the woods. I am right on track and am trusting the Lord to make it all work out. His grace is sufficient for my smile!

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God, thanks for taking such good care of me. You do all things well, for Your glory and my good. Help me trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How has Jesus been working in your life this week?

Task: I would appreciate your prayers for my continued success with MARPE, and for the orthodontist to have wisdom about my next steps when I talk to him again. Thank you!

 

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom

Helping or Hindering?

On Monday, I was teaching a class, the fifth in a series on healthy lifestyle changes. Now, Veterans are at a higher risk of essentially any illness or chronic condition you can think of compared to the general population. This includes financial concerns, relationship problems, PTSD, drug abuse, alcoholism, and homelessness.

Many of the Veterans in my class were struggling with a variety of issues. Sadly, that is to be expected on some level. But the class was meant to introduce some action steps to address some of the health issues and perhaps ease their mental and emotional concerns as well. We talked about nutrition, stress management, sleep, exercise, resiliency, gratitude, etc.

What struck me was that even as the class ended, many of the people were still stuck in the past. One person would ask a question or share an experience, then others would chime in and commiserate. There were some tears and some laughter, and I think it was a good thing overall. However, some of the people almost worked themselves up as a result.

It was as if they couldn’t let themselves rest or relax. I know hypervigilance is common and can be difficult to change, yet letting go of what we cannot control (past, present, and future) is vital. In Romans 12, we are called to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. I wanted to share that Jesus calls us to bring our burdens to Him, but that wasn’t really the scope of the class. Instead, I sprinkled tidbits of faith here and there. 

I did not feel called to share my story, but I did explain that we all have past hardships, trauma, or grief. No one is immune. But we must check our words and even our thoughts in order to keep moving forward.

Several people made up their minds to try new things, but I’m curious how many of them will let go of their anxiety and worry, understanding that we don’t “have to” live in fear. I will be praying for the class that they might take a step of faith and trust Jesus. I’ll pray they realize how much God loves them and wants to give them His joy and peace.

Our stories — and how we tell them — are powerful. We can rehash all the old hurts and fears, or we can let the Lord redeem them and make something beautiful out of our darkest moments. It’s never easy, but it is our choice to make.

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Heavenly Father, thanks for setting us free from all our burdens – sin, shame, sickness – so we don’t have to stay stuck. Help us walk in that freedom and grace. Keep us close to You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are the stories you are telling yourself (or others) helping or hindering your healing? What’s one step you can take to keep moving forward?

Task: Write down a few key turning points in your life story, whether joyful or painful. Then, rewrite them using God’s perspective – see the story through the lens of Jesus and how He may want to use it for His glory and your good.

Posted on in Apologetics, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Worship

The Lord’s Prayer

This week, I have been reviewing the Lord’s prayer! This is found in Matthew 6 and Luke 11. It is perhaps the most underutilized piece of Jesus’ direct teaching! The words are not magical; they help us remember our mission.

Often, if you’ve grown up in a church that uses this as part of its daily or weekly liturgy, it can become so familiar that it feels mundane. But we must slow down and take the time to understand the background of Jesus’ meaning. Then, with humility and expectation, we can connect more fully to God’s heart and power.

On Monday night, I listened to a Blurry Creatures Podcast episode featuring a couple of guys who put together both a movie and a TV show about The Lord’s Prayer. Essentially, we can remind ourselves of who God is and our role in His Kingdom. They broke down each phrase, like I did last week!

So, on my Tuesday morning drive, I prayed through the prayer slowly. Father in Heaven: Now, I have a great earthly dad, and it’s amazing that God is even a better dad than Tom! 🙂 Heaven refers to Ancient Near Eastern cosmology (as described in the podcast), but for my purposes, it’s helpful to remember that God is above all things, visible and invisible. He is all-powerful but still loves us fiercely.

Hallowed is an older word for holy, meaning “set apart as sacred.” I sang this song because it reminds me of God’s character and of how we must respect and revere Him. He is not someone we can casually disregard. Carrying His Name means we bear responsibility to represent Him well. Yet, He has great grace for us when we fail to live up to His standard. Thankfully, that’s one reason Jesus came! 

Regarding the next phrase, we live to serve God, not our own purposes. It’s His Kingdom, not ours. Yes, we are citizens of Heaven and can bring many of those benefits to Earth through prayer. But our requests must align with God’s purposes and plan. He is not obligated to give us everything we want!

This is in line with the concept of daily bread. Jesus’ disciples would have thought about the manna their ancestors received in the desert for forty years. God took care of the essentials, but they depended on Him. This is where I asked for help in my workday and thanked God for all the ways He has provided for me this week. It was a good way to reflect on His grace and goodness.

The last part is about forgiveness. When we hold grudges, we act as if God’s mercy cannot cover someone’s faults or mistakes. But we forget how much we have needed it! For me, it is about trust. I can trust that God will take care of the other person as He sees fit. I can let it go and give it to Him to handle. Indeed, I can rest in the knowledge that God won’t hold my sins against me because Jesus already paid for them on the Cross.

Surprisingly, I learned that the phrase “for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory” is a doxology likely added in later manuscripts for liturgical reasons to make it sound more complete. It is not original to Jesus, but still quite compelling! Everything we are should reflect glory back to our Heavenly Father!

Finally, God does not lead us into temptation… but He does allow us to be tested. May we stand firm in our faith and trust Him. It’s okay (natural even) to doubt and ask questions, as long as they lead us closer to Jesus. He is faithful and will never let us down.

All that to say, I loved the conversation I had with the Lord driving to work. It set the tone for my day. It got my mind off “me” and put it back on Him. Yet, I still had a space to tell Him what I needed. I think I will make it part of my regular practice!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all the ways You care for me. You always give me exactly what I need! Help me be a good reflection of You so I may bring You glory and fame. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you pray regularly using the Lord’s Prayer? What other prayer strategies do you use?

Tasks: If you haven’t already, memorize the Lord’s Prayer so it’s ready when you need it! Listen to it presented in song form here!