Tag Archives: Prayer

When We Don’t Know What to Pray

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Sometimes in life, we just don’t know what to pray.  We don’t have the words.  Or know what the words are.  Or even know how to say them?

Have you ever felt that way?

Have you ever struggled with what to pray or how to pray?  I know that I have.  I know that it’s a feeling that I have felt and I’m sure that all of us, at sometime, have felt.

Maybe the pain is too much.  Maybe we are in a bad place.  Maybe we just don’t have the words for the situation we are in.

Maybe we just do know what it is that we are supposed to say.  We can fill frustrated, and maybe not even fill like we have faith.  When you feel like that, listen to what Paul says in Romans 8:26-27:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

prayerToday, when you pray, God knows your heart.  God knows your soul.  God knows what you need more than you do.  God knows what your fears are, He knows you.

Don’t worry about what to say.  If your words fail you, that’s ok.

If you don’t know what to pray for, that’s ok.

If you are unsure what you should do, that’s ok.

God knows.

Pray is not about what we say.  It’s about realizing that we are in the presence of Almighty God.  And He knows.  And we can trust in Him.  In all things.

Today, trust.  He knows what we need.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Pray Hard

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You ever feel like you both God with your prayers?  Ever feel like you are praying for the same thing, over and over again?  Ever feel like God must be getting sick and tired of your prayers?  We probably all, at some point, have felt that way.

Today, in one on of my favorite stories in all the Bible, Jesus talks about that.  Listen to what happens in Luke 18: 3-7:

And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

prayerI love this story because it’s the story of  judge that is not just.  Not fair.  And this widow just wears him out by always going, asking, demanding justice.  And this judge didn’t respect God, no man, but finally he grants her wish, because she wouldn’t leave him alone.

Jesus said, pray in the same way. Wear God out.  Pray hard.

Seriously.  Pray hard about things. Take things to God over and over and over again.  Take it to Him repeatedly. And if this wicked judge, who didn’t care for people or for God, will grant this, how much more will your loving God, who loves you dearly and care for Him, how much more will He grant your requests.

Pray hard.  Today.  Pray hard.  Don’t give up.  Don’t quit.  Don’t give up hope.  Pray hard. God hears.  God cares.  God knows.  Don’t give up.

Keep praying.  Don’t quit.  Pray hard. God is there.  He will hear. And He will answer.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Praying

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Child PrayingPraying can be hard.  It can be a real challenge.  We can stumble over the words.  We aren’t sure what to say.  We aren’t sure how to say it. We don’t know what to do.

Praying can really be hard.

And then the notion of praying out loud for others to hear?  No way. That ain’t happening. It’s easy to leave the praying to professionals.

But, that’s not what Jesus wants. That’s not what He teaches.  That’s not what He’d have us to do.  In fact, the thing with praying, it actually has nothing to do with our words. And everything to do with our hearts.  Listen to what Jesus says today in Matthew 6: 5-6:

And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

He is telling us, don’t worry about what you will say.  Worry about your heart. Words don’t count.  Your heart and your presence do. God wants you aware of Him.  His presences.  His love.  His grace.  His mercy.

Him.

That’s what prayer is.

Opening ourselves to His presence in our midst.  Just allowing our hearts to be drawn closer to Him.  Yes, there’s things we should say. But that’s not what matters most.  What matter is this. Realizing that the God of the universe is with you.  Present with you. And loves you. And wants to know you.

Don’t worry about what you are going to say. Worry about this.  God is with you.  Open your eyes and see.  Know that.  And allow His grace in your life and in your heart. And He will take care of the rest.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Grumpy

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Holly always tells me that when I get busy, I get grumpy. And she’s pretty right. And unfortunately  my natural condition is stay busy. Which means, in time, I’ll get grumpy.

I’ve been grumpy recently.  When I get like this, I only see the things that are wrong. The things I’m doing right, the things that Asbury isn’t doing right, the ways that we are missing the mark. Things that other pastors are doing. Things that other church are doing. Things that I’m not doing, that we are not doing. And I think man!  I’m terrible at this!

Did you know that a pastor could feel that way?  Maybe I’m the only one, but I do sometimes. I compare.  I fret.  I worry.  Especially when I’m in the grumpy mood.

When I’m in that mood, you could show me 100 things right, I’ll see the 1 wrong. I am thankful that this is not my natural condition. But, when I get too busy, I get tired, and when I get tired, I get grumpy.

So, today, I’ve just been discontented.  We’ve been away for a couple of days as a family, and a chance for me to catch my breath before starting Camp Meeting this Sunday. And I’ve just been thinking and praying and worrying and fretting. Tonight, though as I sat here, a thought hit me.  Now, I know this thought is from God, because it’s smarter than anything I’d think of.

Andy – you worry. You fret.  You get aggravated   You get annoyed.  You look at other churches, other pastors, other people and other things and see how you dont’ measure up.

You don’t pray.  Not like you need to.  Not as you ought. Not as I need you to.

You don’t pray.

And so, that’s where I am.  I need to pray.  I need to stop being grumpy, stop fretting, and start praying.

Maybe you’re in the same place.  Maybe instead of comparing yourself or worrying about everything you need to pray.  I know that I need to.

So, let’s pray.  Let’s give it to God. And let’s be faithful, in that, and in all things.

Before You Go

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Sorry these reflections have been sporadic or nonexistent the last few weeks. Been out pocket with revivals and Asbury’s BaseCamp. Should be back in the saddle now!

One of the things I love about each of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) is that they each have a different emphasis and purpose they are trying to accomplish. I often put it that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are answering the questions of who, what, when, and where of Jesus’ life and ministry. John is answering the question of why.

But within that, each gospel is showing us something about Jesus life, death, and resurrection so that we have a full picture of who Jesus is. In Mark’s gospel, for instance, we are always getting a picture of Jesus on the move, always going, doing, serving, full of action.

That’s why today’s text is so important. Listen to what it says in Mark 1:34-39:

And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

jesus-prayingWe see Jesus going. We see Him healing. We see Him going out to preach. We see Him doing a lot. But, notice what happens in the middle before He goes out to “do.”

We see Him withdraw. And pray. Before He goes about His tasks, His purpose, His calling, He stops. He finds time. And He prays.

When I talk about the prayer life of Jesus, I always remind folks of this. Jesus wasn’t just another man. He was God Himself, in the flesh. God from God, light from light. And, so, Jesus, even though He was God, makes time to pray to His father. To seek His father’s face. To have communion with the Father.

Before He went to go, He stopped to pray.

How much more should we? How much more should we seek our Father’s face? How much more should we stop and pray? How much more should we take this moment. And stop. And pray.

So, before you start this day, before you start these tasks, before you get so busy, stop. Pause.

And pray. For, without the prayer, our going won’t really even matter much. If we accomplish anything today, may that something be prayer.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones

I Just Love This Passage

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Today’s reading is one of my favorite readings. I say that a lot about a lot of different passages, but this is really one of my favorites.

Listen to what it says in Luke 18:2-7:

He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, “Give me justice against my adversary.” For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

widow2Man, what a great passage. First, I just love the description of the judge in this passage. It says he feared neither God, nor respected man. That’s a pretty bad dude. I mean, he didn’t like God or people.

But being a judge, he had the power to grant requests and make judgements.

So, this widow comes to him over and over and over and over and over, and eventually she wore him down and he gave her the request she sought.

And Jesus said – let your prayers be like that! Just wear God out. Keep praying and praying and praying and praying.

Because He is not an unjust judge. It’s not that He is just. It’s that He IS just. Justice is God. God is the perfect holy and just God.

He will take care of His people. So, if even an unjust wicked judge will grant the persistent requests of someone, how much more will a perfect God grant ours.

Today, don’t give up. Keep praying. Keep praying. Keep praying. And pray some more. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Give it to Him.

And He will answer your prayer in the way that it needs to be answered.

Don’t give up today. Jesus has told us to keep at it.

I just love this passage. Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Keep at it.

And God will hear it. And He will honor it. He has promised.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

What Should We Do?

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Today, you may be facing a variety of things. Today, you may be facing a challenge that looks to great for you. What should you do in that?

Or today may be the most amazing day that you could possibly ever imagine. It may be the greatest day in your life. What should you do?

Or perhaps you are facing some type of illness or sickness. Or someone you love is facing a disease. What should you do?

Maybe you feel guilt over a sin that you committed, something that you’ve done that makes you want to hide your face from God. What should you do?

Listen to what James 5:13-16 says today:

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

prayIn each of these situations, in suffering, in praise, in sickness, in sin, in whatever we face, what should we do? We should pray. No matter what it is that we face today, good or bad, joy or pain, challenge or reward, we should pray.

We pray for strength to meet whatever it is that we face.

We pray prayer of praise for the goodness and blessings God has given us.

We pray prayers of confession for the forgiveness we need for sin.

We pray, because no matter what it is that we are going through, not matter what it is that is on our agenda, no matter what it is that is happening, this is the one thing that we all need.

We all need to see God’s face. We all need His grace. We all need His power and love.

We all need Him.

Today, what should we do? Today. We should pray.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Cause and Effect

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I’m a believer, most of the time, in cause and effect.

I do X, it causes Y to happen. I eat 3 dozen donuts, I buy new pants. You see how it goes.

Today’s reading has a beautiful picture of cause and effect. Look what happens in Psalm 119:48-50:

I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

CauseAndEffectThe Psalmist says – I lift my hands to your commandments. I will meditate on your statues.

Ok, so then what happens?

This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

The Psalmist remembers God’s hope and God’s promise. And because of that, he has hope, in the midst of the trials of life.

Cause and effect.

Remembering God’s promises gives hope in the midst of trials.

Today, that’s a good lesson for us to learn. Are you in trouble? Afraid? Worried? Stressed? Hurting?

Remember God’s promises. Remember what God said He would do. He will never leave your side. He will never forsake you. He will never forget you.

Remember His word.

Receive His peace.

Today, may we see that in our lives. May we remember who God is, and how He loves.

And may that knowledge give us peace!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Why Do We Pray?

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Why do we pray?

The goal of prayer is not to get what you want. The goal of prayer is not to get your wishes met. The goal of prayer is not have your desires granted.

That’s not what prayer is about.

Now, in prayer, the things that we pray for will be answered.

God will hear our requests. He will hear our concerns. He will hear what we are praying for.

The Bible tells to make our requests to God, and do it often, and repeated.

But, the goal of prayer is not have our wishes granted.

The goal of prayer it be in relationship, communion, and conversation with God.

Listen to what happens to Jesus today in Luke 22:41-44:

And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

c39_jesus-praying1He prays to the point of having sweat drops of blood. That’s passionate, powerful prayer. That’s prayer that is focused, that is searching, that is dependent on God.

And His prayer should be our model. For He prayed, not my will, but yours.

Being fully human, He wanted this cup removed from Him. Being fully God, He knew this was the purpose of His coming. And, He prayed. And accepted God’s will.

In this prayer, He found strength. He found resolve. He found purpose. He found what He needed for the hour that was coming.

Today, God may not answer your prayers in the way that you want them. He may not do it as you’d like.

Pray anyway. Be faithful anyway. Seek His face anyway.

And know though, that He will answer them.

And He will give you the strength you need for this day.

And you will be brought closer to Him.

Today, no matter what you face or what is going on, pray. Seek His face. Pray.

And know that God will be with you, in all things.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

No Prayer is Insignificant

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One of the things that can really affect our prayer life, if not careful is this.

Well, why should I pray about this? Aren’t there more important things for God to worry about this? Aren’t there starving kids in the world, or hurts, or pains, or other things.

Why should I pray about this? It’s so insignificant.

That’s what we are tempted to think sometimes.

If you have ever thought that thought or struggled with that, listen to what Jesus says today in Matthew 10:29-31:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

He says aren’t two sparrows sold for nothing, and God notices them? He even knows the very hairs upon your head.

He knows you. He loves you. He cares for you.

And whatever matters to you, really does matter to God.

No prayer that we pray insignificant. Really. God really cares about you today. Really. He really cares about your hurts, worries, and fears today.

He does.

Do not be afraid, or ashamed to pray to Him today. Don’t be afraid or worried to take your concerns to Him today.

He knows them. And He loves you. Today.

Your prayers matter to God today. No matter what they are. No matter how you may feel about them.

Even you feel like they don’t really “matter” they do matter to God.

Today, no prayer is insignificant. Give your worries and pains to God. Today, pray to God in all your places, in all your ways, and in all life.

Today, God cares about you more than you’ll ever know. Today, He longs to hear your concerns.

Today, give them to God!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.