Danny Panter – Page 29 – The Everyday Prayer

Good Wisdom

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (day six)

All good things come from above. Hebrews 1:17

True wisdom isn’t home grown, it’s a gift given from above. The homegrown kind isn’t wisdom, it’s hubris. That’s the kind of wisdom some in the Corinthian church were dealing, self-exalting, division causing hubris.

Godly wisdom leads to peace and unity, not a fractured church. It brings people together; it doesn’t push people away. This is why the simplicity and the foolishness of the Gospel is the greatest gift of godly wisdom. It does what our hubris could never do.

We know we are living by the wisdom of God when the kind of Gospel we live (and tell others)results in the tearing down of walls, not building them.

Think

Re:Verse reading–Philemon 1-25 (day six)

Although slavery in the Roman Empire was not based on race, it was equally dehumanizing and reinforced extreme prejudice against slaves, even freed slaves. In that day, Philemon had complete authority over Onesimus’ life; he was nothing more than property to do with as he pleased.

The Gospel changed that kind of thinking. The Gospel did not upend (immediately) an evil system, but it did upend Philemon’s mind. The Gospel would not allow him to think of Onesimus as property, but led him to think of him as a neighbor, and then his brother.

The Gospel will always, always change the way you think about others. Jesus quoted the Old Testament saying, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Everyone is your neighbor. Does your thinking need to change too?

Gates Too

Re:Verse reading–Acts 12:1-19 (day six)

“[The gate] It opened for them of its own accord,…” Acts 12:10b

God is in the details. Can you imagine if Peter were left to pick the lock of the gate, after God had done everything else? Being Peter he probably could have figured it out, but that is not how God works. I like to think that this is a small way of God saying, “I do ALL of the rescuing; Peter you have no part in this other than to receive.”

There is no part in our own rescue story that was left to us to figure out; God did it all, even to the smallest detail. It is also a great reminder that God is in the daily details of the obstacles we face.

There is no gate he cannot open, or keep closed.

Time and Words

Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day six)

“Now there was a man,”-John 3:1

Some of the most important moments in human history come down to a conversation. This one in John 3 might be one of the most famous, not because of Nicodemus but because of John 3:16. We don’t know the rest of the story of Nicodemus, whether or not he came to faith in Jesus, but he does represent God’s grace to all of us. Jesus gave time and words to this man at night; he challenged his way of thinking, nudged him to see the Kingdom of God.

This is true for all of us. “Now there was this man named Danny” or “Now there was this woman;” everyone of us could exchange our name for Nicodemus’. By the power of the Spirit Jesus engaged us with gracious words, nudging us to see Him and receive Him by faith.

Believe What?

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day six)

The father cried, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Believe what exactly? In this case, it seems clear. Jesus was inviting him to believe in Him, that he was able to bring lasting change and new life in the most desperate situation, i.e the life of his demon possessed son. There is no doubt that God expects us to believe that he brings victory into our life through His Son Jesus, but what if God is also inviting us to believe something else, or at least a nuanced belief?

What if He is inviting us to believe that He can even use us to bring new life and hope to others in desperate need? What if he not only wants to do something in you, but also through you? Do you believe that? I do.

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.

Real Life

Re:verse–Hosea 1,3,14 (day six)

God didn’t use a vision, or a dream to reveal the heart of his message to Hosea; he used real life. God commanded Hosea to marry, only to rescue his wife years later from a life of rampant adultery. The message was clear. It was not lost on Hosea just how devastating and painful sin could be, nor the cost of covenant keeping love.

The real life of Hosea spoke volumes about the ugliness of sin and the extraordinary love of God. I wonder what our real lives have to teach us?

Respite

Re:Verse reading–Daniel 6 (day six)

As I write this, Anna and I are wrapping up a few days of respite in the Hill Country (that’s the reason for the delayed posting). It was needed. Getting away, waking up in the morning to deer in the field in front of you, with hills rolling in distance, reading God’s Word, prayer, all of it has been refreshing to our souls. Daniel’s respite was his upper chamber in his house with the windows opened facing Jerusalem; there he would pray three times a day. When he faced new pressures from the state, he would go pray. When he faced jealous colleagues, he would go pray in his upper chamber. When his day was easy, he would go pray. Prayer was his respite on good and bad days; it was a part of his everyday rhythm.

You don’t have to go to the Hill Country for respite, but you need it daily like Daniel. Where you do you go pray? Where do you go to refresh your soul when the pressures mount? Find a time and a place; go pray. Your soul needs it.

Benefactor

Seek the welfare of the city,…for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7

“Love your neighbor as your self.”-Jesus

It does us good to do good to others. Is that okay to say out loud? Should we be motivated to do good to others because it is a good return on our investment? According to Jesus, yes. It’s okay to seek your own welfare while pursuing the welfare of others. That’s how God’s economy works. Jesus even said, “it’s more blessed to give than to receive.” Clearly, he inspires us to give sacrificially to others by offering us greater blessing.

Now, this is true in two ways. The first is obvious, when you invest in the welfare of others, overtime it can only bring great benefit to you; giving begets giving (and thus receiving). The second is a greater blessing, when we give or seek the welfare of others we point others to the greater benefactor-God. We give because God gives, in fact no one can out give Him. So, when we give we glorify God, and that is a superior blessing.

Form

Re:Verse reading—Psalm 27 (day six)

The Psalms are full of beautiful theological truths; there is much to be learned about God from the words the poet is inspired to write, but we not only learn from their content but also their form. Psalm 27 is a wonderful example. David moves from hopeful affirmations, to spiritual longings, and then into prayer. In fact, the majority of Psalm 27 is a prayer.

What can we learn from these forms? We learn that as David works out these truths of God in real life (in this case fear), his faith finds its fullest expression in actual prayer, real, gutsy prayer. The Psalms would lead us to believe, that regardless of what we face in this life, it cannot be devoid of real prayer. In this way prayer becomes the feet of our faith; what we believe and hope in God.

So, let me ask you, do you pray? Does what you believe about God work itself out in real life and find its way into real-life prayer?

Never Alone

Re:Verse reading—Psalm 23 (day six)

There is a lot of goodness in Psalm 23. God’s provision, His care and help are dear truths, among several others. More than these, or their summary, David is reminding us that we are not alone. Not in the abstract way at all, but real and close; although at times with our deadened senses, He can be hard to see or hear. But He is there all along. And like a good friend, he listens rather than interjects, nor makes attempts at quick fixes. Every so often, without even a word, he reminds us, I’m bigger than this scary moment. I can carry it. My son already has.

In the world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world. –Jesus

I will never leave you or forsake you. –Jesus