The Everyday Prayer

RE Verse reading–Psalm 23, Psalm 27:1-5, Psalm 116:1-9, Matthew 6:25-33 (day six)  “Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow. . . nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them”  (6:26) Out of our kitchen window, I have a bird feeder.  It is a new hobby with one early observation.  Feeding birds involves benevolence from me and near constant activity from them.  I don’t feed birds who will not make the effort to find the food.  I think Christ would not apply this principle to God’s provision for us.  God provides by setting us under an umbrella of supply and opportunity (both spiritual and financial)  Our part is to  apply for jobs, learn skills, go to work.  In and through this constant activity on our part (with time off for rest and sabbath), God does His promised work of feeding us.   This is not a passive promise.  God’s generostiy is seen as He give us “power to make wealth”  (Deuteronomy 8:18)

RE Verse reading–Psalm 23, Psalm 27:1-5, Psalm 116:1-9, Matthew 6:25-33 (day five)  “Look at the birds of the air. . .your heavenly Father feeds them”  (6:26)  As we reflect this summer on the generosity of God, it is good to notice the certainty of Jesus on this topic.  Without any hesitation, the Lord proposes a God who “knows what we need”  (vs 32) and can be trusted to provide.  The conviction of Christ on this subject came (in part) from His observations of nature. ( I think we would all be better theologians, and better people, if we weren’t always surrounded by man-made things).  In nature, Jesus saw what we would call ecosystems–huge and successful systems of provision and protection, not just for people, but for animals and plants.  What remarkable mind could design and balance such an operation?  Only a gracious God!  The whole universe points to a regular and generous giver.  But only faith sees the deeper truth. . . this God is worthy of our trust!

RE Verse reading–Psalm 23, Psalm 27:1-5, Psalm 116:1-9, Matthew 6:25-33 (day four)  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?. . .Though war rise up against me, in spite of this I shall be confident”  (27:1, 3)  Most (all) people have insecurities.  Even bright, successful, charismatic people like David.  Is it possible for our fears and  insecurities to be conquered?  David speaks of a Christ-centered life.  “The Lord is my salvation.”  “The Lord is my defense.”  (vs 1)  When Christ becomes our focus, our priority, our protection, our wisdom and our righteousness, we begin to experience confidence.  (Hebrew=batach-“to trust”)  What a gift from God!  To look on conflict and challenge without anxiety is God’s plan for us.  The path to such confidence is clear.  “One thing have I asked of the Lord” (vs 4)  Until we can reduce life down to one thing, we will be afraid of many things.  “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee”  (Isaiah 26:3)

RE Verse reading–Psalm 23, Psalm 27:1-5, Psalm 116:1-9, Matthew 6:25-33 (day three)  “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”  (23:5)  I am finally reconciled to the fact.  There will be enemies.  David had them.  Every leader does.  People who oppose.  People who criticize.  Sometimes for valid reasons.  Sometimes not.  But God continues to provide what we need despite the fact that some people are not happpy with us.  God’s word has clear commands.  “Refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing they produce quarrels. (don’t show up for every controversy!).  The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome (don’t let things get personal!) but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition”  (2 Timothy 2:23-25)  These words describe the way Jesus faced opposition.  The only way that we will be able to follow His example is to know with certainty that the Lord will provide what we need. . .even when our enemies are present.

RE Verse reading–Psalm 23, Psalm 27:1-5, Psalm 116:1-9, Matthew 6:25-33 (day two)  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (23:1)  The words of the 23rd Psalm are exceptional.  No argument.  David’s language is simple, real and beautiful.  The experience, however, is common–at least for spiritual people.  Confidence in God’s presence and protection is something that all who know God gradually learn.  “Who am I that I should go to Pharoah?” he asks in Exodus 3.  “Surely I will be with you”, God tells him.  It is an answer that is higher than the question asked.  Paul heard the same in Acts 18.  “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking. . .for I am with you”  (vs 10)  It is what the disciples (then and now) experience when the Lord says, “Lo I am with you always”  (Matthew 28)  As we read David’s words this week, please remember that this confidence is something God intends  for all of us.  It is a normal Christian life.

RE Verse reading–Psalm 23, Psalm 27:1-5, Psalm 116:1-9, Matthew 6:25-33 (day one)  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”  (23:1)  Fairly often I meet people who have achieved a degree of success (career, personal, financial) but who are, nevertheless, still anxious, worried, restless.  These encounters always remind me of Jesus and His conversation with the Rich Young Ruler ( Mark 10)  “One thing you lack”, says the Lord and then proceeds to tell him how to establish a relationship with God (via faith) that would yield peace and life.  In what may be the most familiar passage of scripture in the entire Bible, David describes such a relationship–one that makes a person grateful and confident and hopeful, no matter the challenges being faced.  Friend, have you found such a relationship?  It is possible!  As we read this week, I am praying for God to show us how to NOT LACK THE ONE THING WE NEED MOST–a heart that is calm and confident in Him!

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, James 1:17-18  (day seven)  God is great.  God is good.  Teaching children this prayer shapes their minds in a positive and powerful way. These words are a simple statement of brilliant theology.  Great is a word that means “big”.  God is huge, vast.  Think size.  Good refers to moral value.  God is kind, benevolent and fair.  After 13 weeks of prophetic instruction, it is good to be reminded that there is a beautiful balance within the Father’s heart. “The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations” (Numbers 14:18)  How can anyone possibly be both?  Some are big but not kind. (power makes them harsh)  Others are kind but weak.  (they want to help but cannot)  Only God is both great and good.  Happy Sunday, everyone!

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, James 1:17-18 (day six)  “For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations”  (Psalm 100:5)  Sin’s deepest scar is anxiety.  When Adam and Eve sinned, they immediately felt unsafe in the world, afraid and ashamed.  “The wicked are like the troubled sea.  It cannot rest”  (Isaiah 57:20)  When confidence in God is lost, every obstacle becomes insurmountable.  The lack of water in the desert sent the children of Israel into panic and rebellion. Anxiety ruled.  (Numbers 14)  Conversely, when confidence in God is regained (by the covering of sin and the exercise of faith) peace rules the heart.  “If God is for us, who can be against us?” says Paul with child-like confidence.  (Romans 8:3)  Never underestimate the positive power of this confidence!  The certainty that God is good and that salvation is free brings joy to the human heart.  It is the only thing that does.

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, James 1:17-18 (day five)  “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above”  (James 1:17)  The Greek word for perfect is teleios.  It means “that which accomplishes its purpose” or “that which reaches its intended destination”.  I remember in college the attempt to justify the use of marijuana by this verse.  The argument went something like this, “If God made it, why shouldn’t we be allowed to use it?”  James would have been quick to challenge such logic.  Not every gift but every good gift, every perfect gift comes from God.  Those things that are used by man in keeping with the eternal and wise purposes of God are “from” Him.  In the same way, marriage and scripture and prayer and church and physical health. . .perfect gifts from a perfect God, but only when used for His intended purposes.  May our hearts be grateful.  May our wills be soft.

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, James 1:17-18 (day four)  “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all generously. . . and it will be given him”  (James 1:5) When James (the brother of the Lord) says that God gives generously, he uses the word haplos.  It means “simple” (literally “not going on a trip”)  Single-minded.  Imagine a wealthy person who only has ONE passion, ONE charity.  The expected result is generous and regular support because His interest is undivided.  James says that God is the same.  He has only one agenda in the world–His Son and the people who are His by faith.  He is not distracted.  His eye is on us.  We can expect His generous help.  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  (Romans 8:32)  It isn’t complicated.  God is simply generous.