What does it mean to be mature? or What does it mean when we tell someone to “grow up?” It doesn’t have anything to do with their age, but is more about their behavior and judgment. One definition of maturity is the ability to accept delayed gratification; to work on something for an extended period of time before seeing the results.

In a similar way as we become more mature in our Christian faith, we can begin to accept the struggles and challenges of being a Christian with the joy of knowing we will be rewarded in time. We accept those challenges out of love for God, and our fellow men and women. Paul writes in Romans 8:18, ” Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.”

Dear Lord, Help us become more mature Christians to take our suffering and struggles in faith, knowing that our future reward will be the peace of trusting you, and ultimately our eternal reward in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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There is a technique I have seen a couple times during concerts in large stadiums or shows, in the middle of one of the songs, the spotlights are randomly moving quickly around the stadium. What looks like hundreds of lights moving all around and then dramatically at one time, they all converge on the performer as he or she begins to sing.

This image comes to mind when I read Romans 11:36, “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever. Amen.”

Everything on earth including everyone, was created to put the attention on God and glorify him. We all need to remember this as we go about our activities and decision making. Are we putting the attention on God, and bringing glory, or “positive attention” to him?

Dear Lord, you created everything, including us, for your purposes and your glory. Help us remember in everything we do to bring glory to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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I have written in the past about Pride being the root of all sins, because sin is by definition self centered. For the same reason, Pride is also the cause of conflict in our lives with other people.

Proverbs 13:10 says, “Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.”

If you think about it, when we have conflict with another person, it is usually because we want something our way, and the other person has a different idea. The resistance to our self centered position causes the conflict. We may know our idea is better, based on experience, or we may be afraid of being being considered less intelligent if someone else’s idea is discussed, but most of the time being patient and listening before pushing our idea will be perceived as more intelligent and helpful. Proverbs 15:28 says, “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking.”

The Proverb contrasts pride with taking advice. Taking advice requires putting our opinion aside and listening to someone else’s. When two people are open to listen to the other, conflict can be softened, making room collaboration, and solutions that work for both.

Dear Lord, it is so easy for us to push our own ideas and wants above other peoples, but help us remember that the wise are confident not out of selfish pride, but out of faith in you. Help us live with this type of confidence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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The Bible is full of stories of people praying, praying for healing, for rescue, for revenge, for justice, for each other, for strength, for faith, for protection, for forgiveness, and many other things. Based upon the bible stories, we can pray for just about anything. I believe God wants us to pray to him with everything and anything that is on our mind and on our hearts, as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing,” remembering always to ask for things subject to God’s will.

I found one prayer particularly helpful for putting prayer in the right perspective. Daniel was praying for the people of Israel who were in captivity in Babylon. In Daniel 9:18-19 he prays, “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act!”

We don’t “deserve” anything from God. When we pray for the accomplishment of our dreams and desires, or the overcoming of our obstacles, we should pray like Daniel, not asking because we have earned or deserve what we want, but because of God’s mercy and love for us.

That doesn’t mean we should be reluctant to ask. God puts dreams and desires in our hearts, and puts obstacles in our way, for our good and for his glory. He wants us to ask. Matthew 7:7 Jesus says, “ask and it will be given to you.” and Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Dear Lord, You have power over all things, the power to provide us anything we might want. Help us find your will for our lives, and come to you continuously asking for your help to do the great things you have put in our hearts; Not because we deserve it, but because of your mercy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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I recently saw a Swedish proverb written on a small tag it that said, “Love me when I least deserve it, because that is when I really need it.”

As Christians, we need to remember that sentiment; Not waiting until people deserve it before loving them. Paul tells us that God did just that for us. Romans 5:8 says, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

God didn’t wait for us to solve all our sinful problems before loving us enough to save us. We need to do the same, and love people first, even when they have sin problems, like all of us do.

Dear Lord, you presented the perfect example for us by sending Jesus to save us while we were undeserving sinners. Then Jesus showed the same example by loving and caring for those who had their own sin problems. Help us follow this example and love first rather waiting for people to deserve it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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