Currently on Repeat

In the past few weeks I have found myself meditating on the phrase, "Guide me, O great Jehovah." It keeps showing up in my journaling, my prayers and in my meditative thoughts. I shared this with my wife this weekend and she quickly identified it as my present liturgy. It's the powerfully repetitive phrase I need to continue to focus on as God guides me through what it means. There is tremendous impact in regular rhythm of pondering these five simple words.

I am still sorting out where that guidance will take me, but I can think of several current pressing areas I need that wisdom from Jehovah:

My family's future
The conversations I have with people
My daily schedule
Meetings I participate in
Preparation of messages, teaching, and ministry direction
To interact with people my life intersects with
My thinking and how my mind shapes all I say and do

I don't believe this is supposed to be a short-term practice, but something I am called to slowly wade through in the days ahead. This spiritual mantra can be affirming even as it challenges me to look at my life with new vision and obedient perspective.

The Right Desire

While reading this week, I came across this prayer from Thomas Merton, an influential American monk. I connect with his transparency and the way he is able to communicate his raw emotions. I think this kind of authenticity is appealing because it helps to know that we all struggle through different phases of this life.

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

Seeking Serenity

We have recently started a program called Celebrate Recovery which is a Christ-based recovery program aimed at helping people find healing from life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits. There are repeated elements of the weekly service which help as we all search for positive routines in our life. One of those practices involves reading the serenity prayer aloud collectively before dismissing to our groups. While the repetition can potentially lead to numb recitation it can also become more powerful as it embeds itself in our spirit. The words are powerful if we focus on the intent behind them and hopefully learn to make it a vital part of how we push forward in recovery each day.


God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,

Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

Shift of Attitude

There is beauty in a simple, genuine prayer of humility. If we want to have a positive effect on our community and those close to us we have to choose to act in kindness. Even if you aren't a follower of Christ the words of St. Francis of Assisi are wise to follow:

Lord, 

Make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon,

Where there is discord, union,

Where there is doubt, faith,

Where there is error, truth,

Where there is despair, hope,

Where there is sadness, joy,

Where there is darkness, light.

O Divine Master, 

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Guiding Prayer

I came across this moving prayer in a book I recently read. It is a powerful reminder of the attitude God is calling the church to have as we leave our buildings and head out into the world.

God, go with us. 
Help us to be an honor to the church. 
Give us the grace to follow Christ’s word,
to be clear in our task and careful in our speech. 

Give us open hands and joyful hearts. 
Let Christ be on our lips. 
May our lives reflect a love of truth and compassion.
Let no one come to us and go away sad. 

May we offer hope to the poor, and solace to the disheartened. 
Let us so walk before God’s people, that those who follow us might come into his kingdom. 
Let us sow living seeds, words that are quick with life, that faith may be the harvest in people’s hearts. 

In word and in example let your light shine in the dark like the morning star. 
Do not allow the wealth of the world or its enchantment flatter us into silence as to your truth. 
Do not permit the powerful, or judges, or our dearest friends to keep us from professing what is right.
Amen.

*Borrowed from Searching for Sunday, by Rachel Held Evans

It's Rasslin' Time!

When I was in junior high we all had to take a PE class which sometimes involved team sports and at other times focused on individual athletics. There was always a wrestling unit for 2-3 weeks that very few of us looked forward to (or perhaps it was just my own dread.) Our PE coach would put us all in weight classes and then pair us off to wrestle on the big mat. Not only were you being asked to grapple with a classmate who you may or may not know very well (but soon would), but it was done in front of the entire class. Your peers (30-40 people) would sit around the mat and watch as you grappled with a classmate in ways that would cause a fight if you did it outside of the gym. There were only two ways this was going to work out: you were either going to embarrass someone or be embarrassed. My athletic abilities didn’t kick in until several years later and I almost always ended up on the defeated side of embarrassment.

The idea of wrestling is still a difficult one for me, but not necessarily on a physical level. Now most of my wrestling is in prayer as I struggle through asking God for the right things and in the right time. I tell people constantly that prayer doesn’t have to be difficult, but that we can just talk to God and He is thrilled to have our attention and conversation. I still believe that to be true, but I also know there are times when we have to battle through difficult questions and wait for answers. I am wrestling with God in prayer now and it isn’t easy. It would be simpler to tap out and quit, but I know that isn’t the best solution. I’ve got to push through even though I may get tired, sweaty, and frustrated. It’s in the act of wrestling that God shares His answers, reveals His nature, and shapes my character.

The Right Gift

I find myself praying for many of the same things on a regular basis. I obviously ask God to protect my family and to keep us focused on Him as we grow together. I pray for my extended family as well and for their physical and spiritual well-being. I talk to God about our church, the staff I get to serve with, and the community we all live in together. There are always specific people on my prayer list as well--especially those God brings across my path during the week.

As a leader, I am also always praying for wisdom, clarity, strength, and intentional focus. I see these as key personal areas and know God is the best source of these in my life. I don't think these are bad things to pray about, but it hit me this week that I should be focused on something more. Maybe the better thing for me to pray for is my character. I can ask for gifts from God, but if I don't have the right heart or level of integrity to match the rest won't matter much.

I know I have to make the right decisions to stay on that straight path, but a prayer focus asking for God's strength and help certainly can't hurt.

Unified in Sorrow

The tragic events in Charleston have left me speechless. I have no powerful words of wisdom or insightful words of encouragement to make this better. I am simply heartbroken for families who have experienced painful loss and deeply wounded for the far-reaching implications of this selfish act for the rest of us. While I don't know what to say or do right now, I recognize that silence is not an option. I can choose to stand tall with my brothers and sisters in unity and will do so as we seek peace and healing together.

Simple Prayer

This song reflects a simple prayer for me, my family, and the church I am blessed to be part of.

Strong or Weak?

If you are someone who believes in the power of prayer and God's ability to answer, how would you characterize your prayer life? Would it be a devoted life of conversation with God defined by strong, bold prayers? Or would it be one marked by inconsistency and weak requests?

I've often found that we pray weak prayers because we don't believe God can deliver or we don't think we're worthy enough to have Him answer. The key to moving to a stronger discipline of prayer is to remember it's not about us, but simply our faith in His generous ability.

I've Got a Plan

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine...

Isaiah‬ ‭30‬:‭1‬

I like to have a plan. It can be a detailed plan for a particular day or for a bigger event. There is just something settling about having an idea of what you want to happen and how it should take place. The problems set in when we fail to seek God's wisdom in our planning. 

Far too often I am guilty of forging ahead with my own ideas and best practices and fail to bring God into the equation until the end. Asking God to bless what I have planned without any input from Him isn't really what He has in mind. How much better off would I be if I took the time to seek His counsel through prayer, meditation, and study of His Word? God would be deeply involved in the process then and not just sought out for His rubber stamp of holy approval.

Keep Moving

It's not coincidental (see last Sunday's blog) that I continue to hear challenges to transform our community. It's a tension felt by many and I'm grateful to be part of a church that is dedicated to doing something about it. I believe this tension is felt by many of us, but not everyone is committed to making something happen. I believe people have good intentions, but often get bogged down in a few areas.

Our lead pastor shared a message this morning that called us to action and to making a substantial difference in our community. There were three essential elements to that change: prayer, planning, and taking action. It doesn't seem mind-boggling to grasp this concept, but it's important to have all three of these without zeroing in on only one of them. Asking the following questions might help us stay focused:

• Are you spending so much time in prayer that you don't do anything?
• Are you planning so much that you never take action?
• Are you taking action so quickly that you neglect to pray?

We need all three of these to move forward with God's blessing, wisdom, and power. Our communities are waiting for us to do something about it.

Standing the Right Way

In Jewish history, there is a man named Mordecai who served as a guard for the king when the Jews were in exile. Circumstances led to an edict being issued that called for the death of all of the Jews because of one man's personal grudge. Mordecai refused to go into hiding or to run from the situation, but instead humbled himself before God and sought the help of leadership to have the situation changed. Because of his determination, his willingness to do things the right way, and God's deliverance, the Jewish people were saved.  

As I look at his example, I wonder if we are willing to be a Mordecai today? Will we stand against injustice in a God-honoring way? Will we actively seek God on behalf of other people? Will we have the courage to stand for what is right as we stand united for God? 

Relief and deliverance from oppression are a gift from God and He is ready to bring that through faithful people even today. Let's stand together for what is right and stand the right way. 

Power Up

We are desperate for a revolution in our men. We want to empower men to lead with the authority given by God and to guide our families and community towards Him. The solution to so many of our problems is to focus the men of our community on Christ and His deep desire to transform us. We need to "power up" our men to be ready to lead.

I know that this is the answer and I will readily admit that we are not entirely sure of how to make that a reality in our community. We believe so much in this necessity, however, that I have asked our leadership team to enter into a time of prayer and meditation. We are gathering in unity to pray over a specific list for the next three weeks as we ask God to give us a vision for what is next. Any strong movement of God must begin with prayer. 

What do you need to be praying for today? What preparation are you asking God to do in you in anticipation of revealed vision? We will only find a moderate level of success when we operate on our strength alone. Preparing the way spiritually as we seek God's wisdom will allow God to work in us before He works through us.

Trivial Trivia

Jayson Stark is a baseball writer and reporter for ESPN and appears on the Mike & Mike show each week with a tough trivia question. I think he takes great delight when they get it wrong and always asks great questions that have me thinking too. He asked one this week that I pondered for a few minutes and then spoke my answer out loud. When I checked back later that day I saw that I was correct. Needless to say, I was pretty pumped that I had figured it out. I'm not sure how impressive it actually is, but it certainly revealed the trivial knowledge I have in my head.

The truth is that I get a lot of trivial things right. The question I really need to ask is if I am prayerfully focused enough on God's message to get the big things correct too. Otherwise it really isn't going to make too much of a difference in how I live.

One Direction

Knowing what direction to move in isn't always easy. We often make it more difficult than it should be because we rely entirely on ourselves instead of seeking God's wisdom. Humbling ourselves enough to hear what God has to say-even if it's painfully difficult-is the only way we can be assured of heading down the right path. When we have reached a point of exhausted desperation we have finally begun to open ourselves up to God's leading and perfect plan for our lives. Beginning with a simple prayer of submission, listening intently to where God directs us, and then being obedient to what He asks is the way to finding our true direction.

Father, I am tired of struggling to do things my way.

I am desperate for direction from You.

I want to follow Your lead for my life.

You know my heart and my desires.

Keep me in constant unity with Your Holy Spirit.

I trust You with my past, present, and future.

Reveal to me my next step.

Give me faith to trust You as I step forward.

Amen.

Not a Cliche

We all face situations where we are at a loss for words and action steps. Our personal wisdom doesn't seem up to the task of choosing what is next and we are unsure of which direction is best. It can be quite frustrating and can even cause a fair amount of heartbreak as this indecision can become quite paralyzing. It might seem cliche to those who don't believe fully in its power, but I know that the most important thing to do is to pray.

While circumstances may catch us by surprise they are never beyond God's ability to see. He knows the best possible outcome and is willing to guide us if we will let Him. He understands the depth of our confusion and pain and wants to bring our attention back to Him while bringing us healing. He works to restore our faith when it seems to wane and cover us with peace like a warm well-worn blanket. Even when we are unsure of exactly what to ask for, He is able and ready to deliver the answer we are desperate to find. He is our greatest comfort in times of need and simply asks that we seek Him and trust Him. Without faith in Him how else would we manage to survive these stormy seasons?

Abandon

Charles de Foucauld was a priest in the early 1900's that didn't begin his true journey of faith until later in his adult life. He was no stranger to wealth and was known for a fairly extravagant lifestyle. While serving in the military he observed people who were adamant about their faith and he developed an interest in discovering what this meant for himself. As he explored Christianity and cemented his faith, he gave away his financial rights and become a priest. He wrote a prayer called, "The Prayer of Abandonment" that is quite humbling to read from a personal perspective. It's a reflection of his search for God and his desire to submit all of his life to God's purposes and not his own. It's a prayer that I aspire to pray in complete commitment of my life purposes to God's direction.

Father,

I abandon myself into you hands; do with me what you will.

Whatever you may do, I thank you;

I am ready for all, I accept all.

Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.

I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul;

I offer it to you

with all the love of my heart,

for I love you, Lord,

and so need to give myself,

to surrender myself into your hands,

without reserve,

and with boundless confidence,

for you are my Father.

Think It Through

My wife and I are at the Exponential conference in Orlando this week receiving a lot of great information & spiritual stimulus. Both of us are motivated to do something what what our eyes have been opened to here. I recognize that we need to prayerfully process things so that we don't jump into areas without measuring the cost. I also know that we need to continue to pray with urgency. Too much time passing tends to lessen excitement and allows us to step back into old patterns of well-learned habits without taking action on the Holy Spirit's prompting. 

Reflections: Pray Anyway

One of the most unexpectedly powerful moments from our trip to Arizona happened on the last day. We were working with Apache Youth Ministries and going out to spots on the reservation for prayer. Our first location was a local liquor store that was stuck off a side road. The place looked pitiful as we pulled up. It was a tacky, old building sitting in the middle of beautiful scenery. We got out of our van and talked about the power of alcoholism on the reservation. Just as we were about to pray a man started walking over to our group and motioned for me to come closer. When I approached him I could immediately tell that he hadn't been sober in a long time. His state of inebriation was deeply embedded in him and yet he was asking for prayer. I listened to him for several minutes as the rest of our group gathered around us. We all ended up laying hands on him, praying for him and his companion, and inviting them to the local church. He thanked us all with hugs and handshakes and then proceeded into the liquor store to make his purchase.

I wasn't surprised that he continued to his intended destination. I don't doubt the power of prayer, but I do understand the strong grip of habits and addiction. Our group could have ignored him or brushed off his request, but our responsibility is to be faithful when the opportunity arises. We can't guarantee success or even the authenticity of his desire. We simply choose whether we will do what is right.