Category Archives: prayer

Praying for the Nation–And They’ll know We Are Christians Cuz We Pray

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The fires of hatred seem to be burning with an ever-increasing intensity within our nation. Mass shootings, sometimes violent protests, senseless acts of random and not-so-random violence are all part of the fabric of our experience on a daily basis. The divisions in our society feel like our nation is being split apart. Indeed, articles now freely circulate about a topic that only a few short years ago Americans would have thought unspeakable–to wit, the possibility of civil war. Where has the “united” in United States gone?

Stephen Covey, in his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” listed 7 habits in which effective individuals regularly engage. His 5th was “Seek to understand, then to be understood.” Most folks are so busy shouting their viewpoint from any and every imaginable platform possible that they’re way too busy to listen to any other point of view but their own.

So I’m making a modest proposal. I’m asking every person of faith who is committed to the welfare of our nation to promise to spend at least 5 minutes a day praying for it. And if you happen to live outside the United States, great! Either pray for us (friends should pray for friends, after all) or pray for your own country. And if faith isn’t your thing (which I find a bit puzzling since you’re reading this blog), then send positive thoughts or energy or whatever it is you manifest.

These things tend to be more successful when committing to a specific time with a specific trigger. Doing this during one’s devotions, while taking a shower, or going to and from school or work may be good alternatives.

The Thing About Prayer

There are a couple things possibly worth pointing out about prayer. The first is that although we often do it, prayer at its best isn’t a telegram to God telling him how things should be run. I rather suspect he’s figured all that out long before any of us ever existed. Rather, it’s telling God how we feel, pleading for things that are dear to our heart.

The 2nd thing about prayer is that it often requires feet, specifically, ours. What steps can each of us take toward mending our nation’s fabric? We can say “o, it’s too large, what can one person do?” And the truth is not much. But when that person stands with God and others who want the same thing, and are willing to make the necessary sacrifices, then the power of that is unstoppable. As the song “Pass It On” posits, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.”

I also note that one of those sacrifices may well (and likely will be) exiting one’s comfort zone.

So what is it that you can and will commit to do? First pray, but with the object of determining how God would have you act to bring about the answer to your prayer and be a co-creator with Him to advance his kingdom. Because surely a nation and a world being ripped apart is not that. We are God’s children. We are not helpless.

Lastly, ask yourself how Jesus might act. Let the Scriptures inform your decisions. WWJD (what would Jesus do?) was rather trendy in the 90’s and was derived directly from Charles Sheldon’s book called “In His Steps” which was written in the late 1800’s but is a very salient guide for our actions even today.

Please comment, either on songatmidnight.com or the Facebook page. I look forward to uniting with each of you. Thank you, & God bless.

Praying for the Nation–Jesus’s Unanswered Prayer

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The title likely comes as a bit of a jolt, as most people don’t think about the fact that some of Jesus’s most fervent prayers seemed to go unanswered. If we consider it at all, most would probably think of His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-44 among others), but few would think about John 17:21 “I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me.” (CEV).

We Christians seem to be splintered into so many factions it makes Humpty Dumpty look whole. From conservatives to liberals, from exuberant worship to quiet and staid, from those who love modern music to those who treasure the ancient hymns–we look at all these differences, and it’s hard to figure out how we could ever remotely be united with each other. And yet I think in a very real sense, we are.

Those who are called by Christ’s name, i.e., who bear the name of Christian, or “little Christs”, must first of all love and follow Jesus. We’re also told in numerous Scriptures we need to love each other, Luke 10:27 being just a single example.

Ephesians 4-10 says:
“Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people.
God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children.
God was very kind to us because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.
Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so kind to us. God has great wisdom and understanding,
and by what Christ has done, God has shown us his own mysterious ways.” (CEV)

He did those things for you, for me, and for all whom he has chosen. God is our Father, which makes us a part of God’s family. Christ has already united us, but our lives have to make that a reality.

Unification will not come in putting aside our differences in worship style, music, and political beliefs. That’s not necessary, though putting away our animosity toward and quarrels with each other regarding them most certainly is. Unification will come when we begin to understand that God doesn’t play favorites with His children and that He loves each one of us equally–so much that His Son died so we could be with Him.

Christ washed His disciples’ feet–even the one who would ultimately betray him and instructed us to do likewise (John 13:14). To that end, Bob Goff, in his book entitled “Love Does”, points out that love is not a feeling, it’s actions. (check out Bob’s site here . In this footwashing scene, Jesus was saying the same.

This week I join in Jesus’s prayer that we would be united, so the world would know that God sent Christ to be with us. Or, perhaps, to put a little different spin on it, I pray that we Christians would be united so that this nation would know God Sent Jesus to be our brother and example.

Journey Through the Jesus Prayer–Part 1

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This past Sunday I stumbled across a book on a prayer that’s been prayed by the Easternn Orthodox church for centuries. They call it the “Jesus prayer”. The book was very much written in the context of the Eastern Orthodox faith & almost led one to believe that this prayer should not in fact be attempted outside that context. Being the rebel I am, however, I decided to politely put that suggestion aside and attempt it anyway

 

So What Is This “Jesus Prayer?”

 

As with so many things of great antiquity, the Jesus Prayer actually has several versions. The short one is: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” It’s the one I’ll be teaching my grandson Jaden.

 

Another is “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

 

A 3rd version is: “Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on me.” My version is: “Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

 

I like to say it in conjunction with my breathing. I start by inhaling “Lord Jesus Christ,” and exhale on “son of the living God,”. I again inhale on “Have mercy on me”, & exhale on the words “a sinner.”

 

That’s just me, and others will want to use a different version or vary the breathing pattern, if they use it at all. I rather think it’s kind of like a Reese’ss–there’s no right way to eat one, & there’s no right way to do the “Jesus Prayer”, either, except the one that works for yu.

 

It goes without saying that sincerity is a requirement, and if this isn’t something you really believe, i.e., you don’t believe that Jesus is the son of God, etc., then don’t do this. This is so much more than just some sort of mantra.

 

So Why Do I like It?

 

I like saying the Jesus prayer for a number of reasons. Here are just a few:

  • It gives me something good to think about when I’m doing mindless things.
  • It’s a great cure for feelings of entitlement.
  • It’s also a wonderful cure for self-righteousness.
  • It’s great for minimizing anger–I mean, it’s pretty tough to get angry at another’s imperfections when you’re begging for mercy because you’re a sinner yourself.
  • It helps me relax throughout the day.
  • It helps keep God uppermost in my consciousness.
  • I’m starting to see Bible stories in an entirely new light.

 

As this journey continues, I’ll likely come up with even more reasons, and I’ll cover the ones I’ve listed in more detail in separate posts.

 

Meanwhile, I think this is a prayer from which all Christians can benefit greatly. Perhaps my thoughts on the matter will inspire you to try it as well. I’m looking forward to any comments you might have.