Short Devotion: Calling on God

 

Genesis 4:26b At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord. (NIV)

 I don’t know how many times in my life that I’ve called on the name of the Lord, but I’m thankful for God’s gracious response when I’ve needed reassurance, guidance, deliverance, and support. Sometimes the Lord didn’t answer me in ways that I expected, so I struggled with those moments, but overall, when I’ve gone to God for help, the Lord has patiently shown me what to do and graciously led me through whatever I was painfully or fearfully experiencing.

 I guess that’s what led people way back in history to call upon the Lord. Whenever they experienced something too big to handle or too puzzling to understand, they looked to their Creator to give them answers. It seems to be an important part of human nature to call on a higher power or even Supreme Being for help. I think I once read somewhere that 92% of the world’s population still pray to God – that’s amazing and just adds to my notion of faith in God. It means that the vast majority of people on Earth, throughout history and up until the present day, believe in God. For me, I find that comforting, so I will continue to call on the Lord in time of trouble and fear, as well as in moments of gladness and celebration.

 As we wander through this new year, I wonder how many times we’ll each call on God in prayer. And how many times will God lovingly answer our requests?

 Prayer: Even now, Lord, as we read or speak these words, we’re calling on Your Name. We’re asking for guidance and blessings, comfort and support. Be near to us even when we wander away; be close to us when we feel lonely or vulnerable; be real to us when reality perplexes us. In Your Holy Name, we make this prayer. Amen.

 

John Stuart is a retired pastor living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Christian devotions: I Like Bread - Luke 11:3

Luke 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread.

I like bread. I like it a lot. Whether it’s the bread that I toast in the morning, the sandwich that I eat for lunch or in the roll that I may have with dinner, my conclusion is the same: Bread Rules! When I was growing as a teenager, I could sometimes eat half a loaf loaf at night with butter and jam. I don’t know how my folks afforded it, but there was always bread in the pantry for all of us hungry Stuart kids.

In Scotland, there is something called a plain loaf which is a doughy loaf of sliced white bread. At each end of the loaf is a thick slice which is either called the ‘heel’ or the ‘outsider’. In our house, getting the outsider was an extra helping, so we took it turns to receive it. Whenever it was toasted, covered in butter, and put on a plate, I felt as though I was feasting like a king. As I am writing this, I can still experience crunching through the dark crust and tasting the texture of the bread. As a poor kid, from a large family, living in a deprived area, white bread was my staple diet. Eating the thick crunchy heel was a wonderful blessing that meant a lot to me.

When the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray, He instructs them to ask God to give them their daily bread before they ask Him to forgive their sins. He wants them to rely upon God to sustain them first and then forgive them second. It’s not that forgiveness is less important than meeting their needs; it’s just that Jesus wants them to be grateful first and then seek God’s mercy.

Sometimes I need to remember that lesson. Frequently I feel guilty about my mistakes, so that when I talk to God in prayer, I reel off a list of sins in order to seek His mercy first. I forget to be grateful and thank God for His daily goodness; instead I focus on being forgiven in order to make me feel good. Perhaps if I changed my prayers to concentrate on thanking God first, then I would not dwell upon how much I disappointed Him again.

Questions for personal reflection

What are the daily gifts in my life for which I should be grateful to God? Are my prayers more about me or God?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching us how to pray and for drawing our attention to the daily blessings and needs that God provides. Keep us from being self-centered or ungrateful. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is a bulletin cover design for Communion drawn by John based upon Christ’s own words, “I am the Bread of Life.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3560/3770073328_9c57843113_b.jpg