When you read the gospels, you see fairly quickly how Jesus steeps his life and ministry in prayer. We find that he continues to break away from the crowds, break away from the teaching and healing to spend time apart with God.

There is no doubt that prayer is a source of renewal, and strength, and hope.

But I also realize that sometimes prayer doesn’t come easy for us. Maybe there are seasons for us when we find we don’t have the words. Or we struggle to know what to say or struggle to know if we’re praying the right thing.  Even Jesus’ disciples struggled. 

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 11 (1-4), they ask Jesus, Lord teach us to pray.

Jesus responded, when you pray, say:  Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial…

Very simple. Very direct. The gospel of Matthew gives us a little expanded version. And the early Church shaped this into the Lord’s prayer that Christians all over the world still say today.

Many of us still pray this prayer in the old English Version.  Of course, it wasn’t written that way, but we hold on to the tradition because tradition can become a resource for us – especially during difficult times. It’s familiar and comforting. It’s there in our hearts.

In fact, many years ago, we had two foster children ages 4 and 6, come and stay with our family for several months. You can imagine the trauma of being removed from your home and mother at that age. I remember clearly, on the first night with us, I could hear them in their bedroom praying this prayer, the Lord’s prayer.  

Somewhere along the way, someone had taught them this prayer. It became a huge resource, a lifeline, for them. Just as it is for us.

Today, I invite you to say this prayer with me. 

Let us pray: 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin 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.

Once, when John the Baptist was in jail, he asked his followers to go and find Jesus and to ask him, “Are you the one we were expecting, or should we look for someone else?” Remember John was a man of deep faith. And yet, even he has a moment of doubt. Even he had questions. 

It’s interesting, I’ve actually heard other Christians say that there is no room for doubt in faith.  I once went to a Bible study where I asked a pressing question and I was made to feel like I was in danger of the fires of hell, simply because I asked the question. I was told that if I would just go get my relationship with Jesus straight, then I wouldn’t have the questions in the first place.

But if that’s true, why is it that some of the people who have the deepest faith are some of the same people who have also wrestled intensely with doubt? Why is it that doubt and pressing questions are found all throughout our scripture? 

Albert Einstein once said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity. “

Let us pray: Thank you, God, for your awesome love for us. Thank you for coming to us, even when we doubt, even when we struggle, even when we are not sure what to believe.  We come before you in all humility this day, realizing that we are flesh and blood. We don’t have all the answers, we don’t know all there is to know. But, we simply ask that you would keep us open to moments of mystery and holiness. Keep us open to you. Amen.

Over the past couple of days we’ve been reflecting on Psalm 98: Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth! Break forth into songs and sing praises!

Sometime back I heard the Benedictine monk, David Steindl-Rast speak in an interview. And I went back to listen to his TED Talk, “Want to be Happy? Be Grateful.” You don’t usually think about a monk giving TED talks, but his talk has had more than 9 million views.  It’s powerful.

In any case, he says while we can’t be grateful for all things, we can be grateful through all things. And he spoke about the word “spirituality,” which comes from the Latin, “spiritus”, meaning “life,” “breath,” “aliveness.” He said that spirituality is aliveness on all levels. It has to start with our bodily aliveness – being alert and aware of all that is around us.  He continued: 

“… of course, when we say ‘spirituality,’ we also mean aliveness to our relationships with others, aliveness to our confrontation with that great divine mystery with which we are confronted as human beings, and which we can look away from, or forget, or be dead to. We come alive to it. And all this coming alive — that is spirituality. And what science has discovered is that when people are grateful, they come alive.” 

It really is no wonder the community of faith held on to this ancient song. It’s really no wonder that it became so valuable as to find its way into the heart of our scriptures, to be sung and prayed and chanted for thousands of years. And sung, and prayed and chanted, not only in times when things were going well but also and even through the dark passages of history. 

We praise you, O God, for we know that you hold us close, even when we don’t feel it.  We remember how you have carried us through in past times, how you have walked with us through the wilderness and carried us through the desert. You are a God of salvation, a God who saves. Hear us as we make a joyful noise to you along with all creation. Hear us as we break forth into joyous songs of praise. 

May it be so. Amen.

Psalm 98 declares: Sing to the Lord a new song! Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth! Break forth into songs and sing praises!

There are times in our lives when our hearts naturally burst with praise… at the birth of a child, or perhaps at your own wedding. Or maybe you’ve felt this at a time when you’ve seen or experienced an act of bravery or kindness during a moment of great need. These moments can be so touching, so moving that our hearts overflow.

At other moments we may feel it simply by experiencing the beauty of creation; maybe while watching a sunset after a storm, when the sky opens in color in all of its glory. Or, it could happen while coming around the corner of a mountain road only to catch a breathtaking glimpse of majestic snow-covered peaks; or perhaps while standing beside a waterfall so powerful that the ground shakes beneath you. 

In moments like these, our hearts want to break forth in songs of praise!

At the same time, I’m also reminded that there are other times when praise does not come so naturally. 

I think about the times in life when we get so busy – even frantic. We get hyper-focused on the to-do list, and we become weighted down with task after task. Or, we get sucked into our phones and find ourselves doom-scrolling; or playing the comparison game on social media. How do they have it so good? Why can’t we go on vacations like them? Why can’t I look like that? 

It is often in the midst of these times that our eyes are blinded – or we simply fail to stop and notice the beauty and the blessings on every side.

Today I pray that you would indeed take the time to pause. Reflect for just a few moments on the gifts that surround you – gifts you never could have earned. Notice the splendor and the beauty of creation, and the love and grace that encompass you. And allow your heart to sing in response. 

Let us pray: We praise you O God, for you are found even in the mundane details of life. We praise you for you for the gifts of friendship and love, and for the way in which you walk with us through the ups and downs of life. Open our eyes and our ears and our hearts that we would ever be attuned to your grace, and respond with all our souls. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

There is a strange sentence in one of the Psalms: “I will keep a muzzle on my mouth” (Psalm 39:1). These are the words of a man sorely tempted to spread gloom and despair and discouragement. Yet he held himself in check, knowing there was enough pessimism around, that he should rally the courage of those who felt down and out. That’s good advice. The world is longing for words of assurance and encouragement. When will we ever learn? People don’t want to be put down; they are crying out to be lifted up. The choice is ours; we can encourage, or we can discourage. 

Isn’t it sad that many people think they are divinely ordained to point out all the bad things, show us all the problems, underscore all the negative? Isn’t it tragic that some choose to be gloom spreaders rather than uplifters? It is so much more fun to lift people up than to tear them down. Each one of us has the power to make others feel better or worse. And, making others feel better, generally makes us feel better. 

One of the great personalities of the early church was Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” He was an encourager. He put flesh on the verse, “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other” (1Thessalonians 5:11). Simply put, we need to be people who listen, who care, who affirm, who help and support one another. The choice is ours. We can encourage or discourage. 

Let us pray: God of love, forgive us for marching to the beat of drummers other than you. May we resolve today to get our lives back with your plan and purposes. Transform our gloom, despair, discouragement, and negative/mean spirit into positive encouragement and affirmation. Remind us to gossip the Gospel of good news and joy and hope because of Jesus Christ. Now may God surprise you with grace in at least three or four places where you never thought to look for it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.