Prayer

Monday Meditation

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When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there–who made an end of all my sin. Before the Throne of God Above

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:6-9

Mondays hit hard, don’t they? I can sometimes so easily fall into feeling overwhelmed and anxious as I consider the tasks of the day[and truly–the week] at hand. That is exactly what happened this morning. My naturally melancholy personality was, once again, tempted to despair. Very quickly–even between leaving my bed and walking downstairs–I was grumpy; choosing to listen to my own negative, sinful thoughts instead of choosing to fix my gaze on Christ.

It feels like a new kind of suffering, doesn’t it?

In Peter’s day, the early Christians of Asia Minor faced what I would consider true suffering–they were harassed mercilessly; facing isolation and persecution by their pagan neighbors. Why? Because they continued to choose Christ.

And the cause of my suffering? My own sinfulness! I suffered by my own hand! I was tempted to despair, instead of remaining watchful and sober-minded.

I chose to listen to the murmurings of my own soul instead of entrusting the day[and it’s duties] to Christ!

Matthew Henry explains this well:

It is the duty of Christians, in all their distresses, to look more to the keeping of their souls than to the preserving of their bodies. The soul is of greatest value, and yet in most danger. If suffering from without raise uneasiness, vexation, and other sinful and tormenting passions within, the soul is then the greatest sufferer. If the soul be not well kept, persecution will drive people to apostasy, Ps. 125:3.The only way to keep the soul well is to commit it to God, in well-doing. Commit your souls to God by solemn dedication, prayer, and patient perseverance in well-doing, Rom. 2:7. Good people, when they are in affliction, have great encouragement to commit their souls to God, because he is their Creator, and faithful in all his promises.

I failed once again to submit my soul first to the Lord. Because of this, I spiraled into a vortex of looking only to myself. This produced within me bitterness, frustration and self-pity. But when we choose, by God’s kindness, to look first and foremost to Christ–this truly changes everything.

Our hearts are recalibrated to the rhythm of the Gospel.

It humbles me that I so quickly forget. I can worship heartily on Sunday, but when Monday rolls around I am–once again–faced with my own neediness.

Let us bless thee at all times and forget not how thou has forgiven our iniquities, healed our diseases, redeemed our lives from destruction, crowned us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, satisfied our mouths with good things, renewed our youth like the eagle’s. May thy holy Scriptures govern every part of our lives, and regulate the discharge of all our duties, so that we may adorn thy doctrine in all things. Valley of Vision

In Christ,

Sus

Monday Meditation

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Colorful building blocks on wooden church pew inside historic church interior

Every Sunday morning, I watch the legos. They’re always right at my feet during corporate worship. The bright colors gleam at me as I follow along with the rest of our church body. Quiet, but captivating; these legos sometimes leave me entranced. And they’re never ever organized in the same way.

Truly, my focus isn’t those legos, but rather the very active, curious 6 year-old tinkering with them.

He began worshiping alongside our family when he turned five. He’s our only boy and a more tenacious yet tender soul never lived. I kind of love how savage he can be at times. It is both exhilarating and challenging all at once!

But here, in corporate worship… I honestly couldn’t have predicted what would happen. Well, honestly…I expected noise. Maybe even some commentary or a little clamor. But, as he always does, this boy surprised me.

We can thank the legos for that.

Every Sunday, my precious boy excitedly opens that same lego box with anticipation. He looks forward to this special building time weekly. This could be because the box doesn’t come home with us. It stays there, tucked under our church seats, waiting for him. And every time we go, he beholds the box as if for the first. He is enrapured.

Here’s the kicker: the legos haven’t changed(mostly because I don’t think to bring a new bag from home)! It’s the same assortment as the week before.

And as I admired my little boy’s ingenuity yesterday, I was struck that those legos point to something greater: God’s eternal Word.

I love what the Westminster Larger catechism shares concerning this:

Q. 4. How doth it appear that the Scriptures are the Word of God?
A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the Word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very Word of God.

Hos. 8:12; 1 Cor. 2:6-7, 13; Ps. 119:18, 129; Ps. 12:6; Ps. 119:140; Acts 10:43; Acts 26:22; Rom. 3:19, 27; Acts 18:28; Heb. 4:12; Jas. 1:18; Ps. 19:7-9; Rom. 15:4; Acts 20:32; John 16:13-14; 1 John 2:20, 27; John 20:31.

Q. 5. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

2 Tim. 1:13.

What do we know? God’s word is:

  • Pure(Proverbs 30:5)
  • Perfect(Psalm 19:7)
  • Wholly true(Psalm 119:60)
  • Our source for salvation, exhortation and equipping(2 Tim. 3:15)
  • Conclusive and active(Hebrews 4:12)
  • brings glory to God(Psalm 119:105)

There is so much more to it, but what the legos highlighted for me is the abounding illumination of the word.

Though this book never changes, there is always treasure to mine from these precious pages. May we, by God’s grace, ever have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Like the Psalmist, may we pray: Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your Law – Psalm 119:18

Sus

A Prayer to Start Your Week

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I confess that my prayers aren’t usually the most eloquent. Mine are mostly the breathless utterances of a longing spirit all throughout the day. I know that the Lord receives those prayers(Romans 8:26). However, most mornings I love borrowing the prayers of those beloved saints who have gone before–in this instance, the Puritans.

Today I’m sharing one from a book which has quickly become a favorite, Into His Presence, by Tim Chester. My dad introduced me to the Puritans back in high school, and I have been challenged and blessed by their words ever-since:

A Prayer for the Coming Day

Eternal Lord, you are the great fountain of being and of happiness. As from you my being was derived, so from you my happiness directly flows; the nearer I am to you the more delicious is the stream.

For with you is the fountain of life; in you light we see light. Psalm 36:9

To you may my waking thoughts be directed. May my first actions be consecrated to you, O God, who gives me, as it were, every morning a new life. Enable my heart to pour out itself before you with a filial reverence, freedom, and endearment. May I read your word with attention and pleasure, and may my soul be delivered into its mould. Animated by the great motives in your word, may I renew my dedication to you through Jesus Christ your beloved Son. May I derive from him new supplies of your Spirit, whose influences are the life of my soul.

Then Lord, lead me into the duties and events of the day. In the calling to which you have called me, may I abide with you, not being slothful, but fervent in spirit, as one who serves Christ. To your glory, O Lord, may my labours be pursued; and to your glory may my refreshments be sought.

May I be watchful to observe mercies from you; and may gratitude add a savour and relish to all. And when afflictions come, as in this life they must, may I remember that they come from you. Make me aware, I pray, of my own weaknesses, that my heart may be raised to you for present communications of strength. When I am in the society of others, may it be my desire to do and receive as much good as possible. And when I am alone, may I enjoy the pleasure of your presence. May I end each day with a right fear of you, Lord, and when I review my conduct, may I be impartial. May I resign myself to sleep in sweet serenity, conscious that I have lived to you in the day, and cheerfully persuaded that I am accepted by you in Christ Jesus my Lord.

-Philip Doddridge

May the Lord bless your week!