Category Archives: Wisdom & Guidance

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

December 8, 2013

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Holidays & Holy Days, Wisdom & Guidance

Presence Not Presents (2nd Sunday in Advent)

And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel” (which being interpreted is, “God with us”). [Matthew 1:21-23 (NKJV)]

In this Christmas season, O Lord, how easy it is to get caught up in the trimmings and forget the significance of this holiday. As the celebration of our Savior’s birth fast approaches, help us focus on Christ’s presence and not people’s presents. Remind us of the true meaning of “Christmas spirit” and show us how to keep Christ at the center of our hearts, not just this holiday season but every day of the year.

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

December 7, 2013

Posted under

Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

Petition – Give Me a Task (Prayer part 6)

2013-12-7God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do. [Ephesians 2:10 (GW)]

Father in heaven, it seems like I’m always asking you to do something for me. Today, I ask what it is that I can do for you. To whom should I speak? For whom should I pray? What should I give? Who needs my help and what should I do? Give me a task and a cheerful and willing heart!

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
[St. Francis of Assisi]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

December 2, 2013

Posted under

Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

Our Prayer Plates – (Prayer part 1)

Lord, you are the God who saves me. I cry out to you day and night. Receive my prayer, and listen to my cry. [Psalm 88:1-2 (NCV)]

“My Plate” is the latest guide to healthy eating with its five food groups: fruit, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Just as we need an assortment of food to maintain our health, we need various kinds of prayer for spiritual health. Years ago, my pastor preached about the “Five Fingers of Prayer”: praise, thanksgiving, confession, intercession and petition. Praise was to be first and foremost while petition (prayer for ourselves) was to be the last and least. Unfortunately, for me at least, my prayer plate is often too heavily laden with personal appeals and far too light on the others.

Lord, guide our prayers so they begin with praise to you for your glory and are filled with thanksgiving (for everything, not just the things we like). Don’t let us omit honest confession and enthusiastic appeals for others. Guide us, so that it is only after we have offered these prayers that we offer our own personal petitions.

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

December 1, 2013

Posted under

Holidays & Holy Days, Wisdom & Guidance

Prepare the Way – 1st Sunday in Advent

Thunder in the desert! “Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our God. Fill in the valleys, level off the hills, Smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks. Then God’s bright glory will shine and everyone will see it. Yes. Just as God has said.” [Isaiah 40:3-5 (MSG)]

As we prepare for the Christmas holidays, Lord, guide us so that we do not forget the reason for the season. Let the desire for peace, love and joy lead us and not our concern for gifts, decorations, and food. May we truly prepare the way of the Lord, not the way of Santa Claus!

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 21, 2013

Posted under

Temptation & Sin, Wisdom & Guidance

Don’t Scratch That Itch

The snake was more clever than all the wild animals the Lord God had made. He asked the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must never eat the fruit of any tree in the garden’?”

The woman answered the snake, “We’re allowed to eat the fruit from any tree in the garden except the tree in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘You must never eat it or touch it. If you do, you will die!’” … The woman saw that the tree had fruit that was good to eat, nice to look at, and desirable for making someone wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. [Genesis 3:1-2,6 (GW)]

Indeed, Satan is shrewd. He got Eve to concentrate on the one fruit she couldn’t have instead of all the fruit she already had. Temptation is a bit like a mosquito bite that is begging to be scratched. The more we think about the itch, the more we want to scratch it!

Lord, guide us, so that our focus is not on forbidden fruit but rather on the plentiful garden you have already given us.

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 14, 2013

Posted under

Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

Listen to Him

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” [Mark 9:7 (NLT)]

O Lord, we’ve talked about this decision and I still don’t know what to do. Help me; speak to me; show me the way. If not a burning bush, how about lighting a neon sign or sending a banner in the sky to guide me? Perhaps, however, I have been too busy pleading my case to hear your response.

Thank you for the reminder that I need to stop talking and start listening. You will tell me which path to take; I just need to be quiet in order to hear your voice.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. [John 10:27 (NLT)]