THEME: Rooted in Christ through Prayer
by Pastor Shaun
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)
DEVOTION:
The Holy Spirit is constantly a work in our lives, re-ordering our way of thinking through the Scriptures and the practices of the Christian life. Proper prayer, as taught by our Lord on the pages of the Bible, embodies this re-ordered life.
By nature we are constantly seeking to manage the circumstances of life. We do so by way of our own supposed wisdom, power and strength. But when challenging circumstances prevail against us, anxiety arises. Anxious worry is the expression of our desire to manage and control our circumstances, together with the fear (or realization) that we will eventually fail in this.
Here’s a simple example: I want my sons to learn to drive safely. I can contribute my own wisdom to this process, teaching them the skills and habits of a good driver. But then I realize that I cannot control other drivers. Nor can I be certain that my sons will always follow the wisdom that I have given them. I want to control this situation. But I can’t. So I worry. In worry, I add all sorts of potentially catastrophic outcomes to this situation. What if a distracted driver does something dangerous and foolish? What if my son is in a car accident? What if, what if, what if…?
You see where all this goes? We want to manage and control the circumstances of our lives. We want to maximize safety and well-being and success. But we can’t, and that makes us anxious. And anxiety is the enemy of peace.
But prayer, as taught by our Lord and his servants, re-orders our way of thinking about things that are beyond our control. In his explanation of the Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer, Luther writes that when He teaches us to pray, Our Father in Heaven, “God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.”
To say that God Almighty is our Father who loves us, His Children, is a bold confession. He, who has all things in His hands, holds our life and our future. It is not by our own wisdom, power or strength that good comes to us. Instead, it is by God’s wisdom, power and strength.
Challenging circumstances, even tragedies, will still come against us in our lives. But when they do, we endure them in peace and hope rather than being consumed by anxiety. We are not in control, but God, who loves us IS in control. And He has promised us, life and salvation that lasts forever, through Christ. So then, we are to be anxious about NOTHING. As we face these challenging circumstances, we pray, and entrust our lives into the hands of our dear Father. And the result is peace, in all things.
Amen!
CATECHISM MEMORY:
The Seventh Commandment You shall not steal.
What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.
READINGS for THIS WEEK:
Mon: Matthew 6:5-13 Tue: Philippians 1 Wed: Philippians 2 Thu: Philippians 3 Fri: Philippians 4 Sat: Matthew 21:33-46
REFLECTION QUESTIONS & ACTIVITIES for the READINGS
- What do the readings teach you about God’s love and kindness in your life?
- How does prayer re-order your thinking about life?
- Where are you tempted to rely on your own wisdom, power, and strength, instead of God’s?
- What questions do you have about the readings this week?
(Write them down and share them with Pastor Shaun!)