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Father, I have in Christ the hope of glory.  Hallelujah!  When I was a boy, I always looked forward with great anticipation to Christmas.  I still do.  Maybe I am still a boy (my wife says it is so), but Christmas is such a special time. I was talking with a guy at work last week.  He and his wife are looking forward to a trip to Europe this summer, and we talked about their plans.  Because I rub elbows with so many in the university, I often encounter people looking forward to graduation or to the beginning of their…

Father, praise you for the inner power of joy that flows in me through Christ and through Christ alone. I proposed to Leanne at Christmas.  I was actually sick at the time and felt miserable, but when she said “yes,” my misery didn’t matter.  I rejoiced, and my mom threw a big dinner party to celebrate.  Later we had children.  Upon receiving news that we were pregnant with child #1 and then #2, and then #3, we called our friends and family because we couldn’t help it.  We were elated.  And nine months later, when Charissa, Matthew, and Rebekah were…

Father, by Your great grace, grant me an all-consuming love for Christ, a love that transforms not just my feelings but my life.    Everyone wants love, but few ever find it.  We talk about it.  We sing songs about it.  We write poetry about it.  We give seminars on it.  But much of what we call love is more like emotional candy.   Jesus speaks of love.  He says that love for God is the greatest commandment.  When He says this, He is not talking about the passions of a brief fling or the indulgence of earthly pleasure.  Indeed, the…

Lord, you test my heart by putting me under authority.  I wrestle with obedience.  But you are gracious.  Grant me a heart willing to yield to You above all and to those you have put over me.   Sometimes American movies can be predictable. A typical plotline goes something like this. A powerful authority perpetuates some injustice — let’s say racial discrimination. A common person gets caught up in the injustice and wants to change it. This person then stands proudly defiant against a corrupt system or a powerful leader, experiences many struggles, but in the end prevails. Events vindicate…

Father, I am weak and sinful apart from you.  I fall and fall again, and I don’t want that kind of life.  Grant my heart a right passion for you and grant me your view of my sin that I may repent when it is time to repent and pursue you in purity.   Sin has a revelatory power to it, for perhaps nothing shows the nature of our hearts more than our reaction to our own sin.  I have seen men have affairs against their wives and then defend their actions.  I have seen children lie to their parents…