Have you been treated unjustly? Pray. God sees, knows, and cares. He will respond.
This story gives God’s perspective: If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset, because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate (Exodus 22:26-27 bold mine).”
Mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15).
And as you do, consider this: Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound (Proverbs 25:20).
And this: “When Jesus saw her weeping . . . Jesus wept (John 11:33-35).
They heard Jesus and were amazed by His wisdom and power. But they did not believe (from Mark 6:2-6).
Being amazed is never enough. Do you believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God? By believing in him you will have life by the power of his name (John 20:31).
The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but he delights in the prayer of the upright (Proverbs 15:8, bold mine).
We pray. God does what we think He will. We pray about something else. God does not do what we think He will.
We choose to believe that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).
Our faith grows because faith is . . . being certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).
She joined the crowd pressing around Jesus, furtively touched his robe, and was healed.
Jesus commended her secret act of faith publicly when He said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace (Mark 5:34).”
Secret faith can lead to public praise.
“God isn’t scrambling to come up with some kind of scheme to meet our latest crisis. . . . His plans have long since been laid. They are secure. And they have you in mind.”*
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Remember these truths as you pray.
*Tessa Afshar, The Way Home, p.167.
A: To pray.
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked way, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night (Genesis 8:22).
Even in Chicago.
On August 2, 2020, God put this rainbow in the sky over Chicago’s Lake Michigan.
Also on the weekend of August 2, 2020, 34 Chicagoans were shot, 9 fatally, one of whom was a 9 year old boy.*
God notices the violence in Chicago, just He noticed it in the days of Noah.
But God has said, “When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters destroy all life (from Genesis 9:15-16).”
Remembering God’s promise, we pray.
