Pathways Press.com

Written by Randy Cordell, a contemporary pastor.

I believe that the greatest challenge facing the Christian community today is to correct our misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Biblical worship. We have made people believe that worship consists only of what we do for an hour or so on Sunday mornings at the place we call the church. We have made it something we “go to” and “leave from” at the appropriate times. In doing so, we have reduced to an hour what God said must be our entire lives. True worship is the offering to God of one’s body, one’s entire life. Worship is a life given in obedience to God. When we meet together to encourage, teach, and equip for service, we are being obedient and therefore worshiping, but no more than when we obey Him anywhere else at any other time. A man may say he is going to the assembly to worship God, but he should also say he is going to the factory, the office, the school, the ball field, or the restaurant to worship God. Real worship is offering every moment and every action of every day to God.

Prayer:

Today’s prayer is from the Gelasian Sacramentary, a book of Christian liturgy, which is the oldest western liturgical book that has survived.  The book is linked to Pope Gelasius I. It was compiled near Paris around 750.

Into your hands, O God, we commend ourselves and all who are dear to us this day. Let the gift of your special presence be with us even to its close. Grant us never to lose sight of you all the day long, but to worship and pray to you, that at eventide we may again give thanks unto you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Written by Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911), an American evangelical who taught the joy of Christ throughout a difficult life.

There are times in our lives when delirium makes us utterly unaware of the presence of our most careful and tender nurses. A child in delirium will cry out in anguish for its mother and will harrow her heart by its piteous lamentations and appeals, when all the while she is holding its fevered hand, and bathing its aching head, and caring for it with all the untold tenderness of a mother’s love. The darkness of disease has hidden the mother from the child but has not hidden the child from the mother. And just so it is with our God and us. The darkness of our doubts or our fears, of our sorrows or our despair, or even of our sins, cannot hide us from Him, although it may, and often does, hide Him from us. He has told us that the darkness and the light are both alike to Him; and if our faith will only lay hold of this as a fact, we will be enabled to pass through the darkest seasons in quiet trust, sure that all the while, though we cannot see nor feel Him, our God is caring for us, and will never leave nor forsake us.

Prayer:

Written by Augustine of Hippo (354-430), an early Christian theologian and philosopher. He was the bishop of Hippo Regius (modern day Annaba, Algeria) and is viewed as one of the most important church fathers in Western Christianity.

 Almighty Father, come into our hearts, and so fill us with your love that forsaking all evil desires, we may embrace you our only good. Show us, O Lord our God, what you are to us. Say to our souls, I am your salvation, speak so that we may hear. Our hearts are before You; open our ears; let us hasten after your voice. Hide not your face from us, we beseech you, O Lord. Open our hearts so that you may enter in. Repair the ruined mansions, that you may dwell therein. Hear us, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of your only son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever, Amen.

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Written by Alistair Begg, a contemporary pastor and head of Truth for Life teaching ministry. This is an excerpt from his work “Stand on the Gospel.”

When we picture soldiers on the frontlines of battle, we often imagine firearms, artillery, and other tactical equipment. But there’s a piece of gear we often overlook, without which a soldier would be utterly ineffective: his boots. Without appropriate footwear, no soldier, and therefore no army, can hope to defend a position… The gospel provides us with firm footing. Even when everything else around us is shaking, we always have a place to stand. Even when temptation is fierce, we never need to retreat. What was it that empowered Martin Luther to stand against the tide, nail his theses to the church door at Wittenberg, and then proclaim before an emperor, “Here I stand; I can do no other”? Gospel shoes. What was it that enabled the English Protestants Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley to face with courage the horror of being burnt at the stake for their faith? Gospel shoes. What is it that sees our brothers and sisters in so many places around the world joyfully proclaim their faith in Christ even as they are threatened with death? Gospel shoes. When you go to your workplace, to your school, to your unbelieving family and friends, or into your local community, what will give you the power to stand for Jesus? Only the gospel shoes that Christ provides. If you try to stand on your own strength, you will inevitably stumble and fall. But when you enter each new day with your feet rooted in the hope, peace, forgiveness, and assurance of the gospel, then you will find yourself able to stand firm, even through the fiercest opposition from the world and temptation from the devil. So before you go and get on with your day, rehearse the gospel to yourself. Enjoy its truths. Praise your Savior. Or, to put it a different way: put your shoes on.

Prayer:

Written by Christine Batchelder, a contemporary social media specialist at Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Father today we put on the shoes of peace and pray that they will be firmly grounded in the good news of what Jesus did on the cross. Please help us today to dig deep if the enemy throws anything at us — remind us that You, God, have everything under control. You give us peace – a peace that surpasses all understanding. We thank You, because with You, we have everything we need. The battle seems tough, but Lord we know YOU are greater. Lead us, guide us, and steady us on the path. We ask all these things in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

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Written by Greg Laurie, a contemporary American pastor and founder of Harvest Ministries.

Many people today who are searching for happiness will never quite find it. That’s because they’re searching for it in the wrong way. We learn from the Bible that happiness is a by-product of holiness. And when we get our priorities in order, happiness will soon follow. That is why nonbelievers never will know true happiness. They keep going after the devil’s cheap counterfeits; they have no deep well from which to draw. In Psalm 119, we find God’s original design for finding and maintaining holiness…And as a result, we will discover happiness. From the very beginning of our lives, we learn the importance of walking. It’s interesting how little children immediately start moving in that direction. But they don’t quit after they take their first steps. They keep trying. We grow as Christians in the same way. When we commit our lives to Christ, we begin to walk in the way of the Lord. And if we fall, we need to get up and keep trying. Walking speaks of progression, of moving forward as opposed to simply standing still. And if we want to be truly happy and holy people, then we should not only avoid what is wrong but also actively engage in what is right. People who are merely trying to avoid evil are missing the point. It is not merely a matter of what we don’t do. It’s also a matter of what we do. We must engage in spiritual growth and in godly living. We must walk in the way of the Lord.

Prayer:

Written by Lysa Terkeurst, a contemporary American author.

  Lord, may nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today so each step will lead me closer to You. Help me walk by the Word and not my feelings. Help me to keep my heart pure and undivided. Protect me from my own careless thoughts, words, and actions. And keep me from being distracted by MY wants, MY desires, MY thoughts on how things should be. Help me to embrace what comes my way as an opportunity… rather than a personal inconvenience. I consciously tuck Your whisper of absolute love for me into the deepest part of my heart. I recognize Your love for me is not based on my performance. You love me warts and all. That’s amazing. But what’s most amazing is that the Savior of the world would desire a few minutes with me this morning. Lord, help me to forever remember what a gift it is to sit with You like this. Amen.

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Written by Thomas a Kempis (1418-1427), a German-Dutch canon and author. This is an excerpt from his book “The Imitation of Christ.”

To what have we come, Lord? Behold, we bewail a temporal loss. We labor and fret for small gain, while loss of the soul is forgotten and scarcely ever returns to mind. That which is of little or no value claims our attention, whereas that which is of highest necessity is neglected—all because man gives himself wholly to outward things. And unless he withdraws himself quickly, he willingly lies immersed in externals.

Prayer:

Written by Paige Deane, a contemporary author.

 Lord, you are so good to me. I don’t deserve your love and grace but I am so thankful for it. Your ways are higher than my ways and your thoughts are higher than my thoughts. Please help me submit fully to your lordship in my life. Give me the strength to resist the desires of my flesh. Help me to deny myself, and relinquish all that I have, and all that I am for you. Destroy my attachment to this world so that I can fully rely on you in every situation. I want to develop a strong relationship with you and to be your disciple. Help me to continue to pursue this goal every day, and to help others do the same. I give my entire self over to you Lord. Amen.

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Written by Chris Webb, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “God Soaked Life.”

During one of the persecutions that afflicted the early church, the prefect of Rome arrested a young deacon called Lawrence. The prefect knew that one of Lawrence’s responsibilities was the care of his congregation’s property, and he demanded that Lawrence arrange to hand over all the wealth of church. Lawrence asked for three days to comply, time that he used to prepare for his next meeting with the authorities. After the three days had passed Lawrence came into the prefect’s presence surrounded by beggars and paupers: the lame and blind, the maimed and outcast, the widows and orphans gathered up from the backstreets of Rome. Lawrence waved his hand grandly over the pathetic crowd. “Here they are!” he announced. “Our pride, our glory, our treasure. I offer them to you. Behold, prefect: here is the wealth of the church!”

Prayer:

Written by David Platt, a contemporary pastor and author.

So God, we need your help today. Help us to live in absolute surrender to you for what you say is most important. Not for what this world says is most important. Help us. Help us to live differently, to think differently, to desire differently according to your word, not according to the ways of this world. We need your help. In every way today, in my life, and in the lives of those who are listening. Help us to believe that many who are first will be last and the last first and to live accordingly. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Written by Pete Grieg, a contemporary pastor and author.

Learning to hear God’s voice—his word and his whisper—is the single most important thing you will ever learn to do. I’m not exaggerating. Hearing God is not peripheral; it is integral to human history. Neither is it an optional extra for wild-eyed mystics and those who happen to be spiritually inclined. Hearing God is essential to the very purpose for which you and I were made. Without it everything falls apart. But when we learn to love God’s Word—to listen and obey—everything aligns.

Prayer:

Written by Ken Boa, a contemporary teacher, writer,  speaker, and President of Reflections Ministries.

Lord, teach me the wisdom of taking the time and care to listen to Your voice and seek Your wisdom and will for me. May I pause to hear what You want to tell me, and may I regularly make room for this to happen in my life. When I am busy and driven, I cannot hear what You want to tell me, and I crowd You out as I rush from one thing to the next. Instead, I ask for the grace to expose myself to Your Word and listen to its life-giving counsel. I also ask for a greater capacity to give attention to the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit as He counsels, comforts, exhorts, convicts, encourages, and inspires me. May I additionally listen to the collective wisdom and insight that is available through the communion of saints, so that I will not endeavor to live the spiritual life on my own without these rich resources that You have given to me. Amen.

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Written by Ken Sande, a contemporary author and founder of Peacemaker Ministries.  This is an excerpt from his book “The Peacemaker.”

It is important to realize that if you do not glorify God when you are involved in a conflict, you will inevitably glorify someone or something else. By your actions, you show either that you have a big God or that you have a big self and big problems. To put it another way, if you do not focus on God, you will inevitably focus on yourself and your will, or on other people and the threat of their will.  One of the best ways to keep your focus on the Lord is to continually ask yourself these questions: How can I please and honor God in this situation? In particular, how can I bring praise to Jesus by showing that he has saved me and is changing me? Seeking to please and honor God is a powerful compass for life, especially when we are faced with difficult challenges…When displaying the riches of God’s love and pleasing him is more important than holding onto worldy things and pleasing yourself, it becomes increasingly natural to respond to conflict graciously, wisely, and with self control. This approach brings glory to God and sets the stage for effective peacemaking. 

Prayer:

Written by John Birch, a contemporary writer and poet  from the United Kingdom, who has written several books of prayers and studies Celtic prayer. He created the Faith and Worship website to provide prayer resources for worship.

Lord of heaven and earth,

of all nations and peoples,

all faiths and no faith,

reveal yourself

to those who are suffering,

reveal yourself

to all who are refugees,

reveal yourself

to those who are powerful,

reveal yourself

to all who are powerless,

reveal yourself

to ordinary people

in their everyday lives,

that this world

might reflect your love

and your glory. Amen.

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Written by Marilyn Brown Oden, a contemporary author.  This is an excerpt from her book “Abundance: Joyful Living in Christ.”

Our journey toward abundant living is like walking a spiritual labyrinth repeatedly, from an ever deepening inner space. We walk toward the center to be transformed by God’s love; then we walk outward to transform our small space in the world by reflecting God’s love. There is no intention to trick us or get us lost along the journey. But there is mystery. Always mystery. And awe. And amazing grace.

Prayer:

Written by Richard John Neuhaus (1936-2009), a Christian cleric and writer.

Liberate us, we pray you, Lord, from the getting and grasping to which we are prone. Teach us the royal way of the law of the gift, that in giving not only things but ourselves we may know even now the life abundant you promise to bring to perfection in eternal life with you. Increase in us gratitude for your gift of yourself, and let that gift of gratitude inspire us to the greatness of living our lives as love in in response to love.

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Written by E. Glenn Hinson, a contemporary professor of Spirituality and author.  This is an excerpt from his book “Spiritual Preparation for Christian Leadership.”

 God’s power, love power, works in any human vulnerability. That perspective is one that many in our age and culture have difficulty understanding. We know a lot about power. Some say that our culture is obsessed with power. We want more power to run bigger electric generators so we can have more comforts and conveniences or more power to put up bigger payloads into space to terrify our enemies so they will not dare to threaten us. But our power logic, Paul would point out, is not God’s power logic. Our power logic runs, “The weak are weak. The strong are strong. In weakness is weakness. In strength is strength.” God’s power logic runs, “In your human weakness you may find my power.”

Prayer:

Written by Charles Stanley (1932-2023), an American  pastor, author, and speaker.

Thank You for encouraging me and comforting me, Father. Thank You for forgiving my sins and teaching me to walk in Your truth. Thank You that nothing is impossible for You. Thank You for the precious promises You bring to mind and Your presence, Your power, Your compassion, and Your loving-kindness toward me. I will put all my hope in You.

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