Press the arrow to listen to the Morriston Welsh Choir of Swansea, Wales sing “I Hear Thy Welcome Voice” as you read today’s devotion about Wales and other precious things.

Scripture
Again,the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46

Observation
In just one sentence an unspeakable story is told.

Enter a merchant. He is like a diamond merchant from Amsterdam in a blue pin stripped suit, fingering through trays of precious stones. His eye can appraise in nanoseconds.

In the tray of precious things, he finds one that takes his breath away. He staggers not at the price but at the beauty and perfection. In all of his shopping trips he has never seen a stone like this.

He returns home, empties his accounts, cashes in his life insurance and his 401k to scrape together the funds to purchase that one stone. He leaves all his money behind and leaves with greater delight at the stone he has purchased.

Who is the merchant? What is the stone? Why such joy?

The merchant is God. He is the owner of great wealth searching for precious things.

The stone is us, not you or me, but all of us together as the church. Of course, when he finds us, we don’t look like the church, we look like the world. But he knows diamonds in the rough and sees in us what we cannot see in ourselves.

The price paid is how God bankrupted heaven just to purchase a wife for his son.

Application
The point of this story is not to tell how valuable we are, but rather how we are to value others. If God can see past our limitations to see potential and then is willing to sacrifice all to develop it, then we should have eyes to see what others do not and to give what others will not give to reveal it. The Father calls us to sacrifice everything for the treasure of Christ at work in human lives.

Prayer
Father, today I’m going to Blaenau Ffestiniog in Gwynedd, Wales. The story is amazing of how we all came to go to this little Welch village. But I ask that I would have eyes to see the pearl in this place and would be willing to sacrifice for it. Amen.

Press the arrow to listen to Desperation Band lead “Promises” while reading about uncomfortable prayer.

Scripture
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:7-11

Observation
There are layers of prayer, but most are unexplored because we give up too soon. To press upward to the next level of prayer, we are required to pass through chilly emotions. We often recoil from them, because prayer doesn’t feel comfortable or simple any longer. More emotion is required of us to warm the atmosphere than we are prepared to give. As a result, many answers go unclaimed from God because we weren’t prepared to push through the awkward regions of prayer and to still believe.

Asking is the first level of prayer. The simple foundation of prayer is a personal relationship with our Father. We know that he listens so we ask him questions. This is a cozy experience of prayer. God seems near enough to ask and so we make our requests and listen. For many, this is the only level of prayer that they have known. They have never walked outdoors beyond the warm living room with the Lord. Even within this comfortable place of prayer, many have not used it to its full advantage. To ask in prayer implies that we put questions to God and wait for an answer. King David did this constantly. When faced with a dilemma he would “inquire” of the Lord. He would put a question and wait for an answer. There is a level of prayer where God’s voice is near. We pray a prayer and there is a sense of rightness about a certain direction we plan to take. Jesus called that “receiving”, because if we ask, we should expect to receive.

Seeking is the second level of prayer. Some have never touched this level because it requires them to walk out into the cold outdoors and to leave behind the comfortable living room of asking. Seeking implies that something is lost or hidden from sight. Searching also implies that there will be many stones unturned, streets walked and corners looked around with no result. This level of prayer is less comfortable because the closeness with the Lord is not as evident. There is a sense of confusion and uncertainty about what is right. There will be mistakes and blunders as many options are explored. For those immature, there is initial certainty that God has said this or that. But after a few dead ends in the searching they become disillusioned to know if indeed they heard God or could ever hear God. Those who are seasoned at this level of prayer, are comfortable with their mistakes and ignorance enough to keep on searching for the next door. Hopes will be raised and dashed. But deep within they know that at some point the answer will be found and it will be better than all the alternatives visited along the way. The danger in the seeking process is that there are many good options on the way to the best one. There is an inner ought that pushes the heart on to leave something good behind in search of the best. That is a hard call to make, but to those who seek, they will find. When the answer comes, all of the frustration of the searching fades into memory.

Knocking is the third level of prayer. Few indeed have ever found this because they have not weathered the asking and seeking levels. But those who have, arrive at an answer only to find the door firmly locked. The wind blows. Neighbours twitch curtains and peer out the window to see who is making so much racket in the street. Knocking once isn’t too hard. Knocking twice is uncomfortable. Giving a firm rap on the door a third time is almost embarrassing. But those with a knocking spirit, have no difficulty making fools of themselves at God’s front door. Indifferent to waking the neighbours, they will persist in pounding. Standing in a dark street in front of a locked door is a lonely and exposed feeling. But this level of prayer quickly turns from rejection in to embracing acceptance as the Father opens the door and welcomes us in. Knocking leads us to a new living room of acceptance where we can ask for yet even more.

Application
There is more to prayer than I’ve explored. Right now Leslie and I have been interceding together in ways we haven’t done so in a very long time. I’m seeing some of these levels. I want so much to get from this a testimony, so first I must pass through the test.

Prayer
Father, I’ve asked and I’ve sought. Today I begin knocking in earnest. Amen.

Press the arrow to listen to Natalie Grant sing “Hope Endures” while reading a devotion about overcoming weaknesses.

Scripture
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

Observation
I just got done doing my morning exercises. I’ve developed a plan that works so well for me. It will sound weird, but between every piece of clothing I pick out to wear or iron I do a set of three exercises. Before I take my morning shower, I’ve done 150 push ups, sit ups and pull ups. I’m 48 and fighting middle age. It works for me.

At nearly the half century mark (yikes that is scary) I don’t try to promote my inabilities. I fought wearing glasses since 2002. Reality hit when I couldn’t see people coming down the hall at church. Now with glasses, I’m considering Laskik surgery.

Like all in the human condition, I want to appear strong and put make up over my weaknesses. Paul, however, surprised me this morning with his talk of taking pleasure in weakness. That is a new level of maturity I have yet to grow into. But I think I get his perspective. I take pleasure because my emptiness makes room for more of the fullness of Christ.

Application
The older I get the weaker my body becomes. And yet, I can take pleasure in my weaknesses because Christ’s power is at work in me. He did not just raise up from the dead, but he punched through the demonic realm and while the grave is empty, the throne at the Father’s right hand is not. Hallelujah.

Prayer
Father, today I squeeze my weaknesses tightly. Hold onto me. Amen.

Press the arrow to listen to Chris Tomlin sing “I Will Rise” as you read a devotion about bad news.

Scripture
He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Psalm 112:7

Observation
Truly great people thrive off of bad news. They do not relish in it, but they don’t recoil from it either. There is something about setback that refocuses their outlook on the things that really matter. Their vision of God, the clarity of his promises, and a sense of what ought to be done is improved. There is no fear of bad news.

Where does this resilience come from? It only comes to those who have invested over time into three things:

a kind heart

good gifts

hard calls.

The choice to keep tender toward the need of others softens God’s heart toward us. Generosity toward those in need opens God’s hand toward us. The choice to do the thing that really pleases the Lord causes us to be remembered.

Application
I have lived through many cold water moments. How will I survive even more of them? By keeping steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Bad news only has power if I fear it. If, however, I ponder difficulties with a curiosity to see what the Lord will do next through them and if I chose to hold onto what I cannot see, then there are many glad and happy surprises ahead.

Prayer
Father, today I hear bad news. I know it is true, but I know that you are also real. I hear the report, but I trust in you. I anticipate your deliverance. Amen.