How can we pray for you today?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Not long ago I spent a lovely weekend in the magnificent beauty of the Alaskan mountains. I was privileged to be the guest speaker of a women’s retreat there. Precious women extracted themselves from their busy lives from Friday evening to Sunday noon. They took time they didn’t really have to come away…to let their hearts drink in rest and refreshment.

Life noisily demands our attention. It clamors, persistently moving us in many directions. It’s easy to forget that Jesus Himself has invited us to come and find rest for our souls.

Are you expecting His rest to refresh you today? Are you expecting to encounter His strength holding you today? Are you expecting His peace to sustain your heart even in what can sometimes be chaotic days? Are you expecting Him to meet your heart even as you read these words?

Let this invitation, to you from Jesus, steep into your soul like a pot of tea steeps to full flavor. You can expect God to deposit something into your heart even in this moment. Now read it again this way.

“Come unto me today, _____________ (Put in your name), with all the things that weary your body and burden your mind and heart and I will give you rest … for your soul.”

Today you can have the confident expectation that God will hold you as you COME to Him. You are invited. Come and receive:

1. C – CAST your concerns on Him: 

1 Peter 5:7  “Casting all your cares on Him for He cares for you.”

Lord God, today I bring you the questions on my heart about ______, I bring you my disappointment in _________ and I look, with expectation to You to help me because You care. Thank you!

2. O- OPEN your heart:

Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything but pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers.”

Lord God, Today I need  __________. I ask You for it. I trust in Your strength to hold me and I thank You that You will guide me and direct my path. I wait in expectation.

3. M-MAKE requests:

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Lord God, Your grace is enough for all I am dealing with today. You have promised that even in my weakness Your strength is made perfect. Today I feel weak in ___________. I trust You to strengthen me. 

4. E-EXPECT: 

Romans 15:13 “May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Lord God, I receive Your joy and peace in my heart right now as I fully trust You to be the Manager of my day today. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Question: How do you COME to Jesus today?

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” (Psalm 23:5)

Our LORD has prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies, a safe place where all our needs will be met and where we will always be welcomed with unconditional love and acceptance.  Come let us dine. The amazing truth is that we are invited by the Lord Himself.

As we glance through the door we see beautiful crystal stemware filled with sparkling Living Water that we may never thirst again; a fresh, steaming loaf of bread, the Bread of Life, that we may never hunger again.  There is also a beautiful platter heaped high with the Fruit of The Spirit, the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, so that we need when we leave this place so we may manifest the character of Christ to those around us.

As we take our seats we are served from bowls overflowing with mercy and compassion, fresh every morning. There is wisdom prepared for us in heaven, and sufficient grace to satisfy our every need.  As we take time to look around we see the Light of the World shining there so that we need not walk in darkness.  If we listen closely we will hear the quiet voice of the one who says “I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go.”

And now, as we look to see who is at this table with us we see The Great I AM seated at the head of the table waiting to fellowship with us. He is revealed to us afresh through His wonderful names: Jehovah Elohim, ever faithful; El Shaddai, giver of strength; El Elyon, The Most High God.

If we relax and choose to spend some time at this table we will sup with Jehovah Jirah, our provider; Jehovah Shammah, always there for us in every way and in every situation; Jehovah Tsidkinu, our righteousness, whose blood cleanses us from all sin and washes us white as snow; Jehovah Ra-ah, our shepherd, waiting to take us into the green pastures of abundant life; Jehovah Rapha, our healer; Jehovah Nissi, our banner, ever ready to lead us into victory, and Jehovah Shalom, our peace.

The Holy Spirit, our comforter, counselor, intercessor, helper, teacher and friend, is also there, waiting to commune with us. If we come to this table hungry and thirsty we will be filled.  If we come prepared to leave the cares of the world behind we will find rest for our souls.  If we are willing to leave the hurts of the past and the present at this table we will receive beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning, as we experience the power of God’s love to heal our wounds and set us free.

Lord, I want to spend time at Your table.  I want You to be my refuge and my source.  I thank you that the banquet has been prepared for me and my place has been set, that my absence will be noted and my welcome is certain.  You have called me into fellowship with Your Son, Jesus Christ and you are faithful.  Amen

Question: What do you need to ask God for today?

Have you been following along with the Advent Journeys series? Today we have the 4th lesson, Wise Men: In Search of the King.

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

The angels proclaimed “Peace on Earth” when the Baby Jesus was born. Today we wonder as we listen to the evening news, is peace possible? We all need two kinds of peace in our lives. We need inner peace but we also need peace with others. God addresses both. He tells us what to do to find that peace.

Inner peace begins with a relationship with God and it continues as we focus on His strength and allow Him to fill us. We can exchange our weakness for His strength in any area of life.  God’s Word says, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is focused on You because He trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

Personalize that verse with your own name in it: “God will keep me in perfect peace as my mind focuses on Him and trusts Him.” Inner peace hinges on my trust in God.

If inner peace is eluding you these days and anxiety spills over in your life, choose to trust God. You can choose to put your hand in His and draw on His patience and wisdom as you take each step. He will guide you through the maze of life if you ask Him. Choosing to trust God with those blind corners in your life will take you down the road to inner peace. Choosing not to trust Him will take you down the road to stress and worry. Inner peace is there for the choosing.

Peace with others begins as we understand that God has called us to be peacemakers in our world. Is there somewhere in your own world where you can be a peacemaker this Christmas? Is there an invitation that needs to be extended to smooth over a fractured family relationship? Is there an apology to be made or a silence to be broken that has stood as a barrier for too long?  Don’t miss the blessing God promises in your life as you respond to His call to be a peacemaker in your own circle.

We can help bring peace to our world one heart at a time.

Prayer & reflection

Today, would you join me in praying the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:

Lord,
Make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; and Where there is sadness, joy… Divine Master; Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Question: Is there a specific situation where you can be an instrument of peace today? How can we pray for you?

What does “stillness” actually look like? See how it can fit into your life.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Imagine the scene: a well-dressed businesswoman rushes to the conference table, arriving five minutes after the meeting’s scheduled opening. Papers scatter as she places them before her, beads of perspiration coat her brow and we hear one side of a frantic cell phone conversation.

Another woman, equally important in the company hierarchy, drops her child at day care, turns her phone to vibrate and five minutes before the scheduled opening seats herself at the conference table where her colleagues gather for planning. They relax in her confident appearance of leadership.

Both women carry heavy loads of responsibilities. Both have families and full schedules. Both know that the hours ahead may present nearly insurmountable difficulties. Without examining the reasons behind each woman’s preparation, or lack of same, perhaps there is a spiritual lesson to be learned.

Which woman do I most resemble when I meet with God each day? Do I dash into His presence wearing an attitude of, “Here I am, God, let’s get on with it.” Does my mind appear as scattered as a haystack? Or do I take a deep breath, close my “closet” door on all the whirling responsibilities of my life, sink into a chair and simply be still before Him?

God awaits and welcomes us no matter our appearance or attitude, but how much more precious to us would be the time if we prepared more thoroughly. In the 17th Century, Catharina von Schlegel wrote these words:

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

 As we get closer and closer to the busyness of Christmas, take time to be still with God.

Dear God, Remind me to come to you.  Remind me to put my rushing aside, to set down the good things I am doing and just come and be with You. Thank you for being the greatest gift of all.  Amen.

 Question: When is it hardest for you to be still?

“Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.” (Psalm 91:9-10)

Is that the truth? If you believe God  is Truth and that all Scripture is God-breathed, then it must be true.

Yet, how often do we see deeply devoted Christians go through horrible hardships and heartaches? I know faithful Christians with adult children in prison, or kids who are drug addicts on the streets, yet they raised them in the faith. There are others who have lost spouses to death way too early, like me, or have buried children. Others are jobless and wondering if God really will provide. Perhaps you have gone through some of this. You follow God, you pray, you go to church and try to live a Godly life. Then – wham! – life slaps you in the face, kicks you in the gut and leaves you in a heap in the alley. What caused that effect?

Does the verses in this Psalm ring true? The physical evidence negates it. Look at Job. Look at the early Christian martyrs. All except one apostle, John who was exiled to Patmos, were hunted down like dogs and brutally murdered. Hey, Look at Christ!

Ah, there is the answer. Look at Christ. His kingdom is not of this world, and neither is his followers’. No matter what we go through in this earthly life, if we keep our eyes on Him, Jesus Christ will be our refuge, enveloping us in peace and comfort. He pulls us into the eye of calm as the storms of this world rage around us like a hurricane. He can protect our souls from the plague of negativity and skepticism, and from evil thoughts turning into doubt and despair.

His disciples saw a crippled man on the road and asked Jesus what evil had the man or his parents done that he should be like that. Jesus tells them they have it all wrong. It is not a cause and effect thing. Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”  (John 9:3)

When we go through tough times, people can see if we fall away from our faith or are steadfast and cling to it. Life is hard, and unfair. Bad things do happen, no matter if you are good or bad. It is not a cause an effect thing.

How easy is it to try and find blame —on ourselves, on someone else, even on God? How ironic that at this holy-day season, all the blemishes in our lives can become so vivid against the backdrop of commercials showing happy families, peace on earth, and friends of good cheer.

But the effect on your life, and perhaps on those around you, can be drastically different if Christ is your cause.  This season, renew Christ’s effect on your life by causing to remember why He came to earth, and died. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:11-12)

Heavenly Father, thank you that we can run to you when the world crowds in. Let us remember during the hustle and bustle of the season—when families clash, tragedies hit, we don’t have the money to buy the latest and greatest, and all is not calm or bright—that it is all about Your Son and You in our lives. Do not let the plague of worldliness enter our tent. Be our refuge and our strength, and the peace that passes all understanding. Through your Son we pray, Amen.

Questions: How will you take refuge in Christ this holiday? What effect will it have on you, or cause you to do differently?

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46: 10)

Whether on the streets of Bangkok or up in the mountains above Vancouver, we are on the clock.  There is so much to do and we wonder how we will fit it all in. This is contrary to God’s words in Psalm 46: 10. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Have you ever felt that life feels like a race?  Do you find that you are into a number of projects and activities and opportunities keep coming?

If you are highly organized and have good boundaries, things can seem to be manageable. You make your lists and goals and work away at them though very stressful. If you are less organized and struggle with what needs to be done, there is a danger of continuing to accept more responsibility and then finding yourself in a deep hole.  However you work, God has a simple but profound truth to help keep you focused on what life is all about.  He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

This is where we can take a deep breath and find a place to debrief.  I know firsthand, if we can set aside time with our Creator, we can then begin to let the dust settle.  Things come into perspective. Then we can begin to organize the important things in our life and come to a solution.

Ask yourself:  Have I over-extended myself to the point where my family life has suffered?  Am I spending too much money without sitting down and making a list of financial priorities?  Am I so busy that I can’t take care of my physical health? Do I take time to listen to what God wants me to do or bless me?

When God has priority, we begin to love Him more and more.  When this happens our walls break down, we stop blaming, we gain true perspective, and we LISTEN.  Instead of panic, we have PEACE.

I encourage you to ‘be still’.  Lock yourself in a room to listen, sit in a favourite comfy chair after the kids have gone to bed, or find a special outside spot to sit or walk. Those can be times of refreshment.  They are for me.

God wants us to sit before Him, breathe, and listen to Him. He wants us to be still and reflect on His goodness despite the deadlines, the pain, and the next day!  He will be exalted no matter what, but wouldn’t it be awesome if we can participate in that because we have taken the time to ‘be still’.

I write this from my heart because I get caught up in projects and duties very innocently.  Our days are numbered, so we need to enjoy God to the fullest and He will grant us stillness!

Psalm 143: 8 “Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you.  I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance.”

Father God, we are such busy, busy people.  Grant us a desire to slow down and listen to Your Heart.  As we are ‘still’ before You, help us detox all the unnecessary things in our life that keep us from being still.  Give us wisdom to be faithful in the ones we should be doing.  Thank you for Your help.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God grant you to be still before Him this week.

Question: How do you fit stillness into your life?

Do you struggle with contentment? See your world in a new light with our guided life lesson.

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Phil 4:11b)

I wanted hair like Farah Fawcett. When I was in the 8^th grade I had long hair down to my waist.  I knew my hair was wavy and a bit frizzy at times but I didn’t know it was curly.  And then, Farah Fawcett arrived on the scene in Charlie’s Angels and I just had to have my hair cut like hers!  I immediately began to picture myself with those feathered wings and knew they were going to make me beautiful. Unfortunately, curly hair doesn’t do well when feathered.  I cried and cried.  I hated my hair!

Why am I never satisfied with what God has given me?

It seems that we are never satisfied.  If we have curly hair we want straight hair and if we have straight hair we dream of having curly hair.  If the weather is cold, we want it hot and if it’s too hot we want it cooler.  We think a computer will make our life easier and then we complain because it’s too slow.  The list goes on and on . . .

Paul says in Philippians 4:11 “I have learned to be content with whatever I have.”  What does it mean to be content?  How am I to be content when so many things are going wrong?

In chapter 3 of this book he explains how he is able to be content wherever he is, whether he has a lot or a little.  Listen to what he says, “I once thought these things were valuable (he’s speaking about his credentials as a Jew) but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.”

When we begin to understand Christ’s true sacrifice for us on the cross and what He did so that we could know Him, all of the things that seem so important fade away to nothing in the light of His great love!  That’s how we live in contentment.

How silly it has been for me to focus so much time and attention on my hair when I have the privilege of knowing the one who created me and has counted all those hairs on my head!

Lord, draw my heart to You.  Help me to set aside those things that are unimportant in the light of the incredible cost you paid and teach me live in contentment.  Amen.

Question: How does a lack of contentment affect your day? How does it affect your spiritual health?

Learn more about how to live in harmony with others with Dr. Muriel’s Recipe for Peace.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

I grew up in a musical family.  My mother played the piano and mandolin.  Dad played the violin and drums. My brother played the trumpet.  And I played the piano, organ, clarinet, and saxophone. For some reason, they wouldn’t let me carry a piano in the high school band.

As a pianist I have often helped others to get their instruments tuned up to the piano.  With stringed instruments, every string must be tuned for the music to sound right. My father tuned pianos, and they have many more strings than hand-held instruments!  If several keys are flat compared to the rest, there goes the harmony.

If several strings can cause disharmony in an instrument, just think what a few disgruntled Christians can do to a church. Well, think about it.  Perhaps you can remember a church split of some kind that separated and scattered the people, and all because a few persons spread disharmony.

Do we listen?  Do we join the discord? How can we save the harmony in our church?

• When we first perceive the clink of a discordant note, we can get right with the Lord if necessary. Check Romans 12:1-2 and Psalm 51.  Walking close to the Lord enables us to hear His guiding voice of wisdom. He fills our hearts with love and concern for our fellow Christians–all of them. He restrains us from adding to the discordance.
• Abstain from gossip, criticism, or caustic debate.  As we walk with Jesus, we will know in our hearts just how we may contribute to harmony and not to the cacophony.
• Pray, pray, pray!  Often when a piano gets out of tune, moisture may be involved.  Well, when a church gets out of tune, the devil is probably involved.  Peter counsels the church, “Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

“Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9) The devil loves to tear up churches!

Ephesians 4:26 tells us, “In your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”  We may get involved in church disharmony when we get up our “righteous indignation”.  (Well, hey, that sounds a little more “Christian” than anger, doesn’t it?)

Our Lord knows the right way to handle every situation with a minimum of ill feelings.  As we pray, God will show us His way to deal with anything–and He will help in the resolution.

God’s Word twice gives the following recipe for harmony:  “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.  He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Pet. 3:10-12; Ps. 34:12-16)  And Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9)

Lord, Help me to be a peacemaker in my circle of influence. Amen.

Questions: Are you part of the disharmony in your church? What steps can you take to become a peacemaker instead of causing disharmony?

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, You’ve Already Won, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

The In Flanders Fields poem was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae on May 3 1915. He wrote it after witnessing the death of his friend on the battlefield the day before. It is a solemn reminder of the atrocities of war and an admonishment to steadfastly remain vigilant even when faced with terrifying adversity.

On this day we honor those who bravely fought for freedom and justice, and many of whom bravely gave their lives for the noble cause. It goes by different names in different places, including Remembrance Day, Veteran’s Day, Poppy Day, and Armistice Day, but the sentiment is the same: Not to glorify the tragedy of war, but to commemorate the valor of those who fought to defend their country.

Brigadier General (ret.) Robinson Risner, a veteran pilot who fought in World War 2, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, is one of those brave military soldiers who we should remember today. Despite being shot down twice over enemy territory, and being captured and tortured, each time it happened he wasted no time taking to the skies again, ready to serve his country. Read his story: Enduring Torture in a POW Camp

Please feel free to share your own stories of remembrance or commemoration in the comments below. If you feel the need to speak with someone in private, our online mentors are always available to listen.

This week I walked into a restaurant and came face to face with a wall of white hearts, each bearing a name of a soldier recently lost in the battle for freedom.

Today is a special day of remembering those heroes and heroines who have courageously stood, and have bravely fallen, in order to keep freedom alive for those who come behind them. To each we are eternally grateful!

Today there are many who share a painful memory of a loved one gone in this brave fight for freedom. For some it is a faded photograph from years ago. For others, it is an empty chair at the dinner table tonight.

We must remember! We dare not forget! Freedom is precious! The freedom to speak, to pray, to write, the freedom to vote, the freedom of religion, the freedom of expression are just some of the freedoms for which precious blood was spilt.

Today, let us pause and remember. Let us pause and give thanks for those brave ones who have brought us this far. Let us pause and determine to hold these freedoms high and dear and to defend them now as they have been defended in the past.

The ancient call to God’s people, the Israelites, to remember the path the Lord had led them on in their journey to freedom is a call that is well worth repeating today. It’s found in the historical record of their journey in Deuteronomy 4:9:

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”

Father God,
Today I pause to say “thank you” for the freedoms I enjoy; freedoms that were gained at great cost and freedoms that I do not want to take for granted. Comfort those hearts today that ache with the void of a loved one lost in this great battle. Please grant wisdom to the leaders who carry on the high cause of freedom.  Fill our hearts with Your great love and may we each do our part to bring peace today, right where we are, as we celebrate the freedoms we enjoy.  We pray this in the name of Jesus, amen.