I often wake up with a hymn or chorus on my mind. I awoke Christmas morning with the words of an old hymn, “Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?” It may have been motivated by a cartoon by my friend Joe McKeever, in which Mary and Joseph are around the manger with Mary holding the baby Jesus, and Joseph exclaiming, “Let’s stop, Honey, and thank God for Jesus.” It caused me to wonder if anyone prayed at the manger. After the shepherd’s had seen Jesus, they returned, “praising God” (Luke 2:20). According to Matthew 2:11, the wise men “fell down and worshipped” Jesus when they saw Him. While these could have been references to prayer, there is no specific reference to prayer as such, nor is there other biblical reference to anyone praying at the birth of Jesus. That thought caused me to paraphrase the 1876 hymn to, “Ere you left the manger this morning, did you think to pray?” Then my mind shifted into the present and I asked myself, what I had included in my Christmas morning prayer that specifically related to the birth of Jesus. So on this day after Christmas, I turn the question to you. On Christmas Day, did you think to pray _to “thank God for Jesus”?
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Is the majority of prayer that you hear serious prayer or simply the repeating of well-worn prayer phrases and ideas? Are pray-ers giving serious thought to the wording of their prayers? For instance, if you are talking with me you don’t need to use my name at the beginning and end of every sentence. So why do pray-ers use God’s name in this fashion? Again, how much of modern prayer could be classified as “vain repetition” (Matthew 6:7) like that used by the heathen in Jesus’ day? “Asking God to “lead, guide, and direct” seems to be asking the same thing three times. “Bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies” is a bit repetitious. If God blesses the food, it will in turn, nourish the body. Lord, if you want me to witness to someone today. . .” God has already requested that of you in His Word. Little need for repeating. It makes one wonder if those praying are actually talking with God or with their fellow worshippers. Theologian and author, Theodore Jennings wrote, “People learn to be atheists not from too much contact with the world, but from too much contact with the church. No number of closely reasoned proofs for the existence of God will ever overcome the impression gained Sunday after Sunday that our prayers are addressed to ourselves.” Peter encouraged the seriousness of our prayer by writing, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers” (I Peter 4:7). If we really believed, and lived as though the end was at hand, what difference would it make in our prayers?
I’ve written at least once each year about appreciating pastors, usually during October, which is Pastor Appreciation Month. Because God called, “Some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11), they deserve a special time of appreciation. For the first time in over twenty years, I have a new pastor. When his name was shared with our church, I did not know him, but within a few days I discovered that I knew people who knew him: a former ministerial colleague; also a friend from his seminary days; plus a member of his previous church. Because they knew both he, and I, he had heard about me before he arrived at our church. Nevertheless, I was surprised when he contacted me and asked if he could drop by my house, knowing that my wife was home bound for twelve weeks recuperating from an injury and I was a 24/7 caregiver. Between his first and second Sunday as my pastor, he was sitting in my den, visiting and praying for my wife and I. I wanted to ask, “don’t you have more important things to be doing during your first week in town?” but I knew the answer. Sure he did, but he made my wife, and I a priority, the same way our former pastor had done. I know that neither my pastor, nor your pastor, can make every church member a high enough priority to visit often in their home for an hour, and not leave until they pray, but it is sure nice when they do. I spend a lot of time praying for others. It’s nice to be the object of prayer, especially from my pastor. I appreciate that.
While Paul’s instructions are to pray for “those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1-2), and he specifies praying for “kings” the obvious application is anyone who is in any position of authority over us – President, Congress, Supreme Court, Governor, Senators & Representatives, County, Parish and Local Officials, and Law Enforcement Officers. The benefit of such prayer is that through their wise rule, and under their protection, we might have “a quiet and peaceable life.” Christians are to be peaceful and orderly; and ask of the rulers, that they may not be harassed in the enjoyment of their rights. In the Old Testament the Jews were commanded, and forced, to pray for their heathen rulers (Ezra 6:10; Jer 29:7). Later, the Jews, by Augustus’ order, offered a lamb daily for the Roman emperor. The Jews reached a point where they wanted no more of this. All they wanted from those in authority is what we want: protection that allows us the freedom to live in peace, not just with our fellow-man, but with our enemies, and rescue when we get in trouble. To this end, we pray “for those in authority.” Paul confirms, “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” (I Timothy 1:3).
Last week I was on the Island of Roatan, a part of Honduras. It is an island of beautiful colored houses and buildings. When asked about the colors, my guide said everyone who can afford it re-paints their house or place of business every year. It is not only a way to resist the elements of the wind and salt water, but a way to show pride in what they have. This idea was also displayed on the front wall of the auditorium of the oldest church on the island, a church that was the only building on the island to withstand a long-ago hurricane. The sign read, “A time for renewal.” The Psalmist said it this way, “I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word” (Psalm 119:107). I can’t re-paint myself every year, but I can allow God to revive me. How about you?
The struggle began again this week; worse than which club to use on a difficult golf shot. Back pain! MRI showed arthritis and muscle spasms. Return to Physical Therapy and the therapy pool. Once again I heard the two voices battling in my head. One reminded me it had been nine years since I retired, “from a position, but not from a calling.” The voice continued, “You’ve carried too much heavy luggage to too many places, traveled in too many tight airline seats for too many miles, slept on too many bad mattresses in too many hotels, prayer-walked in too many hot places resulting in too many skin cancer surgeries. Your body is worn out. It’s time to stay home and write another book.” The other voice reminded me how many times I said there is no such thing as retiring from God’s call. The voice uttered, “You said you would keep going as long as God gave you strength and even quoted, Psalm 71:18 about being grayheaded and still declaring “strength to this generation” and “power to everyone who is to come.” What to do! Which voice is God’s, and which is Satan’s? Tough struggle! When you’re on the back nine of life, someone needs to point you to #18 and then help you to the club house for rest and refreshment. I’m not there yet, but I’m a lot closer to #18 than I am to #1, and every now and then, the struggle returns.
On a recent day, the sun was shining and the weather was warm. It was a beautiful day, perfect for being outside and enjoying nature. However, all the weather reports focused on the upcoming storms, predicted to hit during the night. No reports of the beautiful weather, just the warnings of pending doom. Life gets that way some times. We miss the joy of the present by focusing on the possibility of a troubling future. Morris West, an Australian novelist whose books were published in 27 languages, and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, wrote, “If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you’ll never enjoy the sunshine.” Jesus spoke of the future when He said, “what you will eat” and, “what you will put on” and then spoke of the present, “do not worry about your life” (Luke 12:22). While it is true that “joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5), it is also true that you can enjoy joy in the present, whatever happens between now and morning.
The first guy who got away with decision making without the impact of a woman was Adam, when he still had a full set of ribs (Genesis 1:18-23). Why does God so often communicate with women first? On our first date, my then future wife told me what God had called her to be, and what that meant in terms of the husband she needed to fulfill that revelation. Prior to that my mother had been a bit more subtle, in telling me what she and God had determined would be my future. In both cases, the women were correct in their interpretation of my future. I have talked with countless men who share similar versions of my story. If there is an answer to my question, as to why God so often communicates with women first, it may be the same answer as to why God’s first communication following the resurrection of Jesus, was through an angel, but to women (Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:4-8; John 11-14), and the first appearance of Jesus following His resurrection was to Mary Magdalene (John 20:15-17), and therefore, the first verbal witness of God’s resurrection power was shared by Mary to the male disciples (20:18). My intent is not to make more of this than is necessary, although I’m sure some who respond will be prone to do so, but my desire is to share that God reveals His will to whomever He chooses, and we had best listen when the communication comes from God, whomever might be the messenger.
Monday Morning Manna: Angels as Prayer Partners When I teach on prayer I usually include the role of angels as one means through which God responds to our requests. I occasionally have a challenger in the group that questions my comments. I simply reply that 34 of the 66 books in the Bible mention angels, including Hebrews 1:14, which refers to angels as, “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation.” I then clarify that nowhere in the Bible does anyone address a prayer TO an angel, but rather angels assist God as our heavenly prayer partners. Furthermore, the songs we sing often refer to angels – from the traditional, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” to the more contemporary, “We are standing on holy ground and I know there are angels all around.” The Bible tells us of angels protecting God’s people, delivering God’s people, delivering God’s message to God’s people, delivering God’s punishment on behalf of God’s people, renewing physical strength, being accompanied by light, and accompanying the blessed dead to heaven. Following a wreck a few years ago, my wife described it as feeling like a big hand took our van and guided it safely on its side to stop just short of a large concrete abutment. Later I read Psalm 91:11-12, “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” I believe in angels. How about you? Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.
Everything you need to live an abundant life comes from the Lord. At least that’s what Jesus said – “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). So how then, can you have an abundant life without continual communication with the Lord? The answer is, “You can’t.” Have you ever thought, how many things we think have to be modified by the adjective, ““abundant” in order to be meaningful, and successful? Abundant money. Abundant time. Abundant health. Abundant friendships. Abundant resources. Abundant information. What about this for a formula: Abundant prayer leads to an abundant life!
I coordinate a group of friends who read a Bible chapter each day and comment on a private Facebook group. Last week, as we were reading through the Psalms, the subject of awakening with a song came up again. I’ve written on this before, but it attracted my attention again as I thought about this week’s Manna. My mother woke-up with a hymn or praise song on her mind every morning, and she prayed often that God would give me her song. He did. I don’t sing it very well, but “I will sing unto the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me” (Ps. 13:6). Almost everyone in my family was/is a musician except me, but I can still sing unto the Lord. I just hope that after the Lord hears me sing, He will still be inclined to deal bountifully with me. A Chinese proverb says, “A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” While answers are few and sometime far between, fresh, God-sent songs are daily. How about you? Anyone else start the day with a God-given song?
In response to prominent people saying they were praying for the San Bernardino, CA shooting victims’ families and the survivors, the December 3 headline on the New York Daily News read, “God Isn’t Fixing This.” The article said people offering prayers, “Erred in offering prayers rather than solutions on gun control.” Rather than going down the trail of gun control, I want to go down the other road – that of praying in a time of crisis. Many, including U.S. President Obama (prior to his continuing push for gun control), said, “Our first response is to pray for the injured and for the families who have suffered loss.” When our Lord faced a life or death crisis in His own life, He went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. According to Matthew 26:36-42, Jesus met the crisis head-on (“Sit here while I go over there and pray.”); defined the crisis (“My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death.”); evaluated the options (“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.”); came to a firm decision (“My Father . . . Your will be done.”). According to Luke 22:43, He then received strength from God (“An angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.”) Obviously, God does “fix” things. Unfortunately, many wait for a crisis to pray. The truth is you will be much more effective in praying in a time of crisis if you are faithful in praying before the crisis. He prays best in times of crisis who prays consistently in times of no crisis. Crisis is not the best time to restore communication with God. Crisis praying is a spasmodic cry of emergency vs. consistent communication with holy God. If you will walk daily with God, when crisis comes, you will not need to cry loudly. He will hear your sobs, and He will “fix” it, according to His will. So pray on!
A recent survey showed Psalm 103 to be the second most favorite Psalm in the Bible (following Psalm 23). Few Psalms are more beautiful; few anticipate the New Testament more. There is no mention in this Psalm of war, illness, calamity, sadness, as in other Psalms. Perhaps there is no purer outburst of praise in scripture than Psalm 103. It is a Psalm for the season. One definition of Thanksgiving is “a holiday set aside to remember with gratitude the blessings God has given us” – even with those things that have become synonymous with the day – family in the house, turkey on the table, football on the TV, leftovers in the fridge, etc. But what about gratitude, the attitude of being thankful? Will you find a place in your Thanksgiving schedule for gratitude, Psalm 103 encourages us to be grateful not only for God, but for the benefits we enjoy because of God. I challenge you to read Psalm 103, then, do as I do every Thanksgiving, express your gratitude to a few people who have blessed you this past year. God is giving you 86,400 seconds each day this week. Surely you can use a few of them to express gratitude to someone. I promise it will make your Thanksgiving more meaningful.
I love early mornings. I’m usually the only one up at my house. It is quiet and still. I usually awake with a song or hymn on my mind, and take time to reflect on why that particular tune is in my mind for that day. I can have breakfast at my leisure. Read the Scripture for the day. Look over the social media prayer requests that have come in overnight (I have former students serving all over the world, so often their day-time prayer requests come to me when I am sleeping.), pray through my prayer list for the day, set my daily agenda, give thanks for another day, listen to the morning sounds, and watch the neighborhood arise for the day, as I go on my walk. Tecumseh, an 18th century Native American leader of the Shawnee, and an iconic folk hero in American history, was credited with saying, “When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.”
Some of my frequent, and favorite morning songs are:
• “Morning has broken, like the first morning, blackbird has spoken, like the first bird;
praise for the singing, praise for the morning, praise for the springing fresh from the world.”
• “When morning gilds the skies, my heart awaking cries: May Jesus Christ be praised!”
• “Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hand hath provided — “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!”
• “The sun comes up it’s a new day dawning; it’s time to sing Your song again. Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me let me be singing when the evening comes.”
• “In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus”
Some of my frequent, and favorite morning verses are:
• “And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord” (Exodus 16:7).
• “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7).
• “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
• “He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple” (Isaiah 50:4, NASB).
• “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning” (Lamentations 2:22-23).
• “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35).
• “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am . . . the Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 2:16).
So, how’s your morning going? Do you have a favorite morning song or scripture to share with me today?
“Sending prayers your way.” Please don’t! There is little to nothing I can do with prayers sent my way. If you want to pray for me, please send your prayers to God, who can not only hear them, but is able to respond. I know I’ve written about this before, but I keep seeing it on social media, and it makes me wonder if the person sending the prayers knows much about biblical prayer. To my knowledge, nowhere in the Bible does it say that anyone other than God hears and responds to prayer. What the Bible does quote God saying is, “Call to Me, and I will answer you” (Jeremiah 33:3). The Psalmist said, “I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication” (Psalm 142:1). I know the sentiment is good, but I for one would prefer getting the wording correct, if for no other reason, so I know that the one praying knows what they are doing. Apologies if this offends, but if we’re going to pray, let’s get it right.
Albert Einstein asked, “A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin, what else does a man need to be happy?” Apparently Einstein was not smart enough for Harvard University, who conducted a seventy-five year longitudinal study of the subject, and first concluded happiness is love. Then this same group suggested that happiness is good, explaining that happiness actually comes from three goods: (1) Doing good for others, (2) Doing things that one is good at, and (3) Doing good for self. This year’s Harvard survey suggests you can be happier if you: Choose to be happy with whatever you do, strengthen your closest relationships and take care of yourself physically, financially and emotionally. I guess it would have been too much to simply ask what the Bible had to say about happiness. The Psalmist said, “Happy is the man who has put his trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:4, HCSB) and Solomon, considered by many as the wisest man of his day, added, “Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he” (Proverbs 16:20). May today, be a happy day, for you.
In January of 2015 I was in Phoenix, AZ for the semi-annual meeting of America’s National Prayer Committee. The host church, Central Christian, and their Prayer Pastor, Paul Covert, asked me to make an audio podcast for their web site, which is on that site during June. If you have any interest in a 17½ minute discussion on why one should pray, go to the following link and scroll to “Why Pray” by Dan Crawford - http://discipleallnations.us7.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=0fedf52a277f7258cd10cd8a7&id=ee59d057d3&e=18db4a3b3d.
It was break time during the Prayer Conference when a participant said to me, “I like everything you are teaching us, but sometimes I just don’t feel like praying.” Do you ever refrain from praying because you just don’t feel like it? It’s Ok to pray because you feel like it, but not OK to refrain from praying because you don’t feel like it. Indeed, life would be a mess if we only did that which we felt like doing, and refrained from doing those things we did not feel like doing. Feelings are fickle, and are easily influenced by circumstances, health, relationships, moods, morale, and the even the weather. Prayer is too much of a priority to be put at the mercy of feelings. At Gethsemane, Jesus told His disciples to, “Watch and pray” (Mark 14:38), but they didn’t feel like doing either. They felt like sleeping, and so they did, until Jesus returned and found them in that condition. Sleeping, watching, and praying are all important, and none should be ignored due to lack of feeling. Sleep on, or pray on, but do not refrain from either due to a lack of feeling.
