 The following devotional is intentionally written by a fictitious character to illustrate common missteps in Christian resources. It is not an endorsement of these ideas, but a tool to help you practice discernment. Prayer: As Easy as Breathing by Quill Meanwell Now that you have read the devotional, it’s time to examine it. Rather than immediately pointing out concerns, let’s begin with guiding questions to help you practice discernment for yourself.
Commentary Quill addresses a common struggle —prayer can be hard. The very purpose of the devotional -- to make prayer easy — contradicts Bible passages which show that prayer can be challenging. In Romans 15:30, Paul asks them to “strive together with him in prayers”. Jesus tells the disciples to “watch and pray” when they had trouble staying awake (Matthew 26:41). Scripture presents prayer as dependent, personal, and intentional rather than effortless and involuntary. Genesis 2 highlights the creation of mankind in the image of God. To emphasize the difference between man and the rest of creation, we see that God forms man from dust and breathes life into him. Nothing in Genesis 2 suggests that breathing is the way in which God expects man to communicate with him. Likewise, the verse in Acts 17 is not from a passage that teaches us how to pray or that our breathing is praying. Paul is speaking to pagan philosophers to explain God’s sovereign sustaining power and our dependence on him. Quill’s use of these two verses is an example of “prooftexting”. Prooftexting is the practice of lifting a verse out of its context to support an idea. As you read or listen to Christian resources, it is important to take the time to go to Scripture and read the full context of verses when they are quoted. Curiously, Quill does not give us a verse that would seem to support the claim that breathing produces the same sounds that are in God’s personal name. The concept of breathing as praying has its roots in some strands of Jewish and Eastern mysticism. The practice of repeating several words and combining it with breathing techniques attempts to facilitate access to a higher power. Quill uses some of those concepts but reinvents them with Christian lingo (calm your soul, ushered into God’s presence). Breathing as praying minimizes God’s attributes in several ways. First, his personal, covenant name is reduced to nothing more than an involuntary bodily function. This pulls our focus away from the reverence that is due his name. God’s sovereignty is diminished when we treat communication with him as an automatic reflex, rather than an intentional act of humble worship. Finally, Quill tells us that breath combined with words will bring us into God’s presence. This leads us to think that God is not omnipresent and that we must do something specific to draw him to us. While Quill certainly means well by trying to help us with our prayer lives, these techniques can lead us away from a godly discipline of prayer. If praying were as easy as breathing, it would no longer be necessary to study examples of prayers in the Bible to enrich our prayer lives. Repeating phrases in combination with a special breathing technique may lead us to think that it is our work (our breathing) that is key to a relationship with God. Our frustration with our attempts to pray should lead us to acknowledge our weaknesses and rely on God’s strength. Prayer is not easy. There are not simple solutions, but we do have a sufficient Savior. Jesus understands that we are weak and easily distracted. He is sitting at the right hand of God as our intercessor. Because of Jesus we can actively pray with confidence, despite our imperfections. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 See also: Cookie Crumb Prayers, Biblical Meditation Part 1, Devoted Dorcas Part 1
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 Worry has stolen many hours of sleep from me. And yet the next morning, the worries are still there. And then I have to face the day tired, grumpy, and still anxious. I know that the Bible says “Do not be anxious” — but it’s hard not to be. I can’t just flip a switch and end the tornado of anxious thoughts and emotions. I have found that meditating on Matthew 6:25-34 helps redirect my thoughts.
Jesus starts by telling us, “Do not be anxious,” and repeats it two more times. This is comforting for us because it shows that he knew that his listeners (and future followers) would struggle with being anxious. Jesus understood that we would be pulled in different directions and distracted from following him wholeheartedly. But Jesus doesn’t only tell us not to be anxious — he also reminds us why we don’t need to be anxious. Jesus uses several questions and two object lessons as he teaches. Earlier in his sermon, Jesus had instructed the crowds to pray to “our Father in heaven” and to ask for “daily bread” (Matthew 6:9,11). Now he is reminding us that our heavenly Father even provides sustenance for the birds that he created. We are created in our heavenly Father’s image, so why wouldn’t he provide for us also? To wrap up the lesson from the birds, Jesus reminds us that we are not able to extend our lives by worrying. Rather than being distracted with worry over what we can’t control, we can remember how our heavenly Father delights to provide for all of His creation. The second object lesson uses another word picture from nature. Just as the birds “neither sow nor reap,” the lilies “neither toil nor spin” — and yet, God clothes them with glory greater than the richest, wisest king of Israel. The Greek word for “consider” indicates that we should watch and learn. The lilies can teach us about God! This argument ends with another sober observation —our worry reveals little faith. After the object lessons from nature, Jesus asks us to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. He doesn’t say to work harder to increase our righteousness. He had already told the crowds in Matthew 5:20 that they wouldn’t be able to enter the kingdom unless they were more righteous than the Pharisees. He also warned them about pridefully exhibiting their righteousness in Matthew 6:1. Our righteousness will always be tainted with sin and will never be enough. We need to seek Jesus because in Him, we are made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was sinless and fulfilled all righteousness. Because of his perfect obedience, we can rest in his righteousness. This is amazing news! Our confidence is not in the strength of our faith or our ability to control our lives -- our confidence is in the object of our faith. Jesus is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). Through Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension, we have been given everything we need. Why would we be anxious about things such as food, drink, clothes, or our bodies? Why would he not graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32). We can easily be pulled away by fear of the future, but we know that God is sovereign. When we take a close look at Jesus’ words, we realize he didn’t tell us to never think about clothing, food, or our bodies. It isn’t wrong to be concerned about those things. Jesus isn’t saying we should sit back, relax, and forget about providing for ourselves and our families. Rather, Jesus says, “Seek first.” Seeking his kingdom is the first priority. When our thoughts start to spiral out of control, we can reorient our compass. So what does it look like to seek his kingdom when we’re staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m., when our bodies are exhausted, but our minds refuse to rest? It may look less like having the “right” thoughts and more like bringing our anxious ones honestly before our Father. Seeking his kingdom in that moment might mean turning our worry into prayer. They may not be polished or eloquent prayers, but simple ones. Heavenly Father, you know what worries me, and you know what I need. You see tomorrow more clearly than I do. Help me trust you for what I need each day. Jesus doesn’t call us to deny the reality of our needs or pretend that tomorrow doesn’t matter. He invites us to remember who reigns over the future. When anxiety presses in, we are reminded again that we are not sovereign—but God is. And the One who rules the kingdom is also our Father. Worry leaves us weary. Jesus offers something better. He offers rest grounded in his righteousness, not our performance. He provides peace rooted in God’s provision, not our foresight. When sleep doesn’t come and anxiety lingers, we can return—again and again—to the truth that our lives are held by him. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 Also see: Always Here, Winter Glory  Our Father in — wait, did I switch laundry yet?
Heaven, hallowed be your name — I can’t believe I called that student by the wrong name yesterday! Your kingdom come ….what time is my dentist appointment tomorrow? where was I? Oh yeah, your will be — your will — I’m so tired, I can’t even finish a complete thought. How can I claim to help others when I can’t even pray right? on earth as it… oh wow, I only have five more minutes before I have to leave for work. In your name I pray, Amen Distractions. Fatigue. Busyness. Messy, imperfect prayers. Our fragmented thoughts seem more like the “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” story than the Lord’s model prayer. But Jesus didn’t only teach the disciples to pray like the model prayer in Matthew 6. He also told them a story to teach them to “always pray and not lose heart”. He knew they would be discouraged and disheartened. The parable of the persistent widow was for them (and us, too). Luke 18 has a lot of interesting details. But the main point is clear: we are to be encouraged and not give up praying. After the story about the widow and the judge, Jesus reminds us that God is not like the unrighteous judge that gets tired of the widow’s continual requests. God gives “justice to his elect”. That’s us! The elect, his chosen ones, his people. His children who would stumble through praying. He doesn’t get tired of hearing us cry day and night. He wants us to keep coming to him. The story about the widow reminds us that prayer is about persistence, not perfection. What does “not losing heart” look like as we also try to be faithful in our daily responsibilities? I don’t always get it right, but these are some habits that have helped me keep praying throughout the day:
Although I’ve made some progress by incorporating these habits, there are still seasons when days pass without prayer. Some days my prayers are eloquent, polished, and focused. Other days they feel more like the mouse looking for a straw, crayons, and masking tape—only to end up right back where I started. And that’s okay. I know my cookie-crumb prayers are still received because James 5:16 reminds us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Our prayers are not heard because we pray well. They are powerful and effective because we are righteous. And we are not righteous because we have done everything right—we are righteous because God has made us righteous through what Christ did on the cross. Jesus stepped into our world to make us right with God. And when he ascended to heaven, he did not leave us without help. Even our weakest, crumb-sized prayers make a difference—not because of our words, but because the Holy Spirit is pleading for us at the throne. When words fail, Scripture reminds us: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 ALSO SEE: Finding Treasure in God’s Word Biblical Meditation Part 1 Biblical Meditation Part 2  Picture yourself as a guest at a wedding ceremony. Close your eyes and imagine the scene as the beautiful bride makes her spectacular entrance. Before the witnesses and God, the bride and groom proclaim their vows. Now you and the other guests go to the location for the reception. You are surrounded by friends and family as you wait eagerly for the newlywed couple to arrive. Think of the anticipation of the celebration to come, which will certainly include food and music! This eager anticipation mirrors our spiritual reality here and now as we await the return of our anointed Messiah, the Lamb who was slain! Let’s look at the imagery that Scripture uses to describe the church’s union with Christ. Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, Revelation 19:7 says the marriage of the Lamb “has come”, the bride “has made herself ready”, and “it was granted her”. These verbs are in the present perfect tense. The present perfect is used for actions that started in the past and are continuing into the present. This reflects the “already, not yet” tension that is present throughout Scripture. When verse 7 says the marriage “has come”, it means our union with our Groom is already a reality. Salvation is a present reality and a certain, future hope. Just like a bride and groom after the wedding ceremony, the church has been united with Christ.
What does the bridegroom see as he looks at us, his bride? He sees our wedding clothes -- “fine linen, bright and pure.” Where do these clothes come from? Verse 8 says “it was granted her”. This means it was given, delivered, or gifted to the bride. As his bride, we have been given these clothes. We did not do anything to earn or make the clothing. He gave this clothing to us as a free gift through the atoning sacrifice Christ provided through which his righteousness was imputed to us. We are already united with Christ with all the spiritual blessings that we have through faith in Him (Ephesians 1:3-10). We are waiting for the reception, the marriage supper of the Lamb and his Church. He has seen us, loved us, and covered us with the fine linen of a bride; we are his bride and the celebration is coming. Soon we will be rejoicing and feasting at the marriage supper of the Lamb! As our Groom promises: Surely, I am coming soon. Amen. (Revelation 22:12) SEE ALSO: Behold Him, We Sing  Welcome to my “book buffet”—a sampling of reads that have encouraged and challenged me in different ways. Each one offers something unique, from rich storytelling to practical biblical wisdom. Here’s a taste of four books I’ve enjoyed recently. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi This book surprised me. Although it isn’t marketed as Christian fiction, it carries a redemptive thread throughout. It blends all the ingredients of a savory read—drama, romance, mystery, and even touches of humor. The story weaves together the lives of the people in the town of Golden, centering on a stranger who quietly leaves a lasting impact. Most of the time, when I read fiction, I move steadily from page to page without stopping to admire the “scenery,” so to speak. But with this book, I found myself pausing—sometimes rereading entire paragraphs—just to savor the beauty of the author’s language and imagery. Impossible Christianity by Kevin DeYoung This book comes with quite the subtitle: Why Following Jesus Does Not Mean You Have to Change the World, Be an Expert in Everything, Accept Spiritual Failure, and Feel Miserable Pretty Much All the Time. The subtitle may be long, but the book itself is a quick read. Don’t let its size fool you—it offers plenty of substance to digest. With equal measures of encouragement and biblical conviction, DeYoung serves up a helpful perspective on pursuing godly living in a balanced and practical way. As we grow in spiritual disciplines, he reminds us that we don’t have to carry the burden of perfection. Time Out: The Gift of God of Youth Sport by John Perritt This book takes a thoughtful look at sports and stewardship. How can we use involvement in sports to wisely steward our time, resources, character, and bodies? How should parents evaluate their children’s participation in these activities? Perritt gives parents, coaches, and teens plenty to chew on as he serves up a balanced plate of both the redemptive aspects and the potential dangers of sports and physical activities. He brings an honest and nuanced perspective to this topic—something I found especially refreshing. The Lost Letters of Pergamum by Bruce Longenecker This is one I had to keep reminding myself was fiction. Longenecker skillfully blends historical and archaeological detail with imagined correspondence between two New Testament figures. As we read fragments of letters written by Luke and Antipas, we gain insight into the culture and structure of the Roman Empire in the first century. It’s a rich and immersive read that kept me engaged from beginning to end, even as I anticipated the bittersweet outcome. If you sample one of these “book buffet” selections, I’d love to hear what you think!
See also: How to Find Jesus in the Old Testament, Literarily by Kristie Anyabwile  Auhtor: K. LuceI sit to contemplate my value
A humanness gone askew Why this need to discover anew For what Jesus says is true What must I contemplate Christ already sealed my fate Always present those that hate But no need to take the bait Garden of Gethsemane Jesus suffered agony Through this rhapsody I seek my alchemy A chance to evaluate Deeply appreciate No need to dominate To Christ I gravitate Life so contradictory So full of trickery Why stay in misery In Jesus the victory Feel the stress Upon me press A big juicy mess For Jesus to Bless Like blood through pores Life choices a mind tours My wretchedness obscures What the Lord truly adores My soul is sorrowful I bare the weight and tremble In my core I feel reproachful Through this I must travel The challenge builds me new Resurrection I am too For once I felt askew And now I feel anew  Light and life
Created from nothing Formed and filled The garden temple Male and Female Pinnacle of creation Image and Likeness Skins and linen Made by the pattern Carried and raised The wilderness temple Anointed and consecrated For glory and beauty Priest and Intercessor Gold and silver Built for the Name Promised and fulfilled The mountain temple Established and prospered Given Wisdom and understanding King and Son Grace and truth Dwelt among us Uncreated and Unrecognized The Incarnated temple Destroyed and resurrected Entered through the veil Immanuel and Redeemer Majesty and Glory Reigning with the Father Ascended and enthroned The Greater Temple Fulfilling the covenant Once for all Mediator and High Priest One and many Born of water and Spirit Chosen and beloved The holy temple Living and Growing Joined with the cornerstone Saints and Sinners City and Bride Coming down from heaven Prepared and adorned The Lord and the Lamb Glorified and Exalted Dwelling with his people Light and Life |
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