Lent-Day 18: I Pray for You. You Pray for Me.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” – Ephesians 6:18-20

Intercessory prayer is an integral part of prayer. Intercessory prayer is when intentionally pray for others and their concerns. Moses interceded on behalf of Israelites countless times while they were traveling through the wilderness to the promised land. Jesus interceded for his disciples prior to his arrest and betrayal. We are reminded that Jesus intercedes on our behalf to God.

The power of intercessory prayer is the intentionality. We are purposely thinking about others. We can become selfish with prayer at times and not realize it. Many of our prayers can revolve around our individual needs and wants. Let me be clear that there is nothing wrong with making your individual requests known to God. However, let us be careful and cognizant of balancing our individual prayers with intercessory prayer. These prayers are important because others may not know how to pray for themselves and we must go to God on their behalf. This another way we show the love to others is by standing for them and in agreement with them in prayer.

Today I want to encourage to make intercessory prayer a part of your daily prayer routine. Create a prayer list and pray for the concerns of others. Intercessory prayer reflects the communal nature of the faith where we are able to see past ourselves and be mindful of needs of our sisters and brothers. Like the song says, “I pray for you. You pray for me. We’re all a part of God’s body.”

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Lent-Day 17: Commitment to Prayer

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

Prayer should not just become rote and devoid of meaning. Prayer is an intimate act with God where we should be able to be our most vulnerable selves. Prayer cannot be limited to providing God our “wish list” of requests and hoping God grants them with the snap of a finger as if God is Genie from Aladdin. Prayer should be more than us calling on God when life is not as pleasant as we would like. Prayer should be an ongoing dialogue where we not only share our hearts with God but we listen for God to share God’s heart with us.

The words “devote” and “watchful” denote that we should give constant attention to prayer. Prayer should not be an afterthought but at the forefront of our minds. Prayer is an important aspect of our spiritual journey. It is through prayer and meditation where we learn the mysteries and wisdom of God. We should be thankful about this because we are fortunate that we have a God where we can this type of relationship. We serve a God we can communicate with directly. We can go before God in the sanctuary of our hearts without pretense. Vulnerability is what makes prayer powerful. As we commit ourselves to prayer, the insecurities we have with ourselves and God begin to diminish. God already knows us fully but we begin to have the courage to see ourselves fully. When we can stand naked and unashamed before God, we will experience a freedom like no other.

Today I want to encourage you to devote yourself to prayer. Commit to creating a sacred time where it is just you and God. Maintain a prayer journal and record your conversations with God. Document what prayers have been prayed and which ones have been answered. The journal will help you see the progress you have made in your relationship with God. Seek God while God can be found and watch the amazing change that is about to take place in your life.

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Lent-Day 16: Sometimes I Need To Be Alone

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” – Luke 6:12

With each passing day, I have a greater appreciation for moments of solitude. It is a time where I can focus and think clearly without all the noise and distractions of the world. This is especially important when making critical decisions.

In our passage we find Jesus in isolation on a mountainside praying to God before selecting out of his disciples those who would serve as apostles. This is a pivotal decision for Jesus because the apostles would be responsible for the spreading of the gospel after his death, burial and resurrection. Jesus understood the importance and weight of this decision and spent time in meditation and prayer with God beforehand. Being alone with God saved him from the distractions that his disciples and other followers could have presented. Being alone gave Jesus the environment to hear his thoughts and God clearly.

I feel Kendrick Lamar when he says, “sometimes I need to be alone…” We need to be alone so we can distinctly hear God’s voice about choices that can have a substantial impact on our lives and the lives of others. Today I want to encourage you make space in your days for “alone” time. Allow this time to be the sacred moments that you share with God and God alone, especially when making important decisions that affect future outcomes. Unplug from the noise and distractions of the world and connect with God. Put down Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Kik, Pinterest, and all the other media outlets that vie for our attention. Too often we find ourselves seeking the insight of our twitter “followers” and Facebook “friends” about life altering decisions instead of seeking the One who gave us life. Find your “mountainside.” Whether it is a park, lake, or closet, find a place that you can separate yourself from the frenzy of life and hear clearly from the Creator.

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Lent-Day 15: Live in Truth And Be Free

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” – Psalm 145:18

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32

“You want the truth. You can’t handle the truth.” This famous quote from the movie A Few Good Men has been used on people who are incapable of accepting the truth they seek. God can handle the truth and prefers dealing with truth over lies. In the gospel of John we are reminded that those who worship God must worship God “in spirit and in truth.” The word also tells us that God is not like humanity and “cannot lie.” Jesus tells his disciples “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to God expect through me.” Truth is important to God.

When we live and operate in truth, God dwells with us. When we call on God in truth, God comes near and hears our call. We can’t “fake it until we make it” when it comes to God. God is truth so God sees through our masks and lies. God knows the amount of hairs (in my case lack of hairs) that are on our heads. God searches our inner being and knows the intention of our heart. So why lie to the God who knows all? We can fool a lot of people with our lies. People can fall in love with a lie and draw themselves closer to you. As they draw closer, we find God pulling away.

Today I want to encourage you to live in truth. Whenever you call on God, call on God in truth. Whenever you worship God, worship God in truth. Lies create webs of bondage that keep you trapped. Lies will imprison you and prevent you from experiencing the fullness of God. However, we are reminded again in the gospel of John that “the truth will set you free.” Live in truth and be free.

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Lent-Day 14: Prayer Changes You

 

“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 4:6-7

“Prayer changes things.” These are words I hear constantly in church and from “churched” people. It is a statement of fact because prayer does indeed change situations and circumstances. Elijah prayed to God that there would be no rain, God heard his prayer and there was no rain. Moses often offered prayers of intercession for the Israelites while they were traveling from Egypt to the Promised Land and God heard his prayers. Hannah prayed to God to bless her with a son and God answered her prayer by blessing her with Samuel. God hears our prayers and prayer does change things.

Prayer not only changes things but prayer at its best changes us. We usually find ourselves in prayer because of a worry or concern that is burdening our hearts. We go before God because we want God to relieve the pain or provide an answer for our request. The passage is reassuring because It first reminds us not to be anxious. We don’t have to worry or be anxious because we have a God with whom we are able to share our concerns. That’s reassuring to know that we don’t have to carry our burdens alone but we have somewhere to go to relieve it. The elders have a saying, “Take your burdens to God and leave them there.” This is what this passage is saying. We must take our burdens, worries, concerns, questions, apprehension, fears, and doubts to God and leave them there.

When we leave our burdens with God something amazing happens. The passage says that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” There is a transition from worry to peace when we not only take our burdens to God but leave them there with God. The problem with many of us is that we like to tell God our problems and situations and instead of leaving them with God we pick them back up and carry them with us. When we do this we defeat the purpose of prayer. We take worry to the altar and instead of walking away with peace, we leave with the worry we had from the start.

Today I want to encourage you to allow prayer to change you so you can experience the peace of God. Leave your worries at the altar with God and acquire God’s peace. God’s peace is a peace beyond our comprehension. It is a peace that allowed Jesus to sleep in the stern of a boat when him and his disciples were in a violent storm. God’s peace is so that the obstacles of life no matter how challenging cannot and will not shake you. It’s a peace that when all hell is breaking loose in your life you are able to walk as though everything is fine. You are able to do this because you recognize who and whose you are. You realize that you are in God’s hand and you don’t have to figure it out because God already has it under control.

Let go of the worry and live in God’s peace.

In the famous words of Bob Marley, “Don’t worry about a thing. Cause every little thing gonna be alright.”

#ConsiderThis

 

Lent-Day 13: Forgive and Live.

 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” – Mark 11:25

We expect God to do for us what we aren’t willing to do for others at times. Forgiveness is probably one of the greatest challenges for the Christian. Forgiveness requires a certain amount of love that many of us may not feel like we have or aren’t willing to give. Someone may have done something very hurtful to you and to simply say “forgive them” doesn’t seem fair. We want retribution. We want revenge. They must get what they deserve. And one thing they do deserve is forgiveness.

You may never receive an apology from that person. They may never acknowledge the wrong they committed against you. But check this out, God even forgives us for the wrong that we have not acknowledged. That forgiveness was expressed through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins. Jesus uttered those redemptive words on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” God daily looks beyond our faults to meet our needs. We should follow the example of our God and look beyond the faults.

The prayer many of us learned during our children that we refer to as “The Lord’s Prayer” has a clause that says “forgives us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The ability to forgive others is a mark of the Christian. God requires it of us in order that we do not become slaves to the hurt and pain of the past. Let me be clear, we do not have to ignore the action as if it did not happen nor neglect the pain caused by it. What we must not do is obsess over it because it can serve as the chains that would prevent us from being free and living. Forgiveness leads to freedom. It is a freedom from the control someone or something thought they had over you. It is a freedom from the guilt and shame of the past. It is a freedom to live and become all that God desires of you.

Today I want to encourage to practice forgiveness daily. The word tells us to settle our issues with our brother and sister before we approach God in prayer. We settle the issues with our brothers and sisters so we can stand before God with a free mind and heart. Forgiveness clears our mind and we are able to see and hear from God more clearly. It can be difficult because the pain can run deep but there is nothing greater and stronger than the love of God. Forgiveness is us showing the love of God. Just as God shows God’s love by forgiving us and renewing God’s mercies daily, we will respond by doing the same.

Forgive and live.

#ConsiderThis

Lent-Day 12: Humility the Hard Way

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turnfrom their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:13-14

There will be times in life where God will send uncomfortable conditions in our lives to humble us. We can find ourselves getting comfortable and complacent with this gift called life. Life begins to stabilize and we feel we have some level of control on things. As we gain more control, we gain more confidence and the confidence can transform into cockiness. We transition from “God I need you” to “God I got it.” Sometimes we make the leap from “God I got it” to “God who?” without even realizing it. All humility is gone and we forget about our Creator. We begin to “live as if God ain’t real” and do whatever we please.

In the passage God is responding to Solomon after the dedication of the temple. God begins by saying “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain…” and continues to describe the pestilence God will send to God’s people when they turn away from her. God already anticipates that we will forsake him and lose our way. When we lose our way God is faithful and will draw us back. The way God brings us back may not be the most desirable. We may experience hardships, trials, and tribulations but those moments seem to get our attention and cause us to look towards God.

Today I want to encourage you humble yourself, relinquish control and seek God. God promises that if we humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and repent from our wickedness and stubbornness then God will hear from heaven and heal the land. When we turn back to God that’s when God will bring peace, joy and love to our lives. When we turn away from God we turn away from the one that will sustain us when life’s challenges happen. But when you turn towards God, God will be right there waiting for you and will heal the land.

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Lent-Day 11: This Is Not a Show-Public Display. Private Disciplines.

“’When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.'” – Matthew 6:16-18

This is not a show.

Over recent years it seems when social media catches wind of something, it has a tendency to ruin it. I’ve noticed over recent years the energy that lent and the fasting associated with it has become extremely popular almost turning the religious practice of centuries past into the next big thing along with eating and living healthy, photography, cross-fit, and other big hits on social media. Let me preface this by saying that I am all for people strengthening their spiritual life and adopting healthier lifestyles but I have to the ask the question “For who?”

From my observations it seems as though we don’t do a lot things in this life for us anymore. The “selfies” on Instagram are for others to see. We share every single event of our lives (and I am guilty of this) on twitter and Facebook. It appears that we have reached a period where nothing is valuable or sacred. Even the practices that should be the most intimate and personal are for public display. Although the world has so much access to our lives through social media and other outlets some things should remain sacred.

Jesus warns his disciples about the public display of private disciplines. Fasting is an intimate act between God and the individual. No one should ever know that you are fasting. We do not fast to show the world how “holy” and “righteous” we are. We fast to show God our deep desire for God’s presence in our lives. Hypocrites make private matters public. They want the world to recognize what they are doing. We do not have to be like this. We do not have to prostitute ourselves to the world for their approval and recognition. God is the one who gives honor.

Today I want to encourage to keep your fast sacred. There is no need to announce that you are fasting, what you are fasting from, how long your fast will last, and why you are fasting. That’s between you and God. You don’t have to broadcast your fast on Facebook, twitter, instagram, or any other media outlet. Many things should remain sacred and your fast should be one.

#ConsiderThis

Lent-Day 10: Kill Your Will

“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” – Luke 22:39-43

The Mount of Olives has been a Jewish cemetery for over 3000 years and holds over 150,000 graves. This is a place that Jesus visited quite often for refuge and reflection. Of all the places Jesus could have chosen as a site to retreat to, why did he choose a cemetery. Why didn’t Jesus go to the temple, a nice park, or near the Sea of Galilee but a cemetery.

At this point in Jesus’ ministry, he has made a name for himself by living out the mandate he set in Luke 4:16-19 of “proclaiming the good news to the poor, proclaiming freedom to the captives, recovering the sight of the blind, setting the oppressed free, and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor.” Jesus had acquired many followers and enemies. Jesus has moved from being the obscure son of a carpenter and virgin and to the face of a new movement where God’s love is the center. Jesus is story is sounding real Drakeish because he can honestly say that “I started from the bottom now I’m here.” Jesus started his life being born in a feeding trough in a barn. Now he is on a collision course with the Jewish religious and Roman governmental authorities who feel threatened by his prominence. Jesus with all the notoriety surrounding him retreats to his quiet place. He visits the place where he is reminded of his mission and submission. Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives to kill his will. He goes to the cemetery that is the Mount of Olives to bury his will.

The journey that is life we be filled with its share of success and failure. Success can bring fame, accolades, and attention. We see where we have started and where God has brought us and we can begin to feel good about the work we have accomplished. As the compliments come we can sometimes lose ourselves and get tired of being humble. Not only can we lose ourselves but we can being to lose our way and not focus on the work God has called us to. We can begin to think less about God’s will and give more attention to our agenda.

I want to encourage to visit your own Mount of Olives and bury your will daily. Escape the noise of praise and accolades and find a quiet place. Jesus in the Gethsemane moment wanted God to consider his will. “If you are willing, take this cup from me.” Jesus looked to God to see if he would think about what Jesus wanted for a second. Jesus didn’t want the cup. Jesus wanted to hang around a little while longer, but he had the faith to say “yet not my will but yours be done.” There are things we want to do with our lives. We have ambitions and hopes. My ambition was to be a sports agent or work on Wall Street. I had big dreams for myself, but just like Jesus I had to bury my will and pick up God’s will. I had to say “yet not my will but yours be done.” Don’t be afraid to surrender to God’s will. We are encouraged to know that when we submit and surrender to God’s will, God will send us angels to strengthened us as we embark on the journey.

#ConsiderThis

Lent-Day 9: Keep the Faith and Keep Living.

“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,  and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” – Luke 2:36-38

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” I’ve heard this quote often dealing with the importance of planning. Plans provide us with direction and helps us focus. Plans are important and have their place but what I have come to learn is that there is one thing our plans cannot predict: life.

Life is a variable that can be difficult to predict. Our plans may be going as we envisioned then all of a sudden ourselves or a family member is diagnosed with cancer. You were on the fast track in your company, moving up the corporate ladder then the company downsizes and your position was cut. We have plans but what do we do when life alters those plans?

We find the prophet Anna who had been married for seven years and then life happened when her husband died. I’m sure Anna had plans for her and her husband and their life together. Anna probably had plans of children and living a long life with her husband but life intervened. When life came unannounced Anna did what she knew to do, she worshipped. Anna found herself in the temple day and night, fasting, praying and worshipping God. Anna did not allow the stumbling block that life presented her affect her worship. Anna did not lose her hope. In spite of life’s obstacle, she remained faithful and she was able to witness God’s redemption in the person of Jesus.

Today I want to encourage you to continue to worship God and don’t lose hope whenever unexpected occurrences and obstacles happen in life. God never promised us an easy life, but God did promise to never leave us nor forsake us. Life will come and when it does remember that God is with you when it arrives. When life happens, let’s be like Anna and keep the faith. Continue fasting, praying, worshiping, singing, dancing, reading your scripture, going to church, helping the poor, fighting for justice, loving, forgiving, and living. Keep the faith and keep living and God will meet you with God’s redemption.

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