The elections this week (and all that led to them) revealed our hopes and anxieties in new ways. It does not take an election, however, to reveal our hearts. Illness, finances, relationships and so much more can lay our hearts bare. Psalm 33 speaks into every part of our lives, calling us to unleash our praise to the God who is upright, faithful, righteous, just and loving. God actively governs creation, social and political structures, our lives and our salvation. May we rejoice and put our hope in God, and may God surround us with his unfailing love.
Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Would God ever lead us into temptation? Why would Jesus tell us to pray this? As we dig deeper into this request, we find it is one that Jesus himself prayed for himself and for us. Trials and temptations are unavoidable, and God’s guidance and protection are vital. We soon see this is a precious request for those who are committed to follow where God leads. May God kindle our prayers and our lives as we draw near to him.
“Forgive us our sins as we also forgive those who sin against us.” Jesus didn’t mince words explaining that we are required to forgive each other, but he also doesn’t say that God sits back passively waiting to forgive until we have earned it by forgiving others. God always takes the initiative in blessing and saving us. God forgives us freely, but at the highest cost to himself – the death of his own Son. The forgiveness God asks of us pales in comparison to the forgiveness he showers on us. May we forgive as we have been forgiven and love as we have been loved.
When we pray, our prayer language is frequently polite and reverent, and that is good. There are times, however, when the pain and injustice in our lives and in the situations around us call for stronger words and emotions – ones that seem to jump out of our anguish. Are such heated prayers ok, or do we need to calm down before we open up to God? The Psalms give us strong words for difficult times. May we find, as the Psalmists did, that God reveals himself most fully when we are willing to pray most fully.
In an affluent, gluten-free, low-carb society, “Give us today our daily bread” may seem like an unlikely prayer request, but it is central to the way Jesus taught us to pray. As we learn to pray for our daily bread, we learn to live with open hands – open to receive, open to trust, and open to give. May the Holy Spirit kindle our prayers and free our lives as we live with open hands for our daily bread.