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I am using the YouVersion 49 Week Bible Challenge for these devotions. Today’s readings are Matthew 7; 1 Chronicles 28; Ezekiel 22; 35.
Matthew 7:1-14,
[Jesus says,] “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
…
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
We prayed just the other day for wisdom. Three of us stood together, held hands, and asked God to give us wisdom in a decision impacting not only us, but others as well. Then we acted. Less than 30 minutes later the call came, “Do you want to hear a miracle?”
I made a stab: “Did…”
“Do you want to hear a miracle?”
“Of course!”
Even more than a simple answer to our prayer, a far-reaching movement of God underscoring the conviction we had reached together, and resolving the issue we faced. (Sorry for the vagueness of all this, but I don’t want to betray a confidence.)
Jesus promises, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
God’s answer is often in the form of C.S. Lewis’ understanding of prayer. I do not pray to change God. I pray to change me (a paraphrase from Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, Letter 8). And that’s not a bad thought – that prayer would change us. But here we have it: Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you.” I don’t want to argue with Jesus when it comes to prayer!
Too often, however, the “I’ll pray for you,” comment is only a comment with little action. Jesus says that “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” It seems to me that we should actually pray, not just talk about it.
Let us pray…
Dear Father in heaven, look with kindness, mercy and grace upon we who call on you in prayer today. Open your heart and hear our prayer…
- for healing for our friends and loved ones, especially… and … and …
- for peace of heart and courage for those in difficulty, especially… and … and …
- for hope and wisdom for those facing challenging decisions, especially… and … and …
- for grace and compassion for those dealing with difficult people, especially… and … and …
- for strength and faithfulness for those who face temptation, especially… and … and …
- for help and intervention for those who recognize you as their only hope, especially… and … and …
- for your will to be done in and through me, and in and through the others I deal with today;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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