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Written by Whitney Hopler, a contemporary author and editor.

I used to follow a long and complicated routine for my devotional time with God each morning. By incorporating various prayer and meditation methods I’d learned about into that routine, I was trying to maximize my spiritual growth. One day, however, I had to cast my entire routine aside to get to an early morning work appointment. All I had time to do was talk to God from my heart as I drove to the appointment. My prayers poured out naturally, even though I didn’t use a single method to express them. Then, a few minutes before arriving at my appointment, I stopped talking, asked God to speak, and just listened. God’s love flowed into my heart, and God’s guidance flowed into my mind – right there in the car. The wonder of experiencing pure, unforced communication with God filled me with joy. So, the next morning, I let go of all my formulaic prayer and meditation methods and enjoyed communicating with God naturally. It was refreshing to realize I didn’t need to pray or meditate in specific ways for my communication to count with God. I discovered I could notice God’s presence with me more by just communicating naturally. God will meet us wherever we are when we communicate with him…God places no limitations on our conversations with him. So, we can pray in all sorts of ways. Prayer is simply talking with God, while meditation is listening to God. If we’re focusing our energy on communicating with God, that counts as valid prayer and meditation… Communicating with God is an opportunity, not an obligation.

Prayer:

The author of today’s prayer is unknown.

Dear Lord help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that You and I together can’t handle. Amen.

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Written by William Kynes, a contemporary pastor and theology professor.

Why would a good God allow so much suffering? T his is a question we all ask at some point in our lives. I believe it’s the chief obstacle to faith. We all suffer. Our bodies are frail, they will fail us, and we will die. And until we do, we all hover over a pit of tragedy, every single day. A mass shooting kills dozens. A drunk driver kills a whole family. A sudden tornado destroys a whole town. An earthquake rocks a nation. What sort of world is this? The case against God can be very strong indeed. In philosophical terms, it can be stated like this: Premise one: A God who is all-powerful would be able to prevent evil in the world. Premise two: A God who is all-good would want to prevent evil in the world. Three: Evil exists in the world. This results in a logical conclusion: Therefore, an all-powerful, all-good God cannot exist. That seems a pretty airtight syllogism, doesn’t it? How do you respond to such a thing? … As Os Guinness observed, the biblical response to this challenge to faith is not to minimize the premises underlying the apparent contraction that this argument poses, but to reinforce them while also seeing how the Bible provides reassurances. The Bible declares that evil is far worse than we realize. Evil is an invader, a parasite, a rot. It’s a malignant cancer that has spread, a rupture in the cosmic order. Evil is so real that it has a personal focus — a focus in the one Jesus called the Devil — the one who stands opposed to the purposes of God and all that is good, true, and beautiful. The good material world God created has been corrupted. The root of evil in this world is not material, it is moral. It is found in rebellion against God’s good rule. And from the beginning of humanity we have all participated in that rebellion and evil is embodied in our own hearts. At the same time, the Bible affirms that God is far more loving than we could ever hope. Though God could rightly do away with us all, in His love and mercy, He seeks us out to save us from the evil in this world and from the evil in ourselves. And in the gospel we see that God shares in our suffering even as He acts to bring victory over evil. The cross and resurrection of Jesus become God’s own response to evil in this world. God works in mysterious ways to work out His good purpose, but there is one thing He wants us to understand clearly. The struggle with evil and suffering in this fallen world is only temporary. For God has already won the decisive battle in this war, and His ultimate and complete victory is absolutely certain. And if the cross of Jesus Christ shows us that our God shares in our suffering, then the resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrates that God’s triumph over evil is assured. Though we can never give a full explanation of evil in this world, we do have God’s response to it. The Bible reveals a God Who is worthy of our trust even in the midst of our pain.

Prayer:

Written by Emily Massey, a contemporary author.

Father, please help us find your mercy and goodness when trials and the storms of life come our way. If we are prone to grumble and complain, may the Holy Spirit convict our hearts and remind us to be thankful for your promise of eternity because of the cross. May we look for opportunities to comfort those around us who are suffering as well, so we can help hold each other up. We live in a fallen world, and although we cannot escape suffering, we know that heaven is our home and that the crown of life awaits those who stand firm in the faith, trusting that you have overcome the world and there is no reason to fear. We give you praise and thanksgiving that you will never leave us alone to walk through suffering alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Written by Tim Keller (1950 – 2023), an American pastor, theologian, author, and Christian apologist.    This is an excerpt from his book “The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism.”

Even as believers should learn to look for reasons behind their faith, skeptics must learn to look for a type of faith hidden within their reasoning.  All doubts, however skeptical and cynical they may seem, are really a set of alternative beliefs. You cannot doubt Belief A except from a position of faith in Belief B. For example, you can doubt Christianity because “There can’t be just one true religion,” you must recognize that this statement is itself an act of faith. No one can prove it empirically, and it is not a universal truth that everyone accepts. If you went to the Middle East and said, “There can’t be just one true religion,” nearly everyone would say, “Why not?” The reason you doubt Christianity’s Belief A is because you hold unprovable Belief B. Every doubt, therefore, is based on a leap of faith…You must doubt your doubts. My thesis is that if you come to recognize the beliefs on which your doubts about Christianity are based, and if you seek as much proof for those beliefs as you seek from Christians for theirs—you will discover that your doubts are not as solid as they first appeared.

Prayer:

Written by Jordan Sok, a contemporary author.

Lord, I believe in you. I believe you are good. I believe that I am secure in you – that I am hidden in you and no real harm can come to me with you as my rock and my salvation. I believe that you see me and you love me – that I am treasured in your sight. Help my unbelief. Help that head knowledge become heart knowledge- so that my actions reflect those truths and not the lies the enemy throws at me.

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Written by Tim Keller (1950 – 2023), American pastor, theologian, author, and Christian apologist.    This is an excerpt from his book “The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism.”

A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person’s faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection. Believers should acknowledge and wrestle with doubts—not only their own but their friends’ and neighbors’. It is no longer sufficient to hold beliefs just because you inherited them. Only if you struggle long and hard with objections to your faith will you be able to provide grounds for your beliefs to skeptics, including yourself, that are plausible rather than ridiculous or offensive. And, just as important for our current situation, such a process will lead you, even after you come to a position of strong faith, to respect and understand those who doubt.

Prayer:

Written by Kathryn Shirey, a contemporary writer.

O Lord, Father Almighty, I pray for help to strengthen my faith in you. I believe, but I don’t always believe in your power and might. I don’t always believe that in you all things are possible. I don’t always place my trust in you, instead trying to fix everything on my own. I don’t always turn to you first, instead turning to the world for answers and help. I have doubts about your role in the world today. I struggle to relate the scriptures to my own life. Lord, I believe, but help with my unbelief! Help my head and my heart and my soul to believe in you and trust in you fully, without a doubt, knowing that in you all things are possible. Lord, strengthen my faith! Amen.

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Written by Lauren Abraham, a contemporary student at Grand Canyon University.

What comes to your mind when you think of Independence Day? For many Americans, the Fourth of July serves as a day to watch fireworks, barbeque and have a good time with friends and family. While there is nothing wrong with having these traditions, it is important to remember the reason behind why we celebrate this holiday. Samuel Adams, the father of the American Revolution, was bold in proclaiming his faith. To him, signing the Declaration of Independence meant no longer submitting to Great Britain, but rather, submitting to the Lord. As a result, America would be free from the power of man and able to serve Christ. What a significant day in history! It is important to remember what our duties are as Christians. We are called to serve Christ and Christ alone, and it is such a blessing that we can live in a country where we have the freedom to do so. Oftentimes, the enemy will use distractions to keep us from fulfilling our duties as Christians. Being distracted by all that happens on the Fourth of July can cause us to lose sight of the true meaning of the holiday. This is dangerous, as it can ultimately cause us to stray away from Christ. So, why is it important to acknowledge the significance of Independence Day, and how can we do so in today’s world? American liberty is a blessing from God. Because of our freedom, we can express our faith and boldly share it with others. It is important to recognize that in many other parts of the world, this is not the case. The cost of following Christ is much greater for our brothers and sisters across the globe. With this in mind, I encourage you to not lose sight of why we celebrate Independence Day. Take time to reflect on the ways God has blessed you in your life and make it a goal to not take the freedom we have for granted. As you spend this day with family and friends, I encourage you to celebrate the blessing of freedom that was given to us by Christ.

Prayer:

Today’s prayer was offered as the Congressional Prayer by House Chaplain, Rev. Edward Latch (1901-1993) in 1974.

Eternal God, stir Thou our minds and stimulate our hearts with a high sense of patriotism as we approach the Fourth of July. May all that this day symbolizes renew our faith in freedom, our devotion to democracy, and redouble our efforts to keep a government of the people, by the people, and for the people truly alive in our world. Grant that we may highly resolve on this great day to dedicate ourselves anew to the task of ushering in an era when good will shall live in the hearts of a free people, justice shall be the light to guide their feet, and peace shall be the goal of humankind: to the glory of Thy holy name and the good of our Nation and of all mankind. Amen.

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Written by Richard Rohr, a contemporary author.  This is an excerpt from his book “Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life.”

I believe that God gives us our soul, our deepest identity, our True Self, our unique blueprint, at our own “immaculate conception.” Our unique little bit of heaven is installed by the Manufacturer within the product, at the beginning! We are given a span of years to discover it, to choose it, and to live our own destiny to the full. If we do not, our True Self will never be offered again, in our own unique form … Our soul’s discovery is utterly crucial, momentous, and of pressing importance for each of us and for the world. We do not “make” or “create” our souls; we just “grow” them up. We are the clumsy stewards of our own souls. We are charged to awaken, and much of the work of spirituality is learning how to stay out of the way of this rather natural growing and awakening. We need to unlearn a lot, it seems, to get back to that foundational life that  is “hidden in God.” Yes, transformation is often more about unlearning than learning, which is why the religious traditions call it “conversion” or “repentance”…All we can give back, and all God wants from any of us is to humbly and proudly return the product that we have been given—which is ourselves…This finished product is more valuable to God than it seemingly is to us…Holding our inner blueprint, which is a good description of our soul, and returning it humbly to the world and to God by love and service is indeed of ultimate concern…We are here to give back fully and freely what was first given to us—but now writ personally—by us!

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.

Lord, listen

kindle our souls by your Spirit,

that being filled with your divine gifts,

we may shine like blazing lamps

in the presence of your Son Christ at his coming; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Written by Wayne Muller, a contemporary writer. This is an excerpt from his book “Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives.”

We meet dozens of people, have so many conversations. We do not feel how much energy we spend on each activity, because we imagine we will always have more energy at our disposal. This one little conversation, this one extra phone call, this one quick meeting, what can it cost? But it does cost, it drains yet another drop of our life. Then, at the end of days, weeks, months, years, we collapse, we burn out, and cannot see where it happened. It happened in a thousand unconscious events, tasks, and responsibilities that seemed easy and harmless on the surface but that each, one after the other, used a small portion of our precious life. And so we are given a commandment: Remember the Sabbath. Rest is an essential enzyme of life, as necessary as air. Without rest, we cannot sustain the energy needed to have life. We refuse to rest at our peril—and yet in a world where overwork is seen as a professional virtue, many of us feel we can legitimately be stopped only by physical illness or collapse…If we do not allow for a rhythm of rest in our overly busy lives, illness becomes our Sabbath.

Prayer:

Today’s prayer is from the website of Christ Church London.

God of rest,
Today I make the active choice
To enter into your rest,
And to join with you
In delighting in this good world you have made,
And dreaming of the perfect world you will remake.

I choose to tune out,
Of demands and deadlines,
Of performance pressures,
Of flickering screens,
Of that which robs my soul of joy,
And the ways in which the world
Seeks to define and shape my identity.

I choose to tune in,
To your affirmation and love,
To the celebration of freedom,
To worship and your word,
To the enjoyment of that which fills my soul with joy,
And reminds me of my identity in Christ,
As a deeply loved child of God.  Amen.

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Written by Sheila Schweiger-Rhodes, a contemporary writer.

When I first began driving, I was terrified that, while checking my blind spot, that I would run into something else. The thought of turning around while your car is going forward was overwhelming. Nevertheless, after months of driving, I became more comfortable with checking my blind spot. I realized that not checking it was even more overwhelming because of the danger of having an accident and hurting others. As human beings, we all have areas in our lives which are weaknesses. There are areas in our lives we know from our own personal experience that we need to keep checking so we don’t crash…Spiritual blind spots make you look in the mirror and exactly what is going on around you. The good news is that we have the Holy Spirit who lives within us to help us expose those blind spots. The Bible talks about spiritual blindness and how it affects our souls and those around us. None of us are perfect. If we believe we are perfect, we are lying to ourselves. We are walking in spiritual darkness because the enemy has blinded us. But, Jesus chose to cleanse us from our sin and die for every imperfection, including our blind spots…If we live in God’s light, not only do we have fellowship with each other and are forgiven and have fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! This is why community is so important! It is vitally important to have God-fearing Christians around you who will be honest and love you enough to tell you what you can’t see for yourself…Blind spots are tough! You have to use caution and check them constantly. Don’t be afraid to ask someone you trust to help you when you feel like you are overwhelmed with it all. Sometimes, you need help in changing lanes to get you back on course with God.

Prayer:

Today’s prayer is the prayer David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

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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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