A Life Worthy

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel… (Ephesians 6:19)

I like this so very much.

I like that Paul has the humility to ask for prayer from those who are his spiritual juniors.

I like that Paul has the discernment to realize that the words that transform lives are not his own, but a gift from God.

I like that Paul has the honesty to show that he is sometimes fearful in proclaiming the gospel.

I like that Paul has the wisdom to acknowledge that the gospel is a mystery, beyond our ability to fully grasp without the help of the Holy Spirit.

On a day when I feel like I’m not enough,

which would be most every day

I am reminded that no one is…not even the legendary Paul.

Only Jesus

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6:18).

Have you ever known a compulsive prayer warrior? I am blessed to have one in my life. These are glorious people to whom God had given the need to pray, pretty literally, without ceasing. They pray for every person, near or far, every situation, large or small. If they see a bus on the road, they will want to pray for every person on it, and their extended family, and their pets if they have them but you don’t know if they have pets so you’d better pray just to be sure. It’s kind of an exhausting gift, really. If you are one of these CPW’s, you can kinda gloss over this verse. You have it written on your heart.

For the rest of us…

If God cares about it, then it’s worth praying about.

And God cares about a lot of things, so…

Pray, Beloved.

Happy Monday

And pray in the Spirit… (Ephesians 6:18).

Hey, Michael–what does it mean to pray “in the Spirit?”

Look at you, going straight to the tough question. That’s why I like you.

Beloved, I’ve wondered about this quite a little bit, and I’m still not sure what it means. My current thinking goes like this: Praying in the Spirit involves being in tune with the Holy Spirit, trying to pray about the things that are on God’s mind. That’s a tall order. It means you have to listen, not just speak. You have to get through your list of requests and find the place of quiet, where you can detect that still, small voice we’ve heard about. Then you have to make sure that the still, small voice is speaking Biblical truth. Because you know, sometimes what I think is God is really just my own emotion, and who needs more of that?

My old choir choir director used to tell us, “Listen louder than you sing.” It’s like that.

Only with God

Listen loud, Beloved.

Happy Thursday

Take the helmet of salvation…(Ephesians 6:17a)

When I was a kid, you didn’t have to wear a helmet.  Bicycle, motorcycle, pogo stick—you were free to ride with the wind in your hair and the bugs in your teeth.  It was wild and free and deadly.

To ride without a helmet is to ask for dain bramage.

Paul speaks of the helmet of salvation.  He’s talking about the knowledge of who you are in Christ, and the price that has been paid for you.  That knowledge can protect you in the heat of battle. You see, that enemy of yours likes to mess with your head.  He likes to get into your thought life and plant false ideas about who you are and what your value is. He’ll tell you that you’re not good enough, not strong enough, not worthy of a life in Christ.

All of which is true.

The helmet doesn’t block those ideas, but it filters them through the knowledge of your salvation.  You can answer, “You aren’t worthy,” with, “Of course not…but Jesus is.” You can answer, “Look at all you owe,” with, “Look at what He paid.”

To walk this world without the helmet is to ask for soul damage.

Strap it on, cinch it tight, and go face your day, Beloved.

He’s got you.

…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  (Ephesians 6:15c).

You know how you get when you’re on your feet all day.  Tired, sore, cranky—if you don’t have decent shoes, it’s even worse.

Huh, this sounds more like a commercial than a devotion.

A soldier’s gear was designed to protect him while he was on his feet.  If he fell, that soldier became vulnerable and ineffective. On the battlefield, a sharp stone, a tangle of debris, even a random arrow could spell disaster.

Think Achilles.

God wants you in the battle today.  He doesn’t want the stones, the debris, the random shots of life to take you down and make you ineffective.  God’s truth—the peace in your heart bought by Christ—protects your foundation. It is not only the firm ground upon which you stand, it is the protection you need to keep you standing.

Lace ‘em up tight and stand firm today.

Happy Friday, Beloved