God walk

Genesis 3:8
When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden.

Anthropomorphism- is the attribution of uniquely human characteristics and qualities to nonhuman beings, inanimate objects, or natural or supernatural phenomena.

God is non-physical being. Yet, the Bible describes God as walking around here. Is this just a myth the early God-believers made up in order to tell the beginning of the story of God and his people? Or is God awesome enough to take on these characteristics as God?

Good question.

When does God seem close today?

the importance of fathers

Are fathers simply throwaway DNA donors who come out of patriarchal exploitation?
Hardly-
a Father's Day message on the biblical view of father

stardust

Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

Though the Bible is not a science book, it is rather interesting that the creation of humans from dust is the way the Bible talks about it.

Fast forward to modern physics and space exploration where they are studying star dust. A recent NASA mission was actually dubbed, “Stardust.”

"We want to find out what this stuff is like," said Dr. Donald C. Brownlee of the University of Washington, the chief scientist of the mission. "It's the building block of planets and human bodies."

Indeed, Joni Mitchell sang it in “Woodstock,” “We are stardust…”

Pray for those involved in space exploration.

beginning

Genesis 1:26

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

Notice God speaks of God’s self in the plural. In the Christian tradition, we see this as a clear indication of the Trinity. In the context it makes so much sense. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is enjoying abundant life together from eternity, and now wants to share this mutual self-giving love, encouragement, and joy with us. Somehow, even our care giving of the creatures of the earth will take part in this.

What can you do today to give yourself to God?

with God

For the last 24 weeks, I have commented on selected Bible verses on prayer, compiled in the Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible. I will continue this practice with the topic of “The With-God Life.” Here is what the Spiritual Formation introduction says:

The With-God Life: The Bible is all about human life “with God” and how God has made this “with-God” life possible and will bring it to pass. The name Immanuel, meaning “God is with us,” is the title given to the one and only Redeemer, because it refers to God’s everlasting intent for human life- namely, that we should be in every aspect of a dwelling place of God.

Pray God makes himself present to you in more intentional ways.

amen

Revelation 22:21
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

This is the last verse of the Bible and how appropriate that it ends in an, “Amen.” I like to think of the whole Bible as communication between God and people. This sounds similar to a definition of prayer. If we look at it this way, the Bible is a prayer. As we read it, cherish it, wrestle with it, and pray it, the Bible is source and foundation for everything else.

Amen

with angels

Light some incense or a scented candle as you pray today.

Revelation 8:4
The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, sent up before God from the angel's hand.

What an image this scene brings to mind. I like the phrase, “from the angel’s hand.” Angels, like all of us who love Jesus, pray to him. There is something exciting and comforting to know our prayers continue forever. This also means once they go out to God, they don’t die out. Let our prayers cover the world!

Pray for every specific continent today.

like incense

Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

The Bible says our prayers are like “incense” that rises to God. I love this metaphor. Something fragrant and soothing slowing filling the air with an atmosphere out of the ordinary. If we use our imaginations we can envision ourselves covered in this prayer. We and all those others who pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Light some incense or a scented candle as you pray today.

wait

Jude 20
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

Jude is addressing the same situation as Peter in Monday’s post. Jesus is coming. What do we do? Be built up in our faith and pray in the power of the Spirit.

Now, we may all be in different places in our lives, yet this teaching is the same for all. Pray.

Specifically ask the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers today.

end times

1Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

When we consider the end times and the return of Jesus, it is always around the corner. It will either be the actual time, or we will die and enter into the heavenly dimensions. Either way and we are to be ready. Ready does not mean confused and anxious. Clear-minded and self-controlled sound so different.

Would that we could face all challenges of life in this way. We can as we focus on prayer which centers us like nothing else.

Pray for the coming of Jesus.

our garden

-the pornography industry is right in our own backyard
-gang violence is an all too real pox on our community
-we have been called for a time such as this
-God has placed us in charge of caring for His creation...His garden

marriage

1 Peter 3:7
Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

Here the Bible is speaking of husbands honoring their wives. By doing so we follow God’s instruction. Honor your wife, husbands, because they deserve it and God wants it. Why else?

Apparently, the strength of God’s blessings are linked to our faithfulness. Not that God doesn’t bless the “just and the unjust,” as the Bible states, but there is certainly an emphasis of favor when God is honored. So, in this example, honoring our spouses is an important way to honor God.

Pray for marriages in your circles of friends today.

the Trinity

are you confused by the teaching of the Trinity?
don't be...listen to this

the poor

1 Tim 5:5
5The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.

The Bible has several examples of God’s focused attention on the needs of the poor. From the evidence in the Bible, and what we know historically, Joseph and Mary would be classified as, “working poor,” today. So, God himself comes into our world as poor and vulnerable. He understands and responds to the cries of his people.

Pray for the poor in your community.

God keeps his promises

don't underestimate the power of God to make wrong things right

always hope

1 Tim. 4:4-5

Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

These verses refer to the change in food laws for Jews who have become Christian. Foods aren’t prohibited any longer. I am not a huge fan of vegetables and so I would question that everything is good, but I eat them anyway!

We do well to remember that anything God created can be made good by his power. Even people who do evil and hate God. Through God and prayer, no one is beyond hope.

Who seems hopeless and needs prayer today?

uplifted

1 Tim. 2:8
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

Lifting hands in prayer and worship is a common practice throughout the Christian world (other faiths, as well). In the Bible, the word for “thanksgiving,” is literally, “lift up your hands.”

When we lift up our hands we show God there is nothing in them and all that we receive comes from him. When we lift up our hands it’s as if we are pointing out a magnificent work of art and saying, “Wow!”

God is magnificent. God is good. I lift my hands to his majesty.

Pray with hands uplifted today.

Spirit power

following the lead of the Holy Spirit brings power
saying all you need is the Holy Spirit brings trouble
what's the difference?

without ceasing

1 Thess. 5:17
Pray without ceasing.

In the King James English language, this is the second shortest verse in the Bible. How simple and how challenging. Keeping constantly in touch with God (simple instruction) and actually doing it (challenge).

Why would we want to neglect God in prayer? Only if there is something we don’t want to talk with him about and then we need him even more.

Pray every hour on the hour today (for example, you can set a watch countdown alarm).

strive

Col. 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

It is not unheard of for someone to be “wrestling” with God. We even hear of a match with Jacob (Genesis 32). Yet, this wrestling in prayer sound like it is a fervent struggle bringing someone else before God. It is overwhelming to think of the love Epaphras must possess to spend all his time in prayer for others. Maybe this is why the name “Epaphras” means beloved!

Who are you striving to prayer for lately?