"Why Should I Fear In Times of Trouble?" - By Jared Synan

"Why Should I Fear In Times of Trouble?" - By Jared Synan

As believers, we know that this physical world is not our true home, that we are secure in God’s love and protection, and that no force on earth or of Hell can separate us from Him. We know this, of course, and yet… many times we question, doubt, become downcast or even despair; the world is full of things to distract us, sadden us, stress us out, all of which pull our focus away from God and His teachings and works. It’s easy, especially so with everything going on in the world today, to become anxious or afraid, and in the whirlwind of news and dramas and fears and noise, to lose sight of the simple fact that, regardless of circumstance, God is and will always be victorious, and that even when life takes turns we didn’t plan for or would ever want, He has this all in hand. And we can be so thankful, not only for His saving power but also for His grace and understanding of how short-sighted and weak we humans are, that wisdom for such times was placed in scripture: as Psalm 49’s title reminds us, “Why Should I Fear in Times of Trouble?”

"A Prayer To Dedicate The Temple" - By Cameron Piner

"A Prayer To Dedicate The Temple" - By Cameron Piner

In 1 Kings 8:22-53, Solomon stands up before the people of Israel and dedicates the newly built temple to the LORD. Solomon’s prayer was spoken long ago, right after building a physical temple for God; but, today, we are building a spiritual temple for God. The church is described as a “spiritual house” in 1 Peter 2:4-8 (NASB95). We are collectively built into “a holy temple… into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22, NASB95). And we are individually described as the temple of God: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19, NASB95), and “…what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people”” (2 Corinthians 6:16, NASB95). So, what might Solomon’s temple dedication prayer look like, if it were spoken by us?

"Praying For Certain Wisdom" - By David Williamson

"Praying For Certain Wisdom" - By David Williamson

Reading 1st Kings 3:3-14, there is at least one fact that is easy to overlook. Solomon does “not pray for wisdom” in a vacuum. Solomon prays for a discerning heart because he is in a certain situation. In verse 9 Solomon says: “Therefore give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (NKJV). To repeat an oft-worn question— what’s the therefore there for?

"Rejoice In All The Good Which The LORD Your God Has Given You" - By Cameron Piner

"Rejoice In All The Good Which The LORD Your God Has Given You" - By Cameron Piner

Deuteronomy 26 doesn’t necessarily contain what we would think of as a “prayer.” However, the people of God were given specific things that they were to say to the priest and to “say before the LORD your God” (vss. 5, 13, NASB). While this is more of a confession/ declaration before the priests and before the LORD, it also is something that the speaker was saying with God as their audience. Therefore, it is at least very similar to a public prayer. Either way, there are some things that we can learn from this chapter about things to say before God, and we can apply that to our prayers today.

Wrestling With God - By Grady Huggins

Wrestling With God - By Grady Huggins

The account of Jacob wrestling with God is one of the more confusing stories in the book of Genesis, yet it is clearly a pivotal moment in Jacob’s life. On this occasion, he is given the name Israel, meaning “he who strives or wrestles with God.” This name would commemorate Jacob’s wrestling match with God for generations to come. What is so significant about this story and what lessons is it intended to teach us?

God's Righteous Attentiveness - By Ben Palmer

God's Righteous Attentiveness - By Ben Palmer

Praise of God's righteous judgement weaves a common thread between Psalms 7 and 9. God saves the righteous, and those who champion His cause find comfort in this (Psalm 9:9-10). In Psalm 7, David leans heavily on this characteristic of God in a request to be delivered from his enemies. David comes to God in this psalm with a clear conscience even going so far as to call judgement upon himself “if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause” (Psalm 7:4, ESV). Let us ask ourselves if we also could so confidently extol the righteous judgement of God. I believe David prayed so powerfully partly because he continually repented and kept his conduct honorable before God and people. As a result, he could genuinely appeal to the righteous judgement of God.  If we also live for the Lord, then we can more genuinely and effectively “give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness” and “sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High” (Psalm 7:17, ESV).

Praying For The Oppressed And The Oppressors? - Genesis 18:22-33 - By Cameron Piner

Praying For The Oppressed And The Oppressors? - Genesis 18:22-33 - By Cameron Piner

Gen. 18:22-33 is one of the first recorded “prayers” in the Bible. However, it is not what we’d typically refer to as a “prayer.” It is really more of a dialogue between God (through angels) & Abraham. Nevertheless, Abraham is talking to God and is interceding, much like is done in many of the prayers in scripture. Abraham intercedes for his nephew Lot, but also for the rest of the people in Sodom.