prayer – Page 4 – Be Still…

1 Timothy 2:1-7 – Pray Now!

Paul urges us here. What an intense message! It’s not simply a suggestion that we pray. We are even told what to pray for. For other people. You know it’s a gift you can given another human being they may never know you gave. God is the one who matters anyway, and he will be pleased.

Paul’s urgent plea tells us how to pray as well. “Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” Everyone we encounter needs a Savior. Everyone has a secret hurt or struggle, but not everyone has taken that to God. Our need for prayer has no bounds. That’s why intercession is so powerful. We can carry those burdens for others right to the throne of God!

Colossians 1:1-14 – Paul’s Prayer

Read Colossians 1:1-14

Bible opened with folded hands on top of the Bible

Did you catch how Paul acknowledged the audience? The people of Colosse are introduced as holy and faithful brothers and sisters. What a high honor Paul uses in greeting them. How would someone introduce you and your character?

Interesting to note, Paul had never visited Colosse. The church was founded by someone Paul had converted elsewhere. As often happens, young churches are easily infiltrated by unhealthy trends. It is my understanding the Colossians have been combining elements of paganism and secular philosophy with Christian doctrine. Paul and Timothy write to nip that in the bud so the people can get back on the right track. The timeless truths of this letter focus on the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ.

Jeremiah 20:7-18 – Jeremiah Snaps!

Read Jeremiah 20:7-18

man with his hands holding his face with expression of apparent desperation

All along I have been amazed at Jeremiah’s fortitude in staying strong. God has been giving him extremely difficult messages to share as well as employing teachable moments to warn the people. Jeremiah continues to be dutiful in his mission despite any exhaustion or frustration. But in today’s reading, it seems he’s had enough!

Jeremiah’s brutal honesty is striking as he cries out to God. We can only begin to imagine the emotions coursing through his veins. He’s desperate, feeling he’s on display. Jeremiah believes he’s been overtaken and even misled by God. Have you ever felt such anguish in your faith journey? Have you ever questioned God’s intentions or whether he was even listening?

Jeremiah 16:19-21 – A Prayer of Confidence

Read Jeremiah 16:19-21

Do you ever doubt yourself or what you are doing? That used to be a constant state of living for me when I was in an abusive relationship. It doesn’t take someone else to make us question our choices, we often do a fine job of that on our own, especially if we’ve gotten “burned” before.

This reading starts with a statement that we’ve probably heard before out of context. Now we can see and understand the full beauty of this text. “Lord, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble!” Jeremiah recognized the source of his provision and protection. From what we’ve been reading, we can only imagine how weak Jeremiah felt.

Philippians 1:9-11 – A Prayer for You

Read Philippians 1:9-11

Imagine Paul just prayed this prayer for you. Paul was asking God to provide these things for his friends. Even if Paul didn’t particularly have you in mind, all these years later let me direct this prayer to you. I’ll use Paul’s words because they are just that good. And timely.

Am I the only one that feels overwhelmed when I turn on the news? I’ve started getting my news from a Christian source that has already sifted through all the noise of the media to pick the stories that seem to be most fact-filled. As a writer, it’s hard to admit that other writers (journalists) are seemingly being manipulated by society to write with a certain slant or bias. Have you noticed that the same stories sound different depending on who is telling the story?