Daily Devotional for November 1, 2016

Matthew 6:7-13
When you pray, don’t talk on and on as people do who don’t know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.

You should pray like this:

Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name.
Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven. Give us our food for today. Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others. Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil.

​Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

The second/third graders and I studied an excellent model for prayer a few weeks ago, and I think it bears offering today for us to consider.  I’m paraphrasing, but it goes something like this:

P – Praise God for all that He has done for us.
R – Repent - humble yourself before God and confess that you have sinned.
A – Ask God to meet your needs and those of others.
Y – Yield to God’s will.

This is a simplified version of Jesus’ guideline…perhaps one we can more readily understand and put into practice. Many of our prayers tend to be dull…and somewhat repetitive and monotonous.  If we are not careful, we can get into a rut of offering God our words…but not our heart.  Using this guideline helps us to tailor each conversation with God to what is happening in that moment.

In the course of a day, there are moments when all we need to say is simply, “Father, help me.”  There are other times when we need to talk to God and thank Him for all of His blessings. I have read recommendations that immediately upon waking up each morning, we should tell God how grateful we are for Him and ask Him to bless and guide our day. This would be a good time to use the “P.R.A.Y.” model to get things off to a good start!

When a prayer request or need pops up on my Facebook wall – or I hear of something during the day – I like to stop right then and whisper a prayer for that person or situation. My point is that while there is a time and place for the “P.R.A.Y.” model to be enacted fully…there are dozens of opportunities throughout the day for us to reach out to God through brief communications. No utterance is too small…God cherishes every conversation!

HOW you pray is not as important as the fact that you maintain a continual dialogue with God. Let’s stop getting caught up in ritual and man-made notions that we have to be lengthy and eloquent - and simply begin a prayerful conversation.  God already knows what we will say…He’s just waiting to hear you say it!  Have you spoken with Him lately?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 29, 2013

Romans 15:30-33
Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the believers there will be willing to accept the donation I am taking to Jerusalem. Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other.
 
And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
One of the themes of a recent episode of A&E’s Duck Dynasty was helping out friends and family members.  Jase Robertson noted that a perk of being part of the Robertson clan is that if you need help… all you have to do is ask for it.  It’s no different in the Christian family…we help each other out in ways great and small.  And one of the greatest ways we can help one another is through prayer.
 
I know that some of you hesitate to ask others to pray for you.  You may be too embarrassed… or too proud.  You may feel that your request would be an imposition. You may say, “He/she is so busy or has so many burdens.  I can’t bother them to pray for me.”  You may feel that you don’t need others prayers - that God hears you, and He will answer – and this is sufficient.  You may feel that the intercessions of others are not necessary.
 
Here’s the deal.  Praying for others is one of the privileges of being a Christian.  When you don’t call on others to pray for you, a blessing is blocked.  Christians do not have ESP… they cannot always discern when a friend or family member needs – or wants – prayers to be offered on their behalf.  We must be open and honest… and ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us.  By the same token… we must stay awake and alert.  When we see a friend or family member with a need, we must offer to pray for them.
 
In Genesis 12:2 and 3, God tells Abram, “You will become famous and be a blessing to others.  I will bless anyone who blesses you…”  Prayer is a great tool for creating blessings – and peace.  I have experienced both as I prayed for others… and as others prayed for me.  So join your circle of friends and family in their struggle by praying to God for them out of Christian love. In the words of Duck Dynasty’s Uncle Si Robertson, “the buddy or family system means we help each other out.”  The buddy system exists for Christians, as well.  Are you praying for others and asking them to pray for you?  Isn’t it time you did?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 11, 2013

James 1:5-8
If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

In our publishing business, my husband and I handled a lot of “customer service” calls. One of the things I heard over and over was, “This is probably a dumb question, but…” My response was always, “There are no dumb questions.” I will grant you… some of the questions seemed pretty ridiculous, because the answers seemed obvious to us. But for the person asking, these were serious queries. The last thing we wanted to do was to make him/her feel inferior or foolish.

When I read this passage today, I thought about how we come to God with our questions and problems. I wonder if we truly realize that He has every answer! God knows exactly what we should do and how everything will play out…and there are no “dumb questions” when we are talking with Him. More importantly, we can trust that God will not only hear our prayers… He will answer them and guide our steps.

How do you know that what you are hearing is truly God’s answer? This is a huge question… one that we wrestle with every day. Some look for “signs”… others go with a “gut feeling”… and yes, some “worry their prayers” half to death – wringing their hands and wondering if they made the right choices. And sometimes, you have well-meaning – even wise and caring – advisors telling you that your “answers” are not the right ones. What do you do with all of this?

My experience has shown me that there will be times when things readily fall into place, and I feel that I heard correctly from God. Everything may not play out exactly as I anticipated… but in the end, I see God’s hand in the results. There will also be a few times when I miss the mark… when I think God has led me in one direction, and I learn that I was not quite on target. The GOOD NEWS is that even in these times, God doesn’t desert me. If I faithfully and genuinely trust Him for outcomes, He will work even when I have misinterpreted His message. There may be some bumps in the road… challenges and hurdles I didn’t anticipate – much less want… but God will show me how to correct my course and get back on track.

The KEY is to communicate with God about everything, to faithfully work to follow His will… and then to trust Him for the outcomes. The one thing we must not do is “worry our prayers” and second-guess them. If we have humbly and earnestly sought God’s will in prayer, we cannot play the “woulda-shoulda-coulda” game afterward.

This is not easy. But God never promised us easy. I heard Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, say that he once asked a man how he was doing. The man replied, “I’m doing very well… under the circumstances.” Pastor Warren’s reply was, “What are you doing under them? Being under your circumstances is like being under a mattress… you’ll smother! Get on top of them!” God wants us to come to him with all of our questions, problems, and concerns… and to trust Him to show us how to sit on top of them. He wants us to trust Him for the right answers… and the outcomes.

My question to all of us today is this… “Where are we sitting? Are we under the “mattress” of our circumstances? Have we deemed our questions/situations to be too dumb for God to handle? Do we fully trust His ability to answer us? Do we trust our ability to hear from Him… and are we following through on His answers with confidence? Have we stopped “worrying our prayers” and started trusting God to guide us in all situations? Isn’t it time we did?

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 23, 2012

Matthew 6:5-8
When you pray, don’t be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.

When you pray, don’t talk on and on as people do who don’t know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

I have said before that I am not necessarily in favor of public prayers at mealtime. There are times when we come together as a family – Thanksgiving, Christmas, or perhaps a family potluck – and I feel that a short group prayer of thankfulness is appropriate. But how many times have you been enjoying a meal in your favorite restaurant… talking and laughing with friends… when you notice that the people next to you are praying over their food? Don’t you feel a little uncomfortable? Doesn’t this give you a sense that you should stop your own meal and bow your head, also? Have you ever started to “bless” your food as a server approached? How uncomfortable do you suppose this makes him/her… not to mention how it slows them down as they do their job?

Now that you have decided I must be a terrible, horrible person, let me explain. Just as there is no reason you cannot bow your head and pray silently in any school, court house, or at any public event or restaurant – there is no reason you have to make an exhibition that all can see and hear. Do you think that God can’t hear your silent prayers? “Oh, but this is a demonstration to others of our Christian faith!” you may say. Is it really? Or are you saying to others, “I’m such a strong Christian that before each meal (or at every event, before school starts – you fill in the blank) I offer an auditory prayer to God. I’m publicly expressing my faith!”

Now, if you do this, and you feel strongly about it, do not feel that I am condemning you…I am not. How you communicate with God is deeply personal and none of my business. But I have to wonder sometimes how intimate and heartfelt our public prayers are.

I have already bought Timothy a little book of prayers, and we read them together. But I did not do this to teach him how to pray, because I believe this would do him a disservice. I thought this would be a good way to begin to introduce a toddler to God… to help Timmy learn about offering gratitude… and to show him how to ask God for guidance and protection. Hopefully, as he grows, he will learn more about God and how amazing it is to be able to share your thoughts and feelings with Him – anytime, anywhere.

If you continue reading Matthew 6, Jesus gives us a model for how to pray… and the Apostle Paul tells us to talk to God throughout the day and make this our prayer. But Jesus did not intend for “The Lord’s Prayer” itself to become our mainstay as a means to communicate with our Heavenly Father. I hope that everyone will truly get this!

Prayer is a deeply personal – and critical – component of our Christian walk. I have to admit that my prayer life was pretty shallow for a good many years… filled with rote recitations and generally based in desperation – as in, “LORD… I need you… NOW!” Much of the rest of the time, I didn’t have a whole lot to say to God. I didn’t understand the importance of talking to Him and expressing my gratitude on the days when things were going pretty well. When we come to the point in our discipleship where prayer is as familiar to us as breathing, we have turned a corner.

Praying aloud over someone who has asked for your intercession can be a blessing for the recipient – and a privilege for you. Reciting The Lord’s Prayer as a group in a worship setting can be a profoundly intimate experience… all of God’s children coming together to speak to Him as one body. But we need to develop a strong, private, running conversation with God… communication that is honest, at times raw, and deeply personal between the two of you.

There is a fine line between talking to God in public as a show of unity… and merely putting on a show. Be sure that you know – and exercise - the difference!

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 21, 2012

James 5:16-18
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

Suppose you went to the doctor because you had difficulty breathing, and he/she told you, “I want you to take this medication and also quit smoking.” You took the prescription to the pharmacy and had it filled but never took the pills - and you continued to smoke. Your ability to breath never improved – or even worsened. Would you say that the medication was effective? Would you consider yourself to be living according to the doctor’s recommendations? Could you honestly say you were surprised by the outcome?

Why, then, is it any different when the Great Physician tells us, via this passage in James and other scriptures, that there is power in the “medicine” of prayer and living right? When we do not pray… and pray with humility, sincerity, and confidence… how can we expect God to work? When we offer God “lip service prayers” – or wait until the last minute when we are totally desperate and out of options to call on Him – do we really believe He will deliver the answer we desire?

I have a friend who got mixed up in some pretty bad stuff at one point. He was truly headed for some serious trouble. But he will be the first to tell you that “I had a grandmother who never stopped praying for me.” Today, he is clean and sober, ministering to others – particularly young people – and enjoying a wonderfully blessed life. His grandmother is an inspiration to me… and a testament to the power of prayer.

I have experienced times in my own life when I fervently prayed for God to work in a particular situation… and He did. So when challenges come now, why would I do any differently? I know that prayer works! I’ve seen it over and again! I know that when I humbly approach God and offer Him the worries of my day and ask Him to handle them, He does. I also know that I must do my part. I must live in a manner that serves God and pleases Him. I must walk in faith and trust Him to meet my needs and those of the people for whom I intercede in prayer.

The next time someone tells you, “All we can do is pray,” tell them, “That may be all we need to do!” Never underestimate the power of a humble, genuine, faithful prayer. Never undervalue the effectiveness of a prayer warrior like my friend’s grandmother. Prayer changes things. Prayer is powerful! Make prayer a constant, vital component of your daily living… and watch God work in ways that astound you!

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 22, 2012

James 1:5-8
If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Our niece went shopping for a rug for her new house. She found two she really liked at a great price, so she bought them both. She was worried that the rug she chose might not be right, so she kept her options open by purchasing two. She reasoned that she would either find a use for the one that didn’t work as well… or she would return it. In other words, she had doubts.

There is probably little to no harm in doing this with a rug purchase. But when we lack confidence in our prayers… when we fail to trust God to do what He has promised and cannot make up our mind, we can’t expect God to be front and center with answers. Am I saying that God will withhold answers from us? Not necessarily. I am saying that what we expect and what God grants us may be two completely different things… and rightly so!

Think of it this way… suppose you want a family member to help you with something. You know that he/she will gladly do this… but you don’t want to ask them. So you sit at home and wait… expecting this person to read your mind or have some sort of magical mental telepathy and know that, “Hey, So-and-So needs my help!” When no help arrives, do you have a right to be upset? What if you did ask for help, and then you decided, “He/she won’t really come through,” so you went off and did something else and weren’t where you said you would be at the appointed hour? Would you be entitled to be upset with the person you asked to help you? Do you think he/she would be interested in agreeing to help you again? Would you blame them?

This is what we do all the time with God. We ask Him for help – or guidance – or some sort of answer or miracle. Then we “leave home.” We decide that there is no way God will really come through for us. We doubt His ability to deliver and His promises… and we doubt our own ability to hear and believe His answers. We don’t really give God a chance to answer. And then we wonder why things are not going so well in our lives.

Read this passage again, and really let its message soak into your heart and mind. Don’t have doubts. Don’t second guess or hedge your bets when you pray. There is only one option. You can’t ask God to help you and then develop a “back-up” plan. God is all you need! He is always the right choice, and He stands ready, willing, and more than able to meet your needs. The question is… will you let Him?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 25, 2012

Mark 11:22-25
Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, 'Go jump in the lake'—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it's as good as done. That's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

Have you ever attempted to open a drawer, and it stuck on something? Try as you might, the drawer would only open so far, and then it would catch on whatever was sticking up and trapping the drawer’s forward progress in some manner. If you’re like me, sometimes it’s pretty tough to remove the displaced item and get the drawer to open smoothly…which probably says something about the organization and overall condition of my drawers!

Our personal lives are much like a household drawer… often unorganized and cluttered… perhaps filled to overflowing with all sorts of things. And once in a while, something will get turned “cattywompus” and derail everything. Until we take time to remove the source of our problem, nothing will go smoothly, and certainly “the drawer will not open!”

Let’s be honest… there are times when we just leave the “drawer” ajar and move on for a while. But that situation is not going to change. We have to do something. And in our personal lives, this most often means asking God to forgive us… or to help us forgive someone else. If you ever find that you have a situation where you feel like no answer comes… where you just can’t seem to have a breakthrough… stop and ask yourself, “What is blocking this? Where do I need to make an adjustment? Is there something or someone I need to forgive? Is there someone I need to ask to forgive me?”

Once we “get our drawer straight,” we often find that all sorts of things begin to operate more smoothly. Remember, with God all things are possible. But often, He is waiting on us to tidy up a few things before He delivers an answer or makes good on a promise. When was the last time you gave your drawers a good cleaning and organizing… for real, and in your personal life? Don’t you think it’s time you did?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 17, 2012

Philippians 4:6-7
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

I don’t know about you, but when I do “mindless” tasks like vacuuming or scrubbing the shower - and I have quiet time to think - my mind often races to some pretty crazy places. If I’m not careful, I can allow the devil to capture my thoughts. He will take me to places of worry… why does one person behave this way or that? Why did I say or do such a dumb thing? What if this or that happens? What will I do when I get too old to vacuum and scrub the shower? I know, I know… it’s all pretty ridiculous… and then I am mad at myself for allowing these thoughts to consume my time.

I’ve learned to begin my housekeeping and other “quiet time” chores with a conscious effort to pray through them. Instead of letting the devil control the “inner conversation,” I hold a discussion with God. Oh, sure… He already knows everything I’m thinking and feeling – and exactly what I will say to Him. But He listens anyway. In return, He calms me. He takes my “worries” and says, “I’ll handle these,” and I am free to fill my heart with His joy, grace, mercy and peace.

The more I understand about worry, the more it makes me angry when I succumb to this emotion for even a few minutes. Besides fear, I think the devil must utilize worry about as often as anything to trip us up and trouble us with frustration and a lack of faith. And I will tell you that it is incredibly easy to fall into his trap and develop a good case of the “worries” before you even know what hit you! But we must fight this. Our life in Christ should have no room for worry… but our prayer life should be filled with moments where we hand our worries to God and allow Him to handle them. And this is key… we must hand them off – and let them go!

The way I see it, we have a 50-50 proposition here. We can let the devil control us and allow worry to fester and grow within us, or we can give our worries to God in faith-filled prayer… and trust His outcome. The former will leave us feeling unsettled and unsure, if not downright miserable. The latter can result in everlasting peace. Now which one of these options sounds better to you?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 11, 2012

James 4:1-3
Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.

You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

Apparently everyone has an agenda! In our present political climate, we have people on all sides who claim to make decisions in the name of God. For a nation who believes in separation of church and state, we surely do hide behind religion a lot in order to make our point or have things go our way. So we have political candidates who run for office based on a platform of “family values” and their particular stance on abortion, gay marriage, the right to bear arms, and much more – yet I wonder if many of them can truly explain their position and the meaning they place behind it.

Some will declare themselves pro-war and pro-life in the same breath! In the end, people who claim to hear from God - again, on every side of every issue – cannot seem to get along with each other for five minutes! We would all do well to ask the question asked in James 4:1 – “Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen?”

We know this isn’t right. We know that many of our troubles boil down to selfishness. And hopefully, we realize that it would be beyond ridiculous to ask God to support us in many of our desires and endeavors… because clearly we are not entitled to the things for which we are asking. If we ask God to do things for us at the expense of someone or something else, we have to realize this is selfish and wrong.

Asking God to choose our team over another at a sporting event makes no sense. Calling on God to look the other way when we cheat on a test or our taxes… to “give us a pass” this one time… doesn’t benefit us – and it surely doesn’t glorify God! We can’t ask God to help us make it to class and do well in school – or continue to hold down a job – while we are drinking and partying and/or doing drugs every night and weekend. Claiming the name of God and cloaking ourselves in Christian faith so that we can “win friends and influence people” – in any life situation – does not please God. Asking God to bless us and help us to prosper while cheating and backstabbing our friends and neighbors seems preposterous! And while the scripture says we would never think of asking God for things to which we have no right… sadly, many of us are doing exactly this. Yet, we wonder why our prayers are not answered as we expect!

The time has come for us to “come clean.” We must humbly come before God and seek His wisdom… and expect answers according to HIS will – not ours. We must take our emotions out of the equation and rely solely on the Word of God… because often, what we want and what God wants are two very different things. When we start to operate in what God wants… to desire His will and expect His answers accordingly, everything changes.

When we begin to ask God to give us the desires of His heart… the things that bless and benefit all of His children (not just us or a select few), amazing things begin to happen. Results and blessings flow in abundance. We operate in harmony, because we have checked our selfish desires at the door. There is no room in our hearts for ego, deceit, manipulation, argument, gossip, pettiness, and a whole host of other negative attitude builders, because we are filled with the word and wisdom of God. We are confident in God’s decisions and His ability to work in and through us.

Lately, God has shown me in several ways that what many of us need is a big ole dose of humility... followed by an attitude adjustment. If we could only begin to be still and listen for His voice… to develop an attitude of humble, unselfish, expectant, confident prayer for HIS will instead of our own… a lot of positive change could start to occur. But we have to take the first step. We have to examine our own hearts and motives… and start the ball rolling by surrendering to God. We must follow the protocol of prayer – pray the Word of God, enter into covenant with Him, and expect His perfect answers. Will this be the week where the “faith rules” of prayer begin to change things for you? Shouldn’t it?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 10, 2012

John 15:7
Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

A few years ago on Valentine’s Day, my husband gave me a planter filled with beautiful red tulips. After the blooms had faded, I planted the bulbs in our yard. The following year, the flowers sprouted, and we once again enjoyed the bright red flowers… for about a day. One morning I walked out in the yard, and there were my tulip stems. It looked as if someone had taken scissors and snipped every single red bloom from atop its green stalk. The culprits were deer! Apparently deer LOVE tulip blooms, and they had neatly snipped away mine! I had a similar problem this past summer with a pesky squirrel and some begonias on my back porch. The squirrel wanted my ceramic pots full of dirt for his stash of hickory nuts, so he kept digging out the begonias and tossing them aside – and making a royal mess in the process!

Here’s my dilemma… I planted the seed, but apparently, I didn’t do enough to nurture and protect it. So these pesky backyard critters were able to have a field day! Isn’t this how we do in our Spiritual life? We join to Christ… we study His word and allow the seed of God’s wisdom to be planted in us… but then we don’t do enough to guard and nurture that seed. We allow pesky critters – a.k.a. the devil – to get into our heart and dig around… and often he creates a huge mess there.

In recent days, I’ve really tried to “pray the scriptures.” In other words, instead of asking for healing for my friend Joe, I’ve reminded God that Psalm 103:3 tells us…” The LORD forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick”… and I am asking Him to heal Joe according to His word. I have asked for strength and courage in my own life according to Philippians 4:13, which says that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” I have praised God with the words of Psalm 100:5…” The LORD is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever.”

By communicating with God in this manner, I am using the wisdom of His word to root the seeds of His promises deeply within my heart. I am not throwing God’s words back at Him… I am letting Him know that I am starting to “get it!” And I am asking Him to answer my prayers, because I have become a part of Him and trust that He will bless my faithfulness and commitment to Him.

I no longer try to grow tulips in the yard. Unlike my confidence in God to help me fight the devil, I don’t think I have the time and energy to guard a patch of flowers against persistent, hungry deer! I may take another stab this summer at growing begonias on the porch. If I do, I will be armed with some protective netting, or pepper spray… or maybe even a slingshot! After all, Ephesians 6:11 reminds us to…” Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks.”

How deeply rooted is your “seed?” How fortified is your arsenal of tools to fight the devil? How confident are you that what you have planted comes from God’s word and will bear “good fruit” in the form of answers to your prayers? Our prayer life should be based on confidence that when we ask God for something, “it shall be done,” according to His will. When we plant the seed of God’s wisdom in our heart and keep it there, we should have no trouble accomplishing all that He desires for us… and more than we could ever imagine on our own!

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 9, 2012

James 15:13-18
Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven — healed inside and out.

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't — not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

I heard it again the other day… someone asked a friend to pray for them because “You have a direct line” to God. When will we develop faith in our own prayers? When will we begin to believe that God is waiting to hear from us… and to give us the answers we need… if not exactly those that we desire?

Never doubt God’s willingness or ability to answer your prayers. To say, “I’ve prayed for healing, but I don’t believe I will ever be well,” means you have not released the miracle action of God’s word and will for your life. When we pray, “Lord if You can hear me… I need help,” we are not fully operating in faith that God always hears our prayers. We are not truly surrendering to His will and believing that He will answer. We are operating in doubt instead of faith.

When we ask someone else to join us in corporate prayer, that is one thing… but when we ask them to pray for us because we feel their prayers are more effective, we have to ask ourselves, “Why is this?” Could it be that their prayers seem to be answered more often because they believe God for His answers? Is it possible that we lack the measure of faith that these people have? Wouldn’t it be better for us to develop faith in our own prayers rather than to depend so much on the intercession of others?

God wants us to experience the fullness of joy in Him. In order to do this, we must know what His word promises… we must come to Him with a grateful heart and ask Him to meet our needs. Remember the “protocol” of prayer… come into the presence of God with thanksgiving… approach Him with a grateful heart. Enter into God’s presence by way of the covenant He established with us through the blood of Jesus on the cross. God has agreed to hear our prayers and answer them. Recognize the full meaning of this covenant. Realize that God will always deliver on His promises… you can count on Him to hear you and answer, according to His will.

You may get tired of hearing people offer prayer as the solution to whatever challenges you face. It may seem trite or hollow… and in some cases, it is. People glibly toss out, “I’ll pray for you” and often fail to carry through with effective, fervent, faith-filled intercessions. By the same token, so many of our own prayers are little more than an empty waste of breath. We don’t back them up with God’s Word and promises – and we don’t really believe He will answer us. The time has come for us to pray effectively and stop short-circuiting our own prayers. Prayer does change things…God does answer. It’s up to us to ask the right things in the right way… and operate in faith that He will deliver exactly what we need.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 8, 2012

John 16:23-24
"This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

In February, my husband and I both experienced a bout of the flu. For several days, I was unable to do my normal workout routine. Once I started to feel better, I eased back into my almost-daily regimen. I knew that the longer I went without working out, the harder it would be to get back into a groove. In large part, it was about diligence and determination. And the same can be said of our prayer life. When it comes to prayer, many of us find it very easy to fall into complacency. We get in a hurry and let other things get in the way. So instead of truly communicating with God, we give a quick “lip service” to a laundry list of concerns and desires… and we expect God to do the rest.

There is more to prayer than merely listing our needs for God. And while He already knows our heart – and our wishes – there is a “protocol” for effective prayer. In my notes, I have written… “To get results, pray ‘by the rules’: get the Word, know your covenant, understand your inheritance.” In other words, instead of praying, “Lord, heal me…” we might say, “Lord, I know that ‘by His stripes, I am healed,’ (Isaiah 53:5) so I am asking You to make me well, according to Your will – and in your perfect timing.” When we pray for a friend in need, we might say, “Father, You have promised to give us what we ask in Your name, so I am asking for you to do XYZ for Bill or Sue, in line with your plans for them,” (John 16:23-24) instead of merely saying, “LORD, I pray for Bill/Sue.”

I’m not saying that there won’t be times when quickly lifting a concern or naming someone to God is better than no prayer at all… but we should all begin to treat our prayer time with as much reverence and importance as we give to a daily workout, the nightly news, or following our favorite TV show or sport. If we are going to expect answers to our prayers… if we are truly operating in faith that God will give us our hearts’ desires, according to His will – and the joy overflowing that comes with them… we must treat our prayers with care and respect.

Does this mean we should schedule prayer time with God like we do a workout or watching our favorite TV program or sporting event? Not necessarily… although this will often help us make prayer time more of a habit and part of our daily routine. This is not about when we pray… but more about how we communicate with God. Start working on making your prayers more effective… more specific and based in the Word of God and your faithful expectations for His perfect answers.

Try this… offer a diligent, “by-the-rules” prayer for one or two concerns at a time as you go about your day. I’m betting that when you get ready for bed, you can look back and see that you communicated with God far more often – and effectively – than if you had spent a concentrated hour listing your concerns and praising Him. Look for ways all day long to thank Him… take a few minutes here and there to lift concerns as they come to mind… to recall the promises of God’s word with relation to these concerns… and to believe for His perfect outcome. See if you don’t feel closer to God as a result… and more joyful, as He answers and honors your faithfulness.

Father, I thank You for the blood of Jesus and all that He accomplished for us on the cross. I praise you for promising to give us the desires of our heart when we pray according to Your will… and I ask You to bless those who are reading this message. Strengthen each of them as they spend more time in diligent, deliberate communication with You. I ask that You answer them according to Your perfect plans… and that You shower them with the blessings You have promised – and joy overflowing. Thank You, LORD, for hearing my prayers and honoring Your covenant with me… and all who trust in You. Amen.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 31, 2012

Ephesians 6:18
Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

We never know where God will show up… or how He will speak to us. As we were driving home from junior-high basketball games in Conway recently, we passed a church in Guy, Arkansas. The lighted marquee on the front lawn had one simple message: Ephesians 6:18. I made a mental note to check this scripture passage when I got home. The verse fit perfectly with conversations I have been having with a few people recently about the power and effectiveness of prayer.

Someone commented to me that they had been reviewing prayer journals and discovered that their prayers for some people were for the same concerns over more than a decade… some for even twenty or thirty years or more. I’ve noticed much the same thing in my own prayer journals. The natural question to ask is… “Are my prayers going unheard? Why hasn’t God answered?”

The truth is that we have no clue how God has answered. We asked for one thing… God may have delivered another. We prayed for certain outcomes, but we have no idea how much God may have answered our prayers and protected and blessed those we lifted. And just as importantly… we do not dictate God’s timing. Our responsibility as faith-filled disciples is to never stop praying… especially for others. We are to continue to ask God to work in the lives of His children… and to trust Him to know the best way to do this.

For the record… there are plenty of entries in my prayer journals – and those of others – that God has clearly answered just as we requested. We can cite countless examples of healings, deliverance, restoration, and more. We must remember to focus on these… and to believe that in situations where we cannot physically see God’s answer, He is at also work.

In The Message, Ephesians 6:13-18 says “Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”

There really is nothing to add. Prayer truly is essential… and effective. Our job is to keep praying… and to trust God to know how – and when – to answer perfectly.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 9, 2012

Acts 1:22-26
"Judas must now be replaced. The replacement must come from the company of men who stayed together with us from the time Jesus was baptized by John up to the day of his ascension, designated along with us as a witness to his resurrection."

They nominated two: Joseph Barsabbas, nicknamed Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, "You, O God, know every one of us inside and out. Make plain which of these two men you choose to take the place in this ministry and leadership that Judas threw away in order to go his own way." They then drew straws. Matthias won and was counted in with the eleven apostles.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

One of the most puzzling questions many have is, “How do you know when you’ve truly heard from God?” Few, if any of us, get a lightning bolt… much less an audible Voice that tells us how to proceed. So how do you know when you are really hearing from God? As I read this scripture passage, I had to laugh when I got to the part where the people prayed to God for an answer… and then “drew straws.”

Surely picking a name out of the hat or “drawing straws” is not how God communicates with us… or is it? If you go back and read the verses in Acts 1 leading up to this passage, you will see that the disciples were following God’s word from scripture… replacing Judas, who had fulfilled prophecy and betrayed Jesus, then killed himself on a farm he bought with the dirty money. There were about 120 people gathered together, including Jesus’ mother Mary, His brothers, the disciples, and other followers.

Two names were placed in nomination, and then they prayed before drawing a name of one of the nominees. The more I thought about this, the more I realized what the message of this passage is for us today. God shows up in amazing, unexpected places. And He very well may tell us to “draw straws” for our answer. But the KEY to the passage comes before the name was drawn. The most important part of the passage is the verse where the people ask God to “make plain which of these two men you choose to take the place in this ministry and leadership.”

As long as we are communicating with God and asking Him to guide or steps and our choices, He can utilize any tool or method to deliver our answer. If you have a hard choice to make, and God plainly directs you to “draw straws,” then do it. If He sends you an audible message in the form of advice from a trusted Christian brother or sister that you cannot shake… that’s probably what you are supposed to do. If you just know in your gut that one choice is right over another, God is probably giving you that physical nudge. If you have prayerfully sought God’s guidance, He can show up to answer in amazing ways that may even seem off-the-wall to some.

How do you know when you’ve heard from God? When you have spent time talking with Him and done all of the necessary preparation… then listened… God will show up. Whatever He is telling you to do… however He is reaching you and giving you the solution…don’t hesitate to follow through on His message. Have you consulted God about your decisions for today? Eenie, meenie, miney, moe… who has some straws to draw?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 9, 2011

Psalm 143:8-10
Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance. Please rescue me from my enemies, LORD! I come to you for safety. You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

This morning when I awoke, the fog was rising over the river as the sunrise warmed the air. I thanked God for the beauty of this morning and asked Him to guide me through the day. Later, I was shopping in a local thrift store, when I met two ladies I know very well. One was the mother of my high school classmate, Sandra, who died in 1994 from breast cancer. I spoke to her – and to the other woman, who happens to be a Hospice nurse and my brother’s friend and colleague. She was actually at his bedside with us when he died.

I went on with my shopping, but I was reminded of something that had happened recently that I felt I should share with Sandra’s mom. I’ll admit that a part of me said, “Oh, you shouldn’t say that to her… it might upset her here in the store.” But still, I heard a stronger Voice saying, “Go ahead… share.” So as I made my way back past these ladies, I stopped and said to my friend, “I have to tell you that last Sunday when I decorated my Christmas tree, I hung a paper angel that Sandra made many years ago. I hang it every year and always think of her – and you!”

The woman beamed and her eyes lit up as she smiled brightly and thanked me. My brother’s friend – who has also lost a daughter in recent years – said, “We were just talking about how good it makes us feel when someone mentions our daughters to us.” I noted that I feel the same way when someone mentions a happy memory of my brother, Tim. We talked about the girls and my brother for a few minutes before I said my good-byes and walked away.

My take-away from this conversation was that God heard me ask for guidance, and He gave me an opportunity to listen to His voice and follow through. I am so glad that I did! By listening to God’s voice, I was able to brighten the morning for two mothers grieving the loss of their daughters during the holidays – and to have my own day blessed as well.

So often we hear God’s voice and say, “Nah… not right now…” or “That’s not really my style.” But by asking God for guidance and trusting His responses, we learn so much more about His love for us and others. I know that this experience has encouraged me to pay even closer attention… to ask for even more guidance… and to follow through when God answers. Will you do the same?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 3, 2011

Psalm 141:1-2
God, come close. Come quickly! Open your ears—it's my voice you're hearing!
Treat my prayer as sweet incense rising; my raised hands are my evening prayers.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

My mother was telling us recently that her dog, Spot, will often come and stand beside her at the dining table and beg for his own dinner – almost as if he is quite literally talking to her. Spot likes soft, wet dog food atop his crunchy kibble. If he gets hungry for it, he lets her know. She said if she ignores him, he gets louder and louder until she and her husband can no longer talk to each other over the noise.

We often behave much like this when we talk to God. We are persistent to the point of being almost pesky…except for the fact that you can never pester God. He always wants to hear from us. Where we often “don’t get it,” is in understanding how clearly God does hear us. He knows our voice. But God will not intrude. He is waiting for us to invite Him to come closer. God wants us to call on Him… to say, “Come quickly! Open your ears and treat my prayer as sweet incense.”

I don’t know about you, but lately I’ve spent a lot of time with my hands “raised in evening (and morning and daytime) prayers.” I’ve been pestering God and reminding Him of needs and concerns that are on my heart and saying, “Come quickly! It’s me again… do you hear me?” I know that God does hear me… and I have peppered my prayers with praise for His constant love and care.

Whatever is on your heart, I hope you are turning to God and asking Him to come quickly to your side… to hear your prayers and bless them as the sweet offering you intend them to be.

I can’t imagine trying to handle life on my own without God. I am so thankful that we can never pester Him enough… that He always welcomes us and our persistence. God delights in knowing we seek Him that earnestly! What about you? Are you standing at His table and begging… growing louder and louder as you call on Him to “Come quickly?” Wouldn’t it be worth a shot to see what happens when you do?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 13, 2011

John 17:13-23
Now I'm returning to you. I'm saying these things in the world's hearing so my people can experience my joy completed in them. I gave them your word; the godless world hated them because of it, because they didn't join the world's ways, just as I didn't join the world's ways. I'm not asking that you take them out of the world but that you guard them from the Evil One. They are no more defined by the world than I am defined by the world. Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; your word is consecrating truth. In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I'm consecrating myself for their sakes so they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission.

I'm praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, so they'll be as unified and together as we are—I in them and you in me. Then they'll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that you've sent me and loved them in the same way you've loved me.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

Recently I told you about watching a television program called “Our America with Lisa Ling,” which documented the experiences of veterans with PTSD who were attending a week-long therapy retreat in New Mexico. I was struck by the words of a Native American “Medicine Man” to one of the veterans… “You did what you were supposed to do. This is not on you.” These words truly struck a chord with me, because so often, we do all God is calling us to do in a specific situation… yet we feel like we need to do more. We become mired in guilt and frustration and fail to recognize that often, we must step away in order for God to finish the job.

Jesus is saying in this passage, “I have done what I came to earth to do. I have nurtured these Disciples and given them the foundation and tools to grow in Your love… now it is time for God to take over. He will equip these believers to witness to others. He will strengthen them and meet their daily needs.” Notice that Jesus continues to pray for these people, but He does not anguish over what is beyond His control… and He does not try to do God’s work for Him.

I don’t know what is happening in your life. I know that it is human nature to give our concerns to God… then pick them up again. We lack faith… our trust in God is often shallow. Today, I feel quite certain you have something that you need to give to God. It may be a friend or family member… it may be a co-worker or classmate. Maybe you are working and studying as hard as you can in a difficult class, and you need to ask God to make the difference and bless your efforts. Maybe you have spread yourself as thinly as you can to help this cause and another… and it’s time to take a breath and let God work and multiply your service. Maybe you have carried a burden of guilt and shame over a situation that you supposedly gave to God a long time ago… but you keep picking it back up and stewing about it over and again.

Today is the day to ask God… “Have I done all I can in this instance? Is it time to let go and trust You to do the rest?” This is the time to stop berating yourself over things you were never supposed to accomplish on your own… to ask God to “take it from here.” In some way/shape/form, you have done all you can do… you have done your part… now it’s time to let God do His. Are you ready to do this?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 4, 2011

Psalm 127:1-2
If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

I don’t know about you, but plop me in front of the television after dinner, and unless the show or movie is really compelling – or I have something to do with my hands, like folding clothes – I will often be asleep before the first sitcom ends! Yet when I go to bed, I toss and turn and am wide awake! My mind races and I think of all sorts of things… what I need to do the next day, what I must buy at the grocery store, wondering why I ate that ice cream and/or didn’t work out, and more. If something happens to be weighing on my mind – a concern or a problem – I find drifting off to sleep even more challenging.

For some, going to sleep is not the issue – it’s staying asleep! Some people wake up too early in the mornings – others wake in the middle of the night. But many find going back to sleep to be difficult, if not impossible.

If you are one of those who cannot fall asleep because your “worries of the day” are weighing you down, this passage is for you. If you wake in the night, and your mind starts to race and keep you up, this passage is also for you. The bottom line is that God wants us to rest. He wants to take our worries, cares, mental lists and the “video loop of our day” and handle all of these things for us… and we need to let Him.

“Oh, if it were only that simple!” you may say. It actually can be. The next time you find yourself wide awake, pray. Ask God to take whatever is on your mind and keeping you up and handle it for you. Then simply start to talk to God… to pray for others… to express your cares and your burdens. I find that often I am talking to God one minute, and the next thing I know, I’ve “prayed myself to sleep!” The worst that can happen is that you make good use of your awake time by communicating with God. And often, as you share your thoughts with Him, He gathers them up and handles them so that you can rest.

You might think this passage is telling you not to work so hard. There is nothing wrong with hard work. But this passage is about a healthy balance… and rest… and resting in the LORD. The latter is something we all need to do more often. God is better than Ambien, Lunesta or Tylenol P.M.! If you are trying to handle life without Him, you’re bound to be in for some sleepless nights.

How much have you made God a part of things in your life? Do you have a good balance of work and rest? Is He handling things for you on a regular basis? How well have you been sleeping lately?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 5, 2011

Psalm 103:3-6
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.

God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

I am on the list to receive prayer requests from my mother’s church, my Emmaus community, and my own church. I also see needs expressed on Facebook and receive requests from friends and family members as special prayer concerns arise. Some days, the list of expressed needs is quite lengthy, and the burdens can become rather daunting. So many people are hurting in one way or another… illness… grief and loss…the challenges of aging…the challenges of youth and being a teenager, heading off to college or becoming an adult…economic woes… sin… we all have a laundry list of things to talk with God about each and every day. And then we turn on the television and hear the news of incomprehensible suffering in Third World countries… and we can’t help but be overwhelmed at times.

The GOOD NEWS is that God has answers! Many of them are outlined in Psalm 103…and I really love how this translation enumerates them. He heals diseases… every one of them! He saves you from hell… wraps you in goodness…renews your youth. Best of all, He makes everything right! I don’t know about you... but for me, this is fantastic news! I am moved to tears to think of this incredible love and protection… to know that God really is listening to my prayers and meeting my needs.

I don’t know what you are enduring today. You may be ill or have family members who are sick… you may be facing major challenges, such as a new school, a new job, or moving to a new city. You may have suffered a major loss – a loved one, a relationship change, or even the death of a beloved pet. You may feel old and tired… discouraged, depressed, or disappointed. You may have a heavy burden of sin that you are carrying like a backpack filled with rocks. But all of this and so much more matters to God… and He is ready to make things right.

Will you get instant relief? Possibly… although God’s timing is not always as quick as we would like. Will you feel God’s presence? Yes… if you maintain close contact with Him and truly seek Him on a regular basis. Will things get better? Absolutely! It may take awhile…but keep praying and believing. Keep trusting God to meet your every need. Don’t hesitate to ask fellow believers to pray for you – and with you. It is an honor and a blessing to pray for others, and there is tremendous power in corporate prayer. Flood the “airwaves” today with prayer and praise… let God set you back on your feet – and make things right for you and those you love.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 21, 2011

Luke 11:2-4
So he said, "When you pray, say,

Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil."

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

We are all familiar with “The Lord’s Prayer.” We all learned to recite it at a very early age, and each of us can probably recite a version of it without even thinking. And this is part of the problem. We can recite the words to this prayer, but we give very little thought to what we are saying.

I believe we can read the same passage of scripture many times and take away something completely different in each instance. For me, one verse in particular stood out recently… “Set the world right.” This is the “Thy will be done on earth and in Heaven” verse… but “Set the world right” really rang home with me.

Whatever is happening in your “world” right now, God can set right. Whatever troubles you have… heartaches… challenges… disappointments… frustrations… struggles… sins… He can handle all of them. God will be there to celebrate your highest highs… and to lift you from your lowest lows. And in the process, He will feed your body and your soul, forgive you when you disappoint, and help you overcome the temptations of the devil.

I’ve prayed this prayer several times in recent days. My 46-year-old cousin, Carla Lou, died on Palm Sunday. She suffered a brain aneurysm while attending a college class reunion in Little Rock. This left us shocked and confused… why was someone so young and in seemingly good health taken from us? Why had we not communicated more in recent years after she moved to Ohio? How do we process the fact that in the blink of an eye, she is just gone forever?

Through all of these questions, and more, I’ve heard this phrase repeated over and over, “God will set the world right.” He knows my heartaches… and yours. He knows what I need at this very moment… and He will deliver exactly that… and He stands ready to do the same for you!

“The Lord’s Prayer” is a great model for our everyday prayers. The points covered in these two verses are a great basis for our conversations with God… starting with praise and ending with an acknowledgment that His Kingdom is forever and ever. But let’s remember to stop and truly think about what we are saying when we recite this prayer – or when we pray at any time. Make your words count… speak from the heart, and truly communicate with God. He’s waiting to hear from us… to set our world right… and to meet every one of our needs. “Our Father, who art in heaven… set my world right…and be glorified.”

©2011 Debbie Robus