Sunday, Sept. 4

September 4, 2022September 1, 2022 ~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to the daily prayer guide for the month of September! Today is Sunday, Sept. 4.

Today being Sunday, we will deviate from our pattern. Focus today on worshiping with others! If you engage earnestly in worship, you will experience all the elements of prayer we have explored so far.

By the way, engage with worship early. Start preparing yourself to encounter God in worship as you leave the house. Approach the place of worship prayerfully and joyfully, rejoicing in the sight of your fellow believers. And as you worship, remember throughout who your audience is:

God.

Saturday, Sept. 3

September 3, 2022September 1, 2022 ~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to the daily prayer guide for the month of September! Today is Saturday, Sept. 3. If you need an explanation about how to use this guide, see the first post.

Morning

For people with traditional work schedules, Saturday’s schedule can be gobbled up by recreation as quickly as the weekdays can be consumed with work. But we still want to begin our day centered! This morning, ask yourself how you can recognize God’s presence in the midst of all you do, be it work or play. See if you’re comfortable praying words along these lines:

“Lord, I invite you to keep me aware of you all day, wherever I may be. I know you are everywhere. Help me to sense this truth. Amen.” Let’s also remember to praise God for who He is. He made us. He saves us from sin. He dwells among us now as the Holy Spirit.

Take a moment to lift up the names of all around you who are tired, anxious, sick or lonely. Ask God to be with them; listen intently whether God is telling you to adjust your schedule to spend some time with them.

Take time to read the following Scriptures in your preferred translation: Deuteronomy 29:2-20; Matthew 10:34-42. Slow down enough to meditate on each one. Read what comes before and after if more context is necessary.

Pray these words out loud: “Lord, I surrender this day to you. Let my plans be your plans, let my encounters with others be holy, and may your kingdom grow just a little today because I am in this world. Amen.”

Give yourself a few minutes of silence before resuming your day.

Noon

Pray the Lord’s Prayer (See if someone might join you):

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Again, give yourself a few minutes of silence before resuming your day.

Night

As you review your day, pay attention to how closely you came to praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). By this, Paul meant being aware of God’s presence throughout the day.

I hope the meditative prayer time in the evening is becoming comfortable and rewarding. It’s a little like exercise; stick with it, and you will experience surprising growth. If the visualization aspect is proving difficult, simply focus on breathing and listening for the ever-present God.

And again, if you have questions or comments about the experience, it’s also okay to use the comments section of this page to start a conversation with others. May your dreams include visions of the kingdom to come.

Friday, Sept. 2

September 2, 2022September 1, 2022 ~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to the daily prayer guide for the month of September! Today is Friday, Sept. 2. If you need an explanation about how to use this guide, see yesterday’s post.

Morning

Let your early thoughts in the day connect you to God. This morning, think about how God first delivered to you the message of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As you give thanks for the gift of salvation, consider how your experience might be beneficial to others.

Like yesterday, think about the people you know who may face a challenging day, and pray that God’s Spirit surrounds and supports them. You can continue to lift up this prayer throughout the day as other people continue to come to mind.

Take time to read the following Scriptures in your preferred translation: Psalm 1; Deuteronomy 7:12-26. Slow down enough to meditate on each one. Read what comes before and after if more context is necessary.

Give yourself a few minutes of silence before resuming your day.

Noon

Pray the Lord’s Prayer:

Again, give yourself a few minutes of silence before resuming your day.

Night

Begin by making a brief mental review of your day. When were you walking with God? When were you walking on your own? This isn’t a time to beat yourself up. It’s simply spiritually healthy to assess how you’re doing in relation to what God wants from you.

If you started this prayer series yesterday, you may have found the meditative prayer time challenging. That’s okay; this is an important time of spiritual growth. If this is your first attempt, take some time to read “Life and Breath” and “Under Water.”

If you have questions or comments about the experience, it’s also okay to use the comments section of this page to start a conversation with others. And again, sleep well.

Thursday, Sept. 1

September 1, 2022February 24, 2025 ~ Chuck Griffin ~ 5 Comments

Welcome to the daily prayer guide for the month of September! Today is Thursday, Sept. 1.

As this is the first posting, a quick explanation is in order. This guide is designed to lead you through three prayer opportunities during the day. Ideally, at each opportunity you will find a quiet place to spend some time with God. Some of the prayer activities will appear repeatedly throughout the month so you can grow in your understanding. The pattern is Morning, Noon and Night. It’s up to you to find the time that works best for you in each of these parts of the day. Even “Noon” doesn’t have to be precisely at noon, but simply somewhere in the middle part of the day.

Those of you who use computer calendars might want to set reminders on them for each prayer moment. That would be diligent planning, but at the same time, if a crisis or some other event interferes with your prayer time, simply get back on track at the next opportunity. God is always there for you.

Morning

Let your early thoughts in the day connect you to God. Give thanks for how God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Consider the people you know who may face a challenging day, and pray that God’s Spirit surrounds and supports them. (You can continue to lift up this prayer throughout the day as other people continue to come to mind.)

Take time to read the following Scriptures in your preferred translation: Psalm 139; Philippians 2:25-30. Slow down enough to meditate on each one. Read what comes before and after if more context is necessary.

Give yourself a few minutes of silence before resuming your day.

Noon

Pray the Lord’s Prayer:

Again, give yourself a few minutes of silence before resuming your day.

Night

The remainder of the evening prayer time is more of a meditative experience. To better understand what is being recommended, take some time to read “Life and Breath” and “Under Water.” Perhaps you will be seeking peace, forgiveness or healing of some sort. Know that God meets you in these moments, and that grace is always available to you.

Sleep well.

Are We?

May 20, 2022May 18, 2022 ~ John Grimm ~ 1 Comment

Proverbs 2:6-8 (NRSV)

By John Grimm

The Lord gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. These gifts are for the upright, those who walk blamelessly, his faithful ones. Are we upright, walking blamelessly and faithfully?

We know we need wisdom, knowledge and understanding. In the days ahead for the people called Methodist, we get to reach into God’s stores for these gifts. In the days behind us, we might not have used these gifts exclusively. It is possible to admit that we were not upright, blameless or faithful. Our past performance does not have to dictate our future production, though.

God is guiding us through these days. We rely on him for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Because God’s ways are higher than our ways, the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that we use will confound those who oppose his faithful ones. Our desire is to be upright in how we speak with the other. Our desire is to be blameless in interacting with the other. Our desire is to be faithful when we see that others are not being faithful to God.

It is our hearts and our souls that benefit from God’s gifts. In living as upright, blameless, faithful ones, we will have pleasant motives such that the other will not be considered other to us. We will want all to pursue God’s gifts. Yet, we recognize that not all will. Still, we can be upright, blameless and faithful ones as we live in this world.

God, thank you for your wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Forgive us for not drawing upon them in the past. Renew us as we go to your stores for these much-needed gifts. May our paths be straight as we move through these turbulent days of the United Methodist Church. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

What’s in Your Cabinet?

September 23, 2021September 22, 2021 ~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

By Chuck Griffin

This Sunday’s worship at Holston View UMC in Weber City, Va., will be different, focusing specifically on healing. A formal Service of Healing, including communion and anointing with oil, seems appropriate as we continue to make our way through a pandemic that is impacting the world in so many ways. Of course, we have to acknowledge that because of the pandemic, many people will not be comfortable attending in person. The service will be viewable online.

If you would like someone’s name placed on the prayer rail during the service, simply email me, and I will make sure that happens.

Today’s Preparatory Bible Passage

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6)

Cake and ice cream. Shoes and socks. Salt and pepper. Wife and husband. Sticks and stones, and their modern cousins, bats and balls. Or to quote Forrest Gump, “Jenny and me was like peas and carrots.”

There are many things in the world that can function alone, but that work better in conjunction with something else.

Let’s add this to the list: medicine and faith.

If we are to seek healing, we need to understand both are gifts from God. God pours his love into the world, and through faith some are reunited with the source of eternal life. God pours his knowledge and wisdom into the world, and some are so mentally blessed by the gift that from generation to generation, humans are better able to alleviate suffering.

A friend recently told me about a grandmother who kept her medicine cabinet stocked, but who also kept an empty bottle there labeled “Faith.” It was her reminder to get a dose of everything she needed to be well.

People of the Bible had little in the way of medicine and relied heavily on faith. We have so much in the way of medical care that we sometimes treat faith as an afterthought. Does this conversation sound familiar?

Friend: “I’m so sorry you’re suffering. What can I do for you?”

Suffering person: “Well, not much, really. Just pray for me.”

In this hurting world, we Christians should prayerfully pursue healing with the same kind of determination that dedicated doctors, nurses and researchers employ in their daily lives. Where healing is concerned, we all have God-given roles, and those roles work together for the betterment of those around us.

Lord, may we see an outbreak of healing, the kind of events that declare your kingdom is present. Amen.

Finish with Flourish

October 13, 2020October 12, 2020 ~ Chuck Griffin ~ Leave a comment

By Chuck Griffin
LifeTalk Editor

Philippians 3:13-14:1 (NLT)

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

Yesterday’s devotional focused on the big ending, the “last days,” the end of time—and those who don’t live as if it is coming. Today’s Bible passage invites us to think about our own personal finish.

Paul’s message is aimed squarely at those who already have accepted Christ and are (or should be) seeking holy “perfection,” something Paul said he had not achieved himself. Salvation through Jesus Christ is given freely, but it’s evident in Paul’s writings and in other epistles that some Holy Spirit-inspired striving is to be a continuing part of the Christian life.

I think of the effort we make as the thank-you notes to God we write with our lives. The more we live and love as Jesus did, the nicer the notes become through the years.

And certainly, we don’t want to slip backward in our beliefs or behavior. What we understood early in our faith walk is just as true now: Jesus Christ is Lord. His teachings and the teachings that continued to flow through his early followers remain true, passed to us through Scripture.

We may grow spiritually, but we never grow out of following and espousing core Christian truths. They are the stones upon which we build, not clay to be molded into new shapes.

Even in Paul’s day, people in the church sometimes believed they had become so worldly wise over the years that they could move beyond the basic idea that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and that as our savior he has certain expectations for our lives.

Sadly, they had actually fallen from their early, supernaturally inspired faith, posing a danger to newer Christians around them.

Finish well. Others are watching. And never forget, the finish line is the beginning of a greater experience.

Lord, may we always trust in the Christian truths first revealed to us, and may we never reach an age where we say, “I am done growing in Christ.” Amen.