Tag Archives: humility
A Disciple’s Full-Bodied Prayer
Humility and gratitude flow through prayer in Psalm 40, grounded in a full-bodied devotion to the Lord God. The psalmist recognizes his helplessness without God; he recalls how God not only rescued him previously, but also provided for him: “I … Continue reading
Praying for Rescue from Liars
How do we pray when there is a crisis of integrity? When truth becomes difficult to discern, when discordant voices clash in public forums inviting our allegiance and denouncing one another, we bow before our Lord praying for an end … Continue reading
Is God for Us or for Our Enemies?
As his Israelite army prepared to attack what even then was the ancient city of Jericho, Joshua “looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went to him and … Continue reading
Praying with Integrity
When we are hurting, we want to lash out. In anger, or in despair, we abandon love. We flee from trust, even as we crave to trust and long to be trusted. In Psalm 7, a psalmist under attack prays … Continue reading
Like a Child with Its Mother
A sense of entitlement can mar our prayers as we worship God. If I believe I deserve more, that I have earned more than I have received, I will approach life and prayer with anger. On the other hand, I … Continue reading
Prayer of a Parent
The words of a mother in Proverbs 31 reflect what her prayers must have been for a son who would become a ruler. Although he is identified as Lemuel, a name otherwise unknown in the Bible, some have suggested that … Continue reading
Praying to the God who Creates and Sustains
The prayer of returned exiles in Nehemiah 9 gives us insight into the God to whom we pray. As the prayer continues, its words remind us that we continue a legacy of faith that still informs our concept of God, … Continue reading
Prayer When Planning for the Journey
I spoke yesterday about “Budgeting for the Journey” as part of a sermon series entitled “The Way of the Cross Leads Home.” When we embark on a journey, whether a holiday excursion or a work-related trip, pre-travel resource assessment … Continue reading
