Unfiltered | Week 2 | How to Pray When the World is Burning
June 14, 2025

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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE | PSALM 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.


God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. —Psalm 46:1-3

GOD IS OUR REFUGE WHEN THE EARTH QUAKES.

A way to pray Psalm 46:1-3: “God, I don’t feel safe right now. Everything around me is shaking. But I’m choosing not to fear—not because I’m okay, but because I believe You’re here.”

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. —Psalm 46:4

GOD IS OUR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS.

God is within her, She will not fall; —Psalm 46:5a

God will help her at the break of day. —Psalm 46:5b

A way to pray Psalm 46:4-5: “God, I’m overwhelmed by what’s outside of me. Would You be the peace flowing inside of me? Help me find the river, even in the storm.”

Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 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 46:8-10

GOD IS WITH US EVEN WHEN “THE WORLD IS BURNING”

A way to pray Psalm 46:8-10: “God, I’m tired. I’m worn out. I don’t know how to fix this. So I’m dropping my sword. I’m laying down what’s not mine to carry. I will be still—not because I understand, but because I trust that You are God and You’re still working.”

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. —Psalm 46:11


THE PRAYER OF ST THOMAS À KEMPIS

Grant me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know,
to love what I ought to love,
to praise what delights You most,
to value what is precious in Your sight,
to hate what is offensive to You.
Do not let me judge by what I see,
nor pass sentence according to the hearing of the ignorant,
but to discern with true judgment between things visible and spiritual,
and above all, always to seek Your will.

The prayer of St. Thomas à Kempis redirects your focus.

The prayer of St. Thomas à Kempis reorders your affections.

The prayer of St. Thomas à Kempis restrains your judgments.

The prayer of St. Thomas à Kempis reshapes what you desire.


A ROADMAP FOR CHAOTIC TIMES:

PRAY YOUR PANIC

FIND “THE RIVER”

DROP “YOUR SWORD”

BE STILL AND KNOW


FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION AND RESPONSE

We want to invite you to actually pray the words of Thomas à Kempis with us. And if you’re comfortable, just open your hands. Take a deep breath. And as we pray this, let’s not rush through it. Let it settle in to your soul…

Grant me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know,

to love what I ought to love,

to praise what delights You most,

to value what is precious in Your sight,

to hate what is offensive to You.

Do not let me judge by what I see, nor pass sentence according to the hearing of the ignorant,

*but to discern with true judgment between things visible and spiritual, *

and above all, always to seek Your will.


WILL YOU OPEN YOUR HEART TO JESUS TODAY?

if you’ve never really opened your heart to Jesus–or maybe you did at one point, but you’ve walked away—this is your moment. There’s no better time than now to really open your own heart up to Jesus. Jesus isn’t looking for polished people. He’s looking for open people. And if the world has left you tired, anxious, or empty, the invitation of Jesus is simple: Come to Me. I am your refuge. I am your peace. I am your river. I am your Savior. Pray this prayer with us to invite Jesus into your heart and life:

Jesus, I need You. I’ve tried to carry things on my own, and I’m tired. I’ve seen the world shake, and I realize I need something stronger to stand on. So today, I surrender. I give You my fear, my sin, my striving—and I ask You to forgive me of my sin, fill me, and lead me. Be my refuge. Be my river. Be my Lord. I trust You with my life, starting now. Amen.