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5 Prayers for Pentecost, the Church’s Birthday

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

Pentecost is the church’s birthday, Sunday, May 23 this year. The first Pentecost happened almost 2,000 years ago when the disciples gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem, and the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Think about putting that many candles on a birthday cake. Talk about tongues of fire! Here are some of the lessons of prayer I take from what the apostles learned.

1)  Come together. It’s easy enough to feel disoriented and lost as we come out of this pandemic, and yet, it hardly compares to how the apostles must have felt in those days after the Crucifixion. They had just seen their Lord and Savior nailed to a tree—and then risen from the dead.

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They had plenty of reasons to fear what might lie ahead. Would the powers that be come after them with horrendous means of torture? (Yes, indeed.) How on earth would they survive? 

On the 50th day after Easter, they gathered “in one place” as the book of Acts puts it—it was the Jewish festival of Succoth. Jesus hadn’t left any book or building. What He’d given them was each other. What we still have today. Prayer offers tremendous power when we come together.

2)  Ask for understanding. People from all over the Roman Empire were present in Jerusalem for the festival. And they spoke countless different languages. It must have been overwhelming. What would the apostles say to the people? How would they be understood?

That was when there was a rush of wind from heaven filling the entire house. Tongues “as of fire” appeared among them, resting over them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit.

So gifted, they spoke to the crowd, and even though they were humble Galileans the words that came out could be understood by those foreign people in their own native languages.

Two miracles happened that day. First, that ability to speak in a foreign tongue that had never been studied or learned. Secondly, the ability to be heard. That’s always my Pentecost prayer. May I have that gift of hearing and understanding in all I do and say.

3)  Be open to your unexpected gifts. The apostle Peter makes an extraordinary transformation in a matter of days. Remember what he was at the Crucifixion? How from sheer cowardice he denied that he even knew Jesus, not just once but three times.

In the book of Acts, he has been transformed. Who steps forward to address the crowd? Peter. Who will never deny Jesus again? Peter. Who gave a brilliant sermon that day? Peter.

Jesus saw potential in people whom no one else noticed. Lowly fishermen like Peter. My prayer: that we could know the hidden potential He sees in us.

4)  Dream dreams. These words come from right out of Peter’s sermon. “…and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” And it’s not just because I’ve got gray hair and wrinkles, that I love this text.

It’s never too late to dream. It can startle and shock, and you can wonder how those dreams might ever be fulfilled. But dreams must be dreamed. 

5)  Celebrate and give thanks. “Happy Pentecost,” a French friend once said to me. No reason we can’t give each other the same wish, the way we say, “Happy Birthday.” This is a day of celebration. Give thanks for your faith community.

3 Ways to Spend the Summer with God

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

An online friend of mine wrote a prayer years ago that contained the phrase, “Come summer with me, Lord.” The phrase stuck with me. I think of it often, especially as summer arrives. It reflects the desire of my heart and suggests at least three ways I can “summer with God” in the weeks ahead.

1. Change Your Pace
The classic Gershwin lyric labels “summertime” as a season when “the livin’ is easy.” The pace is different. Slower, yes, and perhaps quieter. So, if you summer with God, look for those opportunities to change your pace and invite God into it. 

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Take a walk, for instance, instead of reflexively driving somewhere nearby. Take a break. Whether it’s a beach vacation or a weekend away—or just a quick picnic in the park—find a time and place for some “down time” in which to send up a few prayers. Or, as the Gershwin song suggests, grab a pole and go where the fish are “jumpin’” (and God might be “speakin’”).

2. Taste and See God’s Goodness
The psalmist David sang, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8, NIV). The sense of taste is one we often forget or neglect in making meaningful connections with God. But the tastes of the season can help us to summer with God. 

Pour a tall glass of iced tea and summer with God as you sip. Slice a melon and pray for God to produce similarly rich fruit in your life. Invite friends to a cookout and pause a few times to mark the goodness of God in the gifts of food and friendship.

3. Soak in the Sunshine
When was the last time you closed your eyes and let the sun warm your face? Or counted the clouds in the sky on a sunny day? Sure, you may need to apply a little sunscreen—or you may live in a region that seldom sees the sun—but one of summer’s delights is the sunshine and shade that makes the outdoors so, well, “outdoorsy.” 

Depending on where you live and your daily schedule, you may need to be more intentional to soak up the sun, but try finding a way to enact the words of Scripture: “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3, NIV).

I want this to be a different summer than many that have gone before. I want it to be a summer that not only includes God in my plans and experiences, but also one that includes me in His. I will say often, in the days and weeks ahead, “Come, summer with me, Lord.”

10 Stress-Busting Faith Tips

Posted on by Ashley Lateef

How do you cope when feel stressed? Try these faith tips and prayers to calm down and connect with God.

Connect with God with the 60 Days of Prayer daily devotions!

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Why God’s Answer to Prayer Is Always ‘Yes!’

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

God’s answer to prayer is always “Yes!” I’ve heard some people say, “Of course God answers prayer. He’ll say ‘No,’ ‘Maybe’ or ‘Yes.’” I don’t buy that. I believe that God’s answer to prayer is always “Yes!” Always. And take note of that exclamation point.

It is for us to hear that “Yes!”

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Sometimes our prayers are too small. It’s as though we don’t want to be disappointed so we ask for less than we really want. We hedge our bets. But really, who are we fooling? God knows the secrets of our hearts. Often better than we do. 

Don’t ask for less. Pay attention to what God wants of you. Embrace it. Go for it. Have the courage to see that it’s what you want too.

I think of what I went through when I was launching myself out in the world after college. I wanted to be a writer, but I was sure I would be disappointed. I turned this way and that. Finally, I conceded that I would be a writer. Somehow.

I sent in a story to a little inspirational called Guideposts. The editor called me in to talk about it. It wasn’t right for publication, but he encouraged me to try again. I did. And did again. Eventually I got hired on staff.

Guess what? I’m still writing for that organization. Was I just lucky? I don’t think so. I was answering the call of my heart. God’s big “Yes!”

One of the crucial lessons Jesus teaches about prayer is persistence. Persistence through our disappointments and setbacks. In the parable of the importunate widow he tells of a widow who kept coming again and again to an unjust judge, seeking justice. Finally, the unjust judge gives in. “I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming” (Luke 18:5).

Jesus goes on to say, “And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? (Luke 18:7).

Persistence gives us a chance to know ourselves in knowing our prayers. We have a better understanding of what we’re asking for.

In another parable Jesus describes a man who wakes up his friend in the middle of the night because he needs some bread to feed an unexpected guest. The friend tells him to go away. The door is already locked, and he’s in bed with his children. In the end the friend finally gets up and gets the bread. Why? Because of his persistence! “At least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs” (Luke 11:8).

Jesus is telling us to be persistent in prayer. Keep at it. Don’t give up. There is an answer God is trying to give us. Not “No” or “Maybe.” There is only “Yes!”

Does Your Prayer Life Need Some Spark? 3 Ways to Refresh It

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

Today’s guest blogger is author Lori Hatcher.

Sometimes prayer is boring.

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There. I said it. Are you shocked? I’m just being honest here. And if you’re honest, you’ll probably agree. As lofty and magnificent as it is to pray to the God of the universe, if we do it often enough, sometimes our prayer times can grow a little, well, stale.

Several years ago, during a season of unemployment, my husband, David, and I started walking together in the mornings. In all our 30-plus years of marriage, we’ve never had schedules that allowed time to exercise together, but for three months we walked for an hour every morning. While we walked, we prayed.

After a few weeks, I noticed we were praying the same prayers, in the same order, for the same people, day after day. I knew repetition was necessary, but boredom was not. We put our heads together and brainstormed ways to infuse new life and joy into our times of intercession.

Whether you pray regularly with a partner or alone, these three practices can help jazz up your prayer time.

1)  Use the alphabet to praise God.

David and I began most of our prayer times by praising God. Reminding ourselves of who God is reminds us that He is quite capable of answering our prayers and working on our behalf. Using the alphabet, we listed a character quality or attribute of God for every letter (X is tough). Then we turned each attribute into something for which to praise Him.

The psalmist prayed, “My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long” (Psalm 71:8).

2)  Use the alphabet to pray for people.

Like chronicling the attributes of God with the ABCs, praying for people using the alphabet can also take your prayer time in a fresh new direction. Use the sequence of letters to prompt you to pray for a person whose name (first or last) begins with that letter.

3)  Pray for people for whom you don’t regularly pray.

The only rule for this prayer approach is that you can’t have prayed for the person recently. Ask God to bring people to mind, and then pray for them as the Spirit leads you. When my husband and I pray this way, we’re always amazed at the people who pop into our minds— friends we went to church with 20 years ago, other people’s children, even patients of mine (from my work as a dental hygienist).

Trusting that the Lord knows these people need special prayer, we lift each one to the Lord. We’ll probably never know how God used our prayers, but we can be confident that He took note of them and answered their needs appropriately.

God calls us to prayerful persistence, and often such repetition can be a little dull. Thinking creatively and mixing up our routine every now and then can renew our enthusiasm. If your prayer life needs a spark, try one of these ideas or brainstorm one of your own.

Adapted from Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise by Lori Hatcher

New Prayer Habits for New Parents

Posted on by Daisy Urgiles

Praying as a parent can provide strength, guidance, and comfort. By taking a few moments each day to pray for your child, you can rest assured knowing that you are doing everything possible to help them grow into happy and healthy adults.

Pray before bed

New parents often have a lot on their minds and may find it challenging to pray before bed. However, studies have shown that prayer can help to reduce stress and promote a sense of well-being. Praying before bed can also help to create a sense of peace and calm in the bedroom, making it easier to fall asleep. For new parents, praying before bed may be the best way to end the day and prepare for a good night’s sleep.

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Pray for your child’s health and safety

Any parent will tell you that there is nothing more important than the health and safety of their child. From the moment they are born, our instinct is to protect them from harm. We want them to grow up healthy, happy, and free from the worry and anxiety that comes with illness or injury. Of course, we can’t always be there to shield them from every potential danger. But we can do the next best thing: pray for their health and safety. By calling on a higher power, we ask for guidance and protection for our children. We may not be able to prevent all harm from coming their way, but we can rest assured knowing that we have done everything in our power to keep them safe.

Pray for your child’s education and future

As a parent, one of the most important things you can do for your child is to pray for them. We all want our children to grow up to be happy and successful, and education is a key part of that. By praying for your child’s education, you are asking God to bless them with knowledge and understanding. You are also asking Him to give them wisdom as they make decisions about their future. And finally, you are asking for His protection, that your child will be safe from harm as they pursue their educational goals. As you pray for your child’s education and future, know that you are entrusting them into God’s hands. He knows what is best for them, and He will guide them along the path He has laid out for them.

Thank God for the good and bad moments of parenting

Parenting is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have. It is also one of the most challenging. There are good and bad moments, but each one teaches us something valuable about ourselves and our children. In the good moments, we feel like we are doing everything right. Our children are happy and thriving, and we are making a positive difference in their lives. These moments remind us why we became parents in the first place. In the bad moments, we question everything we are doing. We wonder if we are cut out for this parenting thing after all. We worry that we are making mistakes. These moments are challenging, but they also remind us that parenting is not always easy. It takes patience, perseverance, and a whole lot of love. So thank God for the good moments and the bad moments. They both help to make us better parents.

Pray for strength to get through the tough days

Parenting is hard. Some days, it feels like you’re never going to make it through. The newborn phase is tough, with all the sleepless nights and constant crying. The toddler years are challenging, too, with their tantrums and incessant energy. There are days when you just want to give up. But then you remember why you’re doing this: because you love your children more than anything in the world. You find the strength to keep going, even when it feels impossible. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and know that you’re not alone. Parenting is tough, but you can do it. Just pray for strength to get through the tough days.

Ask for guidance on how to best raise your child

New parents are often inundated with advice from well-meaning friends and family members. While it’s important to take this advice into consideration, it’s also important to remember that every child is unique and what works for one child may not work for another. The best way to ensure that you’re raising your child in the best possible way is to ask for guidance from a professional. A pediatrician or child psychologist can offer specific advice based on your child’s needs. In addition, many helpful books and websites offer general parenting advice. By seeking guidance from those with experience, you can be sure that you’re doing everything you can to raise a happy and healthy child.

Do you pray for your children? What tips would you add for new parents who want to start praying for their kids?

Keeping the Faith: Let It Go

Posted on by Brett Leveridge

In 2013, Disney released the animated musical Frozen. Its signature song—“Let It Go”—was an instant classic. It wasn’t just Idina Menzel’s astonishing voice but also the song’s powerful message: Sometimes to move forward in life, you need to let go.

Have you felt hurt, angry—maybe even frozen—when things haven’t gone the way you hoped and prayed for?

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How do you cope when a relationship ends or a longed-for opportunity doesn’t materialize? Do you stew in anger or regret? Shut down and shut out the world? Or do you hang on tighter? After all, society bombards us with messages to never give up.

I’ve clung to people and situations, thinking, God, don’t ask me to give this up. But when I let go—and let God take over—I’m reminded that his plan is better than mine. Always. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Letting go is not easy. I think about biblical figures like Abraham, who was told by God to sacrifice his son Isaac on the mountain. Abraham entrusted his son to God, and in return, God promised to make Isaac’s descendants more numerous than the stars in the sky. When you clear space in your life, you make room for God to give you even more.

That’s something worth thinking about this season. During peak fall foliage, we see God’s glory. Then the leaves dry up and drift to the ground, allowing the next season’s growth. May you let go of what no longer serves you and let God lead the way.

For more inspiring stories, subscribe to Guideposts magazine.

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

It’s an age-old quandary. Why do some of the best people on earth sometimes experience the worst sorrow?

I mentioned to a friend at lunch that it’s been my experience that the “unrighteous,” as the Bible puts it, usually do end up with just desserts. All the ill-gotten gains in the world can’t help when their marriages fail or their children struggle or they don’t enjoy the loving support of family and friends.

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But it’s harder to understand God’s purpose when you see good, faithful people experience unendurable trials.

All of this was going through my head when I pulled out my phone and clicked on iDisciple, an app full of Bible verses, sermons, music, devotionals. I read something from Charles Stanley:

 “How do we know what the heavenly Father is like? By knowing Jesus. He is the only full expression and explanation of God.”

And this from Brad Mathias: 

“We can’t stop the movement of time, we can’t stop the transitions of life. The change of seasons, the growth of our kids into adults and the relentless march of age as we grow and mature and start to slow as everything we know and seems familiar keeps on changing…The assumption that can destroy us all is the belief that things will always stay the way the are.” 

So true.

I even found a devotional I had written for Daily Guideposts. I kept scrolling through iDisciple. 

And then, as though my phone had heard the quandary I’d been asking myself, “Why does God let bad things happen to good people?” I stumbled upon something from Anne Graham Lotz, posing that very question.  

She reminded me of Paul’s answer, Paul’s reassuring words to the Romans at a time when believers, both the nascent Christians and Jews, were living under a madman with absolute power, the emperor Nero. Why should the good suffer? 

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). We can’t know the exact answer but we can trust.

An answer that has been around for 2000 years. Nice to have it on my phone.

What Does It Mean to Trust God Always?

Posted on by Pablo Diaz

When we face adversity or doubt, can we grow from the situation? Yes! We may not welcome the challenge, but it’s a chance for our trust in God to mature and to remember the difference between giving in to fear versus trusting the Lord. Recently my mother, Maria, was faced with making a hard decision, and through her trust in God, she chose wisely.

For more than six months, she had put off having a necessary heart valve procedure. We tried to convince her to make an appointment, but she avoided the topic at all costs. We became even more concerned as she was already having difficulty walking due to her heart. Yes, my mother was brought up in a Christian family and was raised to trust in the Lord, but she allowed fear to overcome her in this case. After a long internal struggle, she agreed to move forward with having the procedure.

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A few days before the operation, she voiced concerns over the phone. She was worried about the risk of stroke. I sought to calm her by stating that all procedures have risks, but the chance of a stroke was less than 1%. I also reminded her that she had had this surgery before and was fine. I sensed that she wasn’t convinced. I then said, “Mom, this is more about trusting the Lord. Your life is in God’s hands. All of our lives are in God’s control.” I added, “This is what you taught us to believe.” She didn’t argue.

In the end, all we have is our trust in God. When we feel powerless, we can always count on Him. When we receive bad news, medical or not, God is by our side. This is exactly what my mother needed to remember. Throughout her life, she has trusted in God and that has gotten her through struggles, hurts, losses, disappointments and setbacks.

On the day of the procedure, I drove my parents to the hospital. Mom was apprehensive, but she was hanging on to her trust in God. She wasn’t alone. Her family was there. More importantly, the Lord was there. When we were able to see her after the procedure, she was in discomfort, but her face radiated peace and confidence. A day later, she was discharged. When worries, fears and concerns seek to control us, we must keep our trust in God.

Lord, help us to keep our trust and confidence in You always.

Turn Your Worries into Blessings

Posted on by Pablo Diaz

Recently, my mother-in-law wasn’t feeling well as her thyroid began acting up. As she struggled physically, her anxiety got the best of her, eventually leading her to an overnight at the hospital. Although she is a woman of great faith, fear overshadowed her faith in God. This can happen at times and when it does, we shouldn’t feel guilty. It’s our human condition, but the good news is that God can turn our worries into blessings.

In an article titled “What, Me Worry? Why Worrying Does More Harm Than Good,” Dr. Jim Taylor stated, “If you can do things that produce an emotional experience diametrically opposed to worrying, namely, anything that makes you feel positive, happy, excited or relaxed, you will counter the negatively and anxiety that accompanies worrying.” His counsel reminds me of a Facebook post a friend shared, it read “When you turn your worry into worship. God will turn your battles into blessings.” What better way to counter anxiety than with prayer, giving thanks, singing uplifting songs of worship, journaling, and reading spiritual and inspirational materials. 

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When we partake in these activities, we fix our “thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8). When we do this, we experience respite from our worries and focus on God’s many blessings. What do you focus on when worried? Please share.

Lord, teach us to turn our worries into praises of thanksgiving; to fix our thoughts on Your goodness and not on our troubles.

Turning to God After Natural Disasters

Posted on by Adam Hunter

The massive tornadoes that ravaged Oklahoma have shattered lives and given the rest of us nightmarish images of nature’s destructive power. Whenever a tragedy of this magnitude takes place, we often encounter a struggle with our faith. I wrote about this struggle after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary.

But there are those who insist such events are proof that God doesn’t exist. Some even say that belief in God, in the power of prayer and miracles, actually makes things worse.

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As journalist Mark Joseph Stern writes in “Don’t Pray for Oklahoma” on Slate.com, “Any God powerful and attentive enough to save survivors’ lives should also be powerful and attentive enough to stop the catastrophe in the first place. It’s insulting, futile and distracting from the reality of natural disasters to inject your god into a calamity like Oklahoma’s.”

Insulting, futile and distracting? He bases his argument around this CNN clip, which has made its way around the Web primarily because reporter Wolf Blitzer gets flustered when he discovers the woman he’s interviewing is an atheist:

Stern calls Blitzer’s behavior “startlingly condescending, insensitive and mawkish.” Then Stern proceeds to write 900 words that are startlingly condescending, insensitive and mawkish to believers.

And his argument is dead wrong.

Leaning on God for hope, comfort and strength after a tragedy doesn’t ignore the realities of what has happened. It doesn’t lessen the tragedy. But it does help us recover and rebuild.

Stern points this out himself, in a backhanded way, when he notes that “Governor Mary Fallin requested ‘lots of prayers.’ (Fortunately for the survivors, she wasn’t too busy praying to set up an actual disaster relief fund.)”

Prayer is not a substitute for action. When people pray, they rarely pray alone in their rooms, locked up tight. You might say that prayer is the original social network, connecting people and bringing them together in a tragedy. Prayer chains rarely exist without a call to arms—with people donating food, supplies, money and a helping hand to those in need. And unlike the 24-hour news cycle, faith communities don’t forget. They don’t pack up their cameras and go home when the next big story comes along.

I recently interviewed a woman in the small Mennonite community of Pinecraft, Florida. While Stern and other reporters seem to have forgotten about the earthquake three years ago that devastated Haiti, this small community of devoted believers still hosts benefit dinners to raise money for the people there.

The moments of God’s grace that people draw strength from may not make sense to people without faith. But they do give very real hope to many others. In Mysterious Ways, we’ve shared the story of a light that helped a man find his wife and kids after a tornado in rural Ohio. And the family who believed they avoided a tornado’s violent path by a strangely shaped rock in their yard. Not so long ago, our Editor-in-Chief recalled one of his favorite Mysterious Ways stories, about how an inexplicable phone call helped put a mother at ease after a twister hit her child’s school.

Stern is right, not everyone has these experiences. But for those who do, and for the great many of us who hear about them, these moments we call “God’s love” reveal that there are things that keep us safe and secure even when things appear hopeless.

These stories keep us from succumbing to darkness. They keep us looking up.

Please help those in need in Oklahoma. And keep them in your prayers. As the very friendly atheist woman in the above video tells Wolf Blitzer, “We are here, and I don’t blame anybody for thanking the Lord.”

Share your Mysterious Ways stories with us. Your story could appear in one of our publications.

“To Sing Is to Pray Twice”

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

Ever heard that old saying, “To sing is to pray twice”?

I was thinking of it this morning on my subway ride to work. As I’ve said before, I use my subway commute in the morning as a time for prayer. This morning I was going through the words of Psalm 95, a psalm I’ve been working at memorizing. Then I prayed through the names on my list of people who have asked for prayers or are going through some trouble.

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Probably like your prayer list, mine is always changing as people’s needs change. The more I know about a situation, the easier it is to pray for someone. I’ve been praying for a friend’s ailing newborn grandson for a while. Just the other day he posted a picture of the kid on Facebook. Wow. That sure made a difference to my prayers.

Seventh Avenue, 47th Street, 42nd Street … still with my eyes closed, I was aware of the passing stops. Then above the rumble of the train barreling down the tracks, I heard a woman singing in my car, “Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty.” It’s one of my favorite hymns, but the tune was unfamiliar. (The hymn has that wonderful phrase “which, wert and art and evermore shall be,” which my friend Van Varner, former Guideposts editor-in-chief, used to tease would be perfect for naming a trio of dogs: Which, Wert and Art.)

She was a handsome West Indian woman in a black fake fur coat, singing as she handed out tracts. “Read the Word of God,” she said, pausing in her song.

My stop was next. “I love that hymn,” I told her, “but do you know this tune?” I sang it back to her, as much as I could before I had to get off the subway.

“Amen, brother,” she said.

“Amen to you too, sister,” I said. At 34th Street, I stepped off the train and waved to her as the doors closed. “Holy, Holy, Holy” sung on the New York subway. What a perfect way to start a week.