Archives by: Gary Hoag

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. Psalm 56:3

“Hope requires a sense of purpose and dignity—a belief that we matter and that our life has value. But in a world of chaos, this hope cannot come from our circumstances. Our ability to control and maintain circumstances is just too feeble. We cannot contain the unpredictable forces of this world, and putting our hope in a career, a family, a nation, or even our own moral righteousness is flirting with disaster. When they fail, and they eventually will, so will our hope. Our sense of worth and dignity gets washed away in a deluge of despair.”

Skye Jethani in With from chapter “Life with Hope” (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011) 135-156.

Americans love to try to “control and maintain our circumstances.” The preservation of comfort is a high value. With COVID we realize that we are not in control and our ability to maintain our circumstances is gone. There’s only one place to go to avoid despair. Find hope in God.

Where is your hope today? How about those around you? 

Many put their hope in a high-paying job. It can be gone in a moment. Others hope in a nation. As America moves toward election season many are promising things only God can deliver. The lesson is not to put our hope in our circumstances.

So our sense of worth comes from the fact that we are loved by God. You are loved by God. From there, hope is not in our moral goodness, because all of us are sinners. Our hope rests in God’s goodness, His generosity. And He wants us to be generous.

We get to dispense His good gifts, and in these hard times, let’s share hope richly.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

“This is the essence of a daily office. We stop our activity and pause to be with the Living God… We move into god’s presence and rest there; that alone is no small feat. There are times when I pause for my midday prayer and find that I spend the entire time available—be it five or twenty minutes—centering so I can let go of my tensions, distractions, and sensations and begin resting in the love of God.

Each office begins and ends with two minutes of silence. All religions practice silence. What makes silence unique for us is that we are silent before the Lord Himself. This will be difficult, especially at first. Our internal and external worlds are filled with noise and distractions. For this reason, silence is probably the most challenging and least experienced discipline among Christians today. Give yourself lots of grace here. Studies suggest that the average person can only bear about fifteen seconds of silence.”

Peter Scazzero in Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day: A 40-Day Journey with the Daily Office (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014) 12.

Give yourself some grace.

If you are embarking on the Daily Office, which is to pause seven times a day to pray following the example traced all the way back to David in the Old Testament, it’s not an easy discipline but it will enrich all who pursue it and position you for generous living, giving, serving, and loving.

To pause is to find rest, focus, and peace.

Today Jenni and I head back home to Colorado. It has been great to see my mom to observe her 80th birthday, to see my dad and to stay with my brother and his wife. Even as pausing to enjoy time away restores the body, pausing for the Daily Office restores the soul.

“I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12

“Holy Father, creator and sustaining wisdom of all that is, both heaven and on earth, take me from those thoughts, actions and objects that are hurtful. Give me instead those things that are profitable for me and all who seek rightly to praise you. I ask this grace in the company of all believers and through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who is, with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.”

Phyllis Tickle in Prayers for Summertime: A Manual for Prayer (New York: Doubleday, 2000) 9.

As I shift from Brother Lawrence but remain focused on praying psalms on the divine hours, my attention turns to various works related to this area. Phyllis Tickle has done much writing on this topic.

In her book prayers for Summertime, she often repeats this prayer in the middle of the day. Why? I reckon, as we are out and about we can be drawn to things that are hurtful and we need things that are profitable.

Let us pray for our Holy and Generous Father to take away things that may be hurtful and give us what is profitable. I believe we often settle for what is good instead of what is most beneficial for us.

As our generosity reflects our source material, for it to bring infinite joy, we must be tapped into that which is best. As I am in Florida, this reminds me of the famous quote by C.S. Lewis from The Weight of Glory.

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

If you want to grow in generosity, be pleased only by that which is best. Pause at the divine hours and ask God to take away that which is hurtful, give you that which is profitable, and have wisdom to know the difference.

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

“God knows best what is needful for us, and all that He does is for our good. If we knew how much He loves us, we should be always ready to receive equally and with indifference from His hand the sweet and the bitter; all would please that came from Him. The sorest afflictions never appear intolerable, but when we see them in the wrong light. When we see them in the hand of God, who dispenses them: when we know that it is our loving Father, who abases and distresses us: our sufferings will lose their bitterness, and become even matter of consolation.

Let all our employment be to know God: the more one knows Him, the more one desires to know Him. And as knowledge is commonly the measure of love, the deeper and more extensive our knowledge shall be, the greater will be our love: and if our love of God were great we should love Him equally in pains and pleasures.

Let us not amuse ourselves to seek or to love God for any sensible favors (how elevated soever) which He has or may do us. Such favors, though never so great, cannot bring us so near to God as faith does in one simple act. Let us seek Him often by faith: He is within us; seek Him not elsewhere. Are we not rude and deserve blame, if we leave Him alone, to busy ourselves about trifles, which do not please Him and perhaps offend Him? ‘Tis to be feared these trifles will one day cost us dear.

Let us begin to be devoted to Him in good earnest. Let us cast everything besides out of our hearts; He would possess them alone. Beg this favor of Him. If we do what we can on our parts, we shall soon see that change wrought in us which we aspire after. I cannot thank Him sufficiently for the relaxation He has vouchsafed you. I hope from His mercy the favor to see Him within a few days. Let us pray for one another.

Brother Lawrence (c. 1614-1691) in The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 31.

Today is the final post from Brother Lawrence. These are his famous last words before his death. He urged us to know God. The one who knows God has no fear. Those who know God receive everything equally and with indifference because we know the sovereign God behind the circumstances.

Rather than seek “sensible favors” from God, let us seek to know God. That’s what Brother Lawrence would urge us to do in these challenging COVID times. When we do, we find that generosity comes into view from a God who loves us, is with us, and always works things out for our good.

We also cease pursuing trifles and we shift to pursuing God. I hope you are pausing with me at the divine hours to pray the Psalms (6am, 9am, 12noon, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm and 12midnight or bedtime).

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

“I am in pain to see you suffer so long; what gives me some ease, and sweetens the feeling I have of your griefs, is that they are proofs of God’s love towards you: see them in that view, and you will bear them more easily.

As your case is, ’tis my opinion that you should leave off human remedies, and resign yourself entirely to the providence of God; perhaps He stays only for that resignation and a perfect trust in Him to cure you.

Since notwithstanding all your cares, physic has hitherto proved unsuccessful, and your malady still increases, it will not be tempting God to abandon yourself in His hands, and expect all from Him.

I told you, in my last, that He sometimes permits bodily diseases to cure the distempers of the soul. Have courage then: make a virtue of necessity: ask of God, not deliverance from your pains, but strength to bear resolutely, for the love of Him, all that He should please, and as long as He shall please.”

Brother Lawrence (c. 1614-1691) in The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 31.

I am thankful for my brief visit to Florida (pictured above) to see family, but there’s a lot of COVID here.

Brother Lawrence notes that God “sometimes permits bodily diseases to cure the distempers of the soul.” In that sense, they are proof of God’s generous love for us. That’s counterintuitive. Few would consider disease as a cure for anything.

We are to entrust ourselves to the providence of God.

What if our prayer should shift from deliverance to something bigger, such as a heavy dose of strength and perseverance from God? He has a purpose for everything, including suffering. It’s for our good and His glory to be revealed through us.

God allows suffering to produce growth and good outcomes in our lives.

Our most generous testimony during a time of global lockdown and pandemic may well be to embrace the disease as a cure for the distempers of our souls. God sends plagues to call us to humble ourselves.

God, give us a big dose of strength to endure out of love for You. Amen.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21

“I do not pray that you may be delivered from your pains; but I pray God earnestly that He would give you strength and patience to bear them as long as He pleases. Comfort yourself with Him who holds you fastened to the cross: He will loose you when He thinks fit.

Happy are those who suffer with Him: accustom yourself to suffer in that manner, and seek from Him the strength to endure as much, and as long, as He shall judge to be necessary for you. The men of the world do not comprehend these truths, nor is it to be wondered at, since they suffer like what they are, and not like Christians: they consider sickness as a pain to nature, and not as a favor from God; and seeing it only in that light, they find nothing in it but grief and distress.

But those who consider sickness as coming from the hand of God, as the effects of His mercy, and the means which He employs for their salvation, commonly find in it great sweetness and sensible consolation. I wish you could convince yourself that God is often (in some sense) nearer to us and more effectually present with us, in sickness than in health. Rely upon no other Physician, for, according to my apprehension, He reserves your cure to Himself…

Whatever remedies you make use of, they will succeed only so far as He permits. When pains come from God, He only can cure them. He often sends diseases of the body, to cure those of the soul. Comfort yourself with the sovereign Physician both of soul and body.”

Brother Lawrence (c. 1614-1691) in The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 28.

The 11th letter of Brother Lawrence provides perspective in suffering and sickness. As the plague rages around the world, I think part of our generosity is sharing this perspective with people.

Everyone seems to be looking for a vaccine when the purpose of a plague or pestilence in Scripture is to get people to look to God. In conversations, at social distance, let’s point people to the Sovereign Physician.

And may the Psalms, many which include lament, be dripping from our tongues (if you are joining me in pausing to pray the Psalms in the daily office (6am, 9am, 12noon, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm, and bedtime or 12midnight).

Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Psalm 119:164

“Pray remember what I have recommended to you, which is, to think often on God, by day, by night, in your business, and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave Him not alone. You would think it rude to leave a friend alone, who came to visit you: why then must God be neglected? Do not then forget Him, but think on Him often, adore Him continually, live and die with Him; this is the glorious employment of a Christian; in a word, this is our profession, if we do not know it we must learn it. I will endeavor to help you with my prayers, and am yours in our Lord.”

Brother Lawrence (c. 1614-1691) in The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 26.

One of my colleagues was just saying to me recently that the unemployment rate is very high in the USA and around the world. And then I read this excerpt from Brother Lawrence.

“Do not then forget Him, but think on Him often, adore Him continually, live and die with Him; this is the glorious employment of a Christian; in a word, this is our profession, if we do not know it we must learn it.”

Here’s what struck me. When we pursue this profession, that is, practicing the presence of God, we always have something to share! Let me explain.

I resolved yesterday to start praying the Psalms on the Divine Hours (mark your calendar to pause at 6am, 9am, 12noon, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm, and midnight or sometime between 9pm and 6am, depending on whether you are a morning or night person).

It was actually a super busy day. But something amazing happened. The Psalms I read corresponded to what was going on. The Scriptures nourished me. I shared verses with others. It was so enriching. And positioned me to be generous.

Care to join me. It’s glorious employment that positions us for generous sharing.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3

“One does not become holy all at once…Since by His mercy He gives us still a little time, let us begin in earnest, let us repair the lost time, let us return with a full assurance to that Father of mercies, who is always ready to receive us affectionately. Let us renounce, let us generously renounce, for the love of Him, all that is not Himself; He deserves infinitely more. Let us think of Him perpetually. Let us put all our trust in Him: I doubt not but we shall soon find the effects of it, in receiving the abundance of His grace, with which we can do all things, and without which we can do nothing but sin.

We cannot escape the dangers which abound in life, without the actual and continual help of God; let us then pray to Him for it continually. How can we pray to Him without being with Him? How can we be with Him but in thinking of Him often? And how can we often think of Him, but by a holy habit which we should form of it? You will tell me that I am always saying the same thing: it is true, for this is the best and easiest method I know; and as I use no other, I advise all the world to it. We must know before we can love. In order to know God, we must often think of Him; and when we come to love Him, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure.”

Brother Lawrence (c. 1614-1691) in The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 26.

What do you think about?

Brother Lawrence reminds us to think about God continually. The danger about not doing this, and he’s right about it, is that thinking about earthly things causes us to treasure earthly things, and that’s where we get into trouble. We must generously renounce them.

What does that mean?

Apostle Paul urges us to see ourselves as dead. Think about it. We can’t be drawn to something if we are dead. Our lives are hid with Christ in God, and since we are raised with Christ our thoughts need to be about Christ. Don’t just begin every day focused on Christ, think about him continually.

I am taking a week away to reset. I am flying to Florida to join my wife who went on ahead of me to stay with my brother and his wife and visit my parents, in part, to celebrate my mom’s 80th birthday. For the week to reset, I am praying a Psalm on the seven divine hours. I am excited to do this with a friend.

Reply if you want to join us. I’ll share the specifics.

And generously renouncing all that is not Him is to describe the world’s messages for what they are: lies. Few do this better than my friend and fellow author, Roger Lam. Everywhere he goes he alerts people to the deceitfulness of wealth. Want to hear Roger and I speak with other colleagues at an upcoming free online event?

Join us for Hope and Help in Times of Crisis on 7 August 2020 from 7-8:15pm Hong Kong Time. It’s a free webinar. We will consider together how Christians and churches can offer hope and help in challenging situations like we find ourselves in today.

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. Luke 18:35-43

“When the mind, for want of being sufficiently reduced by recollection, at our first engaging in devotion, has contracted certain bad habits of wandering and dissipation, they are difficult to overcome, and commonly draw us, even against our wills, to the things of the earth.

I believe one remedy for this is, to confess our faults, and to humble ourselves before God. I do not advise you to use multiplicity of words in prayer; many words and long discourses being often the occasions of wandering: hold yourself in prayer before God, like a dumb or paralytic beggar at a rich man’s gate: let it be your business to keep your mind in the presence of the Lord.

If it sometimes wander, and withdraw itself from Him, do not much disquiet yourself for that; trouble and disquiet serve rather to distract the mind, than to re-collect it; the will must bring it back in tranquillity; if you persevere in this manner, God will have pity on you.

One way to re-collect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and preserve it more in tranquillity, is not to let it wander too far at other times: you should keep it strictly in the presence of God; and being accustomed to think of Him often, you will find it easy to keep your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from its wanderings.

I have told you already at large, in my former letters, of the advantages we may draw from this practice of the presence of God: let us set about it seriously and pray for one another.”

Brother Lawrence (c. 1614-1691) in The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 25.

Today is Jenni’s (my wife’s) birthday. Happy Birthday, Jenni!

I want to honor her for her generosity in giving her life to serve as the Soulcare Anchoress, a spiritual director, and the perfect complement to the Generosity Monk.

I mention her today because she often encourages people (me included) to have a centering prayer. Today’s Scripture is a famous one, know widely as the Jesus prayer for it’s simplicity.

What does this have to do with generosity, you may ask? Everything.

Read the Scripture again and notice how our Lord Jesus responds to people who pray humble, simple prayers. He is generous. And the generosity results in worship from the one who prays and onlookers join the celebration.

For all who are looking for help or hope in these times, there is one remedy. Let us humble ourselves, confessing our faults, and asking God for mercy, as we are sinners. Afresh He may show up with gracious generosity and restore what is broken.

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19

“Here’s the preface to Brother Lawrence’s Seventh Letter: At the age of nearly fourscore exhorts his correspondent, who is sixty-four, to live and die with God and promises and asks for prayer.

I pity you much. It will be of great importance if you can leave the care of your affairs to, and spend the remainder of your life only in worshiping God. He requires no great matters of us; a little remembrance of Him from time to time, a little adoration: sometimes to pray for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, and sometimes to return Him thanks for the favors He has given you, and still gives you, in the midst of your troubles, and to console yourself with Him the oftenest you can. Lift up your heart to Him, sometimes even at your meals, and when you are in company: the least little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we are aware of.

It is not necessary for being with God to be always at church; we may make an oratory of our heart, wherein to retire from time to time, to converse with Him in meekness, humility, and love. Every one is capable of such familiar conversation with God, some more, some less: He knows what we can do. Let us begin then; perhaps He expects but one generous resolution on our part. Have courage. We have but little time to live; you are near sixty-four, and I am almost eighty. Let us live and die with God: sufferings will be sweet and pleasant to us, while we are with Him: and the greatest pleasures will be, without Him, a cruel pun- ishment to us. May He be blessed for all. Amen.

Use yourself then by degrees thus to worship Him, to beg His grace, to offer Him your heart from time to time, in the midst of your business, even every moment if you can. Do not always scrupulously confine yourself to certain rules, or particular forms of devotion; but act with a general confidence in God, with love and humility. You may assure – of my poor prayers, and that I am their servant, and yours particularly.”

Brother Lawrence (c. 1614-1691) in The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 24.

Are you troubled in these uncertain times? Brother Lawrence would echo David, the psalmist, and say that finding our hope consolation in God alone is the only pathway to joy.

At nearly 80 he tells a troubled 64 year old to make a generous resolution: have courage. This might be the best form of generosity we can share everywhere as we start another week. Think about it.

Regardless of your financial assets, you can extend this form of generosity richly. Receive it from me with the same poor prayers that Brother Lawrence prayed. You got this. I’ve got this. We’ve got this, because God’s got us.