Originally written for Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church, apply these ideas to your local context.

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Today is the National Day of Prayer, regardless of the controversy wherein a judge ruled the day unconstitutional. If you’re upset about that ruling, you can write a letter to an elected official. Your letter may or may not get read.

That said, you have a much better opportunity. While a government representative may be able to handle your grievances, you have a greater Advocate. You see, God loves you. He promised to hear you. We don’t deserve to be heard by Him, being rebellious sinners, but because Jesus took our place on the cross, He takes our concerns to the Father.

And unlike a government official who can’t possibly read and respond to every request, God wants to listen and does. Think how often you’d write to the president if you thought he’d actually read and consider your thoughts. Now think how much greater God is, and He eagerly waits to hear from you and hangs on your every word.

But you don’t need a day decreed by the president to take advantage of this opportunity. God listens every day. Like an earthly father, He wants to be in conversation with us, to hear about our day. And even though He already knows, like my daughter telling me what she learned in science class, He just likes to hear it from us. Anytime. Take advantage of that!

Originally written for Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church, apply these ideas to your local context.

Image via Wikipedia

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray (Luke 11:1-13), He gave a great list to begin with, and in the Lord’s Prayer, we find in many ways a summary of all those things we pray about, but as you set time aside to be with God in prayer, do you ever find yourself at a loss what to pray about?

Here at Shepherd of the Ridge, we have a list each week of specific people seeking others’ prayers for them. That’s a great place to start. Even if you don’t know the details of that person’s need, God does, and He will provide as that person needs.

But consider praying for those you might not normally pray for:

• Those who annoy you: (Matthew 5:44) But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. Sometimes, “enemy” means that person who took 15 items into the 12 item checkout, or that person at work who just irritates you, or telemarketers. Pray that God would bless them with love and faith, and that He would give you opportunities to love those people.
• Terrorists: Speaking of loving our enemies, pray for those who’ve been fooled into thinking they’re doing God’s will by murder. Pray that God show them His love, that they may know His love, that His love would save them, and that they in turn would reach out to the world in love.
• Those farthest away from you & toughest to love: Think of those with whom you simply have nothing in common, those with tremendous needs that leave you feeling like you could never help them, and ask God for opportunities to help those you don’t think you could help.
• And if you’re brave, pray for faith. God often allows suffering to strengthen our faith, because it’s through those difficult times that we struggle the most and find ourselves running to God, whereas in times of abundance, we think we can do it ourselves.

Whom else can you pray for that you wouldn’t normally think of? God has given us love beyond our ability to comprehend, and we can share that love without fear of running out of love. Pray for opportunities to love. the wisdom to recognize those opportunities, and the courage to act on them.