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A Prayer about the Questions God Asks

by | Jun 30, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel Coaching

A Prayer about the Questions God Asks

Pursuing God

Thank you for chasing after us when we try to run away.

Like Hagar in the wilderness, 

we can run ourselves into the ground,

but you seek us, 

and you draw us out of our hiding, 

asking questions we really need to hear:

Where have you come from?

Where are you going?

Or, as you asked Adam and Eve 

when they “hid” from you after eating the fruit,

Where are you?

You don’t ask these questions 

because you don’t know the answers.

You don’t ask these questions 

because you want to trap us.

You ask them 

to invite us to see where we are, 

to see where we’ve been, 

to see where we’re headed without you. 

But you also ask them 

to reveal the most important thing 

we need to know—

where you are (right here with us), 

and who you are: 

“The God Who Hears, 

The God Who Sees,” 

the God who looks after us (Genesis 16:13). 

May we listen to your questions, 

letting them draw us 

to your loving and forgiving presence.

In the name of our Savior,

 Immanuel (“God-with-us”), we pray. Amen. 

Read Genesis 16:1-16.

If you’d like to read more about Hagar’s story, check out this week’s blog. 

5 Ways to Address Spiritual Depression

by | Apr 27, 2021 | Caregiving, Gospel Coaching, Suffering

5 Ways to Address Spiritual Depression

Do you ever have those days…weeks…years, when your spiritual blood runs cold, when your deer-panting-thirst has itself seemingly dried up? Or when you’re parched, dying for a drink from God but his springed-up-well seems to be saturating other cracked hearts but not yours?

There’s no such thing as a simple cure for spiritual depression. But you knew that.
There are, however, some practical ways to proceed as you wait in this apparent spiritual-wasteland for the showers of grace to whet your soul again.
(In no certain order…they’re all important!

  1. Remember the stories of believers who have gone before: Elijah hiding in that cave (1 Kings 19),Jonah running from God’s call 2500 miles in the wrong direction (Jonah 1), Jesus agonizing in the Garden (Luke 22:44), sweating blood as he asked his Father to take the cup from him. Satan will try to tell you you’re the only one who has ever doubted, disobeyed, or dried up. Satan is a liar, and Scripture exposes him (Hebrews 10:13).

2. Remember the Word. What simple short lines of the Script can you recall in this season of sorrow?

  • “The Lord is near; do not be anxious for anything…” (Philippians. 4:5-6).
  • “He who is faithful will do it…” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
  • “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it…” (Phillippians 1:6).
  • “How long, Oh Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1).

Pin these to your Pinterest board, tape them to your mirror, or tie them onto your forehead like the ancient Jews did, and let the Author move your heart to live in his story.

3. Hang out with people who will remind you of God’s Word and the gospel life.Maybe you can’t remember the Scripture, or what you do remember just seems to accuse.

  1. You need people. Preachers, teachers, friends who remind you of what the gospel is all about: the gracious, merciful, Holy God, sent a completely perfect, righteous Son to save—us—a sinful people, completely unable to save ourselves with any four tricks or five tips.
  2. You need prayer. Scrawl help on the prayer request sheet, text someone who has said they would pray for you—don’t worry about not being able to verbalize your request – the Spirit knows.
  3. You need to hear the stories…of other people’s struggles and doubt and pain, of other people’s redemption and rescue, to see how our odd God has worked before in his own apparently ridiculous timing in his own bizarre methods (a talking donkey, for example).
  4. You need to tell your story. Even when all you can really say is “I don’t think I have a story right now,” or, “I sure as heck don’t understand the story God is writing right now.”

4. Remember God tells his story through general revelation. It may be a lone sunflower surprise sprouting from dried red clay (as God once showed me) or an ungainly-looking pelican flapping its wings. Or possibly the impossible happens and the consignment store has a sparkling NWT designer dress that’s just right for your daughter’s wedding. Look. Listen. God is showing and speaking his might and mercy in every nook and cranny of his universe.

5. Remember that seasons of spiritual depression are often connected to the broken stories that are the fallout of the fall. Sometimes what you’re experiencing is interconnected with physiological depression, anxiety or stress. And God has well-equipped particular people—counselors, physicians, coaches, and others to hear our stories and offer the help that will prepare us to receive the hope of the gospel.

A Prayer for Spiritual Depression

God our Creator,

You formed us and knew us even before we were in our mother’s womb. You, better than any counselor, understand our emotional and mental struggles. When we struggle to put one foot in front of the other in a spiritual desert, help us to know that we can simply cry out, “Help,” and you will answer us. You have given us true stories of real people who struggled as we have. Thank you. You have given us your Word that you will make all things new. Thank you. You give us reminders of your mercy in our everyday lives. Thank you. In Jesus’ loving name we pray, Amen.

A Prayer about Manic Mondays

by | Apr 26, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Work

A Prayer about Manic Mondays

Heavenly King,

We confess, 

too many of our Mondays are “manic” 

because we don’t still ourselves before you 

and remember 

that you are God, 

you are King, 

you are Lord. 

Too often, we serve little-l lords 

like bosses, children, friends, family, or to-do lists. 

We serve them, 

trying to win their approval

 or trying to prove we are winners. 

Turn our faces toward you. 

Bow our hearts before you. 

Send us into this world this week to serve you, 

loving you and loving others 

as you have empowered us to do.

As we do so, 

may our Mondays go from manic to magnificent. 

In Jesus’ magnificent name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 46:1-11.

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A Prayer about Being God’s Masterpieces

by | Apr 19, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Work

A Prayer about Being God’s Masterpieces

Creator God,

What a profound declaration!

We are your masterpieces?

Energize our work with a deeper understanding of our calling. 

Even as we get kids ready for school (or teach our kids at home), 

even as we show up on time for Monday morning meetings, 

even as we face the blank page and trust that you will give us something to write on it, 

may we see your workmanship in us. 

May we see you creating us anew in Christ Jesus 

so that everything we do this week 

is infused with your glory

and intended for your grand purpose. 

In Jesus’ recreating name. Amen. 

Read Ephesians 2:1-10.

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5 Marks of a Servant Leader

by | Mar 23, 2021 | Gospel Coaching, Lent, Weekly Gospel Meditation

5 Marks of a Servant Leader

“Lord, do you wash my feet?” John 13:6

 Our elder son will never forget the words Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, Inc., addressed to him after his job interview there. Touring the facility with the vice-president who interviewed him, they arrived at the “treehouse,” the then ninety-one-year-old’s office. After a brief conversation, Mr. Cathy looked at our son and said, “I look forward to serving with you.” Our son had two (inward) responses:

  1. Does that mean I got the job? and
  2. Wait, don’t you mean, “You look forward to me serving you?”

With his words, Mr. Cathy had demonstrated the principle of servant leadership that derives from Chick-fil-A, Inc.’s mission statement.

That story always reminds me of Peter’s response when Jesus approached him to wash his feet (John 13). Peter objects, not wanting Jesus to stoop so low as to serve him in such a menial way. Jesus gently rebukes Peter, instructing his followers about servant leadership in the kingdom of God. Let’s revisit the story.

Jesus: The Ultimate Servant Leader

The time, Jesus knows, has now come, for him to depart this world. Even as he is enjoying his feast with his beloved disciples, he is eager to prepare them for their new life of service. He rises from his place at the table, removes his outer garment, and wraps a towel around his waist. Now dressed as a servant, he begins doing what only a servant, or a wife, or a child, the lowliest in the hierarchy of that culture would do—washing feet. At this point, Peter raises his objection. As we continue the story, we learn five realities about Christ’s servant leaders:

Five Characteristics of Servant Leaders:

  1. Servant leaders must be willing to be weak, even despicably so.In removing his outer garment (John 13:4), kneeling before his friends, and taking their dirty feet into his hands, Jesus performs the role of the weakest and most despised in his culture—a servant. Jesus’ menial act is the basis of Peter’s objection, just as it was the basis of my son’s objection to Mr. Cathy.
  2. Servant leaders serve even in times of travail and turmoil.Jesus washes his disciples’ feet, knowing that he is facing the torment of the Cross and separation from his Father, not to mention separation from his beloved friends. Jesus washes his disciples’ feet, knowing that some will betray him in coming days. Trials do not excuse us from servant leadership.
  3. Servant leaders open themselves to the care of Jesus and others.When Peter objects to Jesus’ washing of him, Jesus responds, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (John 13:8, ESV). It is Jesus who empowers us to serve others. Without receiving his care and love, we have no love to share.
  4. Servant leaders serve because Jesus first served us, just as we love because Jesus first loved us (1 John 4:7-8).Jesus washes his disciples’ feet to illustrate a spiritual point—he alone can cleanse them from their sin. Then he instructs them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). Jesus’ foot washing is more than an example to the servant leader; it is the empowerment for servant leadership. Because we have the riches of his grace, we pour them out on others.
  5. Servant leaders will get down and dirty, physically, spiritually, and emotionally.Jesus calls his disciples to go into all the world, even the uncomfortable and unfamiliar world. To wash another’s feet may mean sitting on the sidewalk next to the homeless man while he eats the chicken sandwich we brought him; or it may mean enduring the stench of urine in the nursing home as we visit residents there. It may mean entering messy conversations or not exiting miry conflicts.

As you ponder Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, do not miss meditating on his sacrificial service to his disciples. Let us serve because he first served us, just as we love because he first loved us!

A Prayer about Servant Leadership

Lord Jesus, you not only showed us the way to servant leadership, you dug the path for us by your death on the Cross. Thank you for lowering yourself that we might be raised to new life. Help us to follow you into the down and dirty places you call us to lead. In your saving name we ask. Amen.

Further Encouragement

Read John 13:1-17; Philippians 2:1-11.

Listen: Take My Life and Let It Be, written by Frances Havergal

For Reflection

  • How do you feel about having your feet washed, literally or spiritually? What encouragement or conviction does this passage bring you?
  • In which of the five areas of servant leadership would you like to grow? Ask God to help you in this area.

Change of Plans: How God Works by Changing Our Plans

by | Jan 26, 2021 | Gospel Coaching, Weekly Gospel Meditation

Change of Plans: How God Works by Changing Our Plans

As we come to the end of this month of focus on setting goals and making plans, I want to encourage you that even when things don’t go as planned, God is at work redeeming us and his cosmos. Enjoy this excerpt from The Waiting Room: 60 Meditations for Finding Peace & Hope in a Health Crisis. 

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11, NLT

  • I was planning to write a devotional or perhaps a book on how to keep a prayer journal.
  • Our son was planning to move to Ithaca, NY to begin a master’s program in vocal performance.
  • My husband and I were planning to travel to New York City to celebrate our 35th

Before the CT that changed everything, we had plans, and they weren’t bad plans. But God had something different in mind. There is nothing like a health crisis to redirect our attention from our plans for life on this earth to God’s plans for our eternal lives, starting…now. As 88-year-old J.I. Packer, renowned theologian, affirmed after learning that he had macular degeneration, “God knows what he’s up to…. And I’ve had enough experiences of his goodness in all sorts of ways not to have any doubt about the present circumstances…. Some good, something for his glory, is going to come out of it.”[i]

I’m afraid we too often quote Jeremiah 29:11 and its hopeful note of “plans for good, plans with a future and a hope” without considering the context in which it was written. The Israelites, God’s people, have been exiled to Babylon from their home in Jerusalem after repeated disobedience and multiple warnings to repent. The Lord directs the Israelites to seek and pray for the welfare of Babylon, to build houses and marry and have children there, even as they wait for the Lord to return them to their home. The stint in Babylon was all part of God’s greater plan to bless the Israelites and to bless the world.

Just as God planned redemption and restoration for the Israelites, he has worked his redemption plan for Christians. The plan is for our Christlikeness to be magnified and for his gospel to be multiplied. If we trust in God’s plan, we have hope when disaster apparently befalls us. We are to continue seeking his face, even in the exile of the waiting room. As we wait, we know that God is completing the good work that he has begun in us (Phil. 1:6), and that one day soon Christ will return and restore all broken things. Such are God’s glorious plans for a future and a hope that we are looking forward to as we wait.

Prayer

Lord, help us to understand that our plans too often focus on building “houses” here: careers, families, wealth. Your plans far exceed ours, as you are intent on building us into a temple, a people who glorify you in all that we are and all that we do. Thank you that you have a better plan for us. Amen.

Further Encouragement

Read Jeremiah 29:1-11; Philippians 1:6; and 1 John 3:2.

For Reflection

What plans of yours or a loved one have been disrupted by this season in the waiting room? Ask God to help you trust him to work his good plan in your life.

 

[i] J.I. Packer, in interview with Ivan Mesa, J. I. Packer, 89, “On Losing Sight But Seeing Christ,” Gospel Coalition, January 14, 2016, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/j-i-packer-89-on-losing-sight-but-seeing-christ/. Accessed May 2, 2018.

 

Affiliate link above to The Waiting Room. 

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