Prayer for the Finish

 

One of the benefits of prayer is that it increases your heart's sensitivity to God's leading. Over the course of this year, God has called me to step down from almost every ministry that I have been involved in, most recently writing this blog. I don't know why God is calling me to step back, but I do know that I have to follow His direction, even if I don't understand it. I appreciate all who have read and supported my writing, and would appreciate your prayers as I enter this time of uncertainty. You can still connect with me on my facebook page, for the time being at least I will occasionally verses and past articles there.

If you would like to continue the year of prayer journey on your own, here are the prayer points and main verses:

Week 34:Your Will Be Done- Matthew 6:10

Week 35: God's Provision- Matthew 6:11

Week 36: Forgiveness- Matthew 6:12

Week 37: Deliverance and Temptation- Matthew 6:13

Week 38: Current Events (use newspapers to guide prayer)- Psalm 67:2

Week 39: Bearing Burdens (pray for specific people)- Galatians 6:1-3

Week 40: Contentment- Philippians 4:12

Week 41: Include Another (ask someone to pray for you as well)- Romans 15:30

Week 42: Cravings to Prayer (fast one meal a day and allow cravings to prompt prayer instead of eating)- Matthew 6:16-18

Week 43: Prayer for the Home (pray in a different room each day)- Proverbs 3:33

Week 44: Prayer for Family (focus on a different family member each day)- Psalm 101:2

Week 45: Speaking the Word (read Scripture aloud during prayer time)- Deuteronomy 30:14

Week 46: Sharing Your Prayers (write prayers for others on cards to send to the person you prayed for)- 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Week 47: Spiritual Legacy (thank God for those who have influenced your spiritual walk and write notes of thanks to them) -1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Week 48: The Armor of God (pray through the armor focusing on 1 piece each day +v18 on day 7)- Ephesians 6:10-11,18

Week 49: Thy Will Be Done (ask God's direction and purpose in your life and every decision/action)- Proverbs 19:21

Week 50: Practice of the Presence of God- Hebrews 12:2

Week 51: Pray this Promise- Proverbs 4:11-12

Week 52: Prayer Walk (go to a public place and pray for the people you see as you walk)- Ephesians 1:18

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 33: Your Father

Father’s are a big part of our lives. The role they play is far more important that most people (fathers and children alike) realize. Without fathers, children are significantly more likely to do drugs, join gangs, and go to prison, etc. Even those whose fathers live at home can suffer from the lack of interaction they have. While the role an earthly father plays is vital, it pales in comparison to the role of our heavenly Father.

 

Matthew 6:9 New American Standard Bible 1995

“Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.

Galatians 4:6 New American Standard Bible 1995

Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

Psalm 68:5-6a New American Standard Bible 1995

A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
God makes a home for the lonely;
He leads out the prisoners into prosperity.

 

The Lord’s Prayer is a model to help us learn to pray. Many have a hard time seeing God as their Father, either because they had problems with their earthly father or they were taught to view Him in some other way, but I know some who lost their fathers and God replaced that void in their lives so that they did not suffer in the way most do. We need to remember that God is not like man; rather man can be like God. God is the perfect Father, what every earthly father should be.

 

When we pray we need to remember Who we are really talking to, and let that truth change our attitudes and hearts rather than allowing our experiences to dictate our view of God. For the next month we will be focusing on the Lord’s Prayer, allowing each phrase to impact the way we pray and our relationship with God.

 

This week as you pray, focus on Matthew 6:9. Think of God as your Father, the best Father. Let that impact (and if necessary change) your view of Him. How does His role as Father in your life affect your needs and desires? Journal your thoughts. Hallowed means to be made holy, glorified. How can His name be exalted and glorified in your life? How can that be evident in the midst of your current needs?

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 32: Inner Peace

We all want peace. No one really enjoys conflict, especially not when it involves or affects them in some way. We want peace in our homes, communities, countries and lives. That is what we were made for; to live in peace, at peace with everyone. Conflict is the result of sin, whether directly or indirectly. Many cultures have different views on where peace comes from and how to get it. How can we have peace?

 

Psalm 16:8-9 New American Standard Bible 1995

I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.

Isaiah 26:3 New American Standard Bible 1995

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 9:6-7a New American Standard Bible 1995

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,

John 14:27 New American Standard Bible 1995

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

John 16:33 New American Standard Bible 1995

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

 

True, lasting peace comes only from God, from trusting, relying and resting solely in Him. As I said the ultimate reason we do not have peace is because of sin. Our sinful attitudes and choices cause conflict with others, but it also causes discord with God. Even if we had no conflict with another person and lived in physical peace, we would still not have “inner peace” because we would be at odds with God. That is why Jesus died on the cross, to pay the penalty for our sins so He could bridge the gap between us and God, so that we could finally be at peace with Him.

 

It is only through believing and trusting in Him that we can have that inner peace the secular world so longs for. No amount of emptying our minds or positive thinking will give it to us. And no amount of trying to be good and making peace with others will work if we do not have the Prince of Peace dwelling within us. We can only know peace by living in His righteousness (ceasing to strive to be perfect on our own), living according to His commands (which will produce the best outcome in our dealings with others), and trusting Him completely with our lives and circumstances.

 

The people I know who have the most inner turmoil are those who, instead of trusting God with what is going on, try to manipulate people and circumstances, who try to maintain control over their lives. When this inevitable fails they are filled with worry and anxiety because life is out of their control. Unfortunately, that is the reality of life. No one truly has control over anything, but God has control of everything. If we trust in Him, that He is sovereign (completely in control of everything) and also completely good and loving, we will have peace. We need to trust that God has the power to do everything and that He is working for our good and His glory. We need to trust in His character, that He is a completely and perfectly just, loving, merciful God. We really cannot trust Him truly if we do not believe these things.

 

This week as you pray, first repent and ask Him to forgive your sins, for we cannot have anything from God, least of all peace, if we are at odds with Him. Then ask Him to help you trust in Him and fill you with His peace. Let go of what is worrying you, what you are trying to control and give it to Him. Feel His peace flow through you. Begin each morning by consciously trusting in Him and relaxing in His arms. Breathe deeply and slowly, and as you breathe out let that peace fill you. Feel your body relax. Enjoy the feeling of peace and restfulness that comes from trusting completely in God. Let thoughts of Him fill your mind and saturate you with His peace.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 31: The Power of a Name

What’s in a name? It used to be very common, especially in some cultures, to be very careful and intentional about choosing baby names, and some still carry that belief. For some it is less of a superstition and more a way of blessing their child. They might be named for a dear friend or relative, an historical figure who possessed a quality they valued, or have a meaning that is particularly special to them. For example, the name I chose to write under means “light on a hill” in Gaelic, which is my purpose for writing. While all of these things are nice and special, is there really any power in a name?

 

Psalm 9:10 New American Standard Bible 1995

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Jeremiah 33:2-3 New American Standard Bible 1995 (emphasis added)

Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is His name, ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

Matthew 1:21 New American Standard Bible 1995

She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.

John 20:30-31 New American Standard Bible 1995

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Acts 2:38 New American Standard Bible 1995

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

 

There is only one name that truly has power: the name of Jesus. Because He is God, his name carries with it an inherent power that will send the enemy scrambling. It can bring light into the darkest hole and peace to the most troubled heart. It even has the power to bend the will, for one day at the name of Jesus every knee will bow. This is not some theoretical fluff. It is true and real. Speaking the name of Jesus audibly has power. The other names of God can also have power in our situations:

 

Refiner

Malachi 3:3 New American Standard Bible 1995

He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.

God With Us

Matthew 1:23 New American Standard Bible 1995

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.

The Light

John 1:9 New American Standard Bible 1995

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

Bread of Life

John 6:35 New American Standard Bible 1995

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

Good Shepherd

John 10:11 New American Standard Bible 1995

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Teacher and Lord

John 13:13 New American Standard Bible 1995

You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.

The Vine

John 15:5 New American Standard Bible 1995

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

 

 

Each of these names is significant and portrays part of God’s character. They can have power in our lives, not as much as the name Jesus, but to encourage our hearts and remind us of His character and the promises He has made to us. Knowing the names of God helps us to know God Himself, and using them in prayer deepens our relationship with Him.

 

This week as you pray focus on one of these names each day. Think about what that names means to you this day in this circumstance. What promise does it hold for you? Let Him show you your need or desire illuminated by that name. Let this week enrich your prayer life and relationship with God.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 30: Your Legacy

Most people want to be remembered, especially a certain way. What will they say about us at our funerals? Will we have a lasting impact on future generations? Will we leave our mark? What we don’t realize is that it is usually the small, every day things which are the most important. A friend just shared that she learned as a counselor at summer teen camp last week that we need to dream big, but live small. The dream of reaching thousands is huge, and not unrealistic, but it starts with one person, being intentional in our interactions. And we never know who that person might be that is most influenced.

 

Psalm 102:18 New American Standard Bible 1995

This will be written for the generation to come,
That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.

Deuteronomy 31:19 New American Standard Bible 1995

Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.

1 Corinthians 10:11 New American Standard Bible 1995

Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Psalm 78:6-8 New American Standard Bible 1995

That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born,
That they may arise and tell them to their children,
That they should put their confidence in God
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments,
And not be like their fathers,
A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that did not prepare its heart
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

 

The people in the Bible did not know that their story would ever make it in a book, that people thousands of years later would know what they did or learn from their experiences. They may have acted differently if they had. With the exception of Abraham, most had no clue that they were part of a bigger story. They were just living day to day like us. Some of those stories are positive and inspiring, while others show a good example of what not to do.

 

The point is that every person has a story, an experience to share, a testimony to witness to the goodness of God, but most don’t realize it, or think that it is not important. We all make an impact for eternity. The question is what kind of impact will that be? Given the option, what would we choose to share?

 

This week as you pray, write a letter to those who will come after you. Write a little bit each day; it could be a paragraph, sentence, or just a thought. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or profound. Just think about what you want to pass along to those who come after you. What kind of spiritual legacy do you want to leave? Not only will this help you become more intentional, but it will also help clarify what God means to you, which will in turn stir up genuine praise and thanksgiving.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 29: This Day

13,353. That is how many days I have been alive, give or take a few leap years. 13,353 opportunities to meet with God, to give the day to Him, to appreciate the days He has given me. Unfortunately, I have not taken advantage of most of them. That many days roll together so that it just becomes the same ol’ same ol’, running through the motions. We rarely take the time to appreciate something we have that seems to be a given, or to be intentional or eternally minded on a regular basis. It usually takes something drastic, even tragic, to wake us up so that we make the most of the time we have, but even that doesn’t last very long.

 

Psalm 118:24 New American Standard Bible 1995

This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Ephesians 5:15-16 New International Version

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Colossians 3:1-3 New International Version

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.

 

God does not want us to run through life moving from one moment to the next as if the physical and temporal are all there is to life. He doesn’t want us living for ourselves as if nothing we do really matters that much. God wants us to be intentional about everything because even the smallest action, choice or even inaction makes a difference and affects someone somehow. We need to be wise in our lives, not just in the big life choices, but in every choice, in everything we do. We need to be aware of the impact that everything we do has on eternity.

 

"Recently I asked a group of students, “What can people create that lasts the longest?” They paused, reflected, and they gave a few different answers including archaeological remains such as the Egyptian pyramids and Machu Pichu.

Then I followed up with another question: “Can humans create anything that lasts forever?” They reflected again for a brief period, but all agreed that the answer is no. After all, they said, everything eventually falls apart. Even though I pressed them for an answer, they concluded that humans are incapable of creating anything that lasts forever.

I simply replied, “I think you are missing something. With God’s power, humans can make something that lasts forever––other human beings.”

I went on to explain to them that God made humans as both body and soul (Matthew 10:28). Physical things in this world do fade away, including our present bodies, but each person has a soul that will never cease to exist, which will be joined to a new body in the resurrection. In fact, after a trillion, trillion, trillion years from now, you will have just as much time left in eternity as you do today. Mind-boggling.

This is why, as my friend Jeremy Pettitt observed, “Sex is the most powerful creative act in the universe. When a man and a woman come together in a sexual relationship, the possibility of creating an eternal soul/spirit arises. At the moment of conception, a new immortal soul/spirit has entered into eternity.”

Pause, and let this point sink in. Seriously, re-read the last few sentences and make sure you don’t miss that. God has created human beings with the capacity to create something that lasts forever—other human beings."

This excerpt is from Sean J McDowell's book Chasing Love.

 

If something so seemingly insignificant as sex has that kind of eternal power, what impact do our words and attitudes have? What about our choices and our capacity to influence others by what we do?

 

This week as you start each day, begin it by thinking “this is the day God has appointed for me. He has given me this day.” Embrace everything He brings into this day, every difficulty, disappointment, joy, victory, every circumstance. Consider them as a faith lab (for the negative) or a gift (for the positive) from God. Start each day determining that you will rejoice and live this day for God. Take the opportunity to be intentional about every thought, word, choice and interaction. See how you can make an impact for eternity every moment.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 28: Deep Cleaning

Spring cleaning, deep cleaning, purging are common practices people do when “the fit takes them.” The idea of getting rid of old or unused items and cleaning everything are good, useful and healthy, helping clear our homes of clutter and filth. I recently cleaned my fridge for the first time in years. I hadn’t noticed before that it was very dirty, but it looks and smells so much better now! While the common trends are on cleansing the home, how often do we focus on cleansing our soul?

 

Psalm 139:23-24 New American Standard Bible 1995

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.

Job 31:6 New American Standard Bible 1995

Let Him weigh me with accurate scales,
And let God know my integrity.

Psalm 26:2 New American Standard Bible 1995

Examine me, O Lord, and try me;
Test my mind and my heart.

Proverbs 17:3 New American Standard Bible 1995

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests hearts.

Psalm 51:10-11 New American Standard Bible 1995

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

 

While our emphasis is cleansing what can be seen by others, we often ignore and even avoid cleansing what is hidden. The deep places of our hearts are areas we don’t want anyone to see, or even to acknowledge that they exist. However, God knows everything. He already knows what is in the recesses or our souls and minds, and only He can cleanse them. Unfortunately, this is a painful, and sometimes humiliating, process. It requires admitting what we want to deny, revealing what we want to hide, and removing what we secretly hold tight.

 

Only God can accurately assess our hearts and reveal what is inside. Our hearts are deceitful and want to make out that they are better than they really are. We are misled into believing that we don’t have anything to deal with, that our sin is taken care of or not really that bad. We are fooled into believing that we are good enough. Only God sees us truly as we really are without the screens and facades we hide behind. Only He has the power to remove what has us bound, to release the chains of sin and free us to live like Him.

 

This week as you pray, open your heart and mind to God. Ask Him to do a deep clean on your life, clear out the clutter and expose anything that is getting in the way of your relationship with Him, preventing you from experiencing His abundant life. Don’t resist this process. He wants you to be fully and completely His, free from the bondage of sin and the tentacles of the world that still cling to you. He wants to deliver you from anything that weakens His power in your life. Keep a journal of what He brings to mind and actively seek to remove those things. Ask Him to help you clear the closet and set you free!

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 27: Be Still

In our busy, fast paced world we have a hard time being in the moment. We are more intent on taking selfies or sharing what is going on than actually enjoying what is happening. We have lost the art of “being present.” This not only disrupts our relationships with others, but also with God. It is hard enough to be “with” someone sitting across from us, let alone someone whom we cannot see or feel.

 

Psalm 46:10 New American Standard Bible 1995

“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Exodus 14:13-14 New American Standard Bible 1995

But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

Psalm 62:5-6 New American Standard Bible 1995

My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 37:7 New American Standard Bible 1995

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

 

I think the progression of Psalm 46:10 is important. Before we can know or acknowledge God, we have to cease striving, be still. We cannot be aware of, let alone know, Him if we are too busy or agitated to notice. The word translated for “know” is the Hebrew yada which denotes an intimate knowledge. It is not superficial content we skim from the internet, but personal, experiential, and deep. We can’t have that when we are focused on everything else, if we aren’t making time to be alone with Him. Interestingly, the word for “be still” literally means to slacken. We need to loosen up, relax, sink down into the loving arms of our Creator and let Him take care of our worries.

 

If we do these things God will be praised by all who are around us. Why? Because when the world sees that we can go through distressing, even traumatic, circumstances with a peace and joy that passes understanding, which can only come from God, they will not help wanting to know where it comes from and how they can get it, too. However, it all begins with each of us individually being still and relaxing in our Savior’s presence, knowing Him intimately and trusting Him with our troubles.

 

This week in your prayer time, focus on being in the moment with God. Let the words of Psalm 46 envelope you. Feel the power of His presence, allowing it to fill you with peace, joy and confidence. Each morning write down what it means to you that He is God.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 26: Fully Known

Do you hide from God? Is there a part of you or your life that you think He doesn’t know or doesn’t care about? These are common misconceptions for humans in general because God is not physical. It is hard to view Him as being omnipresent when we can’t see Him. Deeper than that is the idea that God couldn’t love us like He does if He fully knew us.

 

Psalm 139:1-6 New American Standard Bible 1995

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O Lord, You know it all.
You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.

God is everywhere. He knows and sees everything, even our thoughts. This is not an abstract, objective, indifferent kind of knowledge. God intended for knowledge to be intimate and part of relationship. That is why the Old Testament referred to intercourse as “knowing.” Unfortunately, sin ruined that. That is why God didn’t want Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge, it was knowing without relationship, head knowledge that either puffs up or creates distance and even fear. God’s knowledge of mankind didn’t change after the fall, our relationship with and perception of Him is what changed.

 

Sin caused knowledge to be acquainted with fear instead of security. Sadly, now it is “natural” for us to fear being fully known, which is why we hold back even with God, even though being fully known is what our souls crave. We need to fight that fear (for fear is not of God) and work to be open, especially with God, but also with others whom we can trust, like our spouse.

 

God seeks to know us. He searches us because He wants that intimate, relational knowledge of us. He already knows all of our actions, even before they happen. He even knows our every thought. Even the deep recesses of our hearts and minds are not concealed from Him. His knowledge of our actions is not abstract. He studies us to understand our personalities and quirks, not to criticize but to love us. He doesn’t know us to shut us out but to protect us. He is not tyrannical, selfish or malicious like worldly authority figures. He does not want to use us. We were created to have relationship with Him. This knowledge, knowing about His perfect, infinite, complete knowledge of us, is too wonderful to grasp. We cannot fully understand it in our sin stained, finite minds.

 

This week as you pray, focus on these six verses. Slowly read through this passage and think about each phrase. Concentrate on one verse each day and make it a personal prayer. Let God speak to you through it. Repeat it to yourself throughout the day and pray it into every situation.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 25: Call to Obedience

We often view prayer as one way, like giving feedback on a website. We generally don’t expect a response, especially a personal one. If anything we get a “thank you, your opinion is important to us” or “we’re taking it under advisement.” Sadly, we view prayer as being about us. We do all the talking and if we do happen to listen, it’s for an answer to what we said. But how often do we listen for instructions, to hear a command for us to obey?

 

Ecclesiastes 8:5 New American Standard Bible 1995

He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.

James 1:22 New American Standard Bible 1995

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

James 1:22 New American Standard Bible 1995

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

John 14:23 New American Standard Bible 1995

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

Luke 11:28 New American Standard Bible 1995

But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Exodus 19:5 New American Standard Bible 1995

Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;

Romans 10:17 New American Standard Bible 1995

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

 

We tend to view obeying God’s commands in an abstract sense. We think of it only in the realm of doing what the Bible says, some more leniently than others. The idea that God would personally tell us something He wants us to do is foreign. How can we know what God wants us to do if He doesn’t speak to us out loud? While there are times when He does actually speak to us audibly (I have experienced this,) more often it is through the nudging of the Spirit. It is not so much a structured sentence, but more of an idea or a picture accompanied by an urge to act. This could be as simple as taking someone a meal, or offering an invitation. God’s call is often not grandiose, but common and every day. The reason we don’t notice it every day is because we aren’t listening. In 1 Kings, God has a message for the prophet Elijah, yet He does not speak through the fire, storm or earthquake, but through the gentle whisper of the wind. It is hard to hear if we are surrounded by noise, chaos and busyness.

 

There are two ways to make ourselves better adapt at hearing the voice of God. The first is to make being alone and quiet a regular practice. The other is to consciously make oneself more aware of God’s voice and presence. God is everywhere, but we are usually not aware of it. Part of this is being in constant communion with God, keeping the door of communication open by being mindful of Him. The other part is to be in God’s word. The more we know Him the better we will recognize His will and voice. The primary requisite to knowing God’s will and obeying His command is being open, a humble willingness to submit to Him. It does not matter how much God talks to us if we don’t listen, or how much we listen if we are not willing to obey.

 

This week as you pray, ask God to make you aware of Him. Invite Him to speak to you. Be willing to obey. Tell Him (truthfully) that you are willing to do whatever He commands. Express faith that you will know how and what to do when the time comes. Be ready and attentive every moment of every day.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 24: Object of Delight

How does God feel about you? Likely it’s a question you’ve never asked yourself, or possibly never even thought about before. On the surface, songs like “Jesus Loves Me” and “ He’s Got the Whole World” pop into mind, and we might give them as a rote answer, but how deeply do we really believe it? Do we live as if it were true?

 

Isaiah 62:4-5 New American Standard Bible 1995

It will no longer be said to you, “Forsaken,”
Nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”;
But you will be called, “My delight is in her,”
And your land, “Married”;
For the Lord delights in you,
And to Him your land will be married.
For as a young man marries a virgin,
So your sons will marry you;
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
So your God will rejoice over you.

Isaiah 43:2, 4 New American Standard Bible 1995

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you…

Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.

Psalm 37:23 New American Standard Bible 1995

The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.

Exodus 19:5 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.

 

God’s love for us is not for show, by compulsion or out of duty. He doesn’t have to love us because He is God or even because He made us. In fact, the opposite is true; He made us because He loves us, because He delights in us. His delight is not earned by anything we do. It is not even earned by how well we keep up our relationship with Him. He delights in us because we are His, because He loves us.

 

This week as you come to prayer, dwell on the fact that God delights in you, that He made you because of His delight in relationship with you. He takes pleasure in your presence. He delights in being alone with you as a beau delights in being alone with His sweetheart. Let His love for and joy in you fill you with peace.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 23: An Open Invitation

In our egocentric society we are inclined to believe, or at least behave, as if everything revolves around us. As contrary as this is to Christianity, many Christians live without even recognizing it, as if God and our faith are here for our benefit. One need look no further than the attitudes Christians have toward prayer and church attendance. We pray for what we want. We attend church to be filled and meet our needs. We even view salvation as something we chose, rather than something to which God first called us. We often forget, or never even knew, that faith and its practices are an invitation from God.

 

Isaiah 50:4 New American Standard Bible 1995
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

Isaiah 55:1 New American Standard Bible 1995

“Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.

1 Samuel 3:4 New American Standard Bible 1995

that the Lord called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.”

Matthew 11:28-30 New American Standard Bible 1995

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

John 6:44 NASB1995

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

 

God first called us. We would not have sought or desired Him if He had not first called to us. Some would say that He only calls the few who will be saved, others that He calls everyone and only a few answer. I am not here to debate that. Regardless of the view point, the Bible is clear that we do not first choose God and He accepts us, but that we are here eta His invitation. If you are saved and have given your life to Christ it is because He drew you to Himself. He wanted you with Him.

This week in your prayer time, consider the fact that you are here at His invitation, not just in faith but also in prayer. He wants to meet with you. He longs for communion with you. As a good parent nurtures their child, or better as a loving husband seeks His wife’s heart and companionship, so God desires to have us draw near to Him and open our hearts to Him.

 

Above all, the purpose of prayer is communion with God. He has invited you to spend time alone with Him, like a date. It is not just so that you can do all the talking, but because He has something to teach and say to you for your benefit. How does that change the mood and climate of your prayer time? This week try to be conscious of God’s invitation to you and record what you observe.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 22: The Temple of God

We tend to equate worshipping God with church, and church with a specific building. In the Old Testament people had to go to a specific place to worship God because that was where He dwelt, but now it is different. However, we have trouble remembering that in the day to day. We tend to compartmentalize and only think of God in the place where we expect to find Him.

 

1 Corinthians 3:16 New American Standard Bible 1995

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19 New American Standard Bible 1995

Or do you not know that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

2 Corinthians 6:16 New American Standard Bible 1995

Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God and they shall be My people.”

Ephesians 2:20-22 New American Standard Bible 1995

Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

 

Jesus came to earth to save us from sin. When He left, He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us in His place. Before the time of Christ, the Spirit only came on certain people for a certain time. It was not a permanent or common place occurrence. Now, however, the Spirit indwells all believers from the time of salvation on. We no longer need to go to the temple to worship God or be in His presence because we are His temple. We can worship Him anytime, anywhere. Relationship with God is no longer compartmentalized. One of my favorite books is The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence and I would highly recommend it. He talks about practical ways to be more aware of God’s presence every day, something all believers desperately need.

 

This week, dwell on the fact that God dwells in you. He is always at home in you. You do not have to seek Him out or get His attention, you already have Him. Your body is His temple, His place of worship. Do you live like it?

 

In the Old Testament, worship engaged all the senses. Set aside some time this week when you pray to create that atmosphere. Go someplace quiet and beautiful. Light a fragrant candle. Play some worship music. Pray and worship God with every part of your being, let your whole self engage and be involved in it. Practice the presence of God.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 21: Anxiety, Control and Thanksgiving

Anxiety plagues many of us, some without even realizing it. I don’t sit around biting my nails over anything, but if I think about it there are a few things stewing on the back burner that I try not to think about. However, stuffing or ignoring them is no more successful than endlessly worrying about them. It doesn’t make us less anxious about them, nor does it solve the problem in any way. It just makes us less aware of them. What do we do with the things that cause concern?

 

Philippians 4:6-7 New American Standard Bible 1995

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:31-33 New American Standard Bible 1995

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 New American Standard Bible 1995

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 New American Standard Bible 1995

in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

Worry is a destructive thing. It steals our joy and peace without accomplishing anything good. It may make us feel like we are very caring about whatever it is that concerns us, but in truth it means that we are trying to be in control, rather than trusting the One who truly is in control. We worry because there is a problem that we can’t fix, but we aren’t willing to take it to the One who can. Ultimately it is selfish and fearful, but God has not given us a spirit of fear. That means that anxiety is not of God but of the enemy, so it is something we should fight just like we do every other temptation.

 

The question then is how do we fight it. Prayer is the first step. We need to take what is bothering us to God. We need to talk to Him about the problem and then trust Him to take care of it. We need to put it in His hands and then leave it there without trying to take it back from Him. Practically speaking, that means that every time we are tempted to worry about it, we make ourselves give it back to God or remind ourselves that He has it and it is not our problem any more. He is far better at dealing with it than we are anyway.

 

The next step is just as vital, but often overlooked: thanksgiving. This part seems counterintuitive. If something is bothering us, causing us to worry, there probably isn’t much to be thankful for, yet we are commanded to give thanks in it. However, the very fact that it is contrary means that is the very thing we need to make us not worry. We need the opposite of worry and that is thanksgiving. We need to thank God for that issue because that is where God has us and if we trust Him He will make good come from it. We can also be thankful for what God will do through it, ways that we can already see His hand working.

 

In your prayer time this week, write down everything that is making you anxious, big and small. Thank God for these things because He has a plan and will bring about good from them. Then ask Him to help you see what He is doing in them already and to be aware of His hand throughout the situation. Give the situation to God and leave it in His hands, resting in the knowledge that He is sovereign, all knowing and completely good. If this is hard for you, ask God to help you trust Him, to give you a peaceful, grateful heart. Going through this process will build your faith and trust in God, as well as building a spirit of peace and joy within you.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

Prayer Week 20: The Art of Listening

In our culture, we talk a lot. There is so much information coming at us, and we are so adept at expressing our opinions, we often forget that there is more than that. Prayer often becomes a one way telecom where we speak freely to God and then hang up the phone. We don’t usually give Him a chance to get a word in edge wise. Even when we study the Bible, it becomes information only and we don’t allow the time and peace to really let it speak to us and soak into our hearts.

 

1 Samuel 3:10 New American Standard Bible 1995

Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Proverbs 13:1 New American Standard Bible 1995

A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Matthew 7:24-27 New American Standard Bible 1995

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.

 

To listen means more than just to hear with our ears. It means to give heed to, pay attention to, to listen so as to obey. It is an act of submission and respect, and comes from a teachable spirit. We only “give ear” to those whom we already respect and deem as wise and worth following. God needs to have that topmost rank in our hearts. His Word should have the highest authority in our hearts and lives.

 

However, in order for God’s word to reach us we have to listen. We have to be still and quiet enough to hear His voice. He is not in the thunder or the great wind, but in the gentle whisper. Only those who really want to hear, and focus intently on listening, will catch what He says.

 

Listening to God’s voice is the most important skill in prayer. What we say is not nearly as important as what God says to us, so when we pray, while it is good to talk to God, it is more important that we listen. This week during your prayer time, cultivate a heart that listens. Listen for Him in His Word, in your quiet time, in life’s circumstances, and what others say. Write down what you believe He is saying to you.

 

 

 

I apologize for this coming out late, I am having computer problems. I will be fairly quiet on here until I get them worked out.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.