Author: Ken Crawford

Church Transitions and Conflict Solutions

From Nothing… EVERYTHING!

The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
— Genesis 1:2 NLT

In the very first chapter of the Bible, we are taken to the formless emptiness before time began. We find the Spirit of God hovering over this formless and empty darkness, characterized as “the surface of the waters,” waiting for God to speak his creative word. God’s formative word set the power of the Spirit into creative work, ordering and making our universe and our world within it. However, isn’t it so sadly ironic that in the emptiness of our lives we so seldom cry out to God and ask for his Holy Spirit to come into our lives and bring the LORD’s creative order? Let’s ask for God’s Spirit, hovering above our messes, to enter into our lives and lead us to where we need to be and to bring the Father the glory he deserves!

O Sovereign God, I confess that I cannot order and control my life. I surrender to your grace and ask for your Holy Spirit to enter my world and bring your gracious and creative order and form your holy character and compassion in me. In the name of your Son and my Savior, I pray. Amen.

When we are at a loss for words…

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
— Romans 8:26-27 NIV

How do we ask for the Holy Spirit? How do we pray when we don’t know what to say? In these verses, Paul tells the followers of Jesus in Rome that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, even to the point of articulating to God what we can’t put into words! Not only that, but when we point our hearts and requests and thanksgivings to God, the Holy Spirit cleans up our prayers and conforms them to the will of God! Even in asking for the Holy Spirit to be at work in our lives, he goes to work for us in and through our prayers!

Precious God, Almighty Father, words cannot express the depth of my appreciation for your gift of the Holy Spirit. Even when I don’t know how to pray or what to say, I know the Spirit is there with me, sharing my heart with you in ways that are pleasing to you! Thank you for this grace and the gift that makes it possible. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Turn Loose God’s Power

I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. — Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV

One of the best gifts we can give those we love is to pray for them. One of the most important prayers we can pray for other believers is the one Paul prays here. We can pray for those we love to be strengthened by God’s Spirit! Not only can we pray this prayer for them, but we can also let them know that we are praying this prayer for them. Why not copy Paul’s prayer and send it to a believing friend or family member and let them know that you have prayed this prayer for them today?

Father in heaven, I believe you are all powerful and that I cannot begin to understand your glory and might. I am humbled that you make that power available to me, and within me, through the Holy Spirit. Dear Father, there are those I love that I pray you will bless with your power. Please strengthen them with your power in their inner being. Please help them be aware of your presence in their lives through the Holy Spirit. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

The Power to Change

I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
— Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV

One of the best gifts we can give those we love is to pray for them. One of the most important prayers we can pray for other believers is the one Paul prays here. We can pray for those we love to be strengthened by God’s Spirit! Not only can we pray this prayer for them, but we can also let them know that we are praying this prayer for them. Why not copy Paul’s prayer and send it to a believing friend or family member and let them know that you have prayed this prayer for them today?

Father in heaven, I believe you are all powerful and that I cannot begin to understand your glory and might. I am humbled that you make that power available to me, and within me, through the Holy Spirit. Dear Father, there are those I love that I pray you will bless with your power. Please strengthen them with your power in their inner being. Please help them be aware of your presence in their lives through the Holy Spirit. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

A New Year’s Prayer

Lord, You make all things new and you bring hope alive in my heart. You make the Spirit in me to be born again fresh and new each day. Thank you for this new year and for all of the potential it holds. Come and kindle in us the mighty flame of your Holy Spirit so others can see the glow of your presence in me. May my journey in this life lead others to find salvation in Jesus and hope eternal.
In the name of Jesus, Amen

Encouragement…

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
Philemon 1:7 (NIV)

Wouldn’t this description of Philemon be a great one to have said about you! To be loved, supported, and encouraged by an encourager is to have your heart refreshed and your attitude lifted. It is so easy to get caught up in negative thinking and speech. We are bombarded daily with bad news and hateful speech. Let’s make a commitment to be an “encourager” who refreshes the hearts of those around us this week.

Tender and loving God, thank you for leading the people into my life who have encouraged me when I most needed it. Please give me the eyes to see and the heart to serve those around me who desperately need my encouragement. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Enough for Everyone

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
— Revelation 22:17 NIV

In the moving conclusion to the book of Revelation, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit lends his voice to the voices of Jesus’ bride (the church). Together, they cry out, “Come!” They are calling for Jesus to return in triumph and power. Those longing to have mortal life swept up into everlasting life also cry out for the Lord to return. The thirsty will have their thirst slaked. What we have experienced as a blessing of the Holy Spirit in our walk here on earth will now be realized in an ultimate way — we will be able to drink deeply of the water of life.

Gracious Father, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit who continues to be a source of refreshment and blessing as your water of life within me. As I look forward to the return of Jesus, I know this blessing will be mine in a full and comprehensive way. I anticipate this glory and grace and thank you for the foretaste you have given me through the Holy Spirit. I thank you, in Jesus’ name. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Actions speak louder than words.

Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 
– Matthew 6:1 (NIV)

Why do we do the things we do? What is the motivation for our behavior? It’s so easy to fall into the trap of doing religious things so we will look good to others. This is true even when culture reacts negatively to our faith. Those around us who know about our faith and the Christians around us become the target of our behavior. While we do want to have the right kind of influence on everyone around us, we must never make our decisions about spiritual service on the basis of being seen by others to be honored because of it. Our goal must be to honor God and bless others!

Almighty God, please purify my heart of any false motivation and help me serve others based on their need and my desire to honor you in helping them. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

His power… not mine!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
— Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

While the focus of this passage is on God, on “him who is able,” I want to draw our attention to one other key phrase in this passage — “his power that is at work within us.” Paul has earlier prayed that God would “strengthen you [the Ephesians and us] with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16). While the Holy Spirit is far more than just God’s power, the Spirit clearly does live in us to bring us God’s power! As we journey through this year, each day we will remind ourselves of God’s personal presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit within us is a powerful blessing that empowers us and transforms us. Let’s never forget that we are not only saved by grace but that we are also empowered by this gracious gift of the Holy Spirit within us to live for Jesus!

Oh Almighty God, I am humbled that you love me and have chosen to place your powerful presence within me. Please strengthen me with might by your Spirit within me. Mold me and transform me so that the presence of the Holy Spirit shows up in ways that remind people of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.