November 9: Tuesday Refocus

'[Prayer] is an earnest and familiar talking with God.' — John Knox

Something about prayer always seems mysterious - even to the most deeply discipled among us.  The disciples of Jesus felt this was an area that they too needed His coaching (Luke 11:1-13).

Most people probably assume that prayer is mainly intercessory prayer.  Praying to God, that He would move on behalf of myself or another.  Lord, please give me what I want kind of requests.  Although this is certainly one form of prayer, if we are to pray without ceasing as the Scriptures instruct (1 Thess 5:17), then our prayers must be more than wishlists.  

The Psalms are the prayer book for God’s people.  We see intercession and petition in the Psalms of course, but we also see that prayer is a posture of heart, a rhythm of life, and shaped around the contours of every day.

‘…pour out your heart before Him…’ (Ps 62:8)

‘O Lord, all my longing is before You…’ (Ps 38:9)

‘For God alone, my soul waits in silence…’ (Ps 62:1)

‘I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways.’ (Ps 119:15)

‘With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of Your righteousness, Yours alone.’ (Ps 71:16)

For prayer to be an earnest and familiar talking with God, we must continue to posture our hearts toward communion, union, and relationship with God.  

Open hands, 

open hearts, 

open ears.  

Speak Lord, your servant is listening… All the amens.

Amen,

AB

August 31: Tuesday Refocus

“Thy death is my life, Thy resurrection my peace, Thy ascension my hope, Thy prayers my comfort.” - The Valley of Vision

The death of Christ is life for us.  This reality is evidence of an upside-down Kingdom.  A Kingdom ruled by One who came not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45).  One who emptied Himself and became obedient to the point of death (Phil 2:5-9).  It is in His death that we live - dying daily to self to truly find Life (Gal 2:20, Matt 10:39).

Because death never has the final word - not in an upside-down Kingdom, not ever.  There is peace in knowing though the Prince of Peace died, He has been raised, and gives peace not like the world - but gives the Peace of His presence with His people (Is 9:6, Jn 14:27, 1 Thess 4:14, Matt 28:20).

Not only did He die, not only was He raised, He has ascended to the right hand of the Father (Rom 8:34, Jn 20:17).  He completed His work, accepted by God, and we can rest knowing that His righteousness is now ours (Phil 3:9, Col 3:1, Heb 10:12).  Our Hope is secure anchoring our souls in heaven (Heb 6:19).

And there our Anchor rests - making intercession on our behalf before the Father (Heb 7:25).  Our Savior and King, the One who in a glorified body now stands, bearing eternal scars, having been tempted and tried in every way like we have been and will be, and yet has been without sin (Heb 4:14-16).  He prays for us.

Jesus, there is no life, no peace, no hope, and no comfort more secure and significant than what is ours in and through You.  We are grateful people, may we live like we know these things are true.  In Your name, amen.

Believing,

AB