You are Yahweh, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and changed his name to Abraham. You found his heart faithful in Your sight and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites – to give it to his descendants. You have kept your promise, for You are righteous. But they were disobedient and rebelled against You. They flung Your law behind their backs and killed Your prophets who warned them to turn back to You. They committed terrible blasphemies. So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. In their time of distress, they cried out to You, and You heard from heaven. In Your abundant compassion You gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the power of their enemies. You were patient with them for many years, and Your Spirit warned them through your prophets, but they would not listen. Therefore, You handed them over to the surrounding peoples. However, in Your abundant compassion, You did not destroy them or abandon them, for You are a gracious and compassionate God. Nehemiah 9: 7-8, 26-27, 30-31
My words…
Praise
Lord, I praise You for Your wisdom in selecting one man in whose ancestors would make up Your chosen people. What a privilege to be chosen by You! Supernatural exhibitions of Your power unfolded before this people. Their sandals were not caked in mud as they walked across the Red Sea bed, for the ground was completely dry even though a wall of water stood on their right and left. Wafery bread appeared on the ground each morning as they traveled through a land without a ready food source. Fortified stone walls crumbled at the sound of trumpets and shouting. A giant fell down dead at the hands of a teenager with a sling. I could go on and on, but I don’t need to. You were there! You loved this people. You instituted a set of rules for them and promised, “If you follow these rules, I promise to bless you.” These rules – this law – was intended to set Your people apart from those living around them. You have always been devoted to the concept of Your people being set apart – being wholly identifiable as Yours. And when they were – good stuff happened. More often than not, however, they weren’t, and You watched Your law being flung behind their backs as they adopted the reprehensible lifestyle of their pagan neighbors. They flung away the opportunity to be blessed by You. How foolish. And they paid for that decision. Every time. When they returned to You, bruised and contrite, You opened Your arms of compassion and welcomed them in. Every time. You are the God who is really good at showing Your people compassion – You had to do it often enough. And that is why I praise You today. You are the God of compassion. I can’t think of what the world would be like if You weren’t.
Prayer for me
So, I give the chosen Israelites a lot of grief. They witnessed firsthand the manifestations of Your power – all of the mighty works of Your hands I read about in the law and prophets. And still, they did not feel compelled by awe, by love, or by duty to “just say no” to hedonism. “If I would have seen what they saw,” I say to myself, “I would never have turned away from God. Never!” But in truth, I have no idea what I would have done. Knowing me, I would have grown tired of all of the sacrifices and just left all that up to the Levites. In time, I would have forgotten about the Red Sea and the crumbling walls, and the conquered enemies. I would have been the one needing Your compassion. How do I know this? Because You have given me a much simpler, straight forward set of rules to follow (love Me, love others), and I still live through times when I fling those behind my back and do what I want. You’re really good at showing me compassion. You’ve had to do it often enough. And I greatly desire it.
Forgive me
By showing me compassion, You are teaching me how to be compassionate to others. Your Spirit is the best teacher! But I am an unwilling student at times. Forgive me when I bask in the warmth of Your compassion then turn around and coldly refuse to offer it to others.
Thank You
Thank You for extending Your arms of compassion around Your wayward, repentant sons and daughters. You’ve been doing it over and over since creation. I thank You, especially, that You do not tire in doing so.
More praise
Oh God, you wear compassion like a cloak, ready to drape it over the shoulders of Your beloved. This cloak is not scratchy or thin or ill-fitting; it is soothing and ample and custom-made. I have worn it many times. I worship You, the tailor of compassion.
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” And they remembered His words. Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. May Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went home, amazed at what had happened. Luke 24:1-12
My words…
Praise
The Eleven were together, each one miserable, burdened with heartache, guilt, and hopelessness. The “remember when” stories were not enough to extract the anguish from the room. The image of their pummeled and bloodied Lord lay seared on their minds. “It wasn’t supposed to happen this way,” they surely said to each other. There was only one event powerful enough to sponge away the stifling memory and paralyzing guilt. But this event was beyond belief, outside the limits of reality. It was nonsense, according the Apostles. But not according to the guards posted at the tomb, too scared to move. Not according to the terrified women, their faces to the ground, the oil and spices scattered about them. They were witnesses of the aftermath of You retrieving Your Son from the place that was never meant to hold Him. The most holy reunion in heaven or on earth was the only event powerful enough to cleanse the believers’ hearts of terror and grief and guilt and replace it with amazement, joy, and the peace of forgiveness. The beloved Son of God has risen! Joseph could have his tomb back.
Prayer for others
Father, my heart aches for the many who believe the resurrection is nonsense. They do not experience the joy of Resurrection Sunday as I do. What a pity. I pray for a formidable revelation of Your Spirit on those who have been beguiled into dismissing this most astounding expression of Your love for all.
Thank You
Centuries and centuries of prayers of heart-felt gratitude have been lifted in thanksgiving for the sacrifice of Your Son dying, and You having to watch. I am adding mine to that reverent collection. My thankfulness motivates me to raise my hands and my voice to You, and my indebtedness causes me to fall to my knees. Thanks be to God the Son who suffered because of me, and thanks be to God the Father who turned sorrow into joy.
More praise
When You burst into Hades and defeated death, all of heaven cried for joy! The heavenly hosts would be in the presence of the Lamb once again! Some believe this act makes no sense. You are The Holy Grave Robber! It’s makes perfect sense to me.
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and who depend on horses! They trust in the abundance of chariots and in the large number of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and they do not seek the Lord’s help. But He also is wise and brings disaster. He does not go back on what He says. He will rise up against the house of wicked men and against the allies of the evildoers. Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the Lord raises His hand to strike, the helper will stumble and the one who is helped will fall; both will perish together. For this is what the Lord said to me: As a lion or young lion growls over its prey when a band of shepherds is called out against it, and is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their noise, so the Lord of Hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and in its hill. Like hovering birds, so the Lord of Hosts will protect Jerusalem – by protecting it, He will rescue it, by sparing it, He will deliver it. Isaiah 31:1-5
My words…
Praise
Through Your prophet, Isaiah, You reveal Yourself as a fighter, a protector, a rescuer. What a comfort! You are a lion and a hovering bird, protecting those who fear You and call on Your name. Your love comes with a protection plan. You love me, so You pierce the ear drums of my enemies with Your growl. Their impotent shouts cannot withstand Your roar. You hover over me when I am wounded, Your thundering wings melt the hearts of my attackers. As I would guard my own children from danger, so You guard me. You are the Holy One, and I am whole in body and spirit because of You.
Prayer for me
I strive each day to trust in Your wisdom and might as I tread this earthly path with You. But You have seen me stray from the path and jump into my chariots. Chariots are powerful vehicles, difficult to control. I’ve seen Ben-Hur. My bootstrap chariot is well-used, for that is the one I drive the most. In that chariot, I say, “Watch me! I can do this all by myself.” Something a four-year-old would say. Then there’s my denial chariot. I ride this one when I reason nothing is wrong. I have pillows in that one for extra comfort on those long rides. I usually end up steering this one right into a hole, then I figure out something is indeed wrong in my heart. Through the love and guidance of Your Spirit, I have not used my possessions chariot in a while. You have taught me that my stuff is just…stuff. I can’t depend on it for anything. I look to Your strength and wisdom, so I will burn my chariots and set the horses free.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I depend on men and not You, God, and what is flesh and not Spirit. These times always follow periods of weak faith and times of waiting on You. Forgive me for turning my back on You and heading to the chariot stable.
Prayer for others
I pray for those who stand alone, or as a church, or as a nation, that they will look to the Holy One of All Earth for help. Hover over the weak churches where Your Son is the Head – the churches in oppressed nations where the enemy terrorizes and scatters. Growl at those who shout intimidating messages of impotent gods in order to infect Your church with doubt. Your protection emboldens Your church and frustrates it enemies. Never stop!
Thank You
Thank You for fighting for me. I know the battles take place in a realm I cannot see, but I know they occur. It is You who fights my battles against forces I could not withstand on my own. I lay down at your feet my most sincere gratitude.
More praise
You created me with a will of my own, to make my own choices, for that is the only way for praise to be real. So I praise You as my God and my Protector because I want to, because I choose to. And isn’t it just like You to desire my praise and my worship because You know that in praising You, I am blessed, I am filled, I am changed. And it just makes me want to praise You more!
Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they would all meet in Solomon’s Colonnade. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people praised them highly. Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers – crowds of both men and women. As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. In addition, a large group came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were healed. Then the high priest took action. He and all his colleagues, those who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. So they arrested the apostles and put them in the city jail. But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, “Go stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life.” In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach. Acts 5:12-21
My words…
Praise to the God of wonder
I just stepped off a jet. While flying and looking at the patchwork ground below, I always wonder, “How does this big bird stay in air?” I should wonder, “How did You create the air?” Now that’s a wonder. When my friend described her intricate brain surgery, I wonder, “How do surgeons do that?” I should wonder, “How did You create the body to heal?” Now that’s a wonder. Wondering is a fulfilling past-time. I wonder about most everything. But the best things to wonder about are Your wonders. I wonder what it would feel like to be lame then be whole once Peter’s shadow passed over me. I wonder how Satan felt when his demons came back into his presence as failures. I wonder what an angel looks like while in the process of a jail-break. I wonder how the Sadducees could stand by and watch Your wonders and still have hearts like stone. Lord, Your wonders still abound! You may not send angels to open jailhouse doors, but You still protect Your disciples. You still heal. You still battle Satan’s forces, and win. You still draw the lost and lonely to You. Although I do a lot of wondering, I never wonder whether or not You love me. I never wonder about where I will live after this life is over. I never wonder where my hope comes from. So, this travel-weary daughter of Yours praises You as my never-ending source of wonderment. You are wonderful!
The Lord told Aaron, “You will not have an inheritance in their land; there will be no portion among them for you. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.” Numbers 18:20
Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future. Psalm 16:5
I say: The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will put my hope in Him. Lamentations 3:24
My words…
Praise
God, in Your wisdom, You allocated specific regions of land to each of the tribes of Israel…except one. The Levites were not given a land inheritance to pass along to their children and their children’s children. They were to live among the other family tribes and lead them in worship and guide them through Your law. And it was enough for the Levites that they had no earthly inheritance, for You gave them one that is imperishable, one that cannot be destroyed by war, gambled away, or lost to a money-lender. Their inheritance was I am – You! They did not spend their time tilling, sowing, and reaping. They spent their time with You, with Your law, for that is what they treasured and passed down to their children. And now, generations upon generations have passed away, but Your claim to be a portion remains, and it is offered to everyone. And so I praise You for giving Yourself as my portion, my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You hold my future, and You have provided a secure place for me to lay my hope.
Prayer for me
I dwell on the future too much. With You as my portion, my future is well in hand – Your hand. Remind me, Lord, that with You as my portion, I must live as Your heir each day, not wasting time and energy on what will be, but doing Your will where I am – today.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I succumb to believing the lie that You are just too big to know, too great to understand. I have asked You to impart to me the meaning of these verses, the understanding of what it means to have You as my portion. Then I say to myself, “This is a difficult passage. I will never fully grasp what it means.” Forgive my impatience. Forgive my prideful spirit.
Thank You
Just as You provided Aaron and his family with everything they needed, so You provide for me. I thank You that I have never gone hungry, never gone without shelter or clothing. I have enjoyed years of bounty, good health, and happiness. I deserve none of it. It is the pleasure You have bestowed on me, Your child. I offer my inadequate words of thankfulness and pray Your Spirit will gild them with purest gold and make them worthy to come before Your throne.
More praise
Lord, You are the cup where I pour my praise. You are made of perfect love. It gushes from You like a fountain, and covers the earth. It covers me. Praise to You, Lord, my portion!
Jesus withdrew by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns. As He stepped ashore, he saw a huge crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick. When evening came, the disciples approached Him and said, “This place is a wilderness, and it is already late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
“They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.”
“But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to Him.
“Bring them here to Me,” He said. Then He commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets full of leftover pieces! Now those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:13-21
My words…
Praise
When You looked out over the crowd, Lord, what did You see? You saw sheep without a shepherd. You saw weariness and confusion. You were weary yourself, having just completed an evangelical tour around Galilee. And to make matters much worse, You had just learned of the murder of Your forerunner, John the Baptist. A quiet respite is what You needed – time to decompress with Your apostles. But the crowds, the throngs would not allow that once they had seen Your miracles and heard Your message. You could have disappeared for a while, evaded the attention, and withdrew. But You’re not like that. You are compassion. You healed them. You spoke to them. But when it came time to feed them, Your apostles became as fretting nannies: It’s dinner time. What are we to do with all of these hungry people? Send them away. That’s the answer! They had no idea that the answer sat among them. They never thought, The Son of Jehovah God, the One who created everything from nothing, is here and is able to feed everyone however he chooses. And so, Your glory rained down on that patch of wilderness, not with sun bursts and earthquakes (which You could have handled easily), but with a free lunch to more than 15,000 men, women, and children – all they could eat. And to add a meaningful touch, there was one basket of leftovers for each embarrassed apostle. How well they learned that day – You are able to do a lot with just a little! And leftovers besides!
Prayer for me
I shouldn’t be too hard on Your holy apostles. I would have acted in the same manner. I know You are limitless, yet I limit You. Expand my faith so that I am not surprised when You rain down Your glory and bless well beyond what is needed at the moment.
Prayer for others
When the apostles gathered the loaves and fishes, You said, “Bring them to me.” You created a feast from a small lunch. We are the small loaves and fishes, and You are able to do giant things through us if we will only bring ourselves to You. I pray that the small groups of Your followers, meeting in homes, huts, and tents around the world, will bring themselves to You so You may do giant things through them. I pray that the large churches, meeting in auditoriums and theaters, will continue to recognize they need to bring themselves to You so You may bless their endeavors and make them fruitful.
Thank You
Thank You for leftovers. You not only supply me with what I need, but there are always leftovers – extra added blessings. I know these blessings come from You as answers to prayer. Thank You for hearing me!
More praise
When You looked to heaven and blessed the bread, did You see Your Father? Did You see John the Baptist being welcomed into Paradise? What a contrast to the scene on the grass before You – throngs of hungry people and twelve followers who only comprehended a drop of Your ocean of power. But You didn’t rebuke or rebuff. You demonstrated compassion on that hillside. You still do. I praise You – the God who can do mighty things with only a little! And there will still be leftovers!
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him from the heights. Psalm 148:1
My words…
A Prayer of Praise
Hallelujah – what a word! It’s the one-size-fits-all praise word. When a baby is born into this world, wailing – hallelujah! When a child of Yours turns from darkness to light – hallelujah! When I see the Grand Canyon for the first time – hallelujah! It’s my way of saying, “Lord, You had everything to do with that, and You are worthy to be praised!” It’s too wonderful a word to use when finding a great parking spot, winning the lottery, or getting a warning instead of a speeding ticket. It’s a word created only for You, for who You are and what You do.
As I gazed out at the Grand Canyon today, I couldn’t help but imagine You, watching the great river tumbling and swirling over the rocky earth for millions of years, cutting, scoring, and uplifting the rocks to ultimately form a work of natural art. You knew it would be a place where people would gather and marvel at nature, marvel at You. The earth is Your canvas, Your block of marble. And I am the art lover. And tonight I am weary from taking in every angle of this great work of art. But I am left with enough energy to proclaim, “Hallelujah to the God of nature. I praise You from the heights!”
…I kneel before the Father from whom every family on heaven and on earth is named. I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all of the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us – to Him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus through all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
Praise
Lord, this prayer must have been a sweet aroma filling the heavens. I imagine Your sons and angels, dancing and singing around this prayer, adorning it with strands of light, arraying it with stardust wings to float and soar through the heavens, showering You with adoration in every heavenly language. That’s what I imagine. I imagine Michael, the archangel, clad in armor with a flaming sword raised high, shouting Your praises which are echoed by Your vast armies who delight in battling the forces of evil in Your name. That’s what I imagine. All of heaven thunders Your praise so that the very foundations of heaven are shaken. And then… silence. Every creature is prostrate, lifting silent words of exultation before You, but they cannot be silenced long. Hymns of praise rise in perfect harmony, their lyrics so beautiful that the heavenly hosts cry with joy. That’s what I imagine. But what thrills my anemic imagination the most is that I know that it will never adequately capture the glory of heaven, the glory of You. I will just have to wait and experience it for myself some day.
Prayer for me
Lord, I think about You a lot. I dwell and meditate on Your word which feeds my comprehension and my imagination. But as long as I am confined in my skin, I will never know the full dimensions of Your love. But lately, I have grown restless with my limited knowledge. So, my prayer for me is this: loosen the cables that restrict my mind and my heart so that my spirit may be strengthened, and I may better comprehend Your fullness.
Thank You
Thank You, God, for my imagination. I have always known it is a gift from You. The ability to create scenes in my mind about You, about Your creation, about heaven brings me immense joy. It’s both mind-bending and fun to think beyond what I see every day. The other day I imagined a cloud filled with rain, a rain that heals anyone it touches. Those standing under that cloud do not use an umbrella. They just tip their faces to the cloud and waited for the rain to fall. Healing rain makes me smile. Thank You.
More praise
Lord, You are able to do above and beyond all that I ask or imagine, and I can imagine quite a bit! You are the giver of abundant life – life founded on love, filled with peace, overflowing with joy. What a blessing to have You within me. What a humbling, staggering blessing.
Some people were bringing little children to Jesus so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16
My words…
Praise
Jesus, I wonder…do you look upon this scene as one of Your favorites while You labored as a man on earth? Such a precious scene. Mothers intent on bringing their children close to You, close enough for You to touch them and speak a heavenly blessing on them. But, of course, You went beyond what they expected. You gathered each child in Your loving arms. You knew each one so well: the poor, waif of a girl who couldn’t take her eyes off You, the squirmy boy who couldn’t sit still and made You laugh. You knew how each would grow and what each would become. You felt at home with them because their tender hearts, their pliable wills, their spotless faith is what makes up Your kingdom. They allowed themselves to be wrapped in Your blessing with no whisper of rebellion or hint of pride. And when each one had been perfectly blessed, You turned back toward the world and stepped away from the comfort of their presence. You returned to Your task toward death so every one of Your children, even me, could be gathered into Your loving arms someday.
Prayer for children
I bring the children of the world at the foot of Your throne. I seek a blessing for each one. You know them by name. You know their deepest struggle and their highest joy. Some of them know You personally and seek You daily. Others are intent on keeping You at arm’s length. And others have never heard Your name spoken in their language. Protect them as they grow and stumble. Comfort them when they weep. Open Your arms wide, gather them into Your embrace, and bless them.
Say among the nations: “The Lord reigns. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. He judges the peoples fairly.” Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound. Let the fields and everything in them exult. Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord, for He is coming – for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with His faithfulness. Psalm 96:10-13
A Prayer of Praise
How blessed is the day You suspended the earth in space. You threw open Your arms and filled the world with symbols of Your beauty and imagination. The oceans – dense and powerful, dangerous yet beautiful – crash against the shore, cymbals of praise. The fish that swim in graceful motion cry in anthems to their maker, “The Lord, He is coming!” Then the swaying grasses and hymns of birds join the anthem, singing, “The Great Judge is coming! The leaves of the oak rustle praise toward the heavens. “He is coming!” they shout. The elm and the cedar join in exultation. Even the seedlings know their creator and worship You. All nature proclaims Your majesty! You are the Judge of the world – the only righteous Judge.
Prayer for me
I sift through the words I know, the meager, deficient list. I find none worthy enough to send to You in praise. How can my limited mind adequately praise what is limitless? How can my bound thoughts comprehend what is boundless? I cannot praise you like the mighty seas or the regal oak. But I can do this: I lift my heart and mind to You and profess, “The Lord who reigns is coming!” And I know Your Spirit, the One who knows the thoughts and intents of my heart, will take my barren words and empower them. He will weave them through the crash of the waves, the cry of the fish, the hymns of the birds, and the shouts of the trees. Then my praise will be worthy enough to touch the hem of Your robe. And that is enough for me.
