Messages from Pastor Ken

Praying for Wisdom—weekday devotions written by Rev. Kenneth C. Landin

June 9, 2025. Prayer 1973. From a Distance

Life has a way of changing our appearance drastically. In Job, we see a blameless and upright person who has integrity and deep faith. In a moment Job loses his children, property and health. His friends make an appointment to show him sympathy and comfort. In Job 2:12 we read, “And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. They raised their voices and wept.” Then no one spoke a word to him. Suffering can change us so much that even our closest companions are shocked, can’t recognize us, and have nothing to say. Faith however, can speaks to us from a distance.

Dear God, grant me the courage to visit with those who have lost so much that we may all draw closer to you. Amen.

June 10, 2025. Prayer 1974. Distance Heals, Distance Denies

When we are struggling, we feel distant from God. And yet, when we struggle, we often want God to keep a distance from us. Why is that? What are we afraid of that God will do? In Matthew 8:30 we see a herd of pigs “feeding at some distance” from Jesus and a “demon-possessed” person. The demons beg Jesus to cast them into the herd upon which they ran into the water and drowned. The villagers saw the previously demon possessed neighbor fully restored. The villages begged Jesus to leave their region. This shows the villagers as demons. God’s power is threatening to them.

Dear God, help me not to deny what needs to be done for hope, for healing, for closing the distance between us. Amen.

June 11, 2025. Prayer 1975. Standing at a Distance

Who in our society is standing at a distance? Those who need healing? Those denying healing power? This is exactly the moment Jesus steps in the breach. In Luke 17:12 Jesus is met by ten lepers “who stood at a distance.” They cry out for mercy. Jesus has them go to the healing authorities to reinstate them back to standing in society. One turns back realizing they were healed. True healing did not come from waiting on the human authorities lack of compassion or fear to be near them. True healing comes between the Lord the person when the person seeks mercy with all their being.

Dear God, help me to use all my powers, whether big or small, in word or deed, to ask for and create mercy. Amen.

June 12, 2025. Prayer 1976. Following at a Distance

In our Spirit Life, we want to follow God, but do we naturally want to follow at a distance? In Matthew 26:58 when Jesus was handed over to the authorities, “Peter was following him at a distance.” What happens if Peter draws too close? Will he also be taken, abused, and left for a derelict’s death? What inside us is afraid to follow Jesus more closely? Peter is recognized and challenged, and then Peter denies he even knew Jesus to begin with. Peter makes that distance even greater. And yet, Peter keeps following. Even though we follow at a distance, the Lord will draw us back and forgive us.

Dear God, I have not the faith of Peter. And yet, I do seek to follow you. Come to me. Send me out to love. Amen.

June 13, 2025. Prayer 1977. Looking from a Distance

Perspective is everything from architecture, to building a healthy life and a just society. When we cling to our preconceived notions and biases so tightly, there is no room for new possibilities. On the day that Jesus died on the cross, we hear in Mark 15:40 “there were also women looking on from a distance—those who had followed him and ministered to him in Galilee.” These same went on to see Jesus risen on the third day. These loving disciples had learned how to take a bigger perspective on the harsh world in which they lived and closed that distance with great faith.

Dear God, grant me a much bigger faith perspective that I may give your love and mercy to this world. Amen.

June 16, 2025. Prayer 1978. Divine Wisdom

Making good decisions is the outcome of a strong Spirit Life. The source is God. Psalm 111:10 tells us, “Awe of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” When we look at the world around us with awesome reverence and wonder, we are practicing faith. Proverbs 8:1 asks of us, “Does not wisdom call out to us?” Divine wisdom was first before the beginning of the earth. Divine wisdom creates all things. It establishes boundaries and limits. It dwells in prudence and discretion. It follows in right paths and creates justice. This wisdom is from above.

Dear God, let me be attuned to the ways your wisdom is calling me into each new day. Fill me with understanding. Amen.

June 17, 2025. Prayer 1979. A Discerning Mind

Wisdom is expressed in making wise decisions. In 1 Kings 3:12 King Solomon prays to God for an understanding mind to govern the people and God responds, “Behold, I will give you a wise and discerning mind.” Solomon was blessed with wisdom and understanding beyond measure, “like sand on the seashore.” Jesus sends out the disciples saying, “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” When we pray for the Spirit, we can look at the challenges before us and show care and thought and prudence. When we keep a discerning mind, we stay true, unpolluted or corrupted by human powers.

Dear God, grant me to have wisdom like Solomon’s and a heads up, discerning approach as Christ instructs us. Amen.

June 18, 2025. Prayer 1980. Reflective Wisdom

The school of hard knocks is an unrelenting education, and forges a lived wisdom that becomes hard to refute. Job lost his wealth, his loved ones, and his health and yet had been upright and Godly in all things. He became a laughing stock. He refused to let his experiences not be seen as God given and of great validity, worthy of a hearing. Job says to look at all creation saying, “In God’s hand is the life of everything.” In Job 12:12 he proclaims, “Wisdom is with the aged, understanding in length of days.” When we reflect, we are not deceived, but receive God’s strength and sound wisdom.

Dear God, grant me the courage to be still and reflect earnestly upon my life experiences that I remain sound. Amen.

June 19, 2025. Prayer 1981. Faith Wisdom

Faith wisdom is different than human knowledge. While one can study and learn all things, to practice discernment, make sound decisions, and to do the right thing by others is the mark of one living by faith wisdom. James 3:13 asks us, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Show good conduct.” Earth wisdom has us be jealous, selfish, boasting false truths. Wisdom from above is peaceable, gentle, open to reason, sincere, full of mercy and good fruits. Jesus says in Matthew 11:19 “Wisdom is justified by her deeds.” Faith deeds are to respond to those asking for mercy with mercy.

Dear God, keep my mind open and my heart ready to bring mercy and compassion to life in service to others. Amen.

June 20, 2025. Prayer 1982. Wisdom Prayer

The Apostle Paul prays that the faithful be blessed with wisdom from above. In Ephesians 1:17 we hear Paul’s prayer, “May God give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of the Lord, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which the Lord is calling you, the immeasurable greatness of God’s power, the source of all things.” Paul tells us that with our Easter Faith, God’s heavenly power is above all earthly powers. This means the faithful may always draw upon a greater wisdom from a grace that brings unconditional love.

Dear God, grant me the practical everyday smarts to seek you as the source of daily wisdom calling me to hope! Amen.