Here is another prayer of John Baillie’s to begin our week and set the tone for the rest of the week:
Read More“O LORD, you are most wise, most great, and most holy. In wisdom and power and tender mercy you created me in your own image. You have given me this life, you have given me all I have, and you know where and how I live. You have surrounded me with gracious gifts and situations. You have written your law within my heart.
Read MoreWe are reflecting on the four creatures’ praise of God in Rev. 4:8: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Yesterday, we reflected on the significance of the way the four creatures are addressing God—“the Lord God almighty.” Today, let’s think about another description of God—“who was and who is and who is to come.”
Read MoreWe are going through the prayers/praises we see in the Book of Revelation. We began on the first one, which is, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come” (Rev. 4:8)! Yesterday, we talked about God’s holiness. Today, let’s reflect on the significance of the way the four creatures are addressing God—“the Lord God almighty.”
Read MoreAs we begin this week, let’s start with a morning prayer of John Baillie’s and incorporate it into our prayer for this week: “O GOD, you have proved your love for all people by sending us Jesus Christ our Lord, and you have illuminated our human life with the radiance of his presence. Thank you for this, your greatest gift. Thank you, God—
Read MoreAs this week draws to a close, I’d like to share with you an evening prayer of John Baillie’s: “O FATHER in heaven, who crafted my limbs to serve you and my soul to follow closely after you, with sorrow and repentance of heart I acknowledge before you the faults and failures of today. For too long I have tried your patience and too often I have betrayed your trust; yet you still want me to come to you with a humble heart, as I now do, imploring you to drown my sin in the sea of your infinite love.
Read MoreThe prayer we are reflecting on is Peter’s short doxology at the end of his epistle: “To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Pet. 3:18). Yesterday, we talked about God’s glory. Today, let’s continue our reflection on God’s glory. This doxology teaches us that God’s glory is eternal—“both now and to the day of eternity.” The expression, “the day of eternity,” is rare. But it seems like it’s an equivalent of “forever.” (Maybe what is in view is the seventh day of God’s creation. It has been observed that only the seventh day lacks the refrain, “And there was evening and there was morning, the Xth day.” After His work of creation, God entered His eternal rest, which the seventh day represents. The seventh day was the day of eternity, as it were.)
Read MoreYesterday, we began our reflection on Peter’s short doxology at the end of his epistle: “To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Pet. 3:18). We talked about how beneficial it is to have doxology as a regular part of our prayer. Today’s let’s reflect on the content of this doxology. In it, Peter ascribes glory to God. The Greek word for glory (doxa) can be defined as “brightness, splendor, radiance” as well as “magnificence and greatness” and “fame, recognition, renown, honor, prestige” (BDAG). Glory belongs to God above all else. This doesn’t just mean that God is the most glorious Being of all; He is the essence and fullness of glory. Everything and everyone that can be considered glorious shines with a “borrowed ray” from God’s glory.
Read MorePeter ends his second epistle with a doxology: “To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Pet. 3:18). Doxology is an expression of praise to God for His glory. The word itself is made up of “doxa” (glory) and “logos” (saying). This doxology, which ascribes glory to God, is as straightforward as any doxology can be. This doxology is a good reminder that doxology should be a regular element of our prayer. Of course, a doxology doesn’t have to be only about God’s glory. We can praise God for other attributes of God, such as His holiness, grace, mercy, wisdom, power, etc. Doxology is an appropriate way of ending our prayer. Ending our prayer with a doxology reminds us of what the chief end of our prayer should be. We may pray out of desperation and all we can think about is just getting out of our present predicament. We may simply pray for certain things for ourselves and our loved ones. That’s natural and understandable. But if we are to eat and drink and do all things for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31), the glory of God should be the chief end especially of our prayers. (This is why we end our worship service with a doxology.)
Read MoreSome of you thanked me profusely for the prayer I shared with your last Friday. So, I thought it would be good to share with you one of John Baillie’s morning prayers as we begin a new week. I hope this will also bless you and set the tone for your coming week!
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