Praying quietly

And Jesus taught us, saying:

Take care about practicing
righteousness
before other people
to be seen by them
rather than being rewarded
by your Heavenly Father Who Is.

When you give to the poor,
don’t be like the hypocrites
who enter the sanctuary, sounding
their own horn in hopes
of getting people praise.

When you hold out your right hand
to give,
don’t let your left hand
even know what you’re doing
that your giving may be
kept secret from yourself,
so only your Father sees and knows.

And when you pray,
don’t be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray
in the sanctuary and outside
on the street where everyone sees.
Truly, I tell you, they’ve received
their reward.

But when you pray, go
privately
into your own room
and shut the door and pray
to your Father Who Is
in secret.
And your Father Who sees
in secret
will reward you.


©2013 Mary Harwell Sayler, prayer-a-phrase of today’s Daily Bible Reading in Matthew 6:1-6.

Praying for people

Pray for all people.
Ask God to help them.
Intercede on their behalf
and give thanks for them.

Pray, too, for leaders
and all authorities,
so we can lead our
quiet and peaceful lives
in godly dignity.

This pleases God –
our Savior, Who wants
everyone to be saved
and come to know
the truth: One God,
One Mediator between
God and mankind –
the man Christ
Jesus, Who gave Himself
to gain our freedom –
One Message God gave
at just the right time.

©2013, Mary Harwell Sayler, prayer-a-phrased from 1 Timothy 2:1-6 from today’s Daily Bible Reading

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Into a prayer shelter

Hear my cry, O LORD.
Listen to my prayer.

To You, my heavy heart calls
from a low place far away.

Set me on the Rock
that is higher than I
as I fly to my shelter in You.

©2013, Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phrased this poem from today’s Daily Bible Reading in Psalm 61:1-3.


...

A prophet prays for life to return

Background: During a severe drought, the LORD told Elijah the prophet to seek food and shelter in the home of a poor widow and child. When Elijah found the woman, she was getting ready to prepare the last meal for herself and her only son, but the prophet told her to share her food with him first and she would have all she needed until the drought ended. Though fearful, the woman believed Elijah and did as he said. The handful of flour and small amount of oil continued to flow, keeping Elijah, the widow, and child alive. Some time later, however, the boy became ill and died.

And the woman said to Elijah,
‘Man of God, what have you done?
Did you come to remind me of my sin
by killing my son?’

‘Give me your son,” Elijah said,
then took the boy to a room upstairs
where he’d been staying
and laying the child on the bed,
he prayed: ‘LORD God,
this woman let me stay in her home!
Oh, why have you done
this terrible thing and caused her son
to die?’

Then stretching himself out on the boy
three times, Elijah prayed to the LORD,
‘O, LORD, my God, let life come in
to this boy again!’

And the LORD answered the prayer
and the child began to breathe,
and Elijah carried the boy back
to his mother and said,
‘See! Your son is alive!’

And the woman said, ‘Now I know
you truly are a man of God,
and truly, through you, the LORD speaks.’


©2013, Mary Harwell Sayler, prayer-a-phrase from today’s Daily Bible Reading of 1 Kings 17:17-24

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May the peace of the Lord be with us

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi and beyond:

May the grace and peace of God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Every time I remember you,
I thank my God.

Every day I pray for you with joy –
from the first day until now –
for your fellowship in the Gospel
gives confidence
that the good work
God began in you
will come to completion
in the day of Jesus Christ.

It’s right to think this way
as our hearts hold us together
in the Grace of God,
confining us to defend and confirm
the Gospel.

With God as my witness, I long for you
to have the compassion of Jesus Christ.

And this is my prayer:
That your love may abound more and more
with full knowledge and insight,
so you may know what’s best
and be sincere
without offending Christ –
filled with the fruit of righteousness
which comes to you through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.


© 2013, Mary Harwell Sayler, prayer-a-phrase of today’s Daily Bible Reading in Philippians 1:1-11


...

God answers a prayer with a no

Background: The Apostle Paul had it all! Passion for God, a good education, and a lucrative job. Then a revelation from Christ knocked him to the ground! The LORD wowed him, empowered him, and took him all around the known world to seed, nurture, and strength the church Body of Christ.

Sometime during that time, Paul had another revelation or vision that whisked him into the “third heaven.” Whether an in-body or an out-of-body experience, even he did not know. Regardless, Paul was caught up – lifted up into Paradise where he heard “things not to be told. Things no human can repeat.”

Naturally or, rather, supernaturally, this made Paul so ecstatic he might have been in danger of floating away! But then, many churches might have drifted away too. Many letters to Christians might not have been written.

To do his work for the Body of Christ on earth, Paul needed to stay grounded. A string could tether him to keep him from floating away like a balloon. Or a pointed reminder could let out some air. Or, as Paul wrote to the church in Corinth:

To keep me from being
too elated,
I felt a thorn in the flesh,
I sensed a messenger of Satan sent
to torment me to keep me
from being too elated.

Three times I prayed about this.
Three times I appealed to the LORD
to take away the thorn, but God said:

“For you, My grace will suffice,
and weakness will perfect your power.”

So now, I will boast of my weakness.
For now, the Spirit of Christ can fill me,
and I am content.

Despite the insults, offenses,
abuse, and catastrophe –
wrongdoings that came to me
because I belong to God –
whenever I am weak,
in Christ
I am strong.

©2013, Mary Harwell Sayler, prayer-a-phrase of today’s Daily Bible Reading from 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

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Jesus’ parable on prayer attitudes

Jesus told this parable to show how some people trust their own goodness rather than God from Whom all goodness comes:

And Jesus said:

Two guys went up to the Temple to pray.
One collected and kept all the rules of the law.
The other collected taxes. So the Rule-Keeper
stood by himself and said:

“Thank God, I’m not like the other people in this place!
Thank God, I’m not a thief or a scoundrel, and I don’t
cheat on my wife. And, oh, thank goodness, I’m not
a tax collector like that guy over there! Twice a week,
I fast, and I tithe ten-percent of every last penny.

Meanwhile, in the back of the Temple,
the tax collector stood away from everyone else.
Beating his chest, he said:

“Oh, God, have mercy on me, a sinner!”

And Jesus said:

I tell you, that child of God went home justified. For who
can be made right with God while lifting themselves
above God?

But God will exalt anyone who comes humbly in prayer.

Prayer: Dear LORD God, we praise and worship and exalt You, for You alone are holy and not we ourselves. Help us to check our attitudes before we come to You in prayer, bringing You our reverence, respect, and love before we ask anything in Jesus’ Name.

©2013, Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phased Luke 18:9-14 from today’s Bible readings

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Jesus’ parable on persistent prayer

Jesus told the parable of the widow and the unjust judge to show how we need to keep on and on, praying and believing in God.

Once upon a town there lived a judge who gave God no respect and did not care for people.

Once upon that same town lived a widow who kept on and on, coming to the judge to make things right between her and an enemy.

At first, the judge did nothing to help, but when
the woman kept on coming he thought about it again
and said, “Even though I don’t fear God or care
about people, maybe I’d better give this person
what’s right and just – just to get her to stop
pestering me!”

And Jesus went on to say:

Listen!
God will always give what’s right
to people who cry to Him day and night!
So, no, God won’t be too slow.

I tell you, God hurries to help you
who believe and yet….

When the Son of Man comes again,
will He find faith on the earth?

Thought: That last verse has seemed to me to be the most chilling in the Bible: “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” And I wondered if that meant, no! But maybe Jesus was saying something else. Maybe He was turning the illustration around to show that we are the unjust judges!

We act unjustly toward God whenever we disbelieve the goodness of God.

We act like an unjust judge toward other people when we don't care enough to even bother to pray.

Prayer: Oh, LORD God, help our unbelief! Help your people to believe more and more in Your kindness, Your goodness, Your mercy, Your ongoing love. Help us to see how much You care and to show Your caring in our lives. Thank You for hearing our prayers and giving us what’s best. Thank You for Your verdict in Jesus' Name.

©2013, Mary Sayler, prayer-a-phrase of today’s Daily Bible Reading from Luke 18:1-8

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Praying far from home

Background: From Jerusalem the Prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to the exiles in Babylon, giving them the encouraging word of God he had received to guide them during this hard time away from home:

Build houses!
Live in them.
Plant gardens, and enjoy the produce.
Get married.
Have sons and daughters.
Guide your grown children in marriage,
so they may have sons and daughters too.

Plant yourselves, and be productive.
But seek the welfare of the city
where God has sent you.

Pray to the LORD on its behalf
for in its well-being you will find
all goes well with you.

Do not let anyone tell you differently!
Do not let anyone deceive you or entrap you
with false dreams
for God has given you this word:

When your exile has ended,
I, the LORD will visit you
and bring you home as promised.
I, only I, know My plans for your welfare
and not your harm.
I, only I, will give you a future with real hope.

Then you will call on Me. Then you will
come to Me and pray to Me, and I
will hear you.

When you seek Me, you will find Me
if you look for Me
from your heart.

© 2013, Mary Harwell Sayler, prayer-a-phrase of today's Bible reading from Jeremiah 29:5-13

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The Holy Spirit prays for us!

“Likewise the Spirit also helps our weakness for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit makes intercession for us with sighs too deep for words. And God who searches the heart knows the mind of the Spirit, who makes intercession for the people of God according to God’s will,” Romans 8:26-27


Holy Partner in Prayer
by Mary Harwell Sayler

When our hopes recede
and faith weakens,
and we do not even know
how to pray as we ought,
the Holy Spirit
intercedes for us
with sighs too deep for words.

And God,
Who searches our hearts
and minds, finds
the very prayers heard
to align with God’s Own will
when the Holy Spirit
prays for us – right then –
and is praying still.

© 2013, Mary Sayler, all rights reserved, prayer-a-phrase poem of Romans 8:26-27

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Prayer vine

Jesus, the True Vine,
bears with us
in bearing fruit –
fruit that lasts and lasts –
if, in His Name –
we just ask!

© 2013, Mary Harwell Sayler, prayer-a-phrase of verses in John 15:1 and 16

Praying for God to stay close

Background: Wandering in the wilderness between slavery and redemption, the Hebrew people praised God and complained, obeyed God and disobeyed, and showed great faith and lack of faith. When asked to make the Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting and Ark of the Covenant, which held the commandments God had given them through Moses, the people brought so many offerings that they had to be asked to stop giving!

After the elaborate Tabernacle had been completed, the people would stand and watch while Moses entered the tent and the pillar of cloud descended. As the LORD spoke to Moses, his whole countenance would shine with such a glow that he had to cover his face with a veil to keep from scaring the people!

Moses did not see the face of God, but he saw the glory of God when he prayed for the Holy Presence to stay close beside him and the people:

Then Moses said to the LORD, “Now, therefore, I pray that if I have found favor in Your sight, You will show me Your way so I might know You and find grace in Your sight. Remember, too, that this nation is Your people.”

“And God answered, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’

“Then Moses said to God, 'If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from this place. For how will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight unless You go with us? We shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people on the face of the earth.’

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do what you have asked for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.’

“Then Moses prayed, ‘Please show me Your glory.’

“And God said, ‘I will make My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But you cannot see My face for no one can see Me and live.’ And the Lord said, ‘Stand here beside Me in this place on the rock, and when My glory passes by, I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand,” Exodus 33:13-22.


Questions: In what way has the goodness of God passed before you, enabling you to see, hear, or feel your closeness to the Holy Presence? Have you found a church or synagogue where that Presence lifts you into praise and worship? What does the word of God that came through Moses and the Prophets and other spirit-filled writers mean to you? How would you describe the Glory of God?


Prayer: Dear LORD God and Heavenly Father, as Pentecost approaches, we pray for You to draw close to us and help us to draw close to You. Empower and bless all of Your people with the coming of Your Holy Spirit on this holy day and season of Pentecost.

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© 2012, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved. 

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