Thinking Cap

I keep my heat on 69. Usually, I am plenty warm, but over the weekend, I was really cold. While sitting in my office working, I put on both a hat and fuzzy lounge socks—neither of which I usually wear in the house. As the weekend progressed and I continued to work in my hat and fuzzy lounge socks, I came to think of my hat as my thinking cap. It thought me through a book, a book summary, four commentaries, and sixteen pages of typed notes…all for a retreat that I’m planning for March.

I shared a quote from my studies on Saturday, but I want to share an expanded version of the quote again here, along with a prayer that goes with it. May you read these words and be both blessed and challenged today, friends.

“We wish that God would cure all cancer…do away with hunger, disaster, and injustice. We would like the vengeful strength of God to be shown, and very mightily, against all who are lined up opposite us. But God’s strength seldom works that way; evil often falls of its own weight eventually. Usually, instead of fighting for us as we watch, he strengthens us to fight for ourselves. God’s strength is not always found in armies of angels. God’s strength is found in the consoling, the uplifting, and the strengthening of his people—like you and me.

Paul was arrested, beaten, and stoned—probably killed. Yet he rang out that God strengthened him. Strength, not in force or vengeance. But strength of Spirit and purpose.

In the face of our world, we might ask for bombs. God gives us himself instead. And at that moment, Buechner says, we look like persons who have asked for crust but have been given instead of the whole loaf of bread. For we are not given merely what God does—but God himself.

Father,
Strength of our souls, power of our existence,
Help us find your power not according to the world’s standards—
But in peace instead of war
In joy rather than bawdiness
In silence rather than the noise of conflict
Help us, because of the strength of you in us,
To do all we can as your instruments
To rely on the Spirit
To face all situations with hope—
Not the hope of vindication, but the hope of love and peace
Even as your strength works out your will.
Through Christ our Lord,
Amen.”

(--taken from Devotionally Yours, Philippians, pg. 98)

We ask for crust, but God gives warm, delicious bread. We ask for what God does, but God gives himself. Thanks be to the God of Jesus, bread, and thinking caps. Amen.