Isaiah 53

53 Who has believed our message?
    To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?
² My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,
    like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
    nothing to attract us to him.
³ He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.

⁴ Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!
⁵ But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.
⁶ All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and treated harshly,
    yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
    And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
    he did not open his mouth.
⁸ Unjustly condemned,
    he was led away.
No one cared that he died without descendants,
    that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down
    for the rebellion of my people.
⁹ He had done no wrong
    and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
    he was put in a rich man’s grave.

¹⁰ But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
    and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
    he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
    and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
¹¹ When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
    he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
    my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
    for he will bear all their sins.
¹² I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
    because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
    He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Isaiah 53

Dear God, this is an amazing prophecy. Not only that. It’s amazing that Jesus fulfilled it. Thank you!! THANK YOU!!!

I was talking with a friend recently who relayed a conversation with a friend of theirs that I don’t know, but it stunned them. Basically, this person blamed you for everything. What you created was bad. You created angels and there was an angel war that you sanctioned. You created people and families, and there are almost no good examples of families in the Bible (remember, this is all according to this person my friend knows). Even now, so many families are wrecked. In this person’s eyes, you create bad things. You are bad. And they apparently didn’t used to feel this way.

But I read this and it reminds me of just how loving you are. This person would say you killed your son because you are bad. I would say you did everything you had to do to reconcile us to you, including giving us teaching and examples through this son–YOUR SON. He bore my sins. He intercedes for me. Even now, he intercedes for me. Thank you!! THANK YOU!!!

Oh, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I really do thank you. I really do worship you. In you I put my faith. I put my trust. I am so burdened by the suffering of others. I was at a fourth-grade musical performance tonight at our local elementary school and I was looking around the room at all of the family members there to watch their children. I know there was so much pain in that room. It hurt my heart. I can’t address it all. What part do you have for me? Show me. Reveal to me. And you know the personal prayers I have for my own family. Do something I can’t imagine because right now I feel pretty hopeless. Do all of this so that your kingdom might come and your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

I pray all of this for your glory and under your authority,

Amen

 

Luke 18:1-8

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Luke 18:1-8

Dear God, I had lunch recently with a friend and we were talking about how you are going to do what you are going to do, and our lives aren’t about us, but they are about you and how you might use us for your purposes. That’s all really neat and tidy for me. Pretty simple. Then I come across a parable like this from Jesus. The only line, “I don’t pray because it changes God. I pray because it changes me,” doesn’t seem to fit with this one. Can you really be changed?

I guess it goes back to verse 1. Why did Jesus tell this parable? Not all parables start with the moral of the story, but this one does. The point of the parable is to tell me that I should always pray and never give up. Always pray and never give up. My wife and I pray together every day. Sometimes it feels hopeless. In fact, yesterday, I told her that I felt hopeless with something of the things we pray about often. Just hopeless. As I thought about that this morning, I started to try to think of a parable where desperate prayer made an impact. This is the one that came to mind.

Father, you know what I prayed about this morning. You know what I prayed about yesterday, the day before that, and the day before that. For some of these things I’ve been praying for 10 years. And I confess to you that sometimes I lose faith. Sometimes I feel hopeless. But then you remind me through stories like this that I just need to keep praying and never give up. You also remind me through the stories of your people that most of the time the person doing the praying never lives to see the day their prayers are answered. Who am I to expect any different. So I have my concerns today, and I lift them to you. Does it change you? I don’t think it does as much as I would like it to, but I do think you are working in ways that I cannot see, and it is just my job to believe in you, trust in you, and have the faith in the things I hope for but cannot see. Help me to live out those words I just wrote.

I pray this through Jesus’s life, death and resurrection,

Amen

 

“Lay Down the Burden of Your Heart” by Amy Grant

“Lay Down The Burden of Your Heart” by Amy Grant

It’s a cold, cold world
That we walk in through.
Lay down the burden of your heart.
But it’s warm as toast
Walking two by two,
Lay down the burden of your heart.

Lay down the burden of your heart.
I know you’ll never miss it.
Show your Daddy where it hurts,
And let your Daddy lift it.

It’s a fine, fine line
Betwixt love and hate.
Why, it’s tough to tell the two apart.
But you know it’s love
That He offers you.
Lay down the burden of your heart.

Lay down the burden of your heart.
I know you’ll never miss it.
Ohh-ohh, show your Daddy where it hurts,
And let your Daddy lift it.

Lay down the burden of your heart.
I know you’ll never miss it.
Ohh-ohh, show your Daddy where it hurts,
And let your Daddy lift it.

Ohh-ohh, show your Daddy where it hurts,
And let your Daddy lift it.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Adrian Plass / David Clifton / Ian David Blythe / Philip Andrew Baggaley

Dear God, the other day I was doing a prayer through the song “The Words I Would Say” by Sidewalk Prophets that I told you at the time I normally sing for others, but maybe it was meant for me. This song is the opposite. I normally sing this old Amy Grant song for myself, but this morning, I have a couple of people on my heart for whom I want to sing this. They are hurting. From a distance, it seems like they are trying to figure out how to lay them down, but they don’t know how. One in particular doesn’t seem to know to to submit to you and let go. This song this morning is for them. It’s my prayer for them.

This song is off of Amy Grant’s second album, “My Father’s Eyes,” released in 1979. I remember my dad owning the LP. As I recall (and this could be wrong because it’s been a long time), the liner notes had a message from Amy to the girls in her dorm. She was 19-ish when she was recording this album so her life was unique at this point. I’m sure she looks back now as a 63-year-old woman and wonders how she had the audacity to tell anyone anything about you at such a young age. I certainly do when I look back on my naivete from when I was younger and hadn’t gone through some of life’s trials that accumulate over the years of living. I can’t help but wonder what kind of burdens were on the heart of 19-year-old Amy that she had in mind as she sang vs. the burdens on 63-year-old Amy’s life. I can tell you that 19-year-old me had a totally different view of life than 53-year-old me has.

Looking back on this song, the verses are okay, but it’s the chorus mixed with her soft voice that makes it comforting. “Lay down the burden of your heart. I know you’ll never miss it. Show your daddy where it hurts, and let your daddy lift it.”

Father, I am rifling through a list of people in my head right now who are carrying burdens that need laid down. This is my prayer for them. Show me my role in their lives. Raise up others in their lives who can speak into them with your voice. Bring them to you. Bring them (and me) into repentance and the freedom that you offer through it. Oh, please be merciful. And show me how to lay down the burdens on my heart as well.

I pray all of this through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection for my sake,

Amen

 

“The Now and the Not Yet” by Amy Grant

“The Now and the Not Yet” by Amy Grant

No longer what we were before,
But not all that we will be.
Tomorrow, when we lock the door,
On all our compromising,
When He appears,
He’ll draw us near,
And we’ll be changed by His glory,
Wrapped up in His glory….

We will be like Him,
For we shall see Him,
As He is.

No longer what we saw before,
But not all that we will see.
Tomorrow, when we lock the door,
On all our disbelieving,
When He appears (holy, holy),
Our view will clear,
And we’ll be changed by His glory,
Wrapped up in His glory….

But I’m caught in between
The now and the not yet;
Sometimes it seems like
Forever and ever,
That I’ve been reaching to be
All that I am,
But I’m only a few steps nearer,
Yet I’m nearer….

No longer what we were before,
But not all that we will be.
Tomorrow, when we lock the door,
On all our disbelieving,
And He appears (holy, holy),
He’ll draw us near,
And we’ll be changed by His glory,
Wrapped up in His glory….

When He appears (holy, holy),
He’ll draw us near,
And we’ll be changed by His glory,
Wrapped up in His glory….

Source: LyricFind

Dear God, I was lying down for a nap yesterday and this song came on my iPod. It is from a mid-80s Amy Grant album called Straight Ahead. I’ve always liked it and I’ve known it has great lyrics–there’s a reason it’s on my phone nearly 40 years later–but yesterday might be the first time I stopped to let the lyrics sweep over me. I talked about it later with my wife when we were on a walk, and she was familiar with the song too. We both started quoting the lyrics back and forth to each other, appreciating the sentiment.

For me, what really blessed me was the bridge:

But I’m caught in between
The now and the not yet;
Sometimes it seems like
Forever and ever,
That I’ve been reaching to be
All that I am,
But I’m only a few steps nearer,
Yet I’m nearer….

It’s frustrating to have been discipling and following you for over 35 years and not feel like I’ve grown more than I have. I’m caught between who I was before Jesus and who I will be on the other side of the death divide–heaven. Oh, how I would love to be completely that person now! I would love to not sin. I would love to not let my cultural biases get in the way of the truth you want to teach me. I would love to not judge. I would love to love my wife and children perfectly. I would love to be all of these things, but I just can’t. I’m not there yet. But I can decisively say that I have learned things and grown over the last 35 years, 20 years, 10 years, year, 6 months, 6 weeks, 6 days, 6 hours, and even 6 minutes. “I’m only a few steps nearer, yet I’m nearer.”

Father, I commit to this journey. It is truly forming me. I talked with a friend yesterday who went through what maybe was the worst trial of his life over the last few weeks, and he ashamedly admitted to me that it was the best his prayer life has ever been. I’ve been there. Good times don’t drive me to my knees, but struggles sure do. So thank you for the struggles. Not that you caused them (as we learned from James), but you walk with me through them and redeem them to form me. Whatever you’re doing, please don’t let me get in the way and do it for your glory.

I pray all of this through the grace and blood of Jesus,

Amen

 

Romans 6:20-23

²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. ²¹ And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. ²² But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:20-23

Dear God, I was thinking recently about some of the things the modern church says you view as sin. And I’m not saying here which sins are which and which sins are seemingly more important to some than others (e.g. homosexuality vs. ignoring the poor). But what I do want to stop and think about is why different things are sins. Why is it a sin to ignore the poor? If homosexuality is on the list, why is it on the list?

I think it’s always been a teaching of the church that you set up the rules for our benefit. They are here so we can be happier and live more fulfilled lives. If we don’t lie, cheat on our spouses, covet, etc. then our lives our better. If we put no other gods or idols before you and observe the Sabbath, then our lives are better. So if we are going to say that not caring for the poor or homosexuality are sins, why did you set them up as things we should guard against?

Well, I’m not going to touch the homosexuality issue–at least not publicly–but what happens to my life if I turn a blind eye to the poor or those who are suffering? How does that hurt me? Well, for this example I go back to 2003. I was living a nice little cocooned life worshipping you, being married to my wife and raising our two children in our middle class home. In retrospect, it was pretty selfish and insular. I was supposed to be salt in the world, but I wasn’t being very salty. I wasn’t being your hands and feet. What’s more is the fact that by not reaching out to help people who were struggling made me much more judgmental and less merciful towards them. No, to be sure, I am a better man now than I was 20 years ago (almost exactly 20 years ago) because I have spent the last 20 years caring for others who are struggling.

Father, maybe the thing for us to do is to define why you designating something as a sin before we start going out and trying to convict people of that sin. Additionally, maybe it’s important to look at the existing sins in our own lives and humbly work those out with fear and trembling before you and then invite others into that process of living before you and worshipping you before we start to pick apart the sins we think we see them committing. I’m not saying that sin isn’t bad. Certainly not. Paul makes it clear above. But is the death he refers to in verse 23 hell or the hellish life we will live on earth if we allow ourselves to pursue different sins? Or both? Well, I suppose that is up to interpretation at some point. What I know right now is that I need to spend more time examining my own heart and finding sin to purge and less time examining the hearts of others. Holy Spirit, please help me to do that.

I pray all of this through the mercy given to me through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection,

Amen

 

James 1:12-18

¹² God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. ¹³ And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. ¹⁴ Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. ¹⁵ These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

¹⁶ So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. ¹⁸ He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

James 1:12-18

Dear God, taking responsibility is so important. I watched a short video clip of a neuropsychiatrist, Russell Barkley, speaking the other day and he was saying talking about parents as shepherds instead of engineers. Basically, he was saying that we are born with a bunch of character traits that are a mosaic of our family tree. We are not engineered by our parents. We are beings that are shepherded by them. Parents still have a lot of influence. Shepherds have a lot of influence. But to some extent there is only so much that can be done. It’s a liberating concept as a parent, but it’s a troubling concept as a child. In some ways, it gives me one less person to blame for the negative parts of who I am.

To be sure, the environment is a big part of it. A lack of safety or nurturing can really impact the best of people. So this isn’t a free pass for parents to not take any responsibility for their mistakes. I’ve certainly had to come to terms with some of my mistakes and ask my children for forgiveness when I failed. But how my children respond to me, or how I respond to my parents, is largely driven by those personality traits we are born with.

So now James is telling us that you, my Lord, whom David defined as his “shepherd” in Psalm 23, would never put me in a bad situation, but you are there to love and shepherd me through it. It’s my responsibility to heed your voice no matter my circumstances. If I will listen to my shepherd then you will lead me through, one way or another.

Father, help me to hear your still, small voice today. Guide me in your love.

I pray this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

Amen

 

“I Will Sing” “First Family” “The Love Of God” by Rich Mullins

Dear God, I used to sing these three songs to my children at bedtime when they were little. I just want to sing them to you by typing out all of their lyrics before I go to be tonight.

“I Will Sing” by Rich Mullins

I will sing for the meek
For those who pray
With their very lives for peace
Though they’re in chains
For a higher call
Their mourning will change in laughter
When the nations fall

In spirit poor, In mercy rich
They hunger for your righteousness
Their hearts refined into purity
Lord, let me shine for them
Lord, let me sing
Lord, let me shine for them
Lord, let me sing

“First Family” by Rich Mullins

My folks they were always
The first family to arrive
Seven people jammed into a car
That seated five
There was one bathroom
To bathe and shave in
Six of us stood in line
And hot water for only three
But we all did just fine

Talk about your miracles
Talk about your faith
My dad he could make things grow
Out of Indiana clay
Mom could make a gourmet meal
Out of just cornbread and beans
And they worked to give faith hands and feet
But somehow gave it wings

I can still hear my dad cussin’
He’s working late out in the barn
The spring plantings are coming
And the tractors just won’t run
Mom, she’s done the laundry
I can see it waving on the line
Now they’ve stayed together
Through pain and the strain of those times

Talk about your miracles
Talk about your faith
My dad he could make things grow
Out of Indiana clay
Mom could make a gourmet meal
Out of just cornbread and beans
And they worked to give faith hands and feet
But somehow gave it wings

Now they’ve raised five children
But one winter they lost a son
But the pain didn’t leave them crippled
Only scars that made them strong

Never picture perfect
Just a plain man and his wife
Who somehow knew the value
Of hard work, good love, and real life

Talk about your miracles
Talk about your faith
My dad he could make things grow
Out of Indiana Clay
Mom could make a gourmet meal
Out of just cornbread and beans
And they worked to give faith hands and feet
But somehow gave it wings

“The Love of God” by Rich Mullins

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
I cannot find in my own
And it keeps this fire burning
To melt this heart of stone
Keeps me aching with the yearning
Keeps me glad to have been caught
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God

I have seen no band of angels
But I’ve heard the soldiers’ song
Love hangs over them like a banner
Love within them leads them on
To the battle on the journey
And it’s never gonna stop
Ever widening their mercy
And the fury of His love

Oh, the love of God!
Oh, the love of God!
The love of God!

Joy and sorrow are this ocean
It’s in their every ebb and flow
Now, the Lord a door has opened
That all hell could never close
Here I’m tested and made worthy
Tossed about, yet lifted up
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God

Father, I pray these songs over my wife, me, our children, and their significant others tonight.

Under your gracious authority I pray,

Amen

 

Ephesians 5:1-9

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
Ephesians 5:1-9

Dear God, I’m always reminded that nothing is new. I mean, technology–namely the Internet and social media–seems to have given sinfulness an exponential boost in the ways we can engage with it, but still. I mean, for Paul to be talking to the Ephesians about dirty jokes, licentious stories, impurity and sexual immorality–and this was to the church!

I was reminded of a prayer I did to you a few months ago about “How Jesus Would Fight the Culture War.” I saw this one quote I pulled from the Holy Post podcast I took it all from:

Phil Vischer question to Mike: How do you define culture wars? Answer: I don’t define culture war but ask the question, “What is the role of the church in the world?” The answer to that question answers the first question. Is the role of the church to transform society or is it to be transformed into the image of Jesus? The answer to that first question is clearly the latter.

Yes, you are calling us to be fully transformed into your image. In fact, right now there is a brewing conflict growing within the ministerial association in our town and it is over this exact thing. The conflict is over how to transform and impact society instead of looking in our own hearts and churches and figure out how you want us to be more like you. Satan is distracting us (including me) with our own sense of how society should work and how we need to fight Satan’s plans instead of starting with making sure we are worshiping you and transforming our individual and corporate hearts to looking like Jesus.

Father, thank you for the way you did the Jesus solution. Jesus, thank you for coming and giving us your example. Thank you for giving us a vision of what we should strive to be, and thank you for the bad examples that surrounded you during your time on earth, including the disciples. Please help me to learn from this. Help me to be the man you need me to be in every interaction I have. Let your kingdom come into the world through your church. Let your will be done in the world from the bottom up, one soul at a time.

I pray all of this under the authority of my Triune God,

Amen

 

“The Words I Would Say” by Sidewalk Prophets

“The Words I Would Say” by Sidewalk Prophets

Three in the morning and I’m still awake
So I picked up a pen and a page
And I started writing just what I’d say
If we were face to face

I’d tell you just what you mean to me
Tell you these simple truths

Be strong in the Lord and
Never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got his hand on you so
Don’t live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say

Last time we spoke you said you were hurting
And I felt your pain in my heart
I want to tell you that I keep on praying
Love will find you where you are

I know, ’cause I’ve already been there
So please hear these simple truths

Be strong in the Lord and
Never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got his hand on you so
Don’t live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say

From one simple life to another
I will say
Come, find peace in the Father

Be strong in the Lord and
Never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got his hand on you so
Don’t live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray
Thank God for each day
His love will find a way
These are the words I would say

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Sam Mizell / David Frey / Ben McDonald

Dear God, there are a couple of people for whom I would love to write the words/sentiments of this song, but I cannot. It hurts my heart that I cannot write them to them. It hurts my heart that I don’t think they could 1.) hear them and 2.) hear them from me.

My prayer today is that these words can be true for them someday. But as I sit here and think about them now, maybe they aren’t about them. Maybe, in this moment, they are meant for me. I hadn’t heard this song in a long time, but it came up on the radio a couple of days ago and I’ve kind of had it on a loop. In my heart I’ve been thinking about those I love, but maybe I need this right now. Maybe they are for others I love who can receive them.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit–my Triune God–thank you for this encouragement. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for praying to the Father for me. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me, teaching me through your example, and comforting me through your empathy. Thank you, Father, for bothering to care about me at all, much less loving me so extravagantly. I am humbled and grateful.

I pray this under your authority, grateful for you,

Amen

 

“Heart of Worship”

“Heart of Worship”

When the music fades and all is swept away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth
That will bless your heart

I’ll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself is not what you require
You look much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you
It’s all about you, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
But it’s all about you
It’s all about you Jesus

Dear God, as I sit in this chapel now and pray—ask the Holy Spirit to pray—for the burdens of my heart, this is the song that came to mind. So this is simply my prayer right now. I just want to worship you in this silence.

I will continue to pray in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

Amen