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Tag: Prayer

Through the Word in 2020 – June 12 / A Most Profound Prayer

June 12th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

“God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food – Amen.”

Raised in a Christian home, I had the privilege of being taught to pray early on. What I just quoted is the first prayer I remember being taught. Nearly 70 years later, it’s still a good prayer to pray. Tho I trust with less rote than when I first learned it. Little did I know then the true depth and theological significance of those 14 little words. That’s our topic today on Through the Word in 2020.

We’ve talked before about the amazing economy of words the Bible often uses. One case in point is part of our reading for today – Psalm 100. It comes to us along with 2 Kings 6:24–8:15; Ephesians 1:1–2; and Mark 15:21–32.

The structure of the Psalm is simple:

Vss. 1-2 are a call to worship the Lord with gladness.

vs. 3 offers 3 reasons for that activity:

a. Because the Lord we serve is God. Supreme. Holy. The Creator.

b. Because He made us! We are not cosmic accidents. You and me, each one of us exists because God determined it was wisest and best and most pleasing to Him for us to be a part of His universe. He personally decided you should personally – be.

c. Because as made by Him and for Him, He takes personal responsibility for us. He sees to it our needs are met like a gentle and loving shepherd. We aren’t just out here in life flapping in the breeze. We are His.

vs. 4 – Contemplating those realities, and we DO need to stop and actually let those things sink in – for once they do – they incite us to worship again.

Which brings us to vs. 5 and the simple prayer I was first taught at the supper table.

In vs. 3 – we contemplated God’s greatness, but in vs. 5 we are brought to see He is not just great – but He is good. A good God whose steadfast love endures forever. And whose faithfulness – His inviolable commitment to see all of His promises come to pass – extends to all generations. Time is no enemy to His bringing every promise to pass. No place is that more perfectly demonstrated than in Christ’s atoning death for our sins, finally coming to pass after its first being promised in Genesis 3.

And here is the great lesson in all of this: No matter what we are facing today, globally, personally, nationally, physically, circumstantially – our God is great. Greater than all. Greater than all of them put together. He is more than sufficient for all we need. Greater than all that threatens us. Our God dear one – is GREAT! Not small. Not ineffective. Not distant. Not disinterested. Not unaware. Our God is great.

But if He were great, and not also good – His greatness might not mean very much. But He is not only great – He is GOOD. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

There is no defect in Him. No shortcoming. Nothing dark, nefarious or evil in the slightest way. He is good. All good. Infinitely, absolutely, unchangeably holy, and just and righteous and good. And He can do His loved ones no harm in any way.

When you sit for breakfast or lunch or dinner today – take a few moments to bow your head. And seeing the provision in front of you – stop and consider: Your food is there to eat, and you are there to eat it – because your God is great. And your God is good. Thank Him for that food.

In that simple prayer – Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name.

I’m Reid Ferguson. And God willing, we’ll be back next Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 / April 10 – Praying with Asaph

April 10th, 2020

Praying with Asaph

Our journey through the Scriptures brings us to the following passages today: Mark 3:1-6; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Joshua 19:10-48

And although technically we have no reading from the Psalms today – I’d like us to consider Ps. 77 from yesterday.

Like so many of the Psalms, this one is a prayer. And it wasn’t written by King David, but rather by a man named Asaph.

He was one of the men King David appointed to oversee worship in Temple in Jerusalem.

His legacy is an interesting one which spans much of the Old Testament.

I find this Psalm so compelling both for the beauty of the poetry, and for the way Asaph speaks to the experience of my own spiritual life.

For this Psalm is a prayer for those seasons when God seems to have withdrawn, when He seems distant.

And for all of us who have experienced this – which is probably all of us who know Christ – I find my being able to identify with his experience, and the counsel his prayer brings – wonderfully useful.

Let me try to summarize the Psalm, and put some of his words into my own in an effort to make them useful to you today as well. Especially if you find yourself in one of those dry or distant seasons right now.

1-9 / When it seems as though God has abandoned me, that He has forgotten to be gracious, I won’t just grit my teeth and bear it – I will cry out to God, cry loudly to Him, because I know He WILL hear me.

I’ll keep seeking Him, morning, noon and night, even though I have inward fears that He won’t answer – or that I’ve gone too far in failing Him this time. Even though I fear His promises may have come to an end for me.

After all, can it ever really be true that God has forgotten to be gracious? That He has lost compassion?

10 / No, that can’t be it – so this is what I will do: First, I will make myself remember back to when I used to know Him near – when I saw His power at work.

11 / Second, I will make myself remember the things He has done in times past.

And here is where Asaph’s wording shifts to prayer: I’ll remember the wonders you’ve performed Lord.

I’ll reflect on the glory of Your Creation.

12 / And displays of your power.

13 / That you are holy. And that you alone are God.

14 / That you have made yourself known to your people – You have revealed yourself in your works and in Your Word.

15 / I especially recall how you redeemed us out of Egypt – out of the world.

16-18 / How you parted the Red Sea. Did impossible things in delivering us.

19 / And how you were not visible then either. But still, You walked through the sea in front of us – even though we couldn’t see your footprints.

20 / I will remember that You yourself shepherded us, cared for us, tended us – and provided for us through ordinary human agents like Moses and Aaron.

I will remember that you are the Good Shepherd.

I will trust in your character.

If I can summarize the entire Psalm here: In those dark and distant days – I will direct my mind to fix on who and what You are Oh God, and how you have proved yourself true to yourself and your promises throughout all generations.

And stay there, until you answer again.

Beloved, let that sink into your soul today.

God bless – and God willing, we’ll visit again on Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 / Feb. 12

February 12th, 2020

We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/

Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 15:1-20; Acts 21:1-26; Psalm 35, Exodus 32-33.

Make no mistake, seeking the Lord always requires some sort of “going out.” Of stepping aside from the ordinary in time, thought, and yes, at times even place.

It is true that God is with us everywhere. It is true that God is not found in a specific location. And yet, seeking God takes us beyond the mundane. You may live with your spouse or children, but you know full well that such day-to-day living is not the same as closeness and intimacy. For these, one must go out – step aside from the norm.

So let me ask, do you ever go out from your normal routine to seek God? Is there time set aside for just that? Is there effort made to be with His people for the purpose of seeking Him in worship and to hear His Word preached? Is there time for more than just passing chit-chat with God so that prayer is a true meeting, face to face?

As our text notes, everyone who sought the Lord, took time to break off from the norm – to go outside “the camp”, the regular, the routine? And it is so even today.

He is there. But you need to step aside in seeking Him. Or you will not know Him. Know His ways. Know His heart. Know the reality of another of today’s texts: When His Spirit says directly to your soul “I am your salvation.” Such assurance comes to those who step outside their day – to seek Him. If only for a few minutes.

Isaiah 55:6 (ESV) — “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
Margin notes: A “united” heart

December 5th, 2019

Psalm 86:1–17 (ESV) — 1 Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. 3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. 7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. 8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. 15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. 17 Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Psalm 86 bears the title: “A Prayer of David.” And I love how David prays, as much as I need to look at what he prays for.

In the “how” column, he prays as a “poor and needy” man. Cognizant that he has nothing in himself. He prays too as a “godly” man. Not perfect. Not righteous in himself. But one who looks to and desires to serve the one true and living God. He prays to the Lord who is “good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” To the God who does “great and wondrous things.”

The “what” he prays for is notable as well. Deliverance from opposing or oppressing enemies. That’s reasonable. But the real sum and substance of his concern is in vs. 11 ” Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” a. To know God’s ways as taught from God Himself. b. To walk in truth – in God’s reality. c. And above all – that his heart might be united that he might fear God’s name. How intriguing. A united heart.

A “united” heart; in other words, one that does not have any divided loyalties, but is wholly set upon finding its joy and satisfaction and fullness in Christ alone. One that fears God alone, and nothing nor anyone else. Oh how divided my own heart often is – torn by a host of loyalties and desires rather than unified in the fear and love of God in Jesus Christ.

So let’s pray with David today: Oh Holy Spirit, grant this heart to me! Heavenly Father, grant your Spirit to create this heart within this weak and brittle vessel. Give me, give we your servants, a singular, united heart – to fear your name. For the cause and glory of Christ we pray. Amen.
Margin notes: An encouragement to prayer

September 4th, 2019

Matthew 20:29–34 (ESV) — 29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

What a great encouragement to prayer this account is.

Note that Jesus is never too busy, never too preoccupied to hear us when we pray. Nor does He fail to hear us because of where we are. These men were unable to go to Him, but He was passing by. He always is. And despite the chaos of the “great crowd” and the rebukes of that crowd to stop pestering Jesus – perhaps interrupting His teaching – He heard. And stopped. And responded.

And note how He did not presume to know what they wanted. He asked them. He does not respond like a machine, but in pity and in an attitude of personal care. While we might think their blindness was the obvious need, who knows what else may have been the case. Might there be an even worse malady, or perhaps someone else they would petition for? But He stops to ask. As He does with us. He waits to hear our hearts and minds. He gives us His tender, personal attention.

Nor is He offended that their prayer centered on their own perceived need at the moment. He did not rebuke them that they did not ask for greater, grander, more spiritual things. They cried out, out of their need. And so do we. And no doubt, there were better, more important things they could have asked for. But this is where they were. This is what filled their hearts at the moment. And Jesus, in His tenderness and compassion meets the need of the moment as they were experiencing it. He is so good and gracious and overflowing with compassion toward us – in all of our needs, great and small.

As they followed Him after their healing, no doubt they learned to pray for many other things far beyond their mere physical needs. But this is where they began. And so with us. We grow in grace in time and the focus of our prayers can and will shift. But we ought never to forget how He meets us where we are, even as He designs to take us beyond where we are in time. Never be ashamed of the smallest need, but cast ALL of your cares upon Him. For He cares for us.
Margin notes: The power of prayer

September 3rd, 2019

Matthew 14:27–31 (ESV) — 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

We all know this famous account of Jesus walking on the water to the Disciples. Here they were in the storm, and here comes Jesus – in the most unlikely way. We can only imagine how mind-boggling this must have been for them. And then Peter – perhaps without thinking it through at all takes the step of asking Jesus to command him to walk on the sea. I for one would never have the nerve. Blessed impetuous Peter.

And then, distracted by the wind and waves, Peter begins to sink. And so he prays. No formally, the way we normally think of prayer – he just cries out in his panic. And it is so very informative and encouraging.

And when it is all said and done, could there be a more eloquent prayer? It is but 2 words in the Greek – “Lord! Save!”

It wasn’t dismissed for its brevity. It wasn’t ignored because it was uttered in terror. It wasn’t denied because the very thing which occasioned it was lack of faith – but it was answered because it was directed at our Lord. Because Christ is a Christ who saves those who call upon Him. Because He is merciful. Because He is faithful. Because He is compassionate. Because He is full of grace. Because He loves us. It is not the power, eloquence, length or glory of our prayers – but the wonder of the One we pray to. Never think your prayer too weak, too poorly phrased, too imprecise, too un-religious sounding to be heard and answered. For the power in prayer is not located in how well we pray, but in how well our Savior hears and responds. He is a prayer-hearing and answering God. And we have full access to Him because of Christ’s death on our behalf.

If your prayer today is only “Lord! Save!” Know it is enough. Because He is enough.
Margin notes: Fresh conviction

August 13th, 2019

1 Timothy 2:1–4 (ESV) — 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Some Scripture passages convict me anew every time I re-read them. This is one of those.

What are we to hope for from our governments? Merely that under their care, we may lead live:

a. Peacefully – Not be war seeking, but warring only when needed to bring peace.

b. Quietly – Not creating disquiet in society, but calm.

c. Godly – Not interfering with our service to God.

d. Dignified – Protecting the dignity and sanctity of human life.

This may serve too as a good guide regarding those whom we are to vote for in elections to government positions: Those whom – as best as we can discern – will be most likely to aim at these very same goals.

But how is this to be brought about? Prayer. Earnest prayer for those on all sides of our political and social discourse. That those we agree with and those with whom we have the most vigorous disagreement, would themselves find peace in reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ. That they might be possessed of a quieted demeanor, manifesting the inward influence of the Holy Spirit. That they would seek godliness in their private and public lives. And that in embracing the truth of mankind created in the image of God, they might seek to walk in and restore the dignity that rightly attaches itself to such.

It is easy to just pray about people. But our call is to pray for them. We cannot legislate, nor vote in a peaceful, quiet, godly and dignified society. We can only pray it into existence.

Whether the statement ascribed to Mary Queen of Scots in the graphic is authentic or not – it ought to be a genuine sentiment regarding Christians today. I am ashamed it probably cannot be said in truth.