Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 5:10
Father,
I do not like the idea of these children suffering persecution. However, I also realize that the only way to have any possibility of avoiding persecution is to never stand up for anything. For as sure as we stand up for any cause, persecution of one variety or another will happen.
So, as I have prayed that these children stand up for justice and against oppression, that they stand up for their faith in you, and that they seek to make a difference in their community and in their church, I realize that I am, thereby, praying persecution into their lives. But I would have it no other way. I pray that their sphere of influence be greatly increased and that they, through your power working within them, choose to live an extraordinary life for causes that matter. I pray that you give them strength, patience and endurance to withstand the persecution that will come with the territory. I pray that you help them see that persecution and hardship is a natural cost of living a life of significance and that their only alternative is to waste the life you have given to them. The cost of leadership is high - higher yet is the cost of failing to lead, as I often say.
I then call on your promise that these children will inherit your Kingdom - inherit it both eternally, but that also they are able to fully participate in the Kingdom in this life. May the power of your kingdom sustain them.
Amen
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Blessed are the Peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9
Father,
There are those who seem to cause strife wherever they go and there as some who are passive and watch strife being created but do nothing about it. Then there are the peacemakers - those who attempt to do something about it. I have been each of the three categories, I think, at different points in my life, but more often I vacillate between the latter two categories. From experience I have learned that playing the role of peacemaker is often a frustrating and thankless job. Cooling egos is challenging and when one or more of the parties is fundamentally a strife-maker, it is almost impossible to resolve the conflict successfully. It is even more complex and difficult when the conflict is in a marriage. There is also a great risk of being criticized by everyone in the effort - a comment I often make is that in a war, people in the middle get shot.
Never-the-less, Lord, you tell us that we are blessed when we attempt to make peace. More than that you tell us that in that act we become like you - your children. I have come to understand that more fully in past years when I have been able to more fully grasp how you made peace between you and us by sending your Son to earth to be a sin sacrifice on our behalf (Colossians 1:19-20). All of the pitfalls of peace making that I mentioned above were suffered by Jesus - and you as the instigator of the peace effort. He had to cool egos (not very successfully), he had to deal with people who were fundamentally strife-makers (not very successfully) and he did suffer great criticism and persecution in the effort.
And so it seemed at the time that his effort at peacemaking was a complete failure. But we have a better picture looking at it some 2,000 years later. We see that millions have accepted the peace offering and have made their peace with you through his efforts. So, as with so many acts of righteousness, often the end result is not apparent at the time, but may take years or even generations for the fruits of righteousness to ripen.
So with that, I pray that these children be peacemakers, not strife-makers and not passive observers. I pray that you give them strength to endure the inevitable consequences of such efforts and the wisdom to understand that their efforts will never be fruitless, even though they may never see the fruit. Show them in special ways that you are pleased with their attempts and that they truly are being like you as they reach out to calm to storms of human conflict. And may that effort help them to build peace in their own relationships.
Pour your peace into their hearts through your Spirit within them (Romans 15:13).
Amen
Father,
There are those who seem to cause strife wherever they go and there as some who are passive and watch strife being created but do nothing about it. Then there are the peacemakers - those who attempt to do something about it. I have been each of the three categories, I think, at different points in my life, but more often I vacillate between the latter two categories. From experience I have learned that playing the role of peacemaker is often a frustrating and thankless job. Cooling egos is challenging and when one or more of the parties is fundamentally a strife-maker, it is almost impossible to resolve the conflict successfully. It is even more complex and difficult when the conflict is in a marriage. There is also a great risk of being criticized by everyone in the effort - a comment I often make is that in a war, people in the middle get shot.
Never-the-less, Lord, you tell us that we are blessed when we attempt to make peace. More than that you tell us that in that act we become like you - your children. I have come to understand that more fully in past years when I have been able to more fully grasp how you made peace between you and us by sending your Son to earth to be a sin sacrifice on our behalf (Colossians 1:19-20). All of the pitfalls of peace making that I mentioned above were suffered by Jesus - and you as the instigator of the peace effort. He had to cool egos (not very successfully), he had to deal with people who were fundamentally strife-makers (not very successfully) and he did suffer great criticism and persecution in the effort.
And so it seemed at the time that his effort at peacemaking was a complete failure. But we have a better picture looking at it some 2,000 years later. We see that millions have accepted the peace offering and have made their peace with you through his efforts. So, as with so many acts of righteousness, often the end result is not apparent at the time, but may take years or even generations for the fruits of righteousness to ripen.
So with that, I pray that these children be peacemakers, not strife-makers and not passive observers. I pray that you give them strength to endure the inevitable consequences of such efforts and the wisdom to understand that their efforts will never be fruitless, even though they may never see the fruit. Show them in special ways that you are pleased with their attempts and that they truly are being like you as they reach out to calm to storms of human conflict. And may that effort help them to build peace in their own relationships.
Pour your peace into their hearts through your Spirit within them (Romans 15:13).
Amen
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Blessed are the Pure in Heart
Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. Matthew 5:8
Dear Father,
I do pray for the children and their physical purity, amid all of the temptation and open sexuality of our generation. But Jesus was talking about emotional purity - purity of heart. That is a much more complex concept. I pray that your Spirit will grow in these children a heart of purity. Not only that they keep themselves pure, but that the desire to do so to please you. That they be emotionally pure - pure of desire for things and people that are not theirs to have, pure of hatred, pure of arrogance, pure of self-centeredness, pure of manipulation, pure of materialism, pure of bitterness and grudge holding, pure of gossip and pure of anger.
I then call on your promise that these children will see you. I don't think that the promise in Matthew 5:8 is talking about seeing you in heaven, though it may include that. I believe that your grace, through faith in your Son, will save them eternally, not the level of their purity. I think your scripture is telling us here that as we strive to be pure, and allow you Spirit to purify us, the clouds of deceit that Satan covers us with will begin to clear and we will see you more clearly and will see your will and your purposes and will see your truth.
So, I of course pray that these children will see you eternally, but in their lifetime, as your Spirit works to cleanse their hearts, I also pray that you will make yourself more clear and more plain and more real to them - ever increasingly all the days of their lives.
Amen
Dear Father,
I do pray for the children and their physical purity, amid all of the temptation and open sexuality of our generation. But Jesus was talking about emotional purity - purity of heart. That is a much more complex concept. I pray that your Spirit will grow in these children a heart of purity. Not only that they keep themselves pure, but that the desire to do so to please you. That they be emotionally pure - pure of desire for things and people that are not theirs to have, pure of hatred, pure of arrogance, pure of self-centeredness, pure of manipulation, pure of materialism, pure of bitterness and grudge holding, pure of gossip and pure of anger.
I then call on your promise that these children will see you. I don't think that the promise in Matthew 5:8 is talking about seeing you in heaven, though it may include that. I believe that your grace, through faith in your Son, will save them eternally, not the level of their purity. I think your scripture is telling us here that as we strive to be pure, and allow you Spirit to purify us, the clouds of deceit that Satan covers us with will begin to clear and we will see you more clearly and will see your will and your purposes and will see your truth.
So, I of course pray that these children will see you eternally, but in their lifetime, as your Spirit works to cleanse their hearts, I also pray that you will make yourself more clear and more plain and more real to them - ever increasingly all the days of their lives.
Amen
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Blessed are the Merciful
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7
Father,
One thing is very clear to me from scripture is that you expect us to be merciful. The parable of the unmerciful servant is the most clear teaching of that truth. I pray that, through the power of your Spirit, you develop in these children hearts of mercy. That if they err in their judgments and decisions, they will err on the side of mercy. I try to live out what I often say - that if on the day of judgment, I am accused of being taken advantage of because I was too merciful, I will be glad to accept that.
Give them discernment, though, in knowing when and how to hold people accountable for the best interest of those they are dealing with.
And in all of this, I call on your promise that you will show them great mercy, not only in the Day of the Lord, but in life as you shield them from the worst consequences of the poor choices they will inevitably make
Amen
Father,
One thing is very clear to me from scripture is that you expect us to be merciful. The parable of the unmerciful servant is the most clear teaching of that truth. I pray that, through the power of your Spirit, you develop in these children hearts of mercy. That if they err in their judgments and decisions, they will err on the side of mercy. I try to live out what I often say - that if on the day of judgment, I am accused of being taken advantage of because I was too merciful, I will be glad to accept that.
Give them discernment, though, in knowing when and how to hold people accountable for the best interest of those they are dealing with.
And in all of this, I call on your promise that you will show them great mercy, not only in the Day of the Lord, but in life as you shield them from the worst consequences of the poor choices they will inevitably make
Amen
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6
Father,
I pray that you instill in these children a desire to follow a righteous path. I pray that your Spirit fills them with the wisdom to understand that the path of righteousness is the path that will lead to an impactful life. And as they choose that path, fill them, as you promise. Fill them with the joy of knowing that you are pleased with them. Fill them with an understanding and awareness of the good that they are accomplishing by following your ways. Fill them with the richness of relationship with others who have also chosen righteousness. Fill them with strength to continue on their righteous path. Fill them the satisfaction in old age of a life well lived.
Amen
Father,
I pray that you instill in these children a desire to follow a righteous path. I pray that your Spirit fills them with the wisdom to understand that the path of righteousness is the path that will lead to an impactful life. And as they choose that path, fill them, as you promise. Fill them with the joy of knowing that you are pleased with them. Fill them with an understanding and awareness of the good that they are accomplishing by following your ways. Fill them with the richness of relationship with others who have also chosen righteousness. Fill them with strength to continue on their righteous path. Fill them the satisfaction in old age of a life well lived.
Amen
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Blessed are the Meek
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matt 5:5
Father,
This verse has always been a challenge for me to understand. First of all, I know that meekness does not mean weakness. Jesus was meek, but at the same time was willing to stand up to the arrogant and to those who used their power to oppress the poor and the outcasts. He was tough enough to endure persecution and brave enough to face resolutely what he knew lay ahead of him. Yet he did not use his power to defend himself, and he was gentle and compassionate with the downcast and outcast.
So, I get that - but then what about the part of inheriting the earth. In all of this I conclude that Jesus was the first fruit of resurrection (I Corinthians 15:20) and that we shall be like him (I Corinthians 15:49 and I John 3:2) and that we will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4) and that when He comes there will come with him a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1 and II Peter 3:13) and therefore the meek (Jesus as the firstfruit) will inherit the new heaven and new earth.
Father, from all of that, my prayer is that by your Spirit, you grow in these children a quiet strength. A strength that is not self seeking, but a strength that will stand against injustice. I strength that does not impose its own will, but a strength that faithfully fulfills obligations and mission. A strength that does not oppress, but a strength that protects and defends.
I pray that you instill in them a strong and steady gift of leadership based on the meekness of Jesus.
Amen
Father,
This verse has always been a challenge for me to understand. First of all, I know that meekness does not mean weakness. Jesus was meek, but at the same time was willing to stand up to the arrogant and to those who used their power to oppress the poor and the outcasts. He was tough enough to endure persecution and brave enough to face resolutely what he knew lay ahead of him. Yet he did not use his power to defend himself, and he was gentle and compassionate with the downcast and outcast.
So, I get that - but then what about the part of inheriting the earth. In all of this I conclude that Jesus was the first fruit of resurrection (I Corinthians 15:20) and that we shall be like him (I Corinthians 15:49 and I John 3:2) and that we will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4) and that when He comes there will come with him a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1 and II Peter 3:13) and therefore the meek (Jesus as the firstfruit) will inherit the new heaven and new earth.
Father, from all of that, my prayer is that by your Spirit, you grow in these children a quiet strength. A strength that is not self seeking, but a strength that will stand against injustice. I strength that does not impose its own will, but a strength that faithfully fulfills obligations and mission. A strength that does not oppress, but a strength that protects and defends.
I pray that you instill in them a strong and steady gift of leadership based on the meekness of Jesus.
Amen
Blessed are those who mourn
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted Matthew 5:4
Dear Father, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (II Corinthians 1:3),
Because we live in a fallen world and therefore death and loss are a basic part of our journey on this earth, I know that these children will experience loss, sorrow and mourning. If I could protect them from that, I would. But the only way to avoid all of it is simply not to live at all. We know that you will raise the believers from the dead, but that does not remove the pain of loss. Your Son patterned that when Lazarus died - though he knew that he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, he wept.
I also understand that mourning and loss are not just about death, but about other kinds of losses - loss of relationship, loss of dreams, loss of job and even loss of contests.
So, first my prayer is to call upon your promise for these children that in times of mourning, you will comfort them. I believe that this kind of comfort is not simply them feeling better about things, but that in some supernatural way, your Spirit gives peace into their hearts beyond what is humanly normal. That is my prayer for them.
Secondly I pray that in these times they will stay connected to their family of believers. Your servant Paul tells us that one means that comfort comes to us is through others who have previously received your comfort (II Corinthians 1:4-5). Their tendency may be to pull away from people in these times, but I pray they do not and that you bring strong comforters in to their lives from within their family of faith.
Lastly I pray that, indeed, by the experience of comfort that they receive in these times, that they will become people of compassion, who reach out to those who mourn to provide comfort as they have been comforted. Give them a special grace of being comforters, giving them wisdom of what to say - and what not to say - to people who are in distress, such that your comfort naturally flows out of them.
Amen
Dear Father, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (II Corinthians 1:3),
Because we live in a fallen world and therefore death and loss are a basic part of our journey on this earth, I know that these children will experience loss, sorrow and mourning. If I could protect them from that, I would. But the only way to avoid all of it is simply not to live at all. We know that you will raise the believers from the dead, but that does not remove the pain of loss. Your Son patterned that when Lazarus died - though he knew that he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, he wept.
I also understand that mourning and loss are not just about death, but about other kinds of losses - loss of relationship, loss of dreams, loss of job and even loss of contests.
So, first my prayer is to call upon your promise for these children that in times of mourning, you will comfort them. I believe that this kind of comfort is not simply them feeling better about things, but that in some supernatural way, your Spirit gives peace into their hearts beyond what is humanly normal. That is my prayer for them.
Secondly I pray that in these times they will stay connected to their family of believers. Your servant Paul tells us that one means that comfort comes to us is through others who have previously received your comfort (II Corinthians 1:4-5). Their tendency may be to pull away from people in these times, but I pray they do not and that you bring strong comforters in to their lives from within their family of faith.
Lastly I pray that, indeed, by the experience of comfort that they receive in these times, that they will become people of compassion, who reach out to those who mourn to provide comfort as they have been comforted. Give them a special grace of being comforters, giving them wisdom of what to say - and what not to say - to people who are in distress, such that your comfort naturally flows out of them.
Amen
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