Adventures in Prayer

Summer 2026

  • Just Now

    “See, I am doing a new thing!

        Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

    I am making a way in the wilderness

        and streams in the wasteland.”

    Isaiah 43:19

    It’s Just Now June.  I’d attuned myself to be in present in June, experiencing God in everyday experiences:  Breathe in: Just.  Breathe out: Now.  Just Now June: a nifty moniker guiding me moment by moment like Brother Lawrence; seeking to encounter God while washing dishes, sitting in front of the TV, or a cooking a meal.  I was used to encountering God in such experiences and figured Just Now June would be easy peasy.

    Just Now June included very little magic fairy dust. Sailing through June, I had very few deep thoughts, and mostly just responded to what was presented.  The lazy, hazy, crazy days of June were just that: hazy and lazy.  Just React and Move on June. Some good times were had.  We celebrated a sweet fortieth wedding anniversary with our kids. I had sweet experience with friends in a Discernment Circle.  I volunteered at church.  I cared for my grandson, cooked several good meals, and floated in a pool with a friend.  All good, but I floated through June with little spiritual focus. 

    Instead of centering on prayer and just being and noticing God’s presence in my life, my thoughts became increasingly scattered. My morning prayer times included more mindless phone scrolling and less prayer. My afternoons were hyper-focused on games and crafting while binging TV. 

    My mind was not the only thing that was cluttered. Layers of books, craft supplies, dust, puppy hair, toy cars and mail obscured my vision of everything but our giant TV.  And instead of smelling roses while outside, I noticed every weed, slug and snail I allowed in our gardens.

    During Just Now June I began to understand a few things.  My lack of concentration was wider than I expected.  I was not listening to my body: not eating lunch, not drinking enough water, not exercising, etc. I had not noticed.  I was sluggish.

    By the end of June I’d stressed my body’s dominant left side. I’m not sure how a slug stresses their dominant side, but that’s what I did.  I was no longer able to garden and my left side hurt too much to do much indoors.  My indoor and outdoor piles deepened and my body hurt. I decided that Just Now July sounded just as good or better than Just Now June. My plan was to really, REALLY concentrate on recovering the health of my body, soul, and mind during July.


    Just Now July flew by, a blur of pain, unrest and frustration.  Near the end of July I was forced to declutter my living room because my daughter invited guests to our house.  After the guests left I marveled at the difference the little clear-out made, not only in my living room, but in my head.  I cheered up a bit after the mountains of paper, cartons of glue, tubs of stamps, scissors and washi tape were transferred out of the living room and into the extra bedroom.  I experienced a tiny flicker of hope as I looked through the dried up house plants that still surrounded me.  Clearing some of the stuff I’d piled around me, helped me to breathe a bit deeper while still binging TV and scrolling through my phone.  

    My July yearly physical exam and bi-yearly dentist appointments also cleared my head in a rather jarring way.  I would have to intensify my commitment to take care of myself.  By July’s end, the threat of another lazy, hazy, crazy month of distraction and inertia spooked me. I’d need to start a life overhaul before August. (Yikes!)

    How did I go from basically healthy in May to needing a physical, mental, and spiritual overhaul in August? What happened during Just June and July?


    In June, I started listening to my body in a way that was unhealthy.  While I ignored my body’s need of basic food, water and exercise, I listened to my body’s normal discomfort in getting older.  I began to believe that I should slow down. I needed to go easy. Then I begin to experience real pain.  I’d not experienced much physical pain in my life and I didn’t think to pray through June’s injury.  Instead I figured that getting old = slowing down, the easy road. Easy walking through an entire lifetime is a myth. Walking on the wide easy road because the narrower road is harder and scarier may be okay in the short term, but lacks traction for the long haul. In Jesus’ words:


    “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”  Matthew 7:13-14. 


    After two months of coddling myself, I began to understand that my body (after healing) needed more discipline, not less.  My body and spirit needed more exercise and less inactivity.


    There’s a force leads away from goodness and rest.  Satan likes to see me floundering.  His force draws me toward confusion.  When my head and heart became increasingly clouded, I was demoralized.  It was easier for me to believe Satan’s lies.  I accepted the thought that the good life should include few boundaries. Why not skip prayer time and breakfast?  Why not stay indoors to finish craft projects?  Why not drink an extra beer?  Why be so hard on yourself? 

    “Did God really say that ‘you must not eat from any tree in the garden?”  


    Proof!  Satan wanted me to be a befuddled, perplexed mess, not able to find the narrow gate. I am learning that it’s harder to concentrate and make thoughtful decisions while in pain. Admitting that I’m in pain, am stressed, and am not in a good place, is a start.


    When I refused to acknowledge that I was in a fog, the fog began to make it hard for me to see clearly.  I figured that since I’ve lived for more than 63 years, I know how to live the Christian life.  I’ve been an active Christ follower for around 50 years.  I know how to hear God.  I’ve got this!  Though the temptation to be a lazy follower of Christ should be behind me, I did not recognize that I was taking the easy way spiritually.  I didn’t properly react to my new reality.  Seasons change.  With each season it is possible to learn to trust God in a different way. In this season, my body isn’t what it once was, but “I’M NOT DEAD YET!”  (Something my friend and I yell at the buzzards while they circle over us as we float in the pool).  It’s important that I continue to actively pursue God in new ways that match my new reality.  


    “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:29-31


    During Just Now June and July I was stuck so deeply in the present that I didn’t spend enough time experiencing God in a way that had been helpful in the past. Jesus, after lamenting the unbelief in towns where He performed most of His miracles, turned to God to thank Him that His disciples, though “little children” believed in Him and His miracles.  Next, He said to His followers,


    “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 

    Remembering God’s past miracles can encourage my faith in what God can do to lighten today’s load.

      My grandson lives in a structured, loving home.  He’s three years old, sometimes overcome by BIG emotions.  It’s helpful that he’s had a systematic life and knows that he can take time to feel, but sooner or later needs to calm down. Maybe that’s part of the reason Jesus called his disciples little children.  They were lost some of the time, but were also found by Him. They remembered His miracles and responded in faith. He was eager to share His yoke with them and lighten the load while they were in need.


      During June and July being present in a confusing world led me in many directions at the same time, but I’M STILL ALIVE for AWE-gust!  I’ll take what I learned from NO awe June and July into AWE-gust. New every morning. I will keep in mind that the easy road is not easy and Satan is a lier and wants me to believe things that will hurt and will lead me away from life.  I’M NOT DEAD YET.  My remembrances of God are sweet and can lead me on, stretching toward God in new and different ways everyday.  To feel the awe again, I will need dedication, concentration and willingness to let the world go in multiple directions without following those directions. Walking through the narrow gate on the narrow road means giving up worry, control and the concept of time.  It means to continue to allow time and space in my life for God’s way.

      For the last couple AWEgust evenings I’ve been challenged to pray the Examin.  Examin is a prayer of reflection on daily events.  It should help me slow down, be thoughtful and mindful at the end of the day.  Here’s an outline of the steps.

      • Become aware of God’s presence.
      • Give thanks: Look back over the past 24 hours. What are you grateful for? Where did joy, peace, or beauty break through?
      • Pay attention to your emotions: What moments felt heavy, difficult, or draining? Where did you feel most alive?
      • Be honest: Were there moments you missed God’s invitation? Things you wish you’d done differently? Bring them to Jesus without shame, He meets you with grace.
      • Look toward tomorrow: Ask God to prepare your heart for the day ahead.

      The above outline of Examin is by Prayer 24-7.  The app Lectio 365 provides evening prayers that will guide me through the steps.

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    1. Tonight I sensed a lack of connection.


      I first appreciated my lack of connection when it  took several texts back and forth to set up a simple lunch date with a good friend.  I realized that if I’d thought about her initial texts, we would have foregone several back and fourths.

      So, I settled the lunch date with my friend, and began my nighttime ritual of plugging in my phone, inserting one ear foam and locating my AirPods so I could blissfully fall to sleep to George Mac Donald in my other ear. 

      I plugged in my phone but couldn’t find my AirPods.  I looked and looked, and looked and looked, and looked.  I knew that my sleep depended upon my finding the AirPods.  (I’m currently listening to MacDonald’s fairy tales.  Perfect for sleep inducing and awake pondering) So I kept looking.

      At a certain point, after much frustration, I thought to look to the end of the AirPod cord.  Maybe?  Of course, I found my AirPods. Connection assured. Why hadn’t I looked to the cord in the first place?

      As I settled in to sleep, I thought over my day. I thought about this morning’s conversation with my daughter-in-law.  She shared with me her struggle to relate with my grandson. She worried that she and my son were not able to understand their sweet baby boy’s emotional needs.  They were searching for connection.

      While I listened to her, I thought about our Father’s relationship with us.  Though our Father created us for connection with Him, it takes us years to trust that connection.  It takes time for us to comprehend and trust His love for us.  When we finally start to understand the depth of His love for us, the cord between us is strong enough to withstand what comes. My daughter-in-law and son are strengthening my grandson’s trust in them everyday.  As he screams and screams and doesn’t seem to listen, they continue to listen and strive to understand, and he grows to trust them more each day. 

      I’m still in bed. I’m thinking about another broken connection:  My husband is not happy with me. He’s facing away from me in bed.  Earlier in our life together I’d been worried, sorry, dreamed scary dreams.  Now I’ve been through enough evenings like this to know that the cord between us may appear discolored and grimy, but can be counted upon in the morning.

      In George MacDonald’s “The Princess and the Goblin”, a golden thread provides direction, connection, and protection when those who cling to it, walk forward.  When in trouble, those who follow the thread are assured.  The key is walking forward in faith, trusting that the thread will not break.  

      “But, remember, it may seem to you a very roundabout way indeed, and you must not doubt the thread. Of one thing you may be sure, that while you hold it, I hold it too.”

      The same can be said about the threads between us. We can trust our connections or busily overlook them. We have the choice to walk forward in our relationships, or to stall.  It’s in walking forward, that the threads strengthen and we grow to trust their connections.

      George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin (1872), illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith (1920), Chapter 15.

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    2. Travel Memories may fade.

      They may come back again.

      I’m born a traveler.  As a three year old I remember the drive south from New York  state to visit my snow-birding grandparents in Florida. We were sideswiped in Georgia.  After that stay in an over-night flea bag hotel, I’ve traveled north to south, east to west through 42 states.  I’ve found comfort in the road.  Highlights:  The Truman library in Independence, Missouri, Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn, InnIndependence Hall in Philadelphia,, and the Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu.

      Around ten years ago things changed. Something in my brain rearranged.  Click! The cause?  I’m not sure. Traffic, congestion, changing lanes, speed, the uncertainly of the road freaked me out. I was hyper-vigilant  I worried that anything may end my life. Ease and happiness of traveling was in my past.  My present: How can I get to the store without fear.

      My memories of travel are very positive.  While a young child, I guided my finger through our family road atlas while dad drove from one place to another in Wyoming, and later from Oregon to southern California. Later memories are of reading Little House on the Prairie and The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe to my children while my husband drove through the Colorado Rockies.  I also remember (not fondly) the arguments my husband and I had while I tried to navigate unfamiliar states (the mountains of Idaho and Missouri were especially difficult). I remember barbecue in Kansas City, Memphis, and San Antonio, frozen custard in St. Louis, and Tampa’s 1905 Salad.  I remember hula pie at Duke’s, vegan in Ojai, and multiple wedding jellos in Montana.  

      Now days I take deep breathes while motoring to and from the Oregon coast.  I pray the mercy prayer driving through the Columbia Gorge, and whisper Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, while we power up and over the scary turns of Mt. Hood. I believe that God goes ahead and behind me in my travels. And I pray.

      About a month ago, while traveling through the Columbia Gorge, I fleetingly felt the euphoria I used to feel while traveling. I was, of course, very surprised. The feeling traveled through my mind swiftly.  I couldn’t quite reach it, but knew I’d felt it.

      This afternoon, while driving 99 toward an appointment to grandma-care for my sweet grandson, I felt that feeling again.  The feeling of freedom.  The feeling of gliding down the road with no care in the world.  The feeling: I HAVE THIS.  The euphoric feeling that I am part of a beautiful world and will be okay.

      I will persevere. I will trust that God goes before and after me.  I will pray.

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    3. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

      Worshipping the God of unanswered prayer


      The Lord’s Prayer, and our Lenten study, begin with “Our Father, who art in Heaven hallowed be Thy name.” They end, “For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever”.  Worshipful bookends.  This week we study how worship can influence our reaction to unanswered prayer.

      If you are lucky, God will lead you to a situation you cannot control, you cannot fix, or you cannot even understand. At that point true spirituality begins. Up to that point is all just preparation. Richard Rohr

      In 2 Samuel 12, David is out of control and can’t fix the predicament he’s in.  God’s prophet Nathan foretold that his sin with Bathsheba would result in the death of their child.  David pleads with God for the life of his son for seven days; fasting, in sackcloth, prone on the ground. David went all in: while his son was alive David hoped for healing.  He did everything he knew to change the mind of God. 

      It’s clear that David’s view of God does not change with changes in circumstances.  When his son dies, David’s attendants are afraid David will do “something desperate”.  Instead David, a very special person, gets off the ground, cleans up and goes to the house of the Lord to worship.  David depends upon God’s greatness, power, majesty and splendor before and after the death of his child.  David never doubt’s God’s sovereignty.  


      David admits his emotions, doubts and disappointments to God. Because he expresses his emotions, doubts and disappointments, he is able to regain equilibrium.

      I cried out to God for help;
          I cried out to God to hear me.

      When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
          at night I stretched out untiring hands,
          and I would not be comforted.

      I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
          I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.[b]

      You kept my eyes from closing;
          I was too troubled to speak.

      I thought about the former days,
          the years of long ago;

      I remembered my songs in the night.
          My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

      “Will the Lord reject forever?
          Will he never show his favor again?

      Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
          Has his promise failed for all time?

      Has God forgotten to be merciful?
          Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

      Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
          the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.

      I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
          yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

      I will consider all your works
          and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

      Your ways, God, are holy.
          What god is as great as our God?

      You are the God who performs miracles;
          you display your power among the peoples.

      Psalm 77:1-14

      Later when Bethsheba and David’s son Solomon was chosen to build the temple, David prayed what some say is the basis for the end of The Lord’s Prayer.

      Praise be to you, Lord,

          the God of our father Israel,

          from everlasting to everlasting.

      Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power

          and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

          for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

      Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;

          you are exalted as head over all.   1 Chronicles 29:10&11

      When we aren’t in control, fix a situation, and don’t understand what is going on we normally pray.  But, after we pray a while, and don’t see answers we should follow the paths of David and Christ.  Their responses to unanswered prayers are genuine worship and self-denial.  It’s not wrong to go to God with requests that seemingly may not be His will.  When God answers in a way we don’t like and we worship Him despite our pain, our offerings to Him are even more special.

      “He took Peter, James and John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled”.  When facing the cross, Jesus chose to pray with His best friends. Though He was an active part of the Trinity, He also shared His pain with human disciples.

      During COVID quarantine we isolated and cocooned.When we go through difficult times, the temptation is to again, isolate and cocoon. The habit of withdrawal is a temptation even when the healthier choice would be to share. When we are asked “How are you?” It isn’t easy to admit that we aren’t fine. When we admit that we are not fine,  God can work during honest conversations with people we trust.  God can provide answers through helpful words of others.

      In addition to to the aid of helpful friends, when we pray the Holy Spirit and Christ pray with us.  During an especially difficult time of prayer last week, a friend reminded me that Christ prays along side us.  It comforted me that I could, like when I pray with partners, just relax and silently agree with Christ’s prayers.

      In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 

      … Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

      “For your sake we face death all day long;
          we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

      No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:26&27, 34-39.

      “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly”.  Christ’s anguish gave Him the desire to press into His Father more earnestly.  Christ prayed, checked in with His disciples, prayed again, checked in, and prayed some more.

      He prays three times for deliverance.  Making the same request three times is a biblical literary device to signify completeness.  Jesus praying three times means that he prayed until he felt he had resolved the issue with himself and with God.  MaryKate Morse

      Earnest prayer takes time and effort.  Think: the persistent widow: Luke 18:1-8.   It takes courage, quiet and time to allow God to communicate to us while we are praying. John 10:1-5, Isaiah 30:19-21, John 16:13-15.

      “Abba, Father!”  Prayer is not always about results.  It’s always about relationship. At Gethsemane, while Peter, James and John fell asleep, Jesus communicated His deepest thoughts and emotions to His Father.   It was second nature for Jesus to pray to His Father. 

      For Christ, prayer is communication, both speaking and listening.  Read John 5-8.  There are numerous references of communication between Christ and God.

      It is obvious that Christ didn’t want to go through death on the cross.  His relationship with His Father made it possible for Him to do, in the end, what He didn’t want to do.

      “Everything is possible for You.”

      Ultimately, we cannot limit God’s power and love for us. While He can do anything, there is a disconnect between our reality and His.  It’s possible that at times we’d rather not be disappointed by God’s answers to our prayers OR we may be afraid that God will ignore us or not do what we want. We’d rather not share our suffering with Him.  In pain, we are capable of disregarding our loving God’s possibilities.  Our need for control, to fix things, and to understand, can negatively influence our prayer life.  Though we may not deliberately try to limit God, we limit Him in our own eyes.  When we fail to honestly share our deepest needs, we limit our view of what God can do.

      When our prayers are not answered, we it is easy to doubt God’s love for us.  We may believe that our prayer requests are reasonable and just. We may believe that we KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR US AND we especially know what’s best for OUR LOVED ONES. We might pull away after wondering why God doesn’t make the pain stop.

      No matter how hard it is to keep trusting when our deepest, most desperate prayers go unanswered, getting rid of God’s love and God’s power doesn’t actually help.  In fact, it makes things much worse.  The you try to remove God from the equation of your sufferings, you reduce yourself to a highly evolved animal in a meaningless universe whose suffering is without purpose, consequence, or hope.  By holding on to God when things are tough, you retain the possibility of rescue and receive comfort in your distress, a sense of purpose in your pain, and ultimately the hope of a life after death. Pete Greig

      Through pain, it is possible to come to a deeper acknowledgement that God knows and loves us and has our best in mind.  Isaiah 55:8-13  While everything is possible for God, as our creator, He knows what to best for us.  We don’t. 

      “Take this cup from Me.” Jesus was comfortable praying that He’d like to escape the cross.  Christ knew His destiny from the beginning, but as a human, sweat blood in fear of it. 

      Pete Greig in “How to Pray”, admits,  “The Bible is more honest about unanswered prayers than the church.  The gospel writers make no attempt to hush up the fact that Jesus himself experienced disappointment in prayer.” 

      Jesus, like David, who knew what His Father was about.  They both asked that they’d be spared.  We should find comfort approaching God in our weakness.  2 Corinthians 12:9-11  As we ask for our heart’s desires, we understand more clearly if our heart’s desires spring from God’s desires for us.

      “But not My will, but Yours be done.”Jesus is clear with His Father.  His Father, in turn is clear with Him. Jesus didn’t want to die, but His Father was for it. Jesus, sweating blood, believed in God’s sovereignty even while He didn’t want to do His Father’s will. Christ was able to continue off the mountain into captivity, and drew the strength to go through His Father’s plan because He knew that it was God’s will.  Christ knew His Father had a greater picture. 

      In retrospect, we understand why Jesus endured the cross, Hebrews 12:1-2.   It may not be possible for us to understand our bigger picture now, but we can ask God to supply us with the strength to worship Him and walk beside Him while we still wonder.  

      When we worship God, not understanding His will, fairness, or lack of connection, we admit God’s lordship in our lives.  He becomes dearer:  Not only as our Savior, but our Lord, Comforter, Healer, and Peace.

      I do not understand what God is doing or even where God is, but I know that he is out to do me good.’ This is trust. This is how to wait. I do not fully understand the reasons for the wildernesses of God’s absence. This I do know; while the wilderness is necessary, it is never meant to be permanent. In God’s time and in God’s way the desert will give way to a land flowing with milk and honey.        Richard Foster

      Assignment:

      When we are disappointed in prayer, praying the Psalms can bring comfort and provide a means of framing our emotions.  

      One-third of the Bible’s Psalms are considered laments:  Psalm 22, Psalm 6,  Psalm 109:21-31 and Psalm 42.

      These Psalms focus on God’s trustworthyness.  Psalm 27: 4-5, Psalm 46, Psalm 91, Psalm 139:1-18.  Notice that these Psalms say little about God answering prayers and a lot about His majesty and interest in our welfare.  They suggest that we should not fear, but when we do, God is with us.  The Psalms also provide comfort that our future is more positive than the present.

      They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

      Isaiah 40:31

      References:

      Foster, Richard, Prayer Finding the Heart’s True Home,  p. 23-24

      Greig, Pete, How to Pray, A Simple Guide for Normal People. p. 115,119

      Morse, MaryKate, A Guidebook to Prayer, pg. 136

      One response to “For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”

      1. Gretchen Gingerich Avatar
        Gretchen Gingerich

        Thank you Sara!

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      One response to “For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”

      1. Gretchen Gingerich Avatar
        Gretchen Gingerich

        Thank you Sara!

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    4. Deliver us from evil.

      Spiritual Warfare

      Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.   Ephesians 6:10-12 

      Deliver usfrom EVIL

      Satan occurs 27 times in the Old Testament and 36 times in the New Testament, sometimes translated as “adversary”.  Jesus interacted with Satan and evil in preparation for His ministry, He spent more than a month in the desert battling Satan. That’s serious. God spent much less time creating the earth!  During His years of ministry, Christ healed the sick, sometimes casting out demons.  Demons spoke. During the Lord’s Supper, Jesus warned Peter that he’d be tried by Satan and Peter, in turn, warned the early Christians that they should, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.Resist him, standing firm in the faith,”  1 Peter 5:8-9.

        a) Acknowledge that evil exists.

      Belief that Satan exists is essential for the Christ follower.   Satan is not just a Saturday Night Live comedy sketch.  Here are some Old Testament references which describe Satan’s origin and some of his works:

      Isaiah 14:12-15

      Job 1:6-12

      Ezekiel 28:12-19

      Zechariah 3  

      “There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God, and counterclaimed by Satan.”    C.S. Lewis.

        b) Face the fight, rather than avoiding the battle.  Sometimes it’s easier to, like Dory, “Just keep swimming!”, ignoring the fight.   In the long run, with Christ’s help, you will spend less effort facing Satan, than you spend in fear and frustration.

        c) Do not be afraid.  The battle is won, not by you, but in heaven.  Allow Christ’s death bring it’s full result on earth. (Romans 8:31-39) We are delivered this way everyday without our even knowing it!

      There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

        d) Distinguish between the spirits. Distinguishing between spirits is in the list of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:10) .  In  2 Kings 6:11-20  Elisha prays that his servant’s eyes would be opened to see angels that were there to fight for Israel.  God is not into guessing games.  If we ask for clarification, He will give it to us.

        d) Recognize evil. Evil often masquerades as normal.  Normal for others may not be normal for us.  It’s important to know God’s best for you.

      DELIVER us from evil.

      Acknowledges that we need help. 

        a)  We depend upon God for dependence on God.  God is on our side and wants us to depend upon Him.  When we rely on Him for the ability to trust Him, He is faithful.  Hebrews 12:2 explains that God is the AUTHOR and PERFECTER of our faith.  Remember, the Spirit prays for us when we are weak or don’t know how to pray. (Romans 8:26-27)  Philippians 2: 13 reads, “For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

        b)  We are delivered through the test, with Him on our side, strengthening our faith that God is on our side and increasing our ability to, with the grace of God, endure evil (1 Peter 3:3-9).  Admitting that our need of God is often the first step toward freedom.

       c)  Bind Satan.  As Christ’s ambassadors we’ve been given this ability. (Matthew 18:18)  At first, it may feel very strange.  Say something like, “In Jesus’ name, I bind you. Because of the cross of Jesus, you must leave.”

       d)  “Spiritual warfare tends not to be meek and mild, but forceful, assertive, and authoritative. It is sometimes accompanied by fasting and generally requires perseverance and careful spiritual discernment.”  Pete Greig

      Again, no fear here.  God is with you and will never forsake you.

       e)  Stand your ground.  The victory is already won.  In the moment it seems like all is lost.  Not so.  Christ died.  It’s done.  Stand your ground.

      Deliver US from evil.

      Acknowledges that need to be delivered

        a)  Pray for a deeper understanding of the authority we have in Christ:  The power that overcame death on the cross is ours. (Ephesians 1:17-23)  The authority over evil is Christ’s.  It is important to note that as we humble ourselves, ask for help in the battle, Christ fights for us. (James 4:6-10)  As we recognize Christ’s strength, we also understand our own weakness.  (Acts 19: 11- 19).

        b)  What are the promises in the Bible?  The armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18) includes one offensive weapon, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”   When you are aware of something that needs spiritual warfare, go to the bible to find promises that back you up.  Jesus combatted Satan in the wilderness using scripture.

      References:

      Greig, How to pray: for normal people, pages 187-212

      Jensen Salisbury, Karen, Three Things you Need to Know about Authority over Satan. https://karenjensen.org/media-menu/blog/1602-3-things-you-need-to-know-about-taking-authority-over-satan

      Leave a comment

    5. Lead us not into temptation. 

      Discernment 

      The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

      Lead us not into temptation.  A conundrum.  Why does Jesus ask that we not be led to temptation?  The implication is that God can lead our way toward temptation, but we need to request that He doesn’t.  Doesn’t God want to lead us away from temptation?

      The source of temptation is not God. (James 1:13-15) In Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home.  Foster writes of the negative (lead us not to temptation) and positive (but deliver us from evil):  “The first part of the petition has disturbed many.” (Ha, ha!  We aren’t the only ones who’ve sensed a Rae Knopp conundrum here!)  How can God, our redeemer, both lead us into temptation and shield us from temptation? “The Greek word (temptation) itself means “trials” or “trying circumstances,”  Foster goes on to write “the only time God tries us is when there is something in our hearts that needs revealing. For example, Judas was a man who had difficulty with money, which was precisely why Jesus made him the treasurer of the apostolic band. In time, what was in the heart of Judas came to light.”  Jesus lead Judas into a situation where his love of money would be stronger than his love for Christ.

      “Satan tempts us that he may bring out all the evil that is in our hearts; God tests us that He may bring out all the good.” F.B. Meyer

      While I was in high school. I went on a school biology trip to the Steens Mountains.  It was an overnight camping trip in late fall.  Quite cold.  A group of hunters camping next to our campsite, welcomed some of us over to their campfire.  We felt a little weird about joining the group of older men, but did it anyway.  After a while our conversation got to religion.  One of the men looked me straight in the eye, and said, “Do you believe in God?”  

      I felt my blood run cold.  I, of course, more than believed in God.  I loved God.  I had a very personal relationship with God.  I looked around the campfire, catching the eyes of several of my classmates.

      Peter, at a similar fire, had a similar decision to make.  How would he react to being called a Christ follower?  He had just told Jesus that he was prepared to go to prison and die for him.  “This man was also with him.”  Peter had a split second to answer the servant girl.  Peter denied even knowing Christ. 

      Christ had foretold Peter’s denial saying:  “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you* like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.”   Luke 22:31-32 

      The temptation to downplay my relationship with Christ was strong in me.  My answer to the hunter was similar to Peter’s to the servant girl.  “Of course I believe in God.  My Dad is a pastor.” Immediately I was deeply disturbed by my response to the question.  I had succumbed to the temptation to deny Christ’s importance to me.

      At the time, my denial strengthened my faith in God. Years later, I passed on to my children what I learned during the fireside conversation.  I stressed that their decisions to follow Jesus are personal commitments that are on-going.  

      Dealing with temptation and our dark side.  

      At the campfire, I was very aware that I was being tempted.  At the time, I thought it was by Satan.  Now I wonder if I needed to know how easy it would be for me to deny Christ.  How can we battle Satan and our own tendency to sin?  Our protection is in Ephesians 6:10-20:  Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the word of God.  The armor of God. When we find ourselves in a negative, hurtful tempting situation, how should we pray?

      Truth:  What is true?  What is a lie?  What might destroy us or others?  What would Jesus do?

      Righteousness:  Jesus has our backs.  We NEVER have to lean on our own righteousness. Don’t listen to the voice of condemnation.  It’s not from God.

      Peace:  Are you at peace?  If not, the Jesus prayer may be of service:  “Lord, Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner.”  Pray it for other people as well.

      Faith:  In whom or what are you is your faith?  Are leaning on the everlasting arms, or something else or someone else?  Idols?  Hmmmmmm.  

      Salvation:  Our salvation is in Christ alone.  We can count on it.  Nothing else is certain.

      The Word of God:  What does the bible say about our situation?  Be quiet and listen.  2 Corinthians 3:16-18  God will provide you with His Word, especially when you ask.  He’s not into a guessing game.  God wants to give you His Word through the bible, the Holy Spirit or others. Hebrews 4:12-16

      A couple more things:

      1. Be aware the devil is out to kill, steal, and destroy. (2 Corinthians 2:11).  If something seems not quite right, it probably isn’t.  Go to God.  He is our spiritual authority.  Don’t doubt what you are discerning. We can easily underestimate what is going on in the spiritual world.

      2)   Be aware of your weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9).  God can use your weaknesses.  It is important to acknowledge that you are weak and work with God.  God redeems.  He’s done it over and over: Joseph:  Genesis 50:15-20,  Israel:  Jeremiah 24,  Peter:  Luke 22:54-62 / John 21:15–17.

      3)  Again, remember, when tempted or tested, God has made a way of escape. God is a good, good Father, who wants the best for us. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

      4)  Be vulnerable. (James 5:16).  God’s grace is strengthened in a community. Ecclesiastes 4:12.  The idea of a one cord rope versus a three is very concrete.  Remember:  We are stronger TOGETHER.

      Foster, Richard J. Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, p.188 & 189.

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    6. Forgive us our Debts

      The Examen: Prayer of confession and repentance

      “To confess sins is not to tell God anything God doesn’t already know. Until you confess them, however, they are the abyss between you. When you confess them, they become the Golden Gate Bridge.”

      Frederick Buechner

      We are asked to examine ourselves before taking communion.  Often, Sunday communion comes to me almost as a surprise.  During the service, I am allowed a small amount of time for self examination.

      Somewhat like the tendency to want to skip being examined by a dentist, we may prefer to forego God examining our hearts. Often we need to pray for God’s help to even start the process of confession and repentance. In confession, we agree with God: we’ve done something wrong  We need help. Honest confession does not necessarily change behavior. When we repent, we admit that we need to change who we are and what we do. Roadblocks to repentance include pride: If what we are doing is not “so bad” we can continue on our way.   Control: While operating with a sense of control, even when we confess sin, we it is possible to control our repentance. Justification.  Self preservation.  And so on.

      Examination by God is a process. The Examen, as a method of prayer, can be how we meet with God to discuss our lives.  It was formulated in 1522 by Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.  The word Examen is Greek for examine or weigh. The Examen should be seen as a conversation – reinforcing our relationship with Him. There are traditionally five steps to this prayer, which have varied over the years.  Here’s a version from Jim Manny, an author of books on Ignatian spirituality.

      The Examen

      1.  Ask God for light.

      Ask God to be present with you.  Quiet your thoughts.  Ask God to illumine your time together. (Ephesians 5:8)

      2.  Give Thanks.

      Remember the goodness of God.  Thank Him for who He is. Thank God for what He’s provided.  As we thank God for His blessings, we understand His great love.  (Isaiah 41:10)

      3.  Review the day.

      Ask God to help you examine your day.  When was He especially apparent?  How did God bless you?  How did God help you during the day? (Psalm 31)

      4.  Face your shortcomings.

      Be honest with yourself.  Be specific.  No excuses.  Where do you need healing? When were you anxious or angry?  Say sorry to God for things that you are embarrassed about.  Let go. (Psalm 139)

      5.  Look toward the day to come.

      Thank God for the reset for a fresh start tomorrow.  What will you need from God tomorrow?  Ask the God to grant you rest (and inspiring dreams!).  Remind yourself of the greatness of God.  (Lamentations 3:22-23)

      Some find comfort in praying the examen as part of their daily routine, many in the evening as a review of their day.  This can be as easy asking God to reveal His presence during the day as well as where you fell short, or it can be through praying the steps of the Examen.  As with all prayer, Examen is not formulaic, rather it is a method of communication with God.  It may take several settings to get through the steps.  

      “The Examen is an immediate solution to the problem of ‘what do I pray about?’ The answer is: everything that’s happened to you today. You might have the impression that your everyday life is the dreary same old, same old. It isn’t. Daily life is rich and meaningful. Every encounter, every challenge, every disappointment, and every delight is a place where God can be found.” 

      Jim Manney, A Simple, Life Changing Prayer

      Pete Greig writes that “God is not just in the nice stuff.  He is also with us in the darkest valley, in seasons of doubt, and even in our sin.”  When reviewing our day, rather than wondering why the situation happened or mulling over what occurred ask, “Where were you in this negative situation, God?”

      Praying the examen, is a way to better understand both God and yourself.  Be sure that your prayer centers in the truth about God.  Ask Him to reveal ever more of Himself while he gives you a glimpse of your true self . Anthony Bloom writes about prayer:

      The moment you try to focus on an imaginary god, or a god you can imagine, you are in great danger of placing an idol between yourself and the real God. … It is not a journey into my own inwardness; it is a journey through my own self, in order to emerge from the deepest level of self into the place where He is, the point at which God and I meet.

      Additional Suggestions:

      Here are some additional means of confession and repentance.

      Personal Retreat

      Go somewhere quiet such as the Mount Angel Abbey, a park, or a friend’s house. Devote as much time as needed to get right with God.

      Journaling

      The act of writing, for some is a release.  It can be a means of understanding yourself and encountering Christ.

      The Jesus Prayer

      A quick prayer to pray during stressful situations.  Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

      Lectio 365.  

      Lectio 365 is a downloadable app. The form of morning prayers is inspired by Lectio Divina, which focuses on Bible readings as a way to meditate and pray.  Lectio’s evening prayers are fashioned after The Examen, which is a reflection on the day, thanking God for what He did, repenting and preparing for the night’s rest.

      Resources:

      Bloom, Anthony, Beginning to Pray, pgs. 45-49

      Foster, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home.

      Greig, Pete, How to pray: a simple guide for normal people, pgs. 169-183.

      Ignitian Spirituality, https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/the-steps-of-the-examen/  The Steps of the Examen.

      Manney, Jim, A Simple, Life-Changing Prayer: Discovering the Power of St. Ignatius Loyola’s Examen

      Morse, MaryKate, A Guidebook to prayer, pages 62, 89.

      The Book of Common Prayer. 

      Most merciful God,
      I confess that I have sinned against you
      In thought, word, and deed,
      By what I have done, and what I have left undone.
      I have not loved You with my whole heart;
      I have not loved my neighbors as myself.
      I am truly sorry and humbly repent.
      For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ,
      have mercy on me and forgive me;
      that I may delight in Your will,
      and walk in Your ways,
      to the glory of Your Name. Amen.

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    7. Give us This Day, our Daily Bread.

      Petitionary Prayer for the World

      Let all the earth fear the Lord;
          let all the people of the world revere him.

      For he spoke, and it came to be;
          he commanded, and it stood firm.

      The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
          he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

      But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
          the purposes of His heart through all generations.

      Psalm 33:8-11

      Last week we prayed that we would allow God to make his kingdom in ourselves.  This week we pray that God’s kingdom come, and be done in the world as it is in heaven.

      If you are like me, most days I pray for myself, my family, and my most immediate concerns but have not consistently widened the scope of my prayers to include folks I’ve never met.  Therefore, it may be especially straightforward this week to reach Gretchen’s goals for increased expectation, capacity and perception.  At the moment, I start at near ground zero.  I don’t often pray for people outside what I consider my sphere of influence.  Should the range of my prayer influence widen?

      Last October, I was in dark, rainy Oxford, UK. I’d been wet and uncomfortable all day and had a cold.  I didn’t have enough clothing to keep warm.   It was evening. There were lots of people in the street and the rain wasn’t going to stop.  I glanced to my left and spotted a woman close by who reminded me of myself.  As our eyes met, she asked me for money.  At that moment I was overcome with emotion, mainly sadness. I felt a connection between her and I.  I looked into her eyes, she registered a look of surprise.  I realized that my eyes mirrored the sorrow I was feeling.  The lady took several steps backward, muttering, “No! No!” and disappeared into the crowd.   I walked on, shaken.  I had no idea why she’d reacted to me with fear.  I decided that I owed this woman.  I committed myself to pray for her.

      Since the early days of Christendom, people have made it their vocation to step away from everyday life to fully devote themselves to prayer.  Bells ring in communities around the world calling women and men to prayer several times daily.  Joining monastics are everyday people who connect with prayer movements such as Prayer 24-7.  As a young mother, I prayed with several women, who spent more time in prayer than I did.  We called these women our prayer warriors. 

      From  MaryKate Morse:

      We, too, are called to pray for the world.  “Today believers are priests who are the bridge-builders in their neighborhoods.  … Out of the security of our love in God, we pray for others without any thought of gain.  Blessing prayers are priestly prayers. …Priestly prayers are prayed generously and with lovingkindness for the nations of the world by all of us.  

      We’ve the grace and opportunity to participate in what God is doing.  He desires that we join Him in His work in the world.  With the habit of praying for some of the world’s needs each day, comes an increased perspective of how huge God’s love is.  We also more fully understand our place in the world and may realize more responsibility for the well being of others. 

      When praying for others:

      1. Ask God for increased perspective.  For example, be watchful for specific ways to pray while driving around town.  God will make needs known to you.  Actively listen for ways to pray while watching the world news. Ask God for discernment.  Put yourself in the shoes of whom you are praying.
      2. Ask God for increased capacity.  Pray that you will not be overwhelmed.  There is tremendous need.

      Start small.

      Put limits on news and socials that leave you defeated.

      Look for stories on progress God is making in the world.  Share the stories with others.

      Remember God is in control.

      3.  Ask for increased expectation.  

      Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20&21

      It may be helpful for you to choose one specific area to pray for.  Here is a list of possible international prayer topics:

      1. Healing
      2. The hungry
      3. Peace
      4. Unreached people groups
      5. The poor and under-served
      6. Climate change and the environment
      7. Areas of injustice
      8. Use of scientific advancement
      9. Oppression of LBTQIA+ folks and their community
      10. The government
      11. Care of refugees and immigrants
      12. The enslaved
      13. The church 
      14. Guidance through changes


      Here are some tools that may help you settle on a way to expand your prayer life:

      Operation World:  https://operationworld.org/
      An app for your phone. Operation World highlights a country for prayer each day. includes basic information.

      The World Fact-book: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/ Information which sparks prayer for specific countries.

      The Joshua Project: https://www.joshuaproject.net/ Started in 1995, this group seeks to provide information on people groups with the least access to information about Jesus.

      24-7 Prayer https://www.24-7prayer.com/ A worldwide prayer movement for nonstop prayer with the aim of church revival.  Lectio 365 is it’s devotional resource.

      Source:

      Morse, MaryKate, A Guidebook to Prayer: Twenty-four ways to Walk with God, pgs. 66-73. Practical book on how to pray.  I have a copy that you may borrow.

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    8. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

      Prayer of Relinquishment

      The dictionary definition of relinquishment is to give up, to abandon.   When I think of giving up and letting go I think of a tug of war battle.  Each team leans away from the other believing in it’s own strength, sweating it out until one team falters and can’t hang on.  One team gives up and abandons the game.  It is important that sometimes when we sit down with our Father, we too, give up.

      Palms down.

      In early March 2020, I felt that I had everything in control.  I was pleased with my life.

      COVID hit me hard.  Growing up relatively poor taught me to live with little, so I missed some of the angst.  But.  Much of what I relinquished during COVID was what had given my life meaning.  Two weeks after shutdown I was to have spent a week at outdoor school with my sixth grade class.  Normally it would be the highlight of my year.  Instead, for two years, without notice, I administered poorly written online courses and begged students to show up on their computers.

      Once we were able to leave our homes this is a list of what I did outside of our home from March 2020 – April 2021:

      Bank: 1

      Dollar Store: 3

      Plant Nursery: 3

      Friend 1: 1

      Friend 2: 20

      Friend 3: 4

      Specialty Store: 5

      Place of Employment/School: 11

      Hair Stylist: 3

      Massage:  6

      Library:  8

      Safeway: 3

      Cutsforth’s grocery store:  once a week

      Hotel visits: 2

      Clenched fists.

      By April 2021 I felt that I’d relinquished enough.  No teaching in a real classroom.  No visits to relatives.  No in person church. No worship leading with my friends. No restaurants. No Portland. Even walking down the street in Canby was different.  I’d walk across the street if I was to meet anyone on the sidewalk. 

      On the other hand, I’d only lost one dear one. Many people lost their livelihoods. I’m somewhat embarrassed to put it out there that I felt loss during COVID. I’d escaped without even experiencing COVID itself. BUT my life changed.  I thought that growing up relatively poor was my big lesson in life. It wasn’t.

      Giving up life experiences during COVID helped me understand what relinquishment means.  It is heart wrenching.  It is leaving dreams behind.  It means not being in control.  It means expectations be dashed.  Which means that I may or may not be prepared to relinquish anything ever again. Have I shut down after COVID?  Do I no longer trust God because He let COVID happen? Do I ignore the need for relinquishment because I’ve had enough?

      True relinquishment takes us to the garden of Gethsemane. “Not my will but yours be done,” Jesus taught us.  God’s choice.  But before God’s decision, it was Christ’s. Christ made the choice to relinquish His right to life and be crucified.  We can’t possibly understand all that Jesus gave up while in the garden.  We suppose He was facing grisly death.  We suppose that He was torn in two with the knowledge that, in death, He would be separated from His Father. He may have also been thinking about leaving his relatives and friends.  He may have been fearful of the loss of control. He may have been thinking about some of the things we leave behind when we mourn.

      Jesus was able to trust God during difficult times because He spent much of His the rest of His time worshiping and listening for His Father’s voice. Christ was sure of His Father’s devotion to Him. Jesus was sure of His (and our) future, though sweating blood because of what He’d have to experience in His near future.

       And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Ephesians 12:1b-2

      If Jesus experienced all sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) before He beat it, He goes before us, understanding both the good and bad things that we’d rather not give up.

       For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

      Richard J. Foster describes the prayer of relinquishment:

      Struggle is important because the prayer of relinquishment is Christian prayer and not fatalism. We do not resign ourselves to fate. We are not locked into a pre-set, determinist future. Ours is an open, not a closed, universe. We are  “co-laborers with God” as the Apostle Paul put it – working with God to determine the outcome of events. Therefore our prayer efforts are a genuine give and take, a true dialogue with God. And relinquishment is our full and wholehearted agreement with God that his way is altogether right and good.

      The Prayer of Relinquishment is letting go, a release with hope, a confident trust in the character of God. Even when all we are able to see is the tangled threads on the backside of life’s tapestry, we know that God is good and is out to do us good always. And that gives us hope to believe that we are the winners regardless of what we are being called upon to relinquish. God is inviting us deeper in and higher up. There is training in righteousness, transforming power, new joys, deeper intimacy. Besides, often we hold so tightly to the good that we do know that we cannot receive the greater good that we do not know. And God has to help us let go of our tiny vision in order to release the greater reality he has in store for us.

      Assignment:

      Where are you struggling?  What are you worried about? How have your prayers been left unanswered?  Is there something that you need to relinquish?  Here is this week’s assignment> 

      Palms Up, Palms Down*

      Sit in a comfortable position.

      Invite the presence of God.

      Palms down

      Place your palms on your legs facing down:  symbolic that you are giving your requests to God. 

      Name your worries or anxieties.

      Imagine yourself releasing them to God. You may picture the hands of the Father’s hands receiving. 

      Pray:  Not my will, but Thine be done.

      Listen.

      Palms Up 

      Turn your hands palms up. Ask Jesus for His peace, courage, presence, love or a plan of action. 

      Notice the quiet. Rest. Receive peace and power in the presence of God. Receive a particular promise from scripture. Accept reassurance, clarity, direction.  

      Believe in God’s active and powerful love in you and allow His presence to be more than enough.

      *Palms Up, Palms Down:  The Prayer Course.  https://downloads.24-7prayer.com/prayer_course/2019/resources/pdfs/9%20Palms%20Up,%20Palms%20Down.pdf

      Perspective:  Growing Edges, Richard J. Foster, https://renovare.org/articles/the-prayer-of-relinquishment

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    9. Thy kingdom come in me.


      Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  Ephesians 1:3


      In Christ, we are blessed with spiritual blessings that we often miss.   C.S. Lewis writes:


      …like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”  C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses

      I am far too easily pleased by mud pies for sure.  My pies are comfort, dissatisfaction (complaining instead of embracing) and laziness.  What are your pies?

      A friend and I were playing dodgeball tag with third and fourth graders.  Memories of basketball welts from “middle school dodgeball gone wild” were utmost in my mind as I struggled to hide behind something bigger than myself.  I didn’t realize that I’d said aloud, “I’m way slower than I used to be.”  A grinning, fiendish fourth grader poised to tag me with his ball, said,  “Well, that’s a scarcity mindset!” ….I agreed.

      While teaching sixth grade, I began the school year with a week of instruction in scarcity versus abundance mindset.  I knew exactly what that fourth grader was saying.  A person operating with a scarcity mindset focuses on the half empty glass, believing that they do not have the necessary skills, knowledge or emotional strength to accomplish their goals.  They are preoccupied with the chance of failure rather than success.

      As a 65 year old woman, no one would blame me for playing dodgeball with a scarcity mindset. But. Do I want to limit myself this early in the game? Even when I have an acceptable excuse to stop.  Should I?   


      “God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”  Philippians 1:6 

      While tired, worn down and just plain grumpy it is easy for me to feel okay about limiting God’s good work. Just surviving is realistic. AND. Giving in to exhaustion is a brilliant first step. I can’t fly like an eagle, sting like a bee. Correct. First step. Admit it. Second step:  Ask for help. 

      The opposite of scarcity mindset is growth mindset, which is exactly what it sounds like:  I may be old, slow and out of breath, but I can beat these young whippersnappers using not brawn, but brain!  While I feeling weak I need to remember that God plans to use me until “Christ Jesus returns”.  Which means that I have hope. BUT.  I know my limitations.  I can’t keep this up until Christ returns.  Are you kidding me?  I again return to my Savior.

      I hope this is not just a “turn that frown upside-down” message.  When life throws especially hard basketballs at us, and we don’t have the confidence or stamina to dodge.  Instead of trying to dodge balls, it is important to go to God to ask for understanding.  God is dodgeball tag’s “something big to stand behind”.  Christ has dodged all the balls the world hurled at Him.  He understands our weakness, is present in our weakness and is able to supply us with all spiritual blessings. 

      Your Assignment:

      Look/pray through the list below. As you pray through the list, be honest.  Do you even want this?  Be real during Lent.

      Pray that you will:

      1. understand your calling and have the confidence that God will provide skills to fulfill whatever He asks you to do.
      2. love patiently, kindly, and not envy, boast, or be proud.  You will not be selfish, easily angered, or keep a record of wrongs.  You will not delight in evil, but rejoice in the truth.  Always protect, trust hope and persevere.
      3. abide in Christ in areas that it is easier to take over yourself.
      4. be prepared for spiritual battle be strong and courageous. 
      5. bring burdens to Christ after bringing them for years, seemingly with no answers. 
      6. bear the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 
      7. for godly wisdom in difficult areas of your life.
      8. control your tongue. 
      9. be faithful in the face of opposition.
      10. truly see the holiness of the Lord and your own sinfulness, and respond in confession and worship.
      11. pursue God with wholehearted devotion, submitting to the will of the Father, whatever that may be.
      12. look for those whom you can help.

      Take your time.  God is working even when we don’t expect it!  Trust Him.  Do what you can and allow Him to do the rest.

      May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13


      Basis for prayer list:  Life.  Love. and Jesus. by Tammie. Twenty ways to pray for yourself. https://www.lifeloveandjesus.com/20-ways-to-pray-for-yourself/ 

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