Welcome to Week 43 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.
October 21
"Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, for to Thee do I pray." (Psalm 5:2 NASB)
Perhaps the most common title for God in Scripture is "God," although we may not recognize that a title is what it is, and so we do not think of it in those terms. In your prayer time today, be deliberate about making that title how you address Him, and talk with Him about these questions as you do.
(1) What does "God" reveal about You?
(2) What does "God" reveal about my relationship with You?
(3) How does my calling you "God" impact and influence my relationship with You?
Perhaps the most common title for God in Scripture is "God," although we may not recognize that a title is what it is, and so we do not think of it in those terms. In your prayer time today, be deliberate about making that title how you address Him, and talk with Him about these questions as you do.
(1) What does "God" reveal about You?
(2) What does "God" reveal about my relationship with You?
(3) How does my calling you "God" impact and influence my relationship with You?
October 22
"No one is good except God alone." (Mark 10:18 NASB)
Virtually every human civilization has affirmed the existence of gods, and all of the nations around ancient Israel believed in multiple gods. But while a belief in gods was a given, it was not assumed that all gods were "good." The biblical testimony about the Lord God, however, was that He is good. Indeed, uniquely and peerlessly good.
Give some thought just now to the difference between a good god and a bad god. Make a list of what characterizes a good god. Make a list of what characterizes a bad god. This exercise will require some disciplined thought and effort, for it is a departure from our typical, monotheistic thinking. An investment of several minutes, however, will prove to be surprisingly fruitful.
Once you have completed your thoughtful lists, tell the Lord what you have learned about Him as God. Praise Him for the kind of God He is, and talk to Him about what that means for your relationship with Him.
Virtually every human civilization has affirmed the existence of gods, and all of the nations around ancient Israel believed in multiple gods. But while a belief in gods was a given, it was not assumed that all gods were "good." The biblical testimony about the Lord God, however, was that He is good. Indeed, uniquely and peerlessly good.
Give some thought just now to the difference between a good god and a bad god. Make a list of what characterizes a good god. Make a list of what characterizes a bad god. This exercise will require some disciplined thought and effort, for it is a departure from our typical, monotheistic thinking. An investment of several minutes, however, will prove to be surprisingly fruitful.
Once you have completed your thoughtful lists, tell the Lord what you have learned about Him as God. Praise Him for the kind of God He is, and talk to Him about what that means for your relationship with Him.
October 23
As we have noted throughout the year, relationships carry explicit and implicit expectations. Those relational expectations depend heavily, however, upon the quality of the other person involved. We reasonably have higher expectations of a good boss or friend than we do of bad ones.
Today, you are invited to ponder this question: What can I reasonably expect from a good God in my relationship with Him? Jot down what comes to mind.
Now, in prayer, talk to Him about what you have learned. Talk to Him about your understanding of your reasonable expectations. Thank and praise Him for these. And talk to Him about your experience in relation to Him as your good God.
Today, you are invited to ponder this question: What can I reasonably expect from a good God in my relationship with Him? Jot down what comes to mind.
Now, in prayer, talk to Him about what you have learned. Talk to Him about your understanding of your reasonable expectations. Thank and praise Him for these. And talk to Him about your experience in relation to Him as your good God.
October 24
"Bless our God, O peoples, and sound His praise abroad." (Psalm 66:8 NASB)
Inasmuch as "God" is not a name but a title, it may suggest counterpart titles. We recognize easily the counterparts for titles such as Shepherd, Father, Teacher, and such. In the case of "God," by contrast, a single, counterpart title may not be so obvious.
For a few minutes just now, think in terms of a fill-in-the-blank sentence. Make a list of the possible terms that might complete this statement: "If He is our God, then we are His _____________"
Now, in your prayer time, identify yourself by those several titles, and as you do, talk with the Lord about these questions:
(1) What does this counterpart title reveal about me?
(2) What does this counterpart title reveal about my relationship with You?
(3) How might this counterpart title -- this sense of identity for myself -- impact and influence my relationship with You?
Inasmuch as "God" is not a name but a title, it may suggest counterpart titles. We recognize easily the counterparts for titles such as Shepherd, Father, Teacher, and such. In the case of "God," by contrast, a single, counterpart title may not be so obvious.
For a few minutes just now, think in terms of a fill-in-the-blank sentence. Make a list of the possible terms that might complete this statement: "If He is our God, then we are His _____________"
Now, in your prayer time, identify yourself by those several titles, and as you do, talk with the Lord about these questions:
(1) What does this counterpart title reveal about me?
(2) What does this counterpart title reveal about my relationship with You?
(3) How might this counterpart title -- this sense of identity for myself -- impact and influence my relationship with You?
October 25
As part of his farewell address to the people of Israel, Joshua exhorted them, saying, "Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15 NASB)
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about these questions:
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about these questions:
- What did it look like for a person to "serve" You or other gods in Joshua's time?
- What does it look like for a person to "serve" You in our day?
- Is it possible for a person to "serve" other gods even if he or she does not believe in them?
- How can I tell what god another person serves?
- How can another person tell whether or not I serve You?
October 26
"Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15 NASB)
When Joshua extended his challenge to the ancient people of Israel, he acknowledged the competing gods that might be trouble for the Israelites. In your prayer time, let Joshua's challenge to the people of God in that distant time and place inform your walk with God today:
When Joshua extended his challenge to the ancient people of Israel, he acknowledged the competing gods that might be trouble for the Israelites. In your prayer time, let Joshua's challenge to the people of God in that distant time and place inform your walk with God today:
- Are there still competing gods for Your people today?
- What are the most common competing gods in our culture?
- What are the competing gods in my own life?
- Have those changed over time?
October 28
When the Lord gave His commandments to His people at Sinai, the first one was: "You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3 NASB)
The language of the commandment does not suggest a complete renunciation of the Lord in favor of other gods, but just an inappropriate prioritization. The commandment does not say "instead of Me" but "before Me."
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about the commandment and its application in your life.
Ask Him to help you identify your "other gods."
Confess to Him what comes "before" Him
The language of the commandment does not suggest a complete renunciation of the Lord in favor of other gods, but just an inappropriate prioritization. The commandment does not say "instead of Me" but "before Me."
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about the commandment and its application in your life.
Ask Him to help you identify your "other gods."
Confess to Him what comes "before" Him
- in your schedule
- in your mind
- in your heart
- in your effort