My thoughts (David Zier):

Mary’s response to Elizabeth is a song of praise also known as the Magnificat. Mary summarizes God’s grace at work in her life and her own experience of joy and worship. “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.”

Mary says her entire being magnifies, worships, exalts and adores the Lord. Am I able to imagine what it would be like living every moment of my life magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in God? Can I imagine if I lived as if God looked upon me with favor?

Mary’s hymn of praise offers insights into the nature of worship. All of us have times where we struggle with our worship life, both individual and corporate. Our personal times of prayer and worship can be dry and dusty. Corporately, we wish for a more varied or deeper experience of worship. We may even “church shop,” seeking a worship experience that will somehow “feel” right. Mary’s life, and her response of worship show the important correspondence between the inner life of the spirit and the outward expression of worship.

We are richly blessed in the teaching, music, and fellowship of our church, yet we can become so critical, so demanding and picky about our worship experience and how our personal needs for worship should be met. God creates worship within each of us, which flows out when we are alone or gathered with others in God’s presence, regardless of external circumstances. My being open to the Holy Spirit and God’s worship is about me living life as a praise to God and celebrating God, and sharing that worship with others.

Thought for the day: When I come to God in worship, do I come with a list of demands? Or do I come with an attitude of praise and a heart open to the Spirit of God?

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Steve Adams):

One day when I was about nine, I forgot to brush my teeth. It was so pleasant to skip this bothersome chore that I decided to let it go for an entire month! How no one noticed my bad breath is a mystery to me, but it remained my own little secret!

Then I got some bad news. My mother told me I had a dentist appointment. This presented an obvious problem, since I knew the dentist would surely discover my shenanigan and report his shocking findings to my mother, who would render due judgment. I would have done anything to use a Felix-type excuse and say, “Well, mom, how about we make this dentist appointment at a better time, like when I’m 30?” But, of course, I was the kid, and she was the parent, so, no such plea could be made!

Felix had his own reason to procrastinate when he told Paul he would come back to see him when it was more convenient. Why did Felix say this, when the hope of receiving a bribe from Paul had been such a sure motivation to repeatedly visit him? It seems that Paul’s words about justice, self-control, and judgment cut right through Felix’s hypocrisy and went straight to his heart. As Hebrews 4:12 says:

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Felix became afraid when Paul forced him to see the truth about himself. Did he value justice? Not enough to set Paul free. Did he have self-control? Not enough to be able to resist granting a political favor that kept Paul behind bars. And what about future judgment? He seemed to think, “Let’s talk about that later, MUCH later!”

It’s easy to see how off-track Felix was, but what about you and me? Since we’re imperfect humans, there are surely areas in which we’re getting off-course in our walk with God — probably more often than we’d like to think, and likely in ways that can be more harmful than not brushing our teeth.

Thought for the day: Lord, I need to open my heart to you today. Show me which areas in my life need “course corrections.”

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Melody Merida):

For many years now, my favorite Scripture has been Jeremiah 29:11. I was led to this passage by a friend when I was struggling with the direction my life was taking several years ago. When I read this verse it was like a light bulb was turned on inside my head. In thinking back, I realized that I had read that verse before, but it never spoke to me the way it did on this occasion, when I most needed to “get it.”

I read it over and over to be certain it would soak in. I remember my heart soaring at the idea that God had plans to prosper me and to give me hope and a future. Little ol’ me. The God of the universe has plans for ME! Then I thought, “Okay, if God has plans to prosper me, then why am I not prospering? Why do I not have the promised hope? Why does my future look bleak?”

It was only after much soul searching that I came to terms with the idea that my plans and God’s plans were not in alignment, and that was why I wasn’t prospering, why I was hopeless, and why my future looked bleak. After I decided that I had better get on the same page with God, I felt my life begin to be transformed. I began to feel the hope and see the wonderful future that is promised in this verse.

Do not get me wrong, my life has not been trouble-free since that day. In fact, I’ve had to traverse some fairly treacherous terrain, as most of us do. This verse does not mean that we will be spared pain, suffering, or hardship, but that God will see us through to a glorious conclusion. God knows the future, and has plans for us that are good and full of hope. As long as God, who knows the future, provides our agenda and goes with us as we fulfill our mission, we can have boundless hope.

We are not insignificant to God. On the contrary, God has plans for each one of us, plans that are specific to us. God has plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Rejoice in this, knowing that God’s plan is to bring us a life full of meaning and joy.

Thought for the day: Are my plans consistent with God’s plans for me? If not, what do I need to do to change course and find the hope and future God promises to me?

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Robert Ferguson):

Today we observe Jacob as a he is about to wrestle a stranger in a dark cavern.

Jacob has quite the checkered past and though he left this place many years ago as a cheat and thief, he is returning now eager to make amends with his brother. Jacob sent messengers ahead to greet Esau and to determine if Esau still wanted to murder him. Esau coming to meet Jacob with four hundred men caused Jacob to have great fear.

But Jacob prays and reminds God of the promises that were once made to him. Jacob then sends his family to safety and he is alone. Suddenly this stranger appears and the two begin to wrestle. Perhaps in the beginning of this tussle Jacob thought he was fighting one of his brother’s men but very soon Jacob realizes he is wrestling with God.

Jacob refuses to let go, as he knows God to be the source of all good things. What I love most about this story is the image of God engaging a human. Certainly this battle could have ended horribly with one blink of God’s eye. But God doesn’t want us defeated. Willing to wrestle all night with Jacob, God allowed him to struggle and engaged him in battle.

This is the same way that God continues to struggle with all of us over the battle between right and wrong, flesh and spirit, or good and evil. I struggle every day with questions of faith, direction in my life, priorities, sins, and blessings. Sometimes God moves swiftly and pointedly in our lives and other times it seems as if God is silent. We want blessings, mercy, grace, and favor from God and God wants obedience, perseverance, maturity and faith from us. It is a struggle that rages on. The secret strategy to this game, as Jacob teaches us today, is to stay in the struggle with God.

So with clenched teeth and the grip of a fighter, Jacob clings to God. Even as a merciful God cripples him, Jacob refuses to let go! We all have battle scars and we can wear them like badges of honor. Yes, I too have been kicked around a little by life and I have, with the help of God, fought a lot of battles to be standing here today. However, each challenge and struggle has made me stronger because I have had to lean on God. When there is nothing else to count on, there is God. Our challenges strengthen and mature us. Adversity and rough times promote perseverance within us, which is the ability to cling to God in every circumstance.

Through Jesus Christ, who received the full measure of life’s wounds and attacks, we learn that through the struggle and the suffering — not in spite of them — God creates new life, making possible our faith. And so we can confront each struggle with all our strength and resources, confident that whatever the wounds, our experiences can be used for God’s redemptive purposes.

The only way that we will certainly fail is to let go of God. When facing problems, temptations, and sufferings it is far better to focus our strength on clinging to God rather than trying to overcome by our own strength. As Jacob demonstrates, we ought to continue in dedicated prayer, for that prayer prepares us for mercy. God gives us strength to do battle, even to do battle with God.

Our human nature wrestling with an infinite, omnipotent God will surely produce broken bones, spirits, or egos; but in that brokenness we obtain glorious victories. God allows us to push, pull, and struggle as long as we’d like, but in the end we realize we cannot prevail. When we see how weak we really are and we cling to God, begging for help, God is faithful to bless our struggle and reward our faith.

Thought for the day: What am I clinging to? With what — or whom — am I wrestling?

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (David Zier):

These parables are about the widow who was persistent in coming to Jesus and was granted justice because of her persistence, and about the Pharisee who exalted himself while praying and the tax collector who prayed, “have mercy on me, a sinner.”

As I read this, I wondered, where do I see myself? Do I really go to God with a persistent attitude? Do I go to God with humility?

There is so much injustice, and so much need in the world, am I persistent in lifting this up to God to transform my own attitude and what I do, and pray for others? Am I too wrapped up in myself to keep going to God persistently? Am I too wrapped up in myself to humble myself and not worry so much whether or not others see me as some great Godly person, or do I pray honestly and ask for mercy?

Well, maybe sometimes I can beat myself up too much. The following is a poem from Mother Theresa that I have modified a little (just a few words) so that I can examine myself in the words of this prayer. Prayers of examen (of ourselves) help us to look at the day or the week, and assess both our good and bad moments, so that we can learn from both.

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered, and I can be as well; forgive us all anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Asses your own motives and pray to be in a humble place, and be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway, but do not to boast, remain humble, and share in your success with others.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway. Can I be more honest and authentic than I was yesterday?

What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight; build anyway. Do I let others drag me down, or do I let the life of Jesus Christ guide my life and what I build?

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous; be happy anyway, and be generous with your happiness and bless others.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway. Can I do more good today than yesterday?

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway. Is there anything preventing me from giving the world the best of me?

In the final analysis, it is all between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.

(There’s more about this ancient form of prayer, called Examen of Consciousness, at Living Room >> A space for Life.)

Have ever heard the song Anyway by Martina McBride? The message is very similar. You can watch it here.

Thought for the day: Am I persistent in keeping to the words and actions that Jesus calls me to in my own life?

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Steve Adams):

When I was in grade school, I remember looking forward to summer vacation as a perfect, almost endless time filled with long, sunny, carefree days and warm, lazy nights when I could stay up as late as my heart desired. And while I did have some good times, they never approached the idealized vision I had in March or April when I looked forward to them.

Every summer, after just a week or two of “heaven on earth” (no school), I would re-learn the same lesson: life didn’t become perfect just because summer vacation had arrived. And when I became an adult, all that silly idealized thinking fell by the wayside, right? Well, not exactly! It seems old habits die hard. Can you identify?

How many times do I subconsciously expect my partner, spouse, family, job, or church to be perfect? And, if not perfect, then at least mighty close to it? I may say, “Well, I know I can’t expect that!” But, isn’t that what I do if I become irritated at my spouse, friend, or coworker for making a mistake? Maybe I have a bit more of that perfectionistic thinking than I thought! Often the person in question was doing the best they could (II Timothy 2:15), or had a good reason why they weren’t.

Sometimes we simply miss the mark even when we’re really trying. And sometimes the circumstances of life wear down our resolve to put forth our best effort. If so, then Jesus Christ is there to fill us with grace and motivation for tomorrow!

We see glimpses of perfection here on earth, but never the entirety of it. But I think that’s good — it helps us see that we absolutely NEED God. It’s at the point when we’ve done our absolute best, and there’s simply no more we can give — and yet things still need improvement — that we can fall into the strong, loving, tender arms of our heavenly Mother/Father, and TRUST!

Thought for the day: It’s only God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who can give us the perfection we long for.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.