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prayer

Keep at It! (Luke 11)

by TerryLema

One day the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. He gave them what we call “The Lord’s Prayer.” He also gave them a teaching on persistent prayer.  Part of that is a verse most of us have memorized. I like the way the Holman Christian Standard translates it.

“So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” [Luke 11:9-10 HCSB]

Whenever I read that exhortation to be persistent in our prayers, it takes me back to Moses in Exodus 33. The previous chapter in Exodus relates how the people had engaged in idolatry using a golden calf. That angered God who then invited Moses to intercede for them. Which, he did, of course. However, God told Moses to take the people to the Promised Land, and while He would provide an angel to lead them, He would not go with them.

Chapter 33 is Moses’ persistent prayer. He asks, he seeks, and he knocks. And each time Moses does, God responds.

Moses Asks: “Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people.” God Responds: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

 Moses Seeks: “If Your presence does not go don’t make us go up from here. How will it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight unless You go with us?” God Responds: “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”

Moses Knocks: “Please, let me see Your glory.” God Responds: “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name Yahweh before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

Persistent Prayer. Amen

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Rejoicing

by TerryLema

Last December a friend sent me a quilt square with the words of Romans 12:12 embroidered on it. “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” [HCSB]

I do not remember if I thanked her, but I have read those words every day since receiving her gift. (I put the square next to my hearing device case so that I see it every morning and every night.) Those words have ministered to my soul over and over. As I repeated them once again this morning, I realized that they are the roadmap to take me [us] through those difficult times of life.

Over the course of the last two years, I have been hopeful that my two auto-immune diseases will one day go into remission. While waiting, I am trying to be patient in the midst of the debilitating symptoms. I am also persistent in praying for God’s most perfect plan for my life … whether that brings healing or simply His grace that is sufficient for my every need. [2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”)

This morning I am “tentatively” rejoicing in hope. The past two weeks I have been relatively free of the PMR pain and GCA scalp and face discomfort. I have developed side effects from the medication that apparently has shut down my adrenal glands (weakness, lack of stamina, sweating and hot flashes), but the daily battle with pain has not been an issue.

That is amazing! And I am praising God for this, and cautiously hopeful that the PMR and GCA is in remission. I am also hopeful that I can deal with the new issues. To have two-weeks pain free after two years of constant pain is truly a blessing.

Rejoicing in Hope: “I put my hope in You, Lord; You will answer, Lord my God.” [Psalm 38:15 HCSB]

Patient in Affliction: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose”. [Romans 8:28 HCSB]

Persistent in Prayer: “[Jesus] then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged.” [Luke 18:1 HCSB]

Bless the LORD O my soul! Amen

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One Bright Yellow Mum

by TerryLema

The family in the house across the street was here before we moved in. At the time they had a young daughter and son, they now have two more daughters and one more son. We have been across-the-street acquaintances since 2007.

The eldest daughter and I often wave or call out to each other. She has graduated from high school and gone to work. She bought a shiny red car about a year ago and it is evident she takes great pride in it – it is always shiny!

A few days before we left for California, I saw her standing in the driveway looking at her car. She was in her pajamas and wrapped in a blanket. When I went outside, she called out to me that she had been in an auto accident. As I walked across the street, I saw that the driver’s side of her car was smashed in, her window broken. She told me that she was initially life flighted to a local hospital. She had severe whiplash and a concussion. She was holding her left arm close to her chest and you could tell she was in pain.

I asked her if I could pray with her. She agreed. I asked God to heal her body, comfort her mind, give her peace, and take care of her car. I never asked who was at fault in the accident. I just prayed and hugged her gently.

The evening before we left, she showed up on my doorstep with one bright yellow mum. She thanked me for praying for her and said that she went in the house after our meeting and was crying when she told her mom about our “driveway prayer.”

One of the greatest privileges we have as Christians is to come before the LORD to lift others up in prayer. We never know what others are experiencing, or how deeply a simple prayer might touch their lives. We should never miss an opportunity to not only prayer for, but to pray with someone.

1 John 5:14: Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

 

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In Jesus’ Name, we pray … Amen!

by TerryLema

More thoughts about the name of Jesus today. Shortly before Jesus’ death He instructed His disciples to use His Name when praying to the Father. He told them to pray with the expectation that Father God would answer their prayers.

“I assure you: Anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.  Until now you have asked for nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” [John 16:23b-24 HCSB]

But, what really does it mean to pray “in Jesus’ Name?”  Is it just adding those three words to the end of our prayers as some sort of magical charm?

To pray in Jesus’ name means praying with His authority and asking God the Father to answer our prayers because we come by faith in the Person (the Name) of His Son Jesus.

It means also, and this may be the most important part to remember, that we pray in complete agreement with Jesus’ character and His will. Our prayers are a mirror, a true representation of Who Jesus is.

Our prayers should be compassionate, full of love, caring, unselfish, and always glorify and honor Him. There is no room for egotism, greediness, vengeance or hate in our prayers.

In that wonderful name of Jesus we have the authority to pray … and to serve and work … believing in His saving power, and aligning ourselves with the will of God.

How precious that name. Jesus.

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On Our Knees!

by TerryLema

Last Sunday we had A-LIVE Church – in our building, for the first time since March 8. We have had a few parking-lot services, but while they allowed us to be together in our cars, on church grounds, it just was not the same. Being in the building with each other, even behind masks and six feet apart was a wonderful time.

I am praying, as I am sure we all are, that there will be no spike, that no one in our congregation will acquire the virus, that soon this virus will run its course, whether or not there is a vaccine or better treatments. I want it to simply be G-O-N-E.

It did teach the church something, I hope. We hopefully learned how quickly a government can deem a church non-essential and simply close her doors. The churches in Idaho complied. And Idaho was not harsh in its shutting us down. Other states were, some issuing fines, arresting pastors who disobeyed. Even opening churches again one state wanted a list of names and addresses of attendees so it could “follow up” if there were problems.

Whatever the reason we were shut down, this time by a virus, we need to remember that the enemy of our souls will use anything and everything to see the church silenced and made non-essential in our day. We cannot allow that to happen, beloved. We must battle any attempt to render the church insignificant.

As I say that, I want to also remind us that there are many ways the church can become insignificant. Not all of them an attack from the outside! (One good example is when we preach a gospel that is not The Gospel of Christ Jesus.)

But mostly today, let us remember the most important thing. We are not fighting people. We are not fighting politicians. We are not fighting governments. No, our battle is so much bigger! “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” [Eph 6:12]

That is a battle we will not win on social media or in the polls or even in the voting booths, it is a battle fought on our knees in prayer.

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by TerryLema

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” [Luke 11:1-4]

In response to their request, Jesus gave them what we call “The LORD’s Prayer.”

“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” [NKJV]

Too often when we pray this prayer it’s just a bunch of words. We fail to consider the glorious requests contained within.

It begins simply, our Father in heaven. Those are the most amazing four words. Say them aloud, Our-Father-In-Heaven.

We have not just a Creator (as stunning as that is on its own), we have a Father, a perfect, holy, powerful, all-knowing, always with us Father.

He is everything a father should be. Loving. Adoring. Protective. Courageous. Faithful. Disciplining. Guiding. Honest. Holy. Father.

Most of us are in lock down for the next few weeks. Let’s start praying. I mean really praying – not just uttering words that have little meaning, nor listing our needs one after another. Let’s get real with our Father.

Father, today, may we experience in our prayer life what it truly means to have You, the Sovereign, Mighty, God as our Father. Amen.

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Gethsemane

by TerryLema

It was late at night. The Passover meal was done. Judas had left the group to finalize handing Jesus over to those seeking His death.

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’“ [Matt 26:36-38 NIV]

We know the disciples didn’t keep watch; they fell asleep. Jesus was left alone to agonize over what was just ahead of Him. It was such a deep sorrow that as He contemplated that awful cup He would have to drink, he sweated great drops of bloody sweat. He had to be strengthened by angels sent from the Father just to keep praying.

“Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” [Luke 22:43-44 NKJV]

You have probably heard me say this before. This was the deciding moment for all time. When Jesus arose from His prayer in the Garden, His decision was made. He never wavered from that point on. He was determined to complete the work. He was in full control through the trials, the torture, the bloody cross.

When I read of the crucifixion I see my sin, but I think I see my sin and what it cost God’s Son to die for me even more in these moments before the cross as Jesus suffered in the Garden. Even the anticipation of the dregs of that cup of sin and perversions was abhorrent to the Son of God. And yet, because of His love for us, He made the choice to endure it all for the joy (for us) that was set before Him.

Oh, Jesus, Savior of my soul, forgive me. Never let me take for granted all you have done for me. Let me live my life to bring honor to your name. Give me opportunity to share Your amazing love with others so that they might also know you. Amen & Amen.

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A House of Prayer

by TerryLema

After the Triumphal Entry, Jesus went to the Temple area and drove out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers who were making a profit by selling animals for sacrifice. He quoted words given by the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, “’It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ for all nations, but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” [Mark 11:17, Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11]

When the religious leaders heard this, and saw Jesus healing the sick in the Temple area, it angered them beyond belief, so much so, that they began looking for ways to kill Him.

There are times when I read about the events of the last week of Jesus’ life that I wonder what He would do if He came into our “temple area,” into our places of corporate gathering. Would He be allowed to sit and heal the sick and wounded, or would He have to drive out the moneychangers first.

You might think we don’t have moneychangers in our modern day church … but we do. Moneychangers are anything in our churches that have taken the place of the presence of Jesus and the fire of the Holy Spirit. They can be amenities, attitudes, false teaching or an incomplete Gospel. They must be driven out so that Jesus can once again teach and heal and set free.

Today (and perhaps for many weeks) the meeting-sites are closed. The church must be creative in how we worship our God, minister grace and bring hope to the world. What we have to offer now are the great eternal truths and the love and care that will lead others to salvation and strengthen those who are bound with fear.

There’s no room for the moneychangers in our temple areas. Maybe that’s something we need to remember when the doors open once more.

Jesus, we welcome you into our “temple areas” with great joy. Amen.

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7:14 PM Prayer

by TerryLema

2 Chronicles 7:13-14: “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” [NKJV]

Many Christians leaders are calling for a day of fasting and prayer tomorrow, March 29. They are also asking Christians to stop at 7:14 PM every night during this crisis and pray 1 Chronicles 7:14. That certainly seems a prophetic word since we are in the midst of a “pestilence” in our land.

We can’t gather in our buildings in most places across this nation. We are to self-isolate to prevent the spread of this COVID-19 pestilence. But I have learned over the years that there is no time nor distance in the power of the Holy Spirit and prayer.

So, let’s join the world and set a timer on our phones, watches, Kindles or whatever to remind us to stop what we are doing at 7:14 PM and pray and repent and humble ourselves before the LORD our God Almighty.

The United States is a great nation, one of the greatest in history. Our people have invented more, done more, that we probably even realize.

Still, there is much for which we need to repent. We are a divided nation under the control of greed and covetousness. We are a nation that sheds the blood of innocents every day. We are a nation that often disregards the poor and the marginal of our society. We spew hate from our media and social media. Many of our churches have become bastions of complacency and heresy.

God promised, however, that if we seek His face, if we turn from our wicked ways, He will hear and forgive and heal our land. 7:14 PM Prayer. Amen.

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GREATER HEIGHTS

by TerryLema

I returned Wednesday from a Pastor’s Prayer Summit. All I can say is “Wow!” and that it will probably take me weeks (months?) to process everything I experienced, heard, felt and received while there. I have never spent three days praying mainly from the Scriptures. It was a new experience. I wondered before I went if I could pray for three days in a row, but when it was over I wished it had been four, or five or six days in a row. I am barely back and already looking forward to next year.

I had so many things running through my mind and heart when I returned on Wednesday. I already missed the beautiful peace and silence of that mountain location back off the highway. I missed being in the mountains rather than just seeing them from a distance as I do here in the Treasure Valley.

Wednesday before we left, I just stood at the great windows in the conference center and looked out, soaking in as much as I could of God’s magnificent scenes before me.

Boise is almost 3000-foot elevation. I always feel as if I am in the mountains here. At the Prayer Summit I was in the mountains I can see from Boise – with even higher mountains before me.

I thought before the Prayer Summit that I had a good prayer life – that I prayed well and often. After these three days at the Summit, I realized that my prayer life is far short of what it should be. I went much higher than I dreamed I could and realized that there is still more.

I had a “Boise” prayer life, experienced a “mountain” one – and now desiring those even greater heights awaiting.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” [Colossians 4:2]

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