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He would be one of the last of his kind … but how could he have possibly known it?  God would give him a son after years and years of longing and praying … but who could have ever expected it?  He would become a supporting character in the greatest story ever told … praise be to God for sending his Son to redeem us.

You could say redemption was the “family business” for this man born in the town of Hebron.  Zechariah’s line could be traced back to Aaron (the brother of Moses) who was Israel’s first High Priest.  I love how Russ Ramsey, the author of Behold the Lamb of God: An Advent Narrative describes the priesthood…

There were men among the twelve tribes of Israel who must have possessed a mysterious aura in the imaginations of children – men who always smelled like smoke and iron and who were often spattered with blood.  When one of these men passed by on the street, the children stared as their parents explained that that man’s work was bloody because it was holy.  That man was a priest, and the scent of the blood he wore was the residue of the sacrifices he offered on behalf of the people.
(p.129)

The people of Israel only spoke the language of sacrifice when it came to the forgiveness of their sins.  The priest was an irreplaceable part of that process as God’s chosen intermediary between He and His people. The priest was the only one allowed to offer sacrifices to God, and Zechariah served God faithfully in that sacred role for a great many years.

At the time we meet Zechariah in the Advent narrative, he is about to perform the once-in-a-lifetime honor of burning incense to the Lord in temple in Jerusalem.  This is a BIG deal for a priest, but God had something BIGGER waiting for His servant Zechariah.  As he begins to burn the incense, scripture says a great crowd had gathered outside and was praying.  Into the stillness of the sacred ritual, an angel appears to the right of the incense altar and completely stuns Zechariah.

Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him.
Luke 1:12 (NLT)

There are several accounts of people being visited by angels in the Bible, and every single one of them communicates the same reaction … GRIPPING FEAR!  Zechariah no sooner catches his breath when the angel begins to speak,

But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer.
Luke 1:13 (NLT)

“Heard my prayer?!” I can imagine Zechariah saying.  “Which prayer?”  Verse 13 continues…

Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.

Okay, this is crazy!  As one who was raised in the priestly tradition, Zechariah was assuredly well versed in the stories of old.  There was precedent for miraculous blessings of children late in life, but who would ever expect it would actually happen to them?!

You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.
Luke 1:14-17 (NLT)

Okay, a still small voice announcing the blessing of having a son with a wife who is barren would be miraculous enough, but this is epic!  An angel of God appearing to announce a son that will be filled with the very Spirit of God even before birth, and who will prepare God’s chosen people for the coming Messiah and turn the hearts of the rebellious toward God?  This is a mile and half further down the road past “pinch me!”

Standing in such a moment, I cannot even begin to imagine the emotions and thoughts coursing through the heart and mind of Zechariah.  As we can, and probably have been quick to, judge the words of Thomas in requesting proof from the crucified and risen Savior, we can be equally so of the next words to come from this stunned soon-to-be father.

How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.
Luke 1:18 (NLT)

He has to be thinking that he wants to believe it, right?!  He knows the story of Abraham and Sarai, of Isaac and Rebekah.  “God can do it, I know he can,” but, oh the many miles of roads and bridges between the mind and heart of man; between the knowledge quotient of knowing and the struggle and suffering required to truly “know.”

Zechariah receives a consequence from God for his moment of unbelief.  His sentence is silence.  From that moment until a moment of God’s choosing after John’s birth, Zechariah will speak no words.  Resonant with the truth that sometimes what looks like punishment to us is actually God’s mercy, grace and love on full display, I believe this season of silence in Zechariah’s life cultivated great good.  This is a man who may have defined his life by his role to intercede for everyone else, to be God’s instrument of working out forgiveness in the lives of His people.  But there is One coming who will change that dynamic forever; One who Zechariah’s own son will prepare the hearts of God’s people to accept.  So, here’s an interesting thought … instead of Zechariah’s son following in his footsteps, he will announce the footsteps of the One who will be the final fulfillment of the priesthood.  His son announces the Son who will eventually put him out of a job.  Zechariah is a man in transition late in life, and God has just gifted the next nine months as a time dedicated to reflection and contemplation, stillness, rest and preparation.  I can only imagine the richness of that time between Zechariah and his God.

There is so much of the story that I’ll end up leaving untold.  Things like, how frustrating it must have been for Zechariah not to be able to tell his angel story to Elizabeth; Elizabeth’s time with Mary (I told that story last year); the story of his son’s birth; Zechariah’s miraculous and stirring prophecy over John when God finally loosed his tongue.   I’d encourage you to spend some time with the story as only scripture can tell it, and then a bit more time pondering all these things in your heart.

So what about you?  Is there a sincere desire of your heart which has gone unanswered by God?  Has your own “barrenness” or His silence caused you to give up hoping?  Have your prayers died somewhere along the countless miles of roads and bridges between the mind and heart of man?

The story of the Nativity is rich and profound.  It is a story of God’s redemption and the humanity we share with the baby born in Bethlehem.  It is a story of Jesus: the final High Priest, the last pure and spotless Lamb whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of all sins for all time, the King of Kings, God with us.

O come let us adore Him…

What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever received? You might remember a gift from childhood which was just the one you wanted. Your favorite gift may have special meaning because of the thoughtfulness or sacrifice of the person who gave it. We could all likely list a gift that was, shall I say, “a dud!” In just a few short days, gifts will be given and received as an expression of the deep love felt within our families.  With the subject of gifts in mind, I’d invite you to dive deep into the story I am about to share. As you reflect on the gift of sacrifice, tune your heart and ears to what it speaks of the nature of true and genuine gift giving. Then let it turn your attention to the greatest Gift the world has ever been given!

The year was 1952. The country of Korea was in the midst of a civil war. It was a cold Christmas Eve and a young woman was about to give birth … alone. Listen to the words of Bill Bright as he tells the story of a mother’s love, and the love of God.

“Help me! Please. My baby.” No one paid any attention to her. A middle-aged couple walked by. The wife pushed away the young mother and sneered, “Where’s the father? Where’s your American man now?” The couple laughed and went on. The young woman almost doubled up from a contraction as she watched them go. “Please . . .” she begged. 

She had heard of a missionary living nearby who might help her. Hurriedly, she began walking to that village. If only he would help her baby. Shivering and in pain, she struggled over the frozen countryside. But the night was so cold. Snow began to fall. Realizing that the time was near to deliver her baby, she took shelter under a bridge. There, alone, her baby was born on Christmas Eve.

Worried about her newborn son, she took off her own clothes, wrapped them around the baby and held him close in the warm circle of her arms.

The next day, the missionary braved the new snow to deliver Christmas packages. As he walked along, he heard the cry of a baby. He followed the sound to a bridge. Under it, he found a young mother frozen to death, still clutching her crying newborn son. The missionary tenderly lifted the baby out of her arms.

When the baby was 10 years old, his now adoptive father told him the story of his mother’s death on Christmas Eve. The young boy cried, realizing the sacrifice his mother had made for him.

The next morning, the missionary rose early to find the boy’s bed empty. Seeing a fresh set of small footprints in the snow outside, he bundled up warmly in a winter coat and followed the trail. It led back to the bridge where the young mother had died.

As the missionary approached the bridge, he stopped, stunned. Kneeling in the snow was his son, naked and shivering uncontrollably. His clothes lay beside him in a small pile. Moving closer, he heard the boy say through chattering teeth,

“Mother, were you this cold for me?”  

What indescribable love! Far greater, though, is the love that caused Jesus to leave his Father in heaven to be born in a stable and die on a cross for a sinful world. His mother had her own issues finding a place for His birth. As you know, there was no room in the inn (Luke 2:7). She gave birth to the Son of God in a stable! He came so that you and I could receive the gift of all gifts – eternal life in heaven. That’s what Christmas is all about! I pray the story of this young Korean mother’s love will help you reflect on the Savior’s eternal love! Indescribable!

I am sitting in stillness of the late evening, amid the glow of white Christmas lights.  I am “walking” through the full narrative of the Nativity.  I pause occasionally and take careful note of my surroundings.  The people, places and things in this sacred drama are so intentional and so unconventional … so unconventional.  Who among us would have chosen an unwed teenager to give birth to the Christ child?  Who would have scripted an 80-mile trip on foot (or the back of a pack mule) in the ninth month of pregnancy?  Who would have hung a once-in-the-course-of-human-history type star in the sky to act as GPS for a few chosen ones to use in finding the Chosen One?

When you sit a while with the story, you are left with nothing short of awe for the incredible narrative that God penned and put in motion to bring His only son into the world to make a way for His battered, bruised and broken creation.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
Luke 2:6-7 (NLT)

Jesus had arrived!  The miraculous plan had gone exactly as God authored it, and it was now time to announce it to the world.  Angels were cast in a leading role, but who had the Father chosen to be His earthbound hands, feet and voice in spreading the good news?  Someone intentional and highly unconventional … shepherds.

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Luke 2:8-14 (NLT)

To say that shepherds were near the bottom rung on the ancient societal ladder would be a bit of an understatement.  Shepherds spent the vast majority of their time in the countryside, leading their flocks from one pasture to the next.  They were isolated from mainstream society and were viewed as quite peculiar.  They were nobodies and no one took particular notice of them, except maybe their own flocks.  This was, however, not how God saw them.  In God’s economy, the least are greatest and the last will be first (Luke 9:48; Matthew 19:30).  In His divine wisdom and intention, God chose a small group of shepherds to be the ones who would take the good news of His son’s birth to the world.

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Luke 2:15-20 (NLT)

As I sit amid the glow and the silence of this late evening, I am overwhelmed by God’s intentional choice of the shepherds to be His hands, feet and voice in sharing the good news with the world.  Too many times the world acts like a kid in a schoolyard exercise of picking teams who chooses the shepherd (or you and I) last.  Have you ever been picked last?  God doesn’t choose like the kid in the schoolyard.  He doesn’t choose the tallest or the fastest, the strongest or the loudest.  He chooses people like you and me … and the shepherds.  We are His messengers — His hands, His feet, His voice.  He has called us to come and see and then go and tell.  “Don’t be afraid,” He says.

May we respond as the shepherds did that night.  May we not question being chosen and not hesitate in coming and seeing, then going and telling.

The baby in Bethlehem is the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 to go out and search for the one who is lost.  We praise and thank Him for pursuing us, and finding us, and making a way for us.  May we ponder these things in our hearts as we look with expectancy toward the celebration of that blessed baby’s birth.

Every year begins a new journey in our lives. A story is created that add to our narrative and eventually becomes part of our legacy. There are lofty peaks and deep valleys along the way, and they are all a part of the journey. In 2015, Journey onWord will be taking a look back in time and telling the story of some familiar and unfamiliar characters in Scripture. Our prayer for this new focus is that you’ll see your own story in theirs.  Here’s a bit of a preview of where we’re headed in 2015, even as you begin preparing for your own new story…

The Bible is a love story. It’s the story of a perfect and brilliant creation, a tragic sin and its fatal consequence, and God’s relentless, redemptive pursuit to bring that creation back into right relationship with Him again. It’s a story that involves both familiar and unfamiliar characters in equally epic and intimate moments. It’s a story with ancient events and themes that seem ripped from the headlines of our right now.

It is their story … and it is very much, our story.

We invite you to join us on a new journey; a journey which we believe has roots in our focus this year on the words of Jesus. It doesn’t take long in consuming His words, to see that story was Jesus’ favorite choice in teaching the truth of his Father and the here-and-now kingdom of God. The Master was a master storyteller.

In looking ahead, we are excited to challenge our walk and deepen our relationship with God by exploring the lives and stories of the men and women God chose to include in His love letter to the world. They were kings, queens, prophets, shepherds, spies, carpenters and harlots. They were orators, cheats, martyrs, thieves and weavers of fine linen. They accomplished great things and made epic mistakes. They were terribly flawed, yet God still chose them.

In short, their story is our story.

We will continue our commitment and practice of being in the Word daily. Each week, our daily reading plan will focus on the character we‘ve chosen for that week and the scripture that tells their story. Our bi-weekly posts will be our opportunity to dive deeper and explore the details and threads that connect their stories to ours.

As we move toward Christmas and quickly into the new year, consideration of our New Year’s resolutions is important. Begin to think now about the how you will study the Word and seek to grow in Christ in 2015. It will be quite a story, and we pray you’ll consider experiencing it with us.

When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead. They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality. But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused hospitality. When the disciples James and John learned of it, they said, “Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky and incinerate them?” Jesus turned on them: “Of course not!” And they traveled on to another village. On the road someone asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said. Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.”

Those words are from Luke 9:51-58 (The Message).  Do they sound familiar to you?  Do they remind you of another place and time in the life of Jesus?  I came across this passage while doing some Advent reading and research recently, and it stopped me dead in my tracks.  As Jesus is preparing to leave this world, He is treated very much like His parents were as they were preparing for Him to enter it.

I didn’t remember this story.  I knew the words of the final verse (most familiarly translated as “foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the son of Man has no place to lay his head.”), but I didn’t remember the full context.  It was “no room at the inn,” all over again.

I would love to know more of the events of Mary and Joseph’s trip to Bethlehem, their search for a place to stay once they arrived and the holy night that likely wasn’t very silent.  The biblical account of those events is so sparse (no offense to its Author).  Many have attempted to “fill in the blanks,” make reasoned assumptions, and draw from things customary to the times in order to “expand” the story.  For instance, many would say an innkeeper was part of the Nativity narrative.  Was there an innkeeper that answered the door and said, “No room”?  Maybe.  But wouldn’t Joseph have had family still living in the town of his birth, making it unlikely that he’d seek vacancy at an inn?  Quite possibly.  Whatever the events of that holy night, it is true that no one had proper accommodations for the couple and their expectant Child.

Are you bracing yourself for “what would you have done or said?!”  There have been plenty of writers before me who have waxed eloquent in their laments and critiques of those who turned away Mary, Joseph and the coming Christ-child.  Many who have asked that exact question.  I’ll be honest … I’m not really interested in that question.  But here is one I am considering in my own life, and I’d love for you to join me in asking of yourself:

What if a flesh and blood someone knocked on my door right now and was looking for shelter, food or help?  What would I do?  What would I say?  What would I offer them?

I’d encourage you not to seek or accept a quick answer.  I’d encourage you to use the full breadth of this second Sunday of Advent (and beyond) to ponder this very real question.  Question every answer your mind begins to form.  Then question the answer to that question.  I won’t share my own thoughts, but I will share a couple of passages of Scripture that speak truth into the question (and resulting questions).

Sincere prayers for a profitable pondering.

“I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”
Matthew 25:40 (NLT)

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
Hebrews 13:1-3 (NLT)

A couple of weeks ago, while quickly browsing through television channels, I took special notice at an exceedingly meaningful program … a golf lesson!  Actually it did turn out to be meaningful to me, and I trust the concept taught will be meaningful to you. Paul Azinger, a professional golfer, used the phrase, “powerless effort vs. effortless power.” The words rang clear because golf, for me, is often lots of power with not so good results (powerless effort). Almost immediately, my imagination also went to a professional golfer, small in stature, with enormous power and a relaxed smooth swing (effortless power). In golf, as I believe it also is in life, there is a desire to be powerful.  We tend to exert lots of effort and often end up with mixed results. When applying this concept to our spiritual lives, I was intrigued by the parallels.

Time moves quickly between the day of thanks and the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  Each Sunday during this Advent season we are encouraging you to slow down a bit and be intentional in preparing for that day of celebration. Today, however, I would like you to go with me to a scene thirty-three years later; an unusual time for the disciples. Christ had died for our sins and appeared twice to the disciples.  His third appearance is detailed in John 21 and Jesus is speaking to his disciples, first from the shore as they fished.

Think of the potential questions that must have filled the minds of the seven disciples that went fishing on this particular night.  So much had happened!! They had walked with Jesus and seen His miracles. He had died and then rose from the grave. He had met with the group of disciples twice after the resurrection. Now what would life be like?  Was there just an incredible sense of, “what now?” And we find them going fishing.

Peter and six of the other disciples headed out onto the Sea of Galilee to fish.  It was one of those nights. They caught nothing! But look at what happens:  At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied.  Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. (John 21:4-6) Later in the chapter we find that there were 153 large fish in the net … wow!

Consider the results when the disciples obeyed the Savior. They went from 0 to 153 with the simple act of obedience. I wonder if they paused a moment to question, thinking they knew what they were doing. But the Bible says, “so they did.” They simply obeyed. Obedience to Jesus is always the key to the success available for believers … Supernatural success, I might add.  It’s interesting that obedience to His word (even when they didn’t yet know it was His word), brought amazing results. I am not a fisherman, but I doubt any fisherman reading this has ever gone from no fish to 153 large fish in such a short window of time. This was the ultimate illustration of powerless effort (their own) vs. effortless power (obedience to the words of Jesus).

I really believe so much of our journey of faith is still built on powerless effort (we try hard).  Simple obedience to the Word yields powerful results, the kind that are generated through the power of the Holy Spirit (It isn’t that hard, when we yield to Him). Effortless may not be the exact word, but I trust you get my point. So when you look at your life in Christ, is there too much powerless effort vs. effortless power? If so, determine to obey His Word, and trust Him to fill your nets.

We have arrived at the first Sunday of Advent and are met with a choice.  We can get swept away in the current of consumerism and commercialism or toss an anchor overboard and hold steady against it.  Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday propel us from a day of thanksgiving toward the day of our dear Savior’s birth.  What will we choose on this Sabbath that sits amidst these strong currents?  I would offer the intentional choice of Advent as a right and proper one.  Join us as we journey through the season of Advent and the incredible story of a Savior and a manger. Along the way, we’ll meet some familiar characters and ask a few questions that you may not have previously considered.  What waits for us at the end of this journey?  The “good news that will bring great joy to all people.” (Luke 2:10b NLT)

So here’s a question for you … how many miles did Mary and Joseph walk to register for the census ordered by Caesar Augustus?

This question surfaced in my preparation for one of my family’s favorite holiday traditions.  Many years ago my wife and I purchased an Advent set from a metal forge in the small town where she went to college.  It’s a treasured set that includes 25 hand-hammered aluminum ornaments, each depicting a scene or detail of the story of Jesus’ birth.  Each day our two boy’s alternate the responsibility of retrieving that day’s ornament to place on the metal display frame.  Typically my wife or I will then read the short title of the ornament and the single Bible verse from the accompanying narrative included with the set.  After a couple years of doing this, we expanded the tradition to include some discussion about each day’s scene or detail.  We wanted to engage the boys in the humanity of the story.  I didn’t just want them to hear it; I wanted them to experience it.

So, in answer to the question above, most sources I found ranged from 60-90 miles.  Absent specific biblical clarity, I decided on 66 miles for my answer to the boys that day (this was based on a particular source that seemed the most thorough and credible).  I then began charting some destinations on Google Maps to locate a city the boys would be familiar with from our own travels and ended up with Bowling Green, OH as the closest approximation.  We have driven through Bowling Green headed south on I-75 on too many occasions to count, so I knew they would have a really good sense for the scale of the trip.  There reaction was great when they were confronted with how far Mary and Joseph traveled, and how they did it on foot!  It was a great discussion that day, as there have been on other days, considering questions like: Where would our family have to travel for a census like Caesar decreed?  When did the wise men actually arrive to see Jesus?  What’s a manger?

Jesus himself, and the story of his birth, can sometimes be a bit too convenient and.  We know about Him and we know how he was born — but do we really know.  Have we spent time experiencing the characters and events of the Nativity?  Have we put ourselves inside the narrative?  Have we felt the fears of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds or the wise men by naming our own fears?  Have we questioned, “what would we have done?”  Have we walked the Bethlehem road?

Will you take some time for yourself today to treasure up all these things and ponder them in your heart (like Mary in Luke 2:19)?  Will you carve out time in your family schedule today to treasure and ponder them together?  God promises if you do, you’ll find great reward in it.

The season of Advent is an invitation, not to a specific ritual or checklist, but to an intentional treasuring and pondering.  It throws an anchor overboard and holds you steady against the current.  It allows Jesus himself and the beautiful, sacred story of his birth to come into place, view or being (the true definition of Advent).

Prayer is a fundamental part of the Christian life and is a prominent word in the Christian vocabulary. Everyone prays and at some point even quotes the Lord’s Prayer. But with many, prayer is underused, misunderstood and often only important when our lives hit crisis mode. In fact, a friend and I once had a discussion about, “why pray if He already knows everything?” There are also those times when we pray intently, really believing God is going to answer with an affirmative to our well thought-out, important request — and then He doesn’t! We would all be well served to strive to have the heart and confidence Jesus had in John 17 as He marched purposefully to the cross.

While walking around my basement early one morning last week, I found myself dismayed at my prayer life. While looking at a prayer circle that was important to me at this time last year, I realized my prayer focus had gotten a bit off track. I could make excuses like, “He already knows, so why pray,” but the real issue is that I chose to get off track. As I looked at the prayer circle, the marking was dim, and stuff was pushed on to the circle. It was a visual reminder to me of my personal distractedness. I know He answers prayer, so I get very frustrated when I lose focus or tend to direct God toward what I want!

I remember praying for our daughter once about something specific. I wanted God to give us the answer we wanted. I even enlisted friends to pray. She had traveled across the country for a great opportunity and then got very sick. She was not even able to attend the function. It would be easy to question the Lord about not coming through for us, but He did come through in His way. God’s purposes are good, and sometimes He uses affliction for our good. You have probably had similar experiences.

It’s imperative for us to have a strong sense of God’s control in our lives, because when prayer requests aren’t answered our way, the “why even pray?” thoughts can emerge.

Recently, our Journey on Word readings focused on Jesus’ words about prayer. A confident prayer promise is found in John 14:13-14. When I see His words, why would I ever consider using the “why even pray” excuses?

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

Is Jesus giving us carte blanche in our prayer lives? No, but He is giving His credibility in going to the Father. Praying in His Name means that we are praying as Jesus would pray, and praying for what would be in line with the Father’s will. There will be times when He answers as we are hoping, and we consider those God-moments. God-moments also come when He answers differently than our personal desires. The key to effective prayer is in His Name.

God’s design for our prayer life is not that we just petition. Our prayer life should be much deeper than that. Larry Crabb, in his book, The PAPA Prayer, gives what I feel to be the missing link in our struggle with prayer. He says, “The chief purpose of prayer is to get to know God, to deepen our relationship with Him, to nourish the life of God He’s already placed within us, and to do it all to satisfy His desire for relationship with us.” Relationships take time, and Christ followers struggle with giving God what He deserves. It’s no wonder that prayer is underused and misunderstood. I would encourage you to take John 17 as a model of prayer, and look at the depth of relationship between the Son and the Father.

So where is your prayer life?  Have you subtly drifted to “why even pray” mode? Today you can pray as Jesus would, in His Name. You can also determine that prayer can be a special relationship between you and the Father. Give Him the time He deserves! Remember, His purposes are good, He wants to bless you and He wants you to pray. He knows how to answer, and He knows best.

Today I had great intentions about the article I wanted to write, but sometimes life gets in the way of my plans.  So rather than write something that could be quick, disjointed and lose the intent of what I wanted to say, I am choosing to live in joy and give you words from years ago that I trust will resonate with you where you are.

Happiness is such a fleeting emotion. It is not unusual to be on top of the world one day, and a valley dweller the next. Circumstances can, in a moment’s time, give us a jolt of emotional bliss or bring sadness to our spirit. We all know that life is not about happiness, but it’s a normal response to crave it. There is something in all of us that desires to have a good day, to hear good news, or just to feel good about life. Even the Declaration of Independence declares that the “pursuit of happiness” is a right. Although we will never live a perpetually happy life, we can live a perpetually joyful journey. Happiness always is not realistic, but rejoicing always is!

Our counsel to rejoice comes from a man who was a prisoner in Rome. Paul was under house arrest when he wrote the book of Philippians. He wasn’t a man just giving happy talk, but a man controlled by a true sense of joy that rose above any circumstance. It is one thing for someone in a good place to instruct others to rejoice, but it is far more meaningful to speak of rejoicing from prison. Under the inspiration of God, Paul gave the Philippian Christians words that still ring true today.

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

All Christ-followers have the same opportunity for joy that Paul challenged the Philippians with. He made his point with obvious impact by repeating the word “rejoice” twice. If joy were an emotion like happiness, then we could assume that the feelings of joy would come and go, just like happiness.

“But joy is not a feeling; it is the deep-down confidence that God is in control of everything for the believer’s good and His own glory, and thus all is well no matter what the circumstances.”
The John MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Philippians

It’s sad but true, most believers don’t live with a deep-down confidence that God is in control. I would be less than genuine to proclaim that I have mastered the choice to live with perpetual joy. Studying this passage of scripture shows that rejoicing is to be a continual, habitual practice. We can rightly assume that God, through Paul, told the Philippians to live with a heart of rejoicing. Is our challenge and opportunity today any different? I don’t think so!

Living with a deep-down confidence that God is in control leads to a life of rejoicing. Circumstances will not always be good, but God always is. Our problem is that we believe intellectually that God is in control, but refuse to personally experience what He has made available. Accept today by faith, that God’s design for you is a perpetually rejoicing heart. It will take choosing His truth over your emotions, but the results are worth it.  We may crave happiness, but what we really want (and need) is joy!

It has happened to all of us.  A meeting is going to take place and we want to know what will be said, plus we want to know all of the important information about the meeting.  The meeting could be job related, or it could be a church leadership meeting.  On a more global scale, we would all like to know the content of any meeting that affects our country, our personal rights and our religious freedom.  We’re all inquisitive about meetings that could in some way impact our life.  It doesn’t matter if the effect is large or small; it concerns us.  We want to know what was said.  You have probably even said, “I would like to be a fly on the wall during that meeting”.   Consider with me the content of an interesting meeting (prayer meeting, that is) that took place close to the end of Jesus’ earthly life.  Consider it in the context of the power that it has to impact our lives.

With the narrative having been recorded (John 17), we all have the privilege to be a fly on the wall for this particular “meeting” Jesus had with the Father. We are blessed to be able to look at the words of the prayer, study their meaning and gain an incredible picture of how Christ related to the Father plus see what was on His heart in those final hours before heading to the cross.  The words are simple, yet profound, and what an amazing privilege to pour over them word by word.

In this magnificent passage, you can hear what Christ prayed for Himself, for his disciples and all of those who would come to faith in the years to come.  His prayer was specific and full of meaningful content.  I find it quite interesting that Jesus chose to let us in on some very personal, powerful moments that He spent with the Father before He would willingly suffer and die on the cross for the sins of all mankind.

John 17 is known as the “high priestly prayer” of Jesus.  Warren Wiersbe, in his commentary Be Transformed, paints a far better picture of this chapter than I ever could.

“Whether He prayed it in the Upper Room or en-route to the Garden, this much is sure: it is the greatest prayer ever prayed on earth and the greatest prayer recorded anywhere in Scripture.  John 17 is certainly the ‘holy of holies’ of the Gospel record, and we must approach this chapter in a spirit of humility and worship.  To think that we are privileged to listen in as God the Son converses with His Father just as He is about to give His life as a ransom for sinners!”

A prayer so incredible is worthy of more than just a cursory reading, but most Christ-followers find themselves doing just that.  Reading the powerful words and not allowing them to settle into the very center of your true self would be a waste of a sacred opportunity.  We should be just as interested as we are in those “meetings” that affect our lives in other ways.  We don’t have to worry about the content or secrecy of this meeting because we have been given full access.

At Journey onWord, we have decided to give this chapter special attention.  Our reading format for this week is singularly focused. John 17 is the assignment every day.  A prayer so powerful should be carefully examined.  Even if you don’t normally follow our reading schedule, would you turn your heart to this one single chapter for the next several days? With a heart which is open to listen, you will meet Christ in the words of His prayer and be better for it.  You may read the full prayer every day or break it into sections, it doesn’t matter to us.  Simply block out all other distractions and spend this week solely focused on this intimate and sacred prayer of the Son of God to his Father in heaven.  We cannot wait to see what it might mean to the forward trajectory of your life!  May your week become strong!