TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Lamentations 4:17-20
I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. - Psalm 121:1–2
TODAY IN THE WORD
The aggressive aims of Germany and Russia forced Poland--a country caught in between--to seek promises of help from Great Britain in the mid-1930s. In violation of an earlier signed pact, Hitler invaded Poland September 1, 1939. Seventeen days later Russia attacked from the east, at which point England was unable to protect the overrun Poland.

Just like Poland, Jerusalem also waited in vain for outside help (v. 17). Today’s passage reflects on events just prior to Jerusalem’s fall. (Notice again Jeremiah’s identification with his people in his use of “we.”)

Agreements with Egypt had encouraged Jerusalem to expect assistance from that country when Nebuchadnezzar began his final march on Jerusalem. In the end, however, Egyptian help did not materialize, and Jerusalem bore the full brunt of Nebuchadnezzar’s attack. Another country, Edom, also refused to help Jerusalem.

After the city fell, foreign oppression hemmed its inhabitants in on all sides (v. 18). Survivors of the attack who remained in the city had to sneak through back allies to avoid being stalked. Those who managed to escape were hunted in the harsh wilderness outside Jerusalem like wild animals (v. 19).

Even the king, the “Lord’s anointed” (v. 20), was not spared. Most likely this refers to King Zedekiah, who was captured and tortured by the Babylonians outside Jerusalem (see Jer. 52:7-11). The poetic expresssion, “our very life breath,” poignantly describes the king’s role as the nation’s protector. Like the priests and prophets, however, the final kings of Judah had badly forsaken their God-given responsibilities. As one commentator says, “Far from enabling the people to live safely among the nations, [the king] himself has been ensnared by them.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You probably haven’t signed any protection treaties with foreign powers lately! Yet all of us are tempted at some point to look for help far and near, but not up.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Lamentations 4:21-22
For . . . sins of Edom . . . I will not turn back my wrath . . . ecause he pursued his brother with a sword, stifling all compassion. - Amos 1:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
For years it seemed like the Communists had gotten away with their deception. Official statistics boasted complete employment and high productivity. But beginning in 1989, the floodgates of freedom opened and country after country broke from oppressive regimes. Deceitful communist-era statistics and officially perpetrated crimes were exposed. Many people in Communist regimes could hardly believe that this day had finally come.

God’s justice is never mocked. Eventually--and not according to human timetables--God’s judgment falls upon those who commit flagrant evil (v. 21). When Jeremiah considered neighboring Edom perversely delighting in Judah’s destruction, he chided it not to “rejoice and be glad,” knowing that no sin escapes punishment.

Edom, land of the descendants from Esau, was located in Uz, southeast of Jerusalem. Because of its relationship to Judah, Edom should have been an ally; but Psalm 137:7 records the bitter antagonism between the two countries: “Remember, O Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. 'Tear it down,’ they cried, 'tear it down to its foundations.’ ” Ancient documents also reveal that Nebuchadnezzar gave allotments of rural Judah to Edomites as a reward for neutrality.

Edom’s gloating would be short-lived--it too would drink the cup of God’s wrath and suffer humiliation (vv. 21–22). This cup anticipates the One who ultimately drank the cup of divine wrath--Jesus. He revealed that His willingness to do this inaugurated the promised new covenant (Luke 22:20). Yet drinking this cup was more terrifying than any judgment ever experienced in all of history, for this alone fulfilled God’s righteous judgment on sin. Only Jesus’ sacrificial submission to the Father (Luke 22:42) enabled Him to consume this awful cup when He poured out His blood on the cross.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Even the coldest, snowiest winter day can’t nullify the fact that, at some point, spring will come again! Right about now, you are probably ready for this--unless you are reading this in the southern hemisphere!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read:  Lamentations 5:1-10
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt. - Psalm 123:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Charles Dickens’s novel, A Tale of Two Cities, the arrogant Marquis de Saint Evrémonde killed a small peasant boy during a reckless carriage ride. This insensitive man did not know that his transgression would one day be repaid by his nephew, Charles Darnay. In the upheaval following the French Revolution, a poor shopkeeper related to the peasant boy gladly found herself in the position to condemn Darnay, though innocent, to the guillotine.

Today’s passage speaks of the sins of one generation falling upon the next, although as we have seen, Jerusalem brought misery upon itself. Chapter 5 describes daily life for the meager few left in Jerusalem after the exile. The mere fact that this chapter opens with an appeal to the Lord (v. 1) highlights the important change in the people’s perspective--they now sought the Lord.

The worst hardship was the loss of their inheritance (v. 2), which was promised to Abraham and secured by Joshua’s conquest of the Promised Land. But Israel’s inheritance went far beyond the physical land--it was an outward sign of God’s favor. To lose the land was, in some measure, to lose the Lord.

Bereft of protection, the people were as vulnerable as widows and orphans (v. 3). The loss of their land also meant that staples of life, such as water and wood, once rightfully theirs now came at a bitter price (v. 4). Finally, without their own land, rest was impossible (v. 5).

Contributing to their grief were the unfaithful political activities of previous generations (vv. 6–7). Treaties with Assyria and Egypt had promised military protection and financial gain, but, in the end, such alliances proved ruinous.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The “generational” aspect of sin is difficult for many Christians to understand. Although we may think that our actions affect only us, it’s sobering to recognize that sin sets in motion unknown consequences.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Lamentations 5:11-18
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation - Psalm 118:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his allegorical trilogy, The Singer, The Song,and The Finale,Calvin Miller portrays Jesus Christ as the divinely-sent Troubadour of the Ancient Star-Song that saves humans from the Canyon of the Damned. On the day that the Hater succeeded in having the Troubadour put to death, it seemed as if the song had been silenced. But in the end, the “song that can set Terra free” prevailed and began to be heard around the world.

It seems clear from the numerous musical instruments mentioned in the Old Testament that music was a key part of ancient Israel. That’s what makes today’s passage so moving; when Jerusalem fell, its joyful music stopped (v. 14). The only “song” was the wail, “Woe to us, for we have sinned” (v. 16).

And the only melody was the lament over the unspeakable horrors inflicted on its people, including the rape of its women (v. 11) and the torture of its leaders (v. 12). Young boys were forced to do the work of full-grown men (v. 13). Indeed, the job of grinding grain was so hard that it was often relegated to animals or slaves.

You may recall that elders held important responsibilities, including settling legal disputes and giving advice. The city gate functioned like a town square, often brimming with young men playing instruments and old men talking (v. 14). Festivals frequently filled the gates with joyous celebration. But after its fall, silence settled over Jerusalem. The crushed community could only despair, “Joy is gone” (v. 15), bitterly aware of the effect of its sin (v. 16).

Only the most hardened heart could fail to grow faint at the desolate state of Jerusalem! Unclean animals (v. 18) prowled through the once glorious city, and its beleaguered survivors could hardly see through their copious tears (v. 17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever really pondered what it would be like without any music? Perhaps you are listening to music right now, or you are humming music from this morning’s church service or a song you heard earlier this week.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Lamentations 5:19-22
For the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. - Psalm 102:16–17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Six-year-old Mark was sent to his room for talking back to his mother. The long minutes left alone to consider his wrongdoing seemed like an eternity--he was sure his mother had forgotten him. Standing silently outside his bedroom door, she could hear him crying. She entered the room and sat down, gently taking his hands in hers. With red eyes, little Mark blurted out, “Please, Mommy, don’t be mad at me anymore!”

Sometimes the Lord’s discipline can feel the same way. It certainly seemed to Jerusalem’s chastised inhabitants that the Lord had forgotten them (v. 20) and would remain angry forever (v. 22). It can be hard at times to admit wrestling with the same questions, because such honesty can be frightening.

Yet one of the most encouraging aspects of the Bible is its completely realistic portrayal of the human condition. Far from being irrelevant, the Bible illumines the human heart as no other book can.

Consider the vacillations in today’s passage! After a wonderful affirmation of God’s sovereignty (v. 19), the cruelties of conquest and exile made the people doubt the Lord’s loyal love . . . the same loyal love praised in chapter 3! To their charge of forgetfulness, they added abandonment.

Yet the fear of being forsaken led to an amazing prayer for restoration (v. 21). One scholar summarizes this prayer as follows: “The only hope for the people is that God Himself will enable them to do what they cannot do by themselves. . . .”

Surprisingly, however, the prayer--and the entire book--ends rather pessimistically (v. 22). In fact, the Jewish liturgical custom was to repeat verse 21 after verse 22! When Jeremiah wrote Lamentations, however, the nation was still exiled and there were few glimmers of hope. Furthermore, Jeremiah had personally witnessed some of the worst atrocities of human history.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.” Martin Luther clearly understood the Bible’s relevance! Today concludes our study in this powerful portion of God’s Word. (The next two days we will consider the restoration of Jerusalem.)

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Jeremiah 52:31-34; 2 Chronicles 36:22-2
I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. - Zechariah 1:16a
TODAY IN THE WORD
The story is told of a European village who had long prized the stunning stained-glass windows in its cathedral. During World War II, however, air raids threatened to destroy these municipal treasures. So the people dismantled the centuries-old masterpieces and hid them, section by section, in their homes. Throughout the war, the cathedral silently awaited the return of its former glory. Finally, after the war, artisans painstakingly reassembled the beautiful windows, which had suffered no damage or loss.

After Jerusalem’s destruction, thoughts of restoration must have seemed inconceivable. Lamentations ends with no indication that Jerusalem would ever be restored. Yet an apparent historical footnote tucked away at the end of Jeremiah 52 quietly attests to God’s loyal love.

Recall that Jehoiachin was the third of Judah’s last four kings, all of whom were evil. Unlike the other three kings, Jehoiachin’s life was spared even though he spent thirty-seven years in a Babylonian prison (v. 31). We are not told why the new Babylonian king, Evil-Merodach, treated Jehoiachin so well (vv. 32–34), but “behind the scenes” God had a greater plan.

Even though Jehoiachin was an evil king, he was still part of the Davidic line. In 2 Samuel 7:16, the Lord promised David, “Your throne will be established forever.” Jeremiah may have wondered when he wrote Lamentations how God could keep His promise. But God faithfully spared Jehoiachin to preserve this Davidic line, which eventually led to our Lord Jesus Christ (see Matt. 1:11–12).

Matthew’s genealogy also shows that Jehoiachin had a grandson named Zerubbabel, who turned out to be instrumental in rebuilding the temple when the exiles returned to Jerusalem in 537 B.C. (see Ezra 3:7–13).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Ezra 3:11 records this joyous song: “With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: 'He is good; his love to Israel endures forever.’ And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 21
In all that has happened to us, You have been just; You have acted faithfully, while we did wrong. - Nehemiah 9:33
TODAY IN THE WORD
“The road to finding God takes us through darkness before it brings us to light,” writes Larry Crabb in his book Finding God.Perhaps this study in Lamentations has paralleled a dark time for you or someone you know. We’d like to leave you with a clear understanding of God’s purposes in such seasons.

First, Lamentations makes it quite clear that God takes sin seriously. It’s easy to blame God for difficult circumstances without considering our own sin. Although clearly not every hardship is the result of sin, it’s important to take Lamentations’ warning to heart and solemnly consider sin’s consequences.

Second, Lamentations testifies to God’s faithfulness. Judgment of sin is ultimately about a faithful God who loves us too much to let us destroy ourselves. Lamentations dispels any notion that God is capricious, but shows that His wrath is an extension of His loyal love and faithfulness to His Word.

Third, Lamentations shows us that behind God’s judgment is His mercy. He does not judge for the sake of destruction but for the purpose of clearing the way for restoration--restoration built on His sure foundation, not the fraudulent foundation of sin.

Finally, Lamentations declares the sovereignty of God. Set within its historical context, we see God sovereignly using Judah’s enemies to accomplish His judgment and directing a pagan king to facilitate His restoration. But set within a still larger context, Lamentations points to God’s glorious plan.

Today’s passage from Revelation makes it clear that this ultimate plan is indeed glorious! The gut-wrenching sobs of Lamentations will be wiped away. The ruined Jerusalem will be completely made new. The lost inheritance and costly water (Lam. 5:2–4) will be restored. At long last, the work of judgment will finally be done (v. 6)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
A recent television commercial depicts a heaven with comfortable clouds and cream cheese confections. Today’s passage paints a rather different picture! Revelation 21 helps us to see that all through history God has been faithfully preparing His people for glory.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 65:24; John 15:1-8
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. - Revelation 3:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
Sometimes cartoons contain a wealth of theology. Consider a Family Circuscartoon in which a father overhears his son’s evening prayers: “Listen to this, God, here’s an offer you can’t refuse.” Although we may chuckle at its candor, this cartoon pinpoints a common misconception about prayer–namely, prayer is about getting God to do something for us.

At its core, however, prayer is not about getting something but about entering into the presence of Someone. Bob Benson and Michael W. Benson, a father-son team who coauthored Disciplines for the Inner Life,wrote, “Prayer is the movement of God to humanity and humanity to God, the act of meeting.” This view of prayer changes our perspective and opens the door to deep communion with our Heavenly Father, who is eager for such a relationship. Consider today’s verse from Isaiah: “. . . before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The format for this month will be a bit different. Although we will look at many Bible passages and Christian thinkers’ views on prayer, the feel will be more “hands-on” as we explore various approaches to prayer.

Each day will open with a short prayer drawn from the church’s rich treasury of written prayers. Following a discussion on a particular aspect of prayer will be an extended application designed to enrich your prayer life, often including another written prayer example.

Although some approaches may be unfamiliar to you, it is our hope that these suggestions will deepen your relationship with God. If, however, a particular approach to prayer seems unnatural, pray as God leads you. It is our sincere hope that this “workshop” will bless and encourage you, while fortifying a practice of continual prayer to the Father.

As a prelude to our study, take a few minutes to consider (in writing if possible) the following questions: how do you define prayer? In light of John 15:5, how important do you think prayer is? What is your biggest obstacle to praying? How important is it to pray the “right” words? List three things that you would like to change in your prayer life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 10:38-42; James 4:1-3
Be still, and know that I am God. - Psalm 46:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
God, Our Father, we know our own weakness. Our minds are darkened . . . our wills are weak, and by ourselves we cannot resist temptations, or bring to its completion that which we resolve to do. . . . So this day we ask you, to enlighten us; to strengthen us; to guide us, that we may know you, and love you, and follow you all the days of our life.–William Barclay, Prayers for the Christian Year

A recent survey among Christians identified the following obstacles to prayer: lack of time, too many distractions, self-sufficiency, and exhaustion. Perhaps you can relate to this list or could add your own items. Based on today’s passage from Luke, preoccupation with daily chores would have been on Martha’s list (vv. 40–42).

Our culture doesn’t help much either; a demand for instant and quantifiable results can make prayer feel like a powerless waste of time. Moreover, seemingly endless distractions–from TV to shopping malls to the Internet–daily bombard us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
So how do we overcome such obstacles? First, we can set aside any notion of the “right” way to pray and begin by praying any way we can! Certainly disciplined prayer is every believer’s aim, but this goal shouldn’t keep us from actually praying!

Take some time today to identify at least three obstacles you face in prayer, including the ones you may have identified yesterday. If time is the biggest problem, start by praying for just five minutes each day. Or if distraction is the problem, each time your mind wanders, instead of feeling guilty, thank the Lord for revealing this to you and ask Him for increased focus. Perhaps the thing distracting you is actually a matter for prayer. If boredom is a problem, consider new approaches to prayer, such as the ones offered in this month’s study, or ask the Lord to expand your vision of Him.

This prayer may express your feelings:

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Job 42: 1-3; Psalm 115:1-3
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. - Daniel 4:35
TODAY IN THE WORD
O Lord of Hosts, you are Lord alone. You have made the heavens and the earth and all living things that dwell there. Your hand is the soul of every living thing. I would come before you with worship and honor this day. In the name of Christ I pray. Amen.–Bob Benson Sr. and Michael Benson, Disciplines for the Inner Life

In his book, The God Who Hears,Bingham Hunter writes, “At its root, prayer grows from the certainty of God’s omnipotence and sovereignty.” If we didn’t believe that the Lord was in charge, we probably wouldn’t waste our time praying.

Yet many Christians struggle with God’s sovereignty and the question, “Why don’t I get what I pray for?” Sometimes unanswered prayer is the result of wrong motives, but some unanswered prayer simply defies our comprehension. For this reason, it’s important to consider God’s sovereignty along with His goodness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God’s sovereignty and the mystery of unanswered prayer leads some Christians to ask, “Why bother to pray at all?” God’s power could make prayer seem pointless, if the purpose of prayer were simply to get things done. Although popular sayings such as, “prayer changes things,” are certainly well-intentioned, it might be better to say “God changes things” and “prayer changes us.” This shifts the focus of prayer from results to relationship. Under-standing God’s sovereignty in this light enables us to pray with confidence, because we know that God is both sovereign and committed to our good.

“Prayer problems are usually not intellectual, but volitional,” writes Bingham Hunter. Not surprisingly then, one of the ways prayer changes us is to align our will increasingly with the Father’s will, which eventually brings us to a deeper level of submission to Him.

Take time today to ponder and reflect on God’s sovereignty and prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any misunderstandings you may have. Then pray along with the following prayer:

Lord, I am yours; I do yield myself up entirely to you, and I believe that you do take me. I leave myself with you. Work in me all the good pleasure of your will, and I will only lie still in your hands and trust you. Amen.
–Hannah Whithall Smith, The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 139:1-12
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. - Hebrews 4:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
God unto whom all hearts are open and unto whom every will speaks, and from whom no secret thing is hidden, I pray You to cleanse the intent of my heart with the ineffable gift of Your grace, that I may perfectly love You, and worthily praise You. Amen.–The Cloud of Unknowing, Author unknown

It’s hard to comprehend the fact that God knows everything–every thought or deed, past, present, or future, is fully known by Him. A faulty understanding of God’s knowledge–His omniscience–can undermine prayer.

God’s omniscience seems to beg the question, “What can we tell God if He knows everything already?” In his book, The God Who Hears, Bingham Hunter points out that although Western logic says that there is nothing we can tell God, Jesus’ life clearly suggests another answer. Because the Lord already knows all about our lives, we are free to tell Him anything and everything. Think about that! The freedom to share openly every thought and feeling, from seemingly insignificant details to ungodly anger to our deepest desires--this is the freedom we have before our Lord.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Within every person is the desire to know and to be known. God’s omniscience, beautifully described in Psalm 139, powerfully attests that we are indeed known. God’s omniscience also gives us the freedom to know ourselves better. Without the assurance that God knows and loves us, self-examination can spiral into morbid introspection. In God’s loving presence, however, such examination can lead to liberation.

In his book, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home,Richard Foster writes, “It is actually possible today for people to go to church services . . . for years without having a single experience of spiritual examen [examination]. What a tragedy!” He then describes the two aspects of the “prayer of the examen”: “The first is an examen of consciousness though which we discover how God has been present to us throughout the day and how we have responded to his loving presence. The second is an examen of conscience in which we uncover those areas that need cleansing, purifying, and healing.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 66:16-20; Isaiah 6:1-6
God is light: in him there is no darkness at all. - 1 John 1:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Father, cleanse me through Your Word. Let it search out and bring to light all that is of self and the flesh in my faith. Let it cut away every root of self-confidence, that the Vine may find me wholly free to receive His life and spirit. . . . Only You are my hope. Amen.–Andrew Murray, The True Vine

As we consider God in whom there is no darkness, we begin to understand why Isaiah reacted to God’s holiness with an overwhelming sense of his own sinfulness (Isa. 6:5). God’s moral perfection may make us wonder how He could ever hear our prayers, or even why He would want to.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Understanding God’s holiness should deepen our appreciation of the Holy Spirit whom the Father has sent in the name of His Son Jesus (John 14:26). The Spirit of Truth dwelling within us leads us into God’s truth and helps us to discern error and sin within and around us. The indwelling Spirit enables us to yearn for God’s holiness and to walk in His ways.

It’s not surprising that the Holy Spirit is integrally woven into New Testament passages on prayer. Spend some time today reflecting on the Holy Spirit’s role in prayer as revealed in John 14:15–27, 16:5–16, and Romans 8:1–39. What does Jesus promise the Spirit will do? How does the Spirit help us pray? Then ask the Holy Spirit to open your spirit to His leading in holiness and to His prompting in prayer in new and deeper ways.

The following prayer may be a helpful guide as you pray for holiness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 130; Matthew 7:9-11
Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. - Hebrews 13:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jesus, Love of all loving, your compassion is without limit. We are thirsting for you, the one who tells us: “Why be afraid? Have no fear; I am here.”–Taizé,Prayer for Each Day

Several years ago a popular book addressed a difficult topic: why bad things happen to good people. This haunting question can thwart prayer because we can’t understand why God lets people, including ourselves, suffer. This question of suffering is profound and can only be briefly touched upon in today’s lesson.

We can start by acknowledging that we live in a fallen world filled with evil and sin. Because we live in the world, we are impacted by evil, even when there’s no direct connection between this evil and sin in our own lives. Yet evil in the world is a constant reminder of the overwhelming need for the cross.

And the cross is where we acknowledge the redemptive hand of God, which brings forth His good purposes from circumstances intended for evil. God doesn’t makes evil good, but He can redeem evil for His good.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How then do we pray in the face of suffering? First, we humbly confess that we may never know why certain events happen.

Then, we begin focusing on God’s goodness and mercy. This is not to glibly praise God for the evil at hand or to deny our pain, but to look beyond the difficulty to our loving Heavenly Father. Today’s reading from Matthew teaches about our Father’s goodness.

Instead of focusing on why, consider asking what?–“what might God be doing here?”–or where?–“where is God in the midst of this?” Ultimately this last question will lead us to the cross and our gracious Savior who was willing to pay the price for all sin.

Finally, we need to feel freedom to come before the Lord honestly in our pain. Sometimes tears are the only prayer we can offer up, and our Lord understands those times of hurt and pain. He will hear our prayer of tears. Look at the following prayer or the reading from Psalm 130 as the basis of your own prayer before God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 6:4-8; Mark 5:24-34
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. - Psalm 51:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Apart from Me–you are nothing.” Lord, I gladly accept the arrangement: I am nothing–You are all. My nothingness is my highest blessing, because You are the Vine, which gives and works all, so be it, Lord!–Andrew Murray,The True Vine

Humility and brokenness aren’t very popular in our culture. Although some action heroes show sensitivity, the message of our society is that success demands toughness. But “having your act together” runs contrary to Scripture. Over and over, we see people driven to the Lord in their helpless need.

For the past few days, we’ve considered aspects of God’s nature that need to be understood to foster prayer. For the next few days, we’ll consider attitudes of our hearts that open us to prayer. Helplessness is one such attitude.

Consider the following insights from Ole Hallesby in his excellent book, Prayer:“Listen, my friend! Your helplessness is your best prayer. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all your uttered pleas. He hears it from the very moment that you are seized with helplessness, and He becomes actively engaged at once in hearing and answering the prayer of your helplessness.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Self-sufficiency can be a serious barrier to prayer. Many people take the adage “the Lord helps those who help themselves” to mean that they can never come to the Lord until they have exhausted their own resources. But passivity and helplessness are not the same. Isaiah’s attitude was brokenness in the blinding light of God’s holiness (v. 5). Yet Isaiah’s eager response, “Here I am!” (v. reveals how he was actively ready to respond to God. Or consider the woman in today’s reading from Mark. Despite her best efforts to find help, her terrible condition worsened and she desperately sought Jesus (vv. 26–27). Both this woman and Isaiah show the close link between humility, coming helplessly before the Lord, and obedience.

Do you ponder your true helplessness and vulnerability apart from Christ? Reflect back on Andrew Murray’s prayer. Then ask the Lord to translate your sense of brokenness into an eager willingness to follow Him more fully.

Christina Rosetti’s prayer, from Little Book of Prayers,may spark further prayers for humble obedience.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 17:14-20; 21:21-22
Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command. . . . Amen.–The Book of Common Prayer

Many misconceptions surround the relationship between prayer and faith. Sometimes well-intentioned people exhort us–perhaps even quoting Matthew 21:22–that with enough faith, our prayers will be answered. So when confronted by unanswered prayer, we often feel guilty or discouraged by our apparent lack of faith.

To begin with, it’s important to be clear about the object of our faith, which Scripture makes plain can only be Jesus. Indeed, the context in Matthew 21 stresses Jesus’ authority in prayer. Thus it is not our ability to believe or faith in faith itself that counts. Actually, any time we pray expresses faith in God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Bible does tell us that faith as small as a mustard seed is all that is needed to do great things (Matt. 17:20). Because a mustard seed is so tiny, it seems that Jesus wasn’t emphasizing the amount of faith required as much as the object of faith–verse 19 suggests that the disciples were putting their faith in themselves, not God.

Yet, this passage does show us that even a tiny amount of faith in God can open the door to great things. As we have said before, faith and prayer are ultimately about a relationship–a relationship with One for whom nothing is impossible. Even so, we may still cry out with the man who exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

Think about prayer and belief in your own life. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any ways in which you may have shifted the focus of your faith away from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Also ask for discernment when dealing with the many false notions about faith that are currently popular in our culture--expressions such as “if you believe it, you can achieve it” or “just have faith!”