A Prayer to Desire God’s Word

As a teacher, fall is the time of year when my schedule begins to spiral out of control. I look at my to-do list and cringe; how can I get all of this done and still maintain some semblance of sanity? The months of September through December will speed past in a flurry of activity at work, at church, and in my home. In the blink of an eye, 2016 will be over.

With so much to be done, it’s easy for my priorities to get out of whack and for urgent and emergent needs to take precedence over the quietly persistent call to refresh my soul in God’s Word.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I found out that we’d been matched to adopt a child. Three days later, I went back to work to begin preparing for the new academic year. I’ve been consumed by a flurry of activity, and my time in Scripture has been (to put it nicely) haphazard as I struggle to fall into the rhythm of being back at work for the next three months.

I wish I had a never-fail, five-step plan for realigning priorities when life is overscheduled chaos, but I don’t. Based on past experience, I know that no amount of determination or “buckling down” will cause my rebellious heart to adore God and treasure His Word above all else.

By nature, sinful humans do not desire the things of God. We were dead in our trespasses and sins, and “by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1-3), yet God mercifully redeemed us by the blood of Christ to give us new life:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ . . . 
Ephesians 2:4-5

It is only when believers receive the Holy Spirit that they are capable of desiring God as they should. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit changes our nature and very desires to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:26-29). Still, it’s a process. I am yet being sanctified, and my flesh is at war with the Spirit in me (Galatians 5:17).  When I’m feeling overwhelmed and struggle with wrong priorities, what I need the most is more of the Holy Spirit to change my desires. I can’t muster up enough love and adoration on my own. I need to pray for an infusion of Christlikeness so that I will crave life-giving communion with God through His Word. It’s a prayer I know he will answer because Jesus already guaranteed it:

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:13

Today, if you’re experiencing a drought of desire for any reason, pray with me:

Merciful Father, I come before you today, humbled by my weakness. I’m so easily distracted by the priorities of this world, most of which have no eternal value. It’s too easy for me to rob myself of your life-giving presence by making time for anything and everything else before I spend time in your Word. Thank you for sending your Son to free me from the prison of the sinful desires of my flesh. Fill me with your Holy Spirit to continue the good work you began in me, reshaping me to be like Christ. Transform my heart to crave your Word, to your glory. Amen.


Respond

Is this a prayer you need today? What scriptures give you encouragement as you wait for God to answer this prayer?

4 Ways to Connect with God When Life is Crazy

Is life feeling a little crazy right now?

You might have a newborn and be in survival mode. Perhaps you just started a new job and are trying to figure out your new routine. Maybe you’re running yourself ragged taking your kids to all their practices, performances, games, and activities.

You have too many places to be, too much stuff to do, and too many people relying on you.

And, oh yeah, try to squeeze in an hour-long quiet time in there every day, okay?

I think many of us feel that if we don’t have an hour, thirty minutes, or even fifteen minutes to devote to serious, uninterrupted “quiet time” that we shouldn’t even bother.  Somehow, we’ve gotten the idea that meaningful interactions with God can’t happen in five minutes, or even in one minute.

Why is that?

We don’t expect every interaction with our friends, spouses, or children to be rich, life-changing experiences. Even deeply intimate relationships are filled with quiet, everyday moments: gentle hugs before leaving; sweet smiles over lunch; little chats about daily life; quick snuggles before bed. These mundane, seemingly insignificant moments form the foundation for deeper interactions. 

So why do we expect our relationship with God to be different? 

Why do we expect every moment we spend with God to be lengthy, worshipful bliss? When real life just doesn’t leave room for a lengthy time of prayer and Bible study, why not let go of guilt and connect with God in small ways throughout your day? Those brief moments aren’t insignificant. In fact, I think they lay the foundation and whet your appetite for even deeper connection with God later.

When time is short and life feels out of control, you can connect with God in the midst of the craziness by filling your home with scripture, praying one sentence at a time, listening to scripture and good teaching, and listening to worshipful music. 

1// Fill Your Home with Scripture

I love buying and framing beautiful scripture printables. I have them in several rooms in our home, and I have even more pieces just waiting to be hung up. 

Displaying verses or quotes from hymns throughout your home is a great way to remind yourself of Biblical truth throughout your day. You won’t notice them every day, but you may be surprised at how they pop out at you on days when you need a little extra encouragement.

If you don’t want to bother with frames, I also have a lot of friends who write their own verses on chalkboards or whiteboards in their homes. You can even use whiteboard markers to write on mirrors, windows, or sliding glass doors! 

Whatever the medium, filling your home with Biblical encouragement is an excellent way to connect with God throughout the day.

2// Pray, One Sentence at a Time

I think many of us hear others pray in public and feel intimidated. Their lengthy prayers are eloquent and inspirational, and our own prayers seem dull and clumsy in comparison. 

Whether we’re praying aloud or silently, our prayers are not an opportunity to show off our spiritual vocabulary. (Remember the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector: God wants humility, not bravado!) Prayer is an opportunity for finite humans to commune with an infinite God. 

Your prayers don’t have to be long or filled with big words to bring you into God’s presence.  You can come to Him throughout your day to repent, to ask for help, or to offer praise, even if you only have a few simple sentences to offer. 

  • Thank you, Jesus, that we have enough food to eat.

  • God, thank you for the beautiful birds that visit my yard every morning.

  • Father, forgive me for being frustrated during my child’s screaming, crying meltdown at the grocery store today. 

  • Holy Spirit, thank you for giving me hope when I’m afraid.

Because of Jesus, our humble prayers will always be heard, even the short ones.

3// Listen to Scripture and Good Teaching

I think one problem many of us struggle with is that we feel like we specifically have to read (with our eyeballs) the Bible to get something out of it. Why not listen to God’s Word as well?

I know what you’re thinking: I’m a visual learner! I don’t get as much out of when I listen instead of read it!

I get it, I’m pretty visual too. But, if you actually don’t have time to read, isn’t listening to it still going to be better than doing nothing?

A little over a year ago I was in the middle of a chronological Bible read-through. As usual, I’d gotten stuck in the Old Testament, so I decided to try something different: listening to my daily “readings” while I was getting ready in the morning or while in the car.

That small change made a huge impact in my life. 

I began to look forward to that part of my morning instead of feeling guilty about it. I would listen to more than one day’s worth of my reading plan each day, just because I was enjoying it so much. When life calmed down and I had more time, I would go back and actually read and study the passage later. Listening to God’s Word a little bit at a time actually set the foundation for me to study it more deeply at other times. 

The YouVersion app makes it really easy to choose a reading plan and then listen to it on your phone. There are also fancier audio versions of the Bible that have music and sound effects. Do some research, try a few out, and figure out what you like!

After I started listening to the Bible, I also began to enjoy many different Christian podcasts. There is a lot of excellent Biblical teaching out there and it's all completely free. Listening to great teaching helps me know and love the Bible more, even when I don't have a lot of time to sit down and study a passage for myself.

There are about a dozen faith-based podcasts that I subscribe to, but my favorites are Unlocking the Bible with Colin Smith, The Gospel Coalition, and Help Me Teach the Bible with Nancy Guthrie.

4// Listen to Worshipful Music

Sometimes I want to focus on God, but the task at hand requires my full attention or my brain is fried to the point that even listening to someone talk sounds too hard.

That’s when I listen to worshipful music.

I struggle with a tendency to turn on the television just for “background noise.” I’ll turn on a show I’ve seen several times and then half-listen to it as I do something else. Now, television isn’t all bad, so I’m not planning on completely cutting it out of my life, but I’ve been making an effort to at least keep it off when I’m not actually watching it. 

Instead, I make a conscious choice to listen to music. Specifically, music that directs my thoughts to God. I have a few different playlists I’ve created for different moods, and I often enjoy listening to contemporary versions of hymns from groups like Page CXVI. If that’s not your thing, no worries! Any music that reminds you of Biblical truth will do!

- - - 

Whatever the cause, sometimes life gets overwhelming. In those times, connecting with God might seem close to impossible. Instead of feeling guilty because you can’t spend as much time in prayer or Bible study as you would like, focus on the small ways you can connect with God throughout your day. As you do, you’ll be laying the foundation for deeper connection with God later, as things calm down a bit.


Respond

How about you? When life gets crazy, how do you connect with God throughout your day?

Freedom from Despair

When faced with trials, the temptation to despair is always lurking around the corner. Troubles tend to come one after another. Our prayers seem to disappear into the air as soon as they’re spoken, met only with silence. We sink low in the mire and muck of life in a sin-filled world, losing sight of the light. On our own, we are helpless.

Freedom from despair can only be found when we meditate on God’s past, present, and future faithfulness, and allow that knowledge to permeate our hearts.

In Psalm 40, David’s reflection on God’s goodness and past mercies leads him to repentance, while also reassuring him that God will faithfully continue to deliver him from present and future sins and persecution.

God Is Faithful

Psalm 40
1
I waited patiently for the Lord;
   he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
   out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
   making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
   a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
   and put their trust in the Lord.

In verses 1-3, David remembers how God has brought him out of past affliction. He was trapped in a “pit of destruction” and a “miry bog.” In his trouble, he cried out to God for rescue. The Lord heard him and brought him to safety. Afterward, God inspired David to sing a song of praise to the people, declaring God’s faithfulness and goodness. Those who heard it would see God’s mighty power and be led to humble repentance, knowing they were unworthy of his holiness. Then they would trust him because of his mercy. His gracious goodness gave them hope for the future.

This portion of the text previews its main idea: worship should lead to repentance, even while God’s mercy and past faithfulness inspire our trust and further worship.

The Psalm continues:

4 Blessed is the man who makes
   the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
   to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
   your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
   none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
   yet they are more than can be told.

In verses 4-5, David proclaims God’s blessings to those who trust Him. They resist the temptation to go astray on a prideful path of self-reliance, and instead wait for God to act. Just as He has done in David’s case, God hears them and lavishes them with his protection and care. His blessings are so numerous, “they are more than can be told.”

As we wait on God to deliver us from trials, we must not neglect to remember how God has blessed us in the past and the present. Remembering His many mercies allows the Holy Spirit to bolster our faith so that we can resist the urge to “take matters into our own hands” and try to fix our problems our own way. God will meet us in the waiting and lavish us with abundant provision for our needs.

God’s Faithfulness Inspires Worship Through Obedience and Praise

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
   but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
   you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
   in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
   your law is within my heart.”

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance
   in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
   as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
   I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
   from the great congregation.

God’s goodness inspires David to worship through obedience and praise. He wants to please God, but recognizes that offerings and sacrifices are not enough. What, then, does God require? David sees that God desires a heart that delights in knowing His Word and obeying Him: “‘I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.’” God also wants a servant who worships by joyfully proclaiming His goodness to others: “I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation.”

Remembering all that God has done for us in the past should give us a heart to joyfully serve Him in our homes and communities. His faithful mercy should inspire our love for knowing and obeying His Word. The time we spend reading the Bible should be refreshing and encouraging, not a drudgery. God’s abundant grace should also inspire us to worship Him and declare His goodness to the world. Our praise and gratitude should not be hidden away, but should overflow into our interactions with everyone.

If, like me, you’re feeling a little unqualified for perfect obedience and worship, read on! Verse 11 marks the beginning of a huge shift in the tone of this psalm as David is once again moved to cry out to God for salvation.

God’s Standard of Perfection Demands Repentance

11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
   your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
   ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me
   beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
   and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
   my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
   O Lord, make haste to help me!
14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
   who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
   who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
   who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

The sudden change in the tone of this psalm is a little jarring at first. Why does David abruptly move from praise to penance and desperation? It’s possible that David’s circumstances changed as he was writing. Perhaps his enemies renewed their attack on him at that time. However, I think it more likely that meditating on God’s standard of perfection brought David to his knees in repentance. Although he desired to obey and glorify God in his life, even David, the “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:!4), was unable to do so blamelessly. He knew that, once again, only God’s unchanging mercy could save him. He was humbled in his distress, yet confidently declared that the God who had saved him in the past would do so again: “your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!”  

This pattern of worship and repentance should resonate in the heart of every believer. Meditating on God’s past mercies and on His standard of holiness should be humbling. Our worship should continually remind us of our need for his mercy in our sinful hearts and in our circumstances. God’s pattern of faithfulness should inspire our faith that he will always forgive and deliver us. In fact, we should have even more reassurance of our hope in God’s mercy than David had. While King David only had a brief glimpse of his offspring whose throne would be established by God forever (2 Samuel 7:13), we know Him as our Savior.

Whether David knew it or not, the words that the Holy Spirit inspired him to write in Psalm 40:6-8 would actually find their fulfillment in Jesus. Hebrews 10:1-18 explains that the sacrificial system of the Law was never enough to permanently wash away sin. Using just the blood of animals, more sacrifices would always be required. When Jesus came, all of that changed:


5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
   but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
   you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
   as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

In the incarnation, God prepared a body for Christ so that he, as fully God and fully man, could live the perfectly obedient life that you and I (and even King David) cannot. He shed his blood as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He met the need for sacrifice forever: “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10) and “by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Through Christ, our sins are permanently forgiven and we are filled with the Holy Spirit, who enables us to be sanctified: slowly becoming more like Christ. When sins or other trials drag us down into despair, we can have hope in God’s past, present, and future mercy because of Jesus. Like David, the hope of that mercy should ultimately inspire us to praise God again.

God’s Mercy Inspires Praise

16 But may all who seek you
   rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
   say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
   but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
   do not delay, O my God!


David has been brought low. He is “poor and needy”, yet confident that God will raise him up again. He proclaims: “the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer.” David anticipates God’s future provision, and it leads him back to worship, even in the midst of distress. He says, “may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the Lord!’”

Suddenly, it’s like we have returned to the beginning of this psalm. For David, and for modern believers, faith amidst trials is like a cycle. We begin by remembering God’s past faithfulness, which frees us from despair and inspires our trust and worship. That worship then leads to humble repentance; we must recognize our need for Jesus. Finally, repentance is met with faithful mercy, so we are again inspired to trust and worship without fear, even in the midst of suffering: 

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me

"Before the Throne of God Above", written by Charitie Lees Smith


Respond

How is God’s past faithfulness to you encouraging your faith, and the faith of others? How is it inspiring you to worship? How is worship leading you to repentance? How does true repentance renew your trust in God, and your worship of Him?