January 3, 2026
I lived many years only talking to God when I was in trouble or in need. I had no idea how selfish and pointless such prayers were. God wants prayers with depth, volume, and power. He wants our prayers to be for others, for worlds beyond our own small world. Self-centered requests are not where God wants a mature prayer life to land. We’re grown up and our prayer life should reflect that. The Bible encourages us to pray for political leaders, world peace, the poor, hungry, and lost, just to name a few situations.
It is important to develop a disciplined prayer life, making certain your first prayer of the week is not self-focused. Our current culture requires a lot of help from God. There are wars and rumors of war all around the globe. In America (and other nations), there is division and a level of unkindness and suspicion that feels unprecedented. People question motives and are suspicious of everyone. Many blame churches, calling Christians names that are blatantly untrue. It is a media-driven campaign meant to destroy hope. God Himself is the true target. It is time for the church to step up, remember its calling, and draw a line in the sand.
Prayer
Lord God, sometimes I’m not sure what to do. We know the Bible is very clear about sin and clear about holding a standard. But what about the call to turn the other cheek? We know sticks and stones do not break bones, and name-calling can be ignored. It is a strange thing in America, especially for our older generation, to be called homophobic, racist, and uncharitable. The church has always been the answer for the hungry, the unclothed, and those seeking asylum. No matter how kind we want to be, no matter how we interpret “Love your neighbor as you love yourself,” we must take a stand on spiraling behaviors concerning abortion, sex change, and human trafficking. We pray for mercy, understanding, and a path where Your grace makes a way through all this dissension.
“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” —2 Timothy 2:23-24 NLT