“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke" Isaiah 58:6
Dear Father,
It is obvious that our tendency is to lose sight of what is really important to you. We can be very busy being religious, and fail completely to pay attention to what you consider to be important. Isaiah was pointing out that Israel was going through the motions of their religious practices, but were missing the point of their religion.
I pray that these children do not lose their way in this manner. I pray that they develop a deep understanding of the things that are imporant to you. Choosing to be about loosing the chains of injustice and setting the oppressed free will not make them popular with people in power. It is only people holding power in one form or another who can bind people with injustice and oppress them. And when someone attempts to loose the chains and set the oppressed free, they are running up against the oppressors in power.
Thus, my prayer for these children is that you open their eyes to the injustice and oppression around them and give them the courage to confront it. At the same time, give them wisdom as to how to most effectively address these things in a way that is most likely to be successful. Shouting in protest may be appropriate at times, but at other times quietly working behind the scenes may be the best approach. Sometimes it may be best for them to simply support someone else who is fighting the battle.
But, in the end, show them that it is not your will or your desire for them to turn a blind eye to the injustice and oppression around them. Grow in them a heart for defending the defenseless and help them build a platform strength and influence from which to fight the battle.
Amen
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Make Your Calling and Election Sure. II Peter 1:10-11
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10, 11)
Dear Father,
I want these children to understand that it is possible to fall away from your grace. I also want them to understand that it is not easy to do so. What your servant Peter is telling us is that it can happen if we are aiming at nothing. If we, on the other hand, are making some effort to add to our spiritual growth, your Spirit works in us to transform us and give us power to overcome. If we "aim for perfection" (II Corinthians 13:11), we will, of course, never attain it, but aiming for it, in the humility of knowing we will not attain it, will keep us from being pulled away by temptation into a lifestyle that can lead us away from your grace (Galatians 5:21).
And even if we are not so drawn into sin that we are pulled completely from your grace (it cannot be fully said that we "live like this") I pray that these children understand that any time they fall into sin, damage will be done. And that damage will always include damage to those they love, and may include innocent bystanders. Help them to know that all of us fail and sin, but that we can reduce the amount of that failure and the severity of the consequences by possessing "these qualities in increasing measure". Please help them to understand the truth of the old saying "if you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time" and instill in them a strong desire to conform to your will.
Amen
Dear Father,
I want these children to understand that it is possible to fall away from your grace. I also want them to understand that it is not easy to do so. What your servant Peter is telling us is that it can happen if we are aiming at nothing. If we, on the other hand, are making some effort to add to our spiritual growth, your Spirit works in us to transform us and give us power to overcome. If we "aim for perfection" (II Corinthians 13:11), we will, of course, never attain it, but aiming for it, in the humility of knowing we will not attain it, will keep us from being pulled away by temptation into a lifestyle that can lead us away from your grace (Galatians 5:21).
And even if we are not so drawn into sin that we are pulled completely from your grace (it cannot be fully said that we "live like this") I pray that these children understand that any time they fall into sin, damage will be done. And that damage will always include damage to those they love, and may include innocent bystanders. Help them to know that all of us fail and sin, but that we can reduce the amount of that failure and the severity of the consequences by possessing "these qualities in increasing measure". Please help them to understand the truth of the old saying "if you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time" and instill in them a strong desire to conform to your will.
Amen
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Possess these Qualities in Increasing Measure II Peter 1:8
"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." II Peter 1:8
Dear Father,
Help these young ones to understand that spiritual growth is a process. Help them to know this for two reasons: first so that they will not become discouraged when they do not display the spiritual maturity that they would want to show - when they fall short of what they would like to accomplish spiritually, when they make mistakes that a more mature person would not make. Help them to understand that this is normal spiritual growth. They will make mistakes and take wrong turns, but may they understand that growth comes by getting back up, turning their direction back to you (repenting) and getting back on their way. Secondly, help them to understand that this process never ends. Whether they are 10 or 20 or 30 or 60 years old, this scripture tells us that we must continue to add these qualities in increasing measure, otherwise we will become ineffective and unproductive.
That is a bit if a mystery to me, but the scripture tells me that the level of maturity and the level of these qualities that I possessed at age 50 are not adequate at age 60. I do not think this is about achieving spiritual accompishment, rather it is about journey.
If we stop moving along our journey, no matter how far we may have already come, we will stagnate and thereby will become ineffective and unproductive. I pray that none of us ever become satisfied with our level of spiritual growth.
Amen
Dear Father,
Help these young ones to understand that spiritual growth is a process. Help them to know this for two reasons: first so that they will not become discouraged when they do not display the spiritual maturity that they would want to show - when they fall short of what they would like to accomplish spiritually, when they make mistakes that a more mature person would not make. Help them to understand that this is normal spiritual growth. They will make mistakes and take wrong turns, but may they understand that growth comes by getting back up, turning their direction back to you (repenting) and getting back on their way. Secondly, help them to understand that this process never ends. Whether they are 10 or 20 or 30 or 60 years old, this scripture tells us that we must continue to add these qualities in increasing measure, otherwise we will become ineffective and unproductive.
That is a bit if a mystery to me, but the scripture tells me that the level of maturity and the level of these qualities that I possessed at age 50 are not adequate at age 60. I do not think this is about achieving spiritual accompishment, rather it is about journey.
If we stop moving along our journey, no matter how far we may have already come, we will stagnate and thereby will become ineffective and unproductive. I pray that none of us ever become satisfied with our level of spiritual growth.
Amen
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Add to your Brotherly Kindness, Love. II Peter 1:7
Father,
These three verses seem to be the building blocks of developing agape love. I Corinthians 13 love. This tells me that without faith in you, true sacrificial love is not fully possible on a sustained basis. Without a desire to do good and be good, agape love does not happen. Without a knowledge of you and your word, we are not able to know and understand what you mean by love. Without the ability to control our own impulses and actions, we will fail in our attempts to show love. Without our ability to follow-through on our promises we cannot fully love. Without showing and reflecting the attributes of your nature, we will show love that is incomplete and distorted. All of that leads us to the ability to show true kindness, but then you take our response to the next level - showing sacrificial love.
I pray that these children grow to understand these building blocks and then to understand that love is not a feeling, but a decision. A decision to show the attributes of love to those you give to them to love. Help them to learn that at an early age so that in this respect, at least, they develop a spiritual maturity far beyond their years. By that, I pray that their marriages are able to be spared some of the trials caused by selfishness as they seek to show agape love to their spouse. As these verses loop back to the beginning, strengthen their faith so that they can endure and keep in perspective the pain that they will invariably endure when they commit to showing selfless love as you keep before them the perfect example of your Son and his sacrifice for them.
Amen
These three verses seem to be the building blocks of developing agape love. I Corinthians 13 love. This tells me that without faith in you, true sacrificial love is not fully possible on a sustained basis. Without a desire to do good and be good, agape love does not happen. Without a knowledge of you and your word, we are not able to know and understand what you mean by love. Without the ability to control our own impulses and actions, we will fail in our attempts to show love. Without our ability to follow-through on our promises we cannot fully love. Without showing and reflecting the attributes of your nature, we will show love that is incomplete and distorted. All of that leads us to the ability to show true kindness, but then you take our response to the next level - showing sacrificial love.
I pray that these children grow to understand these building blocks and then to understand that love is not a feeling, but a decision. A decision to show the attributes of love to those you give to them to love. Help them to learn that at an early age so that in this respect, at least, they develop a spiritual maturity far beyond their years. By that, I pray that their marriages are able to be spared some of the trials caused by selfishness as they seek to show agape love to their spouse. As these verses loop back to the beginning, strengthen their faith so that they can endure and keep in perspective the pain that they will invariably endure when they commit to showing selfless love as you keep before them the perfect example of your Son and his sacrifice for them.
Amen
Friday, February 24, 2012
Add to your Godliness, Brotherly Kindness. II Peter 1:7
Dear Father,
All of the attributes of II Peter 1 up to now have focused on our own self-improvement of our character. But then, as you always do, you turn the discussion to make it clear that everything ultimately comes down to relationship. As your servant Paul says in I Corithians 13, without love, without exhibiting the behavior that builds and sustains relationship, all of our "godly" actions count for nothing. These verses tell us that the foundation of being able to properly build relationship is that we must have a deep faith in you, we must strive to do good and be good, we must have a good knowledge of you, your nature and your teachings, we must have self-control, we must stick to our promises and commitments, and we must strive to exhibit your attributes. But those are, indeed, foundational to being able to show brotherly kindness and love. They are foundational because showing brotherly kindness is unnatural. It is easy when people are likable, but it is hard and unnatural when people of difficult to get along with. Only with the foundation given in verses 5 and 6 can we begin to show the kind of brotherly kindness you have in mind.
I pray that you build in these children a foundation that allows them to show kindness to people who are unlikeable. That will be hard. It is hard for me. But if they are able to do that, they will truly shine like stars and they will be an agent for your peace. Give them the wisdom to choose words that will calm the troubled hearts that underlie the unlikeable behavior. Give them the gift of peace making and the talent to reach out and touch the social lepers. May it be said of them that they love the unlovable.
Amen
All of the attributes of II Peter 1 up to now have focused on our own self-improvement of our character. But then, as you always do, you turn the discussion to make it clear that everything ultimately comes down to relationship. As your servant Paul says in I Corithians 13, without love, without exhibiting the behavior that builds and sustains relationship, all of our "godly" actions count for nothing. These verses tell us that the foundation of being able to properly build relationship is that we must have a deep faith in you, we must strive to do good and be good, we must have a good knowledge of you, your nature and your teachings, we must have self-control, we must stick to our promises and commitments, and we must strive to exhibit your attributes. But those are, indeed, foundational to being able to show brotherly kindness and love. They are foundational because showing brotherly kindness is unnatural. It is easy when people are likable, but it is hard and unnatural when people of difficult to get along with. Only with the foundation given in verses 5 and 6 can we begin to show the kind of brotherly kindness you have in mind.
I pray that you build in these children a foundation that allows them to show kindness to people who are unlikeable. That will be hard. It is hard for me. But if they are able to do that, they will truly shine like stars and they will be an agent for your peace. Give them the wisdom to choose words that will calm the troubled hearts that underlie the unlikeable behavior. Give them the gift of peace making and the talent to reach out and touch the social lepers. May it be said of them that they love the unlovable.
Amen
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Add to your Perseverance, Godliness II Peter 1:6
Dear Father,
I will admit that I do not comprehend godliness. It seems to say that we are trying to be like you. That goal is incomprehensible to me. You and I are not comparable in the least. Even Jesus, your example in human form, is, to say the least, out of my league. To me it is like saying that I need to learn to fly. I can jump off the ground a few inches and flap my arms, but that pretty much makes a joke of it. Such is how I feel with any attempt to be like you. So how to I pray "godliness" for these children when I don't understand it myself?
But I do see attributes of you that we can attempt to emulate. Mercy, compassion, forgiveness, true justice in defending the powerless, anger against oppressors, holiness - these are aspects of you that you show us over and over again in scripture. The last attribute, holiness, is equally difficult. What does it mean to be holy as you are holy?
My prayer for these children is that they seek you and seek your face and that as they seek you, they learn of you. And as they learn of you, please draw them to you and teach them what it means to be holy. Teach them what it means to be merciful and compassionate. Teach them what it means to administer true justice, defending the powerless and confronting the oppressors. And as you teach them this, fan the flame of desire within them to follow after these attributes of yours. Guide them in that path so that they are a beacon of your nature in the world.
Amen
I will admit that I do not comprehend godliness. It seems to say that we are trying to be like you. That goal is incomprehensible to me. You and I are not comparable in the least. Even Jesus, your example in human form, is, to say the least, out of my league. To me it is like saying that I need to learn to fly. I can jump off the ground a few inches and flap my arms, but that pretty much makes a joke of it. Such is how I feel with any attempt to be like you. So how to I pray "godliness" for these children when I don't understand it myself?
But I do see attributes of you that we can attempt to emulate. Mercy, compassion, forgiveness, true justice in defending the powerless, anger against oppressors, holiness - these are aspects of you that you show us over and over again in scripture. The last attribute, holiness, is equally difficult. What does it mean to be holy as you are holy?
My prayer for these children is that they seek you and seek your face and that as they seek you, they learn of you. And as they learn of you, please draw them to you and teach them what it means to be holy. Teach them what it means to be merciful and compassionate. Teach them what it means to administer true justice, defending the powerless and confronting the oppressors. And as you teach them this, fan the flame of desire within them to follow after these attributes of yours. Guide them in that path so that they are a beacon of your nature in the world.
Amen
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Add to your Self-Control, Perseverance II Peter 1:6
Father,
I know that all of the faith, desire to do good, knowledge and self-control matter little if we do not follow-through on our commitments. We, of course, in our human frailty will fall short on follow-through, but your expectation of us is to continue striving and re-committing as a life-long process.
I pray that you fill these children with strength to carry on when they are tired and weary of doing the right thing. Show them your pleasure in their efforts. Give them the blessing of seeing the fruit of their labor. And in those dark times when they see no fruit, give them wisdom and perspective that allows them to look at the long term. Give them cheerleaders and encouragers. Give them examples of people who have kept the course and thereby good things were accomplished. Give them the ability to ignore criticism, but yet the ability to glean from such criticism words of wisdom. Also help them to learn that the only way to avoid criticism is attempt nothing noble.
In all things help them to see that this life is a gift from you to be surrendered to you as they live an extraordinary life. That they will not be on this earth very long and that pouring themselves into noble efforts, regardless of the related hardship is what you intend for them to be about all of their lives.
Amen
I know that all of the faith, desire to do good, knowledge and self-control matter little if we do not follow-through on our commitments. We, of course, in our human frailty will fall short on follow-through, but your expectation of us is to continue striving and re-committing as a life-long process.
I pray that you fill these children with strength to carry on when they are tired and weary of doing the right thing. Show them your pleasure in their efforts. Give them the blessing of seeing the fruit of their labor. And in those dark times when they see no fruit, give them wisdom and perspective that allows them to look at the long term. Give them cheerleaders and encouragers. Give them examples of people who have kept the course and thereby good things were accomplished. Give them the ability to ignore criticism, but yet the ability to glean from such criticism words of wisdom. Also help them to learn that the only way to avoid criticism is attempt nothing noble.
In all things help them to see that this life is a gift from you to be surrendered to you as they live an extraordinary life. That they will not be on this earth very long and that pouring themselves into noble efforts, regardless of the related hardship is what you intend for them to be about all of their lives.
Amen
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