Category: Prayer

Let it Unfold

It’s been almost a year since God answered an angsty prayer by speaking to me in a dream. I’d found myself in a familiar situation—coordinating logistics for my family’s schedule and feeling frustrated that everyone wasn’t in sync. A tense conversation with one of my kids hadn’t ended well and I’d gone to bed discouraged. After tossing and turning for several hours, I fell into a fitful sleep while my brain continued to process a solution to our stalemate. 

My son’s lack of willingness to adjust to my plan was going to cost time and money as well as causing great inconvenience. Before falling asleep, I’d been weighing the different approaches I could use to get him to see the situation from my perspective. Exhausted, I eventually drifted off to sleep when, just before waking, calming words in a dream filled me with peace. I don’t think I heard the Lord audibly, but His message was clear: “Let it unfold.”

Pulling back the covers in the dawn light, I chose to trust God’s gentle voice as I anticipated the day ahead. Instead of trying to convince my son to get on board with my logistically “superior” plan, I held off and opted to let events unfold without intervening. A few months later, when the plans came to fruition, I understood what the Lord had been doing. The plan that, in my mind, had seemed illogical and inconvenient actually turned out to be God’s provision—a needed respite in an unexpected season of intensity in our family.

I view time as a precious commodity and see efficiency as the key to prevent wasting it. There’s nothing I love more than a well-crafted plan that works out exactly as I expect. But in the past year, the Lord has reminded me again and again of that phrase He gave me last summer: “Let it unfold.” When I’m tempted to speak up and step in to fix, suggest, or point out a better way to do something, I’m learning to pause and pray first. In my attempts to help others or improve situations, my proactivity can short-circuit the learning process for someone else. Worse still, it can squelch the Holy Spirit from moving or speaking.

We live in a fast-paced world and most of us don’t believe we have time to slow down and let things unfold, but that’s not the way of Jesus. When I’m tempted to rush or to force my plan on someone else, I’m reminded that Jesus was never in a hurry. He never rushed. Likewise, God never forces Himself or His plans on us. He waits patiently and delights when we choose to follow His ways instead of ours. I love how Jesus says this in The Message (a contemporary language paraphrase of the Bible): 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Learning to “let it unfold” has been an exercise in restraint for the past year. But as I’ve held back and waited longer than I would have preferred, I’ve watched the Lord move and have witnessed His “unforced rhythms of grace” more times than I can count. Sometimes it’s with one of my adult kids, other times, it’s been with extended family, or people I serve with or lead in ministry. Letting things unfold has helped me avoid unneeded tension with others that often comes with unsolicited advice, unwelcome opinions, and forced decisions. The Lord has shed light on pride that leads me to see my way of doing things as “best.” He’s humbled me and helped me to recognize the beauty of letting others learn through experience instead of being subjected to my “helpful” suggestions. I’m still growing in patience but am seeing the positive results of trusting His timing instead of acting on my impulses. 

What about you? Are you ever tempted to intervene and fast track the learning process for someone else? Do you sometimes want to help others see the value of your perspectives or opinions whether they’re ready to listen or not? Are you quick to offer a suggestion or observation before inviting the Holy Spirit to intercede? Letting things unfold doesn’t mean doing nothing, but it does mean pausing to pray. Sometimes the Lord may prompt you to speak up or step in; at other times He’ll guide you to hold off and wait. Seeking His guidance enables you to be confident that you’re relying on God’s wisdom instead of your knee-jerk response.

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Expanding Intercession

“Does anyone have prayer requests?” I couldn’t begin to count how many times I’ve heard that question while sitting in a circle with other believers. Usually people share about the circumstances of people they love—whether it’s asking for physical healing, emotional support, relational peace, or something else that will affect life in the natural world.

After studying intercessions of many faithful people in Scripture, I’ve been surprised to discover they have a very different emphasis. Take Paul’s opening prayer in Ephesians for example: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:17-19, NIV) Paul’s prayer centers on the spiritual realm. He prays for those he loves to receive wisdom and revelation so they can know the Lord better. He prays their spiritual eyes will be opened and they’ll have greater understanding of the power they have through the Spirit.

Inspired by this prayer a few years ago, I started interceding less about circumstances of those I love and more about the eyes of their hearts being opened. While I care about their health, safety, and relationships, I now see that praying for their hearts and minds to be aligned with the Lord will have a more lasting impact (and will actually affect their health, safety, and relationships positively too.) More than anything, I want them to know God deeply and understand the riches they have in Him. It’s been encouraging, gratifying, and sometimes surprising to recognize how God has responded to my prayers over time.

When we intercede for ourselves and others, we have access to a limitless source of spiritual power. Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 illustrates this: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19, NIV) The answer to this prayer changes how believers see themselves and others. Once we grasp the depth of God’s love for us and root ourselves in it, we overflow with Jesus’ love. Instead of looking for people to fill us, we’re able to pour out God’s love on them.

Jada Edwards explains, “When Christ dwells in our hearts, we are so grounded in love that we are able to see people in the image of God. This type of love should be something we daily ask God to manifest in us and something we daily pray for others in the Spirit of Paul’s prayer.”1 Edwards invites us to stretch our faith and pray for God’s power to be more evident in ourselves, others, and among all believers. Consider these ideas to expand your prayers of intercession:

-In our personal lives: We can ask the Lord to fill us and satisfy us so completely each day that we’re not tempted to look for any lesser thing or person to quench our spiritual thirst. We can also pray for God to give us His power in practical ways—whether it’s enabling us to offer forgiveness and mend a relationship, to give us contentment while a longing remains unfulfilled, or to experience joy that is rooted in knowing Christ instead of circumstances being the way we want. We can ask God to align our hearts and minds to His will and to let the fruit of the Spirit be evident and bountiful in our lives: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23a NLT)

-In the lives of others: We can ask God to reveal Himself in ways they can see and feel; to help them persevere and trust Him through trials; to encourage them when they’re struggling; to heal and comfort physical and emotional pain; to provide for tangible needs; to convict them when they’re mired in sin; or to give them wisdom and guidance in making decisions. We can pray for the Lord to help them remain closely connected to Him and to bear fruit that reveals His presence in their lives. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:7-8, NIV)

-In the church (local and global): We can ask God to empower us collectively to show His love to the world; to equip us to serve others with wisdom and grace; to bring unity among all believers in our divided world; to meet physical and emotional needs of the hurting through the church; to keep us humble and pure in heart; and to bring the light of hope into the darkness. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)

Every suggestion here has been inspired by Scripture. When we let the Bible inform our prayers, we can be confident that they align with God’s will. Consider expanding your prayers of intercession—look beyond circumstances and pray for hearts and minds to be more attuned to the Kingdom of God. Try using Paul’s prayers when you’re interceding for others. Ask the Lord to open the eyes of your heart and to fill you with His love that surpasses knowledge, then watch the way it overflows from your life.

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1. Jada Edwards, When You Pray, Lifeway Press 2023, 157.

Learning to Lament

“Life often hurts, and we need to know how to pray when it does,” Jennifer Rothschild declares in When You Pray. Maybe prayers of lament aren’t a regular part of your times with the Lord; expressing passionate grief or sorrow isn’t something we do well as a culture. Rather than feeling the depth of our emotions, we expend tremendous energy trying to avoid them. 

We’ve learned to sidestep pain in many creative ways. Here are a few strategies that have become common in our culture:

Numbing: Physical pain in our bodies signals to us that something needs attention. However, if we numb the pain of a toothache without addressing the root issue, the problem grows bigger. Yet many of us do this with our emotions—we feel the unpleasant sensation of pain and we rush to numb it with alcohol, pills, binge watching Netflix, shopping, or something else. Anesthetizing may lessen the pain for a while, but it brings only short-term relief.

Busyness & Distraction: Like waving a toy in front of a toddler crying for his mother, we occupy ourselves with distractions that make us forget emotional pain, at least for a little while. Maybe it’s keeping a full social calendar, scrolling social media, flooding our minds with mental inputs like podcasts or audio books, or throwing ourselves into serving others or working. We often use busyness and distractions to avoid feeling our emotions.

Denial & Avoidance: Sometimes we like to pretend the pain isn’t there. We think that if we don’t acknowledge its existence, it can’t take us under. Like getting caught in a forceful ocean current, we try to resist its power and exhaust ourselves fighting against it. But as a wise pastor once told me, grief waits for us for as long as it takes for us to reckon with it.

Pursuing Pleasure: Taking a vacation, looking for laughs, or deciding we “deserve” to eat with abandon can be coping mechanisms we use trying to counterbalance the pain we’re feeling. Wanting to feel good for just a moment, we justify spending money or consuming calories in an effort to soothe the hurt gnawing inside of us. Often, we end up feeling worse than we did before.

Negative Comparisons: I’ll never forget risking to lament about a painful situation I was experiencing. My confidante responded by saying, “Well, at least…” and then proceeded to share something similar she’d gone through that was much worse. Instead of listening with empathy, she minimized my sadness. I felt foolish and guilty for letting my “lesser” problem affect me so deeply. Trying to make ourselves (or others) feel better through negative comparisons just makes the burden heavier.

Positive Spin: Sometimes we take a hard situation and, instead of processing our painful emotions, we try looking at the bright side. I’ve often tried to console myself and others by focusing only on the benefits emotional hardship could bring. But failing to acknowledge the pain is like covering a wound before cleaning it out—it festers and prevents healing.

Spiritual Bypassing: For a lover of Scripture like me, another way I’ve avoided feeling my sadness is by veering around it. Before even allowing my emotions to surface fully, I’m already trying to find ways to explain away the pain or learn spiritual truth from it. It’s short-sighted to think we can “skip over our pain and just have Jesus ‘fix’ us.”1

We can stave off painful emotions, but ultimately if we don’t deal with them, they leak out of us at times we don’t anticipate. Unacknowledged pain morphs into impatience, anger, irritability, apathy, discouragement, and a host of other negative emotions and behaviors that ripple out to affect others around us.

Rather than avoiding our pain, we need to face it head on and let ourselves feel it deeply. Learning to lament in prayer with total honesty brings great relief and freedom. Try using these steppingstones on the path to comfort and healing.2

1. Address God: Focus your prayer on the One who knows you intimately and listens to you attentively. “Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.” (Psalm 5:1-2, NIV)

2. Pour out your heart: Bring Him your complaints and concerns. Share your raw emotions without holding back. “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:8, NIV)

3. Request help: Ask God for what you need, but also remain open to His perspective on your situation. “But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.”(Psalm 109:21, NIV)

4. Express trust. Affirm your faith in God’s character and His Word. (Or ask Him to build your trust in Him if you’re not quite there yet.) “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2, NIV)

5. Praise Him. No matter how terrible you feel, God is still good. Remind yourself of this by expressing adoration for His wisdom, strength, and faithfulness (or whatever qualities of His you appreciate.) Use the Bible to help you if you can’t come up with anything on your own. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails  and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength;  he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19, NIV)

Lament gives us time and space to identify our feelings and process them in the safe, loving, patient presence of our Heavenly Father. Laying out our emotions allows the Lord to comfort us and guide us, freeing us to move forward instead of being continually weighed down. It’s hard work, but so worth it. The next time you’re hurting emotionally, consider making time to practice lament and let the Lord refresh your spirit.

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1. John Mark Comer quoting John Welwood, Praciticing the Way, Waterbrook, 2024, 88.

2. Jennifer Rothschild, When You Pray session 5, Lifeway Press 2023, 119.

Search Me, O God

Barefoot and sun-kissed, we crowded onto the couches and floors in the houseboat’s tiny front room. Sitting on faded linoleum as someone strummed a guitar, I joined the heartfelt voices of my fellow camp counselors worshiping the Lord. A growing understanding of God’s holiness had transformed the way I praised Him during those pure and powerful worship sessions.

I had arrived at Houseboats a few weeks earlier and was glad to be serving at a Christian camp instead of joining my friends for graduation festivities in Mexico. I’d been stretched and humbled but had also experienced deep joy in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Praising God for His transcendent attributes and meditating on His character gave me a clearer perspective of His worthiness and my weakness. Awestruck by His perfection and holiness, a surprising awareness of my own sinfulness also came to light. I knew I needed to confess it and come clean before Him. Like David in Psalm 139:19-22, I was beginning to recoil from sin as I understood how much the Lord hates it. 

My experience was personal, but not unique. Through the prompting and conviction of the Holy Spirit, many believers pray as David did: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139, 23-24, CSB) 

After accepting Christ, we are cleansed by His blood and receive eternal salvation, but we still struggle with sin. So, we need to examine our hearts and actions consistently and confess where we’ve fallen short of His standards. The prophet Isaiah explains how sin hinders our communication with God: “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2, NIV) 

David expresses an understanding of this in Psalm 51: “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:9-12, NIV)

Responding to the Lord’s loving forgiveness, we then repent and allow Him to transform our thoughts, attitudes, and actions once again. We turn back towards God and away from whatever dishonors Him; repentance is about surrender—welcoming the conviction of the Holy Spirit and seeking God’s help to do things differently.

With that in mind, let’s consider several reasons we’d be wise to let the Lord search our hearts and shine light on unconfessed sin. 

–Unconfessed sin is a burden that weighs us down:  In another psalm, David says, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me, my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:3-7, NIV)

Guilt warns us we’ve done something wrong, but when feeling guilty becomes a a permanent state of mind, that’s condemnation–which isn’t from God. Jesus was condemned to die on the cross to pay for our guilt! Instead, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin so that we can confess it and be restored to close connection with the Lord. Here are a few differences between guilt that leads to condemnation and holy conviction that leads to restoration:

CondemnationConviction
Comes from the enemyComes from the Holy Spirit
Points us back to ourselvesPoints us back to God
Causes shame, regret & self-loathingCauses humility, repentance & change
Causes us to dwell on failuresCauses remorse for sin
Leads us to feel helpless & hopelessLeads us to spiritual maturity

–Unconfessed sin hinders us from growing spiritually: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV, italics added) It’s a struggle to move forward in our faith and accomplish God’s will and plans when we’re entangled by sin. It holds us back from experiencing deep, intimate fellowship with God. It also dulls our spiritual senses, weakens our ability to persevere, and takes our eyes off Jesus.

–Unconfessed sin limits opportunities to be used by God and steals our joy: David offered these wise words for his son, Solomon, shortly before his death: “I am about to go the way of all the earth…So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.’“ (1 Kings 2:1-3, NIV italics added)

Jesus also emphasizes how obedience enables closeness to God when He says, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:10-11, NIV, italics added)

Paul elaborates further: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness… Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 5:15-17, NIV, italics added)

Although confession and repentance may feel difficult, or even scary at times, Scripture explains the benefits: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19, NIV, italics added) 

Consider inviting God to search your heart today. Let adoration of Him lead you to confess sins that are keeping you from becoming the person He’s made you to be. Experience refreshment and joy by removing any barriers to connection with Him

Was this forwarded to you? You can receive new posts automatically in your inbox by going to www.marybethmccullum.com, entering your e-mail address and clicking “subscribe.”

Inspired by When You Pray: A Study of Six Prayers in the Bible, Session 4, Kelly Minter, Jackie Hill Perry, Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Jada Edwards, Kristi McClelland, Lifeway Press, 2023.

Petitioning God

Most of us think of prayer as an opportunity to ask the Lord for what we need or want. In Session 3 of When You Pray, contributing author Jackie Hill Perry opens by inviting us to read several Scriptures about making requests of God. By cherry picking verses from these passages, we could make some inaccurate assumptions about prayers of petition, especially in our culture that values instant gratification. Consider these phrases:

  • “Ask and it will be given to you.” (Matt 7:7a)
  • “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matt 21:22)
  • “Whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:15b)

Without context, we could misinterpret these passages and see God as a spiritual wish-granter. Prayer could seem transactional like a vending machine–we insert a prayer; God gives the answer. We might come to Scripture focusing on what sounds good to us while filtering out what’s uncomfortable or difficult to understand. Jackie Hill Perry suggests examining a list of verses that help us to understand the importance of seeking the will of God in our petitions (When You Pray page 51). Let’s see what we can learn from them:

Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Regardless of how or when He answers our prayers, we can rest assured that the Lord is present when we cry out to Him with authenticity. We don’t need to use fancy words—we can be honest and vulnerable in our prayers and take comfort in God’s nearness to us.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” One commentary explains, “When we allow God to make our paths straight, we are aligning our will with His. This requires humility and a willingness to surrender our plans and desires to the sovereign will of God. It is also a recognition that our finite understanding cannot lead us in the right direction and that true fulfillment comes from following the path that God sets for us.”1

Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The Lord values justice, mercy, and humility. When our prayers focus on bringing more of these three things to our lives and the world, we know they are within the parameters of His will.

John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” When we walk closely with Jesus, our hearts are drawn to what He wants. When we pray about things that align with what He teaches, we can trust that He will respond.

John 16:23-24 “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” When we pray “in Jesus name” we are declaring that our requests align with what He would want. Praying in His name isn’t a way to sign off on our prayers before saying “amen” but to affirm that we’re seeking what we know He would desire. Abiding closely with Jesus enables us to experience deep joy when we see His will accomplished through our prayers.

Romans 8:27-28 “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The Holy Spirit searches our hearts and prays on our behalf to the Father (which is great news when we don’t know what to pray!) God works for our good according to His purposes, not our plans.

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”  God equips us with everything good for carrying out His will so that we can do what is pleasing to Him. All of this is not for our comfort or convenience but His glory.

James 4:2-3 “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” God knows our motives and does not grant selfish desires or give what is not in accordance with His will.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” We live in a culture that demands instant gratification, but God rarely answers according to our timelines. We need to pray for patience and let God’s plans unfold in His perfect timing.

God wants us to ask for things, but Scripture also calls us to align with His will. So, let’s strive to be more concerned with His glory than our personal gain. Jackie Hill Perry closes by asking “How can we cultivate a heart that loves the Giver more than the gift?” Here are a few ideas:

  • Each time you pray, consider previous requests you’ve made. Thank God for the prayers He has answered and notice the ways He may have responded differently (or better) than you anticipated.
  • Thank God for things you might take for granted normally: your health, your home, your relationships, your community of faith, etc.
  • Thank God for the gifts He’s given you and the opportunities you’ve had to use them to bless others, build His church, and advance His kingdom on earth.
  • Ask the Lord to help you want His will more than yours. Ask Him to change your heart and to show where you’re clinging to your personal agenda instead of trusting Him.

Want to learn more about aligning with God’s will in your life and prayers? Consider reading Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.

Was this forwarded to you? You can receive new posts automatically in your inbox by going to www.marybethmccullum.com, entering your e-mail address and clicking “subscribe.”

Inspired by When You Pray: A Study of Six Prayers in the Bible, Kelly Minter, Jackie Hill Perry, Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Jada Edwards, Kristi McClelland, Lifeway Press, 2023.

  1. GotQuestions.org “What does it mean that He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:6)?”

Your Kingdom Come

Almost every morning I start the day reading the Bible and praying. Typically, I end my time by asking the Lord to use me to bless others, to build His kingdom, and to bring Him glory. Some days it’s obvious when He’s answering this prayer, but it isn’t always convenient or comfortable. 

In the first chapter of the Bible study When You Pray, contributing author Kelly Minter says, “Whether we pray to be noticed or don’t pray so we aren’t noticed, both have to do with fear of people instead of reverence for God.”1 She then asks us to consider settings where we might avoid prayer out of concern for what others think.

A recent memory came to mind when God answered my morning prayer with an unexpected prompting. It was one of those times when my heart started pounding because I knew what He wanted me to do, but I didn’t want to do it. I was enjoying a fun morning playing Pickle Ball with a large group of women. Some I knew well, but many were new to me. Some were followers of Jesus, others weren’t. I’d joined the group hoping to meet people and have opportunities to show God’s love, but hadn’t envisioned Him leading me to be quite so bold.

On this particular day, a woman I barely knew arrived late and sat waiting to play as others chatted around her. Although typically soft-spoken, she seemed more subdued than usual. As the group began to disperse she remained planted in her spot; even when another friend and I were the only ones left, she seemed in no rush to leave. Without a fourth person to play a game, we laid our paddles aside. But instead of saying goodbye, we asked if she was okay and then sat in the shade listening as she opened up about frustrations and struggles that were overwhelming her. 

Brushing away the tears from her cheeks, she apologized for being emotional and picked up her paddle to leave. Although she’d come to play Pickle Ball, it seemed clear what she really needed was support and encouragement. My heartbeat quickened as the Holy Spirit reminded me of my prayer that morning. After a few minutes of mental grappling, I couldn’t ignore the pounding of my heart any longer. The prompting of the Holy Spirit overrode my fear and, having no idea how she’d react, I heard myself saying, “This might sound weird, but can we pray for you before you leave?” To my surprise, she agreed without hesitation. Eying my friend who sat listening with me, I took another risk and asked, “Do you mind if we lay our hands on you?” Nodding yes, she bowed her head as we scooted in closer to rest our palms on her shoulders.

I don’t remember exactly what I prayed, but my fear about what she would think vanished. I asked God for His intervention with her specific circumstances, but I remember praying more that she would feel His peace, love, comfort, and presence.  After saying “amen” we chatted for a few more minutes with no trace of awkwardness or discomfort between us.  She thanked us and moved on with the day seeming lighter than she’d come.

A few weeks went by before I saw her again and had the chance to ask how she was doing. Between games I sought her out. With the background noise of women chatting and the ball popping against paddles, we stood on the sidelines as she recounted how each issue had resolved. Pausing mid-sentence, she interrupted herself and said, “Wow, now that I think about it, I guess your prayers were answered.” 

I had asked God to use me that morning and He teed up an opportunity. Imagine what my new friend and I would’ve missed if I’d ignored the Spirit’s prompting instead of risking to pray for her. I wish I could say I’m always that bold, but I’d be lying. However each time I’ve responded to the Spirit’s gentle but insistent nudging, my faith has grown and someone else has been blessed in the process.

The Disciples’ Prayer (also known as the Lord’s Prayer) taught by Jesus starts with “Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9b-10, CSB) I used to think the phrase “your kingdom come” was all about the future when Christ returns. I didn’t understand that every follower of Jesus has the opportunity to bring God’s kingdom to earth every day. Theologian Dallas Willard explains, “The kingdom of God is the range of his effective will: That is, it is the domain where what he prefers is actually what happens.”2

So, when we obey the promptings of the Spirit we’re carrying out His will–we’re bringing a little bit more of His kingdom to earth at that very moment. Shining His light into the darkness, we’re taking back territory from the enemy. That’s one of the many powerful ways prayer works.

I’ve been learning how to pray and practicing it for all of my adult life. Scripture gives us the keys to unlock understanding God’s will so that we can pray with boldness and confidence. When we’re aligned with His Spirit, we have access to His unlimited power. Tapping into that power requires us to try engaging God in new ways, stepping out of our comfort zones, and trusting Him. Prayer isn’t so much about asking the Lord to do what we want as it is about opening an ongoing dialogue with Him. As we draw near to Him and align our hearts with His, He speaks to us in a variety of ways. It may be through the Bible, circumstances, other people, His creation, silence, or song lyrics, to name a few. (You can learn more about this by reading How to Hear God: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig.)

Over the next few months we’ll delve into the deep wisdom of six teachers who will help us unpack prayers in the Bible that can transform the way we engage with God. During this season, consider choosing one practice to add to your daily rhythm that will expand your experience with prayer. Here are few ideas:

  • Commit to practicing the prayer prompts in When You Pray instead of skipping over them to save time or mental energy.
  • Start your day with a few minutes of silence and becoming attuned to God’s presence. Invite Him to speak to you throughout your day.
  • Start and/or end your day with a time of meditation on God’s Word and quiet prayer. If you’re not sure what to do, try using an app like Lectio 365 (created by Pete Greig– the author mentioned above).

I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store to grow us deeper in our walks with Him.

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  1. Kelly Minter, When You Pray, Lifeway Press 2023, 18.
  2. Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, Harper Collins-Books, 399.

Expansion and Opposition

Moving at a steady clip through significant events, the book of Acts continues to show us our roots in the Christian faith. While it helps us to understand church history, it also spurs us on to follow in the footsteps of Spirit-filled believers who have gone before us. Let’s explore some key events that give context and inspiration for us today.

In Acts 10 we saw the Holy Spirit fall on Gentile believers in the household of Cornelius. This event affirmed that the gospel is for everyone. We first saw this with the Samaritans who believed in Christ and received the Spirit when Philip preached the gospel to them in Acts 8. It continued with the Ethiopian eunuch who met Philip as he was reading Isaiah 53 traveling in his chariot. Thus far, every person who has received the gospel has either had some Jewish heritage (Samaritans were partly Jewish) or has taken initiative to follow the Lord (the Ethiopian and Cornelius). In Acts 11:19, however, the believers go a step further by intentionally taking the gospel to uncircumcised Greeks—full Gentiles with no history or connection to Jewish beliefs or faith in the God of the Jews.1

Stephen’s martyrdom in Acts 8 sparks the scattering of Jesus’ followers and the spread of the gospel to Gentile lands. Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus venture to the cosmopolitan city of Antioch, the capital of Syria and the third-largest city in the Roman Empire after Rome and Alexandria. (Now part of modern-day Turkey).2 “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:21, ESV) This vibrant commercial center filled with “gross immorality and ritual prostitution as part of its temple worship”3 would become the base of operations for Paul’s missionary journeys. (Paul’s Hebrew name, Saul, is used in the first twelve chapters of Acts. Luke starts referring to Saul by his Roman name, Paul, in Acts 13:13.)

Antioch becomes the location of the first Gentile church and is the place followers of Jesus were first called “Christians.” “It was common for the Greeks to give satirical nicknames to particular groups…it was all a fun word game and a verbally dismissive gesture. Then a new group cropped up in Antioch; since they were characterized by behavior and speech centered on Christ, the Greeks called them ‘Christians,’ or ‘those of the party of Christ’… Both the Bible and history suggest that the term Christian was probably meant as a mocking insult when it was first coined.”4 

Note that the expansion of the Christian faith and opposition to it were happening simultaneously. Followers of Jesus were so impassioned about sharing the gospel that they continued to spread it in a city bent on sin and filled with cynics and mockers of the faith. It doesn’t sound so different from today, does it? On top of this, the term “Christian” that had been used to make fun of Jesus followers showed that “people recognized Christians as a distinct group. The church was more and more being separated from Judaism.”5

Personal application: Before continuing, let’s stop and make this personal. How are Christians known today? What part are you playing in coloring the way non-believers view followers of Jesus?

Back in Jerusalem, news about large number Gentiles coming to faith in Antioch prompts the church leaders to send Barnabas there. “When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” (11:23-4, ESV) Likely seeking more help to teach and equip the growing number of new believers, Barnabas goes to Tarsus to retrieve Saul. Together, the two spend a year in Antioch teaching the new believers. 

Note that the church in Jerusalem sends Barnabas, a faithful and wise servant of Jesus. He, in turn, seeks reinforcements by bringing back Saul to help him when the numbers grow too large for him to manage on his own. 

Personal application: Let’s stop again and consider. Where can you be a Barnabas to someone who is a few steps behind you on the journey of faith? Who could use your wisdom, support, and encouragement? Or, are you in need of a partner to provide reinforcements for a ministry you’re serving? Is there a gifted and knowledgeable Saul that you could ask to serve alongside you?

Now let’s look at another portion of this action-packed chapter. While Barnabas and Saul nurture the growing church in Antioch, back in Jerusalem Herod curries favor with the Jews by using his power against followers of Jesus. (This is Herod Agrippa 1, the grandson of Herod the Great who was in power when Jesus was born.) Herod orders the execution of James, one of the original twelve disciples, and imprisons Peter, likely intending to put him to death next. Probably remembering Peter’s previous prison break at the hands of the Lord (Acts 5), Herod orders four soldiers to stand guard around the clock in six hour shifts.6  “So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.” (Acts 12:5, NIV) 

Rather than losing hope after the death of James, the believers seek the Lord in prayer on behalf of Peter. And while they’re praying, the Lord moves powerfully—freeing Peter from prison despite his being chained to two soldiers and having two more guarding the cell. The Lord answers the believers’ prayers so quickly that they’re in disbelief when a servant girl tells them Peter is at the door, “They said to her, ‘You are out of your mind’…But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.” (Acts 12:15a-16, ESV) Even in the act of praying, the believers struggle with unbelief. How reassuring to see that God amazes those who seek Him, even when they’re not anticipating a positive outcome.

Personal application: In the face of discouraging circumstances, do you fall into despair or fall on your knees and seek the Lord in prayer? Do you believe the Lord can work in seemingly impossible circumstances and wait expectantly for His answers? 

This action-packed chapter closes with a short description of the death of Herod Agrippa 1: “an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory…but the word of God increased and multiplied.” (Acts 12:23a-24, ESV) God’s justice prevails in His perfect (and often mysterious) timing. We can take heart and follow the example of Jesus followers in Acts who persevered in the face of opposition and saw the gospel continue to spread. In our polarized culture with increasing disdain for the Christian faith, this is an encouraging reminder. 

If you skimmed through the personal application questions, consider circling back now reading them again. Spend time praying through them and waiting to see what the Lord reveals.

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Saul’s Transformation

With his dying breath, Stephen prayed for his executioners. And as he was being stoned to death “witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.” (Acts 7:58b, NIV) Just a few chapters later, Saul resurfaces. Now he’s traveling to Damascus in pursuit of disciples of Jesus who have fled Jerusalem. He’s bent on squelching the spread of the gospel that he believes is tainting the purity of Judaism. 

On the road, Saul encounters a blinding light and a voice from heaven saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Cowering on his knees and shielding his eyes, he stammers, “Who are you, Lord?” and receives a stunning reply: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:4-6, NIV)

Saul finds himself humbled and helpless–led by the hand, rather than storming into Damascus with power and authority.  Then, “For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” (Acts 9:9, NIV). Being a devout Jewish man, Saul would’ve been familiar with the practice of fasting. The Hebrew scriptures he’d studied all his life contained numerous examples of men and women of faith who had fasted and prayed to mourn, repent, worship, seek direction, exhibit humility, or understand visions they’d received from the Lord.

This encounter with the risen Christ was the catalyst for a complete re-set of his life. Perhaps those three days of blindness and fasting began softening his heart. Shrouded in darkness, maybe he recalled the Lord’s words in Ezekiel with a fresh and personal understanding: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26, NIV) In the quiet, maybe he also thought of Stephen’s speech and began to recognize how all the ancient prophecies in the scriptures had been fulfilled by Jesus.

Perhaps Saul also needed time to reconcile what he’d done—to grieve the lives he’d destroyed, to repent and seek forgiveness from the Lord. Maybe that’s why he later wrote: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” (1 Tim 1:15b, NIV)

Ultimately, those three days prepared him for what the Lord had in store next: “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.” (Acts 9:17-19, NIV)

No doubt Saul had participated in many ritual cleansings in the past, as all devout Jews did. However, this baptism represented the death of his old life as a legalistic pharisee and the birth of his new life as a follower of Jesus. In the span of three days his murderous zeal for destroying the church transformed into a passionate ardor for building it: “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?’ Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.” (Excerpts from Acts 9:20-22, NIV.) 

Typically we see the change in Saul as immediate because we skip over those three days of hunger and darkness as he waited on the Lord. Let’s stop and consider what we can learn from Saul’s example:

1. After encountering Jesus, Saul waits. He goes to the city and stands by for further instructions. I wonder how often we miss the ways the Lord wants to work in us because we’re perpetually in motion. The noise and busyness of our culture leave no time for reflection and contemplation. We’re constantly receiving input and ignoring the importance of margin. The Lord moves and speaks in times of stillness and silence. Can we truly be His witnesses if we’re never stopping long enough to be still in His presence and listen? 

2. After encountering Jesus, Saul fasts. Likely a familiar practice from his past experience, fasting was a key element in the transforming work the Lord was doing in his life. Although many people now equate fasting with weight loss, its true purpose is to create a focused time of prayer for a specific reason. Hunger pangs are a powerful reminder of our need for food. But rather than urging us to eat, they can prompt us to pray. If you want to learn more about this powerful practice, you may be interested in the attached articles: 

3. After encountering Jesus, Saul’s physical and spiritual eyes are opened. In our western culture we value what we can see; it’s challenging to view life through a spiritual lens. We are constantly busy and over-stimulated or we’re too exhausted to engage in anything that requires focus and deep thought. We anesthetize ourselves with mindless entertainment, but claim we are too busy to slow down, read our Bibles, pray, and spend time enjoying the presence of the Lord. We give our attention to shiny objects rather than fixing our gaze on what has eternal value.

If you’d like to improve your spiritual vision, add Paul’s prayer from Ephesians to your daily rhythm: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:17-19a, NIV)

If you’re ready to learn more about the value of slowing down and learning spiritual practices that help you to see and hear the Lord more consistently, consider reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer.

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Stoking the Spirit

Isn’t there something magical about a campfire under the stars? Wood crackles and pops as flames dance on a cool, dark night. The light draws people to gather and enjoy the warmth. It creates a sense of connectedness among those who savor the glow together—especially on a chilly evening. 

For the past few years I’ve enjoyed participating in this nightly ritual on our church’s annual mission to Mexico. The temperatures were especially cold on this spring’s trip, so gathering around the campfire was even more enticing. At the end of each evening, the only way to encourage the students to return to their tents was to douse the flames. As buckets of water poured out, steam hissed, rising with plumes of smoke from the quenched fire. Once the water extinguished the flames, everyone scattered to seek warmth zipped inside tents and nestled in sleeping bags.

This image of fire makes me think of the Holy Spirit, often characterized as fire in the pages of Scripture. Acts 2 provides the most obvious example of this: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4, NIV)

Although we no longer see actual flames on our heads, followers of Jesus still have the fire of the Holy Spirit living within us. And just like a campfire, we can stoke the flame of the Spirit, or squelch it. That’s why Paul includes such specific and clear instructions in Ephesians 4 for how to walk worthy of our calling. He says: “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30, NLT)

Paul follows this statement with some pointed commands:“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32, NLT)

Paul makes similar statements elsewhere in Scripture: “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22, NIV)

Jesus promises that once the Spirit enters our lives, He never leaves. He says to His disciples, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 15:15-17, NIV) Don’t miss that first part– the way we show Jesus we love Him is by obeying His commands. This lays the foundation for Paul’s admonishing us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1).

So, what does obedience look like? How do we avoid grieving the Spirit who lives within us? According to these passages, it has everything to do with how we live—our mindsets, the choices we make, and the way we treat others. Bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander, and contempt have no place in the lives of authentic followers of Jesus. Instead, we’re called to be characterized by kindness, tender heartedness, and forgiveness.  We’re urged to reject evil and embrace good. 

While I could list many examples and scenarios to illustrate these principles, I think your time would be more wisely spent inviting the Lord to search your heart to make this personal. Consider slowing down and creating mental space to be quiet in His presence. Pause and ask God to show you if there are ways you’re grieving or quenching His Spirit in your life. Give Him permission to reveal any attitudes or perspectives you’ve adopted that dishonor Him. Let Him shine a light on your behavior toward others that grieves His heart.

As the Lord brings specific sins to mind, confess them to Him and cancel permission for the enemy to use them as an access point in your life any longer. Command any darkness or evil to leave and invite the Holy Spirit to come and expand His presence in your life.1

 There’s no way to succeed in walking worthy of Christ by trying harder on our own strength, but with confession and repentance, we’ll experience refreshment from the Lord (Acts 3:19). Conclude your prayer time with worship by praying the lyrics of “Rest on Us.” Click below to listen.

This is the final post in my Ephesians 4 summer series on walking worthy of Jesus. Don’t miss my new series on the book of Acts this fall and winter.

1. Inspired by Tim Hughes’ sermon, “Are You Hungry?” Park Hill Church Podcast, August 6, 2023. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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Wearing God’s Glory

Opening the door, the student aide walked in with a message from the school office. Furrowing her brow, she scanned the classroom before turning to me and asking, “Where’s the teacher?” Grimacing and willing my face not to turn red, I snatched the note from her hand and replied, “I’m the teacher, I’ll take care of that, thanks.” 

I was a few weeks into my first year teaching and trying desperately to command the respect of my high school pupils. At twenty-three years old, it had only been five years since I’d graduated from their ranks. After a few embarrassing run-ins like this one, I was determined to differentiate myself from the teens on campus. So, I headed to the mall to buy some clothes that were more tailored and less youthful. Until the students got to know me, I knew what I wore needed to set me apart from them. 

Although it happened years ago, I remembered this season in my life as I read the instructions about the clothing for the priests serving in the Tabernacle. What they wore showed they were different; they’d been set apart by God to perform sacred duties: “For Aaron’s sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps. You shall make them for glory and beauty. And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests.” (Exodus 28:40-41, ESV) Covered with precious gemstones, the ornate priestly garb displayed the Lord’s glory, beauty, dignity, and honor (“glory and beauty” are used in the ESV, “dignity and honor” are used in the NIV).   

Today we might be tempted to view this as interesting but irrelevant information. Because of Jesus, we no longer need priests to make blood sacrifices on our behalf. However, the New Testament clarifies that every follower of Jesus now serves in this role: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9, ESV) 

We too, are a royal priesthood called to live set apart from the world around us. Instead of sacrificing animals, our charge is to tell people Christ made the sacrifice for them. We get to help others move from the darkness of sin and death to the light of God’s love and mercy.

While we’re no longer required to wear elaborate clothing like the priests serving in the Tabernacle, Scripture still emphasizes the importance of adorning ourselves with glory, beauty, dignity and honor: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14, NIV) 

Through the Holy Spirit, followers of Christ display character qualities that set them apart from the world. Let’s consider each piece of “clothing” and how wearing it honors the Lord and reveals Him to others.

Compassion is “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.”1 Demonstrating compassion gives us an opportunity to show the Lord’s love and concern for people in difficult and vulnerable situations. If you’re not naturally compassionate, consider asking the Holy Spirit to increase it in you. Then, invite Him to lead you to people who would be blessed by receiving it.

Kindness is being benevolent, considerate, and helpful to others. Kind people look outward beyond their own needs and desires to notice others. Through kind words and actions, we reveal the fruit of the Spirit and become the hands and feet of Jesus. Try praying for the Lord to fill you with His kindness, then be on the lookout for someone who needs it today.

Humility is “not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”2 C.S. Lewis said a truly humble person “will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”3 Pride and self-absorption stand in opposition to humility. It may be challenging, but consider asking the Lord to humble you and to help you to think of yourself less frequently.

Gentleness is the quality of being free from harshness, sternness, or violence. It is being docile, soft, and delicate.4 Scripture explains, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1, NIV). Gentleness diffuses tension and softens defensiveness. Do others feel soothed by your words or stirred up by them? Ask the Lord to give you more of this fruit of the Spirit if it’s lacking in your character.

Patience is “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.”4 This vital fruit of the Spirit is in short supply in our world today, so demonstrating it to others makes believers stand out from the crowd. If patience is a struggle for you, ask the Spirit to pour it out on your life to bless you and those in your presence.

Forgiveness is releasing resentment for wrongs and offenses committed against you. It means letting go of grudges and relinquishing your hurt to the Lord. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15, NIV) The world tells us to stoke the fires of resentment and to hold fast to grudges. However, remembering God’s forgiveness should compel us to offer grace and forgiveness to those who sin against us.

Clothing ourselves with the characteristics of Christ reveals God’s presence in the world. Like the priests of ancient Israel, we bring the Lord’s glory and beauty to those around us. Dan Bremnes’ song “Fingerprints” will inspire you to remember the important part you play in shining God’s light into darkness. Click here to listen.

Inspired by God of Freedom by Jen Wilkin, Lifeway Press 2022, Week 8.

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1. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/compassion

2. Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, Zondervan, 2002.

3. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Geoffrey Bles, 1952.

4 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentle

5. https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=definition+of+patience&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8