Thanksgiving Day 2023 – Pause for a moment today and thank God for all His blessings!
1. Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom God’s world rejoices, who from our mother’s arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
2. Oh may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us, and keep us all with grace, and guide us when perplexed, and free us from all ills in this world and the next.
3. All praise and thanks to God who reigns in highest heaven, the Father and the Son and Spirit now be given, the one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore, for thus it was, is now and shall be evermore.
Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work.–Oswald Chambers
I once was employed under contract as a workforce developer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. During the course of serving in this role I performed as a case manager for several hundred men and women who had lost their jobs. For the most part, my clients were blue collar workers from manufacturing industries in the Greater Pittsburgh area. If there’s one lesson I learned from this experience, it is that the only thing a worker complains more about than his or job is complaining about not having a job to go to each day.
For the past 12 years I’ve helped job seekers as a volunteer job coach. Many of those I assist are Christians. I encourage believers to put God at the center of their job search. Christians job seekers can approach the process with the same principles that guide their faith and values. The following discusses some tips and guidance I give them.
Prayer: Begin by seeking God’s guidance through prayer. Ask for wisdom, discernment, and clarity in your job search. Pray for guidance on what kind of work aligns with your skills, interests, and values.
A prayer – Heavenly Father, you know my needs before I speak them. I come to You humbly seeking guidance and mercy in my job search. Provide suitable opportunities and lead me through a journey aligned with Your will. Grant me strength, wisdom, and favor as I seek employment.
When you are unemployed: I encourage unemployed job seekers to make the job search process their full-time job. Try to work at it at least six hours per day, five days per week. Make church, prayer and scripture reading part of your routine. Set aside time for family, fitness, recreation, and rest.
Reflection: Reflect on your skills, interests, and values. Consider what type of work aligns with your talents and passions. This self-assessment can help you identify job opportunities that resonate with your God-given abilities.
Networking: Build and leverage your network of friends, family, and fellow believers. Networking can often lead to job opportunities and provide valuable insights into companies and industries. Attend church events and gatherings to connect with others who might have job leads or advice. Search the Internet for job networking groups near you.
A prayer – Heavenly Father, Guide and bless me as I network for my job search. May the connections I make be in accordance with Your will for my life. Help me to build meaningful relationships leading to opportunities.
Resume and cover letter: Build a well-written resume and cover letter that highlight your skills and experience. Be honest and accurate about yourself.
Online job search: Use online job search platforms to find job openings. Websites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and others can help you identify job opportunities matching your qualifications.
Employer values: Research potential employers to ensure their corporate values and culture align with your beliefs and principles. Investigate their mission statement, corporate social responsibility, and work environment.
Christian Ethics Check: Ensure that the job you’re pursuing doesn’t involve unethical practices or conflicts with your Christian beliefs. For example, consider the ethical implications of the products or services the company provides.
Interview preparation: Prepare for job interviews by practicing common interview questions and formulating answers that reflect your values and experiences. Be honest and transparent during the interview process.
A prayer – God of all wisdom, you have promised to give wisdom to anyone who asks. As I approach my interview, please give me wisdom in my speech. Guide my thoughts and direct my steps. When I experience uncertainty and confusion, may I lean on your limitless wisdom. May your Holy Spirit be at work in me like a lamp to my feet and shield to my mind. Help me to think clearly and calmly. Help me to speak with confidence and clarity. Help me to glorify you in this interview.
Work-life balance: Prioritize work-life balance. Overworking can be detrimental to your spiritual and personal lives. Seek employers who offer flexibility and understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Patience and Trust: Job searches are marathons, not sprints. Trust in God’s plan for your life and exercise patience in the job search process. Sometimes, it may take time to find the right opportunity that aligns with your values and skills.
Seek advice: Consult with mentors, pastors, or other trusted individuals in your Christian circles for guidance and support during your job search. They can provide valuable insights and spiritual advice.
Remember that the job search process can be challenging, and it’s important to remain faithful to your principles and values throughout. Seek opportunities that allow you to be a positive influence in your workplace and community, and always strive to honor God in your work.
A prayer – Heavenly Father, help me to remain diligent in my job search because I know it is only with Your guidance that I can truly succeed. Thank You, Holy Father, because I have faith that you are leading me toward the perfect employment opportunity.
*AI was used to search for the prayers used in this piece.
Anyone who has spent some time in a deep swimming pool probably knows the feeling of diving a little too deep and then having to hold their breath while struggling towards the water’s surface, lungs aching for oxygen. The urge to breathe in such a situation is nearly irresistible. Breathing is such a natural part of life that most healthy people do it unconsciously. Breath and breathing hold a special place in the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” i.e., Scripture comes straight from the mouth of God!
In Genesis 2:7, God’s breath equates to life, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
We see this again in Ezekiel 37:9, the story of the Valley of Dry Bones. We read, “Then he said to me (Ezekiel), ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’”
In Luke 23:46, the absence of God’s breath equates to death. We read, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” Many places in the scriptures tell us someone “breathed his last” and died.
John 20:21-22, in a passage we call the Great Commission, equates the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ breath. It reads, “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”
There’s no denying that there is power in the breath of God!
Breath Prayer
I have a friend who recently took a new job in counseling. A lot of his work is done via phone calls. Yesterday he told me, “I finally have a full case load and so I’m frequently very busy… but relearning to breathe and talk to the Lord as I’m dialing a call.” My friend is on to something. Wittingly or unwittingly, he has learned the value of breath prayer. I only learned this lesson recently.
Nancy S. Wiens wrote this about breath prayer:
Within the Orthodox tradition, Breath Prayer appears perhaps as early as the 3rd century. Known as the “Jesus Prayer” or “Prayer of the Heart,” it draws from Mark 10:47, where a blind man, Bartimaeus, calls Jesus to heal him. A common form is, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” By placing a few words on the inhale and a few on the exhale, it unites the prayer with the body. (Breath Prayer: An Ancient Spiritual Practice Connected with Science. As found at biologos.org)
Breath prayer focuses on speaking, aloud or silently in one’s heart, a short phrase or prayer while coordinating it with one’s breathing. It can be useful in reducing anxiety, cultivating mindfulness, centering, and forming a deeper connection with God.
To engage in breath prayer, one typically chooses a brief phrase or prayer that is personally significant to them. It can be a simple affirmation, a biblical verse, or a sacred word or name. For example, in Christianity, a common breath prayer is “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” Below is a beginner’s list of breath prayers. I highly recommend you give them a try.
As we breathe without ceasing, so should we pray!
*Peace. Be still. – from Mark 4:39
Speak Lord. I am listening. – from 1 Samuel 3:9
You are the Potter. I am the Clay. – from Isaiah 64:8
You, Lord are my shield. And the lifter of my head. – from Psalm 3:3
I am anxious for nothing. I give thanks and make my needs known to you. – from Philippians 4:6
You satisfy me with good things. And I am renewed. – from Psalm 103:1-5
I serve with the strength God provides. To God be the glory. – from 1 Peter 4:11
My flesh and heart may fail. But God is my strength forever. – from Psalm 73:26
You are doing a new thing. Let me perceive it! – from Isaiah 43:19
Keeping my eyes on what is unseen // I do not lose heart. – from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Lord, shine your face on me. Lord, give me peace. – from Numbers 6:25-28
When I am afraid // I put my trust in you. – from Psalm 56:3
My heart trusts in God alone. I have no fear of bad news. – from Psalm 112:7-8
* I hope that some of my readers will find this list useful. Thanks to Rachel Mayew for providing it in her “Holistic Faith” blog.
Along the wilderness journey we call life, one will inevitably face periods of adversity. They can begin in a multitude of ways. Some of the most common causes are the death of a loved one, a bad medical diagnosis, the breakup of a love relationship, losing a job, or a personal financial crisis just to name a few. In extreme cases, severe adversity can make one wonder whether their life is worth living anymore.
My life has been overflowing with adversity recently, including the deaths of a beloved uncle and a beloved brother-in-law in rapid succession, and my own health concerns. Prayer and meditation on God’s word can be a great source of comfort when facing adversity. The Lord Jesus has given his followers a model for prayer in what today we generally refer to as “the Lord’s Prayer.” The most familiar form of His prayer is found in chapter 11 of Luke’s Gospel.
It is Jesus model for daily prayer and focuses on approaching life with faith in God, one day at a time. I suspect that Jesus prayed a similar prayer daily. I have found Psalm 143 to be a wonderful companion to the Lord’s Prayer, particularly when believers are navigating periods of adversity. This psalm is attributed to David and is one of the Seven Penitential Prayers found in the Book of Psalms. Below I share some thoughts on how this psalm speaks to me.
Psalm 143 (a form used in the Scottish Episcopal Church)
1 Lord, hear my prayer, and in your faithfulness heed my supplications; answer me in your righteousness.
This is an opening petition acknowledging that God listens to my prayers and takes them to heart. Our God is a good listener and is never too busy to pay attention when one of His children prays. He seriously considers each prayer I lift up to Him, and he answers each according to His holy will.
2 Enter not into judgement with your servant, for in your sight shall no one living be justified. Verse 2 asks God not to judge me by my actions, as all have sinned against Him and fallen short of the total obedience He requires. I can rest assured that I don’t have to earn the right to pray to God. Christ has already paid the price of admission for a space where I may kneel before the throne of God the Father and offer my heartfelt prayers. Jesus is my advocate before the Father and the Holy Spirit prays for me when I lack the proper words to make my own petitions.
3For my enemy has sought my life; he has crushed me to the ground; he has made me live in dark places like those who are long dead. 4My spirit faints within me; my heart within me is desolate.
These verses remind me of 1 Peter 5, which describes Satan as a roaring lion that is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. For me it paints a dark picture of the adversity I am facing, as if I were hiding in a tomb, filled with a spirit of fear and hopelessness, abandoned by God. Jesus must have felt like this hanging on the cross, asking why God had forsaken him.
5I remember the time past; I muse upon all your deeds; I consider the works of your hands. Verse 5 steps back and from the darkness and depression of the two preceding verses as the Psalmist recalls how God has led him through adversity and saved him. As I read this verse, I recall the many times in my life God has rescued me from adversity.
6I spread out my hands to you; my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land.7 O Lord, make haste to answer me; my spirit fails me; do not hide your face from me or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Like a small child reaching for the outstretched hands of a loving parent, I trust in my God for comfort and sustenance. My spirit thirsts for God like the desert thirsts for water. I ask God to respond quickly, as I feel like I’m standing on the brink of disaster.
8Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning, for I put my trust in you; show me the road that I must walk, for I lift up my soul to you.
As I begin a new day, I ask God to reassure me of his loving presence. I trust in God to sustain me throughout the day.
9Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, for I flee to you for refuge.
I ask God to foil the plans of my enemies, both spiritual and physical ones. Seeking refuge from my enemies, I turn to God’s word and prayer for comfort.
10Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
I ask the Holy Spirit to lead me along a safe path where I may understand God’s will for my life and learn how to do His will. I pray that the Holy Spirit will move the mountains of adversity that are in my way.
11Revive me, O Lord, for your name’s sake; for your righteousness’ sake, bring me out of trouble.
My spirit grows weary and I need God to renew and refresh me. In accordance with His holy will, I ask him to rescue me from all adversity that troubles me.
12Of your goodness, destroy my enemies and bring all my foes to naught, for truly I am your servant.
This closing verse echoes verse 9, reiterating my need for God’s protection from my enemies. I am reminded that as God’s servant, I am owned and protected in His holy service.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Jesus raises a young girl from the dead (Luke 8:40-42)
“Never let an impossible situation intimidate you. Let it motivate you—to pray more, trust more, expect More.” —Pastor Rick Warren
Have you ever felt like you were in an impossible situation? Maybe it was a scary medical diagnosis. Or perhaps a loved one died. Maybe a job was lost and it took a long time to find the next one. Or perhaps a child was gravely ill. Regardless of the cause, countless people have experienced this feeling. I have certainly been there.
This feeling can be scary and may lead to any number of problems, including sadness, depression, loneliness, and feelings of isolation. Left unchecked, it can lead to thoughts about harming oneself or others, and even suicidal thoughts.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. —Philippians 4:13*
Fortunately, God has the perfect way of dealing with impossible situations. Jesus Christ is the God of the impossible. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “miracle” as, “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.” The Gospels have numerous accounts of miracles performed by Jesus. Here are a number of them.
Early in his ministry on Earth, Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2). He calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 8) and walked on water (Matthew 14). Following a long day of preaching, Jesus fed a crowd of 5,000 with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish (Mark 6). He healed the lame (John 5) and cleansed Lepers of their disease (Luke 17). Jesus cured a woman suffering with a fever (Matthew 8) and he cast out demons (Luke 8). He gave sight to the blind (John 9) and cured a woman with a bleeding disorder (Matthew 9). Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead (Matthew 11). And finally, on the third day following his own death by crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead, defeating sin and death forever.
Jesus was and remains the God of the Impossible for those who come to him as their Lord and Savior. I believe this in my heart. Believing is easy when things are going my way. I am trying to learn how to put this into action when the going gets too tough for me to handle. Every morning I meditate on Psalm 143 as part of my daily devotion time. I find verses 8 – 10 to be a great source of encouragement and comfort, especially when I feel overwhelmed by life. I hope you might find them equally useful.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible. —Oswald Chambers
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. –Psalm 107:1*
Recently I’ve been pondering what it means to give thanks to God. The Bible is full of examples of thanksgiving being lifted up to the Lord. After giving it much thought, I’ve come to several conclusions. First and foremost, thanking God is my way of acknowledging His supreme authority and position in my life. God gave me life! Everything that is good in my life is a gift from Him.
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. –Psalm 69:30
Second, there are multiple ways to give thanks to God. These include praying; through the written, recorded and spoken work; in song; in giving of one’s time and treasure; and in prayerfully doing good works for others with no motive other than serving God. I write this blog as a thank offering to God. There are many other ways of thanking God that area not listed here. It occurs to me that we can thank God in almost any situation we encounter throughout the day. Continually thanking God can help one remain cognizant of God’s endless presence in his or her life.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. –I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Third, we are to thank God in all circumstances, both the easy times, the difficult ones and those in between. In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul tells us he has learned to be content whatever his circumstances. This is a tough one. In my lifetime I’ve had some real tragedies. When tragedy strikes, it is particularly difficult to discern any good at the time. Over the years I’ve learned to pray to God for strength to get me though the difficulties and to give me wisdom to understand. While it was difficult to discern the good at the time, in retrospect each difficult period of my life was a time of learning and spiritual growth that helped prepare me for God’s eternal kingdom.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! –2 Corinthians 9:15
Finally, give thanks to the lord for his grace in offering us salvation through Jesus Christ.
Doxology
I thank you, God, for your grace, the gift of life and my salvation through Jesus Christ. Thank you for the Godly women who helped lead me to the Savior in my childhood. Thank you for loving aunts, uncles, and grandparents who helped raise and care for me after my parents divorced. Thank you for the churches and teachers who helped nurture and train me along the way. Thank you for giving me a godly wife to share my life with. Thank you for my children and grandchildren who bring joy to my life. Thank you for friends and family who have added richness to my life. Thank you for protecting and shielding me during times of trouble. Thank you for the work that enables me to sustain my family. Thank you for this day and all my days to come. Thanks be to God!
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way,
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.—Proverbs 28:27*
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on US and global economies. Hundreds of thousands of businesses have closed for varying pandemic-related reasons. The food service industry here at home has been hit particularly hard. Thousands of restaurants have closed, with most having no hope of reopening. The middle class is shrinking, leaving a fractured nation that is increasingly becoming a land of haves and have nots. History has demonstrated that as the middle class shrinks and the lower class grows, civil unrest often increases.
To survive, many American families have had to dip into retirement savings, placing the future in question. When savings are exhausted, losing a job can mean losing nearly everything. The ability to pay a big mortgage, something common for young working couples today, often depends on the salaries of both spouses. If even one of them loses their job, foreclosure becomes a distinct possibility! To stay afloat they must negotiate with lenders, which in the long run usually means increasing the size of their mortgages and/or tapping into short term savings and retirement accounts. Early retirement withdrawals are usually accompanied by additional fees.
On top of pandemic problems, even before COVID-19 economic globalization had given rise to thousands of large companies that are loyal to neither to their country of origin nor to their employees. Workers, especially blue collar ones, are increasingly being treated like disposable commodities that are brushed into the trash bin like rubbish on a picnic table. Highly educated and skilled working professionals who lose their jobs and end up turning to the government for assistance are common today. In my job working with the unemployed, I heard many lament, “I never imagined that I could end up in this situation.” This can and must change.
Churches, especially those in large urban areas, are often unaware of the financial struggles of individuals and families in their area—even when those affected are members of the church. Many churches have lost touch with early traditions. The scriptures speak frequently about caring for those who share the faith. This is an essential part of discipleship that helps the church set its own house in order. In Acts chapter 6, the Apostles appointed seven deacons to assist in the distribution of food to local widows, who were followers of Christ. James 1:27 tell us, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
Even clearer instruction comes straight from the mouth of our Lord in John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Building a healthy church family is essential to serving those in need outside the church. Brett Eastman has served as the small groups champion in several of the largest mega churches in the country including Pastor Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church. Eastman writes:
“If you want to create a church community that really cares for one another, the best way to do it is through small groups. When small groups become the vehicle for care-giving, the whole church gets involved in sharing one another’s burdens—a much more personal approach than relegating the task to a committee. The whole congregation should be making hospital visits, taking meals to people when they’re sick or something’s happened, doing childcare when someone’s in crisis and giving money when somebody’s lost a job.”
Small groups in churches set the conditions for encouraging personal intimacy and trust building—essential elements of loving Christian relationships. Only by sharing our hopes, fears, cares and concerns do we really get to know other believers well.
Small groups also enable churches to develop outreach ministries. One way for small groups to quickly make a difference is by reaching out to Christian charities in their church’s local area. Charities are always in need of volunteers, financial supporters, prayer warriors and other resources. The possibilities are endless. You can’t take care of everybody, but you can take care of somebody. The closest ministry filed for any church is the one inside its doors. The largest ministry field for every church is the one just outside the church doors.
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.—Proverbs 19:17
Do you love God? Do you know God’s son, Jesus Christ? Do you spend time with him daily? Revelation 22:4-5 shows us a picture of the saints in heaven enjoying a “perpetual communion” with God, “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever.” While this passage in Revelation paints a picture of the future, the perpetual communion it describes is available to Christ followers today. But how do we get there?
In the hustle and bustle of today’s busy, fast-moving life it can be easy to pass an entire day without having even a single thought of God. At least this is true for me and I suspect many others will recognize it as true. So how does one achieve perpetual communion with God today? Here’s a clue. One of the things I admire about Muslims is their commitment to the daily prayers. Practicing Muslims pause to pray five times a day. The pause for prayer is a chance to center one’s self and refocus on their god. The prayers go like this:
First: This prayer starts off the day with the recognition of God; it takes place before sunrise.
Second: After the day’s work has begun, one breaks shortly after noon to again remember God and seek His guidance.
Third: In the late afternoon, the faithful take a few minutes to remember God and the greater meaning of their lives.
Fourth: Just after the sun goes down, one remembers God again as the day begins to come to a close.
Fifth: Before retiring for the night, the Muslim faithful pause to remember God’s presence, guidance, mercy, and forgiveness.
Whether or not you’re a Muslim, such a daily prayer schedule that keeps one focused on God is a wonderful idea. Abraham was the father of both Islam and Judaism. In Genesis 17, God appeared to Abraham and “spoke with him,” announcing the Covenant of Circumcision. Genesis chapter 5 list Adam’s descendants down to Noah. Speaking of one descendant who was named Enoch, verse 24 says, “Enoch walked with God, and he was not for God took him.”
The meaning of this cryptic passage has been heavily debated by Bible scholars. Did Enoch physically walk with God? Was he taken up to heaven without dying? The New Testament holds a clue. Hebrews 11:5 says, “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken, he was commended as having pleased God.”
It appears that both Abraham and Enoch literally met God—stood in His presence while they lived on this Earth—pretty special to say the least. Even so, they could not have seen him face to face. Moses too had a literal meeting with God. God spoke to him in Exodus 33:20, saying, “…you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” Exodus 33:23 goes on to recount how God physically passed by Moses, showing him his back.
Like Adam and Eve before them, Abraham, Enoch and Moses were blessed to have physically communed with God. I can’t help but think how easy it would be for me to live in perpetual communion with God if I could physically meet him. God doesn’t make it that easy, however. As Jesus tells the Apostle Thomas in John 20:29, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
What moves someone to believe without seeing. From Jesus’ own words spoken to “doubting Thomas,” we can extrapolate that developing a perpetual communion with God requires faith. The renowned Scottish theologian Oswald Chambers said, “The mystery of God is not in what is going to be, it is now…Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.” Communion with God leads to liberation—being set free from the cares and worries of the day. How can one achieve this liberation? As Chambers suggests, we must first recognize that God is here now!
How is such a close communion developed? Unlike justification, which Luther explained is achieved “through faith alone” (sole fide), developing a perpetual communion with God requires more than faith. It requires hard work. This work takes two forms: studying the Scriptures and praying without ceasing, as Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. We cannot truly come to know and understand God without committing ourselves to studying the scriptures, for they are the revealed word of God. Prayer is also essential. Psalm 143 suggests we should begin each day with prayer: “Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning, for I put my trust in you.”
With respect to praying, one often overlooked aspect of prayer is extremely important to developing a perpetual communion with God—praying requires listening! We need to take time to be silent and listen for the voice of God. God is with us. His name is Emmanuel. Start getting to know Him today and begin the hard work of developing a perpetual communion with Him.
Amazingly, the Creator and Ruler of the universe wants to spend time with you so that you can know Him better. It’s as if He is saying, “I want you all to Myself for a little while.” Take Him up on the invitation to get away to a quiet place and learn about Him. –Dr. Charles Stanley
“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”
As I began writing this post it was the first Sunday in the church season of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. Lent is a time of preparation to celebrate Christ’s resurrection on Easter day. The blessing priests pronounce at the Ash Wednesday service is a solemn reminder of our mortality—the priest draws the sign of the cross with ashes on one’s forehead while saying, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”
On the surface, this seems like an odd sort of blessing—a reminder that you’re going to die someday. Death is an inevitable part of life, but it’s a contradiction because it wasn’t part of God’s plan for us. The Lenten ashes on one’s forehead reminds us that we are dead in our sinfulness and that our only hope is God’s saving grace, a gift offered freely through Christ’s death and resurrection.
Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, where he bore the sins of the world, revealed God’s limitless love for each of us. Death has a way of revealing love. Over the past 100 days I’ve lost three dear friends and Army pals. For me, their deaths are also a reminder of my own mortality. I miss them all and will miss them always. It’s easy to take someone for granted while they’re alive, but their death provides a stark reminder of how much they meant in one’s life. Though I miss them all, I take comfort in the knowledge that they were all Christ followers and they will see the Lord face to face on Resurrection Day.
Lent is a somber season. The focus on penance, fasting, and one’s mortality is like living Christ’s final journey to Jerusalem and His crucifixion. The beauty of the crucifixion is that it isn’t the end of the story. It is the chapter in Jesus’ life leading to the season of Easter and the celebration of His glorious resurrection, which brings a gift of eternal life to those who accept him as Savior. Lent is my favorite church season.
“(Lent) is a period of spiritual ‘combat’ which we must experience alongside Jesus, not with pride and presumption, but using the arms of faith: prayer, listening to the word of God and penance. In this way we will be able to celebrate Easter in truth, ready to renew the promises of our Baptism.” -Pope Benedict XVI
If you come from a church tradition that doesn’t celebrate Lent, I encourage you to learn more about it. There are many free resources available online from the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Please visit the “Gift of Lent” link below.
It is good to be last not first, Pending the present distress; It is good to hunger and thirst, So it be for righteousness. It is good to spend and be spent, It is good to watch and to pray: Life and Death make a goodly Lent, So it leads us to Easter Day.
Prayer is like a battle. The enemy is constantly placing barriers in your way to keep you from reaching your final objective.
Life is a series of continual distractions that make it difficult to find time to commune with God. Even if one manages to slip away to a quiet place for a few minutes, odds are they will find themselves distracted by thoughts about what lies ahead in their day or week. I’ve heard so many people complain, “My days are so busy I just can’t find time to pray.” In reality, if you have a busy day ahead you can’t afford not to pray. Paul’s epistle to the Church at Philippi says:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6-7
This is tough advice! Who, after all, is not anxious about something, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic? And how difficult is it to present your prayers to God with thanksgiving in every situation? “Dear God, I thank you for allowing me to crash my car into that tree yesterday.” Prayer is tough work indeed.
The nation has just gone through a painful, extraordinarily divisive presidential election process. The political rhetoric is still turned up to near the boiling point. Political disagreements have resulted in many friendships ending and have even caused divorces. Sometime it feels like the entire world has gone mad amidst the name calling, threats, riots, burning and looting. Many politicians will tell you that they have the answers to all our problems, but they don’t. Only God can fix this mess!
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. —Psalm 121:1-2
More than any time in recent history, America’s Christians need to join together in praying for our nation and those whom have been elected to serve. So, what about that politician from the “other” party? Should you pray for him or her? “God, please help this idiot to see how wrong he is.” Well, not exactly. You can certainly pray that the Holy Spirit would convict the individual politician to make decisions that honor God, especially politicians who profess to be Christ followers.
If you have a beef with a particular politician—get over it. I don’t mean this in the traditional fashion that contemporary culture says “get over it.” I mean that, as Christians, we are obliged to forgive those who have trespassed against us, just as we pray to God to forgive us our own sins.
“In Jesus, we experience freedom not only from sin and its hold on us but also from guilt, shame, worry, Satan’s lies, superstitions, false teaching, and eternal death. No longer hostages, we have freedom to show love to enemies, walk in kindness, live with hope, and love our neighbors. As we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, we can forgive as we’ve been forgiven” —Patricia Raybon, Our Daily Bread
Now here’s where it really gets difficult. Not only are we told to “forgive as we’ve been forgiven,” but in Matthew 5, Jesus tells us to love our enemies:
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. —Matthew 5:43-45
Is there a politician or other leader whose behavior absolutely disgusts you? If so, think of that person, then pray for him or her. Really! Pray that God will soften their heart. It they profess to be a Christian, ask God to fill them with the Holy Spirit.
Since 2001, The Presidential Prayer Team has been the source thousands of Americans have turned to for encouragement and inspiration to pray for America’s leaders. It is a non-partisan organization. I encourage you click the “About Us” link below to visit their website and sign up for the daily prayer alerts.
Father God, good leaders, come from you. Lord, this nation needs leaders with discerning hearts and wise minds. I beseech you today asking you today to give us wise leaders that will lead this nation in the right direction. Remove wrong people that are corrupt and living against your word from influential positions. Let our leaders be people who honor your holy name for it is only from you that they will get true wisdom. It is in the mighty name of Jesus that we believe and pray, Amen. —Anonymous
Divine Simplicity 
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