Tracy's Blog

Christ is Risen! And while I'm extremely glad about that, today I was experiencing a bit of the awkwardness of the Easter season. It is such a transition from Lent. We go from asceticism to feasting; from focusing on death to life; from repentance to joyful reception. It's like walking out of a dark room into very bright light and our souls (like our eyes) need some time to adjust! We know that the best thing possible has happened: Death and hell have been defeated through Jesus' resurrection! We can be reconciled to God! New life in Christ has been made possible! And we may feel a little stunned. I'm comforted when I think of the early followers of Christ. They sure needed some time to adjust too! Take a look at the gospels stories of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. There is fear, disbelief, and the inability to recognize Jesus. But Jesus is so patient and gentle (I think particularly of the scene on the beach with Peter in John 21) and eventually, this lit...

Thank-you for joining me on this prayer journey throughout Lent. This week, I want you to focus on a totally different aspect of prayer - receiving it. Here is the prayer I have prayed for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV, ©2011) 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. Suggested Exercise: 1. Read the verse with an openess to receiving the truth spoken in it. (Change the "you" to "me".) 2. Be still before God and let the significance of what has been prayed for you sink into your spirit. 3. Thank God that He CAN and WILL answer this prayer.

Is there someone that the Lord has laid on your heart to pray for today? Is there a Christian brother or sister that you know who could use prayer right now? If so, I suggest praying the following passage for them. Colossians 1:9-14 (New International Version, ©2011) 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 1...

We know that we are to love but sometimes it is difficult to know what that means practically. We ask ourselves, "What is the best course of action in this situation?" or "What should I say to this person?" In Philippians there is a prayer that addresses this problem. Philippians 1:9-11 (New International Version, ©2011) 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Suggested Exercise: Pray this prayer for yourself regarding a specific situation that you need wisdom in how to love. Step 1: Write down the situation. Step 2: Write down the prayer (changing "your" to "my" and "you" to "I"). Step 3: Pray this prayer and talk to God about your specific circumstance. S...

Ever wonder how to pray for those you are concerned about? In his letters, Paul often prays for the recipients. In the next few weeks, we are going to pray through a few of these prayers. Our first one is from Ephesians. It is a beautiful prayer asking for two things we all need: Christ dwelling in our hearts and to know His love. Ephesians 3:16-19 (New International Version, ©2011) 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Suggested Exercise: Pray this prayer for someone you know who needs the strength and love of God. To do this simply replace the "y...

Since our focus for this Lent is praying prayers from the New Testament, I thought it would be very appropriate to pray the prayer Jesus taught His disciples. Now this will take more concentration than you may expect because of the familiarity of the prayer. Even Timmy, our two year old, can be heard mumbling the words to this prayer when we pray it as a family. Although it is wonderful that he is starting to learn to pray the "Our Father", the reality is that he doesn't understand the meaning of many of the words and is just saying it by rote. Often I'll find myself starting the Lord's Prayer and not quite remembering if I finished it or not because I don't even have to think about it to say it. My hope is that this Lenten exercise will facilitate faith-filled, honest prayer to our Gracious God. Matthew 6:9-13 (New International Version, ©2011) 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, you...

The prayer for this week comes from a parable Jesus told about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the temple. As he tells the story, Jesus compares both the postures and the content of the men's prayers. Jesus tells us that it is the penitent one who is justified before God not the man who was confident of his own righteousness. To read the full story click here . Let us, those who are not righteous in ourselves, who need the Lord's forgiveness, join with the tax collector in humbling ourselves before God as we pray: ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ Luke 18:13b (New International Version, ©2011) Suggested Exercise: Each evening as you go to bed take time to confess your sins and ask for forgiveness using this prayer. Step 1: Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of sin Step 2: Confess any sin that comes to mind by saying: "Lord, I have sinned by.... (admit the specific thought, word, or deed). Step 3: Pray for pardon: "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Ste...