Have you ever prayed at a stoplight? I don’t mean the kind of prayer where you ask God to turn the light green “NOW” or ask Him to please keep the yellow light from turning red as you speed through it… Have you ever used the time waiting at the stoplight to pray? Or time spent waiting in line at the bank? Waiting to pick up your kids from school? Waiting at the copier for a batch-print? Waiting for your number to be called at the license bureau?
Time is a commodity– a precious gift. And too often, we lament that there “isn’t enough time” for prayer in our lives. We may lead busy lives, filled with activity. But how much time do we spend waiting for “something else,” or “someone else,” to show up or happen or finish happening?
Instead of growing frustrated in these times of waiting, why not utilize our time by praying? The Apostle Paul urged believers to “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.? (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Paul and Silas never waited at a stoplight for any of their mission trips, but I’m sure they experienced “down” time in many of their travels. And what better time to pray than when you are stuck on a ship (or a commuter train, bus, taxi, etc.) ?
Of course, I don’t recommend praying with your eyes closed as you drive, but you can still pray. You can pray as you drive, bike, hike, shop, sit, or eat! You can pray from the doctor’s office, or the laundromat– anywhere you have to wait. You can pray silently, or out loud (as long as you’re not interrupting others). You can pray about “small” things or deep concerns. You can pray for 5 seconds or 20 minutes. Just Pray!
Just a couple of tips to help make this a habit:
Keep a running prayer list on your phone or device– or on a simple notepad– somewhere handy when you are traveling.
Have a daily focus for prayer, so when you are stopped, you already have a topic in mind; one that can be picked up as a thread throughout the day. (For more help with this, see my page on “Prayer Points.”) For example, on Mondays, I pray for family and friends; if I’m stuck in traffic, I can pray for one (or two) of them. If I’m waiting longer, I can pray for a whole family! If I’ve already prayed in the morning for the whole family, I can think about friends with whom I’ve lost touch!
Use your “stoplight” moments for praise– think of one to three things for which you are thankful; or “pray” a short chorus or a verse you have memorized.
Practice 1 Thessalonians 5:18, and thank God for your current circumstances. Are you at the dentist, waiting to get your tooth filled? Thank God you have teeth, and the means to keep them healthy! Are you picking up your daughter from softball practice? Thank God for her ability and interest in sports!
You might be amazed at how many opportunities God gives throughout each day to spend time with Him in prayer– and how quickly all that time “flies” as you are “just waiting” around!
One of the prayer models I like to use often is based on the acronym ACTS. ACTS stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. I like this model because it is well-rounded. It works like this:
ADORATION–I love to begin prayer by remembering and acknowledging God’s worth, His supremacy, His Holiness, and His majesty. It sharpens my focus on the WHO of prayer, rather than the WHAT of my worries or doubts. And it puts everything in the proper perspective. Sometimes, I come to God by praying a Hymn, or praying a Psalm, or remembering the many names of God.
CONFESSION–Confession is important in prayer, and since I want to concentrate on it, I’ll come back to this element below.
THANKSGIVING– Thanksgiving returns me to remembering what God has already done– for me, for others, throughout history, and just yesterday in my life. Instead of prayer being all about my needs, wants, or concerns, prayer should be an honest conversation with God. And that must include gratitude, because God is truly GOOD! If you ever doubt that, think about the first five minutes of your morning. If you awoke, you are alive (thank you, God!). If you heard your alarm, opened your eyes and saw anything, if you were lying on a bed, in a shelter with a roof, if you were able to sleep through the night without the terrors of war, slavery, starvation, torture, or chronic agonizing pain, you have much for which to be grateful. If you were able to get out of bed on your own, able to eat breakfast, get dressed, and you have a job to go to or a purpose to fulfill in this day, you are among the blessed. To withhold praise and thanksgiving is to miss one of the privileges of life.
SUPPLICATION–Yes, we bring requests to God. And He already knows what we need, what we desire, and what He has planned for us. So supplication is not about making God aware of our needs. But it is another act of acknowledging that God hears and responds to us. Because that’s the kind of God He IS! And because we have spent time Adoring, Confessing (to), and Thanking God, we know that we can present our requests without fear or doubt.
Most of us are fine with Adoring, Thanking, and Saying our requests, but Confession can be tricky– especially in our culture. What are the elements of Confession that trip us up? Mostly, I think, it’s a misunderstanding of what confession is (within the element of prayer) and what it is NOT.
Confession is defined as admitting to guilt, or to a crime or sin or wrongful act. But, even more basically, confession is an admission that we are not the ultimate authority over our lives or the lives of others. As such, we must confess before we can accept God’s atonement for our Sin. If we do not confess our need for God, we cannot accept, understand, or appreciate the depth and nature of His sacrificial Love for us. So when we pray, we must confess, not only God’s Glory in the heavens and the Earth, but His Sovereignty in our lives; His authority over our emotions, our thoughts, and our actions. King David gave us many great examples of confession in his Psalms– and they can be terrific models to use in our own prayers. (See Psalm 6, Psalm 32, Psalm 38, Psalm 51, and others.)
Confession in prayer is not primarily a list of our petty missteps– though we should be willing and able to name them, rather than denying what we’ve said and done–but a daily admission of God’s right to determine how we conduct our thoughts, our habits, our priorities, and our relationships, and acknowledging that God is Merciful, Gracious and Loving– beyond all our failures, mistakes, and even past rebellion. Confession shouldn’t focus so much on what we’ve done, as on how God is able to free us from guilt and shame, and how we intend to move on away from the past. We confess that our ways are not Holy, and in doing so, we underscore that God’s ways ARE Holy, perfect, wise, and good. God already knows our thoughts and actions, but WE need to be reminded of our goal– to run the good race (see Hebrews 12:1, and 1 Timothy 6:12) to follow Christ; to become more like God each day!
Confession is primary to the Christian Life– we confess that ONLY by the work of Jesus (the cross and resurrection) can we be reconciled to God. We cannot pray openly to God if we don’t believe–and confess– that this is true. God is not fooled by sweet talk or glib arguments. We cannot believe that Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection saved us if we don’t believe that it was necessary and good for Him to do so. And besides, confession is good for the soul!
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
Confession has a negative reputation in many Christian circles, and it is misunderstood in others. Just listing our sins or admitting we did something wrong doesn’t have any value without the positive confession that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (see John 14:6) In fact, a better definition of Christian confession is this– agreeing with God about who I am (a sinner/imperfect/unable to attain Holiness on my own), and who HE is (perfect/Holy/Sovereign/the One who Loves me absolutely)
When we pray today, I hope we will confess– positively, profoundly, willingly, and whole-heartedly. I hope we will humbly and honestly confess any actions or habits that are interfering with our Christian walk. And I hope we will joyfully confess that Jesus is LORD; that we are trusting in Him to guide us, intercede for us, and give us the power to live more abundantly in this life, and throughout eternity. What a great way to pray!
I attend a weekly prayer meeting at our church. A small group of us meets one morning a week to share prayer concerns, pray for our pastors and church workers, missionaries, community members in need, etc. It usually lasts just about an hour. On a “good day,” we have about seven people.
I grew up in a small rural area, and our little country church had a weekly Wednesday evening prayer service. On a “slow night,” we might have seven people. Sometimes, we had thirty or more (nearly half the church congregation)! They lasted about an hour and a half. When I was in college, we had groups that met once a week for prayer. It wasn’t always the same group, but it met at the same time, and, again, we sometimes had as many as thirty in attendance– for prayer. Often, we met in a dorm room, so it was cramped, and many of us were sitting or kneeling on the floor. Once, we had a fire drill, and my feet had “fallen asleep” and I had to be helped as we walked to the exit!
I don’t say this to disparage our current small group, but to point out some of the differences between life in the 1970s, 1980s and today. My current church has activities every Wednesday evening, and much larger attendance than the little country church ever attained. And prayer is still a small part of the Wednesday evening programming. Prayer is encouraged in small groups, individually, and we pray during service. But sustained time set aside for prayer– what the old hymn refers to as “Sweet Hour of Prayer”–in a group setting is becoming more of a rarity.
There are many reasons for it– some good, some not so good.
On the “good” side, it must be noted that corporate prayer today has expanded far beyond the traditional in-person prayer meeting. Prayer can be skyped, group-chatted, zoomed, and conference-called. Prayer can be “hosted” in one location, with satellite groups around the world praying in real time together. In such ways, thousands, and even millions of people can be joined in prayer. This is an amazing development!
And, along with such developments, prayer has become far more global, and far more immediate. I can receive a text or e-mail notifying me of a prayer request from nearly anywhere in the world, and know that I am joining with a host of other Christians when I stop and take a few moments to pray right then.
So what’s the “downside” of cyber prayer?
Speaking as one who has lived the experience of meeting with the same people at a dedicated time over many years specifically to pray, I have observed the following benefits:
In-person prayer meetings offer a more intimate time of fellowship, compassion, and service. I’m not just seeing other people on a screen, reading a text message, or even filling an auditorium seat as part of a huge “movement”– I’m sitting in a circle, breathing the same air, hearing the same hum of the furnace or fluorescent lights, the sound of others breathing, sighing, or even crying quietly around me. Sometimes, I’m holding another person’s hand, or giving them a hug. I am not just among fellow believers, I’m with family. We get to know one another in a deeper way. I know their families, their personal struggles and victories. I learn the rhythm of their prayers, and the issues closest to their hearts– and they know mine! And that can be a scary thing at first– building the kind of trust that intimate fellowship demands. But it pays off a thousand-fold!
In-person prayer meetings are also focused in a different way. Cyber prayer usually focuses on a specific need– sometimes an immediate, or even temporary issue. In-person prayer focuses on the long term discipline of praying. I have prayed with groups over years for lost relatives or unresolved health issues. And while that may seem depressing to read about, in practice it teaches patience, and deepens faith. As a group, we see God’s answers develop according to HIS timing and HIS plan. Sometimes, we see issues resolved quickly; other times, we see how God strengthens us in our trials; and still other times we see God do surprising and miraculous things just as we’ve almost given up hope. And there are some answers we may never “see.” But, primarily, we are not praying for an outcome– we are praying as a pursuit of Christian living; developing a life of prayer, faith, and obedience. We spend much of our time in prayer lifting up requests, but we also spend much of our time in praise, worship, adoration, confession, and thanksgiving– because prayer is a holistic pursuit.
Which brings me to another benefit, one that may not seem obvious at first. Meeting consistently and weekly for prayer is a habit. It builds a character of faithfulness and true compassion like very little else I’ve encountered. God can “show up” wherever two or three are gathered (see Matthew 18:20), and because God is beyond time and space, He can be present in a church meeting room, in cyberspace, or in outer space! But we are temporal. We have to learn patience, hope, and faithfulness. We learn to be trustworthy of the feelings and confidences of others by sharing our hearts. We learn to serve by the practice of serving those around us over an extended period of time. We learn patience by waiting on the Lord, stopping our busy, deadline-driven, goal-oriented lifestyle to make time for the development of our faith.
Finally, in a post-COVID society, sustained, regular, corporate prayer is also sustained, regular, corporate fellowship. We live in an increasingly isolated society. With more people on the earth than ever before, we are more lonely, depressed, anxious, and self-absorbed than ever before. Even in Church! Many people attend service regularly, but still feel unconnected and uninvolved. And others get “involved” in every activity, often burning themselves out trying to “outdo” themselves (or others). Activities that promise fellowship can sometimes fall “flat” in the face of social expectations. We attend, hoping to “get something” out of an experience. We want to be entertained, challenged, encouraged, uplifted, etc. But often, our expectations are not met. We don’t feel included, or we feel overwhelmed. We imagine we are being compared to others (or we do the comparing!), and feel that we fall short. We don’t know enough, do enough, are not “enough.” And we give up. We give up on the church, on other Christians, on God.
Committing to attend a weekly prayer meeting pulls us “out of ourselves.” We learn to pray for the needs of others. We learn to share our own needs and allow others to pray for us. We learn to be transparent and authentic. We learn to forgive.
Prayer is amazing– in any form. Communicating with the God of the Universe is an unspeakably miraculous opportunity, made possible BY God, THROUGH God, for OUR benefit. Prayer in the cyber age is diverse, global, immediate, and effective. But let’s consider the blessing of old-fashioned Prayer Meetings, and not forsake the practice of meeting together (see Hebrews 10:25) , in person, with no other goal than to spend a sweet hour in prayer!
God keeps His promises. Not just small promises, not just some of them, or some of the time. God Keeps His Promises! Every single one. Every single time.
In this world of failed promises, assumed promises, “campaign” promises, and broken promises, it is almost impossible to believe. Surely there must be some promise that God has not fulfilled– some promise that he has taken back or “modified” somehow…
Isn’t there? There are people who claim to have examples– proof that God cannot be trusted. They list tragedies that God allowed to happen, or dreams that did not come to fruition. They list times they could not feel God’s presence, or understand His ways; times He seemed silent or harsh. Didn’t God promise His unfailing presence? Didn’t He promise peace and love and joy?
Good questions–just what DID God promise? To whom did He promise it? When? Were there some promises that were conditional, and, if so, what are the conditions?
God’s presence–Jesus said, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 ESV) There are numerous other passages where God says to Israel, or to one of Israel’s leaders, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” The writer of Hebrews echoes this in chapter 13 of his letter as he seeks to encourage early Christians. This is a solid promise, and one that we can trust. But we won’t always “feel” God’s presence. That’s one of the reasons for the promise– to give us an anchor for our faith when our feelings are confused. God will be with us even (and often especially) when we feel alone, frightened, overwhelmed by our circumstances. What makes the thought of Hell so frightening is that it falls outside of this promise– at the “end of the age”, there will be a time and place where God’s presence cannot be felt– God will not be there, nor will the essence of God be available. No love, no peace, no light, no life, no joy, no hope. Even those who utterly reject God in this life still have access to hopes and dreams, love and goodness, because God is still present in His creation.
God’s promises to Israel–God made hundreds of specific promises to the nation of Israel. Some were made for specific circumstances and times. Some were made to be eternal and never broken, canceled, revoked, or transferred. Many promises (including those given through prophecies) were given to specific nations, including Israel/Judah/Judea as it existed at that time. Others were given to a restored Israel– one that has not yet been completely restored. Other promises were made to those who are the spiritual heirs of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob– regardless of their genetic heritage. It is very easy to co-opt a promise that isn’t really ours to claim in the context of when or how it was given.
“Circumstantial” or “Personal” promises– God fulfilled certain promises to individuals throughout the Bible. These are recorded to remind us of God’s faithfulness and His power to bring about miracles. They are not meant to act as personal promises to us because We want the blessings that God gave to someone else in other circumstances.
“Difficult” promises– Not all God’s promises are ones we want to remember! God has promised that we will suffer. He promises that people will hate us, abandon us, or persecute us on account of our faith. Death and judgement are stark realities– God has promised that we will face both– and that we can face both without fear! Jesus himself foretold of natural disasters, war, poverty, disease, injustice, hunger and other difficult circumstances that will continue until His return.
“Victorious” promises– God has promised future restoration and renewal– eternal life, a new Heaven, and a new earth. But He hasn’t promised easy victory. He promises Justification, not “just a vacation” by Faith. When we face struggles, it is not God breaking His promises. And it is not always because we aren’t praying enough or don’t have enough faith. Sometimes, God sends us into the thick of the battle for reasons we don’t understand. He doesn’t give us the victory we think we deserve or the victory we dream of. But we can trust that the victory already belongs to Him.
Prayer is more than just a wish or a vague hope– it is trusting my life, my future, my fears, and my heart to the one who can be counted on to listen and to respond. Always!
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
John 20:18 (NIV) via biblegateway.com
Over the past few weeks, there have been images of Jesus Christ all over– Jesus looking very gentle and passive as He rides a donkey into Jerusalem; Jesus teaching vast crowds and looking wise and unflappable. Thousands of images of Jesus the Suffering Servant– bruised, bloodied, yet meek and forgiving–carrying a Cross through the streets, or hanging between the two thieves. And the images of a risen Christ–glowing and serene and unearthly.
These are not false images, by any means. Jesus is all of these things: the Lamb of God, the Suffering Servant, the Son of Man…He came to experience full humanity, and to live as an example, die as our atonement, and ascend to Heaven as our intercessor and Savior. But there is more to the story. Our images of Jesus are often passive, and belong in the past tense. We have baby Jesus, parable-telling Jesus, humble Jesus nailed to the cross. The Bible also gives us images of Christ the Conqueror; Jesus as Warrior; Jesus as the King of Kings, and final authority.
When Jesus makes His return to Earth, He will come as LORD– victorious ruler of His creation–judge and final authority. We make a grave error if we only see Jesus as the Lamb of God, and not also the Lion of Judah. Jesus was meek and humble as a man, but He was always fully GOD as well. When Mary Magdalene finally recognized the Risen Jesus, she recognized Him as “the Lord.” All those who saw the Risen Christ recognized Him, not just as their friend or even as their teacher, but as their Lord. No earthly authority dared approach Him, question Him, try to re-capture Him, or hold Him. He appeared at will to those who were waiting for Him. He stopped telling parables, and started commissioning His disciples to spread the Gospel. Even those who knew Him had trouble at first recognizing this “Risen” Christ.
Do we? Does our focus on Holy Week end with Easter as the “Happy Ending?” Or do we see in the Risen Lord the beginning of the next chapter in God’s Story? Yes, “It is Finished.” But the final act is yet to come.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
1 John 3:2-3 (ESV-emphasis added)
When we look at images of Jesus Christ, — when we pray “in Jesus’ name”–do we see a kind teacher? A humble servant? A “Good” example to follow? Someone willing to lay down His life for us? Those are all accurate descriptions– but do we recognize Him as The Lord? He is the King of Kings and the Ruler of All Creation. Do we speak to Him as we would to an earthly King or Ruler? Do we give Him the Honor we would give an earthly celebrity or hero? Do we seek to know everything about Him? Do we seek to please Him? Obey Him? Magnify Him?
It is easy to get caught up in a “Jesus and Me” theology that celebrates the intimate and close relationship that Jesus offers to us; but do we lose some of the awe and majesty of who we are really following? Was this, at least in part, what happened to Mary and the others after Jesus’ death on Good Friday? Had they gotten so comfortable with seeing Jesus as a man, that they couldn’t really see Him as the Messiah? Or did they only see in Him what they wanted to see– a prophet sent from God who would fulfill their longing for freedom from the Romans, or the miracle worker who would feed them bread and fish and take away their pain? When they went to the tomb on Easter morning, they expected to see the dead body of their friend, not the glorified body of their Creator!
When we seek Jesus today, are we looking for a friend and counselor? Are we looking for someone to meet our needs or fulfill our longings? Or are we looking for our Lord in all of HIS Glory? Do we come away feeling better about ourselves, or are we “bowled over” by spending time with the Alpha and Omega? What a different testimony we might have if we could say, every day, “I have seen The Lord!”
I love solving things–puzzles, mysteries, codes–I love finding the answer. It’s very satisfying. And I love reading mystery stories–Agatha Christie, Georges Simenon, Dorothy Sayers… But I have very mixed feelings about Sherlock Holmes. Always have had. I loved the intricacy of the mysteries themselves. They seemed impossible; unsolvable. Yet somehow, Holmes always knew the answer. And then, as he calmly explained how “elementary” it was, he would throw out details that no one else could possibly know without three doctorate degrees and a photographic memory.
I recently watched a series of TV episodes about Sherlock Holmes, and it struck me again. However, in our modern age, it is not so very impossible to become an expert on esoteric topics in almost no time. We have the internet, where vast amounts of information is available at the tip of our fingers. We can find facts about nearly everything, everywhere, at any point in history. We can virtually track people, visit places, experience adventures, and yes, even solve mysteries– all without leaving our couch. And while there are numerous dangers of relying on information found in cyberspace, there is no denying the easy availability of it.
One of the things I like about most mysteries is that they show the triumph of good over evil. Mysteries tend to show us, not only the impact of evil in the loss of life or property, the suffering of victims, and the need for vigilance, but the longing for order and knowledge and safety that we hope someone can “solve.” A good mystery story ties up all the “loose ends” and answers all the burning questions– “Who did it?” “How?” “Why?” By the end of the story, we feel victorious and safe and satisfied.
But reading mysteries or solving puzzles can give us a false sense of safety and knowledge. In real life, there are many unsolved puzzles, unanwered questions, and “cold” case crimes with no resolution. We are left asking “Why?” and “How?” about many of the things that have happened in our lives. And the answers are not “elementary”– even for the most intelligent among us.
As an adult, I read (and watch) the Sherlock Holmes mysteries with a different mindset. I know, from past experience, that Sherlock Holmes will always outwit the criminal. And I will probably learn some little-known fact– likely one that I never needed to know–that may be astonishing. But I am more interested in the character of Sherlock Holmes himself, now. Likewise with many of the other detectives I enjoy reading about. Because mysteries involve the triumph of good over evil, they attract writers who study the ongoing fight between the two. Mysteries often involve complex machinations, intricate plots, many-layered characters, and misleading information.
And the detectives are often equally complex and many-layered. Their startling intellect and deductive skills leave us in awe. Yet, they also have human frailties that lead them to overlook key clues or lead them to take risks beyond what we would consider wise. And many of them wrestle with the concept of good and evil–they are often tempted to take the law into their own hands, or to do something illegal in order to bring a criminal to justice. Thus, the reader is left with another mysterious question– just what is “Good” or “Evil?” Are there times when, in order to do “right” we may need to do something that others consider “wrong?” Can two “wrongs” make a “right?”
Some of the best detective characters are almost god-like in their ability to ferret out evil. But they are constrained in their ability to defeat evil. They are, in the end, human. Even Sherlock Holmes, with his arrogant assumptions and dizzying deductions, cannot wipe out evil; cannot keep it from touching and even ruining lives. In fact, as Sherlock Holmes (and others) discovers, intelligence is often a key ingredient of evil. “Stupid” criminals are easy to catch. The great detectives are needed to find the brilliant masterminds of evil; the ones who would otherwise go undetected and unstopped.
The man who created Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, was an agnostic and, in later life, became a spiritualist. He wrestled with the concepts of good and evil and particularly with the concept of how a “good” God could allow evil to exist. He was skeptical of the existence of the Biblical God, but instead believed in the continuing existence of the human spirit after death. He believed that the battle between good and evil was left to mankind to solve. He, like his famous character’s sidekick, Watson, was a medical doctor. He was a man who worshipped science– a man who valued facts above all. In fact, the stories of Sherlock Holmes offer us what seems to be a triumph, not just of good over evil, but of facts over faith.
Today, we celebrate the triumph of faith and facts over skepticism and arrogance. Jesus, unlike Sherlock Holmes, did not come to the earth to “solve the puzzle of evil” by bringing individual human criminals to justice. He did not brag about His great intellect, though He dazzled the Jewish Priests of His day with His knowledge and understanding of Scripture. Jesus had no fixed address. He did not write treatises or analyze dust samples– He created nature; He had no need for further study! His disciples did not write about Jesus merely because He did miracles. They did not write about Him in order to become rich or famous. Instead, they were martyred and exiled. Jesus did not put an end to the corruption of the priesthood under the Pharisees and Sadducees. He did not break the yoke of the powerful Roman Empire. He died on a wooden cross, hung between two criminals, after being convicted in an illegal trial, and a farce of an appeal to Pilate. He was flogged, taunted, pierced, and buried in a borrowed tomb. He was, by all appearances, defeated by evil and death. He lost– by human standards and appearances.
But faith tells us that God is Good; that Jesus is God; that Good triumphs over evil. And the facts bear out our faith. Yes, Jesus died. It was recorded, affirmed, and witnessed. But that wasn’t the end of the story. He rose again. There is no body in the tomb. There are witnesses to His post-crucifixion appearances. There were witnesses of his ascent into Heaven. His disciples died for their testimony and continued faith in the face of persecution, torture, and threats. And believers over the past two millennia have lived and died in the faith. We are witnesses of His power to redeem, to restore, and renew lives.
The events of Good Friday and Easter present the ultimate mystery. Jesus, Son of God, Messiah– eternal, all-powerful, all-Good– became a sacrifice for us. He allowed Himself to be an innocent victim of Evil for our Good. And in doing so, He didn’t just “solve” a puzzle– He defeated the power of Evil once for all! We don’t have to know more than the enemy. We don’t have to chase down and outwit death. We don’t have to be terrorized by the threat of evil, the weight of our guilt, or the power of the grave. All we have to do to defeat the evil in our lives is to trust in the work of the Risen Savior and follow Him.
A young man walked into a local superstore. He was nondescript: late twenties or early thirties, dark hair, light brown skin, deep brown eyes, clean cut, quiet and friendly-looking. He was alone.
He came in by the pharmacy, and started down the first aisle. He saw a woman staring at a box– a home pregnancy test. She looked fearful, tired, and sad. He started to reach out to put a hand on her shoulder.
“Hey! Where’s your mask?! You can’t be in here without a mask– state mandate. What are you? Some kind of COVID-denying homicidal maniac? Hater! Get out of here!” This from another lady at the end of the aisle. The sad woman disappeared around the corner. Without a word, the man pulled a mask from his pocket and slipped it over his mouth and nose. He continued down the aisle. “I hope you get COVID and die!”– a parting shot from the second woman.
The man turned a corner and approached the brightly-colored Easter display area– candy, plastic eggs, plush bunnies, baskets filled with small toys, and lots of plastic grass. One area boasted crosses–wooden crosses on stakes to put in the yard, filigree crosses to hang on the wall, pewter crosses on chains of various lengths for necklaces, bracelets, key rings… A few wall hangings and lawn banners with sunrises, lilies, cute little chicks, and old country churches. More candy. The larger bags were on sale. To the right, there were adorable clothes for the kids– suits for the little boys, frilly dresses and bonnets for the little girls. Most were 20% off. There were “dress-up” costumes, too–rabbit ears and and flower hats and fairy wings. There was even a chicken outfit with feathers. Off to the end, there were deeply discounted Halloween costumes for 70% off–zombies and vampires, witches and skeletons. A special end-cap held yet more candy.
As the man left the area, he shook his head. He wandered over to the Home Decor and craft area in a fog. There he found framed art. “God Bless America!” “Life is Better at the Lake” “Love Never Fails” “Sleep, Drink, Fish, Repeat” “Faith, Family, Freedom” “These Boots Were Made For Walkin'”, plus several with pictures–Wonder Woman, Harley-Davidson, Captain Morgan, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe.
He kept going. There were books and magazines–best-sellers, romance series, biographies, horror and self-help books. Magazines filled with gossip and gaming, guns and glamour, gardening, goddesses, and gigabytes. Just for Easter, there was a special display of leather-bound Bibles, next to the Spring Gardening guides and photographic histories of favorite Major League Baseball teams.
The man bypassed the mesmerizing glow of wide-screen TVs and computers, strolled past the sporting goods and garden center, and turned away from the auto and hardware sections. He spent a couple of minutes glancing at the furniture– prefab and chipboard dressers and bookshelves, patio tables made of plastic or resin or metal tubing; floor-model chairs and lamps already scratched and discounted.
As he approached the grocery area, his eyes widened–aisle after aisle of canned goods, packaged dinners, bags of cookies and flavored popcorn, rows of olives and pickles and hot peppers, an entire section for bread and rolls. And the meats! Large banners announced special prices this week on ham and lamb, rolls, potatoes, and special Easter cakes.
As He left the superstore, there was a bench just outside. The man sat down, sank His head into His nail-scarred hands, and shed a tear.
As I edit this, the sun is shining and melting the last of an early spring snow. It’s been a mostly pleasant day, and I’m writing this in anticipation of a pleasant week ahead. This will post on Monday morning– a brand new week, hopefully filled with new opportunities and adventures. Of course, not every day is like this. Some days are dreary, full of stress and anxiety, and filled with challenges and even tragedies. But I have been thinking about a song I learned in childhood, one that has blessed me over the years and helped me on many a dreary day, as well as on days like today.
“I have a song that Jesus gave me, It was sent from heav’n above; There never was a sweeter melody, ‘Tis a melody of love.
I love the Christ who died on Calv’ry, For He washed my sins away; He put within my heart a melody, And I know it’s there to stay.
In my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody with heaven’s harmony; In my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody of love.
‘Twill be my endless theme in glory, With the angels I will sing; ‘Twill be a song with glorious harmony, When the courts of heaven ring.
On days like today, it is easy to sing a happy tune– sunlight, shimmering snow and icicles, viewed from my nice cozy perch by the window–but the joyful song that Jesus brings rings through good days and bad; sorrow and stress; triumphs and failures. It is eternal and filled with the limitless Love of God. It is a song of peace that passes all understanding, and a confidence that sees beyond circumstances.
Sometimes, when life seems devoid of light and peace, it has less to do with our actual circumstances, and more to do with our unwillingness to look up from them. Throughout the Old Testament (and even in the New Testament) people would create songs as part of their worship–some songs celebrated God’s provision and protection; others spoke of His character and His faithfulness. But these songs weren’t just for celebration and services of worship– they were used to remind us in good times and bad, that God’s love never changes. The same God who brings victory and miracles will be with us in times of despair. The same God who sees us in our most desperate hour of need is there with us when we are enjoying a beautiful sunset.
Today, I pray that we would take a few moments, find a song or a Psalm, and just sing a prayer to our maker. It doesn’t have to be a peppy song of praise– it may even be a song of yearning or anguish– but let it be a song that rises above our day and finds the ear of the One who loves us better than anyone else. It doesn’t matter if you can’t carry a tune; God listens to the heart! Sing the song that Jesus gives to you today. Your heart will be blessed. And it will bless the very heart of your Maker, as well.
Have you ever been the “victim” of a surprise party? Maybe you sensed that something was “up”, but you were still shocked and elated to see old friends or family all wanting to wish you well on (or near) your birthday, anniversary, wedding, retirement, or even “just because”. Even if you “catch on” or if someone “spoils” the surprise, it can be a wonderful celebration. (Or, on occasion, a disaster.)
Have you ever been on the planning side of a surprise party? Several years ago, we threw a surprise birthday/retirement party for my father. It required several months of planning. We invited cousins from out of town, co-workers, neighbors, and old friends. We gathered old pictures and mementos to display, ordered cake and balloons, and tried to keep the excitement under wraps, lest my father guess our intentions. All the details fell together, except we couldn’t figure out how to get him to the party without guessing. Dad was a genius at “sussing out” secrets and surprises, and also at setting them up. We wanted to turn the tables and give him the best surprise of his life.
Then, less than a week before the party, my aunt (my mom’s sister) died in a car accident. The funeral was arranged for the same day as Dad’s celebration. We suddenly had to wrestle with a decision– to cancel or to forge ahead. With so many coming from out of town, we decided to stick with the original plan. It would be difficult– my aunt’s funeral was scheduled earlier in the day, and there would be about an hour to drive from one event to the other. Dad was certainly surprised–already dressed in his best suit, he drove from a funeral in one town to a party in his honor 20 miles away. From flowers and tears to laughter and cake…it was a day unlike any other. The first several minutes were surreal and jarring. But it was also cathartic. As difficult as the day was, we honored both my father and my aunt. Being surrounded by family and friends, some of whom joined us for both events, became a healing and encouraging experience. It was not the surprise we expected–certainly not the surprise we had planned.
Several years later, (in fact, after my father had passed away) we planned another surprise party– this time for my mother. Mom had, of course, been part of the planning (as well as the trauma) of the first event. As with the first party, we invited family from out of town, ordered cake and balloons, gathered photos and memorabilia, and wondered how to get her to the event without suspicion. All went as planned, and we had a wonderful time. Mom was delightfully surprised, and even more so for having been through the experience of the prior party.
What does any of this have to do with prayer? Well…we prayed for both parties. We prayed that all would go well, that Dad and Mom in their turn would be surprised, that guests would arrive safely, and that the parties would both please and honor the recipient. God answered both prayers. His ways are not our ways– but He is eternally good. He gave us strength for each day in its turn, in the midst of surprises– pleasant, painful, and both together!
But, far more, the two parties offer an illustration of God’s grace in the area of knowledge and foreknowledge. “If I had only known…” is a common phrase, and one that we could readily apply to the Dad’s party. But if we had known the end from the beginning, would we have changed our plans? When we say that we want to know the future, we’re generally asking to know a specific outcome of a specific event– without considering the greater consequences and impact of that outcome. When we pray, we generally pray for a specific outcome, again without knowing the full consequences. What seems like a disastrous outcome to us may be God’s way of preparing us for an unexpected blessing. God doesn’t send bad gifts– disasters come (and God allows them in His sovereignty)–but He doesn’t send disaster and pain to mock us or ruin our lives. Instead, in the midst of tragedy, He gives us unexpected strength, comfort, and sometimes, even joy.
If we had known that Dad’s party would be shadowed; that my aunt would die so suddenly, we might have given in to despair and bitterness. And though the party brought unexpected comfort, it did nothing to erase the overall grief of my aunt’s passing. But we learned so many things that day. We were reminded that our time with Dad was precious– that life itself is precious– in a solemn and powerful way. We were able to receive comfort from unexpected sources. We would not have shared our tragedy in such a public way with those who did not even know my aunt. But circumstances forced us to do so, and in the process, we were able to continue to honor her in the celebration.
If we had known all that would happen at Dad’s party, and not seen it through, we might never have risked planning a party for Mom. If we knew in advance all the joys and tragedies we would face, we would never learn how to trust God for the next step in life. Even more, we would live in constant dread of looming tragedies and negate all the joy of discovery and wonder. We might not be driven to take risks if we already knew their outcome, and we might not learn from our mistakes if we already knew their consequences…and because our lives are so short, we might only see the short-term consequences, and never see the ultimate outcome.
God is above and beyond time– He is the creator of all things, including time. He has decreed for us a beginning and an end to life on earth, and He has decreed that we should life our lives with a certain amount of suspense– of not knowing what the future holds. It holds both triumph and tragedy– trial and temptation. Life is filled with surprises– catastrophes, ecstatic joy, and “a-ha” moments–as well as peacefully uneventful moments to reflect and enjoy.
As we pray today, we can be thankful that God’s knowledge is perfect, and that His power is sufficient to hold us in the midst of shock, lift us in the midst of tragedy, and surprise us with joy along the way. And we can ask Him to grant us the wisdom to trust Him fully when we don’t see the end from the beginning– or from the middle–of the storm.
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If you ask most people what they need, you will not hear the items listed in this passage of scripture. Most people view needs in very personal and concrete terms– food, water, shelter, safety, air…we need these to exist during our life on earth. God cares about our physical and most basic needs. But most people have other “needs” that they try to meet with what the Apostle Peter refers to here as “evil desires”. We “need” to feel loved– but we end up in unhealthy relationships, or fleeting relationships that don’t meet our need. We “need” to feel secure and worthwhile– but we end up feeling fearful and ashamed. We “need” to achieve; to find fulfillment and worth in our actions, words, relationships, and legacy–but, too often, our efforts lead us to compromise the very dreams and ambitions we started with, leading us to mediocrity or even disaster.
Jesus, through His divine power, has given us everything we need–everything! His death and resurrection provided the way for us to find true forgiveness and new life. We won’t find it in any of the things we think we “need”– a new job, or a new relationship; a new car or a new cause.
Over the years, I have returned to this passage many times. There is a lot to unpack in just a few verses. One of the things that always “gets” me about this passage is that I want to just leap from Faith to Love without the steps in-between. The world needs love– I need love– and I want to spread love, reflect love, and be known for loving others. God is Love, and showed His love through Christ– I believe in God and trust Christ. Voila!– He has given me everything I need, so I should be loving. But Peter writes what he knows very well. Following Jesus, learning from Him, growing to be more like Him–it begins with Faith, but it grows through discipleship. I “loved” people before I had Faith in Christ. I may “feel” love for others, but if my thoughts and actions are not being transformed by His Spirit; or if I continue to act out of habit or selfish impulse, my “love” will be corrupted and compromised by the world. It will be “my” love and not God’s love working through me. For that to happen, I need to add goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance and all the rest.
And adding these virtues requires that I humble myself to admit that I am not “good”, that I don’t already “know” everything…that I “need” to depend on God for any goodness, wisdom, discipline, strength to persevere, etc.
God is Good– He has already made provision for me to have everything I really need. He will guide me every step of the way; giving me all that I need when and how I need it most. I don’t “need” to worry or run myself ragged trying to earn God’s approval or favor. But I do “need” to trust that God will continue to work in me and through me for His Glory. And I need to come daily before His throne to listen and learn from Him, and reach out daily to go through the steps of turning Faith into Love in action.
Pursuing Prayer 