At Christchurch this summer we’re trying out various spiritual disciplines (sometimes called spiritual practices) to see which of them God will use to transform our character. The goal of any discipline is not to become excellent in the discipline, but to become excellent in something higher and deeper. You practice your golf swing merely to give you a better looking swing, but to make you a better golfer. Practicing the scales is a means by which you can become a better musician. And better music makes the world a better place. 

This week’s practice is a particular kind of praying — a simple prayer to be prayed again and again. Many people are familiar with “The Serenity Prayer” in its short form. I heartily recommend the longer form found below.  

The purpose of prayer is to connect us to God, to open a two-way channel for him to bless, guide, and correct as he sees fit. The Serenity Prayer is not an end in itself, but a means to a more effective life of loving God and neighbor.  

Pray it morning and night for the rest of the week. Let it begin to shape how you see your world: a place of limits and opportunities which require much wisdom, wisdom which God so freely grants to those who seek him. ​

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

How can we have peace when everything is changing?

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (Luke 24:36)

The disciples were gathered together discussing the various reports of the empty tomb and the mysterious appearances and disappearances of Jesus. Then he stood there among them.

How unsettling! 

The previous few days had been full of things the disciples would not have chosen: conflict with the Jewish leaders, betrayal, arrest, cowardly reactions to that arrest, the humiliation and death of their beloved Jesus. How overwhelming!

Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem did not bring in a military kingdom to subdue the Roman sword. Jesus’ resurrection did not banish trouble from the disciples’ lives. In some ways, their circumstances got more difficult.  And yet every one of the disciples (except Judas) would tell you it was worth it.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

Jesus himself was their peace. When he stood there among them, they knew all was not lost. At the end of the 40 days they learned that his physical presence would not always be with them, but God would be with them in a new way. The events that unfold in the book of Acts show that the presence of God in their lives was even more powerful after the coming Holy Spirit. 

Did things settle down after the resurrection? After Jesus’ ascension into heaven? After the coming of the Holy Spirit? No, no, and no.

Over the next several days let’s look at how the lives of the early Christians unfolded after Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. 

Was it peaceful? Hold on to your hat!

​He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (Luke 24:25)

I wonder how Cloepas and his traveling companion felt when the unknown stranger rebuked them along the road to Emmaus. They were simply reporting the startling events of the past few days, and seeing them as any normal person would. At the beginning of the week Jesus of Nazareth had been highly esteemed. By the end of the week he had died the humiliating death of a criminal. That morning the story started to circulate that Jesus was alive again. Alive but as yet unseen. What was anyone to make of this turn of events? 

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (Luke 24:25)

The unknown stranger turned out to be the risen Jesus, walking with them and rebuking them for their lack of understanding and their lack of trust. Jesus then laid out the case for trusting God’s plan as it was laid out in Scripture: the Son of Man suffers, dies, rises.

It is as if Jesus was saying, "You could have seen it if you were looking for it. You could have seen it if you listened to me carefully.” I don’t believe he said this harshly. I do believe he said it firmly.

He said it firmly because of what’s at stake. If Jesus’ death was an accident or his resurrection was just a story, then God isn’t in control. If nobody could have predicted these events, then we’re all just making the best of a bad situation. A confusing situation at least.

But Jesus did rise on the third day according to the slow and sure plan of the Father. Jesus will return to make all things right — by the slow and sure plan of the Father. 

There will be situations today that tempt you to forget that God is still in charge, still willing and able to bring about his purposes for the world and for your life. 

Let’s not be slow of heart or mind in knowing that great good is coming. Jesus said so!

For weeks now, we have been giving Psalm 23 a close reading. We find similar themes of security and peace in Philippians 4:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4–7)

Peace and rejoicing! Rejoicing can come as a response to positive circumstances, and it can come as a response to a command. 

Really? We are commanded (exhorted) to be joyful? Really. And we can do it. Here’s how.

Paul gives us reason enough to rejoice: God is near. Think: The LORD is my shepherd. I lack nothing.

God himself is enough. When we don’t feel like God is enough, there is simple action we can take: "present our requests to God.” He is near, he hears, he invites our prayers, he can handle our anxiety.

We pray, and God guards our hearts and minds. He guards our emotions, our hopes, and our habits of thinking.

The Message paraphrase:
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 4:6–7)

Letting God in our anxieties shapes not only our emotions, but our thinking. When we let him guard our heart, we become able to think more clearly and — importantly — more kindly. God’s care puts us on firm ground, making it possible to love of neighbor, coworker, and family member. Even the difficult ones. Kindness to the unloveable. 

Anxiety begins to drain away; love begins to flow. 

Peace within; peace without.

Lord, I give you my anxious thoughts today. Calm my anxious heart, that I may love like you love. Amen.

As we look at the final verse of Psalm 23 it becomes clear that as we follow Jesus anxiety and complaining are to give way to confidence and gratitude. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
    and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalms 23:6)

David’s confidence in God’s care dissipates the anxiety that arises from the real troubles in his life. 

Similarly, in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus commands his followers not to worry. 

"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them." (Matthew 6:31–32)

Eating, drinking, and staying clothed are pretty basic needs, yet Jesus says not to worry even about these. 

Scholar and pastor N. T. Wright comments:

"When Jesus told his followers not to worry about tomorrow, we must assume he led them by example. He seems to have had the skill of living totally in the present, giving attention totally to the present task, celebrating the goodness of God here and now. If that’s not a recipe for happiness, I don’t know what is.” — N. T. Wright, For Everyone: Bible Study Guides: Matthew

Celebrating the goodness of God — that is Psalm 23 through and through. It is as if Jesus internalized Psalm 23, and drew strength from it in his life and ministry. 

Jesus’ strength can become our strength. Spend some time in Psalm 23 again today!

Lord Jesus, help me to accept your shepherding again today, that I may more and more have confidence in you. Amen.
​

​Yesterday in worship we spent time again in Psalm 23. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
    and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6)

David is certain the LORD’s love and care will accompany him, and even pursue him. How long? All the days of his life. Now and forever. He will enjoy the benefits of the LORD’s presence daily, without end. 

Does David have this assurance because David is special? No, but because God is special: merciful, gracious, loving, faithful to his people. 

David’s knowledge, however, is not just intellectual. David has experienced God’s care, and remembers it. He takes the time to remember it, even rehearse it to himself. That’s what Psalm 23 is: a remembering of God’s goodness. David's confidence in God is in proportion to his experience and memory of God’s care. He remembers and rejoices!

What will you remember from today? What do you want to remember from today? How will you remind yourself that God is good? Tomorrow will be better if you remember God’s goodness today.