03/09/2025
I am going to break from my norm of writing only about my thoughts regarding my morning devotional reading this morning and talk about a subject that came to me on my morning drive to work one morning. Then I will write my thoughts about my devotional. So first, I want to discuss how we begin our prayers. What we do to begin our conversation with the Lord.
If I were to ask you that question regarding how you begin your prayers how would you respond? Would you say that you begin by calling the name Abba? God? Jesus? Emanuel? Or one of the many other names by which we refer to our Savior and Father? Or do you begin by asking for forgiveness, or His presence and touch?
There are many right ways to begin our prayers, but one that I particularly favor is to close my eyes, relax my body, and still my mind until I feel His presence. If I begin to speak sooner... I am whistling in the wind. It isn't that God isn't there, but that I am not of the heart necessary to speak to Him. I am blindly grasping for Him, and my mind is still preoccupied with the world. When we still our bodies and minds we are focusing our total attention on Him and Him alone.
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
Psalms 46:10-11 KJV
I used to begin my verbal prayers immediately, and quite often I would stop to say "Are you there Lord? Do you hear me?" And then after a long pause I would start all over again. Of course He was always there, but I hadn't taken the time to wait, be still, and reach out to Him from the depths of my soul. Have you experienced this? Have you rushed into prayer by spewing out your wants and needs without taking the time to prepare yourself for the conversation?
How about being in the middle of a prayer only to discover that your mind has wandered elsewhere? When I find this happening to me I stop, still myself until we are together again, and then begin anew. I find that another help is to pray out loud. God knows our thoughts, but speaking helps us maintain our mental focus on Him. It isn't the volume of our voice; it could be a shout, normal conversation, or a soft whisper... the important thing is to verbalize your prayer.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 KJV
So this morning when we pray, let's begin with silence and allow our heart, mind, and spirit to reach out to Him, let’s allow our soul time to open itself and join with God. Then, when we feel His presence, we can begin to speak, because only when we have allowed Him to abide tangibly in us are we together in conversation and relationship. When we do this we are not just talking to God, we are conversing with Him.
Now that we have discussed entering into our morning prayer, let's move on and briefly visit my devotional thoughts surrounding the simple question Jesus asked of His 12 disciples... "will ye also go away?" Have we ever heard Him asking us this same question? When we look around us and see the world spiraling out of control and moving away from God and Jesus Christ do we hear these same words being spoken to us, and do we answer this question as Peter did? Listen…
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
John 6:66-68 KJV
Some of those who had been following Jesus returned home and back to following the law as they always had. Perhaps they just found it too risky to follow this teacher called Jesus... we really don't know; but their faith in Him as the Messiah had waned. I suspect they feared for their souls; after all, the law was all they had known, or maybe the challenge had become too great, and they needed to retreat into their comfortable religion.
Are we prone to going away? Will we return to the world from whence we came? Certainly, the seductive call of it is tempting. Its riches, passions, and lavish luxuries are enticing... so why do we stay? Well, we each have our own reasons, but if you boil them all down, they render into the same response Peter gave; "to whom shall we go?" The world holds an allure today, but can it offer what we are given in Jesus? What of eternity?
I have a 401k and a money market, and each month I put money into them for the long term... to secure my future retirement. I could spend that money today and drive a nicer car, see more of the world, and eat finer food, but a secure future is worth today's sacrifice. When I look at my faith it is very similar... the love of God and desire for an eternity with Him is worth sacrificing today's world for. In all truth, a day with Jesus is worth a lifetime of worldly pleasure. Yet temptations are powerful; they are the heroin, cocaine, or other addictive drug that draws many away from faith and back to the world they came from. We can become addicted to what the world has to offer if we are not careful and focused on our faith and all that is good.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me [Jesus]—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 ESV
Jesus also talks of abiding in Him. If we do then we bear fruit, but if we choose to go away then we will wither and be cast into the fire. Remaining with Jesus is an act of love, adoration, and understanding who he is. We strengthen our relationship with Him through prayer, dwelling in the Word, and thinking on what is good. In this way we will overcome our desire for the life we left behind.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
John 15:4-7 KJV
Are we ready to still ourselves, enter into prayer, focus on the goodness of God, and hold firm to our faith?
“Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:5-7 CSB
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being with me always, but thank you most for teaching me to be still so that I can feel your presence best. Father, still my mind and spirit; open my heart and soul to your presence and call me to you. Shield me Lord from all distraction so that I will hear you clearly as we speak with one another and let me feel you surrounding me. Lord, my heart's desire is to abide in you always and never leave your side.
Keep me Holy Father and may your hand be forever on me. You speak to me of love, righteousness, and eternity, and I hang on every word... your voice is the salve that soothes the ache in my soul and gives me rest in you. Father let my branch bear much fruit and escape the flaming plight of those that wither. May my fruit be sweet in your mouth and please you without ceasing. Pleasing you is indeed my soul's desire and my heart's greatest longing... let the quiet of my prayer closet magnify your voice and call me to you always.
Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who loves the world, and has sent your Son Jesus to save and redeem it. I praise you Abba for every good thing I consider and experience in life, even when they are wrapped and surrounded by the worst that the world has to offer. Father, help me to keep my eyes on the eastern sky from which my savior comes. Perfect me in my walk as I follow Him Lord, and I will give you all the glory and honor in this. Help me that I might glorify you always in everything I do, say, think, and let reside in my heart. Make me an example and testimony of your goodness and love for all mankind to see and let me serve you faithfully in this way. Praised be your name Holy Father, and I pray that none will be lost to you as you call each of them by name saying “Come!” and offer them your peace, joy, and eternal presence, through your mercy and grace in Jesus Christ.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, and Amen!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV
“1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalm 121 ESV
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:27 ESV
Rich Forbes