Tag: bible

Effective, Fervent Prayer

Claire's Prayer

Have you ever heard of David Livingstone?  As a child, I loved the story of how this incredible Scottish missionary discovered Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. He thought the falls were so beautiful that he stated, “Scenes so lovely they must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.”  After many years without hearing from Livingstone, a reporter was sent to Africa to find him. Upon locating him, he declared the famous quote, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?!”  As young preteens, we just loved this phrase and would repeat it to each other in the best British accents we could muster, then collapse in fits of giggles!  However, this is not the story that I want you to remember.

David Livingstone received a note from one of the chiefs in the surrounding area where he was working.  The message said that they would lose their lives that very night as he was coming with his warriors to slaughter them all.  As you can imagine, Dr. Livingstone was very afraid and cried out to the LORD for protection.  That night, nothing happened!  Some months later, the same chief gave his life to the LORD, and Livingstone asked him why he hadn’t killed them as they had said they would.  The chief looked at him and told him, “We came, but when we did, we saw that the compound was surrounded by 39 giants, mighty warriors, protecting the camp!”

Many years later, David Livingstone returned to Scotland, to the small rural church that had sent him to Africa, and he told them the story.  After the meeting, the church secretary approached him and asked, “Do you remember the date when the chief was coming to kill you?” Livingstone did and gave it to her.  Looking through the church records, she came to that very day and showed him the entry.  On that day 39 church members were in the church praying for David Livingstone! Coincidence?  I think not.

Sometimes we don’t realize what the scripture, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much,” really means! (James 5:16) What is the much?  I would think much more than we could ever even begin to imagine.  I do know that our prayers don’t have to be fancy ones, they don’t have to be long ones, or even ones with flowery words, but they have to be effective and fervent.  Led by the Holy Spirit. 

The far-reaching effects of our prayers we may never fully know, but we do know that great things are achieved by prayer, there is power in our prayer, and God hears and acts on every effective, fervent prayer!

PREPARE FOR VICTORY

In your journal, write down the names of three friends or situations you find yourself or your family in that are in need of a breakthrough right now.   Pray over each of these for 39 seconds, a reminder of the 39 faithful prayer warriors who prayed for David Livingstone.

As you pray, picture in your mind’s eye the King of Kings, our Great and Mighty God, going before you with healing, protection, and power.

Remember Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” 

Check back in a week and update your journal with the ways God is moving in and through each situation.

Some victories are won long before we ever see them.

A Spiritual Battle

Claire's Prayer

Sometimes it feels as though we do nothing but battle.  We wrestle, we struggle, and we fight.   Ephesians 6:12 tells us this exact thing: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Some translations use battle, fight, or wrestle.   

Interestingly, this verse is not sounding an alarm; it’s not a clarion call announcing a call to arms, but a statement, a declaration that we are already in this battle.  The war is already raging; from the very moment you give your life to Christ, you become part of the LORD’s army.

I had a picture of an intense battleground, bombs were exploding everywhere you looked, snipers were in the trees, and there were ambushes hidden around the corner.  And there, walking among the flowers, was a person who looked like they were on a Sunday stroll.  Stopping to pick flowers, oblivious to what was going on around them. It made me want to shout, to shake the stroller and say, “Can’t you see you’re in the middle of a battle!  Be Careful!”  The battle is now, it’s right here, and will continue to be.

The surest way to lose a battle is to pretend it doesn’t exist. In 2 Corinthians 2:11, as Paul talks about forgiving one another, he says, “in order that Satan might not outwit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes.”  The devil schemes, he plots, and he plans, and his conspiracies are not ones for your good; they are to kill you, like a lion to devour you. (1 Peter 5:8)

I feel we must put a BUT GOD moment in here!  But God has equipped us, has given us armor, has advised us of the battle plan.  We are fighting a battle that we will win!  The Holy Spirit was sent to us to be our guide. He helps us in our weakness and leads us in all truth.  God’s Word illuminates our path, equips us for battle.  Our worship to the LORD conquers even the fiercest of enemies.  And prayer, oh prayer, Karl Barth put it this way: “To clasp hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”

PREPARE FOR VICTORY

Today, create a Battle Plan on a small card that you can keep in your purse.  You can decorate it with stickers, draw pictures of swords, or simply write BATTLE PLAN in bold letters at the top.   On the card, write the following 3 action plans:

  1. A scripture that you can speak out loud when the battle comes close.
  2. A worship song you can sing that lifts your spirits and speaks of victory.
  3. A short prayer you can pray out loud in those difficult moments

Tuck it in your purse or a place close by so that you can use it when you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed with the battle raging around you.

Adopted!

Claire's Prayer

𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱!  I love that.  With brothers and sisters of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and cultures across the world.  If ever there were a movement that I would want to be a part of, this is the one!  To be adopted into the family of Jesus Christ.  How fantastic!

Being born into a family and being adopted into a family are two very different things.  You don’t choose the family you are born into, and they don’t choose you, but when you are adopted into the family of God, the Father chooses you to become a part of this wonderful inheritance, this glorious legacy, this amazing family!  There is one incredible similarity to being born into a family; everything that was available to Jesus is also available to you.  You have access to the Father at any time.  You are an heir of the Father and a joint heir with Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 1:5a tells us this, “having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself.”  You are adopted as a son or a daughter, NOT as a servant!


This is how the dictionary defines adopted: “𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵.”  You are legally the daughter of the Most High God.  When you are adopted into the family of the King of the Ages, you enter into a covenant with Him.  A legally binding covenant, one that our Abba Father will never break.  When you enter into that covenant, you will always be a part of God’s family, you will always be His, and He will always be your Father.

I absolutely agree with this quote from J I Packer, “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.”  The God of the Universe is your Father, you are His child – that is the very essence of your being.  Our identity is wrapped up in the knowledge, the heartfelt knowledge that God is our Father.  You are legally bound to Him, eternally chosen, placed in His family for all of eternity.  A daughter of the King!

Reflections:

  1. In what ways does knowing that you are legally adopted by God, not merely tolerated, shape the way you see your worth and identity today?  Are there areas in your life where you still think or live like a servant instead of a much-loved daughter?
  • What are the ways you approach God as though He is a distant authority rather than a loving Father?  Would there be changes in your prayer life or the way you trust Him if you fully embraced Him as your Abba, your faithful, covenant-keeping Father?
  • Does being a part of God’s global family shape the way you look at or love other believers? 

Step-By-Step

Today, intentionally pray using the word Father, Daddy, or Abba, taking a moment to thank Him for adopting you into His family, making you a daughter of The King.  Find a sticky note and write down one truth about your identity as God’s daughter and declare it over yourself every day, a reminder that you are adopted, chosen, fully loved and fully known.

Palm Sunday!

Claire's Prayer

S𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹. That oh so important sense that can take us back within seconds to our childhood or to a memorable event. The smell of the first rains on dry and dusty soil brings me straight back to Africa. Often when my husband hugs me, I like to breathe in deeply as the smell of his aftershave makes me feel safe and after 25 years of marriage is one of beautiful familiarity. But the fragrance of potpourri can make me feel nauseous straight away as it reminds me of my pregnancy when the tiniest whiff made me feel sick!

Anointing oil was very important in Israel, and very expensive. Many oils were much more costly than diamonds and were a sign of great wealth. Each King and Priest was anointed prior to their taking office, the aroma advancing before them so that everyone would know – the King, the King is coming! Now when the new King was anointed, they didn’t just drip a drop on his forehead, no – this could be as much as a pint of fragrant perfume! Let’s take a quick look at a story back in the Old Testament, an occasion of celebration, great joy, the anointing of the future King of Israel, King Solomon – “𝑺𝒐 𝒁𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕, 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒕, 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒊𝒂𝒉 𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑱𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒂𝒅𝒂, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑲𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒅’𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝑮𝒊𝒉𝒐𝒏. 𝒁𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒏. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒅, “𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒏!” 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒎, 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒍𝒚, 𝒔𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅.” 1 Kings 1:38-40. This was quite the party, the people of Israel rejoiced so much that the ground literally shook. Zadok the priest took that anointing oil and poured it over Solomon, the smell would have been strong, radiating out through the crowd.

Fast forward to the week before Jesus’ death on the cross. Palm Sunday, also known as the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. “𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝑱𝒆𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒎. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒎 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎, 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, “𝑯𝒐𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂!” “𝑩𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒓𝒅!” “𝑩𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝑰𝒔𝒓𝒂𝒆𝒍!” 𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒌𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒕, 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏: “𝑫𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅, 𝑫𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒁𝒊𝒐𝒏; 𝒔𝒆𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒌𝒆𝒚’𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒕.” John 12:12-15. Incredible similarity!

But where was the fragrance? Where was the anointing oil with the Kingly aroma that would have told the crowd surrounding Him that Jesus was the King of Israel?

For that answer we need to go back to the night before! Once again Jesus was at Martha’s house dining with Lazarus and many of his other friends. “𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒊𝒍.” John 12:3.

How I love Mary, always doing something unexpected, her love for Jesus always on display! Mary took a pound – that’s nearly two cups- of extremely expensive oil and washed Jesus’ feet with it, using her beautiful hair as a rag! Mary, in an act of absolute humility, laid her self-worth at Jesus’ feet, tenderly using her hair to clean away the dust and dirt from the day. Her actions saying, “𝐼 𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝑒, 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓂𝓎 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝓎 𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻-𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒽, 𝓂𝓎 𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓉𝓎, 𝓂𝓎 𝒹𝒾𝑔𝓃𝒾𝓉𝓎, 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝒾𝓃𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝓅𝒾𝑒𝒸𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻.” “And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” Not too surprising when you consider the amount of oil Mary poured out.

And so, our sweet Mary fulfilled that part of the story. Perhaps the part of the story where the fragrance of Christ began, the fragrance of the King of Kings and LORD of Lords. The fragrance of the Great I Am, YHWH. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the deep fragrance of spikenard went before Him, almost like the dot on the i or the cross on a t. This is the King of Israel. In the final week before the cross everywhere Jesus went, He would have carried the fragrance of the King with him, it would have said to the Roman soldier, “𝗜 𝗔𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀,” to Herod and Pilate, “𝗜 𝗔𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀,” to all those who mocked Him, beat Him and put Him to death, “𝗜 𝗔𝗠 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹!” 💕🦋

Thankfulness

Claire's Prayer

I’m ashamed to say that sometimes I bulldoze my way into the Father’s presence and give Him this long list of wants and complaints. I don’t take the time as Paul did to say, “Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ!”  All I can see is the mountain in front of me, and I don’t lift my eyes to see the King first. I forget that coming before my LORD is a sacred thing. How I want to be overwhelmed with the incredible magnificence of God so that, like Paul, I can’t help but exclaim my praise to His name.

Psalm 100:4 says: “𝑬𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆; 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆.” If we take the time to come before Him, blessing His name, first with thanksgiving and then with praise, the outcome of our time with him can be so very different.

When we look at this scripture, it’s interesting to see that thanksgiving and praise are two very separate things. I have often lumped them together. Thanksgiving is when we thank our loving Father for what He has done, for our children, our spouses, our jobs, the miracles of our present and past! As we begin to thank Him, we are reminded of all He has done, and faith begins to arise within us until we are at the place where praise bursts forth for who He is! Suddenly, we are in His presence, at His feet. What an incredible, mind-blowing gift. Thanksgiving will give you faith for your future, trust in the One who saved you, freedom, and joy!

There is so much in God’s Word about giving thanks, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever.”  Did you know that this beautiful little verse appears 81 times in the Old Testament? Even though the verse is short, our Father must think that giving thanks is no small matter! The Bible abounds with scriptures that tell us to give thanks—and when our hearts are full, and so much promise is in the air, it is easy to do that!

But our Father goes one step further: He challenges us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  (1 Thess. 5:18). This is giving thanks when it feels as though the weight of the world is on our shoulders. We are to give thanks in the face of tragedy, heartache, and suffering; to give thanks even when it appears the Father is somewhere far, far away. Our glorious Lord wants thankfulness to become an attitude, not something we mumble as a duty.

Just as Paul did in every prison cell he was in, every shipwreck he was a part of, and every beating that he took, so must we become a people of praise and thanksgiving, a people who sing “Blessed be Your name!”  Perhaps it is then that we will hear the whole earth rejoice!!

Reflections

  1. When you come to God in prayer, how do you start off this precious time with Him, with your list of needs or with blessings?  Does that reveal how you truly see Him: as a problem-solver first or as your LORD and Savior, your blessed King?  What steps can you take to change this?
  2. How does starting your time with God with planned thanksgiving change your perspective on all those huge “mountains” in front of you?  Are there specific times that you can remember when gratitude reminded you of God’s past faithfulness and encouraged your faith?
  3. Are you willing to give thanks to God even in the middle of painful or confusing seasons?  What would it look like for thankfulness to become your position, even in the middle of every trial and difficulty?

Step-By-Step

Today, let’s begin every prayer with a “Gate and Court” pattern: Thankfulness followed by Praise.  Let thankfulness and praise lift your head to see the King, before you ever speak about the mountain.

The Doxology

Claire's Prayer

Back when I was a little girl living in Zimbabwe, we would walk down the road to our little church.  It was an interesting combination of Anglicans and Methodists; funnily enough, it really worked, and the two denominations worked well together.  I didn’t appreciate the traditions at the time, but now I find the creeds, hymns, and doxologies comforting, like a warm blanket on a chilly day.  One of my favorite memories is standing next to my Dad as we sang hymns together, listening to his glorious baritone harmonizing with mine!

Doxology is an interesting word, especially to geeks like me!  I hope you’re a little that way too.  It comes from the Greek and means ‘doxa’ or ‘glory,’ and ‘logia’ from ‘logos or word, and speaking.’  Speaking glory!  It was a way to glorify the Trinity in our little African church, my most favorite being, “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow.”  I know some of you are humming that in your heads already! 

In verse three of our text, we see Paul giving glory to the Trinity.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”  He blesses our Father, who is the origin of all those blessings, includes our Savior, who through His work on the cross is able to bless us, and finishes off with the work that only the Holy Spirit can do, as it is the Holy Spirit that applies the work to our hearts.  It is almost as though Paul couldn’t help himself, knowing the incredible wonder of the Trinity, and so he speaks this doxology, ‘speaking glory’ to the Father!  Putting the Great I Am in His proper place and giving an appropriate opinion of the One who spoke the world into being.  Should we not do likewise?

It really is quite something to recognise that Paul, likely under house arrest and chained to a prison guard.  Reliant on friends to bring him food, unable to go outside and breathe in the beautiful fresh air, he still begins with worship!  He still begins by speaking glory to our Father.  Remarkable!  It really doesn’t take a whole lot to derail my day, and so often I forget to bring glory to my LORD.   I need this reminder to glorify my God in every situation. 

Sometimes we need to remember what God has done for us, what Jesus accomplished by giving His life so that we can live for eternity.  To look back and reminisce on the times when the LORD came through, those ‘But God’ moments.  Then, as faith begins to arise in our spirits, we can speak glory to the Father.  Today I plan to sing the doxology, will you join me and sing it too?!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Reflections

  1. Paul begins with ‘speaking glory’ and worship even when his life is turned upside down, and he is imprisoned.  What circumstances often derail your focus on worshipping the LORD, and how might it look like for you to “begin with doxology” in the hard moments?
  2. The devotional features doxology as “speaking glory” to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  How does understanding the way the Trinity works impact the way you worship God?
  3. The author reminisces on times of worship and reminds us to remember “But God” moments.  Was there a time when remembering what God has done for you stirred your faith and brought gratitude to your heart?

Step-By-Step

Pause today and speak or sing a doxology, remember it doesn’t have to sound perfect.  The LORD loves a joyful noise! Write down and remember three specific “But God” moments in your life where your Father has shown you His faithfulness. Let your remembering turn into thankfulness, your thankfulness into worship, and renewed faith.

Doubting Thomas

Claire's Prayer

Do you remember Doubting Thomas?  Thomas, who, when the disciples said that they had seen Jesus, retorted adamantly, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25. Thomas wanted to see first and then believe.  So often, I find myself like Thomas – doubts will raise their ugly heads and play like a crazy merry-go-round in my head.  Does God really still heal today?  Does He really care about me?  Or perhaps, am I really saved?

Of course, as He always does, Jesus showed up to Thomas and invited him to put his hands into the scars, telling him to stop doubting and believe!  Thomas exclaimed, “My LORD and my God!”  I love Jesus’ gentle response, which is what I often need to hear: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29. We are blessed because we believe in the Son, we believe He was sent to save us, and yet have not seen him.  That’s faith!

In our text, we see Paul referring to “the faithful in Christ Jesus.”  The word for faithful is the same one Jesus used when talking to Thomas – ‘believed.’  Paul is talking to the Saints, you and me, because we are Believers!  We believe!  We have faith!  We have a Savior we can have faith in, one who is constant and never fails. This is a faith we can be loyal to and defend. We can join the vast throng of ‘the faithful’ simply because we believe.  And as we believe, as we trust, God will shape us and make us faithful, with a rock-solid knowledge that the LORD is everything He says He is.

Do you know what I love about the story of Thomas?  God showed up!  Even though Thomas was full of doubt, so many questions, God showed up.  He always does.  And Thomas?  He went on to become the most zealous of missionaries, preaching Jesus to the East, perhaps as far as India and becoming a martyr by the end of a spear.  So certain was he that Jesus was his LORD and God that he was prepared to die for his faith.  In the end, he was not Doubting Thomas but Faithful Thomas.  Faithful in Christ Jesus. 

When doubt threatens to overtake you and questions swirl in your mind, let your Abba Father know.  He hears you.  He sees you.  And He will show up for you.  He will turn your doubt to faith, shaping and molding you to be one of the faithful in Christ Jesus!

Reflections

  1. In what area of your life do you most relate to Thomas right now? When doubts tend to rise in your mind questioning God’s power, His loving care for you, or your own faith, how do you respond when they appear?
  2. In what way can you bring your doubts honestly to Jesus instead of hiding them or fighting them alone?
  3. In what ways can you live as one of “the faithful in Christ Jesus,” trusting God even when you cannot see?

Step-By-Step

Today, when those frustrating doubts surface, take a moment and pray this simple prayer: “Jesus, I make the choice to believe even before I see. Help my unbelief.” Write down a promise from Scripture and one way that your Abba Father has shown up for you in the past. Make this a remembrance that you can revisit whenever those doubts threaten to surface again.

He Loved Us First

Claire's Prayer

1 John 4:19. Says; “We love because He first loved us.” Beautiful words.  Words that breathe refreshing life into any weary soul.  “He loved you first.”  In this sweet and simple verse, we hear the Father declaring His love for us, right from the beginning of time.  A shout through the ages from creation to kings, from wars to prophets, down to the birth of His Son.  “I loved you first.”

Our wonderful Heavenly Father is the initiator, and we are the responder. “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” John 15:16. He chose us, we didn’t choose Him.  So often we tell the story of how we chose God, when the reality is, He chose you!  He chose you way back when you were formed in your mother’s womb and your days were written in His book!  God is the initiator; we are the responder.

We don’t give in order to move God to give us more!  We give because He has already given a thousand blessings, an abundance of miracles, and the assurance of salvation.  He gave first. Our response is to give back out of gratefulness and thankfulness for His generous love.  We don’t praise Him to experience His presence.  We praise our Savior as a response to His majesty, as a response to His greatness, His mercy, and His grace.  Creation responding to the Creator!  God is the initiator; we are the responder.  


Our motivation to give, to love, and to praise must be a response to the Great I am loving us first. He gives in abundance; He never leaves us or forsakes us!  You cannot read your bible long enough, pray enough, or do enough good works to make Him love you more.  He loved you first, with a perfect love, a love that knows no bounds, to which there is no end.  Should we not fling our arms to heaven and declare our love for Him when we know the depths of His love?  Our response should be written into every detail of our lives, in our giving, in our doing, in our praising, and in our living.  “We love because He first loved us.”

Reflections

  1. In what areas of your life do you subtly try to “earn” God’s love instead of resting in the truth that He loved you first? 
  2. In what ways is God inviting you to respond to His first love, with praise, worship, or thanksgiving in this moment?  How might your day shift if you saw these acts as a grateful response rather than a duty?
  3. How does knowing that God chose you first shape your identity and your confidence in yourself today?  Write down any fears, insecurities, or striving you might be able to release to Him because of this truth?

Step-By-Step
Take a journal page and title it “Because He Loved Me First, I Will…”
Write down 5–10 simple, heartfelt responses, all the ways you want to love, give, praise, forgive, or serve this week, not because you want to earn the Father’s love but as a joyful overflowing of His love.💛

God’s Incredible Riches

Claire's Prayer

I found myself within a room and began to look around me, everywhere I looked there were shiny gift boxes, tied with huge satin ribbons in every conceivable colour. For a moment I just marveled at the absolute beauty of the boxes, the perfect way in which they were all wrapped. Then I noticed a card attached to each gift, they had my name on them – every single gift was for me. Oh, the excitement! The anticipation! Who had gone to all this trouble to give me all these perfect presents, to wrap each one so thoughtfully, for me?

But they were so beautifully put together.  Perhaps I should just take them home and put them on my mantlepiece, they would look so lovely there on display. It would be such a pity to ruin them.  Well, maybe I’ll open just one…

I picked up the gift wrapped in iridescent pink, my favourite colour, the bow sparkled with gold and silver catching the light and sending out rainbows. Carefully, slowly, I began to unwrap it, almost a little fearful – what if I don’t like it? I reached into the box and drew out the gift… 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏! 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏!  I am chosen.  Before the foundation of the world. Me? Chosen? How can that be? Me? I felt the word well up within me, exploding in joyous colours – 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏!  I am chosen by God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Tears began to pour down my cheeks as I felt the love of the Father lavished upon me and the word 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏 echoed all around me, bouncing off the walls and into my heart.

Silence. All was quiet again as I hugged this precious gift to my chest tears drying on my face. I looked around and there were still so many gifts waiting, waiting for me, with my name on them. How could I possibly have ever thought of NOT opening them!

I ran over to the pale blue gift, ripped off the bow, exuberantly throwing it aside.   Knowing that my Father would only give me good gifts.  𝑨𝒅𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅!  I stopped and allowed it to sink right in, way down to the depths of my soul – Adopted according to His good pleasure.  He was pleased to adopt me.  To bring me to Himself. He said it was a pleasure.  A delight.  𝑨𝒅𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅!  I’m Adopted!

I literally danced over to the next gift, joy filling me to the brim – 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏, Adopted, by the Father! How did I ever get so blessed? Tearing off the wrapping and throwing it aside… 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅!  This one almost blew my mind, my knees grew weak, and I sank to the floor. A deep groaning came from within me, and I began to sob. 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅, I had always wanted to be accepted. Accepted in the Beloved.  Oh, His grace! I was undone. How long I lay there for I’ll never know, laying in a deep blue pool of his acceptance, waves washing over me that whispered 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅. A deep, deep pool of His unfathomable love and grace.

After what seemed like hours I staggered to my feet and looked around me. Gifts, more gifts, what seemed to be a never-ending panorama of His gifts to me. Should I open another? I wasn’t sure how much more I could take.  𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏, 𝑨𝒅𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅 resonated inside me. “I’ll just open a small one,” I thought – reaching out for the little silver box. I lifted the lid and peered in – 𝑹𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅!  It felt as if I was breaking, my very soul began to shatter. 𝑹𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅 – it whispered so loud! In Him we have redemption. I sat on the floor and pulled my knees to my chest, questions whirling around in my head. How is that possible? I am redeemed.  But you don’t know what I’ve done, who I am! “𝑹𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅!” whispered the loudness. I bowed my head and listened “𝑹𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅.” “You are 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏, 𝑨𝒅𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝑹𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅!” I felt a crystal shower of words flowing all over me, speaking redemption into my being. 𝑹𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅.

“Open just one more,” said the voice. I couldn’t move but there was a red box within my reach adorned with a liquid red bow. I pulled it onto my lap and opened it. The room went red… liquid red, shimmering red, red all over my knees, my hands, my heart, dripping, flowing. 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏!  The word leapt out at me, ungluing me, my bones turned liquid. 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏!  Red blood flowing all over me, the rich, red blood of my Saviour, my Redeemer, my Jesus. “𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏,” said the blood, “𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏,” sang the blood, “𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏!” shouted the blood. As I soaked in the wonder, the beauty of my latest gift, everything began to turn white… White as snow, so white it glistened, so white it hurt my eyes. I looked at my hand, my body, my heart, my soul – white, forgiven, washed in the blood of the Lamb.

I was exhausted, but so full, I felt so rich, amazed at the gifts the Father had poured out upon me in huge bucketsful of love! Clean, so clean. New, so new. He has made me new.  Tears of gratitude once again began to pour down my face. 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒏, 𝑨𝒅𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝑹𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅, 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏!

Flowers began to grow in front of me, millions of sunflowers, roses, lily of the valley and a fragrance so sweet and indescribable filled the air. I looked and saw a road before me and heard the Father speak, “Now go, go and tell the others to open their gifts, not to put them on the mantlepiece for decoration or to look pretty, tell them to tear off the wrapping and see the beauty and wonder of the gifts I have given them!”

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀? 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!

God’s Lovingkindness

Claire's Prayer

In 2006, Baylor University conducted a study on the way Americans view God. 31% of the population believe in an 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐝, 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 16% believe in a 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. 23% believe in a 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱. Only 25% believe in a 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

An interesting fact is that the majority of Christians who live in the South believe in an angry, authoritarian God; if you want to believe in a benevolent God, you have to live in the Midwest! Studies show that if you believe in an angry God, chances are that you will struggle with anxiety, paranoia, obsessional thinking, and compulsions! The ramifications of a belief in an angry God will begin to show in your health, from anxiety to ulcers and insomnia.

The Word of God paints a very different picture of God’s character. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱’𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟮𝟰𝟴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲! Biblical scholars complained that there was no word in English that could adequately convey the Hebrew word ‘Chesed’ or ‘Hesed’ and so have used lovingkindness, steadfast love, loyalty, kindness, and mercy. None of these words can sufficiently convey God’s steadfast and persistent love for his people. God’s lovingkindness is that sure love that will never let you go.

‘Chesed’ means the ability to get right inside the other person’s skin, until we can see with his eyes and feel what he feels. Persistent and unconditional tenderness. God will always be kind to you because that is His nature. God is kind – just as we say God is good (all the time), so God is kind, all the time. The very moral core of the covenant was described using the word ‘chesed,’ God declared that he would show his lovingkindness “𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔”. Exodus 20:6. God has covenanted with you to show you kindness.

Psalm 26:3 says, “𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔, 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉.” God’s lovingkindness is something we are to declare, we are to talk about, we are to tell our children about, to always have before our eyes! If His ‘chesed’ is before our eyes, our focus will not be on his anger but on his steadfast lovingkindness.

So, where does that leave us – as God’s people, should we be kind? Or when someone does something that isn’t in line with what we believe, should we ask that the LORD’s judgment be visited upon them? Kindness for me, but judgment for them? Instead, we should pray that the LORD is kind to them, that he showers them with his ‘chesed’ – for “𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆.” We need to pray, as Paul did, that the Father would grant us the spirit of wisdom and revelation, that we would know Him more, that He would crown us with His lovingkindness. That His kindness would always be before us, that we would pray, ‘𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲.’ 💕🦋