Singing Our Cares to God

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

SUNDAY, April 14
Psalm 4

The inscription at the beginning of this psalm reminds us that these words are intended not simply to be read in silence but sung aloud. In so doing, they inform us in the way of discipleship to God—not only in how we relate to God, but how we engage others in our orbit.

Right off the bat, the psalmist is unafraid to air frustration to God, pleading for relief. But they’re equally free in their critiques of their fellow believers, which tells us that almost as valuable as talking to God is talking about God to others. The psalmist declares in faith the Lord’s ability to hear and respond, then later offers instruction to others on how to engage with God—not in denial of their predicament, but in the midst of it. The psalm finally ends with prayers for light and joy, and an intent to rest.

Lord, give us the freedom to pray with our whole selves—doubts, fears, joys, and everything. AMEN.

PRAYER FOCUS: COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT

He Loves as He Disciplines

MONDAY, April 15
Isaiah 46:8-13

One of my favorite actors, Andre Braugher, passed away late last year. He was known for playing stern, sometimes combative authority figures, but his last major role was as Captain Raymond Holt on the sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Braugher played Holt as comically stern but with a loving undertone. His subordinates looked up to him, craved his approval, and eventually coaxed him out of his shell. Throughout eight seasons and 153 episodes, Holt went to increasingly absurd lengths to help each of them out in times of trouble.

That’s the character I sense in these words. The Lord is speaking through Isaiah to chastise Israel for their rebelliousness, but he does so in love. Rather than focusing on his displeasure with their behavior, he wants them to focus on his righteous omniscience and omnipotence—that he knows all, can do all, and therefore will fulfill his promises and purposes to demonstrate his loving concern.

Lord, remind us of who you are and what you’re doing. Keep giving us opportunities to join you in your work. Amen.

Just Like That, He Appears

TUESDAY, April 16
Luke 24:36-43

Have you ever been hanging out with a group of friends talking about another friend who’s not in the room, and then that person suddenly shows up in the middle of the conversation? It’s kind of weird and jarring, isn’t it?

That’s exactly what Jesus’s disciples experienced, except their disbelief was heightened by their friend’s recent, brutal, public death. Yet now here he is, showing up almost like nothing ever happened. Jesus knew their disbelief could only be tempered by examining his own body, so he shows them the scars from the nails in his hands and feet, then eventually gets something to eat (because ghosts can’t eat, right?).

We humans are both spirit and body, and spiritual truths cannot, nor should they, be divorced from the embodiment of those truths. Everything is under Jesus’s Lordship—even our battle scars and hunger pangs.

Lord, teach us to love you and follow you with the whole of who we are, body, soul, mind, and spirit. AMEN.

PRAYER FOCUS: SAFE LANDING FOR REFUGEES

When the Lesson Leaves the Building

WEDNESDAY, April 17
Luke 24:44-49

Last year our city’s educational system was on hold during a teachers’ strike. For some especially dedicated teachers, that meant finding a way to connect with students outside of class so they could continue their learning. Whether it’s on a Zoom call or meeting in an informal environment like a bookstore or coffee shop, meeting with a teacher in a different context is valuable because it reminds you that the knowledge you’ve gleaned can’t be confined to one place. It’s applicable wherever you go.

That’s part of what Jesus is trying to tell his disciples when he meets with them post-resurrection. He reviews Scripture with them and helps them contextualize what they’d recently witnessed with the things he’d been teaching them. More important, he tells them that they have valuable roles to play as witnesses. Finally, he tells them to be still and await further instructions.

Lord, help us to remember who you are. Help us carry what you’ve given us to the places where we operate. Amen.

The Look Before the Leap

THURSDAY, April 18
Acts 3:1-10

Before Peter and John healed the beggar by the temple gate, they asked for his attention. The man was used to being overlooked and rejected, his expectations lowered by constant disappointment. Before he could receive the gift of healing by attempting to walk, he had to first believe it was possible, which meant lifting his eyes—both literally and figuratively—toward the source of his help. This suggests that the healing he needed was not purely physical, but also emotional. His inability to walk for his whole life also impaired his ability to connect with people.

For many well-adjusted, productive children and adults across the autism spectrum the idea of extended eye contact is uncomfortable and unwelcome. That said, Peter and John were following the Spirit’s leading in their attempts to connect with the man on a heart level before attempting to facilitate his healing. Because sometimes, before we can be healed, we must first be seen.

Lord, help us to see others as you see them. AMEN.

PRAYER FOCUS: RELEASE OF OUR NEED TO CONTROL

I’ve Got the Power

FRIDAY, April 19
Acts 3:11-21

Growing up, I heard stories about the Power Team, a group of evangelists who used displays of physical strength to demonstrate God’s power. They were effective during their heyday because demonstrations of power got people’s attention. More important, they tried to direct that attention toward their true source of power, their relationship with God.

I gather that texts like these were the blueprint for their success because that’s exactly what Peter and John do here. I even think Peter might have been a little sarcastic in asking, “Why does this surprise you?” A man who was lame by birth was just jumping around for joy. Of course they were surprised! That’s big news! But Peter doesn’t allow his team to soak in the glory and attention. He wisely retells the story of Jesus, forcing the crowd to consider their own complicity in Jesus’s crucifixion, and more important, he offers them a chance to repent and to reconnect with God for their own healing and restoration.

Lord, give us opportunities to join you in your work, giving you glory in the process. Amen.

As the Deer Pants for Water

SATURDAY, April 20
Isaiah 41:17-20

Mirages happen for two main reasons. Variations in air temperature create layers with different densities. That causes light to bend, creating the optical illusion of a shimmering reflection that looks like water.

But that physiological explanation doesn’t address the real reason why people see mirages in the desert: It’s because they’re thirsty, and it’s natural to long for something we need but don’t have yet.

Through Isaiah’s prophetic language, the Lord promises that his provision is not a mirage, but a real answer to the longing that his people faced. This passage is a short vignette in the overall theme of Isaiah 41, which is of the Lord faithfully equipping, commissioning, authorizing, and encouraging his people to join him in the work of redemption and shalom.

In these few verses, God is telling us that his presence is just as vital as water, and that we should long for him as we do our next refreshing sip.

Lord, help us to turn to you as the source of our very life. AMEN.

PRAYER FOCUS: YOUTH DISCERNING THEIR NEXT STEPS