Journal keeping and prayer lists

Joshua 12:1–13:32, 2 Corinthians 11:7–15, Psalm 52:1–53:6

After reading the Bible through each year for several years, I still want to skip the genealogies and long lists of names and places. However, this morning God showed me something I’d not seen before. This passage in Joshua is a list of conquered tribes and kings, and the allotment of their land to the people of God . . .

“Now these are the kings of the land whom the people of Israel defeated and took possession of their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, with all the Arabah eastward . . . . And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak . . . .” (Joshua 12:1,7)

Other than writing down who owned what parcel of land, these records seem of little importance, but what if they were considered journals? What if a church or each Christian kept a journal recording their victories in Christ? What if this journal was read at regular intervals? Wouldn’t that be an encouragement? Re-reading these victories would also be a reminder so when the same temptations and problems came up again (and they do), conquering them would be easier.

The next attention-getting verses don’t offer the same positive results, at least at first. They say, “Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess. This is the land that yet remains . . . .’” (Joshua 13:1–2)

For Joshua, this was a to-do list. God told him to rout the evil out of their land, but much of that land remained as it was before. He needed to spur his people to action. Some of them became complacent, or didn’t see the dangers posed by these tribes, or had other reasons for not wanting to engage in war against their enemies.

Although I’ve done this on a very limited basis, this reminded me of taking time to write a list of problem areas, things that continually trip me up, and issues the Bible calls besetting sins. Those are “land yet to be conquered” and need a determined effort. Since I know that Jesus is my Savior and I cannot save myself, this list has to be a prayer list. After praying about a particular temptation, or about any persistent sin, God has a way of cleansing it out of my life. Sometimes I’ve given my list to my husband and he intercedes for me also.

The NT reading and the one from Psalm 52 gave me a couple items to put on that prayer list. The first one is specific, but the root of it takes a backhand to my pride: “Did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.” (2 Corinthians 11:7–8) I’m not preaching, but I do have a problem in some areas with humbling myself so others can be exalted.

The psalmist begins with another challenge: “Why do you brag of evil, ‘Big Man’? God’s mercy carries the day.” (Psalm 52:1, The Message). While I rarely brag of evil, I do like to brag. Pride again, but this verse convicts me. I may not be bragging about evil, but in bragging about anything, the bragging becomes an evil. Another item for my prayer list.

The third one is from these verses: “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.” (Psalm 52:8–9)

Trusting God’s love is easier than being continually thankful for it. I’m not sure Satan keeps whispering his original lie to me (God doesn’t really love you) and I buy it, or if I take God for granted, or what is going on, but I suspect by persisting in prayer about this need to express gratitude will be God’s way of getting to the root of it.

But I cannot pray all day . . .

A radio preacher shared that that the prayer needs he sees create a list that would have him praying 24/7 and still not be able pray for everyone. My list is almost like that. Today’s devotional reading offers a suggestion for those in this situation, but before adding that suggestion, a few passages of Scripture help me with the overwhelming part, the part that hits me with, “Don’t pray at all . . . this is too much, go do something else.”

First of all, God notices the needs and issues as we do. His prayer list is much longer than mine. He sees issues all over the world, and at one point in history, His prophet lamented . . .  

Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. (Isaiah 59:14–16)

No one to intercede. This is the way of us. We are sinners who so easily think of ourselves. Intercession is about others, and if left to my own ambitions, I might not pray at all. God knows this, and this failure and falling short is the reason He sent Jesus Christ to die for me. As Isaiah said, “His own arm brought salvation.” That points to Jesus and my response is one of awe . . .

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:31–34)

Because Jesus intercedes for me, and because the Spirit of Christ lives in me, intercession is part of the way I think. Needs and issues burden my heart to pray. People ask for prayer and I want to do that for them. Samuel felt the same way and his example offers some instruction . . .

And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel . . . And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. (1 Samuel 7:8–13)

The lamb offered by him points forward to the Lamb of God in whose name I pray. The enemy that threatened Israel points forward to the evil one, Satan, who threatens me, even as I pray. But the God who thunders and has defeated that enemy is the same God today. His hand is against my enemy all the days of my life – even as that enemy tries to convince me that prayer is too much work.

As I pray for others, I can ask for such things as “the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of hearts enlightened to know the hope to which God has called them, the riches of His glorious inheritance offered them, and the immeasurable greatness of His power toward all who believe.” (Ephesians 1:16–21)

As for the solutions to being overwhelmed by a long list, it is simple: “Whenever a person or issue comes to mind, ask God: ‘Is this for me?’ and listen for the Spirit who says, ‘Yes.’ If there is no response from Him, then trust God to lay that need on the heart of others.”

God is practical. I must pray, but He also knows that 24/7 involves many other responsibilities!

Seek God’s face

Sometimes I call it a “grocery list” a name that reflects a list of ‘gimmes’ or things I want God to do for me. Very often these requests do not reflect faith in God’s provision, but an anxiety that God is not going to take care of me. However, Jesus says . . .

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:31–34)

I know what it means to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, yet today’s devotional reading uses this verse and tells me to seek more of God Himself. This goes deeper than any other ‘gimme’ on my list.

The Bible has many injunctions to do seek God, such as “Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!” (Psalm 119:2–3) and “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.” (2 Chronicles 15:2)

How does a person seek God? What does it look like? Hebrews 11:6 says if anyone wants to “draw near to God” that person “must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

This indicates a need for faith, but also suggests that God is able to make Himself known to those whose hearts are set on knowing Him. How can this be described? On a human level, I’ve tried to get to know people who didn’t want to be known. They would not talk about themselves or tell me what they liked and didn’t like, what their hopes were, and what they thought about anything, never mind if they cared or not about having a relationship with me or anyone else.

God is not like that. He invites interaction and intimacy. He bids me come to Him and tell Him all about whatever is on my heart. However, He also tells me about Himself. Seeking Him mainly involves reading what He has revealed in His Word. While I can seek the hand of God in His world and see His incredible creativity, I can also see the mess that humanity has made of it. I can also see the heart of God in His people. Christians do reflect the Lord Jesus Christ, not perfectly but sometimes with loving clarity. Yet we are sinners all, and that reflection can be muddied by sin and a disappointment if we exclusively seek God in that way.

Hughes suggests prayer. As I talk to God, He establishes an intimacy that goes far beyond being like a genie in a bottle. His Word says He inhabits the praises of His people. Lately, I’ve been spending much more time praising God with choruses and offering Him thanks for His goodness.

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! (Psalm 105:1–4)

Praise and thanksgiving are Christian disciplines. While they come more easily to some than others, both take practice, particularly when life goes sideways. Yet by directing my thoughts away from my ‘gimme’ list and toward Him when I pray, He makes me more aware of His presence. While He is not ‘visible’ to my eyes, His face becomes more visible to my heart.