Week 6 of Lent (All Together)

Day 29, of On-line Study From Pray.  AcT. Pray Again.

MONDAY

 Endurance, Adapted from James 1.  Dear Lord, today I ask for endurance when my faith is tested, knowing that endurance will have its perfect result, that You may find me complete, lacking in nothing for You.    If I lack wisdom, please provide me with knowledge of Your ways. If I lack in faith, remove my doubts.  If I lack humility, instruct me to be humble.  Bless me with perseverance, so that I may receive Your crown of life.  I know that every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father, with whom there is no variation or shadow.  Help me to be quick to hear, slow to speak and even slower to anger, in all humility to receive Your word implanted in my soul.  My desire is to be a doer of Your word, not merely a self-deluded hearer, so that I may receive Your full blessing in my life.  I ask all of this in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Today’s Focus:

“Dear Lord, today I ask for endurance.”

Background:

Eugene Peterson reminds us that eventually the church—because it is a hospital for sinners and not a museum of saints—makes mistakes.  People outside the church take great pride pointing to the church as “just another business.”  Peterson responds by saying not all sick people make it into the hospital—in that same way not all sinners make it into the church.  He goes on to say that “Christian churches are not, as a rule, models of good behavior.  They are, rather, places where human misbehavior is brought out into the open, faced and dealt with.”

This epistle of James does precisely that—it says wisdom that sees truth as an abstract but does not bring about better skills for real living is not really wisdom.

Monday’s Questions to Ponder:

What action do you know you need to take that will bring you closer to God?  What skill do you need to practice routinely to help nurture your faith?    

Be blessed this day,

Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

 Day 30, of On-line Study From Pray.  AcT. Pray Again. (page 82)

TUESDAY

 Speak the Truth Adapted from Psalm 119:41-48.  May Your loving kindness come to me, Oh Lord. I claim Your salvation according to Your promise; give me the right answer to anyone who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word.  And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I put my hope in Your wisdom and direction.  Help me to keep Your law in my heart continually, forever and ever.  I know I walk at liberty when I seek Your will.  I speak Your truths before leaders and will not be ashamed.  I delight in Your commandments, which I love, and I meditate on Your statutes.  I lift up my hands to You in praise.  In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Today’s Focus:

“Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth.”

Background:

The ancient theologian Ambrose asks if we are careful how we use God’s Word.  He cautions against using the Words or Laws of God for our own benefit rather than to glorify God.  He wants us to slow down and think before we speak.  He asks, “How is what I am about to speak of useful?” 

There was an ad on television that depicts Abraham Lincoln’s wife asking him, “Does this dress make my backside look big?” (Not sure if this YouTube still works.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdy3orO6tQA.  If you have not seen it—take a look.  The actors do a good job of showing a real-life dilemma of how we might decide to “tell the truth in love.”  Ambrose suggests that “most people call useful only what is profitable to them.”  So here’s the thing, do we ever take the time to pause and ask—is what I am about to say of value to anyone other than myself?   

Tuesday’s Questions to Ponder:

Does what I am about to say need to be said?  Does it honor God?  Is it filled with mercy and compassion? 

Be blessed this day,

Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

Day 31, of On-line Study From PRAY.  AcT. Pray Again. (Page 85)

WEDNESDAY

Transformed Adapted from Romans 12.  Lord, my desire is to present myself as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to You… not conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of my mind, to demonstrate that Your will in my life is good, acceptable and perfect.   Help me not to think too highly of myself, but to have sound judgment according to the allotment of faith given to me by You.   Help me to practice love without hypocrisy, to abhor evil and cling to what is good.  Help me to be devoted to You and to my Christian brothers and sisters, diligent, fervent in spirit, as I serve You with joy.   Help me to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, being of the same mind and not wise in my own estimation.   I pray that I may be at peace with all men, never taking revenge, never overcome by evil, but always overcome with good, in the holy name of Jesus.   Amen

Today’s Focus:

“Help me to have sound judgment according to the allotment of faith given to me by You.”

Background:

We talk, as followers of Jesus Christ, about knowing and doing God’s will.  In 2011, our Church Council is took its time to practice spiritual devotions before meetings and to ask when we vote if we are discerning that this is God’s intention for our church.  The concept of discernment is one where a group intentionally seeks to use collective wisdom to better determine where God is leading us to go.  In Paul’s letter to the Romans we are taught that the ability to do God’s will requires that we know what gifts we have been given.  Paul wants the Romans to know that every person has the exact allotment of faith needed for them to function within the group.  All of the gifts used together complement each other.  When these spiritual gifts are used to address the needs of the group, everyone is able to contribute and grow in grace.  There are no prima donnas in this group; there is no hypocrisy, revenge, or evil.  

Wednesday’s Questions to Ponder:

Where in your life has your allotment of faith strengthened you?  Where have you ever seen focusing on God’s will outdistance hypocrisy, revenge, or evil? 

Be blessed this day,

Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

Day 32, of On-line Study From PRAY.  AcT. Pray Again. (Page 88)

THURSDAY

Cry to God, Adapted from Psalm 119:145-152.  I cried with all my heart, answer me, Oh Lord.  I will observe Your statutes.  I cried to You, save me, and I will keep Your testimonies; I rise before dawn and cry for help.  I wait for Your words.  My eyes anticipate the night watches that I may meditate on Your promise.  Hear my voice according to Your loving kindness.  Revive me, O Lord, according to Your ordinances.  Those who follow after wickedness draw near; they are far from Your law.  But You are near, Oh Lord, and all Your commandments are truth. Of old I have known about Your truths, that You established forever.  I put all of my trust in You and claim the power of Your salvation.  Amen.

Today’s Focus:

I put all of my trust in You.

Background:

Origen writes about how the Holy Spirit inflames the hearts of believers.  Athanasius explains how God defends believers while helping them to withstand any trouble.  Prayer is the necessary connection that keeps us aware of God’s work in our lives and prevents us from hurting our brothers and sisters. 

In Luke 24.32, after Jesus has spoken to Cleopas on the road to Emmaus Cleopas asks his friend, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”  James Luther Mays describes how Psalm 119 “establishes certain points that are crucial for Scriptural piety. These ideas are taken from Interpretation: Psalms, on pages 384-385:  (a) God’s instruction taken from Scripture depends upon God’s actions and should never become a separate idol in itself, (b) obedience and faith are one response—devoutness should not be legalistic,  (c) understanding the Word of God becomes a part of the DNA of the believer where faith is seeking understanding and  knowledge is never an end in itself, (d) ultimately this process of  trusting God sets the heart on fire allowing us to be whole and devoted to God in a way that is reflected in all that we do.

Thursday’s Questions to Ponder:

What does it mean to say faith is always seeking understanding? Have you ever seen instruction taken from Scripture become an idol?  What does it mean to “put all trust in God”?

Be blessed this day,

Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

Day 33, of On-line Study From PRAY.  AcT. Pray Again. (Page 90)

FRIDAY

Claim the Prayer Jesus Prayed for You Adapted from John 17:1-26.  On the day before He was betrayed, Jesus prayed for us:  Father, the hour has come to glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom You have given Him, He gives eternal life.  Based on this prayer, I boldly stake my claim for eternal life that I may truly come to know the Father, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom the Father sent.  Jesus glorified the Father on earth, having accomplished the work that was given to Him.  I claim the promise of Jesus who asked on my behalf, that I am kept safe in His name, and I am guarded so that I will not perish.  I ask, as Jesus did on my behalf, not to be taken out of the world, but to be kept from the evil one.  I ask to be sanctified in truth as I believe through the Word.  I pray that the glory given to Jesus will someday be mine and that I will be one with Jesus and the Father.  I look forward to beholding God’s glory.  I claim His Love in me as the Father is in Jesus and Jesus is in me through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Today’s Focus:

I ask to be sanctified in truth as I believe through the Word.

Background:

Today’s prayer from the Gospel of John 17.1-26 includes Jesus praying to the Father for himself; for his disciples’ safety; for unity while facing opposition; for sanctification by truth in a world of hate; and for unity among believers.  Augustine says the more we know who Jesus is the more we can advance into a life that more fully glorifies God.  (Ancient Christian Commentary, NT 4b, page 227.) 

Just before I began this on-line class, I had a vivid dream.  When I awoke, two questions were on my heart.  The first one was clearly Jesus asking, “Who do people say I am?”  The second was the more personal, “Who do you say I am?”  Those questions have been on my mind throughout Lent.  To know and proclaim that Jesus is Lord is to acknowledge that the World is being restored through Christ, and we “shall see the goodness of God in the land of the living” (Psalm 27.13.)

Friday’s Questions to Ponder:

Where have you seen the goodness of God in the land of the living?  Who do you say Jesus is?

Be blessed this day,

Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org

Day 34, of On-line Study From Pray. Act. Pray Again. (Page 92)

SATRUDAY

The Lord Is My Keeper, Adapted from Psalm 121.  I lift up my eyes to the mountains, from whence shall my help come?  My help comes from You, Lord, who made heaven and earth. You do not allow my foot to slip; You who keep me do not slumber…You are my keeper, You are the shade on my right hand.  The sun does not smite me by day or the moon by night.  You keep me from all evil.  You keep my soul.  I know that You keep my going out and my coming in from this time forth and forever.  Amen.  

Today’s Focus:

My help comes from You, Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Background:

Psalm 121 is called “A Dialogue of Confession and Assurance.”  According to Augustine, all help on earth and in heaven comes through Christ.  He warns that we need to be careful to worship the Creator and not the creation.  Cassiodorus explains that when the psalmist says “lift up my eyes” he or she means “raise to a higher level.”  Paul’s letter to the Corinthians describes well that “He who supplies seed to the Sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”  During the upcoming Holy Week let us focus on the reality that all help comes from the Lord. 

In truth, we can be lazy and unobservant.  The psalmist knows this and wants us to remember that while we go through periods of sloth, God is always there waiting for us to ask for help.

Saturday’s Questions to Ponder:

Where do you need help this week?  Have you ever asked the Lord for guidance, support and protection?  What has been your experience in those times?

Be blessed this day,

Kathleene      Prayactprayagain.org