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Lord, Hear Our Prayer

2/4/2025

Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus often took time to go to a quiet place to commune with God. It was our Savior’s way of connecting with his Father, and our model for making it a priority to be in constant communication with the One who loves us and who holds all power in his hand.

While we plan to achieve certain goals for this brand new year, God’s wisdom tells us that we need to bring all that we hope for to God in prayer.

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9, NLT).

As we look around us, the world has become more chaotic, more uncaring, and tumultuous, but let’s not give in to the temptation to turn away from prayer, or from God. Let us not step off the path. Now, more than ever, we need the steady hand of our Savior to direct and guide us.

Perhaps, we don’t have what we think are the “right words” to approach God’s throne of grace. But the amazing thing is that he tells us to come just as we are. For it is in these moments that “…the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:26-28, NLT).

Be encouraged that God knows the groaning of our hearts and the stirrings of our spirits. Know that our God neither slumbers nor sleeps. Nothing catches God by surprise, and certainly nothing slips by him. In his time, God will fix what needs to be fixed, and dismantle what needs to be dismantled.

God is waiting for us to come to him in prayer. God invites us saying:   “ …  if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NLT).

Even when words do not escape our lips, surely we can say, “Lord, hear our prayer.”

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we have so much to pray for, and it seems our busyness crowds out the longings of our hearts. Pull us away to a quiet place where we can hear your heart, and listen to the tender whisperings of your Spirit. Give us a heart to worship and adore you. Give us a heart to love our neighbor, as ourselves. Give us a heart to shine your light wherever we are, and give glory to you in all things. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

                                                                                                              ©M©dytations 2025

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Good News

2/4/2025

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

Imagine yourself sitting in the synagogue in Nazareth that day. You expect the usual religious ritual—prayers, readings from the scrolls, and the chanted responses of those assembled. Today, however, a young homegrown rabbi who has just finished a well-received teaching/healing circuit in nearby Capernaum, is in the house. Given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, he carefully unwinds it, searches for Chapter 61 and reads its opening lines:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.”

What could be good about living under oppression? What could be good about being poor, or sick, or not envisioning a hopeful future (literally or figuratively)?

Nothing really.

Yet, Jesus dressed in garments of righteousness and empowered by the zeal of the Holy Spirit declares:

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed
    and announce that the time has come
    when the Lord will save his people.”
                                          (Luke 4:18-19, GNT)

To be sure, this passage of Scripture from the prophet Isaiah (61:1-2a) was read in the synagogue hundreds of times before. Yet, there was something radically different about the message this time. It was authoritative. It was revolutionary. It was real.

At this reading, the words took on the significance they were meant to convey. Rabbis usually interpreted this Isaiah prophecy as the mission and ministry of the Messiah who was to come.

The audience was mesmerized. When Jesus takes his seat, he further declares: “This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read” (Luke 4:21, GNT).

Every person under the sound of Jesus’ voice was included—those in the inner court of the synagogue, and those in its outer court.

Today…

Sit up and take note we who listen. The Word becomes flesh before our very eyes. The Scriptures are trumpeted in our ears. Jesus declares that Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled, and we are hearers of God’s Good News!

The good news is that God chose and commissioned Jesus to accomplish and fulfill his will. The Messiah is here!

The good news is that we have an advantage over our enemy going into battle. We have an advocate—our God fights for us, and yes, we know, even before the end, that we win!

How our attitudes would change if we truly believed that “if God is for us, who can be against us.” We would meet every challenge, as just that, a challenge. We would not yield to the mental gymnastics the devil plays in our heads, so that we doubt God’s Word.

Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus presents a God who very actively works on behalf of his people in every area of our lives. Clearly, only he is our Savior.

In a world that often aims to keep us spiritually and physically impoverished; blind to the opportunities and blessings God offers; oppressed by doubts of our self-worth; confused about who is in control; and denies us birthright as children of a Heavenly King, Jesus’ words are indeed Good News.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, even now, fill us with your Spirit that we might share the Good News. You, Lord, are the hope of every nation, the joy that makes our life worth living. We worship you and give you praise. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

                                                                                                              ©M©dytations 2025

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Fine Wine

1/19/2025

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

Let’s hear it for mothers! (And yes, to be politically correct or inclusive, one should include aunts and grandmas, big sisters, and the like. But just this once…let’s hear it for mothers!) They are the ones who navigate colic and the spit-ups, who record their child’s first word and add it proudly to the lexicon, the ones who kiss the boo-boos, and make everything all right.

Mary, Jesus’ mother, no doubt had all these mama moments. Yet, unlike other mothers, she had an angelic visitation, heard a message about her child from shepherds, received precious gifts from a group of wise men, and witnessed a prophetic utterance over her son. Not fully understanding everything that God would do, she pondered these experiences, and kept them tucked in her heart.

Fast forward to a wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11), a joyous affair where the free-flowing wine runs out as the guests make merry. Observing this fiasco in the making, Mary goes to her son, now a grown young man. She, knowing that he is the fount of every blessing, entreats him to fix the situation. Not that she has seen him perform any miracles, but she knows deep inside, perhaps by a mother’s intuition, that the time is now.
Jesus replied, “Mother, my time hasn't yet come! You must not tell me what to do” (John 2:4, CEV).
Mary is certainly not discouraged by Jesus’ response because she immediately tells the servants: “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do” (v.5).
Her faith made her press forward. She knew the divine nature that resided in Jesus, and she knew her son…
Jesus then tells the servants to fill six huge water jars with water and take some to the man in charge of the feast.  The water had now changed into wine, and the man, marveling at its excellent quality, complimented the bridegroom for saving the best wine for last!

That was Jesus’ first miracle. Indeed, it has significance for our own lives. We may find ourselves coming up short in many areas. We may run out of provision, patience, ideas. We may even find ourselves on the brink of catastrophic failure. Yet, if we turn to our source, as Mary did; if we do what Jesus tells us to do, we will receive abundant blessings.

Truly the extravagance of our Lord was on full display. Remember Jesus tells us: ”I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness” (John 10:10, GNT).

God wants us to have an abundant life. And so he gives us the choicest gifts, in unexpected ways. Yet, we must acknowledge Jesus as Savior, and be obedient to his Word. Blessed are the mothers who lead us to follow God.

PRAYER: You, Lord, never change. Yet you can change our circumstances in the blink of an eye. Help us to trust you and to respond to your bidding no matter how far-fetched it may seem. Bless those mothers who introduce us to you. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

                                        ©M©dytations 2025

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Callled....

1/8/2025

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

This is a new year, and God is already doing new things. Unlike us who make resolutions and struggle to keep them, God’s plans for us have always been firm. Long, long ago God ordained that he would call us back to himself… to redeem us, his people, through the shed blood of his Son, Jesus Christ.

And so, God calls us in many ways: God calls us out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9); God calls us to follow him (Matthew 4:19); to be a light to those who do not know him (Matthew 5:14-16); and to tell of his excellent greatness (Psalm 150:2).

When God calls us to salvation, he makes our hearts receptive to the nudging of the Holy Spirit so we can say “Yes” to Jesus’ offer of salvation.
Recently, two dear friends were called home to glory. Both knew the voice of the Savior. At an early age he called them to salvation. Later, he called each into lay ministry. And, in his final call, he called them to be with him because their mission here was completed.

Many times, even after we have accepted Christ, we struggle with the call of God on our lives. We super analyze it. Am I good enough? Do I know enough Scripture? Can I be a credible witness? What if I make mistakes?

While questions will swirl around in our minds, know this: God has given us everything we need to live in holiness (2 Peter 1:3) and to carry out the tasks he has assigned us.

The prophet Isaiah tells us of God’s great love for us and how he demonstrates it. God says:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…
(Isaiah 43:1-3, NKJV)

Did you notice these things… whatever we are called to may not be a cake walk, but God promises to be with us every step of the way. Did you notice, too, that God’s call is personal? That’s why he “called you by your name.” Don’t look around at Bob or Susan, Ramon or Tasha, Ali or Choi. God wants you!

And if you are still wavering, God presents his heavenly identification:

I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…

Such a declaration ought to make us sit up and take notice. We are important to God.

When we are called, as in tasked with an assignment, remember that we are God’s people on whom he has placed his seal. Let us then answer promptly, and with confidence, knowing that he who began a good work in us will perfect and complete it until the day Christ returns (Philippians 1:6).

PRAYER: Ever-calling God, teach us to listen for your voice amid the strident sounds of this busy world. Remind us that we are yours, and that you call us by name. Make us obedient to your voice and receptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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A Refuge,... New Year's Day

1/2/2025

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

Armed with new resolutions and clean slates, we welcome 2025, perhaps as a year filled with endless possibilities, or tremendous challenges. Depending on how you wrapped up the old year, you may hope you never see the likes of a year like that again, or you may reach out to God, asking him to be a refuge for the next 365 days and beyond.

When we are confronted with difficult or overwhelming circumstances, the writer tells us boldly in Psalm 46:

God is our mighty fortress,
always ready to help
    in times of trouble.
                           (Psalm 46:1, CEV)

So we have a place of refuge from the storms of life. We also have a God who stands ready to help, even before we call. And because we are assured of God’s promise, we can turn off the panic button and declare “…we won’t be afraid” (v.2).

If you have lived long enough, you know that no disease cripples us more than fear. Over and over, the Bible comforts us with the words, “Fear not!”

None of us know what this year holds. Yet, we can adopt an attitude that is willing to watch God work in our world. Political parties and their policies can’t thwart the plans of our God. And principalities and powers must eventually bend to the will of the Creator of the universe.

God brings wars to an end
    all over the world.
He breaks the arrows,
shatters the spears,
    and burns the shields.
                                  (v.9)

But God’s concern is not just the chaos in our world, but the upheavals in our lives. He desires that we know him more intimately. And for those pundits who would bring rhetoric, and philosophy, and try to reason out the things of the Spirit:

Our God says, “Calm down,
    and learn that I am God!
All nations on earth
    will honor me.”
                           (v.10)

We would do well to learn the lessons that God is teaching us in this New Year: Trust God, honor and obey him. Our salvation is found in God alone and nothing and no one will ever take God’s place. God has promised to be our refuge and he has never gone back on his word.

Yes, in this new season we can declare with the psalmist:

The Lord All-Powerful
    is with us.
The God of Jacob
    is our fortress.
                        (v.11)

PRAYER: God, in this New Year, be our guide. Help us to depend on you. Let us rest in your love and know that your righteous right arm is there to help us in whatever situation we find ourselves. Be our refuge, be our strength, be our Comforter, our healer, our friend. But most of all, be our God, and let us be your people. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

                                                                                                        ©M©dytations 2025

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