Problems are for Solving

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
(1 Timothy 2:1-6, ESV)

I mentioned in yesterday’s blog post that no matter who you voted for you should be praying for President-elect Obama. Why?

Paul, in the verse I’ve quoted above exhorts that prayers be made for all people, specifically for “kings and all who are in high positions.” And he tells us why: “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” And then he goes on to talk about the Gospel and Jesus Christ the one mediator between God and man.

So why should we want a peaceful and quiet life? So that we can preach the Gospel! So that people would come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

When Bill Clinton was President of the United States, it would often bother me how many Christians would spend so much time complaining about him. I can actually only remember one time (in a sermon) that anyone mentioned praying for him. Now Clinton was not an honorable man, nor do I believe that he was honest nor a faithful Christian. But irrespective of that he was the president, and God tells us to pray for all people in high places.

So today, and every day from now until January, 2013 when there may be another president, pray for Barack Obama. Pray that God would use him to make a way for Christians to lead a peaceful and quiet life, so that the Gospel may be preached. Pray that God would convert him in the same powerful way as was Nebuchadnezzar.

And don’t stop there.

Pray for Nancy Pelosi. For Harry Reid. For your governor. Your state legislators. Your congressmen and senators. Pray for all those in high places so that you may live a peaceful and quiet life. And God, who holds the heart of the king in His hands, will hear that prayer and may be merciful to give us that peace and quiet, whether we deserve it or not.

And don’t stop there.

Whether the peace and quiet comes or not, both in word and deed proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ of salvation to horrid sinners like you and me to every creature.

May God bring a prayerful heart to every one of us, and may He be merciful to give us a peaceful and quiet life, and may we respond with faithfulness in the proclamation of the Gospel of Peace!

Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Matthew 5:44

I like this idea–we need to learn to love our enemies, even while punishing their wrong deeds through proper channels.

HT: Seth

Great Jehovah
Who fed the children manna in the desert
Feed me till I never want again
Save an endless hunger for You
So that I may be full of Christ
Hear this starving soul and graciously feed me
Amen.

Paul Tripp Ministries: Psalm 27: Why Would God Ever Answer Me?

“Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.” (v.7a)

Paul Tripp again puts something together that is both encouraging and convicting, and a reminder of God answering our prayers, not because of what we’ve done but because of who He is.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

Oh Captain of my soul
Who guards my heart from trouble and leads me in paths of righteousness
Keep me from the counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners, the seat of the scoffer
That I might be happy and rest in Your love and grace
Please listen and answer with Your guiding hand
Amen.

(Click on the prayer topic below to see other posts on prayer and collects.)

Mom called tonight and she got the staples from the surgery removed today.

She also told me that the final pathology was that the tumor was “typical” which means completely benign and so she’ll need no radiation therapy or anything.

She goes in a for a checkup in 3 weeks, but it appears she’s done with this one. Praise God!

thanks to everyone who was praying for her.

…for my mom.

Last Monday during at CT scan the doctors found a lump on her brain.

Next Monday she has surgery and will have some radiation therapy. Please pray both that God will draw her near to Himself during this time and that she would be healed.

And pray for my family to be kept safe next week while I fly to Phoenix to be with my parents.

From Paul Tripp’s blog:

So much of our prayer has nothing to do with the glory of God. Regrettably, in much of our prayer we’re actually asking God to endorse our pursuit of a whole catalog of self-focused false glories. For God to be willing to do that would not only mean a denial of who he is, but it will also mean our destruction.

I’d encourage you to read this post as you prepare to worship our Lord today!

I wrote this Sunday night when the blog was down:

I pulled out my iPod tonight to listen to some music. I don’t do that often—of the 1GB that’s usually 90% full on the Nano, 85% of it is lectures, interviews, podcasts—and usually between one and three albums. I don’t listen to music very often.

I’ve been putting albums on that I own but haven’t listened to much. Tonight was Kingdom Come by Charlie Peacock.
I heard a song that made me cry.

Cheer Up Church is a song that I am guessing is written about Spurgeon—but I’m not sure and couldn’t find out for certain on line. It’s very short.

His was a voice fueled by truth
He spoke to us of God’s grace
In a way that we could understand and take hold of

His was a life defined by grace
For a time and for a reason
And so we bow and give thanks to God
For the life of our brother

It’s just like God to make a hero from a sinner
It’s just like God to choose the loser, not the winner
It’s just like God to tell a story through the weak
To let the Gospel speak through the life of a man
Who’ll be the first to say

“Cheer up, Church
You’re worse off than you think
Cheer up, Church
You’re standing at the brink
Don’t despair
Do not fear
Grace is near”

I listened to it several times and then again with my wife. I cried every time.

I have been having some ups and downs lately. Struggling with my heart, my life, feeling overwhelmed and alone.

I haven’t had an easy time grappling with all of it.

I realized that I have to give up and understand I can’t do it in order to do anything. Because I can’t do anything.

I think that’s what God has been trying to teach me for a few weeks–that I’m trying too hard. And I have nothing to try with, and so that’s why I feel like there’s nothing left. And what He wants is for me to lean on Him and His strength. As Paul said, “when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I am so filled with pride that I forget that all to often. May God give me the grace to remember it every moment.

I asked Seth yesterday about the anatomy of a collect, and he responded, so I thought I’d try my hand at writing some.

One of the things I’ve been struggling with in my life is consistent, enjoyable time with God in His Word. For the past couple of months I’ve been studying Hebrews, and it’s only in the past few days that I’m really starting to dig into the text in an enjoyable and productive (translation: bearing some fruit in my own worship of and living for God, but then I repeat myself) way. I moved my location for my quiet time from my bed (you know, where I sleep) to the dining room (where we have family worship) and that has helped greatly.

So as I’ve struggled, I’ve not always known what to pray, and I thought it would be nice to have a collect (see all of Seth’s collects by clicking here) that I could pray when I’m struggling with desire to study and am lost for how to pray.

Inspired by Hebrews 1:1-4:

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Jehovah Jireh
Who has spoken to us by Your Son
Provide me and fill me with a love for Your Word and a desire to hear Your voice
That I might not stray from You or forget Your blessings to me
In the Name of Jesus Who is the radiance of Your glory
Amen.

Be gentle with any criticism or correction on this but feel free to offer it)–it’s my first and I’m not the most creative brush that hits the pallatte.