God's Prayer Promise: Persecuted

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Matthew  5)

In what we call The Beatitudes, Jesus has been reeling off one-liner promises one after another - until He gets to this one. He now pauses and gets personal. He moves from third person to second, from "those" to "you." He knew. He was already beginning to taste persecution Himself, and knew much more was to come.  Very few of us reading this words have experienced persecution anything like what Jesus was referring to here. Most of our suffering is due to stupidity. When someone slanders us we can always sue.  We rarely speak up and speak out the Word of God publically, causing negative response. But if and when we do, we share in the promise many throughout history and many in the less-than-free nations of the world do today: We will have true happiness and a sense that all is right and well, despite the physical and emotional pain that is experienced.  I do not wish such pain on anyone, but if we are not willing to be the recipients of persecution for Christ's sake, will we ever know the blessings Jesus is talking about here?

God's Prayer Promise: When Overlooked

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (I Corinthians 12)

One thing I have learned dealing with people through the years is that everyone wants to have their life count. Part of that is the "feedback" we receive from others. We want to be recognized for our contributions, accomplisments, and investments.  When we are not - when we feel ignored, overlooked and take for granted, bad feelings follow.  Paul helps us take another look. The really important parts of the body do their job unseen by the human eye. The hand - one of the most "productive" parts of the body, cannot do its work unless the foot takes it there. Eyes do not sense danger sneaking up behind you. In other words, we are not to live for recognition, even though it makes us feel good. Sometimes we will receive it; often we will not.  God says the Body needs me, and with that I should be content; it is, after all, Christ's Body. And I need to care more about the other members of the body than I do myself - that's the way Christ lived His life; that's the way I want to live mine. I may feel like I am overlooked, when really I'm just not sticking out like a sore thumb.  

God's Prayer Promise: Needy

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4)

Two of people's favorite pithy verses are found in this passage, yet we often do not link them together - verses 13 and 19.  In the first, Paul is talking about himself; in the second he is referring to his readers; in both he is crediting what Christ can and does do on behalf of the Father.  Needy. We do not like to admit that we are needy. Often we call our wants needs, and God does not promise to provide those, only our true needs.  Often God does so through others, as he did for Paul here, but when he had "less," Paul had learned to be content. We need to do the same. For us to fully appreciate and apply both verses 13 & 19 to our own lives, we must be willing to fully trust God to determine what it is that we really need; we must get more satisfaction in allowing Him to use us to provide what others need than in "getting" for ourselves; we must learn to be content in Christ.  Then we will be able to join with Paul in proclaiming: "To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen!"

God's Prayer Promise: Mourning our Grief

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21)
When we grieve, not much makes sense. The tears blur our eyes and the sense of loss blurs our thinking. Feelings run wildly and inconsistently; we need some truth, some hope, some foundation to cling to for solid ground. God's Truth, well-consumed and ingrained in our hearts and minds provides that. When we cling to Who He is, what He has done, and what He is going to do, the waves of emotion will not drown us. We can make it through grief. The waves can actually carry us forward in our journey, closer to the Day, and to the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives and in His plan, when there will be no mourning. 

God's Prayer Promise: Longing for More...

James 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Longing for more.  There is nothing wrong with wanting more of some things.  The problem comes when enough is never enough - especially when God is not enough.  Sometimes we catch ourselves (or worse yet, do not catch ourselves) being dissatisfied with the life God has given us. We want more. We allow the old selfish desires to tug too strongly, to compare ourselves with what everyone else has, to give in to pride and think "I deserve more." What a slap in the face to grace, whereby God reminds us that we really do not want what we deserve, and that He has given us far above what we could ever ask for in Christ. I love to mediate on this passage and get my mind straight.  Bow before God. Trust in Him - that he cares about what is best for you. He will give more than you could ever imagine.  He loves us that much.  

God's Prayer Promise: Kicked when Down...

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (I Peter 5)
The believers to whom Peter wrote knew what it was to be kicked when down.  They had suffered much loss due to proclaiming Christ as Savior, and then were persecuted and reproached over and over again.  It was a double dose, just as this passage talks about both yesterday's and today's them: anxiety and discouragement.  Satan wants nothing more than to discourage us in our walk of faith - to kick us when we're down so we won't get up again.  Our tendency is to imitate his pride - that we are too good for such treatment. But Christ was not; He willingly made Himself vulnerable for us.  We just need to recognize what is going on - to be watchful and sober-minded, realizing what Satan is trying to do to us and refuse to let him.  God promises that when we are down and kicked down He will pick us up, give us stable legs, strengthen us, and help us walk and run again.  Don't let the devil keep you down!

God's Prayer Promise: Jittery with Anxiety...

9 

Go on up to a high mountain,

    O Zion, herald of good news;

lift up your voice with strength,

    O Jerusalem, herald of good news;

    lift it up, fear not;

say to the cities of Judah,

    “Behold your God!”

10 

Behold, the Lord God comes with might,

    and his arm rules for him;

behold, his reward is with him,

    and his recompense before him.

11 

He will tend his flock like a shepherd;

    he will gather the lambs in his arms;

he will carry them in his bosom,

    and gently lead those that are with young.

(Isaiah 40:9-11)

Overwhelmed by what you see facing you in this life? Does it make you shake in fear? Wonder what will happen? Change your gaze. Lift up your eyes and "Behold your God!" Then lift up your voice. Proclaim His greatness as well as His gentleness.  The All-Powerful One carries you in His arms, above the waters, through the dark valleys, and over the rough terrain.  He will take you through. Be calm. He's got this.  

God's Prayer Promise: Insecurity

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1)
It amazes me sometimes how many followers of Christ say "I can't." They feel unable to move forward in their Christian walk, not knowing how to step forward - be it pursuing further education, forgiving another person and becoming vulnerable, or stepping into a ministry or service they feel God calling them to.  Paul reminds us here of why we should not let these insecure feelings hold us back.  First: God has already done some things in our lives - we have taken steps of faith before which got us where we are. Secondly God has and offers all the wisdom, riches and power that we need as we step out in these ways. Finally, though we may not be able to see forward to all the future steps, which makes us feel insecure, He can; He has a plan which will carry us through the rest of our lives and into eternity. Our insecure feelings are a bad thing only if we let them rule. We need to use them as prayer foder to depend on Him more - so He can show us step by step the wisdom and power He gives as we trust in Him. 

God's Prayer Promise: when you Have Failed

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (I Corinthians 15)

"It only Hurts on Mondays." That was the title of a book by a pastor, as he looked back on his week, back on his life of ministry, and the feelings of failure he experienced when he looked back at all his studies, visits and preparations of the busy week, capped by a busy day of services, then trying to get ready to do it all over again.  Perspective. That's what Paul offers here. When we have failed, God offers cleansing, forgiveness, renewed strength, and the hope of victory in Christ.  When we lose heart, He gives it back. When we fall, He picks us up.  When we begin to slip, He grabs our hand.  May we allow Him to train our hearts and minds, when feeling like failures: "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

God's Prayer Promise: Guilt

8 

Good and upright is the Lord;

    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9 

He leads the humble in what is right,

    and teaches the humble his way.

10 

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 

For your name's sake, O Lord,

    pardon my guilt, for it is great.

12 

Who is the man who fears the Lord?

    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

13 

His soul shall abide in well-being,

    and his offspring shall inherit the land.

14 

The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,

    and he makes known to them his covenant.

15 

My eyes are ever toward the Lord,

    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

(Psalm 25)

Guilt is one of those tricky things. God uses it to make us know that things are not right - that something needs to be put in order in our relationship with Him in order for us to live life abundantly before Him.  But sometimes Satan plays on that and makes us "feel guilty" when we are not.  How do we know?  We ask God.  Like with all the promises of God and commands of God, it goes back to His character: God is good. He tells us the truth; He loves us: He is not trying to hide things from us.  He is not waiting for us to get into a mess so He can pull us out; He prefers to keep us from getting caught in the net in the first place. 

God's Prayer Promise: Fearful

10 

...fear not, for I am with you;

    be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

To be sure, this particular promise was given to Israel as God's people, when they were headed for exile and a rough road ahead. But there are enough "Fear Not"s in scripture to remind us that God does not want us to live in fear. At times reverential fear can be helpful to move us back toward Him, but living in fear is far from what He has in mind. So this promise does apply to us as His people. We are called to focus not on our circumstances, failures, or problems, but on Him, His strength, His Righteousness, His claiming us as His own.  So, whatever you face today, don't try to face it alone: face your fears with Him. 

God's Prayer Promise: When Embarassed...

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1)
We all know the feeling - at least I hope we are sensitive enough to - we had the opportunity to share our faith in Christ and we blew it. Opportunity lost. But rather than beat ourselves up, God wants to talk to us about it. He wants us to share Paul's conviction mentioned above - that we are not embarrassed to be called a follower of Chirst; we are not ashamed of the Gospel; we are convinced of its power and believe in its goal. Our faith in Christ is the way to life and the way to live.  It is the way to get right with God and to live right before Him. When we do, we do not need to be ashamed, embarrassed, or beat ourselves up. So in our talk with God today, let us ask Him for forgiveness and for a renewed sensitivity to when and where and with whom we can share the Good News today.