Simple Prayer

It's so funny how sometimes it can become so hard to do little things... Sometimes even a little thing like "write a blog". Even though it has been hard for me to keep up with it I still want to continue to post to it when I'm able. So today, I was thinking about this idea of prayer. Below are some of my thoughts. May God Bless your day in ways you weren't expecting...

Sometimes we forget that our prayers don’t have to be elaborate and wildly creative. In a day where the normative structure of life is all about looking for the next “big thing” and trying to “out imagine” the next person in our respective professions; we can come to our Heavenly Father at any time without having to worry about impressing Him. As I was reading Psalm 12 this morning, I was struck by the simplicity of how it begins; “Help, Lord.” David was worried about the fact that there seemed to be no one who was faithful anymore. Doesn’t sound all that different to the world we live in today. As we consider all the things we could be praying for, or should be praying for, would our prayers begin with a simple “Help, Lord.” Let me remind us that our ‘true’ help comes from the Lord and it begins with our weakness. When we pray we must remember our own need for help. We need the Lord’s help as much as others need it. Read the whole of Psalm 12 when you get a moment this week. It is only 8 verses and reminds me of the words in Ecclesiastes when the writer says, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Indeed, it seems David dealt with some of the same issues we deal with today…albeit with different technology. 

Lord, we thank you that “You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.” (Ps 12:7-8)

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

Socrates In The City

I was recently turned on to a website called Socrates in the City. It was started by a guy named Eric Metaxas... (many of you...if you read this blog may know who he is)... for the sole purpose of creating "a forum that might encourage busy and successful professionals in thinking about the bigger questions in life." Socrates famously said that "the unexamined life in not worth living." If you're into this type of thing you go check out the website. I like thinking about "stuff"so I enjoy these types of conversations.

Check it out!

http://www.socratesinthecity.com/

To Live for Christ...

Last Tuesday I was struck by the notion that to live for Christ is a dying to my own self. Was this anything new to me? No, not by any means. But what a reminder it is! The example we've been given to us by Jesus of the types of people we should be; ie:  those who are willing to be servants and those willing to lay down their 'lives' (we could use pride and entitlement there as well), for the betterment of others and the advancement of the Gospel. God doesn't want us to serve Him with reserve but with a vigor and abandon. That is the example that has been handed down to us by Jesus and by generation after generation of His followers. I love the way Oswald Chambers says it, "Paul focuses Jesus Christ's idea of a New Testament saint in his life viz., not one who proclaims the Gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives." 

Would we be that type of person...willing to give all of our lives to others for the sake of the Gospel without expecting something from other people in return; save the word from Jesus that says, "Well done good and faithful servant."

May the grace, blessing, and love of Christ permeate from all of us in a new and rich way by the power of the Holy Spirit working in us; making us new with each and every passing moment.

"I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me." 

2 Corinthians 12:15 (NLT)