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James 5:16 says:

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” NIV

“The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” CSB

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” ESV

“The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” NASB

What makes prayer effective? Is it how long we pray? No. In Numbers 12:13, Moses used four words to ask God to heal Miriam. He did. In Nehemiah 2:4, Nehemiah prays quickly for God’s favor. He gives it. In Matthew 6, Jesus warns of praying like the Gentiles who heap up empty phrases thinking they will be heard for their many words. Jesus tells his disciples to not be like that, for God knows what we need before we ask him. Quantity of words does not guarantee quality of response.

What about the kinds of words we use? Is there any magic in the kind of words we pray? No.

All throughout Scripture we see many kinds of prayer. In the psalms there are prayers of praise and thanksgiving, prayers of repentance and prayers of judgment. The psalmists use different kinds of words to address God in their need. Quality of words does not guarantee quality of response.

Going back to Matthew 6, Jesus says to go into our closets and shut the door and pray to our Father who is in heaven. He gives us the Lord’s prayer, but this isn’t some magic formula. Later in the New Testament, we see Paul praying all kinds of things, not one rote prayer: prayer for open doors for the gospel, prayers for people to grow in their faith, prayers for people in authority, prayers for times of suffering, prayers for healing.

The word effective means adequate to accomplish a purpose. Other translations use the word active or earnest. It’s obvious from James 5:16 that James wants us to believe that prayer is powerful and accomplishes much. He wants us to be diligent in prayer. In fact, in the next verse, James uses Elijah as an example to encourage us. Elijah was a man just like us and one time he prayed that it wouldn’t rain and it didn’t rain for three and a half years!

This is staggering to me. Does it mean I should pray for it to stop raining? No. Elijah was a man with a specific mission for a specific time. But that is the only thing different between Elijah and us. James’ point is that Elijah didn’t have some superpower. He was just like us: flesh and blood. He got tired. He got depressed. He doubted God.

So what is the key to effective prayer? Is there a key? Yes and no. No, in that the Bible doesn’t work in the way we want it to. It’s not like those click bait articles you see all over the Internet encouraging you to just do these 10 steps or use this one technique. But the answer is also yes, because when you look a little more at James 5:16, there’s something else to notice.

Each translation has the word righteous. The prayer of the righteous person is effective. God doesn’t hear everyone’s prayer. It’s not because he has a hearing problem. He is omniscient, he knows all things. But the Bible is clear that access to God is limited to those who fear him, who are in right relationship to him.

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.” Proverbs 15:8

“The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29

So putting it all together, we get this picture of prayer: Those who are in right relationship with God, who have been declared righteous in God’s sight solely on the basis of the shed blood of Christ, should be encouraged to be active and earnest in prayer because their prayers effect real and powerful change. James is not as specific as we would like about what kinds of change our prayers produce. The reality is that we don’t always see the results of our prayers. But, we should take courage and be spurred on to pray boldly and continually because prayer changes things. God didn’t have to set up his universe this way, but he did, and it is a great privilege. Let’s not waste it.

A couple weeks ago God was so gracious to humble me as a result of attending a Bible teaching workshop. Humility really is a gift from the Father.

When we do ministry in isolation, when we pursue God in isolation, there is a great temptation to pride. When we share our passion for digging deep into the Word and no one else seems (at least from our very limited perspective) to have the same hunger, we can get discouraged.

I have been tempted to think that I am the only one who sees these truths; I am the only one who has this passion for God’s Word.

God proved me wrong at this workshop and it was so wonderful. Who knew that humility could be so freeing!? I met so many women of different ages and from different backgrounds who had the same passion to dig deep into the Word. I had the opportunity to learn how to study the Psalms together with 40-50 other women. This was not 40-50 women sitting at the feet of one woman and just listening and taking notes. This was an experience of learning and co-laboring with other women in the Word.

What I found was that doing this digging together destroys pride. It is not about me and the great insights I have! I learned so much from these other women and there was no pressure to try to come up with the right answers. We were just digging for treasure together.

God is so wise and loving to have put the body of Christ together the way he did. Christ is the head; no human being could handle being in that position. And we are his body, different parts that are dependent upon each other. This wisdom and love protects us from pride but also produces great joy as we look into the Word and encourage one another to see the treasure within.

There are many seasons of life when tasks seem to pile up endlessly. There are many times when it is necessary to have the calendar full of activity. New moms experience this on an overwhelming scale, physically and emotionally.

But there are other times when we choose, on purpose, to fill our calendars to overflowing. There are so many good things to do either to benefit ourselves or our families. We put these things on the calendar months in advance and think that just because there’s a blank space, there will automatically be time for it.

We overestimate ourselves. I overestimate myself. I think I have more bandwidth than I actually do. I believe I have more capacity to handle things than I actually do.

This past week I had many things scheduled and a few months ago, when I committed to these things, I thought I could handle them all. Did I sincerely ask for wisdom when I scheduled all these things? Probably not, at least not for each thing.

The truth was, I did have time to do all these things if those things were my only responsibilities. But they weren’t and so often I don’t take into account the things I never write down on my calendar – intentional time with my husband and family, serving others in need, calling a friend to pray, etc. And what about rest? Do I intentionally carve out time for that?

What I didn’t know a few months ago was that a couple dear friends would be in distress this past week with overwhelming burdens. These are things no one can schedule and no one can predict except God.

Did I have enough margin in my schedule to serve these friends in need?

Did I intentionally leave blank space in my calendar?

The use of the pronoun my sticks out. My calendar. My schedule.

Time doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to God. He allots it to each of us as he chooses. This is why it is foolish to cram our calendars full of things – even good things! – without asking for wisdom and being humble enough to realize that we have no idea what will be happening in our lives or anyone’s life either tomorrow or a few months from now.

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

One theme I’ve been seeing in my Bible reading lately is how intensely God is committed to his people. One day I read through three passages that highlighted this.

In Numbers 22 the story of Balak and Balaam begins. The story occurs during Israel’s wilderness wanderings.  Balak, the king of Moab, desires to curse the people of God and he has the power and wealth to hire the perfect guy to do it – Balaam. But throughout the story we see God being in complete control of everything. He controls the direction of the enemy, his choices, his words and even his donkey! Do the people of God do anything? Are they even aware of what’s going on? No. They have been wandering in the wilderness, complaining and grumbling. In fact, after Balaam blesses Israel three separate times, the people actually start worshiping Baal, the god of Moab! They are certainly not deserving of these blessings.

But God is committed to them.

In Isaiah 14 we see that God will restore his people. The people of Israel are again not deserving of blessing. Isaiah’s message is one of warning. Those who don’t bow to God are those who trust in their own might, who exalt themselves. This never works though. In verse 24 God swears that as he has purposed, so shall it stand. God’s plans for his people, for Zion will never be thwarted.

God is committed to his people.

Then in Hebrews 7 the author is describing our perfect high priest. Again, the people of God are in need because of their sin. We are in need of a high priest but a better high priest, a perfect high priest, one that will be able to make the perfect sacrifice for sin. And God shows his commitment in supplying his people’s need. Jesus is the perfect high priest who is committed to his people forever.

“The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:23-25

This thread of commitment is wonderful and can be seen as early as Genesis 3 in the promise to Eve of a future seed that will crush the serpent’s head. It comes to a beautiful climax in Jesus.

Be on the lookout for this because the more you read, the more you see of God’s great grace and the steadfastness of his character.

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things out of your law.” Psalm 119:18

 

I ran a marathon this past weekend. The next morning I was a little depressed. Three months of preparation leading up to the big day and then…..

What’s next?

I wasn’t happy with my result, but thinking about it today I realized that even an amazing result wouldn’t have changed what I felt the next morning.

It’s pretty common to feel a letdown after a major event, especially one you’ve worked hard towards. And I’ve experienced the same feelings after every big race.

But God is always gracious. Like a loving faithful shepherd, he turns my head to face the right direction.

He reminded me that even though there are tremendous benefits to physical training, the payoffs are never guaranteed. You won’t always get a PR. Our physical bodies have limits and year by year they get weaker. Runners get slower! With some people, disease can strike seemingly out of nowhere.

But in 1 Timothy Paul reminds his spiritual son of the great eternal benefits of godliness.

“… godliness has value for all things…”

“…there is great gain in godliness with contentment…”

Yes, I’m not guaranteed the result I trained for. Yes, I will get slower. Yes, my physical body will get weaker. But, I can still reap real spiritual lessons from every outcome of every race. And these lessons help me grow in godliness.

So what have I learned this time? I’m not sure yet but I suspect it has something to do with this verse:

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:25

The kind of godliness that brings great gain is the kind that pursues holiness and contentment and love. It is not self centered. This proverb expresses the principle that Jesus taught. It is more blessed to give than receive.

Training for a marathon consumes a lot of time and energy. Your schedule revolves around when you will run and what you will eat and how much you will sleep. This intense focus is inherently self centered and can trick you into expecting more of the event than it’s designed to give.

But the Lord is reminding me that the kind of godliness that produces sacrificial love is a guaranteed investment, not only for this life but for the one to come.

“…godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8

We live in a time when we’re encouraged on almost every side to promote ourselves.

Post your status, take a selfie, put that 26.2 bumper sticker on your car.

We’re our own image consultants.

The back of our cars are our personal billboards.

Instagram can become a carefully crafted index of our lives.

And what are the unintended consequences?

How do we see ourselves? Do we see ourselves through that filtered lens of Instagram or do we willingly submit ourselves to the Lord’s all-seeing eyes?

“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13

I see how this insidiousness has worked its way into my own soul when I follow the bread crumbs of my thought life. I start praying for someone and quickly my thoughts are straying towards imagining an amazing result because I prayed.

Or I feel led to start a mom’s prayer group at my school and quickly I start fantasizing a revival happening because of my own efforts.

How many faithful believers lived lives of obscurity? How many missionaries served faithfully for years or even decades without visible fruit?

Does obedience only count if it’s worthy of a Facebook post?

Perhaps our habit of self-promotion is merely another example of what Jesus warned against in Matthew 6:

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1

So let’s be done with sounding trumpets before us, and slapping another bumper sticker on the back of our cars.

I have been thinking of this passage in Psalm 16:5 that says, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.”

What does the word ‘cup’ refer to? In Hebrew poetry, repetition is a device used to amplify meaning. Chosen portion, cup, and lot are all words used to convey the concept of your assigned outcome in life. So here in Psalm 16, the believer’s assigned outcome in life is the Lord himself. This is wonderful news, but it becomes even more wonderful when set in a wider context. Look at these other verses:

Jeremiah 25:15 says, “Thus the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.”

Isaiah 51:17 also speaks of the cup of wrath: “Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering.”

In these passages the prophets speak of God’s wrath being poured out on his own people and the nations as punishment. It is pictured as a cup of wrath they must drink. Read all of Jeremiah 25 to get a full picture of the sovereignty of God in bringing about a just and holy punishment.

Now turn to Matthew 26 and see something more astounding. When read against the backdrop of Jeremiah and Isaiah, this passage shines like a diamond and is honey to the soul.

Matthew 26:39, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Verse 42, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

Do you see this? Jesus Christ, the Creator himself, the King of Kings to whom all praise and honor is due, drank the cup of wrath that we deserved. This is what happened on the cross. This is why Jesus became so troubled that Luke says he sweat drops of blood. The cup assigned to him was to take the wrath that I justly deserved. He drank it down to the dregs.

And to add grace upon grace, back up just a handful of verses in Matthew 26. Just prior to Christ’s soul-wrenching time of prayer in Gethsemane, he offers the disciples a cup:

Matthew 26:27-28, “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'”

Take a moment and really ponder this. Psalm 16 says that the Lord is our portion, our cup, he holds our lot. This can only be possible if God knew what was coming, and he did. He knew from the foundations of the world that his one and only Son would come and drink the cup of wrath that we deserved.

Jesus drank the cup of wrath so that we may drink the cup of the new covenant, the cup of life.

“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3

“I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me…

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.”

Psalm 119:19, 54

Sojourner – one who stays temporarily.

July 4th was earlier this month. Most of us enjoy fireworks and concerts. We remember our founding fathers and are grateful for all the freedoms we enjoy. It’s good to be an American.

But as Christians, our ultimate allegiance is not to a country or an earthly king.

One of the major themes running through Bible is getting back to our real home, getting back to Eden with God. While on this earth we are just pilgrims and exiles.

In Hebrews 11, we are introduced to the heroes of the faith and in the middle of the chapter the author gives an in depth description of our heroes’ geographical allegiance:

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them city.”

Our country is wonderful and God has blessed us with so many freedoms that we shouldn’t take for granted. But we are sojourners as the psalmist says. We are only here temporarily.

Our better country is waiting for us in heaven and Jesus is right now preparing it for us.

So sing those patriotic songs. Thank God for all the blessings he has given us as Americans. But let your eyes be fixed on the better country. And let your theme song be his word as you sojourn.

I’ve always loved the last part of Hebrews 6, specifically verses 13-20. I can remember exactly where I was when the truth of hope as the anchor of my soul truly gripped me.

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf…”

Today I was meditating on a different verse that has always puzzled me.

“So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.”

Great stuff, but what are the two unchangeable things? For years I have gone over these verses and never dug deep to figure it out. This is where comprehension comes in. Bible study is really a lot like literature comprehension. We don’t always like that because it’s hard and it reminds us of those questions on the SAT, but this is God’s word and the treasure available for us to unearth when we dig deep is precious.

Back in verse 13 it talks about God making a promise to Abraham and goes on to describe what happens when people make promises or covenants with each other. They swear by something greater than themselves. They take an oath. An oath is basically an appeal to a higher authority or something very precious that communicates your commitment to following through on your promise. Jesus gave an example of how not to do this in the Sermon on the Mount. He spoke against flippant oath taking. People were promising to do something and then swearing by the temple or Jerusalem or their heads.

Here in Hebrews, the whole point is that God does not make flippant promises. He actually doubles down to show us what kind of promise maker he is. He made his promise to Abraham (Genesis 22:16) which was to bless him and multiply his descendants. And he took an oath. Did God swear by the temple or the sun or the moon? No. He swore by himself. He swore by the most valuable thing, his own name.

These are the two unchangeable things.

The promise and the oath.

Did God have to double up here? Isn’t it enough that he promised? From God’s perspective it is. God never lies and what he says he will do. (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2)

God could’ve stopped at the promise so why did he take that extra step of swearing by himself?

Carefully read verses 17-18 again being sure to unfold the grammar:

“So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.”

God desired to show us what kind of a promise maker and promise keeper he is. Remember, he didn’t have to do this.

More convincingly.

That we may have strong encouragement.

God wants us to really believe him, to know that he is rock-solid trustworthy.

Read John Piper’s words about this passage and bask in the knowledge that this is your God.

“He is utterly committed to working for our hope. He insists that we be people of confident hope, not of worry and uncertainty. He wants us to think about the future, and to be totally confident and assured about how it will turn out. That’s what this text is about.“

Matthew 7:7-11 continually stumps me. There are similar passages on prayer that convey the same unbelievable message.

Everyone who asks receives. (Matthew 7:8)

If you abide in me and my word abides in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. (John 15:7)

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do. (John 14:13)

These have always seemed to be too good to be true. And I have certainly prayed for things for a long time and not received them. I have prayed diligently for what I thought were good things, godly things, and not received them.

So I am left questioning. I am left with a niggling sort of doubt that dwells on the periphery of my spirit whenever I read these passages.

What is going on? What is Jesus getting at?

Sometimes it helps to ask the opposite question. What is Jesus not saying?

We know that prayer is not some kind of vending machine. Put in the money and press the button and you get what you pay for. This is not how prayer works.

But you can’t escape the force of the promise in Matthew 7.

Everyone, everyone, who asks receives.

Jesus uses three different descriptors for prayer. Ask, seek, knock.

Keep praying, keep asking, keep seeking.

Then he goes on to make a relationship comparison. A son asks a father for something good. The father isn’t going to give his son something evil.

We know how to give good things to our children, and we are evil. (Ouch!) How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

I don’t fully understand this passage and these promises but I think Jesus is emphasizing two things:

1. Ask, and keep asking.

2. Remember who you are asking.

I don’t think he’s giving a lecture on how to get stuff in prayer. But how often do we use prayer and use God like this? How often do we neglect the relationship?

Persistent seeking in prayer will develop our relationship with God in such a way that we grow and learn in how to ask and what to ask for.

How much more will your Father give good things to those who ask!