Devotion
Strive together in prayer
David Jacobs
How often do you pray? I don't mean a quick prayer at dinner. I mean really, really pray. For most Christians, I think it is safe to say that the answer is "not enough." I would put myself in that category.
There has been a recent explosion in mindfulness and meditation. My phone app store is filled with new meditation apps, trying to teach you how to be mindful and to meditate. I think that this is a great movement, although I also feel that Christians are not taught how to be similarly mindful. Paul sat in a jail cell for long periods of time, writing letters that became books of the Bible. He certainly spent a lot of time praying, but I am certain that it is not in the same manner that we pray in church or at home. I imagine that it was for a much longer period of time, like these mindfulness apps try to teach, and that you entered the meditative prayer session with a clear question in mind. At the end of the prayer, which could take a while, you may have gotten closer to an answer.
The importance of prayer cannot be overstated. In Christ's last moments before crucifixion, he was found in the garden with his disciples where he most liked to meditate in prayer (John 18:1-32. The art of prayer is being lost, and you can see how much Paul values even the prayers of other people, for he knows the value that it has had for him. What value has it had for you?
Prayer
Instead of a prayer, I would like you to sit down, quietly, with a question, idea, or praise to give to God. Relax and meditate on it for 15 minutes. How do you feel?
Devotion
Pray for Leaders
Frances Taylor
How often do you or I pray for government leaders? Paul doesn't say to pray just for the leaders we like, either. If we do want a tranquil and quiet life, we need all leaders to turn to God and work for justice for all their citizens. It's probably even more important to pray and intercede for those leaders who work against justice, than for those who are already doing the right thing. For those who are already on God's side, we should give thanks to God that they stay in leadership and continue to do God's will. The same goes for city, state, and even church leaders as well as our national and international leaders. Good leaders should be supported and others need to be held to account for their behavior. Obviously different countries have different forms of leadership, but that shouldn't stop us from praying for them. God does listen even if the answer doesn't come as quickly as we might like. In the case of democracies, we sometimes need a bad ...
Morning Prayer
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Inspiration
We cannot allow ourselves envy, for it corrodes not only our relationships with others but also the things we already have. The end result is that we neglect to value and appreciate things already in our possession, and thus in turn, being ungrateful to the Lord himself for what he has provided. Rather, our energy would be better placed to focus on giving thanks to the Lord and his gifts, here and now.
Prayer
To my Lord above, my Creator and Heavenly Father, by your grace do I come to thank you for all I have. Teach me not to covet others and their lot, but grant me instead the ability to Love and see the blessings you have already bestowed upon me. In return for your grace, I thus offer up to you my humblest of gifts, my Lord -my heart in obedience, is yours. Amen.
