Welcome to Week 34 of A 2020 Prayer Life!
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
August 19
From the beginning to the end of Jesus' earthly life, there were expectations that He was or would be a king.
In the story of His birth, we read: "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?'" (Matthew 2:1-2 NIV)
Following the miraculous feeding of the five-thousand, John reports that "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself." (John 6:15 NIV)
And in the account of Jesus' suffering and death, we come across these episodes from the trial, the torture, and the crucifixion: "Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'... (They) twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews!' they said... Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews." (Matthew 27:11, 29, 37 NIV)
We see in retrospect that most of these folks misunderstood Jesus; they underestimated Him. Yet they were onto something inasmuch as they associated Him with "king."
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about these questions:
In the story of His birth, we read: "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?'" (Matthew 2:1-2 NIV)
Following the miraculous feeding of the five-thousand, John reports that "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself." (John 6:15 NIV)
And in the account of Jesus' suffering and death, we come across these episodes from the trial, the torture, and the crucifixion: "Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'... (They) twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews!' they said... Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews." (Matthew 27:11, 29, 37 NIV)
We see in retrospect that most of these folks misunderstood Jesus; they underestimated Him. Yet they were onto something inasmuch as they associated Him with "king."
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about these questions:
- What made some folks around Jesus hopeful that He was or would be a king?
- How do those hopes resonate with me?
- What made some folks around Jesus fearful that He was or would be a king?
- How do those fears resonate with me?
August 20
We observed yesterday that there was, during Jesus' earthly life, a recurring association with Him as "king." And when He was pressed on the subject by Pilate, He did not deny it. Instead, He redefined it.
"Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.'" (John 18:36 NIV)
In your prayer time, reflect on what Jesus revealed about Himself to Pilate. Talk to the Lord about the differences between a king who is "of this world" and the King who is "not of this world."
Ask Him if Jesus is still your king, inasmuch as you are of this world.
If Jesus' kingdom is not of this world, but you are of this world, and He is your king, ask Him what that means for your relationship to the world. Ask Him what it means for your relationship with Him.
"Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.'" (John 18:36 NIV)
In your prayer time, reflect on what Jesus revealed about Himself to Pilate. Talk to the Lord about the differences between a king who is "of this world" and the King who is "not of this world."
Ask Him if Jesus is still your king, inasmuch as you are of this world.
If Jesus' kingdom is not of this world, but you are of this world, and He is your king, ask Him what that means for your relationship to the world. Ask Him what it means for your relationship with Him.
August 21
Luke reports: "The devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.'" (Luke 4:8-9 NASB)
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about these questions:
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about these questions:
- What does it mean that "all the kingdoms of the world" are the devil's to offer?
- What does that mean for me?
- How does Jesus become the King of "all the kingdoms of the world"?
- Has it happened yet?
- What is Jesus' reign right now?
- What does it mean for Jesus to be my King right now?
August 22
In the Book of Revelation, John reports: "Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." (Revelation 11:15 NASB)
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about the transition reported in this passage.
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about the transition reported in this passage.
- What will it mean for the peoples of the world?
- What will it mean for the devil?
- What will it mean for me?
- What does this eventual prospect mean for the world in the meantime?
- What does it mean for me in the meantime?
August 23
As we conclude our series of weeks considering the Lord as King, we want to meditate on some words from Charles Wesley's hymn, "Rejoice, the Lord is King."
"Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals, give thanks and sing and triumph evermore.
Life up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice; again I say, rejoice."
In your prayer time, explore the connection between rejoicing and the truth that the Lord is King. Articulate why that is a cause for rejoicing -- constant rejoicing. Contemplate the alternatives. And then "lift up your heart, lift up your voice" and "your Lord and King adore!"
"Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals, give thanks and sing and triumph evermore.
Life up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice; again I say, rejoice."
In your prayer time, explore the connection between rejoicing and the truth that the Lord is King. Articulate why that is a cause for rejoicing -- constant rejoicing. Contemplate the alternatives. And then "lift up your heart, lift up your voice" and "your Lord and King adore!"
August 24
As we conclude our series of weeks considering the Lord as King, we continue to meditate on some words from Charles Wesley's hymn, "Rejoice, the Lord is King."
"Jesus the Savior reigns, the God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains He took His seat above.
Life up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice; again I say, rejoice."
In your prayer time just now, contemplate before the Lord this verse from Wesley.
Meditate on the observation that it is "the Savior" who reigns. What is the significance? What are the alternatives? What does that mean for your relationship to the King?
Talk to the Lord about the order of events: (1) "He purged our stains," (2) "He took His seat above." Ask what that says about Him. Ask what it says about you and Him.
Wesley, echoing Paul, says, "Rejoice; again I say rejoice." Talk to the Lord about what in today's verse is a cause for rejoicing.
"Jesus the Savior reigns, the God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains He took His seat above.
Life up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice; again I say, rejoice."
In your prayer time just now, contemplate before the Lord this verse from Wesley.
Meditate on the observation that it is "the Savior" who reigns. What is the significance? What are the alternatives? What does that mean for your relationship to the King?
Talk to the Lord about the order of events: (1) "He purged our stains," (2) "He took His seat above." Ask what that says about Him. Ask what it says about you and Him.
Wesley, echoing Paul, says, "Rejoice; again I say rejoice." Talk to the Lord about what in today's verse is a cause for rejoicing.
August 25
As we conclude our series of weeks considering the Lord as King, we meditate once more on some words from Charles Wesley's hymn, "Rejoice, the Lord is King."
"His kingdom cannot fail; He rules o'er earth and heaven;
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus given.
Life up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice; again I say, rejoice."
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about these questions:
"His kingdom cannot fail; He rules o'er earth and heaven;
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus given.
Life up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice; again I say, rejoice."
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about these questions:
- Is it true that Your kingdom cannot fail?
- If it's true what should the impact of that truth be on me and my life?
- What is my rightful response to the comprehensiveness of my King's reign (earth and heaven)?
- What is my rightful response to the comprehensiveness of my King's authority (death and hell)?
- What about Your Kingship is my cause for rejoicing?