Category Archives: Devotional

Three Keys To Effective Prayer

Posted on by
Reply

I call upon you; answer me, O God. Turn your ear to me; hear my speech. Psalm 17:6

When was the last time you contemplated the importance of prayer? Almost everyone has an opinion on times, places, and frequency concerning personal prayer.  But have you taken the time to understand just how important prayer is to your spiritual life?

Psalm 17 is a prayer of King David, written down for our benefit.  His opening petition is instructive: “Hear, Lord, my plea for justice; pay heed to my cry.”  I think we can all connect to this idea – that God will hear and answer our cries.  We expect God to hear us and to answer us.

Since that is the case, what should our attitude concerning prayer be? I see at least three principles in this Psalm that if employed consistently will yield much fruit in our lives. I encourage you to study Psalm 17 on your own, to not only see these three principles but to see what else God might show you.

Here are the three principles: (1) Stay alert – don’t let your mind drift. How many of you will admit that you start off your prayer time with good intentions but before you know it you’re thinking about items on your “must do” list. David’s prayer is focused.  Keep in mind the Apostle Paul’s admonition to the Colossian believers to “persevere in prayer, being watchful in it” (Col. 4:2).

(2) Be specific with your petitions. When you go to a restaurant you don’t ask the waiter to “bring me food.” You specially request what you would like – “sirloin steak, medium rare.” Prayers that are nothing more than generalizations or meaningless catch-phrases ask for nothing and will receive the same in return.

Finally, (3) Expect to receive. If you pray simply from habit expecting to receive nothing from God, then you are really wasting your time. James the brother of Jesus said that when we pray we should pray “in faith, not doubting.” The whole point of prayer is that we are making our petitions known to God who will answer us according to His goodness and kindness.

Friends, prayer can change our lives when we approach it with a right understanding of its place and power.

This is a transforming truth.

A Thanksgiving Reflection

Posted on by
2

first-thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving Day in America.  A day that is for the most part a celebration of our history as a nation, (although very dimly remembered) and all that is good and right about America.  This is not to say that America is without blemish for we surely have fallen in many instances, and continue to fail to uphold the ideals which our forefathers envisioned.  Nevertheless today is a day of giving thanks for the lives we have and the many attendant blessings, whether we use that particular word or not.

In the midst of this time of reflection I wonder though about the many Americans who increasingly disavow God.  If current studies are accurate and the latest statistics can be believed, Americans are becoming more secular and less religious in significant numbers.  This has a direct bearing on our ability to see life as precious and worthy of our best efforts.

Continue reading →

A Thanksgiving Prayer – Prayers of John Wesley

Posted on by
Reply

John Wesley

“Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer; it is almost essentially connected with it. One who always prays is ever giving praise, whether in ease or pain, both for prosperity and for the greatest adversity. He blesses God for all things, looks on them as coming from Him, and receives them for His sake- not choosing nor refusing, liking or disliking, anything, but only as it is agreeable or disagreeable to His perfect will.”

John Wesley, How To Pray: The Best of John Wesley on Prayer

The Dying Prayer of St. Athanasius

Posted on by
Reply

The title of this prayer of Athanasius notwithstanding, here is a prayer for all the days of our lives.  May the Lord bless you all today.

athanasius

St. Athanasius the Great ca. 297-373

Thou art Jesus, the Son of the Father, Yea, Amen.

Thou art He who commandeth the Cherubim and the Seraphim, Yea, Amen.

Thou hast existed with the Father in truth always, Yea. Amen.

Thou rulest the Angels, Yea, Amen.

Thou art the power of the Heavens, Yea, Amen.

Thou art the crown of the Martyrs, Yea, Amen.

Thou art the deep counsel of the Saints, Yea, Amen.

Thou art He in whom the deep counsel of the Father is hidden, Yea, Amen.

Thou art the mouth of the Prophets, Yea, Amen.

Thou art the tongue of the Angels, Yea, Amen.

Thou art Jesus my Life, Yea, Amen.

Thou art Jesus the object and boast of the world, Yea, Amen.

A.W.T. Budge, Coptic Homilies in the Dialect of Upper Egypt, The Dying Prayer of St. Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria, pp. 1012-1020. 

No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service

Posted on by
Reply

So then, each one of us shall give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

Although not as prevalent as they once were, I still occasionally see signs posted in store windows that say, “No shoes, no shirt, no service.”  The meaning is clear – please dress appropriately when entering this establishment for the purpose of conducting business. This idea is carried to lofty heights in finer restaurants that proudly display signs that proclaim, “Jacket and tie required.”

Reminders of requirements are not a bad thing and I think Christians and churches could learn something from this principle.  Perhaps churches could display a sign that reads, “No riding on coat-tails allowed.”  For those unfamiliar with the phrase “riding on coat-tails”, it is a simple way of saying you must do things for yourself and not expect to meet requirements based on someone else meeting them for you.

The Apostle Paul told the Christians residing in Rome that each one of them would give an account of himself to God.  This is a good reminder that each individual must enter into a saving relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.  No one is saved because their father, mother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandfather, or grandmother was or is saved. There is no such thing as coattail salvation.

Since salvation is an individual issue, a number of clear implications arise. (1) Church membership does not save you.  Salvation is the result of an individual profession and possession of faith. (2) Baptism does not save you. Since it is something engaged in after profession and possession it cannot be responsible for that which it is a demonstration of. (3) Each person will give an account of their life and will be fully responsible for how they lived. (4) No individual will be permitted to play the “blame game” before the throne of God. Blaming your parents or employer may work in this world but it won’t work in eternity.

Friends, it is important that you take full responsibility for your life.  The day is coming when every person will have to do that. Don’t get caught attempting to ride someone else’s coattails into eternity.

These are transforming truths.