come, All who are weary

Mid term primaries are in full swing. This is a time in our country when open seats create a deep sense of scarcity. Alaska, Wyoming, and Florida all have open governor seats. Others (including Illinois) have open seats in the House and Senate to fill in November. The scarcity of these positions of power feel even more important when considering the scarcity many Americas are feeling in everyday life.

Have you ever wondered why we pray in Jesus' name? I was thinking about this the other day. After all, there's no prayer recorded in the Bible that ends in his name. And when Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, he doesn't say, Now, make sure you mention my name when you talk to God. This is by design. Jesus' name isn't some magical code that unlocks God's ears or coerces his powers.

A couple weeks ago I came across a helpful framework for Scripture reading and prayer. If you're like me, then likely your daily"quiet time" turns into monthly with frightening ease. Sometimes it's our schedule that seems unmanageable and opening the Word and prayer are, regretfully, two of the first things we forgo to make our lives work. However, sometimes it's not a lack of time, it's a lack of a plan.