During the night I sleep on a bed of bawling.  During the day I sit on a couch of crying. 

But you have heard my weeping.  You have heard my tears. 

You accept my prayer. 

You accept me.

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Here is today’s prayer event:  31″Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34 ESV)

Jesus knows that Peter is about to deny him.  One of Jesus’ three closest friends is about to stab him in the back.  Still, Jesus prays for him.  Jesus prays that Peter’s “faith may not fail.”  Jesus spends some of his last moments praying for the faith of one who won’t even have the courage to admit that he is a follower of Jesus.

Whether you keep a mental or written prayer list, how many people like Peter are on it?  My tendency is to remove from my prayer list the people who make my life painful.  Jesus’ tendency is to add them to his list.  Who are the challenging, difficult, irritating, disappointing, and aggravating people in your life?  Add them to your prayer list and start praying!

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This morning I bow before you.  You are my King.  You are my God.  I lay my requests before you.  And I wait expectantly–knowing you will answer.

Today, LORD, defeat evil in whatever place it dwells and in whatever form it takes.  Let this morning be the last morning that violence, wickedness, and malice see.

And today, LORD, nurture good in whatever place it dwells and in whatever form it takes.  Let this morning bring hope, help, and haven to all who stand for what is right.

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Here is today’s prayer event:  20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matt. 26:20-29 ESV)

What a stunning contrast–Jesus reveals his betrayer but then blesses the bread and gives thanks for the cup!  Here is another example of Jesus blessing–in this case, giving thanks.  Jesus has every reason to complain, to groan, and to grieve.  Yet, he blesses the bread and gives thank for the cup.

Jesus was following the prescribed routine associated with the Passover Meal.  By custom, he was supposed to bless the bread and give thanks for the cup.  Yet this scene demonstrates how habits and traditions like “saying grace” or “saying the blessing” can be critical.  Especially in difficult times, the simple habit of still “thanking God for this meal” can be formative.

Do you “say grace” at every meal?  Why?  Why not?  How could you be more intentional about this practice so that it cultivates a more thankful spirit within you?  When you do “say grace,” what do you say?  What other words/phrases might make this habitual prayer more formative?

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LORD as the day ends, my worrying begins.  As the sun sets, my stress rises.

My heart is racing and my mind is filled with thoughts of the bad things said to me and the bad things done to me.

So here I am, LORD, on my bed wide awake.  Calm my trembling mind.  Fill my heart with joy.  Let me rest in you and sleep in peace.

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Here is today’s prayer event: 27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” (John 12:27-28 ESV).

As with all of the prayers for which we have Jesus’ actual words, this one is prayed in the cold shadow of the cross.  Here, Jesus lays out the two options we have when faced with pain and suffering: “Father, save me.” or “Father, use me.”  The prayer, “Father, glorify your name,” is a plea for God to use the cross and Jesus’ suffering for His purposes, to reveal something about Himself.

Save me.  Use me.

Take a few moments right now to identify a circumstance in your life that brings you pain or suffering.  Rather than asking God to save you from that circumstance, ask Him right now to use you in the midst of that circumstance.

SHARE WITH READERS BELOW A DIFFICULT TIME WHEN GOD USED YOU  OR THE CIRCUMSTANCE FOR GOOD.

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Here is today’s prayer event:  33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”  38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:33-42 ESV).

Timothy Jones (“Praying Like the Jew, Jesus” (70)) points out that Jesus did not speak this prayer of thanksgiving after Lazarus has been raised from the dead.  Jesus speaks this prayer of thanksgiving while Lazarus is still decomposing in a tomb.  Jesus is not thanking God because he is certain God will raise Lazarus.  He thanks God simply because God hears him.  What did God hear?  Jones argues that God heard Jesus’ tears: “When [Jesus] found himself in the shadow of his friend’s tomb, he couldn’t put his prayers into words, so he put them into tears instead.  And his Father heard his cries.”  Jones concludes: “Perhaps it’s because at the heart of all our prayers, what we really want is not an answer but an assurance—an assurance that our Father is listening.”

Jesus thanks God simply because God hears.  Even in the midst of a painful time, Jesus believes that God hears.  And here, that’s all Jesus needs.

Is it enough for you to know that God hears?  Why?  Why not?  Take a few moments and just thank God for his open ears, for the way his door is always open, for how God is always willing to listen.

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Here is today’s prayer event:  17Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (John 11:17-22 ESV)

Jesus’ reputation as a person of powerful prayer precedes his arrival at Bethany.  Martha has witnessed enough of Jesus’ prayers or heard enough about Jesus’ prayers that she has no doubt–if this man prays for her brother to rise from the dead, then her brother will rise from the dead!  Martha has a prayer-request that tops all prayer-requests: rescue Lazarus from death.  And who does she bring the prayer request to?  She brings it to Jesus.

Are you known by others as a person of  powerful prayer?  If someone in your circle of influence had a unusually challenging prayer request, would they bring it to you?  Why?  Why not?

(NOTE: this series pauses on Sundays; spend this day reflecting on lessons learned during the previous six days).

SHARE WITH READERS BELOW A PERSON TO WHOM YOU HAVE BROUGHT CHALLENGING PRAYER REQUESTS AND WHY YOU ENTRUSTED THEM WITH SUCH REQUESTS.

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Here is today’s prayer event: 13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.  (Mark 10:13-16 ESV)

To “bless” someone in Jesus’ day was a form of prayer.  It was a way of asking God to look favorably upon an individual.  Here, Jesus blesses or prayerfully intercedes for children.  And it’s no cold and stately blessing.  He takes them in his arms, lays his hands on them, and blesses them.  Can you imagine what it must have felt like for a child, having just been dismissed by Jesus’ disciples, to have Jesus pick you up, hold you, and bless you?

Look for opportunities today to pray prayers of blessings over people, especially over people who, like these children, may be forgotten or dismissed by others.  Bless your children, a friend, your spouse, your boss, your waitress, the janitor, your teacher, your parents, your neighbor, your mail carrier, or the man with the cardboard sign asking for money.  Utilize the following biblical blessings out loud or silently:

• The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. (Num. 6:24-26 ESV)
•  May the LORD give strength to you!  May the LORD bless you with peace! (based on Ps. 29:11 ESV)
•  May God be gracious to you and bless you and make his face to shine upon you, that His way may be known on earth, His saving power among all nations.  (based on Ps. 67:1-2 ESV)
•  May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth! (Ps. 115:15 ESV)
•  The LORD bless you!  May you see the prosperity of his work all the days of your life!  May you live a long life!  Peace be upon you! (based on Ps. 128:5-6 ESV)
•  May the LORD bless you, he who made heaven and earth! (based on Ps. 134:3 ESV)

SHARE WITH READERS BELOW: WHO BLESSED YOU GROWING UP, OR WHO MIGHT YOU BLESS TODAY?

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