Cupped Ear

"Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard" (Daniel 10:12, NIV).

Hard times alert us to turn to God.

When circumstances weigh on our emotions like an elephant on a potato, we become excruciatingly aware that we need help. We search for understanding. A potato is no match for an elephant.

It takes humility to agree that the situation is beyond our capacity to conquer. But as we come to the One who humbled Himself to serve us (Philippians 2:6-8), we look into eyes of wisdom and hear His comforting word: He has heard us. Humility and tenacity put us in touch with the Savior. They provide answers from God's eternal perspective.

God is listening for our call. In fact, like the prodigal father (Luke 15:17-20), God is waiting for us to come to Him for help. His ear is cupped in our direction.

As we humble ourselves and search for understanding, God sends His messengers to our aid.

Even if we don't see them right away.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Do you have a hard time asking God for help? What gets in the way of humbling yourself before God or searching out His perspective on a matter?

You may be experiencing a delay in hearing God's answer. Read Daniel 10-12 and search for insight to your situation.

Grace Gifts

Passionately committed to Jesus Christ, Patti's eyes flash and her smile broadens as she shares insights from scriptures.

Recently, she told me she was praying for me and had her church prayer group praying as well.

To what did I owe that?

Grace.

We don't even go to the same church. She noticed I needed prayer and did something about it. Her kindness demonstrated the body of Christ at work. One sees a need and the other, who has the capacity to meet that need, responds productively.

 It reminded me how simple things done in love make a big difference. Her expression of love clearly reflected God's care. It reminded me of 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 which teach that God's grace gifts are for blessing others. That mutuality of interacting the way God designed brings God much pleasure.

When love is genuine and God inspired, it shines a spotlight on God's love. Everyone involved gets to enjoy the fruit of obedience. And we love one another -- and God --  more deeply.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

1 Peter 1:22 (NIV)
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

When was the last time you used one of your spiritual gifts to bless someone? Were you aware of the Christ-like love it engendered? How did it impact your own life?

God's Comfort

If I let myself listen to multiple demands talking at once, I feel overwhelmed.  Despair joins the conversation, and they drown trust's voice.

In my small group I shared a complex situation for prayer. Instead of keeping me on the pedestal often reserved for pastors' spouses, the women responded with understanding and prayer. One new friend even stayed beyond the class, sharing her experience and the discoveries that helped her weather a similar season in her life.

Prayer, exercise, attending to her own needs, and cutting out activity that was good, but which overextended her energies: those were the lessons she shared.

Sometimes we need encouragement from sojourners who not only have survived the trenches but, there, have been transformed by the Lord. They can stand in the gap and minister God's comfort.

Thank you, Lord, for the dear people You provide to stand in the gap for me. Please continue to transform my life so my experiences will point to You.

For Your Consideration

"Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2, NLT).

"[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us" (2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT).

Remember a time when God encouraged you directly through His Word, or indirectly through a friend. Ask yourself what helps you share or withhold your problems.

Give God praise for the ability to share your burdens and find comfort from our dear heavenly Father.

Celebrate God's amazing grace in using our suffering to encourage others with His comfort.

Pray with Fresh Faith

http://www.outreachmagazine.com/features/4157-What-Happens-When-the-Church-Prays.html

The above link to Jim Cymbala's post was a good jolt for me.

In the article, What Happens When the Church Prays, Pastor Cymbala asks the question, Do we really believe God can draw anyone to Himself? 

I have been dragging my feet on corporate prayer. But I don't happily tame my prayer life. My heart needs passionate prayer. I need to pour out my heart to God and with others who want to see God break into our ordinary hum drum. If God doesn't show up, why bother trying hard for meager results?

I just had the privilege of speaking with an African follower of Jesus. She reminded me of the power of Christ that comes when God's people humble themselves and count on His power.

What might happen if we really believed that God would make a difference -- in our lives?  community? trouble spots?

And what would happen in me as God used me as part of the answer?

Do yourself a favor and read the article.

You'll be tempted to start praying with fresh faith.

Unexpected Joy

Val welcomed us with open arms to their pot luck dinner on the twelfth day of Christmas. Guests comfortably milled around and I got acquainted with my sister’s friends. I discovered two women who were writers also, which started an interesting conversation.

Later over soup and salmon I reconnected with them, heard more of their stories, and we exchanged suggestions and emails. We even snapped pictures of our newly formed threesome. I hated to disband when we were invited to the fire pit in the back, not realizing something precious was in store.

Our host suggested that, as we threw each Christmas tree twig into the fire, we could prayerfully name a wish for the New Year. The format was “Let there be….”

One by one we shared our desires. “Let there be more trust and compassion in this world.” -- “Let my work flow out of a greater intimacy with Christ.” -- “Let there be more passion in marriages built around Christ.” -- “Let there be more fathering.” -- “Let there be more clarity, courage, and discipline in my life.” – “Let me be willing to give up whatever God shows me.” – “Surrender.”

We watched the fire swirl uniquely around each twig, soaring, curling the stems, making the leaves glow. This visual of the Holy Spirit consuming what had died, bringing light and power, burned brightly.

I thanked my friends as I left, aware that new friendships and flaming prayers had brought me joy – a marker of Christ's presence. What a way to walk into this New Year!

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence (Psalm 16:11, NIV).

What social experiences help you encounter God’s joy? Why?
What prayerful wish would you have added to the fire?

CONFIDENT SUPPLICATION

Most of us major on supplication, represented by the last letter of the ACTS prayer acrostic (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication).

While supplication or petition is effective because God is kind, it's the caboose that can’t get very far unless it is coupled with the rest of the train.

Celebrating and describing God’s glory (adoration) ushers us into the Almighty’s presence, the engine room. There we find our high priest Jesus Christ, a savvy engineer, able to forgive the sins we confess. This propels us into new intimacy and thanksgiving comes easily from our freshly cleaned heart. Plus, in hard times, instead of whining or gritting our teeth, focusing on God and giving thanks speeds us away out of a dark night into the sunrise.

When adoration, confession and thanksgiving happen, we bring our requests with confidence. No mere wishful thinking. We’ve been in the presence of our powerful Lord. We've been forgiven. Guilt can no longer keep us away. Any false guilt or false notion – like bothering a “busy” God or evaluating our need as “unworthy” - gets escorted off the train like an apprehended terrorist.

Confidence settles into the seat next to us and introduces us to a new passenger: God’s peace.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5: 14-15).

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

“Rejoice in the Lord always.… Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).

Identify any terrorists aboard your prayer train. Confidently ask your Engineer to bind and remove them.

Spend some time rejoicing in God’s promises. Let your anxieties be escorted away, replaced by a new travel mate, God’s peace.

Thanksgiving in Advent

The "T" of the ACTS prayer acrostic (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication), giving thanks, is never out of season and packs benefits of its own.

At any season, taking time to look for things to be thankful for miraculously shifts your perspective. Though your income may be choking or your health questionable, thanksgiving is a choice that flips your surroundings right side up. Fault finding stands us on our heads seeing all that could potentially bring discomfort or even terrorize us.

During Advent, and any other season, giving God thanks seems to release that pressure and stand us on our feet again. Thanksgiving refocusses us on the big picture in which our kind and merciful heavenly Father daily provides for our needs.

"Praise the Lord, God our Savior, who helps us every day" (Psalm 68:19, NCV). "Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms" (Psalm 68:19, NLT).

God is our Savior --ready to help us as we call. Immanuel, "God with us," enjoys our gratitude, rewarding us with a happier heart and feet replanted and on the ground.



FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

When pressure has you thinking only about your problems, will you choose to give thanks for the good gifts your Savior gives you?

What will it take for you to flip right side up?

Confession

If you're like me, confession does not come easily.

It's painful to take a look at attitudes you'd rather not acknowledge. A simple thing like mild annoyance that rises when you don't get your own way or full grown anger that flares when you have been crossed are signals for confession. Other signs could be fear crawling in the shadows or insecurity leading to uneven ground away from the Rock of Ages.

Confession, the "C" of the ACTs model of prayer, is hard. But it is like presenting yourself to the doctor, revealing the infection in your body, and waiting for the prognosis and the cure. Sometimes it is quick and painless. Sometimes it calls for a deeper incision than you would choose, but it allows you to rid your body of the poison that the Creator never intended for you to absorb.

Telling the Great Physician your discovery sits you in His office. There you can listen for His instructions on how to get whole.


FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts" ( John 1:8-10, New Living Translation).

Examine your life with the Great Physician's help. Is there any attitude or habit that you need to confess?

Adoring God

"I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom”                         (Psalm 145: 1,3, NIV).

You’d think that adoring God would be easy-- like pouring sweet praise over your lover or speaking with abandon to a gurgling baby.

But I’ve found that it’s not always easy.

In fact, to adore God I have to prime my heart with praise from scripture. If I am preoccupied with a concern, I don’t praise easily. But when I recall God’s prior revelations, I can refocus. That creates an expectant gaze which helps me to move to praise.

When praise doesn’t come easily, I choose to look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-3). When I do, my whole being can tell a difference. That’s because adoration takes me into God’s presence.

Adoring God (the first part of the ACTS acrostic: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) opens windows to fresher air than I breathed a minute before. Adoring God opens my eyes to see the eternal impinging on my day, the power of the Most High poised to act consistently with His good purposes.

Adoring God can bring fresh life to a tired body. It can bring hope to my flagging spirit and the Prince of Peace to a pocket of pain. I might still need sleep, but now I’m aware of Christ's enabling presence with me.

How better to start a day – or finish it – than to adore the most lovely Being who loves us!

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

What helps you focus on Christ’s amazing presence?

What benefits do you experience when you adore God?

Save Me!

"Save me, I pray, from ...,
for I am afraid ....
But you have said..."
(Genesis 32:11-12, NIV)

Adrenaline was running through his veins as he progressed toward his disenfranchised brother, Esau, and his four hundred men. While he prepared to make a quick exit if needed, Jacob called out to God.

His fear and distress were palpable. He divided his sheep, servants and family into two groups so at least one could escape if they were attacked.

And he cried out to God to save them.

He admitted that he was afraid Esau would come and attack him, his wives and children. He wasn't hiding that. How could he? So many lives were at stake as he faced eating the fruit of his old deception.

So in the face of possible death, Jacob reminded God of His promise. "But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted" (Genesis 32:12).

Later that night Jacob wrestled with the Angel of God by the Jabbock River. He had to acknowledge his strength was no match for God's, and after he did, he walked toward Esau with confidence, despite a new limp.

"I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." (Genesis 32:30)

Jacob's fear of losing his life at Esau's hand brought him to a different type of power encounter. There he regained his life.

For Your Consideration:
I invite you to meditate on the components of Jacob's prayer and make them your own.

1. "Save me."
In what arena of your life do you need God's intervention?

2. "For I am afraid."
Can you name an emotion that might be fuelling your desperation? And will you name the source of that emotion, laying it out before God? (Compare 2 Kings 19:14-19).

3. "But you have said."
As you recall scriptures the Spirit of God has impressed upon you, which promise can impact your situation in life changing ways?

Artwork by Ira Thomas, http://www.catholicworldart.com/Jacob.html

Praying for the Reader

Most High God, Creator, Immortal One...

Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Lovely Savior, God with us...

Would you please engage us where we may feel alone, tired, or discouraged?

Emmanuel, refresh us by revealing to us the glorious Light of your presence.

Whisper in our ears the Living Word that we need. Please help us place our ears by your mouth. Let your speech be heard in our quiet places, and give us wisdom to know what to do about it all.

May we see your glory and rejoice that you are the God who neither leaves us nor withholds what we need.

We choose to praise you Lord, and we anticipate your faithful revelations for our good and for your awesome glory.

Through Jesus Christ, the Lamb who links us with your holy presence...

May it be.

Scriptures:
Revelation 5:12-14; Revelation 19:16; Hebrews 13:5-6; Isaiah 50:4; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 19; Psalm 23; Psalm 91: 14-16.