Posts about Prayer (2)

It’s 5:30 a.m., and the alarm begins its shrill alert. Though he’s already been awake for a bit, the day’s tasks begin to loom heavy on the mind of the pastor. The dog needs to be let out, then there are emails to answer and sermon notes to condense. But first, he shuffles to the kitchen for the caffeinated elixir that’ll get his brain firing this early. On the way, he stops to click the remote off, since someone in the house has left the TV on all night, yet again.

When you hear the word “surrender,” what is your initial emotion?

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior.” - 1 Timothy 2:1-3

My Aunt Jamie is my spiritual mentor. Just ten years older than me, we have always shared a special bond. I have childhood memories of her long red hair, her love of the Carpenters and The Monkees, and she was always happy.

I came across two quotes recently that were related but different in their approaches to one another. The first comes from the poet and famous author Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, “Trust thyself, every heart vibrates to that string.” Plain and simple, putting trust in one’s own abilities and perspectives is the common view of the heart.

One day, in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

Ephesians 2:4-9 NIV But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

It is gut-wrenching to watch our kids suffer. When they fall and scrape their knee, we can brush them off and give them a Band-Aid, but when the pain is emotional, it can be more difficult to just kiss and make it better.