And When I Stand Praying...

In Mark 11:25-26 (New International Version) we read, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Uh, oh. I pray often but it seems that those little grudges that I hold against others are a big problem. I respectfully expect God to hear what I have to say and I deferentially expect God to consider my request - but have I really held up my end of the deal? Have I forgiven others of any perceived infraction against me? That is a question that I must, in all honesty, answer no, I haven’t. And it seems that even the passage of time has not dimmed my enthusiasm for holding grudges and recalling how much I really do not like this or that person.

I happen to have the Closing Prayer at services this week. As I stand praying, can I fully expect God to do what I have asked Him to do when I have not done what He has asked me to do? Mark 11:25-26 is clear. No. It is not logical, reasonable or even remotely rational for me to expect Him to hear me - let alone contemplate granting my requests.

As I think about this I want to Thank God for the cleansing power of Christ so that He can still hear me as I work on this problem. I also pray that he helps me lay these things aside. The Prince of Peace is waiting for me. I pray that the Good Lord helps me remember this the next time I let those grudges get in between us.

Hermosillo, Mexico Church Support

Jerry Todd is leading a support effort to provide Air Conditioning and a Second Floor Youth Room for the church in Hermosillo, Mexico. If you can, please place your contribution toward this Good Work in the collection box on the wall in the Lobby.

My food is...

In John chapter 4 after Jesus' initial interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus tells His disciples, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Just as the Samaritan woman had thought of the living water that Jesus was offering was physical and Nicodemus in the previous chapter had thought of being born again as physical, the disciples asked each other about the physical food possibilities. "Could someone have brought him food?"

Jesus then states in 4.34 "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work?" It is hard to make the transition from the physical needs list of food, water, shelter and clothing to the will of God in my life actually being a need. My need is to do the will of God. It won't be long before I am eating, drinking, sheltered and clothed. How long will it be before God finds me doing His will? It will all depend on how much I need to do His will.

My food is... the Lord of my life, whether or not that happens to be Jesus.