Welcome to Week 8 of A 2020 Prayer Life!
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our prayer lives.
Be careful not to short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Take one day at a time.
Also be careful not to short-circuit the process by only reading. Spend time in prayer. And allow your prayer time to be guided by each day's reflections and instructions.
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our prayer lives.
Be careful not to short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Take one day at a time.
Also be careful not to short-circuit the process by only reading. Spend time in prayer. And allow your prayer time to be guided by each day's reflections and instructions.
February 19
Earlier, we considered what a good father is like and what a bad father is like. But, as we have noted before, these relational titles for God carry with them counterpart titles for us. Inasmuch as we call Him "Father," we my call ourselves His son, His daughter, His child.
Now, then, choose one of those counterpart titles for yourself and go through the exercise of considering what the differences are between a good one and a bad one. Don't skimp. A moment's thought will generate a few helpful observations. But a two or three full minutes of pausing to really think about it will yield much deeper insight and greater application.
Then make a list of the attributes of a good one -- i.e., a good son, a good daughter, a good child.
Once you have given those lists the time and thought that they deserve, have them before you in prayer, and tell the Lord what you have learned about yourself.
Confess what you need to confess.
Call Him "Father" in prayer, call yourself by your counterpart title, and talk to Him about your becoming a good one.
Now, then, choose one of those counterpart titles for yourself and go through the exercise of considering what the differences are between a good one and a bad one. Don't skimp. A moment's thought will generate a few helpful observations. But a two or three full minutes of pausing to really think about it will yield much deeper insight and greater application.
Then make a list of the attributes of a good one -- i.e., a good son, a good daughter, a good child.
Once you have given those lists the time and thought that they deserve, have them before you in prayer, and tell the Lord what you have learned about yourself.
Confess what you need to confess.
Call Him "Father" in prayer, call yourself by your counterpart title, and talk to Him about your becoming a good one.
February 20
As we have noted in earlier weeks, any relationship comes with implicit or explicit expectations. In a marriage, for example, we make the expectations of love, faithfulness, and commitment explicit in the wedding vows. And we go through each day of married life with implicit expectations of things like attention, concern, communication, and such.
Of course, relational expectations depend heavily upon the quality of the other person involved. We reasonably have higher expectations of a good boss than we do of a bad one, of a good friend than we do of a poor one. And earlier we have meditated on the attributes of a good father
With that before you, then, ponder this question: What can I reasonably expect from a good Father in my relationship with Him? Jot down what comes to mind.
Now, in prayer, call Him "Good Father," and 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 own experience in relation to Him as your good Father.
Of course, relational expectations depend heavily upon the quality of the other person involved. We reasonably have higher expectations of a good boss than we do of a bad one, of a good friend than we do of a poor one. And earlier we have meditated on the attributes of a good father
With that before you, then, ponder this question: What can I reasonably expect from a good Father in my relationship with Him? Jot down what comes to mind.
Now, in prayer, call Him "Good Father," and 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 own experience in relation to Him as your good Father.
February 21
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews reminds us of an aspect of fatherhood that we may tend to overlook in our relationship with God:
"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV)
We understand that discipline comes with the territory of raising a child, and that good discipline is a function of parental love. If we are to embrace the love of our heavenly Father, therefore, we will embrace the discipline that He prescribes for us.
We have rewritten that passage from Hebrews below, turning it into a prayer. Use that passage as part of your prayer time just now.
"Father, I will endure hardship as discipline; You are treating me as Your child. For what child is not disciplined by his father? If I am not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then I am an illegitimate child and not a true son or daughter. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to You, the Father of our spirits, and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but You disciplines us for our good, that we may share in Your holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV)
We understand that discipline comes with the territory of raising a child, and that good discipline is a function of parental love. If we are to embrace the love of our heavenly Father, therefore, we will embrace the discipline that He prescribes for us.
We have rewritten that passage from Hebrews below, turning it into a prayer. Use that passage as part of your prayer time just now.
"Father, I will endure hardship as discipline; You are treating me as Your child. For what child is not disciplined by his father? If I am not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then I am an illegitimate child and not a true son or daughter. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to You, the Father of our spirits, and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but You disciplines us for our good, that we may share in Your holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
February 22
Consider again the insight from the writer of the letter to the Hebrews:
"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV)
When you read the word "discipline" in that passage, what images come to your mind? What associations do you have with parental discipline?
It may be that our English translation -- i.e., the word "discipline" -- is misleading. It may conjure images and associations that are quite far from the meaning of the original Greek.
The underlying Greek word in the New Testament is paideia. By itself, that may not mean much to you. But add to that this fact: the New Testament Greek word for "child" is paidion.
In the New Testament, you see, the two words are cognates. In English, the words "child" and "discipline" have nothing to do with each other. But in Greek, the two concepts are intimately tied together. Perhaps, therefore, we might understand this passage better if we inserted "child-raising" where the translation reads "discipline."
Talk to the Lord about the passage in light of this insight into the vocabulary.
Heavenly Father, in what ways have You been raising me? Have I cooperated or resisted? Have I resented what You have been doing because I didn't know it was part of Your plan to grow me up?
Now pray the prayer again as it has been rewritten to incorporate the additional insight:
"Father, I will endure hardship as child-raising; You are treating me as Your child. For what child is not raised by his father? If I am not raised, then I am an illegitimate child and not a true son or daughter. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who raised us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to You, the Father of our spirits, and live! Our fathers raised us for a little while as they thought best; but You raise us for our good, that we may share in Your holiness. No child-raising seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV)
When you read the word "discipline" in that passage, what images come to your mind? What associations do you have with parental discipline?
It may be that our English translation -- i.e., the word "discipline" -- is misleading. It may conjure images and associations that are quite far from the meaning of the original Greek.
The underlying Greek word in the New Testament is paideia. By itself, that may not mean much to you. But add to that this fact: the New Testament Greek word for "child" is paidion.
In the New Testament, you see, the two words are cognates. In English, the words "child" and "discipline" have nothing to do with each other. But in Greek, the two concepts are intimately tied together. Perhaps, therefore, we might understand this passage better if we inserted "child-raising" where the translation reads "discipline."
Talk to the Lord about the passage in light of this insight into the vocabulary.
Heavenly Father, in what ways have You been raising me? Have I cooperated or resisted? Have I resented what You have been doing because I didn't know it was part of Your plan to grow me up?
Now pray the prayer again as it has been rewritten to incorporate the additional insight:
"Father, I will endure hardship as child-raising; You are treating me as Your child. For what child is not raised by his father? If I am not raised, then I am an illegitimate child and not a true son or daughter. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who raised us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to You, the Father of our spirits, and live! Our fathers raised us for a little while as they thought best; but You raise us for our good, that we may share in Your holiness. No child-raising seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
February 23
We want to let our prayers today be informed by a longer teaching of Jesus:
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“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:43-48 NRSV)
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Jesus makes a connection between the fact that we are God's children and how we treat other people. In our own vernacular, we might say that it's an issue of family traits. You can tell that this boy is his father's son just by hearing them both talk, or that this girl is her mother's daughter just by looking at both of their faces. Likewise, it should be apparent that we are God's children by how we treat other people. Specifically, that we treat them the way our heavenly Father treats them.
Make that the subject of your prayer time just now.
Father, what does Jesus' teaching reveal about You? About Your heart, Your nature, Your will?
Father, in what ways do I resemble "the tax collectors" and "the Gentiles"?
Father, in what ways do I resemble You?
Father, what could I have done yesterday in my treatment of others that would have been more like how You treat them?
Father, help me to see what I should do today.
Make that the subject of your prayer time just now.
Father, what does Jesus' teaching reveal about You? About Your heart, Your nature, Your will?
Father, in what ways do I resemble "the tax collectors" and "the Gentiles"?
Father, in what ways do I resemble You?
Father, what could I have done yesterday in my treatment of others that would have been more like how You treat them?
Father, help me to see what I should do today.
February 24
Jesus uses the example and experience of human fathers to give us a glimpse into the heart of God.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11 NIV)
Think of the best human parents you have known. With their example in mind, pray through this teaching of Jesus.
Father, how have I seen those very good human parents respond to their children's requests?
Father, how much more will You respond to me?
Father, what have those parents wanted for their children?
Father, how much more do You want for me?
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11 NIV)
Think of the best human parents you have known. With their example in mind, pray through this teaching of Jesus.
Father, how have I seen those very good human parents respond to their children's requests?
Father, how much more will You respond to me?
Father, what have those parents wanted for their children?
Father, how much more do You want for me?
February 25
As we come to the conclusion of Week 8, reflect on and pray about this insight from the popular 20th-century New Testament scholar, William Barclay:
"If we believe God is Father, it settles our relationship to God. It is not that it removes the might, the majesty and power of God. It is not that it makes God any the less God; but it makes that might, and majesty, and power, approachable for us."
Father, do I feel that my relationship with You is "settled"? Do I see You clearly?
Help me to see, on the one hand, Your awesomeness as God.
Help me, at the same time, to see Your approachability as Father.
And help me to rejoice in both!
"If we believe God is Father, it settles our relationship to God. It is not that it removes the might, the majesty and power of God. It is not that it makes God any the less God; but it makes that might, and majesty, and power, approachable for us."
Father, do I feel that my relationship with You is "settled"? Do I see You clearly?
Help me to see, on the one hand, Your awesomeness as God.
Help me, at the same time, to see Your approachability as Father.
And help me to rejoice in both!