The Way of the Cross, part 3

Posted on April 16, 2014 by themondayprayer

Grant me prudently to avoid him that flatters me, and to endure patiently him that contradicts me.
― Thomas à Kempis

PRAYER: The Prayer of Saint Nikolai Velimirovic (1881-1956), Serbian Orthodox bishop arrested and imprisoned in the Dachau concentration camp for preaching resistance against the Nazis.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Enemies have driven me into your embrace more than friends have.
Friends have bound me to earth, enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.
Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms and an extraneous inhabitant of the world. Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath your tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world.
They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself.
They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments.
They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself.
They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance.
Bless my enemies, O Lord, Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Whenever I have made myself wise, they have called me foolish.
Whenever I have made myself mighty, they have mocked me as though I were a dwarf.
Whenever I have wanted to lead people, they have shoved me into the background.
Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself, they have prevented me with an iron hand.
Whenever I thought that I would sleep peacefully, they have wakened me from sleep.
Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life, they have demolished it and driven me out.
Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of your garment.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Bless them and multiply them; multiply them and make them even more bitterly against me:
so that my fleeing to You may have no return;
so that all hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs;
so that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul;
so that my heart may become the grave of my two evil twins, arrogance and anger;
so that I might amass all my treasure in heaven;
ah, so that I may for once be freed from self-deception, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life.
Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person has no enemies in the world except himself.
One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize that they are not enemies, but cruel friends.
It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has done me more evil in the world: friends or enemies.
Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and enemies.
A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand. But a son blesses them, for he understands.
For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life.
Therefore he freely steps among them and prays to God for them.

It’s Wednesday Morning of Holy Week. Today, let us each pray for our enemies, those who torment us and who scheme against us. Bless them. Yes, bless them and do not curse them. And let us each pray that we would become more like God’s own sons and daughters—more like Jesus. For this is the Way of the Cross.

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The Way of the Cross, part 2

Posted on April 15, 2014 by themondayprayer

Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth thrown in; aim at Earth and you will get neither. –C.S. Lewis

PRAYER: (from the Lectionary)

“O God, by the passion of your blessed Son, You made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, AMEN.”

SCRIPTURE: (from the Lectionary)

1 Corinthians 1: 18-31

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified… (1 Cor. 1: 1-23a)

PRAYER FOCUS: Foolish Blessings

Good Morning, Christian. It’s Tuesday of Holy Week. As the season of Lent draws to a close, let us consider God’s many blessings.

What if someone prayed that you would be “blessed” with Discomfort, Anger, and Tears? Would you think them unkind? Perhaps even cruel?

What if that person also prayed that you would be blessed with Foolishness? Maybe that person would be foolish themselves.

Or maybe not…watch this video:

The Way of the Cross, dear Christian, is foolishness. May God bless you with all these things.

Go out and do what others claim cannot be done.

Go in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified…

[VIDEO “A Four-fold Blessing” is presented under license with IgniterMedia (www.ignitermedia.com)]

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The Way of the Cross, part 1

Posted on April 14, 2014 by themondayprayer

NOTE: The Monday Prayer will publish every day during Holy Week.

If the cross was the end of the story, we would have no hope. But the cross isn’t the end. Jesus didn’t escape from death; he conquered it and opened the way to heaven for all who will dare to believe. The truth of this moment, if we let it sweep over us, is stunning. It means Jesus really is who he claimed to be, we are really as lost as he said we are, and he really is the only way for us to intimately and spiritually connect with God again. –Stephen James, in Story

PRAYER: (from the Lectionary)

“Almighty God, Whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first He suffered pain, and entered not into glory before He was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, AMEN.”

SCRIPTURES: (from the Lectionary)

This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42: 5-7)

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
Your justice like the great deep. (Psalm 36:5-6)

[Your Love O Lord, by Third Day]

PRAYER FOCUS: Walking the Way of the Cross.

Today is Monday of HOLY WEEK. Let us turn our thoughts towards God’s heart and not our own. This week we bend our will to His. This week we listen before we speak. We spend prayer time each day beginning with the liturgical prayer from the Lectionary.

After a time of silence before the LORD our God, let us each seek His Spirit and then pray as we are led. Whatever He shows you, whatever He gives you—pray that. If you discern no clear leading, simply say “Amen.” Either way, we let our words be few (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

May we find the Way of the Cross none other than the way of life and peace.

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False Expectations

Posted on April 7, 2014 by themondayprayer

Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind. –C.S. Lewis

PRAYER: (From the Lectionary)

“Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

SCRIPTURES: (From the Lectionary)

Matthew 21:1-11
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” (Matt 21:9-10 NIV)

PRAYER FOCUS: Jerusalem.

Jerusalem wasn’t just any city. It was THE City. At the time of Jesus’ triumphal entry described in Matthew’s gospel it had been the center of Jewish identity and imagination for more than one thousand years. King David reigned in Jerusalem. King Solomon built the First Temple there. It evoked those days of might and glory. It was more than the capital of Judea. Jerusalem was the heart of the Jewish nation, of both Judea and Israel.

Jerusalem was also the city of Jesus’ lament; the city who murdered the prophets (Matt 23:37). It was where the gospel was first preached, and where it was first persecuted (Acts 8:1). If Jerusalem was a city of death, it was also a city of destiny. It was the setting for the events of Holy Week, beginning with what we now call Palm Sunday.

Some Biblical Scholars now believe there were two processions on that Passover day: Pontius Pilate from the west, and Jesus of Nazareth from the east (Borg & Crossan, The Last Week, Harper-Collins, 2006).

According to independent sources from that period of ancient history (e.g., Flavius Josephus, Tacitus) it was the custom of the Roman Procurator of Palestine to reside in Jerusalem during the Passover–not to participate in the Jewish ritual, but rather to pre-empt any trouble the festival might generate. Pilate would have traveled from the Colonial Headquarters at Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast, riding into Jerusalem on horseback with a large detachment of Roman soldiers, including cavalry, and with enough fanfare to intimidate any restive Jews into acquiescence. It was a demonstration of physical strength and brute force.

In contrast Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, to the cheers and wild celebration of masses of people. They waved palm branches and cried “Hosanna,” which means “save us.” Jesus didn’t discourage either their celebration or their cries for action. In fact, when some religious officials expressed their concern that the commotion might provoke the Romans, Jesus replied that if the crowd were to become silent, the very stones would cry out. The religious leaders didn’t get it.

The city of Jerusalem turned out to see both processions. They seethed at the hated Romans. They cheered the prophet from Nazareth. Surely the man who cast out vile demons could do the same with these occupiers from Rome. This king will conquer our enemies and command peace throughout the land (Zech, 9:9-10). The people in the streets didn’t get it either.

Surely there were many motives in play on that first Palm Sunday, but it seems that among them, no one really understood Who Jesus truly was. Ultimately, the people of Jerusalem didn’t confront their false expectations very well. Only a few days later, they would not be cheering Hosanna. Instead they would scream “Crucify him” and “Give us Barabbas.” They would embrace the very Romans they hated.

Are we like them? How do we respond, how do we feel, when we pray for help and the answer doesn’t come in the way or in the time we hoped for?

Following Jesus means living a life of learning. The first Christians eventually discovered that Jesus was not going to overthrow the governments that oppressed them. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t enable us to live disaster-proof lives. But, as we pray today, if we share in His sufferings, we will also share in His resurrection.

There are many legitimate reasons to seek out Jesus Christ, and the Lord graciously receives them all. Yet how often is our motivation primarily crisis-driven? We find ourselves in trouble and cry, “Lord, save me!” We seek Jesus for help, and we should. But what are our expectations?

Do we also seek Him for Who He IS?

It’s Monday Morning. This week let us lift our praise and our prayers to our Savior, but let us also lift our eyes above our circumstances and seek out the Son of God. Learn the answer to “Who is this?”

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Shedding Our Grave Clothes

Posted on March 31, 2014 by themondayprayer

God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. —Max Lucado, in Just Like Jesus (1998)

PRAYER: (From the Lectionary)

“Almighty God, You alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant Your people grace to love what You command and desire what You promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.”

SCRIPTURES: (From the Lectionary)

Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 130
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45

Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:43-44 NIV)

PRAYER FOCUS: Shedding Our Grave Clothes

This week’s Lectionary Scriptures contain some of the most powerful and revealing passages in the entire Bible: Ezekiel’s vision of the Valley of Dry Bones; the Psalm titled De Profundis, which means “out of the depths”; a passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans declaring that “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

But this Monday, as we enter the fourth week of Lent, let us focus on the gospel words of our Lord and Savior as recorded by John, the beloved disciple. It is the story of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead.

The Gospel of John records that Jesus returned to Bethany, against the very strong advice of His Disciples. Jesus had just been in Bethany, and the locals had tried to kill Him. We see Thomas, known unfairly as “doubting”, declare, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” We see the sisters of Lazarus struggle with their faith amidst their grief—Martha, who greets the Lord in faith and hope, and Mary, who greets Him with thinly veiled accusation. Here we find the famous phrase “Jesus wept.”

It is also here that Jesus declares:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26, NKJV).

In front of a gathered crowd, Jesus prays to His Heavenly Father and thanks Him for what is about to happen…

“Lazarus—COME OUT!”

Then Jesus tells them: “You take off the grave clothes. You unbind him (unwrap him, loose him) and let him go”.

In other words, My dear followers, I have done My part—now you do yours.

The Jewish tradition of those days called for the deceased to be wrapped in linen strips that were either soaked in or sprinkled with spice. The arms and legs were wrapped separately from the torso (unlike Egyptian mummies that were embalmed and rolled up together into one device). Finally, the head would be covered in a separate towel-like cloth. When Lazarus awoke to the call of Jesus of Nazareth to “Come Out!” he could barely see and walk.

Isn’t that how it was for us, Christian? We answered our Savior’s call to pass from death to life, and yet we found ourselves still blinded and hobbled by our sinful past. We stumbled, more then than we do now. But the old habits, ways, connections, behaviors, and even some friendships, represent the clothes of death that literally needed to be unwrapped from the fabric of our lives.

All who are born again will need to have the grave clothes removed. Even though, like Martha and Mary, we are saved by our faith, like Lazarus we are still bound by the vain customs and traditions of this perishing world. We still grasp for the things of the flesh. We still flirt with our fleshly habits and addictions. We boast about our community, our denomination, our background, our qualifications, our position. We gossip and scheme against others. We love ourselves more than those to whom God would send us as witnesses. These are the garments of death. We need to recognize them as such.

Lazarus couldn’t unbind himself. That’s why our Lord commanded those near to him to do it for him.

The unbinding process is called sanctification, and it takes place in two ways: Discipleship and Prayer.

First, we need to learn God’s ways. There are no shortcuts here. A lack of biblical knowledge will always retard your spiritual growth. Apart from the truth of Scripture, there simply is no way to shed the grave clothes that have bound you. We must let the message and the meaning of the Cross sink deeply into our hearts. We do this by reading and digesting God’s Word. Do not confuse childlike faith with childish thinking.

Second, through prayer, we let the Holy Spirit work deeply in us to change our hearts. We have to realize the depth of our sin and repent of the sinful attitudes within ourselves. We listen to the testimony of those who have walked this path before us. To someone who is already walking with the Lord we give permission to hold us accountable, to encourage us. God has already put these people and ministries in our lives, near to us. If we ask Him, He will show us who they are. They will help us out of our grave clothes.

Then you will help others get free from theirs, Christian. And you will do this out of love!

In this week’s Lectionary Prayer, we acknowledge that only God can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners. We pray to have the “grace to love what You command and desire what You promise”—so that our hearts may be fixed where true joys are to be found. May it be so, in the name of Jesus.

It’s Monday Morning. We are nearing the end of Lent. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life…Do you believe this?”

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Child of Light

Posted on March 24, 2014 by themondayprayer

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.” —Helen Keller

PRAYER: (From the Lectionary)

“Gracious Father, Whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that He may live in us, and we in Him, in His Name we pray, AMEN.”

SCRIPTURES: (From the Lectionary)

1 Samuel 16:1-13
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41
Psalm 23

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them…for it is light that makes everything visible.” (Ephesians 5:8-11 NIV)

PRAYER FOCUS: Child of Light

If you were a light, Christian, what kind of light would you be?

Would you be a flashlight, to tunnel through the darkness?

Would you be a laser, focusing all your energy on one particular spot?

Or would you be a lamp, shining light in every direction, displacing the darkness and illuminating all your surroundings?

Today’s Lectionary Scripture from Ephesians ought to be one of the first things taught to every new believer. “You used to be in darkness, but now you are light.” Paul writes that we are now “light in the Lord.” If Jesus Himself is not in us, then we are no light at all.

As we journey through this third week in Lent let us pause and ask what characteristics distinguish a Child of Light?

Children of Light are not flashlights. Flashlights are indeed useful for pointing the way ahead, but leave us, and those who would follow us, in darkness. And we should shun the deeds of darkness; we should stop doing the sinful things we used to do. That doesn’t mean we just forget about the past. Yes, we must stop doing the old things, but then we must expose them in prayer to the Light. Why? Two reasons: One, because whether or not we realize it, these things have hurt us, and God’s Light brings the inner healing we need deep in our souls; and Two, because one day this healing and these lifestyle changes will become part of our testimony, and that, in turn, will form a powerful part of our ministry to others. A flashlight beam may illuminate one area and yet leave much around it in the dark.

Second, we are not called to be lasers. While it is sometimes useful to draw that kind of coherence and focus, we cannot stop and dwell like this. We must learn perspective about our past, especially as it relates to our present and the future. If even non-Christians can look back into past hard times and see good things in retrospect, why are followers of God’s own beloved Son so stressed out when times are hard? Take a deep breath and offer a prayer of thanks for your present situation. Assure Father-God that even though you may be pressed, even though you may be shaken, you nevertheless have faith that He is in this situation as well. Give Him thanks in advance for the future moment when you will look back and remember His Divine Providence in these hard times. As Helen Keller noted, keep your face to the sunshine.

When expecting guests arriving at night, it is customary to leave a lamp on outside our doors. Around the world, that lamp serves as both a guide and a signal of welcome. The lamps in our homes illuminate entire rooms, not just spots. When we carry a lamp we can see all things around us. Children of Light are to live as lamps. In this light we can see both ourselves and our environs clearly. We can see the shadows, the dust. The sin. Our Lectionary Gospel John 9:41 tells us that the blind are not guilty of sin, but only those who can see are guilty of sin. Lamplight drives out darkness, both in ourselves and for the world we invite to bring to Our Lord. As Christ’s followers, we are lamps who shine the light into the world around us, serving to convict hearts, to signal and beckon strangers, to drive out the darkness. Christ’s lamps invite all around them to see clearly, and make their way safely home.

As this week’s Lectionary Psalm reminds us,

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23 KJV)

It’s Monday Morning. This week, Christian, remember who and what you are: The dearly beloved of the King of Kings, the delight and joy of the Almighty and Everlasting One. Child of Light, you used to be in darkness, but now you are light. Shine. 🙂

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God’s Love

Posted on March 17, 2014 by themondayprayer

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” —Helen Keller

PRAYER: (from the Lectionary)

“Almighty God, You know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.”

SCRIPTURES: (from the Lectionary)

Exodus 17:1-7
Romans 5:1-11
John 4:5-42
Psalm 95

God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8 NLT).

PRAYER FOCUS: God’s Love

Some days the words fall short of what other media can express. We stumbled across the video below that captures the heart of today’s Monday Prayer.

Remember, Christian—God loves you. More than you can imagine. And He will never stop loving you.

Never Been Unloved

[Video by Igniter Media, Song by Michael W. Smith, used under license]

It’s Monday Morning. As we move into the third week of Lent, remember that it’s about God’s Love. Let Him love you, Christian. Rest in Him.

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Where Is Our Help?

Posted on March 10, 2014 by themondayprayer

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away,
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say, Amen and it’s still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain,
“I’m with you”
As Your mercy falls I raise my hands
And praise the God who gives
And takes away…

CHORUS:

I’ll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands
For You are who You are no matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried You hold in Your hand
You never left my side and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

[Opening Lyrics to “Praise You In This Storm” by Casting Crowns]
(Bernie Herms, Mark Hall. Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music)

PRAYER: (from the Lectionary)

“O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son, Amen.”

SCRIPTURES: (from the Lectionary)

Genesis 12:1-4a
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
John 3:1-17
Psalm 121

I lift my eyes onto the hills, where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)

PRAYER FOCUS: Our Hurting World

The world is in turmoil, Christian.

The political situation between Russia and Ukraine is tense and deteriorating; Western leaders seem unwilling and/or unable to intervene and avert a military collision. Church leaders on both sides pray for peace. Car bombs shatter whole neighborhoods in Baghdad as sectarian strife rends Iraq. Iraqi Christians continue to flee their homeland. The body count rises in Syria as civil war consumes its citizens, including Assyrian Christians. Christians displaced by severe violence in South Sudan are in desperate need. As we write this, a Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 is missing with its 239 passengers and crew; although little else is known at this point, the news of their fate is expected to be grim.

Our hearts are broken for our brothers and sisters in all these places. We echo the cry of their hearts, “Where is our help?”

In this week’s Psalm the Lord promises to be there whenever His children need help. He never slumbers and He never sleeps. He will watch over His children forever. In this week’s passage from John, Jesus says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). It’s amazing. And it’s comforting.

Perhaps you, too, have asked, as David did, “What is man that You are mindful of him?” Or more directly, “Who am I, Lord, that You notice me?” (Psalm 8:4).

In this week’s Lectionary Prayer we affirm it is God’s glory always to have mercy. This is also amazing and comforting.

Let’s steer off-Lectionary for a moment, over to the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 5:

Three very different people cry out for help: The demon-possessed man at Gerasenes, Jairus the synagogue leader, and the woman with the issue of blood who touched Jesus’ cloak. Who were they, and why were they special enough to receive personal help from the Son of the Living God?

Mark first introduces the demoniac, who upon seeing Jesus on the shore, immediately ran to Him and pleaded for help. Jesus commanded the evil spirits into a large herd of pigs, healed the man, and then sent him home to his family with a powerful testimony of deliverance and redemption.

Next Mark relates the story of Jairus, the synagogue leader who came to Jesus seeking a miracle of healing to save his dying daughter. “My little girl is dying. Please come and put your hands her so that she will be healed and live.” And so Jesus went and healed her, leaving Jairus’ family with a powerful testimony of healing and restoration.

On the way to Jairus’ house, a large crowd pressed in on Jesus. One of them was a desperate person seeking help—a woman who had been bleeding and suffering for twelve years. Struggling through the crowds, she touched the hem of the Lord’s cloak. Instantly her bleeding stopped and she realized she was healed. Jesus spun around and asked who had touched his clothes? The woman, knowing she was caught, fell at his feet. Jesus didn’t treat her as an outcast or as a thief, but rather, He spoke words of grace, as to His beloved. “Daughter, your faith has healed you—go in peace.”

Consider these three recipients of grace: a powerful yet enslaved and tormented man, an influential community leader, a destitute woman with a disease that rendered her unclean and a social outcast. Their approach to Jesus is the same: 1) They realized their utter desperation, 2) They purposefully sought out the presence of Jesus the Son of God, believing, and, 3) They cried out for help that only He can give.

Back to the Lectionary: Where does our help come from? The same place theirs did—the loving grace of Jesus Christ. Have we forgotten that? If so, let us return with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace the unchangeable Truth we pray for this week.

In this second week of Lent, faithful Christians around the world will prepare themselves to acknowledge the astonishing, agonizing, loving sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Through the disciplines of prayer, fasting, self-denial, and acts of service, we bow to our Lord and King. We turn our eyes away from the lesser things of this world and focus on the higher things of the world to come. We acknowledge our desperation, we open ourselves to His mercy, and we plead for help.

It’s Monday Morning. Outside your window there’s a world of hurting people, lifting their eyes to the hills, asking for help. This week, will you pray for them?

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Beating Temptation

Posted on March 3, 2014 by themondayprayer

“He who prays as he ought, will endeavor to live as he prays.” —John Owen, English theologian and Administrator at Oxford University (1616-1683).

PRAYER: (from the Lectionary)

“Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, Amen.”

SCRIPTURES: (from the Lectionary)

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Romans 5:12-19
Matthew 4:1-11
Psalm 32

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:1-4)

PRAYER FOCUS: Beating Temptation.

All of us are tempted by something. Temptation is not bad in itself. But more than anything else, our response to it reveals our true character.

This week’s Lectionary Scripture from Matthew is powerful. We see Jesus in a weakened state after forty days of fasting in the desert. The devil uses hunger, pride, and power to tempt him. Satan, the great liar and manipulator, the accuser, the deceiver, knows when and where we are weak. In each case Jesus responded by referring to Scripture and resting on God’s word. At the end of the encounter we find Jesus triumphant, being ministered to by angels.

It’s worth repeating: All of us are tempted by something. Let us first debunk the myth of sin’s inevitability.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis writes:

“No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness — they have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means — the only complete realist.”

How do we beat temptation?

We Pray. Prayer is powerful and effective; we strongly encourage its frequent practice. When we pray “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…” we are praying to be delivered from the Evil One.

Know the Truth. The Bible is full of examples of both succumbing to temptation and triumphing over it. In your reading of Scripture, learn how to avoid the bad examples and how to model the good examples. It’s why they are both there. Furthermore, the better you know your Bible, the less likely you’ll be to fall into either deception or temptation. If you want to beat temptation, Christian, you need to have a daily Bible discipline. You know it’s out there. Be prepared for it when it calls your name.

Know where you are weak. The devil does. For example, if you have a gambling problem, stay out of casinos. If you have a drinking problem, don’t set foot in a bar.

Know when you are weak. The devil knows this, too. If you are depressed, lonely, tired, sick, or even hungry, know that your resistance to temptation is lessened. Preserve your strength. Seek strength and shelter immediately when you realize you’re weak.

Avoidance. Don’t go where you know you’ll be tempted. If tempting thoughts come to you, don’t let your mind dwell on them. As Martin Luther said, “Just because birds fly over your head, doesn’t mean you have to give them a place to build a nest.” Paul wrote, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2).

Think about consequences. Most expert golfers play their shots well in advance. They will pass a seemingly easy shot if the resultant lie would leave a poor next shot. There are also consequences to sin. Consider how giving in to temptation will affect your relationships, your finances, your health, and your Christian witness.

Trust God. Everyone remembers that 1 Corinthians 13 is the Love Chapter, recited at many weddings. A nearby passage, with a similar number, is 1 Cor. 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Claim this promise when temptation strikes. God knows what you need; ask Him for it.

In Matthew chapter 4, make note of the devil’s approach. In verses 1-4, he waits until Jesus is really hungry, then while insinuating Jesus may not be who he says he is (“if you are the Son of God”), he issues a taunt—“turn these stones into bread.” In verses 5-7 the insinuation and taunt are similar: “If you are the Son of God, then…” This is a pure appeal to the sin of pride. The devil uses it because it works so much of the time.

But the real threat is the third one, in verses 8-9: Power. There is much good one can do with power. Therein is the hook, because there is also much evil one can do. The Bible and the history books are full of great examples. The temptation to abuse power is perhaps the most seductive of all.

Temptation comes from three sources: our flesh, the world, and the devil. We must master the first, because we are called to testify and minister to the second, and we are ordered to resist the third.

It’s Monday Morning. This week you will be tempted, Christian. Decide now how you will win against it. Decide now that you will win against it. May God bless you and strengthen you as you prepare to triumph.

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Into His Likeness

Posted on February 24, 2014 by themondayprayer

“I believe that there are too many accommodating preachers, and too many practitioners in the church who are not believers. Jesus Christ did not say, ‘Go into all the world and tell the world that it is quite right.’ The gospel is something completely different. In fact, it is directly opposed to the world.” —C. S. Lewis

PRAYER: (from the Lectionary)

“O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

SCRIPTURES: (from the Lectionary)

Exodus 24:12-18
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9
Psalm 2

We have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:19 NLT)

PRAYER FOCUS: Looking Like Jesus

Have you seen the news today? We live in a messy world full of turmoil. What are we, as Christians, to do? More importantly, how are we to pray?

If we believe we are saved by our faith in Jesus Christ, and if we are well-grounded in the eternal assurance we find in the Bible, then even tragic, traumatic events like those in today’s news fall into perspective. Our Father-God still loves His children. “Fear Not” is still the single most common command in the Bible. Jesus still saves. God is still God, and He is always in control.

A word of warning here, Christian: the world will see your faith and challenge it. Unfortunately, so will some in the church. As a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, sooner or later you will confront the word Pragmatic, or Pragmatism, referring to the study of cause and effect, and the extracting of “meaningful lessons” from it.

One such pragmatic theme is that the world is too full of sin and imperfection to make any difference, so why try? Another, common to certain western denominations, is to do good only in “approved” ways and ministries, so as not to “offend” anyone by using the name of Jesus Christ (even though it is He Who saves them). These flawed schools of thought, while pragmatic, are contrary to the very nature and grace of an Almighty God Who knows no limits.

The language of pragmatism is characteristically vague and uncertain. Its conclusions are hesitant. Right and wrong, good and evil, light and darkness don’t exist in a climate of pragmatism. To the pragmatist, Christians who hold principles firmly grounded in truth are considered “legalistic”. Their doctrinal convictions are viewed as unloving, intolerant, and unenlightened. Good intentions, not God’s Word, become the measuring stick by which right and wrong are determined. And who, of course, could ever have better intentions than the worldly pragmatist?

The problem, to paraphrase the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan, is that the pragmatists know so much that just isn’t true.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we know the truth—the absolute Truth—revealed in the Bible. This sets us apart from the world and its fuzzy feel-good pragmatism. A Christian who is well-versed in Scripture is not likely to be deceived by smooth-talking preachers or pragmatic pundits. This is why the Lord challenges us to inscribe His Word on our hearts. Jesus dares us to be different.

In this week’s Lectionary Scripture, Peter writes that the words of the prophets are like a lamp shining in a dark place. He warns us of pragmatic religious leaders who would compromise God’s Word in misguided attempts to accommodate the world’s ever-changing viewpoints. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, also exhorts us to remain in good spiritual “shape” by the daily discipline of Scripture, to remain persistent in our Christian witness.

What does that look like in practice? In our daily lives, do we resemble the likeness of the Eternal Almighty God, or do we merely mirror the pragmatic culture? Are we more like the unchanging Christ or more like the world which is passing away?

In this week’s Lectionary Prayer we pray that we will be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ “from glory to glory”. Therefore let us reject the pragmatism that rejects truth. Pray that we would be strengthened…and be changed into His Likeness. From glory to glory.

It’s Monday Morning. The world will challenge your faith, Christian. Understand that it is lost and hurting. This week, speak humbly to it in Truth and in Love. Bathe it faithfully in Prayer. Repeat. Repeat. And repeat.

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