Opening Prayer:
God of power, love, and grace, we are worried about many things, the economy, our jobs, being able to provide for our children, our health, the state of world affairs. Remind us that you are our salvation, not our efforts, not our politicians, not our technology. Though each of those is important, without you, we cannot find salvation! Speak to our hearts that we may find strength, peace, and love to share. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Psalm 62
Comments:
What I find amazing about this Psalm is that it is apparently written while David and his people are being battered by enemy forces in battle. How do you "wait in silence" while you are in a fight for your lives and the lives of those you love? This is either stupidity or amazing trust in the power and care of God! Though there is upheaval and chaos all around, David is not panicking or caving into fear. He is silent and resting. "For God alone my soul waits in silence...On God rests my deliverance." Though David surely understands his royal role as leader of the battle, in this Psalm his role is dwarfed by the idea that this is God's fight, and God alone will bring peace and salvation.
The other thing that stands out to me about this Psalm is how in this time of prayer, David maintains an eternal perspective. Verses 9 and 10 clarify that David puts no confidence in his possessions or his power or his status. Hoping for these things to bring salvation is futility. "Do not set your hearts on them." God alone is the source of all power and love, the hope for our salvation.
I don't know what battles you are fighting today, but I know that we are invited to wait in silence, to rest on God, our Savior. He alone is our hope that peace, love, joy are coming.
Prayer:
Though the wind blows, the lightning flashes hot, and the thunder shakes the ground, plant our feet firmly on you. Ground us in the love and resurrection of Jesus Christ who is our hope. Give us faith so that we can wait on you and rest in you in the middle of the fights we're in. May you find us faithful. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Weekly Prayer: Justice And Beauty
Opening Prayer:
Gracious Lord, we made it to the keyboard and to this time of prayer. Salvage us from the wreckage of our busy lives so that we may taste the full goodness of life with you! Speak to us, fill us with your love and transform us into the kind of people who love beyond reason. Amen!
Isaiah 1: 21-26
Comments:
Justice is a popular issue at the moment. Baseball, swimming, and cycling stars are under scrutiny for cheating by using performance enhancing drugs. Millions of people have stayed glued to the details of the Casey Anthony trial. Many are angered and disappointed with the verdict. What is right anymore? Where is there justice? Are there any rules to play by anymore or is "win at any cost" really the best way to live?
God uses Isaiah to reaffirm that justice is not only in God's character, it is the foundational structure of all that is good, loving, and beautiful about life! Notice how unfaithfulness to God and God's rule of justice conjures up ugly words like "whore," "murderers," "rebels," thieves." What was made by God to be beautiful becomes tainted, dented, dirtied, and poisoned by the choices of those who are unfaithful to God's ways. "Your silver has become dross, your best wine mixed with water (22)." A watered down and ugly life that is destructive is the fruit of inattention to God's ways of justice.
Thank God for his saving judgment! Justice will come! It may hurt us to see how we lack care for the well-being of others, how we treat others unjustly, but in the end, God wants to clear the dross from the silver, protect the full-bodied taste of the wine, and see that the widows and orphans and powerless people among us are cared for. Then we will be beautiful again and justice will reign and all praise will be given to God our Savior through the Lord Jesus Christ!
Life Questions:
1. Do I live by the rules because I care about others and because I love God?
2. Do I treat others justly and fairly? Do I pay particular attention to caring for the powerless?
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, when I've been powerless in my sin, you have come to forgive and save me through the love of Jesus Christ! I am grateful for your justice and mercy to me. Give me joy in serving the least, the last, and the lost today so that I may grow more beautiful in your sight. Amen.
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Gracious Lord, we made it to the keyboard and to this time of prayer. Salvage us from the wreckage of our busy lives so that we may taste the full goodness of life with you! Speak to us, fill us with your love and transform us into the kind of people who love beyond reason. Amen!
Isaiah 1: 21-26
Comments:
Justice is a popular issue at the moment. Baseball, swimming, and cycling stars are under scrutiny for cheating by using performance enhancing drugs. Millions of people have stayed glued to the details of the Casey Anthony trial. Many are angered and disappointed with the verdict. What is right anymore? Where is there justice? Are there any rules to play by anymore or is "win at any cost" really the best way to live?
God uses Isaiah to reaffirm that justice is not only in God's character, it is the foundational structure of all that is good, loving, and beautiful about life! Notice how unfaithfulness to God and God's rule of justice conjures up ugly words like "whore," "murderers," "rebels," thieves." What was made by God to be beautiful becomes tainted, dented, dirtied, and poisoned by the choices of those who are unfaithful to God's ways. "Your silver has become dross, your best wine mixed with water (22)." A watered down and ugly life that is destructive is the fruit of inattention to God's ways of justice.
Thank God for his saving judgment! Justice will come! It may hurt us to see how we lack care for the well-being of others, how we treat others unjustly, but in the end, God wants to clear the dross from the silver, protect the full-bodied taste of the wine, and see that the widows and orphans and powerless people among us are cared for. Then we will be beautiful again and justice will reign and all praise will be given to God our Savior through the Lord Jesus Christ!
Life Questions:
1. Do I live by the rules because I care about others and because I love God?
2. Do I treat others justly and fairly? Do I pay particular attention to caring for the powerless?
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, when I've been powerless in my sin, you have come to forgive and save me through the love of Jesus Christ! I am grateful for your justice and mercy to me. Give me joy in serving the least, the last, and the lost today so that I may grow more beautiful in your sight. Amen.
Daily Prayer
Sermons
Connect To Christian Community
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