Calming Stormy Hearts

Father, there are times when we seek to come to You in prayer and yet our thoughts are muddled and our hearts confused. You who hold sway even over tempestuous seas, can You not be sovereign over stormy hearts? Though our sight seems impaired and our ears hard of hearing, may we not give up hope in seeking after You. In the course of time, bring clarity to our confusion and light to our dimness. As we wait, we offer up the thoughts and questions of our hearts and minds, knowing that You are near and will not fail to keep Your promises. Great indeed is Thy faithfulness! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

As Did Bartimaeus

Father, in reading Mark 10, the question You ask is unmistakable: What do we want You to do for us? Do we, as the disciples, desire greatness and fame? Do we desire power and esteem, the praises of men? Or do we, like Bartimaeus, desire simply to see, in order to follow You better in joyful service? In essence, do we desire to be seen or to see? May We choose the latter, dear Lord, that our hearts in unclouded vision might behold Your face. We would see of Your face so that we may tell of it to others. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Hearing Voices

Father, how little time we spend listening to the voices of others! Frequently, we are quick to interject our own opinion as to who these people are or what they are doing. Too often, we insensitively answer the questions they don’t ask and ask the questions they cannot answer. In our wake, we leave a bloodied, confused, and distressed person who has seen the depths of human depravity rather than seeing Christ. Change us, O God. We would not remain this way. Thank You that You do not leave us as we are, but instead work to conform us to who You are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Offered to Idols

Father, how many idols I have! Every day, I joyfully offer myself to them to let them rule over me, relegating You to the lower if not lowest places of prominence in my life. How many uses these idols have! For every need I have, I try to find another one. Why do you allow this to go on in my life, much less in the life of Your church? Are You not jealous? Do You not command us to put nothing before our love of You? Yes, You do, we can trust in Your word. O help us to realize that Your mercy is not an acceptance of our idolatry, but is a manifestation of Your patient work to remove these things from our lives. May we not resist this work, O King. Come quickly and free us from these masters that have drawn us far from You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

All but Nothing

Father, is it true that Your only having a part of me is as good as Your having none of me? If so, why am I content to retain control over certain areas of my life? How is it I keep telling You, “I will do whatever You want…except…?” My human condition has produced many conditions to the plan You would implement. But, to change my will on my own is impossible. Only the One who made it knows enough of its inner workings to set it on the intended course. Would You do so in me, O God? I tremble to ask, for I only slightly understand how difficult and painful it will be. May I learn to find joy in Your will be fulfilled rather than mine. In Jesus’ name. Amen.