We had a really good prayer time last night. I left there with a real sense of unity and love for the Body of Christ. It seems that there are several people who have a ministry of one type or another on their hearts (me, included) and are feeling the hand of God on us to move in that direction. More on that later.
I’m asking prayers for Stephanie this morning. She’s not feeling 100%, and has struggled making the decision whether or not to go to school. We have to call her bus driver in advance if she isn’t going. So, she has decided to be a trooper and try to stick it out. Please pray for strength for her and to feel better.
Psalm 119:65-72
65 You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
How many people do we know today that would say, “It is good for me that I was afflicted?” Not only does he say it was good, he also credits his keeping of God’s word to his afflictions, claiming that before he was afflicted, he went astray. And now, he considers the Word of God to be better than “thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
“We contemporary Christians prefer simple answers to very complex issues. We all seem to think there must be an easier way to personal depth and spiritual maturity. But the nature of reality is like a tapestry with knots underneath, a symphony containing dissonance, or a play enhanced by dramatic tension.”
Yes, we all want an easy road. 29 minutes and 59 seconds a day is all the praying you need to do. Simple answers to complex questions don’t exist. But, unfortunately, we make them up to satisfy our own feelings, or even to convince people to follow Jesus. But “Jesus never said it was an easy road to travel. He only said that you would never be alone.” I feel blessed that I was able to find this video. I remember the impact this song had on me when I first heard it.
(From A Musician Looks At the Psalms, by Don Wyrtzen)
Psalm 119:161
Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
“The more reverence we have for the word of God the more joy we shall find in it. We are to praise God even for afflictions; through grace we get good from them.”
“A good hope of salvation will engage the heart in doing the commandments. And our love to the word of God must subdue our lusts, and root out carnal affections; we must make heart work of it, or we make nothing of it.”
“Heart work.” I like that.
(From Matthew Henry Daily Readings)
DESIRES
O You that hears prayer,
Teach me to pray.
I confess that in religious exercises the language of my lips and the feelings of my heart have not always agreed,
that I have frequently taken carelessly upon my tongue a name never pronounced above without reverence and humility,
that I have often desired things which would have injured me,
that I have depreciated some of my chief mercies,
that I have erred both on the side of my hopes and also of my fears,
that I am unfit to choose for myself,
for it is not in me to direct my steps.
Let your Spirit help my infirmities,
for I know not what to pray for as I ought.
Let him produce in me wise desires by which I may ask right things,
then I shall know you hear me.
May I never be importunate for temporal blessings,
but always refer them to your fatherly goodness,
for you know what I need before I ask;
May I never think I prosper unless my soul prospers,
or that I am rich unless rich toward you,
or that I am wise unless wise unto salvation.
May I seek first your kingdom and its righteousness.
May I value things in relation to eternity.
May my spiritual welfare be my chief solicitude.
May I be poor, afflicted, despised and have your blessing,
rather than be successful in enterprise,
or have more than my heart can wish,
or be admired by my fellow-men,
if thereby these things make me forget you.
May I regard the world as dreams, lies, vanities, vexation of spirit,
and desire to depart from it.
And may I seek my happiness in your favor, image, presence, service.
(From The Valley of Vision
Prayers from the Presidential Prayer Team
PRAY FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS ADMINISTRATION
President Barack Obama is likely to scale back his remaining legislative priorities into smaller bites in hopes of
securing at least some piecemeal proposals on energy, climate change, terrorism and immigration.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will raise pressure on China and other countries to change their economic
policies for the goal of the global economy.
Pray for President Obama and his Cabinet as they plan and work out their agendas in the next two years.
Lord, the minor afflictions that I have experienced this year pale in comparison to some that I know, some that I love dearly. Nevertheless, I have benefited form those afflictions, and, like David, I can praise you for them, for I believe that I have emerged from them stronger, and with a deeper love for your words. I praise you for that. Let me never settle for “easy” answers, always recognizing that, yes, life is hard, but YOU, O Lord, are GOOD! Yes, you are good! In fact, you are the only one who could truly be called “good.”
My my love for your words subdue my lusts, and root out carnal affections. Help me make “heart work” out of this.
I pray for the ministries of our church, Lord, and for each person who feels your hand on their heart for a ministry or task.
I lift up Stephanie to you, Lord, for this day. Heal her headache, and give her strength for this day.
Life is hard, but God is good.
Grace and peace, friends.
Spaces of Beauty, Grace, Prayer, and Mercy 