I am wrapping up tax season and am behind schedule. Instead of our regularly scheduled Manna for the Minds, enjoy an old youth series I created: “Thought Provokers”
Why do I need to pray daily or at all? Doesn’t God know what I’m thinking? How do I even pray? I know the Lord’s Prayer. Is that all I’m supposed to say? This feels weird talking to…nothing?
How many of you have had any of the above thoughts? I thought so. Today, we’re looking at why praying can be so confusing.
Glorying the Good; Bringing Up the Bad
James 5:13 says: “If one of you is having troubles, he should pray. If one of you is happy, he should sing praises.”
What classifies as trouble? What constitutes happiness? Those things can mean different things between you and me.
“Troubles” or “suffering” is the Greek word “kakopatheo,” which means experiencing painful hardship/suffering that seems to be a “setback” but it really isn’t. This Greek word is a compound word:
- Kakos – meaning of a malicious disposition
- Pathos – meaning pain.
It’s interesting to re-read this definition. Experiencing painful hardships/suffering that seems to be a “setback” but really isn’t. What feels like a setback may be God’s redirection. We consider things to be setbacks such as an unexpected meeting, last minute changes, canceled plans, etc. We get frustrated because things didn’t follow the plan that we had set up for that day, but little did we know that an unexpected meeting led to your promotion. That canceled date spared you from a toxic relationship or opened space for someone better. In the moment, these instances suck. They can be painful, but we realize they really weren’t until we reflect on it. They interfered with our plans, but it gave way for God’s plan to shine. Bring what’s troubling you to God and have faith that He will turn your troubles into your testimony. Whether personal setback or systemic injustices that disrupt our plans, James invites us to bring everything to God.
“Happy” or “cheerful” is the Greek word “euthumeo,” which means to show positive passion as it proceeds from disposition. It’s also a compound word:
- Eu – meaning good
- Thymos – meaning passion
To be happy means to be of good passion. Typically, when you’re happy, your passion for life increases. You find more motivation to do things that you may not want to do most of the time. You find more ways to show love to your family, friends, neighbors, and strangers you meet on the street. You see more humor in more things, more beauty in the world. When you feel that cheerfulness, you hum and sing that song stuck in your head or one that’s stuck in your heart. When these moods come around, we can give it to God and rejoice with them for the blessings He’s given us. It may be weird to walk around thinking like that.
God is the Ultimate Provider and has given us the ability to experience these blessings in life. Celebrate with him all the good things. The new job, new relationships, your pay raise, your first breath, and more. It doesn’t have to be a specific thing to God to God with. All it has to be is something that brings you some good passion or just overall happiness.
Next Bible Study: Heart Over Action || You Have Heard it Said || Part 7
Next Devotional: Trusting God || Micah 7:7 || Manna for the Mind #351
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