Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Isaiah 63
NT: Romans 15
W&W: Psalm 88
Today’s Reflection:
The Psalmist said, “I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you (Psalm 88.13).
Is that your practice? To cry out to God in the morning? As I have read the Psalms, I have noticed several places where the morning prayer is mentioned. Several times in the New Testament, we find Jesus praying in the morning. I think it is a good discipline to engage in. I have made it my practice so long that it just doesn’t seem right to begin the day any other way. Besides, if I wait for the evening, there are so many things that pull me away from prayer that it just seems impossible to really develop a pattern.
God is faithful no matter when we pray to him, but if we will consecrate the day from the very beginning, most of us will develop a more consistent pattern of prayer. Too early? I know what you mean, but prayer is too important to leave to chance. Jesus himself had to get up before anyone else so he could find time alone with his Father. Not a bad idea for us, either!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Did you get the whole chapter? John 1.1-10: 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete. 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Friday, July 3, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Get Results! Praying for Answers
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Isaiah 59
NT: Romans 11
W&W: Psalm 84
Today’s Reflection:
David said in Psalm 138.3: “When I called, you answered me.” That’s a good thing, isn’t it? David prayed, and God answered. Do you want your prayers answered? That is why we pray, isn’t it? For answers?
Last night I taught on the subject: Get Results! Praying for Answers.
We pray for answers by:
May God answer your prayers!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Dare we try a whole chapter? If you have been working on this by the week, you will be able to do it! John 1.1-10: 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete. 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
OT: Isaiah 59
NT: Romans 11
W&W: Psalm 84
Today’s Reflection:
David said in Psalm 138.3: “When I called, you answered me.” That’s a good thing, isn’t it? David prayed, and God answered. Do you want your prayers answered? That is why we pray, isn’t it? For answers?
Last night I taught on the subject: Get Results! Praying for Answers.
We pray for answers by:
- Praying from a pure heart
- Praying with right motives
- Praying with sincerity and earnestness
- Praying with faith
- Praying until the answer comes
May God answer your prayers!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Dare we try a whole chapter? If you have been working on this by the week, you will be able to do it! John 1.1-10: 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete. 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
My Prayer Is Not Whimpering or Begging!
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Isaiah 54
NT: Romans 7
W&W: Psalm 80
Today’s Reflection:
I mentioned in yesterday’s post a quote from Nikos Kazantzakis in the Saviors of God: Spiritual Exercises, as quoted in A Guide to Prayer, pp 115-116. I want to continue it here:
My prayer is not the whimpering of a beggar nor a confession of love. Nor is it the trivial reckoning of a small tradesman: Give me and I shall give you.
My prayer is the report of a soldier to his general: this is what I did today, this is how I fought to save the entire battle in my own sector, these are the obstacles I found, this is how I plan to fight tomorrow.
My God and I are horsemen galloping in the burning sun or under drizzling rain. Pale, starving, but un-subdued, we ride and converse.
“Leader!” I cry. He turns his face towards me, and I shudder to confront his anguish.
Our love for each other is rough and ready, we sit at he same table, we drink the same wine in this low tavern of life.
May God bless us so that we can love him with this kind of fervent and hearty love!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Put 1 John 1.5-10 together: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
OT: Isaiah 54
NT: Romans 7
W&W: Psalm 80
Today’s Reflection:
I mentioned in yesterday’s post a quote from Nikos Kazantzakis in the Saviors of God: Spiritual Exercises, as quoted in A Guide to Prayer, pp 115-116. I want to continue it here:
My prayer is not the whimpering of a beggar nor a confession of love. Nor is it the trivial reckoning of a small tradesman: Give me and I shall give you.
My prayer is the report of a soldier to his general: this is what I did today, this is how I fought to save the entire battle in my own sector, these are the obstacles I found, this is how I plan to fight tomorrow.
My God and I are horsemen galloping in the burning sun or under drizzling rain. Pale, starving, but un-subdued, we ride and converse.
“Leader!” I cry. He turns his face towards me, and I shudder to confront his anguish.
Our love for each other is rough and ready, we sit at he same table, we drink the same wine in this low tavern of life.
May God bless us so that we can love him with this kind of fervent and hearty love!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Put 1 John 1.5-10 together: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Ezra Fast
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Nehemiah 6
NT: Luke 6
W&W: Psalm 46
Today’s Reflection:
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “We are not unaware of the devil’s schemes” (2 Corinthians 2.11).
Nehemiah recognized the schemes of Satan in trying to prevent the program of God from moving forward. Through Sanballat, Tobiah, and false prophets, Satan tried to intimidate, discourage, wear down, distract, divide, and ridicule God’s leaders and workers. Nehemiah didn’t fall for any of it: “But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands’” (Nehemiah 6.9b). Too often we try to face down the enemy on his terms when what we need to do is pray.
Many years ago a dear friend and retired minister warned me about discouragement. For years, I thought that he was mistaken and that I was impervious to Satan’s scheme of discouragement. But eventually I learned to pray daily: “Give me victory over discouragement.” Over the course of years, that simple prayer has done more to help me overcome discouragement than all my denials and defenses. But first, I had to recognize the scheme of the enemy and begin to pray about it.
Speaking of prayer, many of my readers know that I have been praying and fasting for God to open a door of ministry for me. I’ve shared with some folks who are praying for me (many of you readers) of a fast that I am observing today. It is called the Ezra Fast and is taken from Elmer Towns’ book Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough. (An excellent guide for fasting, by the way. I recommend it as a simple, understandable approach to fasting for different things.) I would like to share a few insights from Towns’ book. If you are not interested, skip to the bottom of this posting for today’s Bible readings.
The Ezra Fast is for those facing problems in their physical life or carrying burdens that hinder their Christian progress. “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? … To undo the heavy burdens? (Isaiah 58.6, KJV) Ezra called all the Jews traveling through a dangerous wilderness (the problem) to fast for protection from their enemies along the journey. The key verse for this fast is: “So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer” (Ezra 8.23).
There are at least three wrong attitudes we can take toward problems:
Prescription for the Ezra Fast:
1) Recruit those involved to fast with you (see Ezra 8.21).
2) Define and share the problem (v. 21).
3) Put yourself on the spot.
4) Fast seriously to God (v. 21).
5) Fast before attempting a solution (v. 15).
6) Fast facing the problem – or on site with insight (v. 21).
7) Fast for step-by-step guidance (v. 21).
8) Take practical steps after your fast to solve the problem (v. 24).
Hope this is helpful to you in days ahead!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Isaiah 53.4-5: Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
OT: Nehemiah 6
NT: Luke 6
W&W: Psalm 46
Today’s Reflection:
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “We are not unaware of the devil’s schemes” (2 Corinthians 2.11).
Nehemiah recognized the schemes of Satan in trying to prevent the program of God from moving forward. Through Sanballat, Tobiah, and false prophets, Satan tried to intimidate, discourage, wear down, distract, divide, and ridicule God’s leaders and workers. Nehemiah didn’t fall for any of it: “But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands’” (Nehemiah 6.9b). Too often we try to face down the enemy on his terms when what we need to do is pray.
Many years ago a dear friend and retired minister warned me about discouragement. For years, I thought that he was mistaken and that I was impervious to Satan’s scheme of discouragement. But eventually I learned to pray daily: “Give me victory over discouragement.” Over the course of years, that simple prayer has done more to help me overcome discouragement than all my denials and defenses. But first, I had to recognize the scheme of the enemy and begin to pray about it.
Speaking of prayer, many of my readers know that I have been praying and fasting for God to open a door of ministry for me. I’ve shared with some folks who are praying for me (many of you readers) of a fast that I am observing today. It is called the Ezra Fast and is taken from Elmer Towns’ book Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough. (An excellent guide for fasting, by the way. I recommend it as a simple, understandable approach to fasting for different things.) I would like to share a few insights from Towns’ book. If you are not interested, skip to the bottom of this posting for today’s Bible readings.
The Ezra Fast is for those facing problems in their physical life or carrying burdens that hinder their Christian progress. “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? … To undo the heavy burdens? (Isaiah 58.6, KJV) Ezra called all the Jews traveling through a dangerous wilderness (the problem) to fast for protection from their enemies along the journey. The key verse for this fast is: “So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer” (Ezra 8.23).
There are at least three wrong attitudes we can take toward problems:
- I am unusual.
- I am unspiritual.
- God has forsaken me.
- I cannot run from my problems.
- I cannot keep problems from happening.
- I can solve my problems!
- Eyes to see the positive: You are praying for victory! Know the outcome you want and ask God to give it to you. Do not be problem-centered, but God-centered. God is giving you a new vision of what he can do. Seize it!
- Eyes to see the people: Who is affected? Who is influential? Who is “with” you in spirit? Who are your praying and fasting partners? Who are resistant or critical?
- Eyes to see the principles: What does the Bible say about the problem you are facing? How have others I know solved a similar situation?
Prescription for the Ezra Fast:
1) Recruit those involved to fast with you (see Ezra 8.21).
2) Define and share the problem (v. 21).
3) Put yourself on the spot.
4) Fast seriously to God (v. 21).
5) Fast before attempting a solution (v. 15).
6) Fast facing the problem – or on site with insight (v. 21).
7) Fast for step-by-step guidance (v. 21).
8) Take practical steps after your fast to solve the problem (v. 24).
Hope this is helpful to you in days ahead!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Isaiah 53.4-5: Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Pray, Church, Pray!
In Mark 9.14-32, there is a story about Jesus’ healing a boy with an evil spirit. Jesus and three of his disciples were just coming down from a great experience on the top of a mountain. The rest of the disciples had been asked to help the boy, but they were unable to do so. Jesus, of course, was able to deliver the boy. The disciples asked Jesus, “Why couldn’t we?” Jesus replied “This kind can come out only by prayer” (v. 29).
As I meditated on this incident, I realized that God has work for us to do. While he gives us much to do on the level of human endeavor, some of his work can only be done by prayer:
Never think that our work alone will bring about the kingdom of God. We must do our work, and he must do his work. Do the other, for we must, we ought, we can. But cry out to God to deliver the sin-trapped soul.
So, pray, Church, pray!
As I meditated on this incident, I realized that God has work for us to do. While he gives us much to do on the level of human endeavor, some of his work can only be done by prayer:
- We can organize and manage churches and ministries…
- We can build buildings for functional ministry…
- We can invite people to fill those buildings…
- We can plan and conduct inspiring worship services…
- We can lead people in the promises of God…
- We can feed and clothe and house the poor…
- We can visit and encourage the afflicted…
- We can teach and equip the saints…
Never think that our work alone will bring about the kingdom of God. We must do our work, and he must do his work. Do the other, for we must, we ought, we can. But cry out to God to deliver the sin-trapped soul.
So, pray, Church, pray!
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