A Mighty Promise from an Angel

As we are about to remember Christ's birth once again in a couple of days, I was reflecting on the words of the angel Gabriel who came to Mary to announce that she would bear a child. Mary is perplexed by this announcement since she was a virgin. However, the angel mentions: "For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke 1:37

I wonder now: Are our prayers said with this conviction - about nothing being impossible with God?

While it might take a lot of stamina to keep praying for something we desire, it's easy to give up because we don't think God could bring it about. We feel that our problem is maybe too big for God or we're not in the right context for it to happen or we don't deserve to receive a special blessing. The list could continue with detailing all the negatives as to why such a prayer can't be answered.

But maybe if we truly believe that anything is possible with God, we would pray with a different frame of mind. There are no limits; there are no boundaries. God can do anything in any venue and at any time. I believe that most often we are surprised by when and how God does answer prayer.

So, with what frame of mind are you praying today with whatever you bring before God?

Prayer Network

Where do you turn when you need prayer for yourself? Maybe it is to the congregation; maybe it is to a friend or member of the family. You need others to pray on your behalf.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has a Web site that is willing to accept prayers and then those requests are given to folks who serve as prayer warriors. You can submit your name for a concern that you have. What I also liked about the page is that you can mention an answered prayer. I believe too often we are only concerned about the asking and not what to do after we have received an answer.

It's nice to know of a valuable resource such as this site and what it offers.

Connecting Prayer with Holy Communion

Sometimes we might see prayer as an isolated event. However, one church has connected their prayers to the sacrament of Holy Communion. The members of St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta as an Advent project wrote their prayers for the world on strips of cloth. The pieces of cloth were then draped over the communion rail. They saw the need for God's grace to come through their prayers.

It also made me think that Jesus, who comes in the sacrament, would also become incarnate by an answer to prayer. What other thoughts might come to your mind?

Read the full story of St. John's experience here.

A Sense of Gratitude in Celebrating Thanksgiving Day

"And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:13

I came across this Bible passage in an email that reminds me that the people of Israel never ceased from giving thanks for what they had. They had recognized the grandeur of the God who had chosen them and led them out of Egypt into freedom.

As we come to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, do you have a feeling of thanks that you can offer to God through your praying?

As you look at your life, maybe this year has been a difficult one with finances or with other hardships. However, can you still offer thanks for what you have? Can you offer thanks for the kind of God that you have - one who loved you enough to send Jesus for your salvation. I believe it's easy for us to look at and accentuate the negative; we need to highlight the positive.

What we receive from God all comes as a gift. Can you count your blessings this year? If so, can you offer them up to God in prayer?

Praying on Demand

"Please pray for me." How often have you heard that? How often might you have said that you would pray in Sunday worship or maybe later during your devotional time. Just maybe, you might be moved to pray right on the spot! Check out the story in Living Lutheran that has us think about praying on demand.

Blessings,

Pastor Marty

Using Intercessory Prayer

Certainly, not all of our praying is for ourselves. We pray for those in our family, friends, and members of a congregation. We also can pray for those whom we do not know (such as those suffering from natural disasters.) It's possible and likely that there are many people who do not even know we are praying for them.

Intercessory prayer we find in Scripture. The apostle Paul was praying for the believers in Ephesus. He wrote: "I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers..." (Eph. 1:16) He prayed that the believers there would have wisdom and knowledge and the hope to which they have been called.

We are able to pray for others. How often do you do this? It's true that we don't know the effect of our prayers. For some of our prayers, we might see them answered; but for others, we can only trust God to work in people's lives.

As we pray for others, we realize that praying is no longer a solitary activity. Our thoughts not only turn to God, but we are bringing to mind those for whom we care deeply. It's possible they might really need our prayers.

Praying into God's Mercy

Because you have messed up, you might not want to approach God. You might even feel unworthy to come before God with what you have done or you might doubt that God can help your in time of need.

Consider the words of the Psalmist:

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
until the destroying storms pass by." Ps. 57:1

The psalmist recognized that in a time of danger, he could put aside all unworthiness and approach God for help.

When you do need help or forgiveness, how willing are you to come before God? Can you let yourself live under the umbrella of God's mercy? Can you put away your pride? It might take more effort, but you will feel the peace that can only come from God. You might even experience the deliverance and answer to prayer that you need.

Praying for the Spiritual Growth of Others

Recently, I read in a church bulletin the request by parents that others would pray for their children coming to know Jesus Christ. As I read that request, I wonder how much we really do pray for the spiritual growth of others. While we might be praying continually for people to be healed, to get a job, or graduate from school, I'm afraid that others spirituality can be a neglected dimension in prayer.

Is there someone you might know who does not know Jesus, or is having doubts about the faith? Might not your prayers be needed for this individual?

I think we have to realize that faith goes beyond reason. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. As such we do need divine help.

Along with this, we would also recognize that God's power can work beyond what we can imagine. We must never give up on praying for someone's salvation. The Holy Spirit can work beyond what we can conceive.

So, who today needs your prayers for spiritual growth. Why not pray today for them!

The Ubiquity of God

Our outdoor sign has the slogan this week: "Because God is everywhere; you can pray anywhere."

While we know that distance isn't a factor in our praying, it helps to be reminded that we really can pray anywhere.

Might there be some venues where you do feel closer to God? In church? Out in a park?

What about when you are in the hospital, or when you are driving and you get lost? Might these places also hold weight in terms of knowing God is near to you?

In the Psalms we read, "Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." Ps. 139:7-8

There is no place that we can flee from God. Despite that, we can know that we have a loving God who is always open to hearing our pleas as well as our words of thanks - at any place, and at any time.

Prayer - an Isolated Event?

Worship is something that encompasses our entire life. The apostle Paul wrote: "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1 Worship is not just the one hour on Sunday we gather with others in the faith; rather, it is also how we live out our faith.

Prayer, likewise, is not an isolated event. Prayer has to do with how we are living out our lives. The psalmist wrote: "O Lord of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?" Psalm 80:4 While we might not know the full context here, the people needed to be saved from some threatening danger. They were praying that God would deliver them. But why did not God answer right on the spot? It was as if God was angry with their prayers.

We might conjecture that they weren't using the right words. A more plausible explanation is that the people needed to get their house in order. They needed to turn to God.

For us our prayers are not an isolated event. Maybe we need to repent and change our way of living. How willing are you to see the big picture?

Power of Faith in Prayer

I'm sure there are times when you prayed when you wondered if you had enough faith in order for your prayer to be answered. I believe that many times we may not believe that God could possibly solve the complex problems that we have. If that's the case with you, maybe it's time to think of enlarging your faith.

In Matthew 17 we read of a man coming to Jesus whose son was epileptic. The father had brought his son to Jesus' disciples for healing and discovered that the disciples could not heal him. The father now pleads to Jesus for help. Jesus then heals the boy.

Next, we have the disciples going to Jesus privately and asking why they could not heal the boy. Jesus told them it was because of their little faith.

How much faith do you have when you pray? Are you expecting great things to happen? If you don't, maybe you need to look at what you believe about God. Do you really trust him for all things? Do you believe God go beyond what you can imagine? Or do you simply live by luck and chance in regard to God's working? I hope you will opt for being strong in faith when praying!

The Gethsemane Experience

One of the most trying times and certainly most personal times for Jesus came after the final Passover meal when he departed with his inner circle of disciples to Gethsemane.  Jesus knew what was ahead for him, yet he wanted to do the will of his heavenly Father.  He prayed:  "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."  Matthew 26:39

How often do we know a trying time is coming up for us - maybe something we know we must pass through - and yet we would rather side step it.  We realize that we must study hard in order to pass a course.  We must go through a certain medical therapy if we want to find healing.  We must risk trying something new if we want to move ahead in our lives.

Praying into the will of God means that we are willing to submit our lives for what God desires for us.  It might not be painless; it might be for our growth.

It's easy to tell God exactly how things should go in our lives.  How willing are you to submit to God's will  in order to live the life God wants for you?

Hurricane Irene Prayers

Another disaster hit our country last weekend with Hurricane Irene. While it hasn't been as severe as other hurricanes to hit our shores, the total cost of damage will be quite high.

This presents another opportunity for us to pray for those families who have lost a loved one or who are trying to recover from damage to property. In worship last Sunday, we did pray for those who suffer from natural disasters. We realize that there are circumstances beyond human control.

Your prayers can come individually, with a group of friends or co-workers, and also be presented at church. None of us knows when something like this can come and upset our lives.

Your prayers can be offered to ask God to help people recover from the hurricane in their rebuilding and also at the emotional level in dealing with the trauma of what has happened.

Developing a Style of Prayer

Do you have a certain style of praying? Have you ever thought about this before? Just as writers have developed a style of writing, so it is that perhaps you have developed a certain style of praying. You might want to take some time to reflect on your praying. Here are some considerations in regard to your prayers that might exhibit your style.

1. It might be in how you address God.

2. It might be in your choice of words.

3. It might be in the pacing of your praying...allowing for pauses (think meditation)

4. It might be in how you have structured your prayers (thanks, confession, adoration, intercession)

5. It might be according to the type of needs you feel are around you that you present.

There is nothing wrong with having a certain style of prayer. Jesus, too, gave us a model prayer in which to use. However, don't be afraid to change it up once in a while. Make sure you are putting yourself into your praying and that it does not become just lip service without your heart. You want to feel as if you are entering the throne room of God as you pray.

Empower God's People through Prayer

We at Savior Divine just received a shipment of customized T-shirts for our church. Since prayer is a big part of our congregational life, we felt it appropriate to have a saying about prayer on the shirt.

The saying comes from one of our members and offers us a glimpse of how prayer is a foundation and empowering force for our life individually and together as a congregation.

I believe it is important for us to remember that prayer comes as a privilege. We certainly are not worthy to approach God because of our own disobedience; yet, God in his mercy, allows us to be in communication!

It is through prayer that we can have the force of being empowered to do greater things than what we could have ever imagined (John 14:12) . Jesus even talked about us having the ability to move mountains with a small amount of faith! (Matthew 17:20) . When we pray we are placing our needs and concerns into the hands of almighty God who created us and continues to sustain all creation.

The phrase "one prayer at a time" reminds us that we do sometimes take baby steps in moving forward. God's timing can be different from ours. Yet, we pray believing in the awesome power of God to use us for his purposes.

I hope that as others see the members of Savior Divine wearing these shirts that they will be inspired to draw upon prayer. Will you?

Finding Your Centeredness

Do you know what is the driving principle for your life? Is there something you can identify that is foundational in your life to help you through the difficult times in your journey?

Phileena Heuertz in an online video gives a talk about the importance of living from your "centered belovedness."

The focus of her talk is on contemplative prayer. This is one way of structuring your life so that you have God rooted in your living. I invite you to watch the video and consider how prayer might become more integrated in your life.

You Learn Prayer by Praying

How do you become a great writer? You write, write, and write. How do you become a great musician? You practice, practice, and practice. How do you become great at prayer? I would suggest that you pray, pray, and pray!

Certainly, becoming a great writer or a great musician demands getting some expertise along the way. When it comes to prayer you might have a mentor or you might engage yourself in reading books on this topic or even by following this blog. However, nothing will take the place of actually doing the praying. You need to experience the highs and lows of prayer. As you become more immersed in prayer, you will discover what it takes to really keep at it and the many ways God might decide to answer your prayers.

One must be careful here. Prayer is not merely an activity of what works and what doesn't work. It's all about establishing a relationship with God. It is building trust in the eternal God. It is putting your whole life into the hands of a loving God who knows you better than you know yourself.

So, if you want to learn more about prayer - one thing you must do - keep on praying!

Viewing Prayer as a Great Adventure

Who does not like a great adventure? Whether it is taking a scenic drive to a place you have never been, exploring the ocean depths, or climbing a high mountain? You take up the journey because you know that what you discover might be breath-taking and be worth all the energy you have put into it.

Can you say the same thing about prayer? Do you see it as a great adventure for yourself?

If you don't, then I would have you examine your faith. Prayer becomes a great adventure because we cannot calculate what God can do; we cannot even predict what God can do! In fact, what God can do can be breath-taking in itself.

Let's say you are trying to find a new direction for your life - whether it is for a new line of work or for living in another city. You could try to read books and talk to as many people as possible. Or you could commit your concern to prayer. In so doing, you will never know what doors might open for you through divine intervention. This act of constantly praying is "research unlimited" for you. You are placing everything into God's hands.

I hope you won't miss the adventure. Don't settle for less - pray!

"I Will Pray for You"

You have probably heard these words at a trying time in your life. You are at your wits end and have poured out your soul to others. Then someone upon hearing of your situation says, "I will pray for you." Have you felt uplifted? Or do you pass it off as just another kind word that comes along?

Now let's put yourself in the position of the one who speaks these words to someone else. Do you say these words just as a trite expression or do you really mean it? Are these words spoken because you don't know what else to say and the words seem to give comfort in an awkward situation? Or could it be that you really believe these words.

Here's the thing: Embodied in those words is the statement that you are connecting with the most powerful force in the universe. Your praying for someone else could make a life and death difference! Whether you speak those words or are on the receiving end, don't take them lightly. You never know what God might do!

Toward a Joyful Mood in Prayer

Oftentimes we are gloomy or sad because our prayers are concentrated on God fixing a bad situation. However, there might be times when you feel compelled simply to have joy over what God has done -and the spirit of your praying changes.

Paul expressed this latter feeling in his opening words to the church at Philippi: ⁴⁵ "I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now." (Phil. 1:3)

How often do you pray with this feeling? Is it very seldom? Do you put your prayers into the context of your faith and appreciating others who have come to faith?

Consider reflecting on God's relationship to us in the church through Jesus Christ. We in the church are the body of Christ. We are not alone, but have a source of support and encouragement that comes from other believers. We are also intimately tied into the one who will be with us until the end of time. If we are so connected to Christ and his blessings, need we fear what might come? Need we not trust bringing our prayers before God?

I believe this sense of joy comes from knowing to whom we are directing our prayers. We are not praying to someone who may or may not care for us. Rather, we are praying to God who has our best interests at heart. When we have this knowledge, we can pray in a spirit of joy.

Is Prayer a Necessity for You?

Our schedule each day can get filled up rather quickly. We have our job, errands to run, emails to check, phone calls to return, and attending to many family matters. We have many activities that fill up our time each day, some of which won't matter much in the long view of our lives.

In the midst of a flurry of activity, is prayer an activity that is a must like the many other things that you do? Why should this be? Prayer is our way of staying in touch with God. It brings us into communion with God. We get into the heart of God and God gets deeper into us. Prayer is the foundation out of which our lives are directed. We need to be reminded to whom we belong and who has a claim on our lives. Unless we have this time, we are left to our own wisdom and strength.

There are always going to be distractions - reading the paper, watching TV, and chatting on the phone. Can you really let these things squeeze out your precious time for prayer?

I invite you to look at your schedule and see if you are carving out enough time to be in communion with God!

No Response from God

What happens when you pray and it seems like there is no response? You might wonder:

1. Maybe I'm not good enough in God's sight to get an answer.
2. Maybe I didn't say the right words.
3. Maybe I came to prayer too late in the game.

Consider now another way of thinking.

1. God heard me and has decided that what I asked for will not be good for me.
2. What I prayed for is not in accordance with God's will.
3. Maybe God has a different way of using me.

It is the last point #3 that I would have you think about.

The apostle Paul came to a point in his life where he had a "thorn in the flesh." He prayed three times for God to remove it and no luck. Then, he mentions that the Lord said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9

Yes, Paul's prayer was not answered because God was going to use the apostle's weakness to his glory. The next time you feel a prayer hasn't been answered, begin to ask yourself if God's power is seeking to come through you from your present condition!

Multimode Healing

Many prayers are offered up because of sickness. Oftentimes we use prayer as the means of getting instant healing. It's as if we expect God to work a miracle ASAP in our lives (which God can do).

However, I think it is important to reflect on the many ways of "healing" that God can use.

1. We make a change in our diet that allows our immune system to make the difference.
2. We see a physician who prescribes medication that works.
3. We get on the right track from the advice of a friend.
4. We are led to see a new physician who has the answer.
5. We are healed directly by God's intervention.

How open are you to the various ways that God can bring healing into your life? As you pray, it might make you more alert to all that goes on in your life to bring an answer to your prayer.

Promise of Nearness

When you talk on the phone with someone, the other person could be the next house over or in another country. Either way, it is as if that person is right next to you. You can hear that person's voice and the other person can hear you.

In our prayers, it might feel like our words have to cross a great distance in order to get to God. We might not be sure if our prayers will even reach God's heavenly throne or just evaporate in space.

Fortunately, we have the words of the psalmist: "The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth." Ps. 145:18. When we have sincerely placed our trust in God and offer prayer, we can be assured that it is as if God is right alongside us hearing us. There won't be any "dead spots" that we have to worry about in the connection.

The words of the psalmist provide a beautiful promise and give us the assurance that our prayers will be heard.

Keeping a Prayer Journal

The other day I came across the suggestion of keeping a prayer journal. I have to admit that I haven't done so in the past. However, the thought of such an activity did pique my interest. Here is how I believe such an activity might be helpful.

1. You can put in writing what you are praying for in order to help articulate your thoughts (writing works toward clarity).

2. You can notice any kind of prayer patterns that are taking place in your life.

3. You can check off any of the prayers that you feel have been answered in some way.

4. You can pray through writing!

I believe, above all, that such an activity helps us to see not only that our prayers are important but also that we can notice where God is breaking into our lives.

Even before You Ask

How often do you feel you need to lay out all the details before God in prayer? Maybe it is that you need to cover every angle so that God really understands your particular request. Might it be that you fear God just "won't get it."

When Jesus was talking about prayer to his disciples, to told them that they did not need to heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do. (Matthew 6:7) Jesus said, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Amazing, that God knows what we need even before we ask! We have an all-knowing God who deserves to be praised not only for this high knowledge, but also because of the heavenly concern for us as sinful beings to even want to listen to us.

Here's the point. We don't have to lay out every detail before God and worry about whether or not we have said it right. God knows the very depths of our being and for what it is that we are asking. Our few words of prayer can have great meaning.

When Jesus spoke to his disciples about their heavenly Father knowing even before they ask, Jesus immediately gave them a model prayer to use in what we know as the "Lord's Prayer." Surely, you can use this prayer if you do not know what to say.

However, we ought to feel encouraged that our requests with as little words as possible are known to God!

Praying the Psalms

You may have noticed that for many weeks, I have been using references from the Psalms. What is special about them is that they are Scripture where we learn about people speaking to God rather than God speaking to us.

As we scan through the psalter we find a rich treasure of how people have expressed themselves to God. We find the whole range of emotions - fear, anger, guilt, anxiety. We also find the many desires that people many centuries ago were willing to express to God.

We even find that Jesus prayed the psalms. While on the cross he quoted from Psalm 22. He may even have prayed the entire psalm.

When you are at a loss for words or want to deepen your prayer life, I would encourage you to turn to the psalms. You will find people who have faced the same feelings and emotions as you have.

Someone Else Is Praying - Part II

Last week I wrote about the person of Jesus praying for us. We know that in heaven our prayers are put before our very Creator by the Son of God.

There is yet more praying going on in heaven for us. The apostle Paul wrote these words: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes^* with sighs too deep for words." Romans 8:26

Even when we feel that we are at the end of our rope in praying, even when we feel that we don't know how to put our request into words, the Holy Spirit steps in to intercede on our behalf. The Spirit communicates in a way that we would not understand, yet is known to God.

I find it marvelous how the Holy Trinity comes into play in terms of praying. Imagine thousands, even millions of people throughout our world praying for one particular thing. That is not all. We are even given a boost knowing that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are there helping us along.

The next time that you bring a request before God; know that it is not just your own words - it is not just a human endeavor; but in the heavenly court, your request is known and communicated to God!

Someone Else Is Praying - Part 1

When it comes to prayer, one can think of the myriad of prayers being offered in worship and also during the week in various places wherever people of faith feel the need to speak to God. Imagine that there is a continual "live streaming" of prayer to our heavenly God!

Now, one might ask: Are there prayers being offered to God beyond us mere mortals? It is comforting to know that there is!

Amid all of the prayers from human beings, the Bible tells us that there are also prayers from Jesus himself being offered up to God. In the New Testament we read: "Consequently he is able for all time to save^* those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

Jesus is praying for us! That ought to mean a lot to us. The one who shared our humanness, the one who prayed in his own life here on earth, now prays in heaven for you and me. The next time you feel alone, you can know that there is more power, more concern, than what you could ever imagine. There are prayers by the Son of God being spoken on your behalf.

Waiting with Watchful Eyes

I conclude my references to Psalm 130 with the words: "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. " Psalm 130: 5-6

At the beginning of the psalm, the psalmist had cried out to God in the depths of his being. There are times when this strong feeling is needed. We might even feel that our relationship to God is being called into question - let alone God still being with us.

Then, as this psalm ends, we discover the confidence that the psalmist has. He uses the analogy of a watchman on the tower of the city's walls. The watchman longs for the sunrise and daybreak to come. It is with the same intensity that the psalmist longs for an answer to come to his prayer.

Are you willing to wait with the same intensity when you pray? Are you continually on the lookout to where God might show up? This intense waiting signals your confidence in God to come through for you.

Praying under Forgiveness

I continue this week in looking at Psalm 130, in which the psalmist is crying out to God from the depths of one's being.

Today, I focus on the words "If you, Lord should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared." vs. 3 & 4.

In praying, the psalmist acknowledges his own sinfulness. He will not attempt to put up any kind of false front before God. The acknowledgment also recognizes the despair that this confession can bring. However, in the same breath, the psalmist acknowledges the overflowing goodness of God that comes in forgiveness.

What is your posture in prayer? Can you also come to God with the same humility? It's easy to feel that maybe we are worthy of receiving for what we have asked. I believe that confessing our own unworthiness, that everything we ask for comes as gift from God's grace, puts us in a different mode. It puts us in a receiving mode where we will stand ready to accept and appreciate everything that God might include in answering our prayer.

It's okay to acknowledge your sin, you, too, can live in the strength and blessing of forgiveness.

Crying from the Depths of Your Being

For this week and the next two weeks I will be using Psalm 130 as the basis of my meditations here. This psalm is the one appointed for our reading in church on this coming Sunday.

The psalmist begins: "Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! Lord, hear my voice!" vs. 1-2

Have you ever had the occasion where you were really desperate and felt the gravity of your condition, so much that you could not help but cry out to God?

Such was the situation with Israel being in Babylonian captivity. All seemed to be lost. The Babylonians had captured Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, killed many of the residents, and transported the rest into exile. What hope did these people of God have, knowing that they lost their homeland, the very place that God had promised to them? The prophet Ezekiel has a vision of dry bones that come back to life! There was hope with God amid the despair of the situation.

I wonder, too, about us. Can we still have the desire to cry out to God when our circumstances look as if there is no hope in sight? I believe we have to consider whether or not we must we base our hope on human power alone. If we do believe in God's infinite power AND love then we can place our trust in God and pray to God from the very depths of our being.

Don't be afraid to you. God can hear you, will accept you, and can transform your life.

The World Needs Your Prayers

Scanning the news, one can see a myriad of problems and people suffering throughout our world. The earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan has caused a burden on its people. The fighting in Libya and the ongoing struggle of war in Iraq and Afghanistan has also devastated those countries.

Maybe our prayers can help.

Maybe you aren't in a position to help financially with the crises overseas or even be involved in negotiations, yet you can offer your prayers. Your prayers can bring what concerns you have before the very throne of God who has power to change the hearts of leaders and help bring shelter to the homeless.

What will you offer up in prayer today in order to bring peace and make this world a better place?

Praying for Understanding

"Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word." Psalm 119:169

Have we not had times in which we could not figure out what is happening in our lives? A terminal illness is pronounced upon us or we don't know why we didn't get a certain job offer?

It is in such times that we seek to make sense of what is happening to us. We may not have the vision to see clearly at the present moment why something is happening.

However, we can like the psalmist, pray to God for understanding. We can pray that even as we read Scripture, possibly we might get some clarification. The point here, is that we don't give up on God. We don't withdraw into our own shell. Rather, we are those who are willing to ask God for "understanding," hoping that the Holy Spirit will work in our minds and help us to get through what we cannot seem to comprehend.

Where many of our prayers want situations resolved (and have it done quickly), there might be a very good reason why something is happening, and that could be for our good. Are you willing to do the waiting in prayer and maybe discover why?

Transparency in Prayer

"O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you." Psalm 69:5

Have you ever tried to put up a false front before God? Do you think God doesn't know everything going on in your life - even your thoughts?

When it comes to praying, we realizing that it is an intimate conversation with God. It is the avenue by which we can talk very openly to God about whatever is on our minds.

It's interesting here in this verse that the psalmist acknowledges that his life is like an open book before God. God knows every page of his life. He feels confident to have a safe conversation with his Creator.

Especially in this season of Lent as we pray, I would hope that we can be transparent about our own sin. We can know that as God is aware of our shortcomings we can also find forgiveness. Moreover, we can find that strength that can help us to overcome sin and renew our living!

Ash Wednesday Prayer

The psalmist prays: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

David wrote this psalm recognizing his own sin: and after acknowledging his sin, he asks God to create in him a clean heart. We can also pray these same words. If you have recognized the gravity of your own sin and confessed that sin, then you can also ask that God will help to renew you.

We can be thankful that we have a God to whom we can bring all of our sinfulness and need not hide anything from God's presence. We can know that God will not despise a "broken and contrite heart." vs. 17.

Lent is to be a time for renewal. May your prayer life include confession where needed, but also know of God's desire to lead you on the path to greater holiness.

Praying in Jesus' Name

"Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it." John 14:13-14

Jesus here is giving his farewell address to his disciples. He knows that the time is short until his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. He wants to give them the promise that he will still be "with them" and that they can find power through prayer.

We notice that Jesus says here that his disciples are to pray in his name! I have been accustomed to mentioning the name of Jesus at the end of my own prayers. I realize that these words of our Lord might not necessarily mean that we verbally mention his name, but that we pray in the spirit of Jesus.

Either way, I believe Jesus wanted us to remember him in our praying. He is the one who has given us access to God the Father. Jesus said earlier in this chapter, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6. In praying in this manner, we remember that it is the work of Jesus that enables us to have the privilege to bring our requests before God.

How is it in your praying? Are your prayers said in Jesus' name?

Praying for Your City

Chicago has just elected a new mayor. The task of running a city the size of Chicago might seem to be overwhelming with its many problems. What is it that we can do as Christians?

We can pray for the welfare of the city.

Listen to the words of Jeremiah, "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." Jer. 29:7 As the city goes, so goes the well-being of its citizens. The Israelities were in foreign territory - in fact in exile in Babylon and were instructed to pray. They were to seek the welfare of the city!

You and I can lift up our prayers for our own communities. Are you aware of what the needs are of the place where you live? We are also instructed to Scripture to pray for "kings and all who are in high positions," (1 Timothy 2:2) in order that we might lead lives of peace. At Savior Divine in our worship every Sunday we pray for the President of the United States that he would receive guidance from God regarding our foreign policy and internal affairs of our country.

How much praying do you do for the welfare of your city?

Staying Connected

I'm sure that there are times when you find it hard to pray. Too many things aren't going right. Your prayers aren't being answered (at least not fast enough). Can you still stay connected to God?

The psalmist offers us an interesting scenario as we learn from Psalm 73. As he looked out into the world he discovered that the wicked prospered and put this in contrast to his own life, where he had a clean heart and yet found himself suffering. It just wasn't fair. It didn't make sense to really stay connected to God.

But then he realized the end of the wicked. They will one day fall!

However, the psalmist was able to assert in faith to God: "Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you do hold my right hand." Ps. 73:23 Can we have this kind of faith - to stick with God even when things aren't going well? Reflect to on God's sticking with us despite our sin.

The best thing we can do amid life's downturns and unfairness is to keep our faith and to keep praying. Our relationship with God will mean more to us than anything else.

The Power of One

A few weeks ago I preached a sermon on a contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. It still resonates in my mind when I think of what took place. The goal was for each side to build an altar, offer a sacrifice, and see whose God can bring fire upon the sacrifice. Elijah was contending against 450 prophets of Baal. It was obviously lopsided with Elijah standing to be ridiculed if he lost.

Yet, Elijah won out - he was only one person praying to his God- and fire came down.

Sometimes we might wonder if our solitary prayer will have any power. Can God tune into me as one of 6.8 billion people on this planet? On top of that, amid my own weaknesses and shortcomings, will God be moved to do what I ask?

It's hard be alone. However, we really are not alone. With God we have all the power we need. We only need to be willing to offer pray and believe what God can do. Maybe when no one else can find a solution to a problem or doesn't offer to pray - maybe you are the one called to step up to the plate to pray.

Praying to Be Taught

The realm of praying is often viewed as being within limits. You have something you need; you bring it before God. Most of the time, it seems, we pray because we are faced with a problem - a sickness or some kind of an emergency, where we feel it would be worth our while to call upon God.

But notice these words of the psalmist: "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth." (Psalm 86:11)

Ever think about praying to have God teach you what you need to know to be an obedient child of God? I have to admit it has been rare in my own life. We think we know what we are to do. We feel we have read enough in the Bible.

Then there is this facet of prayer to also help us align our life with God. Really, it is once again all about the relationship with God. By asking God "to teach us" we show our dependence and our respect for our Creator.

See where you are in your life. Are you hungry for the Lord's ways?

When Does Prayer Kick In?

As I was driving to church this morning, I came across a church sign that had the saying: "Prayer should be your first choice and not your last choice."

I wonder how many of us view prayer as a last choice. We have sought out various means to find a solution for a problem or find direction in life and have come up empty. We then feel the need for something more powerful than what we can do (or possibly what the world can offer).

When prayer becomes your first choice it changes the dynamic of what you are seeking to accomplish. God is part of your journey all along the way. It is God who can open doors that you might never have imagined. You know that you are not traveling alone.

Don't look at prayer as an adjunct to your life. Make God a partner in your journey. You will be amazed what this relationship will do to you.

Asking God to Listen

I came across these words in the psalms: "Hear my prayer, LORD God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob." Ps. 84:8 Do these words sound redundant? Why should we have to ask God to listen? Are we not sure that God is listening?

I believe that these words go to a deeper level. They display the humility in which the psalmist approaches prayer. The psalmist knows his place in the scheme of creation. He is the creature and God is the Creator.

To ask God "to hear" might sound like a plea; but after all as Martin Luther said about prayer: We are all beggars. We come to God in our sinfulness and hope that God will hear what we have to say.

These words of the psalmist give us direction about our posture in prayer. We can take nothing for granted. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging our humbleness, our need before God.

Praying with God's Attributes in Mind

It might be easy for us to come to God in prayer and not really reflect on this Being to whom we are praying. What is it about God that has meaning for our time in prayer and is the reason that we pray at all?

I believe the psalmist gives us some direction here. We have the words of Psalm 86: "But you, O Lord are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." (vs. 15)

The psalmist asserted his own condition of being poor and needy in the beginning and now includes these words about God's character in his prayer. What do we make of this inclusion?

I believe it is that the psalmist is saying he understands the kind of God that he has. For the psalmist's benefit, it is showing how he places trust for what he is praying.

Have you ever included such words as part of a prayer? What did it feel like? How might you do it in the future?

Your New Year's Wish

It's that time of year that we seek to make New Year's resolutions. We look how things went last year and think of what needs to be changed or perhaps what new we want to launch into for this new this year.

I wonder, too, what it is that you would want to pray for in this new year in relation to your own life. Maybe there is something specific you want to accomplish or possibly a bad habit to eliminate.

I wonder, too, if there is anything in your relationship with God you would like to see happen. For me, it is to spend more time in communion with God, reading Scripture and especially to be listening for God throughout the day. I know I will need to use prayer to ask God to help me find the time for this throughout each day and to have the attentiveness.

Believing in the power of prayer can be what is needed as we seek to draw closer to God in this new year.