Like a Thief in the Night - A prayer from 1 Thessalonians 5

Oh, Lord, Your day is coming, unexpectedly and without warning, like a thief breaking into a home in the middle of the night.  People who do not know You (but think they know everything) do not realize that their self-made "security" - money, power, influence - will crumble instantly on that great and terrible day, and there will be no escape.

I can only thank You for Your mercy in bringing me out of the darkness, into Your light, even as I pray for loved ones.  Have mercy on them, O Lord, and open their eyes to see You, too.  Help our family to live as children of light, under the control of the truth.  May we view the circumstances of life with wisdom and circumspection, knowing that You are in control of all things, an d that we must live lives of faith and love.  Faith in You, at all times, no matter what.  Love for You, and for others, as your great commandment says.

Because of what You have done, dear Heavenly Father, we have an unshakeable hope.  You have not destined us for wrath - we are destined for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us.  We live with Him, no matter what - even if we die physically, we live eternally. WHAT A GREAT HOPE!  Help us, Lord, to encourage one another with this hope, and to build one another up in this truth.

Lord, thank you for our pastor and elders.  May we as a family and a church continue to esteem them highly in love because of their work, for they are Your servants.  May peace reign among us.

Lord, give wisdom to our leaders, so they can discern the difference between the idle, the fainthearted, and the weak.  Help them to be patient with all, and give our leaders the wisdom and courage and grace they need to 

• admonish the idle (those out of line) to get back in line
• encourage the faint-hearted (those who fear and doubt) to be bold in faith
• help the weak (those without spiritual or moral strength)

And, Lord, I pray the same for Rick, as the leader of our home.  Give him wisdom and courage and grace.

Help us never to repay evil for evil, for You have declared "Vengeance is mine, I will repay."  Help us to do good to one another always, and give us wisdom to know what that good would look like.

May we always rejoice.  May we pray without ceasing.  May we give thanks in all circumstances, knowing that no matter what happens, it is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us.  May we walk through the valleys and climb the mountaintops with FAITH and TRUST in Your plan, and in Your power to care for Your own.

Lord, help us not to quench the Spirit by sinning, for this would grieve Him.  We are so blessed, so very blessed, to be indwelt by the Spirit of the living God, so help us to submit to His control, walking with Him moment by moment, abiding in Jesus as a branch connected to the Vine.

Lord, help us never to despise prophecies.  Let us be thankful for the preaching of Your Word, and give us the wisdom to test everything we hear by Your Word, holding fast to what is good and discarding what is evil.  

Help us to abstain from every form of evil.

Heavenly Father, my God of peace, please sanctify us completely, separating us from sin unto holiness.  When Jesus Christ comes so suddenly and without warning, may our whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless through His work of redemption on our behalf.  

You are faithful.  You called us out of darkness into Your light, and You who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.  

Thank You, Lord.  You will surely do all Your will.  You alone have the power to redeem sinners, and to conform them to the image of Your Son.

I stand in awe of You.

Amen.

Prayer from 1 Thessalonians 3

I love to turn the Word of God into a prayer.  Here's today's musings:

Heavenly Father,

I am challenged by the strong love that Paul feels towards his spiritual children.  He can hardly bear the separation.  He thinks of them constantly, always remembering them in his prayers.

I am not that loving.  I am not that caring.  Even though I love my children, and my spiritual children, it is easy for me to build walls of self-protection when there's been little contact.  I put up my bricks and mortar to protect myself rather than reaching out selflessly to see how they're doing.  

Forgive me, Lord.  Help me to die to self, to bear the pain of separation without ascribing any motives.  Help me to suffer gladly on behalf of my loved ones.  Teach me to pour myself into the lives of those You have assigned to me - children and grandchildren, friends and family - even online friends that I've never met in real life.  Help me to remember that each one is made in Your image, that each encounter is an opportunity to love and serve in the name of Jesus.  May my desire be to establish others in their faith, and to exhort them to press on in Christ.

The tempter is real.  He hates You.  He hates your Son.  Consequently, he hates those who have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus.  He wants to trip us up, to cause us to fall into the pit of depression and despair.  We must not be ignorant of his schemes.  We must resist and stand firm, knowing that even though our human eyes see destruction, You are in control, and will bring beauty from ashes.

When I see evidence of faith and love in my children, it gives me great comfort in spite of the affliction and distress of my life.  I LIVE when I see them stand firm in the Lord.  I rejoice when I hear them speak of their love for You, my God, and Your ways.  This brings joy.  

I pray that we, as parents, as friends, will have opportunity to supply what is lacking in their faith.  As iron sharpens iron, may we influence others for Christ, just as they do the same for us.  

Lord, direct us.  Help us to serve wholeheartedly.  May our children increase and about in love for one another and for all.  May they have a heart to serve, to glorify Your name, to reach out to others.  Establish our hearts blameless in holiness before You, oh God my Father, so that we can rejoice at the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Prayer from Proverbs 6

Oh, Lord,

You warn us to give freely to those in need, yet not to enslave ourselves by putting up security for another's debt.  Help us not to hold our generosity like a badge of honour, for all honour and all glory belongs to You.  Help us never to exact usury or demand more than what is owed to us.  Keep us honest in all of our business dealings.

Thank You for giving us the ant as an object lesson.  You warn us to be diligent, and never to be lazy.  Help us to be wise stewards who use the things You give to bless others, by planning well, and working hard, and doing our best.

Lord, keep us honest.  We don't ever want to get ahead by cheating others, or by sowing discord.

Give us humble eyes that look to Jesus.
Give us honest speech that honours Jesus.
Give us hands that heal and serve and bless.
Give us hearts that long for Your glory.
Give us feet that run to spread good news.
Give us integrity, honesty, truthfulness, in all of our business dealings,
           and give us the wisdom to be peacemakers.

Lord, there are so many temptations in this world.  I pray for our sons and our daughters,
that they will keep their father's commandments, and will not forsake their mother's teaching.  Help them to remember the truths they have learned as we opened Your Word together.  Bring those principles to their minds when they work, when they rest, and when they arise every morning.

Keep our children, with Your commandments as a light,
                               and Your teaching as a lamp,
                               and Your discipline as welcome reproof.

Preserve them from the things that entice
                                 the adulterous woman
                                   the gaining of money
                                     the pleasures of sin or leisure.

Remind them of the dire consequences of sexual sin,
                    because he who commits adultery lacks sense, and destroys himself.

Oh, dear Lord,
            Keep our children pure.
                    Keep them away from temptation.

But if it comes,
            STRENGTHEN THEM by the Power of Your Might,
               and help them to RESIST, by the Power of Your Word,
                and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

In the name of Jesus, Who ever lives to make intercession for us,
Amen.

Praying Proverbs Three

I have often prayed through the Scriptures as I read and study.  This post explains more of the purpose of gospel-centered, Christ-centered prayer.  Read along as I pray through Proverbs Chapter Three.

Jesus, 


Your commandments are good.  You are my King.  Your steadfast love and faithfulness give me hope and purpose.  I trust You with all of my heart.  When the way seems difficult and unfathomable, I know that You are making my path straight.  You never leave us, nor forsake Your people.  I have only to walk with You, Good Shepherd. 


I am not wise - You are Wisdom.  I fear You - I want to please You - so I shun evil.  Give me wisdom and discernment today to know what to avoid, dear Lord.  You are my Master - I give you my obedience.


What shall we do with our wealth today?  How shall I honour You, Lord?


Thank you for reminding me of Your love, and Your good purpose in my suffering.  You led me to the blog post about the father who watched the nurse wrap his 3 year old in a sheet so the doctor could stitch him up.  What felt like torture to the boy was love from the father.  He laid on him and held him down in order to help him.  He loved his son in the midst of the pain and confusion.  In the same way, You love me.  


I do not despise Your discipline, Lord, for I know You have a reason for this suffering.  I am not weary of Your reproof, for I know You reprove those You love.  You delight in me!


Lord, You have blessed me so much, by giving me new life.  With that new life comes Your wisdom, which is more precious than jewels.  Riches and honour, pleasantness and peace --> Your way of wisdom is a tree of life, and I am truly blessed.


Lord, in creating the earth and the heavens, You have demonstrated Your wisdom and might.  Help me to remember that I am but a pinch of clay.  I humble myself before You. 


Jesus, Your wisdom and discretion give me life and security.  When I am with You, I do not fear, and my sleep is sweet.  You are my Confidence!  You keep me from being caught in a snare.


Go with me as I meet the people You bring into my life.  Give me Your wisdom and Your discretion.  I will not withhold good from others when it is in my power to do it.  Use me as an instrument of Your grace, dear Lord.


All of my dealings with neighbours are ordained by You.  Help me to walk humbly before You and before others, not contending with them, but doing my best to be an Ambassador.  Your curse is on the house of the wicked, but You bless the dwelling of the righteous, my Lord.  Bless us!  Keep us humble, so we can have Your favour.  We want to inherit honour, not disgrace.


Amen.

Abiding in Christ - Day 21 - So you Will Have Power in Prayer

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ~John 15:7

Prayer - a means of union with Christ.
Prayer - a fruit of union with Christ.

A believer who takes the time in secret prayer to wait on God, to pour out his heart to the Lord, will grow strong in Christ.  This is a means, a way that God causes His children to grow in grace.

SHUT THE DOOR

It is as impossible to live and prosper spiritually without prayer — as it is to live and prosper physically without food. Those who enjoy a close walk with God and have power with him — are those who pray. Natural abilities and intellect can never supply any lack in spirituality. Unless you are spiritual — you are of but little use to God; and to be spiritual — you must live much in prayer.

It is not those who are on their knees the oftenest or the longest — who do the most praying. Some may pray more real prayer in one hour — than others in two or three hours. Too many people leave the door open. Prayer that feeds the soul, must be offered with the door shut. "But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret." Matthew 6:6. God is in secret. He is hidden from the world. The world does not see him, neither knows him. You can never reach God in your prayers — unless you shut out the world. Shutting the door means something more than closing the door of your literal closet. People may enter the literal closet and close the door — and yet have the world in their hearts and thoughts. Such have not closed the door in the true sense.

In the public assembly you must enter your closet when you pray, and shut the door — or your prayers avail not with God. You must talk from your heart — to the heart of God. Those assembled may hear your words — but they do not know the secret. The secret is between your heart and the heart of God. You scarcely hear your words. You know and hear more of the speaking of your heart. There is a blessing in such praying; there is a joy that cannot be told. Such prayer feeds the soul upon the divine life, and lifts us in realms of holiness and happiness. Thank God for the sweet privilege of secret fellowship with him. O beloved, when you pray, enter into your closet — and be sure to close the door!

http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/5f00.0562/5f00.0562.21.htm

~ From How to Live a Holy Life by Charles Orr

Prayer is one of the primary channels of influence by which, through us as workers together with God, the blessings of Christ's redemption are dispensed to the world.  It is a fruit of the Spirit.

He who truly abides in Christ knows what it is to pray fervently.  He also knows his prayer is effectual.  He knows his prayers are accepted and heard, because of his life's union with his Saviour.  Our prayers ascend as the prayers of Jesus; the Spirit groans within.


As we abide in Christ, we pray according to His will.

• our self-will is kept down.
• our thoughts are brought into captivity.
• we become like-minded with Christ
• we search our hearts deeply, making sure our surrender is complete

As we abide in Christ, we pray only to seek the glory of God.

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

(John 14:13 ESV)

Christ's one thought, one desire and plea, one intercession - that He would glorify the Father!

Father, glorify Your name! ~John 12:28

As we abide in Christ, we pray in Jesus' name.

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Colossians 3:17

As we abide in Christ, our faith in answered prayer grows stronger.

• fast and pray
• be humble; have a spiritual mind
• obey whole-heartedly
• wait on God

The secret of the prayer of faith

is the life of faith -

the life that abides in Christ alone.

I love Paul!

Some day, I'm going to tell him so.


I also love the two books of Corinthians.  Paul's letters to the Corinthian church are a smack-down.  The Corinthians were some of the most talented, blessed folks around, yet they were sinners in need of correction.  Paul was just the man for the job.


I've been reading 2 Corinthians for some time now.  I love how Paul defends himself as an apostle to these stubborn people who have been listening to naysayers.  He is reluctant at first to say anything, but finally feels compelled to let the Corinthians know that he is a legitimate apostle.  He was chosen by God on the Damascus road.  In Chapter 12 he speaks of being caught up into heaven and shown incredible, unbelievable things (We can't even begin to imagine how incredible heaven will be - Paul couldn't even articulate it.).  


Paul was given "a thorn in the flesh" to keep him from becoming conceited after his incredible experience with God.  When he begged God to remove the thorn, God denied his request, saying, 

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

Paul goes on to tell the Corinthians,

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The weaker the human instrument, the more clearly God's grace and power shines.  


This is true today, too.  The weaker the human instrument, the more clearly God's grace and power shines.  You can see it if you look for it.  Look at the struggling Christian.

• the spouse dealing with an unfaithful partner, yet forgiving again and again. 
• the missionary labouring for years and years without a single convert
• the pastor preaching faithfully for year after year with no growth in his congregation

These weak Christians are instruments of grace in others' lives.  Look at them, and see what God is doing.

Paul was weak, too.  He likely wasn't a fine physical specimen.  People were criticizing him and denouncing him because he didn't demand money like the other "missionaries".  Paul finally defended himself and told the Corinthians how much he loved them and longed for them to grow.


Paul did not want to go back to Corinth and find the Corinthians in the same sorry condition they'd been in before.  He longed for them to grow in grace.  He desired that they would repent of impurity and immorality.


He blasted them with a furious pen, a passionate pen, a pointed pen.


But he did not give up on them.

1 Corinthians 12:19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and  all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps  when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Notice Paul's purpose - all for your upbuilding, beloved.  He loves them, and wants to build them up.  Paul longs for "his children" to lead godly lives.


Isn't that what we long for in our loved ones?  Don't we want them to do better, to put off sin and put on righteous living?  Aren't we heartbroken when we witness others struggling with the same old sin patterns?


Paul plans to come back to Corinth, but worries about what he'll find.  He fears that when he comes he won't find a group of mature Christians, loving one another, serving one another, pouring out their energy to help others.   Instead, he might find people struggling with quarrels, with jealousy, with anger, with hostility, with slander and gossip and deceit.  He fears that he'll encounter disorder.   He dreads that God may humble him before them, causing him to mourn over those men and women he taught and prayed for and admonished and loved.  


How about you?


Is there someone in your life that is a pain in your neck?  A thorn in your flesh?  A burr in your saddle?  Is there someone you've prayed for and longed for, crying out to God to deliver from besetting sin?  


One of the things God calls us to do is to LOVE.  It's the first and greatest commandment.  We're to love God first and foremost, and love our neighbour as ourselves.  Jesus makes it clear that our neighbour is everybody.  


God brings people into our lives and we're to love them.  


Sometimes, that's not easy.


William Carey was called to be a missionary to India.  He was the first missionary sent out by the Society, and he took along his wife, Dorothy, and his two sons and his sister-in-law.  God called him to go, of that he was certain, but Dorothy didn't get it.  She refused to go at first, only agreeing when her sister said she'd go, too.  As soon as she lost sight of Britain, Dorothy regretted her decision... and things went from bad to worse.  When they finally landed in India, they discovered they were illegal and weren't allowed to preach.  They moved into a hovel when their funds were gone, but there was no work for William.  They moved again, and their son died.  Dorothy never recovered.  


She blamed her husband.  She railed at him, sometimes attacking him and making him bleed. She bitterly destroyed his prize flowers, and refused to get out of bed.  She screamed and hollered and cried out against William and India and God and her entire life.  She was a mess.


It would have made sense for William to commit her to an asylum, but when a fellow missionary suggested that, William was horrified.  He married her for better or for worse.  He stuck by her until the end.


If we evaluate Dorothy as a wife, she was a failure.

• she refused to keep house
• she would not cook
• she was bitter against God
• she attacked her husband
• she did not take care of her children
• she did not work alongside William in his work as a missionary

Not much of a wife.  

Yet God gave William the grace he needed to remain faithful to Dorothy.  He patiently put up with her yelling and screaming and her destructive ways.  He continued to be kind to her and speak well of her.  He did not give up on her.

Just like Paul.  Paul didn't give up on the Corinthians, even though they were a sorry bunch.  He prayed for them, and longed that they would live godly lives.  But even though he dreaded that they might slip back into their former behaviour, he never gave up on them.

William didn't give up on Dorothy, either, even though she was a sorry mess.  He prayed for her and longed for her to accept her life in India.  He hoped that she would find joy in service to others, and even when she refused to listen, he never gave up on her.

Is there someone in your life that you want to give up on?  Is there someone you've prayed for, longed for, agonized over?  

Don't give up on him!

Just like Paul, be willing to mourn if need be.  Be willing to pray, again, for that wretched sinner that God has put into your life.  Don't worry about what you will find in his life - it's not up to YOU.  Spiritual growth is a work of the Spirit.  We are called to love.  God does the rest. Just don't ever give up.  Never give in!  NEVER SURRENDER!

Open Rebuke is Better

Proverbs 27:5 says it.  Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

Genuine love tells the truth, even when it means you must rebuke the one you love.  Hiding your love by being non-communicative is useless- you MUST communicate love to your spouse in ways he or she understands.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; 

Profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

The Collect:

God of Truth,
             Who sees all men's hearts
       and Who wounds with a purpose,
Help us to love genuinely
             to rebuke openly
             to wound faithfully
So that as iron sharpens iron,
          We sharpen the ones we're closest to, and
          We learn to walk circumspectly in this corrupt world.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

More Collects - Psalm 117

Psalm 117

Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples.
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

The collect:

Almighty God,  Worthy of all praise,
Your steadfast love and faithfulness endures forever,
Grant that we may sing Your worth
                                  and give You honour
           as we lift Your name before all people,
So that You will be glorified in all the earth.
In the name of our worthy God and King, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Collects

Last month I read an article by Tim Keller which offered practical advice on how to pray in public and in private.  Tim had studied Thomas Cranmer's Collects - His short, pithy, doctrinally sound prayers,  move from

"a doctrinal basis (why we can ask for it) to the petition (what we want) to the aspiration (what we will do with it if we get it.) It is remarkable how this combines solid theology with deep aspirations of the heart and concrete goals for our daily life." 

Cranmer's Collects followed this design:

1. The Address - a name of God
2. The Doctrine - a truth about God's nature that is the basis for prayer
3. The Petition - what is being asked for
4. The Aspiration - what good result will come if the request is granted
5. In Jesus' name - remembering His mediatorial role

Here is an example of one of Cranmer's more famous collects:



Almighty God,
unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid,
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit
That we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify Thy holy name,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

I have found the practice of writing collects of my own in response to my morning Bible reading to be of great benefit.  I will share some examples, listing the passage on which I based my prayers.

Psalm 116

Loving, Merciful, Gracious God,

Who always hears my pleas for mercy, and preserves my soul, and delivers me from death,

Help me to walk before You and serve You all the days of my life,

So that I can bring praise to Your name in the presence of Your people,

     and demonstrate thanksgiving and trust in Your provisions,

Through Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Redeemer.  Amen.

Jeremiah 50, Romans 3, Romans 8

Righteous and Just Judge of all the earth,

Who justified by the gift of grace all those who trust in Jesus
                             as the Propitiation for their sins,

Cause us to walk according to the Spirit,
                             mirroring Your righteousness to a lost and dying world,

So that Your name is glorified and Your reputation untarnished,

In the name of Jesus Christ Who is God over all, and blessed forever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 7

Heavenly Father,

Who indwells Your people and walks among us, and calls us Your sons and daughters,

Help us to cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit,

So we are sanctified, becoming more and more like our Beautiful Jesus,
                     who embodied holiness on this earth,
And in Whose name we pray, Amen.

Ecclesiastes 12

Creator God,

You number our days, and order our steps, and decide when our spirit will return to You,

Grant me wisdom and strength to use words of delight
              and words of truth 

                        to teach others while I still have strength,

So that Your people will be encouraged to persevere and 

                        to walk uprightly with knowledge and wisdom,

In the Name of Jesus, our Beautiful Saviour, Amen.

Prayer for the Afflicted

Tim Challies blogged about this prayer, drawn from the Canadian and American Reformed Church web site. I am taking the liberty to change the first person plural to singular, as he suggested.  It makes it much more personal.

Merciful God and Father, You give eternal hope and salvation to the living and eternal life to the dying. You alone have life and death in Your hands, and Christ alone has the keys of death and of the grave. All things are in Your power so that neither health nor sickness, good nor evil, life nor death can happen to me without Your will. I also know that by Your power and direction all things must serve my salvation. Gracious Father, I implore You to grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit, that He may teach me truly to know my misery and to bear patiently with Your chastisements. If You, O Lord, kept a record of my sins these chastisements should have been ten thousand times more severe. I believe that they are not evidence of Your wrath but of Your fatherly love towards me, that I might not be condemned with the world.

Lord, strengthen my faith by Your Holy Spirit, so that I become more and more united with Christ my Head, since it is Your good pleasure to unite me to Him in both suffering and glory. Enable me to bear what is brought upon me by Your fatherly wisdom. I submit myself entirely to Your will, whether You leave me on earth or whether You take me home unto Yourself. I trust that with body and soul, both in life and in death, I belong to Christ, whose resurrection is the guarantee of my blessed resurrection.

Grant that I may experience the comfort of the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. May His innocent blood wash away the dirt of my sins and may His righteousness cover my unrighteousness in Your sight. Arm me with faith and hope, so that I may overcome the assaults of Satan and not be put to shame by any fear of death. When my eyes grow dim, let Your eyes be open toward me. When You take away from me the ability to speak will You then hear the sighing of my heart. When my hands have lost their strength, continue to support and carry me on Your everlasting arms.

Father, I commit my spirit into Your hands. Deal with me according to Your promise. Never forsake me, but always be with me, even in the hour of death.

Hear and answer me for the sake of Christ, my dear Saviour. Amen.

Promises and Prayers

The seventh chapter of Second Samuel outlines God's covenant with David. At the time, David wanted to do something for God. Perhaps he had seen the "houses" built to honour the false gods of the people he had conquered. At any rate, he shared with Nathan the prophet that it bothered him that he was living in a house of cedar, while God's house was merely a tent.

Nathan told him to go ahead and do what was in his heart. Nathan spoke too soon.

4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

God didn't want or need a fancy house. He didn't ask any of the leaders to build one. The Creator and Owner of the entire universe needs nothing from mere man. He told Nathan to remind David that He took him from the pasture and made him a prince, and that He had been with him wherever he went, cutting off his enemies before him. He was reminding David that it was only through His power that David prospered. The Lord God went on and promised...

And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”

I will make your name great, David. I will plant my people firmly in one place. I will give you rest from your enemies. I will make YOU a house. I will establish the kingdom of your offspring, and he will build a house for my name. I will discipline him. Your throne shall be established forever.

What promises! Instead of David doing something for God (which really is impossible), God turns around and makes all these glorious promises to David.

This gives David courage. Go and read David's prayer in 2 Samuel 7:18-29. It's a beautiful prayer, giving praise to a Beautiful God. The prayer ends with these words:

27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

David has the courage to ask God for His blessing on his house, simply because he is praying God's promises back to him.

What a wonderful way to pray! It really is the only way to pray. When we ask God for something, we have courage to do so because He has already promised He would do so.

Do you need strength? I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. Ask God for strength. He promised He would give it.

Do you need wisdom? If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, without finding fault. Ask God for wisdom. He promised He would give it.

Do you need clothing? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Ask God for clothing. He promised He would give it.

God always, always keeps His promises. Sometimes, however, He works in mysterious ways. Sometimes, from our perspective, it looks as if He is not keeping His promises.

Consider Jeremiah. Zedekiah the king is worried, because the armies of Babylon are arrayed against him. He sends messengers to Jeremiah.

2 “Inquire of the Lord for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the Lord will deal with us according to all his wonderful deeds and will make him withdraw from us.”

It sounds like Zedekiah is praising God and relying on Him to do battle for His people. But listen to what the Lord says:

‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. And I will bring them together into the midst of this city. 5 I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath. 6 And I will strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They shall die of a great pestilence. 7 Afterward, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his servants and the people in this city who survive the pestilence, sword, and famine into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of their enemies, into the hand of those who seek their lives. He shall strike them down with the edge of the sword. He shall not pity them or spare them or have compassion.'

Does this sound like God is protecting His people? Does this sound like peace from their enemies? On the contrary, God is saying that He Himself will fight against His own people in anger and in fury and in great wrath.

Why?

Because He is punishing His people according to the fruit of their deeds - idolatry, oppression, infidelity to the covenant.

In 588 BC Nebuchadnezzar overthrew the city of Jerusalem and carried off many captives. All was lost, it seemed. God had turned His back on His people.

Or, had He?

8 “And to this people you shall say: ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live and shall have his life as a prize of war. 10 For I have set my face against this city for harm and not for good, declares the Lord: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.’

God gave them a way out. All they had to do was surrender. He told them to go and live in captivity, to plant gardens and settle down. He had a plan. One day, He would bring them back. Just read the book of Nehemiah for more of the story. You know that David's throne has been established forever - Jesus is on the throne, ruling in great power and great glory.

So, this is my point: God always keeps His promises. He alone is omniscient; He alone knows what He is doing.

Take courage and pray His promises back to Him. Believe that He will always do what He says He will do. Trust Him. And when things look bleak and you begin to wonder if the Lord our God is really answering your prayers, remember things aren't always as they seem.

He makes all things beautiful in His time.

Job's Friends

I'm reading through the book of Job again. There is no better book to understand the Sovereignty of God in all things.

Job's friend were truly his friends. When they heard about his plight, they came and sat with him day after day, saying nothing. I have no doubt that they grieved over his suffering, but it didn't take long before they began to wonder why God chose to allow Job to suffer so much. It didn't take long for the accusations to fly.

Eliphaz is particularly merciless. He tells Job point blank that it's his own fault that his kids were killed, that his branch is no longer green, that there is no future for him. How quick he was to judge and condemn his friend.

Let us be careful, dear ones, not to be like Job's "miserable comforters". There are ten Americans imprisoned in Haiti right now, because they were attempting to take some children from Haiti to the Dominican Republic. From what I have read, I believe their intentions were noble. Let's not be too quick to judge.

Eight of the ten missionaries.

Go to Tim Challies' blog to read an interview with a mom and wife of two of the prisoners, and pray!

Effective Prayer

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus is our holy and sympathetic high priest. He lived on this earth, experiencing all of the temptations that plague us daily, yet He NEVER, not once, sinned. He is holy, holy, holy...yet He is sympathetic - He understands our weaknesses; He knows our frame.

This Jesus was appointed by God His Father to suffer so that we would receive the gift of eternal salvation. And what a gift! We are saved in time and eternity - given the right to be called the sons (and daughters!) of God. Adopted into God's family; preserved and guided and helped by His grace.

The encouragement to “draw near” to God's throne implies that Christians have the privilege of a personal relationship with God. We are told to have confidence - boldness & courage - as we speaking before God Almighty - this Holy One of greatest rank and power in the Universe. We are so privileged, because God expects us to come before Him and speak plainly and honestly and reverently, without fear that we will incur shame or punishment by doing so.

The Irish Calvinist wrote about this. He said that he wakes up and his mind goes immediately to what he needs to accomplish that day - and he is aware that what he does do will not be done flawlessly.

Yet, God graciously reminds him of Hebrews 7:24.

Hebrews 7:24 [Jesus] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus intecedes for us before the throne of grace. God the Father graciously helps those who need forgiveness and strength in temptation.

It is a good thing to pray for one another. We Christians are urged to do so. The effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much, James tells us. We are called to pray, taught how to pray by Jesus Himself, and commanded to continue steadfastly in prayer (Col. 4).

We often ask others to pray for us, and that's a good thing, too. Paul asked for prayer. He didn't ask to be delivered from prison, or spared the lash, or given creature comforts. He asked for prayer that God would help him in communicating the mystery of Jesus Christ to the world.

Colossians 4:3At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

This is one of the mysteries: Jesus intecedes for us!

So, the next time you are weary in well-doing, the next time you battle the flesh, the next time you struggle with temptation and wonder if you'll ever get it right, remember:

Jesus is praying for YOU.

There is no one more effective. There is no one more fervent. Jesus will never fail, and He knows exactly what to pray on your behalf.

Amazing, astounding grace.

Humility in Service

From the Valley of Vision:

Mighty God,

I humble myself for faculties misused, 
opportunities neglected, 
words ill-advised, 
I repent of my folly and inconsiderate ways, 
my broken resolutions, untrue service, 
my backsliding steps, 
my vain thoughts.

O bury my sins in the ocean of Jesus' blood 
and let no evil result from my fretful temper, 
unseemly behaviour, provoking pettiness.

If by unkindness I have wounded or hurt another, 
do thou pour in the balm of heavenly consolation; 
If I have turned coldly from need, misery, grief, 
do not in just anger forsake me: 
If I have withheld relief from penury and pain, 
do not withhold thy gracious bounty from me.

If I have shunned those who have offended me, 
keep open the door of thy heart to my need.

Fill me with an over-flowing ocean of compassion, 
the reign of love my motive, 
the law of love my rule.

O thou God of all grace, make me more thankful, more humble; 
Inspire me with a deep sense of my unworthiness arising from 
the depravity of my nature, my omitted duties, 
my unimproved advantages, thy commands violated by me.

With all my calls to gratitude and joy may I remember 
that I have reason for sorrow and humiliation;

O give me repentance unto life;

Cement my oneness with my blessed Lord, 
that faith may adhere to him more immovably, 
that love may entwine itself round him more tightly, 
that his Spirit may pervade every fibre of my being.

Then send me out to make him known to my fellow-men.