How Great Is the Good News?

by | Aug 10, 2021 | Gospel living, Weekly Gospel Meditation

How Great Is the Good News?

 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

“So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.” Romans 7:21

The middle-aged woman in the front pew leaned forward suddenly, throwing her arms up in the air!

“Thank you!” she cried.

I stopped my lesson on God’s “big story of grace,” looking at her, asking her to say more.

“I just never got that before,” she said. “Wow! This is amazing!!”

I had been teaching about redemption in the jail chapel service. I told the ladies how we are made a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) and how God has made us “righteous in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:21).

I had just explained that we do still continue to sin, even after we become Christians. “And sometimes we wonder, ‘Why, if we are ‘new creation in Christ,’ do we still sin? And how does God see us as righteous?’”

I told them about the apostle Paul and how he said that he often does the very thing he hates (Romans 7:21), just as we sometimes lose our temper and yell at someone even when we were just praying that God would help us hold our tongue. The good news is, that we have a way out when we sin. We can ask God for forgiveness, and turn away from our sin (repent). But we have not forfeited our status as his children. Once God’s child, always God’s child. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

“Whenever our conscience accuses us, and we feel burdened with guilt, we need to look away from ourselves to Christ crucified. Then again we will have peace. For our acceptance with God depends not on ourselves…but entirely on Christ and what he has done for all on the cross.” (John Stott, Authentic Christianity, p. 211).

It was this assurance, this security, that was such good news to my friend at the jail. She had believed in Christ as Savior once, but she did not understand that her salvation lasted forever. She thought that every time she sinned, she was “out,” kind of like striking out in baseball, except she only got one strike. No wonder she was astonished by this good news!

Her reaction humbled me. I’m afraid I have sometimes taken this good news—the reality that Abba God doesn’t kick me out of the house every time I sin—too much for granted. It truly is astonishing. It’s the kind of kindness that should knock me on my knees to thank God yet again for his goodness and mercy to me. How about you? Do you want to join me in praising God for our assurance in Christ?

A Prayer about the Great Good News of the Gospel

Oh, dear, good Father, we thank you and praise you for your abundant mercy, for your incredible patience with us. We are so glad the Holy Spirit works in our hearts to change us, to make us more like your Son every day. We want to be like him. But we are so glad that when we fail, you forgive us freely. In Jesus’ assuring name we pray, Amen.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

A Prayer about the Church’s Great Calling

by | Aug 8, 2021 | Church, Daily Prayer, Learning Story

A Prayer about the Church’s Great Calling

Compassionate Lord,

I’ll never forget the scene in the waiting room 

before our son’s first brain surgery. 

Because he worked at a church leading worship, 

and because he had friends who were pastors elsewhere, 

he had four pastors visiting with him and praying with him 

before he went back for surgery. 

Another patient’s wife came over and asked 

if one of the pastors would pray for her husband. 

I’ve never forgotten the feeling of a church bearing our burdens 

when we we were “fainthearted” and “weak.”

Today, we pray for all of the lonely souls 

in waiting rooms and living rooms and locker rooms

who do not know the care of a loving church. 

We pray that we, the church, 

would seek out the weak and fainthearted 

and offer to bear their burdens. 

We pray that they would receive our invitation. 

Thank you for calling us to be 

your ambassadors of hope. 

We pray that we would fulfill this profound calling

in the power of the Holy Spirit 

and by the grace of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Amen.  

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22; Galatians 6:2; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.

A Prayer about Walking in the Spirit

by | Aug 5, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Walking in the Spirit

Holy Spirit,

Help. 

In our sinful nature, 

we all limp along, our natural motion 

twisted by the “desires of the flesh,” 

things like “idolatry…strife…fits of anger…envy…drunkenness….” (Galatians 5:18-21).

Thanks be to God, 

he has not only saved us from our sin 

through Jesus Christ, 

he has sent you, 

his empowering Spirit, 

to work in us, 

to alter our desires, 

to align our heart’s movement with his. 

Not only do you lead us in this new way of walking, 

in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,” 

you actually, to switch up the metaphor, 

grow this fruit in us.

Today, may we run in your joy and hope and energy, 

spilling your juicy fruit everywhere as we go.

Amen.

Read Galatians 5:16-25. 

How to Pray for Children and Grandchildren

by | Aug 2, 2021 | Prayer, Weekly Gospel Meditation

How to Pray for Children and Grandchildren

Our children and grandchildren desperately need prayer

I’ll never forget the day I dropped my oldest daughter off for her first day at our large public high school. Our son had gone before her, but somehow it felt different for my daughter. She seemed small and frail (even at almost 5’8 as a high school freshman) walking in among the throngs of students. Even though we had always had a “no cellphone till driving rule” (that was back in the mid-2000’s), I drove immediately to the phone store and bought her her first flip phone. I also upped my prayers for her and all of my children as I thought of all of the struggles they would face each day at school. The reality is that a cellphone could help her reach me if she had a problem during the day, but what she needed most was the help of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

Maybe that’s why the beginning of the school year seems like a good time to revisit our prayers for our children and grandchildren. I keep a page in my prayer journal for prayers for my children and their spouses. It’s a simple piece of thick notebook paper (I use Tul from Office Depot, no affiliate), with their names and what I’m praying for them. You could use a piece of paper, a prayer card, or just keep it in your head (if your memory is better than mine). Even if you don’t have children or grandchildren, consider walking through this exercise for a child you know and love, maybe a niece or nephew or a child at church or a foster child. 

If you’d like a one-page template for writing out the answers to the questions and with a space for the final prayer, be sure to subscribe for this free printable resource and a new one every month. 

Step 1: Consider their story.

First, consider their story, how God has exquisitely designed them—gifts, strengths, passions, how sin has uniquely affected them—their sin struggles as well as the impacts of sin on them. The following questions will guide you to discover more of their story:

1. What is their personality like?

2. What do they enjoy?

3. What gifts, passions, and strengths do they have?

4. What unique struggles with faith might their personality present?

5. What current struggles are they facing?

6. What are their desires and longings?

7. What are their needs?

8. What struggles do you have in parenting or grand parenting this child? 

Step 2: Find Scripture to pray.

I usually update my prayer sheet for my kids about once a month or once every other month. I often write at the top a general concept that I am praying for them. Here are some examples:

That they would “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

That God would do “far more abundantly than we all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

That they would be “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17).

That God would “create in [them] a clean heart…and renew a right spirit within [them]” (Psalm 51:10). 

If you want to write a verse at the top of your card or sheet, consider the following (more verses on the template:

Psalm 51:10 (freedom from sin)

Psalm 86:11 (learning to walk with God)

Isaiah 43:1-7 (knowing that they are precious to God) (Again, can be broken up.)

Ephesians 6:1 (learning obedience)

Step 3: Write your prayer sheet or prayer card.

(If you’d like a template for the prayer sheet or prayer card, be sure to sign up for this and other free resources.)

I like to have five areas on my prayer sheet, but you can add more.

1. Praise: What are you thanking God for in your child’s life?

2. Protection: What protections does your child need right now?

3. Petition: What desires does your child have? Pray that God would grant the desires that would be good for your child or reshape them for their good and his glory.

4. Provision: What needs does your child have? Again, ask that God would provide

5. Parenting: What needs and desires do you have as this child’s parent? 

Step 4: Pray.

Once you’ve created your prayer sheet or card, go through different aspects of it every day. If you do this intentional preparation, you will find that you don’t have to have the sheet or card in front of you every day. You will be able to pray intentionally for your children as they come to mind throughout the day. 

A Prayer for Praying for Our Children

Dear Heavenly Father,

We admit that as parents we often think we need to fix our children’s problems or that they need to change their ways, and fast. When we become anxious or angry, frightened or frustrated, help us to press pause on our thoughts and press into praying. Make us more intentional about our prayers for our children that they may grow in grace and the knowledge of your surpassing love. In Jesus’ tender name we pray. Amen. 

A Prayer about Stewarding Creation

by | Jul 31, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Theology

A Prayer about Stewarding Creation

Creator God,

I confess, I’m not always keen on all of your creation. 

When I work out in my pool and find frogs or salamanders or spiders, 

my first instinct is to avoid them or get rid of them. 

But your Word reminds me,

“the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof….” (Psalm 24:1) 

Everything in heaven and earth belongs to you, 

for you planned it, designed it, and created it. 

True, creation is not what it was in the beginning, 

before Adam and Eve procured the one fruit 

you had not permitted them to partake of.

Now, “the whole creation has been longing together 

in the pains of childbirth until now” (Romans 8:22). 

Until the day Jesus comes to fully restore all of your created beauty, 

make us good stewards of your earth. 

Make us rescuers of floundering salamanders and floating spiders, 

helpers of honeybees and hummingbirds, 

caretakers of forestlands and rivers and oceans, 

for all of these things declare your glory (Psalm 19:1). 

In Jesus’ renewing name. Amen. 

Read Genesis 1:1-31; Romans 8:18-24.

A Prayer about Seeing My Own Sin and God’s Grace

by | Jul 27, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Theology

A Prayer about Seeing My Own Sin and God’s Grace

Merciful Lord,

It’s impossible to read the list of sins 

describing people who don’t “see fit to acknowledge God,” 

and not see ourselves somewhere in it—

have I ever gossiped, 

speaking ill of people behind their backs? 

Have I ever been boastful and haughty, 

thinking I know the right thing to do 

about raising children, 

protecting from disease, 

or even teaching Bible study? 

Was I ever disobedient to my parents as a teenager? 

Have I ever wanted to possess what someone else has? 

Have I ever not only done these things 

but given approval to others who do them (Romans 1:32)? If so, I deserve to die for my sins (Romans 1:32).

I have, and I do.

And yet. 

By your mercy, 

through your undeserved grace, 

you have turned my heart toward Jesus 

as my only hope for salvation. 

Although I will continue to struggle 

with some of these sins 

until the day you take me home, 

“There is therefore now no condemnation 

for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Lord, help us to take stock of our sins. 

Forgive us when we judge others’ sins 

more harshly than our own. 

Open our hearts to our one true hope for salvation. 

And empower us to fight the battle 

against besetting sin 

through the might of your sanctifying Spirit. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen. 

Read Romans 1:18-32; Romans 7:7-8:1.