An 11-day Devotional: Mary–the absence of a complaining spirit

When I read Luke’s account of the Christmas story, I’m struck by the difficulties of Mary’s final trimester and, at the same time, the absence of a complaining spirit.

Consider these facts:

  • Jesus was born at a time of significant political unrest in the region; the Roman government made harsh demands on its constituents.
  • Mary and Joseph had to travel 90 miles south—apparently walking—when Mary was in her final weeks of pregnancy.
  • There was no expression of hospitality upon their arrival; no one provided for them a place to stay.
  • The birthplace for their little-boy-king was neither comfortable nor clean.
  • The first invitations to meet their newborn son went to the disrespected of their society – shepherds.

Yet, in the absence of even one word of complaint we read, “And Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). Like oil and water, a complaining spirit doesn’t mix with one of awe and wonder. When life is difficult for us, we have a tendency towards the first attitude.  But the latter marked Mary’s life. Study a Nativity scene and note the humble contentment on the faces of Mary and Joseph. Then, ask yourself is your visage marked with contentment or frustration this Christmas season? If your list of circumstances included the difficulties for Mary and Joseph how would you respond? To make room for the awe and wonder of the Christmas story, it will be necessary to banish your complaining spirit.

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series, and the developer of 4M Training: a unique approach to spiritual growth for men. All of his resources can be found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.

A 12-day Devotional: Joseph-a study in trusting God

The Christmas story gets started in Matthew’s Gospel.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 2:18).

It must have come as quite a surprise for Joseph to discover his fiancĂ© was pregnant and to know that the child wasn’t his. The text says, “And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly” (Matt. 2:19). Joseph was looking for a merciful way to take care of Mary’s presumed adultery.

If Mary’s pregnancy was a surprise, then the visit from the angel must have been more so. The angel confirmed to Joseph that Mary’s pregnancy was not a result of her unfaithfulness, but the work of the Holy Spirit. The angel also passed on the name of their son. They were to call him Jesus because he would save his people from their sins.  He quoted the prophet Isaiah, giving his message authority, and declaring Mary would play a part in its fulfillment. There was so much for Joseph to take in, and nearly all of it would have to be taken by faith. Trust is a word that marked Joseph.

  • Trust that God’s servant, Mary, had told him the truth.
  • Trust that God’s messenger, the angel, wasn’t simply an aberration.
  • Trust that God’s voice piece, the prophet, had recorded God’s words and not his own.
  • Trust that God’s timing, a 90-mile trek to Bethlehem wouldn’t be too much for his pregnant wife.
  • Trust that God’s choice of Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, would be up to the task.

God calls each of us to participate in his kingdom building work too. It’s easy to think we can do it on our own, but that is not God’s plan. God is developing in us the ability to trust him, even if it costs us greatly. For the Scripture says,

Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track (Proverbs 3:5-6, The Message).

 

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series, and the developer of 4M Training: a unique approach to spiritual growth for men. All of his resources can be found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.

The Twelve Days BEFORE Christmas

If you get pulled into any trivia games over the Christmas holidays, here are some little-known facts about The 12 Days of Christmas that may win you some points:

  • The carol is over 200 years old. The lyrics first appeared in a children’s book dating back to 1780
  • The music was added in 1909 by English composer Frederic Austin
  • If you count the items each time they’re mentioned, your true love gave you a total of 364 gifts
  • If you tally the cost of those items for this year, your true love spent $170,609.46

Sometimes the Christmas season can feel like a series of events that, like the song, repeat themselves ad nauseum. We love the individual parts: children’s programs, concerts, parties, decorations and gift-giving. But when they all happen in the same month, they can feel a bit overwhelming. Tomorrow starts the 12 days before Christmas. Each day I will blog about a bit of the Christmas story and provide a simple action item. It’s not meant to give you more to do, but to be a simple reminder for each of us not to lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas as the day approaches. So, here’s to the 12 days before Christmas.

Phil Moser is the author of the Biblical Strategies series, and the developer of 4M Training: a unique approach to spiritual growth for men. All of his resources can be found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.

How to develop gentleness with the not-so-gentle

Search the phrase gentle as, and Google will finish the job with words like lamb and dove.  We don’t typically associate that phrase with lions and tigers and bears. It’s easy to mistake the word gentleness with the word weakness.  But the ancient Greeks had a different rendering. For them, the word meant “strength under control.”  Aristotle thought of it as the middle ground “between bad temper and spineless incompetence, between extreme anger and indifference.” Adds one Greek scholar,

[Gentleness] is getting angry at the right time, in the right measure, and for the right reason [
] it is a condition of mind and heart which demonstrates gentleness, not in weakness, but in power. It is a balance born in strength of character.1

In the Gospel record, we find a few occurrences where Jesus was righteously angry.2 But, it’s important to remember that Jesus wasn’t characterized by this response. He was characterized by a spirit of gentleness.3 As he was, so should we be.  Here are a few ways we can begin to practice gentleness even in the most challenging relationships.

Pause to think before you react.

Perhaps you work with angry people. If so, your knee-jerk-reaction may not be one of gentleness. Next time, pause to think before you react. Slow down the process before you respond.  If you tend to spar with your words or attitude, think carefully before you speak.

It’s difficult to imagine surviving the Holocaust without bitterness an angst becoming a lifestyle. Yet, one survivor has said,

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.4

When Jesus faced the cross and severe mistreatment by the Roman soldiers, he responded in prayer for his Father to forgive them. (Luke 22:34).  When we pause to remember the grace that was extended to us, it will make us for more likely to respond with gentleness. Notice how the Scriptures press this point home: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you [emphasis added] (Eph. 4:32).

Consider the other’s pain before you act.

Those in the medical profession are trained to ask questions as a part of diagnosing the patient’s condition.  If you’ve ever been a patient, then you’ve answered the question: “On a scale of 1-10 how is your pain?” Usually, before a doctor will react to what you’re experiencing, he’ll attempt to discern the location and cause of the pain.  I’m told finding the actual location of the pain can be a bit tricky. Pain can radiate through your nerves.  The pain you feel in one part of your body may signal something that’s going on in another part. Remembering this picture, helps create gentleness in my dealings with others.  When someone is short tempered or rude with me, I would do well to remember it may not be about me. They may be responding to a radiating emotional pain from somewhere else in their life. It just shows itself in their communication with me.

A friend passed on an insightful video recently. The actor had been given a pair of glasses that allowed him to see people’s pain when he looked at them. Because he had knowledge of their difficulty, he was able to respond differently.  When he would put on the glasses, a popup would appear next to the individual that would say things like:

  • avoids relationships for fear of pain
  • discontent with life
  • fighting addiction
  • works two jobs to feed her kids
  • grieving the loss of her best friend
  • fighting with her husband
  • ran away from home 3 days ago
  • recently lost his job
  • just needs someone to care

One of the quickest ways to develop gentleness is to consider the other person’s pain before you act. Jesus is our example in this matter. He was the one who could “sympathize with our weaknesses, for he has been tempted in every way, just as we are” (Heb 4:15). Perhaps such understanding brought about his gentleness with others. If you have not been gentle, developing this quality as a habit will not be easy. But, it’s made easier, by practicing two simple steps: (1) pause to think before you react, and (2) consider the other’s pain before you act.

Phil Moser is the author of the Biblical Strategies series. Click here for a complete listing of his books on Amazon.

1 Spiros Zodhiates. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament.

2 Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; John 2:13-22; Mark 3:5.

3 Matthew 11:29; 21:5; 2 Corinthians 10:1

4 https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/viktor_e_frankl_160380

 

How growing faith enables greater faithfulness

Few words wreak havoc on our relationships like the word unfaithfulness.  Simply ask the employee whose 401K is depleted by his boss’s illegal activity and extravagant living. Or the wife who promised her faithfulness at the altar, and later discovered that her husband’s similar promise went unkept for years without her knowing it. Or the law enforcement officer whose partner’s under-the-table operations jeopardized his life each time they went out on a call. When someone has been unfaithful in a relationship with us, it can cause us to grow cynical in our other relationships as well. Faithfulness matters.

It is not difficult to see that the root word in faithfulness is the word faith—a word that has significant usage and meaning in the Bible. In our postmodern culture, the validity of one’s faith is often determined by how strongly they believe. Roy Bennet communicates our culture’s idea: Don’t let the limitations of others limit your vision. If you can remove your self-doubt and believe in yourself, you can achieve what you never thought possible. Most contemporary thoughts on “faith” are like Bennett’s: If you just believe in yourself more, anything is possible. But the Bible presents a different position. It isn’t the strength of your belief that determines its validity, it is the object of the belief. Noitice the distinction that the Bible makes.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

Biblical faith assumes that God—the object of our faith—truly exists. Our imagination does not bring him into existence; nor does he cease to exist if we choose not to believe in him. The Bible declares God’s genuine existence and his participation in our lives from beginning to end. The first four words of the Bible simply state: in the beginning God, and the final words in the Bible declare he is returning soon (Rev. 22:20). Furthermore, genuine faith doesn’t only believe in God, it believes something about him—that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

The faithful person keeps his promises.

This is helpful if we wish to become more faithful in our relationships. Like God, we should follow through on our promises. While faithfulness is not perfection, it should characterize our daily living. What we say should square with what we do.  When my grandfather was raising his family during the Great Depression, work was scarce in rural Minnesota. Eventually, he moved his wife and seven children to Iowa. As a farmer, he owed some of the local merchants and his neighbors various sums of money. Prior to moving away, he went to each of his creditors, explained his situation, and promised them he would return. Most were surprised that he sought them out before leaving the community. The local grocer even packed several bags of groceries for the family at no cost, simply because my grandfather acknowledged that he was leaving with a bill unpaid.  When my father would recall the story, he was always careful to tell how years later, my grandfather with cash in hand drove back to Minnesota to pay what he had promised. The faithful person keeps his promises.

The faithful person does his best.

Jesus told a parable about three servants. Before their master left for a far country, he entrusted each with a large sum of money. The first two servants got busy and wisely invested the funds that had been placed in their care. The third servant procrastinated on investing his master’s money. In fact, he actually dug a hole and buried it in the ground. The day came when their master returned. The first two servants had doubled their master’s investment. The master acknowledged their hard work when he said, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much” [emphasis added] (Matt. 25:21, 23). The third servant, however, didn’t fare so well. When he was asked to give an account, he confessed, “I was afraid, and so I buried it.”

Fear weakens faithfulness.   Just like financial ventures incur risks outside of our control, so do our relational commitments. We make commitments not knowing if the same commitment will be reciprocated. C.S. Lewis captured this risk in one of his most famous insights:

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.

Overcoming the fear of potential loss is essential to showing yourself faithful in your relationships. Why? Because fear backs away from an unknown future, but faith embraces it. That is why, if you are unwilling to work on genuine faith, you’ll always struggle with faithfulness.  As your confidence in God’s faithfulness to you grows, so will your commitment to show yourself faithful to others.

Phil Moser is the author of the Biblical Strategies series. This selection was taken from his upcoming book Learning to Love: biblical strategies for strengthening your relationships.

Through November 30th, all Biblical Strategies Resources are 40% off. Go to biblicalstrategies.com and use grace40 as a discount code at check out. Or visit us at Amazon.

3 Stumbling Blocks to being Thankful at Thanksgiving

When we think of Thanksgiving and Christmas, we typically think of words like “family” and “joy.” But a few years back, I came to realize that for many the words family and joy don’t work well in the same sentence. Family members are estranged from one another, and often when they do get together it’s more about enduring each other than spontaneous joy. I even had one person confess, “Why do you think we drink so much over the holidays? It’s the only way we can handle being together with people we don’t like very much.”  As we head into the holiday season, here are three stumbling blocks to being thankful and, most importantly, what we can replace them with.

1- We’re focusing on our circumstances when we should focus on the Lord’s steadfast love.

When Joseph found himself rejected by his brothers, falsely accused by his boss’s wife, and fighting despair in an Egyptian prison he discovered God’s steadfast love. In fact, several times in the Genesis account we are reminded that “the Lord was with Joseph.” But only when his circumstances were the darkest do we read, “and the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him steadfast love” (Gen. 39:21). God is with us at all times, but during our most difficult times—when we look to him—he feels especially near. Take your focus off of your circumstances and look to his steadfast love.

2-We’re comparing ourselves to others when we should value our uniqueness in Christ.

Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, made this danger clear. He writes, “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding” (2 Cor. 10:12).

In a materialistic society, it’s easy to compare. We see others who have something we don’t, and it ignites a desire to have what they have. When our kids say, “Everyone at school has one of those but me!” it’s natural to feel that we’ve somehow fallen short as a parent. During such times, it’s best to look back at our uniqueness in Christ. John Piper gives a list of 13 of these realities. Here are a few of them.

  • In Christ Jesus you were given grace before the world was created (2 Timothy 1:9).
  • In Christ Jesus you were chosen by God before creation (Ephesians 1:4).
  • In Christ Jesus you are loved by God with an inseparable love (Romans 8:38–39).
  • In Christ Jesus you were redeemed and forgiven for all your sins (Ephesians 1:7).
  • In Christ Jesus everything you really need will be supplied (Philippians 4:19).

We need to stop staring at what others have that we don’t, and gaze upon the realities of what we do have because Jesus came into the world to die for sinners.

3-We’re seeking happiness in people and things when joy is found in God’s eternal promises.

Thanksgiving is the day that is meant to look back and be thankful, but it is followed by the greatest shopping day of the year—a day we try to buy happiness for ourselves and others. Someone has wisely said,

If you’re not content with what you have, you’ll never be content with what you want.

Jesus warned that we would choke out the impact of the Word on our hearts by the “cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches” (Matt. 13:22). This year as you go shopping, talk less about the “deal” you got and more about the joy that can only come from the Lord. Here are a few passages to get you started.

  • When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul (Psalm 94:19).
  • Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance (James 1:2-3)
  • Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:8-9).

So this season focus on the steadfast love of they Lord, value your uniqueness in Christ, and find your joy in the promises of God’s Word. It’s a sure way to take steps towards being thankful at Thanksgiving.

Through November 30th, all Biblical Strategies Resources are 40% off. Go to biblicalstrategies.com and use grace40 as a discount code at check out.

The benefits of practicing kindness

Acts of kindness are not only good for the other person, we’re learning that they are also good for you.  In Raising Happiness: In Pursuit of Joyful Kids and Happier Parents Christine Carter writes, “People who volunteer tend to experience fewer aches and pains. Giving help to others protects overall health twice as much as aspirin protects against heart disease.”

Dr. David R. Hamilton confirms that acts of kindness release a hormone known as oxytocin. Oxytocin, known as the “cardioprotective” hormone, causes the release of a chemical called nitric oxide, which dilates the blood vessels, reduces blood pressure, and protects the heart.

While being kind to others has personal health benefits, it has spiritual implications as well.  When we’re sinned against, kindness keeps us from sinning in return. The apostle Paul offers it as an alternative response to the angry person. He writes, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Eph. 4:31-32)

Kindness is both an attitude and an action.

When we hear the word kindness, chances are a name comes to mind — perhaps a parent, sibling, teacher, or friend. They were gentle with the harsh, and patient with anxious. But kindness is more than an attitude. The Bible clarifies this truth by adding acts of kindness to the definition. The Greek scholar W.E. Vine points out the nuance of this meaning. He writes, “Kindness is not merely goodness as a quality, rather it is goodness in action, goodness expressing itself in deeds [
] but with grace and tenderness and compassion.”

Kindness shows mercy on the underserving.

There’s an Old Testament story that demonstrates the close relationship that mercy has with kindness. King David was from the tribe Judah. His predecessor, King Saul, was from the tribe of Benjamin. Both lived over 3,000 years ago.  In the ancient middle-east, a monarchy was a family thing.  Leaders were not elected officials. The scepter would pass from father to son.  When a new prince would take the headship, it was not unusual for him to execute any potential rivals to the throne.  King Saul would have preferred that the throne would pass to his son, Jonathan. But God had different plans. Due to Saul’s disobedience, God tore the kingship from Saul and gave it to David (1 Sam. 15:28). While David’s kingdom was ordained by God, any potential heir from Saul’s line would still poise a political threat to the new king. David’s reign wasn’t marked by a self-protective spirit, but one of kindness to Saul’s heir. One of his first acts as king was to protect Saul’s line, not end it. Here’s the way Samuel told the story:

“And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. [
] And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” [
] And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.”  And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always” (2 Sam. 9:1-7) [emphasis added].

It appears David showed Mephibosheth kindness not in spite of his condition, but because of his condition. The young man would have been in imminent danger as a political outcast. As a 10th-century BC paraplegic, he would have been fully dependent on others. David saw his condition and chose to show mercy.  He even referenced such mercy as “the kindness of God.”

Leeland, the 15-year-old songwriter saw the David/Mephibosheth story as a metaphor for our relationship with God. He penned his lyrics:

Wounded and forsaken, I was shattered by the fall

Broken and forgotten, feeling lost and all alone

Summoned by the King, into the Master’s courts

Lifted by the Savior, and cradled in His arms

I was carried to the table, seated where I don’t belong

Carried to the table, swept away by His love

And I don’t see my brokenness anymore

When I’m seated at the table of the Lord

I’m carried to the table, the table of the Lord.

Fighting thoughts of fear, and wondering why He called my name

Am I good enough to share this cup, this world has left me lame

Even in my weakness, the Savior called my name

In His Holy presence, I’m healed and unashamed

You carried me, my God. You carried me.

God, in his mercy, has shown us great kindness. To strengthen our relationships with others, we would do well to do the same.

Phil Moser is the author of the Biblical Strategies resources. His books can be found at biblicalstrategies.com and at Amazon.com

How to practice patience in your relationships

Patience is a key word for any relationship that wishes to go the distance. I once heard people compared to porcupines huddling together on a cold evening for warmth. Once they warm up, their quills begin to prick each other and they move away only to grow cold again. We need others, but they also annoy us. That’s why patience is such a needed virtue in our relationships.  While it is the fourth quality catalogued for the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), it is the first of seventeen qualities listed that define love in the book of 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). The word translated “patient” in both lists is the word makrothymeo. It is comprised of two Greek words: macro meaning long and thumos meaning temper. To be a patient person is to be long-tempered. The circumstances that would reveal anger in the average person don’t seem to affect the patient person in the same way. While the Bible tells us love is patient, I have found it’s often hardest to be patient with those I claim to love the most. The more comfortable we are in a relationship, the more likely we are to grow impatient with one another’s shortcomings.

One of the causes of our impatience with those we love is that while an angry temper has an emotional element, it  begins as a thought process. In our thinking, we make a judgment of another. Those judgments come quickly, and with those we know well they occur even more swiftly. If you know that bothers me, why do you keep doing it, is the way we often think about those we know best. Take that thought, stir in a little emotion, and it’s easy to lose your patience.

Christians counter this thinking by remembering that God is better at judging than we are. Throughout the Bible, God is referred to as a judge (Psalm 50:6; 75:7; Isaiah 33:22). In fact, the apostle Paul spoke of God as the “righteous judge” (2 Tim. 4:8) One of the reasons God’s judgements are perfect is that he can see the beginning and the end of a situation (Ps. 90:2). You and I cannot. If we could, perhaps we would be more patient.

The patient person gives God time to act.

Over fifteen years ago I counseled a young man who struggled with substance abuse. I was not alone in my investment. His parents were deeply involved as were other spiritual leaders. Over a period of 14 years he would be in and out of 18 different rehab facilities and programs. Unable to hold down a job, he became alienated from his two daughters and ran up $40,000 in past-due child support. The situation appeared hopeless. It was easy to make a judgment of his future, to become impatient and quit trying.

I met him at a conference recently, and was overjoyed to hear his story. He had been clean for the last four years. He was happily married and directing a recovery facility in another state.  His child support paid in full, his youngest daughter now lived with him, and his oldest daughter, now married, had moved into his town just to be near to her dad. Wow! I don’t know whose smile was broader after he told the story — his or mine. I had to acknowledge I couldn’t have seen that coming, but God did. Perhaps that’s why God is so patient with us. He sees the beginning and the end. Don’t be so quick to quit on your relationships. Being patient means you give God room to act.

The patient person considers the consequences before he or she acts.

Perhaps you, like me, wish you could take certain words and actions back. I love the members of my family, yet there have been times I didn’t consider the effect of my words before I said them. The nature of our imperfect relationships means that at times we will be hurt by what others say or do. When we have been hurt, it’s easy to strike back. John Maxwell once said,

People who have been hurt tend to hurt others.

This is why patience is needed in our relationships.

In Bronte’s 19th century novel Jane Eyre she writes,

It is far better to endure patiently a [hurt] which nobody feels but yourself, then to commit a hasty action whose evil consequences will extend to all connected with you.

So, to practice patience in your relationships today: (1) give God time to act, and (2) consider the consequences on your relationships before you choose to act or speak.

Phil Moser is the author of the Biblical Strategies series, and the developer of 4M Training: a unique approach to spiritual growth for men. All of his resources can be found at biblicalstrategies.com and on amazon.

 

3 ways to improve your prayer life if it has become routine

It’s easy for our prayer life to become routine. Perhaps, this is why Jesus warned us against meaningless repetition. When it becomes routine, it seems like the only thing that changes are the requests that we bring. Rather than just change the requests, try changing up the praise portion of your prayer time. Here are three ways that have worked for me. Pray through the (1) who, (2) what, and (3) why of God.

(1) Remember the “who” of God. Rehearsing things we know about the character and person of God is a great starting point. Theologian John Frame encourages us to consider the names, images and attributes of God. You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to pull this off—just google it. You’ll come up with more than one prayer time can contain. Here are a few to get you started.

Names of God:

  • Yaweh (Jehovah) – LORD (Psa. 107:13)
  • Jehovah-Jireh – the LORD will provide (Gen. 22:14)
  • Jehovah-Sabaoth – LORD of hosts (Psa. 46:7)

Images of God:

  • King – God reigns over all (Psa. 93-99)
  • Shepherd – he personally protects (Psa. 23)
  • Rock – he is a strong fortress (Psa. 18:2)

Attributes of God:

  • God is good – he acts for the benefit of others (Gen. 50:20)
  • God is holy – he is set apart from evil (Hab. 1:13)
  • God is love – he willingly sacrifices for others (John 3:16))

(2) Remember the “what” of God.

The Psalmist wrote, “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.  I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High (Psa. 9:1-2)

The word “recount” means to keep score or to keep a tally. We’re to keep score of the things God has done on our behalf. When was the last time you prayed through a list of things that the Lord has done for you? There is no shame in keeping that kind of list. Recount it. Review it as a part of your praise time. This is how we remember the “what” of God.

(3) Remember the “why” of God.

Once we’ve remembered who God is and what he’s done, it’s important to remember “why” he does what he does. This is how the prophet Jeremiah finds encouragement during a really difficult time for his nation. In Lamentations he writes,

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him” (Lamentations 3:23-24).

Jeremiah affirms that God does what he does because of his steadfast love for us.

So, if you’re looking for ways to add momentum to a prayer life that has become mundane, try remembering these three – the who, what, and why of God.

In the final pages of every Biblical Strategies resource you will find additional ways to enhance your prayer life. Those prayer helps are uniquely designed with your particular temptation in view. Click here for more information.

 

 

 

 

The uncontainable joy of forgiveness

Several years ago, right in the middle of singing a familiar worship song, God showed up in a remarkable way. My eight-year-old son was singing next to me. His attitude had not been the greatest, and mine could have used a few adjustments too. He was fidgeting, and I was trying hard to keep my thoughts in order for the message that I was about to give. That’s when it happened — he stopped fidgeting long enough to tug on my sleeve. “Dad” he whispered, as his lower lip quivered. I leaned down to listen as he continued. “Remember the other night when you told me not to eat any more gummy worms after I got in bed?” He pauses, his eyes refusing to look at me. “Well, I did.”

I stop singing, and sit down next to him. I touch his chin to redirect his eyes to mine. “Are you asking me to forgive you?” He nods. His lip still quivering. I smile. “Well, I do.” He throws his arms around my neck, refusing to let go. The music is still playing. The congregation is still singing. But God’s message is rising above all of that. He is speaking his familiar story of repentance and forgiveness through a little boy who is clinging tightly to the neck of his father.

I set my son down and continue to sing with the rest of the congregation, but there is a voice that is singing more loudly than mine. I stop singing again, and listen to the eight year old next to me singing with all of his heart:

God of wonders beyond our galaxy; You are holy, holy.
Precious Lord reveal Your heart to me, Father hold me, hold me.
The universe declares Your majesty, You are holy, holy, holy, holy.
Hallelujah, to the Lord of heaven and earth!

My son isn’t only singing loudly, but he’s smiling — the kind of smile you can’t hold back no matter how hard you try. The kind of smile you have when you no longer have to hide a secret.

God, do you feel this kind of joy — the father’s joy I feel right now — when I come to you in repentance, seeking your forgiveness? I look at my son again, who is still belting the song with everything he’s got.  And is that what I look like when I’ve been forgiven — unable to contain the joy of a burden lifted? 

His voice raises at the refrain: Hallelujah, to the Lord of heaven and earth! I think to myself: I couldn’t agree more.

Phil Moser is the author of the Biblical Strategies series. Click here to for a complete listing of all of his resources on Amazon or visit us at biblicalstrategies.com.