Reading Joshua, Chapters 7-9

Dear Lord,

Reading these passages, I realize how very little I know. I realize I want you to accept us on our good intent. I want you to say that you will not punish us if we are mistaken and inadvertently do wrong, that we will not suffer the consequences of our actions. I want you to spare those who I call innocent. I realize I want to bend you to my will instead of bending me to yours. I realize how very foolish and weak I am. I am momentarily humbled, though I know I will bounce back and forget that it is you who are God, not I.

I have to know that life is not pretty, that those I call innocent will know pain and sorrow, that life is fraught with danger, that our sins have consequences, that there is no such thing as punishment only for the sinner. The consequences have a ripple effect.

I cannot even begin to express what I think or feel as I read these Old Testament passages. All I can do is bow down before you and ask for your mercy on us. All I can do is beg you not to make my loved ones suffer the consequences of my sins. All I can do is ask you to make the world a safer place.

And at the end of my insufficient understanding, I only slightly understand what you did for us in Jesus. Understanding only a little of how far into error we are, I begin to see how much you love mankind that you give us a way of escaping your eternal disappointment in us, and your wrath, in Jesus. I begin to see that you know we can never measure up to your holy standard, so you did it yourself on our behalf. And I give you my inadequate thanks. I give you all the glory. We live our sinful lives, and you give us your holiness in Jesus. When you look at us in Jesus, you see yourself.

Have mercy, Lord. Thank you for what you did. Thank you for your great love that is more than I can fathom. Thank you for giving us the way out, through faith and trust in Jesus.

Forgive us and protect us. Hold us close. Don't let us go.

In Jesus' name, I pray.

Summary Prayer, Prayer for All Seasons

Dear Lord, Blessed God of the Universe, All powerful Lord of all things, dear Jesus Lord and Savior, my friend,

I acknowledge I do not know much. I cannot guess at your grand scheme, your divine plan, but I pray these things:

- I pray for help for the poor

- I pray for protection for those who are discriminated against

- I pray for peace and restoration for those innocents torn by warring of opposing powers

- I pray for victory in the fight against evil (radicals who call themselves religious)

- I pray for wisdom for leaders of good will

- I pray for my nation and its leaders, for an end to bickering and for a beginning of working together to strengthen this nation

- I pray for health for those fighting cancer, pain, ailments of old age, mental illnesses, childhood illnesses

- I pray for strength and confidence for those who are bullied

- I pray for safety and protection for those who are martyrs for your sake

- I pray for missionaries, for preachers, evangelists, teachers of your Word

- I pray that bullies, whether individuals or nations, be brought down and stopped

- I pray for marriages

- I pray for families

I know that bad things exist because we, as humans, have imperfect motives and sinful hearts. I know that evil is a real thing. I know that we live in a real world, and I know that it is not in your design to create Disneyland for us. I know that we need to seek you. I know that you can change our lives, the lives of those who believe you. I pray that you intervene and save us, that you save those who need you, that you give us strength, wisdom, compassion, motivation, confidence, food, shelter, safety, connection with you, ...

In Jesus' name, I pray.

Prayer - Sins against God, Sins Against Man

Most of the confessions I read are confessions of our sins against God, yet I always think of my confession of neglect of God should include any sin I have committed against my neighbor (which includes anyone and everyone in the world, in my mind). Whether sins of omission or commission, sins of thought, word, or deed. I believe this because I think that anytime I have hurt another person or failed to show God's love of another person, I have sinned against what God would want of me.

With this in mind, I confess to you, Lord, that I am, indeed, a poor miserable sinner. It is in my nature to be a sinner. I desire Christ's nature to be in me. I accept forgiveness, because I know I am guilty. My confession includes the part of the Lutheran liturgy where we say, "I have not loved my neighbor as myself."

I know I have no merit in myself. The only merit I can claim is the salvation Jesus offers me, that You offer through the sacrifice of Jesus. I know this to be true, even though in my buoyed ego, I think that I actually deserve something. Forgive me, dear Lord. In my flesh, I am sin.

In my confession, dear Father, dear Son, dear Holy Spirit, I acknowledge that I am not the answer to life's problems. I am not the solution you seek. YOU are. You are the Great I AM, not I. While in my flesh I think I am smart and wise, I truly know that You are the smart and wise one. I repent of my smugness, my egotistic nature, and I turn to you, my God. Teach me to "lean not unto my understanding," but to turn to you continually.

In Jesus' name and for His sake, I pray. Amen.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. - Proverbs 3:5

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2

Thank you dear Heavenly Father. Thank you for entrusting your Word to me from time to time. May those who heard  be blessed by your Word, not be dragged down by my flesh.

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Morning Prayer, Based on Matthew 6, The Lord's Prayer

Our father, dear father, You who are in heaven, hallowed, blessed, be your name.

May your kingdom come to earth, may your kingdom be among us, may your kingdom live in my heart.

May your will be done in all things. I trust you. I accept your will. I know you will see me through all circumstances. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day those things we need ... food, shelter, peace of mind, forgiveness, love of you, love of our neighbor, love of mankind.

Forgive us our debts and trespasses, our unworthiness, our bigotedness, and help us forgive others in the same way. Just as you love us, teach us to love one another.

Protect us when we are tempted. Give us the strength to say "no."  Help us keep our eyes on you.

Deliver us from evil. Protect us from those influences.

I love you, I trust you, with my imperfect human attention span. Keep me in your care.

Amen.
(Based on Matthew 6:9-13)

Reflections on Job - 2 - Praying for my children and grandchildren

During this reading of Job, I have the advantage of having read it a number of times before and all the dialog is filtered through my previous knowledge.

This time around, right off the bat I'm touched by this passage:

His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day (birthday), and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, 'Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.' (Job 1: 4-5, NASB)

During my study, these two verses kept calling me back.

Job wanted to make sure his son's sins were covered just in case they had cursed God in their hearts. A few points call themselves to me:

• Job loved his children. Although the Bible tells of his prayer for his sons, had Job lived in these days, I'm sure he would have prayed for his daughters as well.
• Job loved his children very much. He was their father, their patriarch, and he was responsible for them as such. They were blessings God had given him. Above all things, Job loved and trusted God.
• The sons would invite the three sisters to celebrate with them. In this, we see siblings who take care of each other, who are still considered a family unit even though they are grown and have separate lives of their own.
• And the big point, the one that kept calling me back: Job prayed for forgiveness for his sons, just in case.

My prayers for my children usually go something like this:

- Make them strong

- Make them happy

- Keep them healthy

- Keep them safe

- Keep them on the right path

- Help them find a job, a house, a good neighborhood, good moral and upright friends, etc

But it's not my usual prayer to ask God to forgive them ... especially not just in case.

Job 1:4-5 has enriched my life forever. My morning prayers for my daughter and her family now will be more like this:

Dear Lord, Keep them healthy and strong in you. Keep them together so they can support each other spiritually and emotionally as they grow older. Keep them safe. Protect them in their jobs, whether at school or at work. Give them good friends who know You, and give them a happy life. Forgive them for any sins they may have committed against you. Keep them in the faith.