prayer

I don’t have a lute but I’ve got rhythm.

/ Craig / 1 Comment

IMG_8217

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

2to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,

3to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.

4For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

Psalm 92:1-4

Even if you don’t have musical rhythm you can can enter into the daily rhythm of a life with Jesus.

Declare the faithfulness of the Lord in the evening.

Declare His steadfast love in the morning.

When you come in from the fullness of your day and begin your evening routines its a good time to consider how God had shown His faithfulness to you. Debrief the day with thanks.

Each morning when you prepare to go out into the fullness of your day do so in the love of our Lord Jesus. Take time to declare the Lord’s love to yourself and to those you share space with. Live loved by entering the day with praise.

Sit with Jesus long enough to be glad in His work on your behalf in the Cross and from the Throne.

He is our joy.

Do you care who sees you?

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG_2087

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  Matthew 6:5-6

Most of our Origin crowd is so nervous about prayer! They are terrified to pray publicly. It ranks in the realm of public speaking and is one of their greatest fears. I hope this changes.

However, there is something dangerous that can happen to us as followers of Jesus even if we don’t like public praying. We can become more interested in appearing spiritual and worthy of people’s respect than in appearing before God with an open heart.

Jesus wants His followers to appear before our Heavenly Father privately and regularly with a deep desire to be seen and known by Him.

Develop the habit of your secret place and your conversation with our Heavenly Father. It’s worth it! “Our Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

 

 

Because He Cares for You.

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG_4388
Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5-7


Anxiety

Our anxiety may be connected to the good gifts God has given us except when its not. Then our anxiety, our sense of unease, in the world and in ourselves may be  connected directly with futile attempts at covering up our sin. Most often though our anxiety has to do with fear that we might lose something God has give us, that we might not perform well, that someone else is going to take from us what we value, or that we might not measure up. At those points the good things are becoming ultimate things.
Opportunity and Humility

Whatever its source, anxiety creates an opportunity for the disciples of Jesus. Anxiety is a call for humility. Humility recognizes the greatness of God for He exists without requirement of our acknowledgment. Humility seeks to enlarge rather than diminish the knowledge of His Presence among us. Anxiety diminishes the reality of God and His care for us. Anxiety taps into pride and seeks to enlarge our own greatness.

 

Without a Christ-informed view of God shaped by the Cross, even the knowledge of God’s greatness can create anxiety. But it is the Cross that affirms this confession, “He cares for you.” Humility enters into the space created by His mighty hand.


Prayer

Casting anxiety upon Jesus is a prayerful process in which we lay our burdens (each item or matter of anxiety) down upon HIm. We recognize Jesus as our greatest gift. We realign our lives with the purposes of God for they are all that will prevail in a broken and fallen world. We lay claim to the promise of His competence, His acceptance, and His grace towards us. We trust Him and receive His peace. We are then empowered by His Spirit, with the assurance of our citizenship in His Kingdom, to lean into this world as it is and love.

 

 

Liberate us from our anxieties so we can…

/ Craig / Leave a comment

IMG_0554

That was the prayer of a student in my 3+ group yesterday. The cry of those simple words resonated in my heart and mind. I immediately sensed God’s presence and the promise of His Word for this desire.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1

“It is I; do not be afraid.” John 6:20

“No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money. Therefore I tell you do not be anxious about your life… Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:24, 25, 32, 33.

As I reflected further on this “karios moment,” I have become aware that often my  liberation from anxiety is found in process; is not a static condition; and must be renewed. In fact the stirred up or troubled mind could be the very work of the Spirit of God leading me into deeper trust and reliance on Him, healing of my wounds, new connections with my community, and participation in Jesus’ mission.

The anxious mind is definitely preoccupied with worries of the past, present, and future. But it is not purposeful. It paralyses me.

This is why the prayer affected me so profoundly. “Liberate us from our anxieties so we can…” You fill in the blank. You know what the Lord has put before you as responsibilities and opportunities to grow, learn, lead, and love. I hope this will become your prayer too. “Oh Heavenly Father, liberate me from my anxieties so I can ________________.”

 

Prayer for Friday

/ Craig / Leave a comment

This was very awesome so here’s a prayer for Friday.

I need Thee Every Hour.

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Psalm 131