As humans we like to be accepted. This gives us a feeling of belonging. The challenge comes in when we look for acceptance in the wrong place. The only acceptance that is worthwhile is God's. His way is perfect (Psalm 18:30). The Psalmist prays that his words and thoughts would be acceptable to God. We [...]
Category: Christian Living
What Control Do I Have?
I have found it easy to be confused about where I have control. I start with correct thinking such as, "I am responsible for my actions", but I can fall into thinking that I can control the results. Proverbs 16:9 gives us insight into what God does in our lives. We can make plans, but [...]
Choices and Prayer
I was thinking last night about choices. We have a lot of freedom to make the choices we want. Along with that freedom of choice comes the freedom to experience the consequences. We don't like negative consequences. We only want the happiness we think our choices will bring. Friend, I pray you are aware of [...]
When the Cavalry Seems Far Away
Last week I posted the story of help that came my way after a hefty snow storm. I was worn out from shoveling and thoroughly enjoyed the help. However, what happens when it feels like (or is really true) that help is not close at hand? We are looking at more snow tonight and after [...]
Help with Temptation
The final sentence of Jesus' example prayer is a plea for help specifically with temptation. The first phrase in the English sounds like there is a risk of God leading us into temptation. However, that is not true. The NET translation says that this "is a rhetorical way to ask for His protection from sin." [...]
Give Us Today Our Daily Bread
After taking time to praise God, Jesus comes to requests. He tells us to ask for our needs to be met. This is a simple enough statement, but as flawed human beings we like to complicate matters. We too often ask for wants as though they were needs. We also ask for more than our [...]
May Your Will Be Done
The Lord's Prayer continues with "may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This is also easy to say, but much harder to live consistently. Those of us who have placed our trust in Jesus Christ have the help of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-16). He will lead in our lives [...]
May Your Kingdom Come
I had a little bit of trouble finding information about this phrase. The basic Bible study tools that I own didn't have much information. However, the Kindle version of the New English Translation (with full notes) had a well worded explanation. "Your kingdom come represents the hope for the full manifestation of God’s promised eschatological [...]
May Your Name Be Honored
The next phrase in the Lord's prayer is easy to say, but it is much harder to live. God is worthy of honor. His name alone is worthy of honor! Yet as flawed human beings we want to honor ourselves. It is in our nature. The concept of humility has been heavy on my mind [...]
Our Father in Heaven
Jesus example prayer starts with a simple concept, yet there is so much in it. I hadn't thought about the first word much, but Warren Wiersbe drew attention to it in his commentary on the book of Matthew, Be Loyal. Wiersbe points out that there no singular pronouns in the Lord's prayer. They are all [...]
