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Prayer

Nov 07
Love0

Don’t Sweat the Big Stuff!

By Anxiety, Hope When Life Unravels, Peace, Prayer, Trials, Uncategorized, Worry No Comments

We know something about anxiety. Sometimes it shows up on an x-ray. You can hear it in the pacing rhythm of footsteps late at night. Troubled eyes and wrinkled foreheads are also telltale signs. Desperate silence and nervous chatter are dead giveaways. I heard about one man who worried so much that his hair fell out – of his toupee! Today’s priorities often fall victim to tomorrow’s problems due to anxiety.

Despite Jesus’ admonitions to the contrary, we worry about physical needs like food and clothing (Matt. 6:25), how long we will live (Matt. 6:27), and the potential trouble tomorrow will bring (Matt. 6:31). The uneducated worry because they don’t know enough. The educated worry because they know too much. The poor worry because of what they do not have. The wealthy worry because they fear losing what they have. The young worry because they don’t want to get older. The elderly worry because they are afraid they won’t get older.

So what are we to do? How do we shed the anxiety that plagues us?

First, we need to confess our burden to the Lord. While writing to Philippian believers, the Apostle Paul instructed, “Be anxious for nothing” (Phil. 4:6a). The predicate behind this command is that all of us frequently battle the temptation to despair. A divided mind will pull your heart in completely different directions. We know that God can take care of us, but doubt and concern distracts us from our otherwise resolute faith. Admitting our vulnerability is the first step toward coping with our weakness.

Remarkably, God’s apostle wrote these words from a Roman prison cell. False teachers continually attacked the church he loved, and each day brought the possibility of his death by execution. Yet, knowing that worry signals a lack of trust in God, Paul calls on all Christ followers to be anxious for nothing. Jesus Himself insisted that continually fretting is the behavior of unbelievers who are unaware that God is providentially watching over us.

Second, we need to communicate our needs to the Lord. Through the means of prayer and supplication, we are to let our requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:6b). With no concern for how we sound, we should humbly, even desperately, express our deepest fears and our heartfelt pleas directly to the Lord.

In addition, these inquiries should be seasoned with thanksgiving. The idea is that we worship God before He answers because of our intentional commitment to submit to His will. Doing so reassures us that God is trustworthy and that His will is purposeful and best, even if it is contrary to our desires. Specificity is important here because general prayers lack particular power. Weak generalities and platitudes seldom move the heart of God.

Third, we need to welcome the peace of the Lord. What is the result of our intentional prayers? The unexplainable peace of God guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7). This holy serenity is supernatural in its origin and comprehensive in its effect. God promises to intervene in the midst of our trials and troubles by protecting us with his peace. If prayer opens the door to the Lord’s consolation, learning to think correctly enables us to enjoy the relief God affords. Thus, the Bible admonishes, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

If all this seems too good to be true, take a moment to consider the lilies of the field and the birds of the air (Matt. 6:26-30). Have you ever heard of a bird being treated for high blood pressure? Or stress? Though they do not know where their next meal will come from, God feeds them. Think about the beauty of wildflowers growing in a field. They do nothing to grow and yet they clothe the countryside with their beauty. These natural wonders are here today and gone tomorrow, yet God still covers His creation with them. If the Lord will feed the animals and dress nature with such elegance, how much more will He take care of human beings who bear his image (Gen. 1:26-28)?

Adam B. Dooley
November 7, 2014

Oct 29
Love0

A Prayer and Promise for Our Nation

By America, Faithfulness, Politics, Prayer No Comments

I cannot remember a more heated presidential election in my lifetime. The stakes are so high that folks on both sides of the political aisle are anxious and afraid concerning the future. With only a few days remaining before we choose our next leader, I find myself offering a simple prayer on behalf of our nation while, at the same time, holding on to an eternal promise in order to steady my heart.

With confidence that God hears the cries of His people, I am asking the Lord the be merciful and lead us back to our national roots. Despite the efforts of many historical revisionists anxious to deny the spiritual influences that helped to birth our nation, the seeds of our budding republic were watered by the principles of Christianity.

The earliest pilgrims who came to these lands in 1620 stated their purpose on the Mayflower Compact as being “for the glory of God and for the advancement of the Christian faith.” These ambitions soon led to a Declaration of Independence, where America’s founders recognized that only our Creator can endow the basic human rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You could say that our independence from another country was only as good as our dependence upon Almighty God.

The father of our US Constitution and fourth president of our nation, James Madison, said unapologetically, “We’ve staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government. Far from it. We have staked the future upon the capacity of each and every one of us to govern ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the 10 commandments of God.” Our seventh president, Andrew Jackson, similarly declared, “The Bible is the rock upon
which our republic stands.”

Our drift away from convictions like these is so stark today that many will label similar statements as dangerous and extreme! The same Judeo-Christian values that gave rise to our flourishing nation are repeatedly maligned and dismissed. Our unstable economy, compromised security, secularized media, and growing government are all symptoms of a nation in rebellion against its Creator.

We have forgotten the biblical reality that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people (Prov. 14:34).” Apart from a spiritual awakening, our country is deep trouble. I am asking God to humble us and bring us to repentance. While I do not believe that this year’s presidential election is inconsequential, neither do I accept that a new leader in the White House is the only solution we need.

Thus, even as I intercede on behalf of the land that I love, I do so remembering an eternal principle that overrules every election cycle. Namely, God is sovereign over all governments, no matter who leads them. He establishes all governmental authority in order to accomplish His purposes (Rom. 13:1).

Sometimes He raises up godly leaders to be a conduit of His blessings on a people. Or, He may choose a wicked ruler as a means of judgment on a citizenry. Our tendency to believe that God loses when an unbeliever wins an election or makes bad decisions is patently false. The Bible doesn’t suggest that God tolerates wicked leadership despite His desires otherwise, but that He ordains leadership according to His greater plan.

Take for example, a wicked Pharaoh who became a testimony of God’s glory throughout the earth (Rom. 9:7). Then there was the first king over Israel, who God appointed as an act of judgment against them (1 Sam. 10:1; 10:18). Thankfully, the same God later chose David (1 Sam. 16:12) to establish the throne of the Messiah and bless the nations forever. But in both instances, the Lord can, and did, use good and evil leaders to achieve His goals for history.

In other words, there has never been, nor will there ever be, panic in heaven over our political woes. God establishes all authority that exists. Or, to use scriptural language, He changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings (Dan. 2:21). No matter who our next president might be, the Lord remains thoroughly purposeful and perfectly in control.

Do you remember what Jesus said before Pilate? No governmental atrocity in history compares to the reckless, shortsighted decision to crucify the Son of God. Yet, Jesus refused to wilt in the face of the injustice unfolding before Him because He understood God the Father was sovereign and the cross was necessary. Therefore, with confidence our Savior declared to Pilate, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin (John 19:11).”

Don’t be fooled by the corruption of Washington, D.C. or the genuine disappointment you feel toward our politicians – God is still in control. I refuse to tremble in the shadow of a misguided electorate when the Lord of heaven and earth reigns on high. The kingdom of Christ marches on even as the nations of the earth rise and fall. When the principles of liberty and freedom are in jeopardy, God’s plan and purposes are not.

Don’t misunderstand, Christians have a sacred obligation to live out our faith in the public square and to vote according to Scriptural guidelines. I cast my ballot early and pray people of faith will flood the polls on election day. Additionally, we should work with our whole hearts for the betterment of our community and our nation. Even as we do, however, we should continually remind ourselves that this world is not our home.

Like Abraham, we desire a better country that only eternity can provide (Heb. 11:16). We are looking for a city whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11:10). I don’t ever want to be so at home here that there is no longing in my heart for the world that is to come. We must be sure that our current lament over the direction of our nation is not a reflection of misplaced treasure rather than a biblical love for country (Matt. 6:19-21). My heart breaks for America, but it does not belong to it. So, no matter what this next election brings, I rest knowing that the Lord is not shaken.

 

Adam B. Dooley
October 29, 2024

Sep 01
Love0

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

By Prayer No Comments

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

 

Years ago, while meeting with a group of clergymen in London, someone asked Billy Graham what he would change if he could do his ministry over again. Without hesitation, the famed evangelist stated that “he would study three times as much as he had done, and he would give much more time to prayer.” His admission is both inspiring and convicting at the same time, particularly as it relates to our commitment to pray.

Prayer is simple to understand but profound in its reality. Though God does not need us to pray in order to accomplish His will, He invites us to pray so that we can participate in His divine work. Nothing brings us more comfort and confusion simultaneously like the discipline of prayer. How to pray? What to pray? When to pray? Who should pray? Perhaps it was questions like these that compelled the disciples to request of Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray (Lk. 11:1).” The Lord’s reply provides us the most profound lesson on communicating with God ever given.

Though some refer to these words as the Lord’s prayer, a more accurate description would be the disciples’ prayer. Jesus instructed, “Pray, then, in this way: 

‘Our Father who is in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

‘Your kingdom come.

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

‘Give us this day our daily bread.

‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil’ (Matt. 6:9-13).”

This lesson is difficult, not because of its interpretive challenge, but due to its practical implications. Before understanding these words, we should note that Jesus assumed our robust Christian commitment to prayer. Repeatedly, He admonished, “When you pray . . .” not “If you pray . . .” (Matt. 6:5-7). These were more than instructions for Jesus. Any serious study of His life reveals a vigorous commitment to and a wholesome example of serious prayer.

Immediately after His baptism, Jesus went to the desert to pray for 40 days and nights. Likewise, the regular habit of His daily ministry included focused supplication. Luke reveals that Jesus “would often slip away to the wilderness and pray (Luke 5:16).” He often rose early in the morning to spend time with His Father (Mark 1:35) and on more than one occasion He spent the entire night in prayer (Luke 6:12).

But, if these patterns make up God’s example and His expectation, why do we find it so difficult to pray consistently? Better still, what can we do about it? The following guidelines emerge when we unpack Jesus’ directives.

Avoid seeking recognition when you pray. Just before teaching the disciples about prayer Jesus warned, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them (Matt. 6:1).” At first glance, this restriction appears to prohibit public prayers, but such a knee-jerk reaction fails to consider that the Bible is full of public cries to God. Jesus Himself prayed while hanging on the cross. Additionally, the Holy Spirit fell on the day of Pentecost during a public prayer meeting (Acts 2). Thus, a better understanding is that Jesus was condemning the prideful piety that seeks the attention of men more than an exchange with God.

Because Jewish prayer customs called for daily petitions at a particular time, the Pharisees would be sure to find the busiest street corner so that they could wax eloquently in front of others as they prayed. Creating such a spectacle may impress others, but it will not result in a divine encounter. Remember, God will reward you openly for the prayers you offer in secret (Matt. 6:6).

Avoid meaningless repetition when you pray (Matt. 6:7). Because an abundance of words does not reveal the sincerity of the heart, we should avoid empty, sanctimonious chatter. Religious formulas and cliches are more of an obstacle than an aid to genuine, heartfelt prayer. John Bunyan correctly observed, “When you pray it would be better to let your heart be without words, than to let your words be without heart.”  God is not moved by our vocabulary, no matter how expansive or poetic it might be.

Remember that your relationship with Jesus is key. By telling us to address God as “our Father,” Jesus reveals that apart from a relationship with the Lord our prayers will not be heard (Matt. 6:9a). Addressing the God we do not know is a doomed exercise from the start. We must pray to the Father through Christ the Son who is the one mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5). Scripture reassures us that we “are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26).”

Honor the single restriction of every prayer. One boundary should govern every request we offer to the Lord when we call out to Him. The goal of every prayer should be “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Every petition should align with His Word! Every goal should glorify His name! Every directive should prioritize His plan! The pure ambition of our prayers must not be getting our will done in heaven but getting God’s will done on earth. When we align our requests with God’s perfect will we know that He hears us (1 John 5:14-15).

Learn to forgive others when you pray. As we seek the forgiveness of our sins, Jesus instructs us to be willing to forgive others as well (Matt. 6:12). Why? Because receiving the grace of God while refusing to share it with others is a heretical contradiction. Assuming that we deserve grace and others do not reveals great ignorance about two biblical realities—1) Our sinfulness and 2) God’s holiness. Praying for and forgiving others keeps our feet planted firmly on the level ground at the foot of the cross.

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