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The great masters of prayer have compared the spiritual
life to an ocean. On the surface life may be roiled by wind and tides. Yet
beneath the surface, even amid a stormy sea, the water is calm. Deep contentment and inner peace are anchored in these depths - the truth behind, "Be still, and know that I am God." »more
Why is praise so important? Why is it a consistent feature
of almost every prayer? Does God need it? No. God's ego is not so fragile that God needs our constant praise and support. But God knows we need to praise God in order to keep our focus centered on God. We need to remember who God is and how God acts prior to our asking God for anything. »more
Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." Most of us exist in a state of desperation, but we are afraid to admit it. Strangely enough, we will not pray as we ought unless we are willing to admit our weakness, brokenness, and desperation. We need God in our lives. It is for this reason that we pray. »more
God is greater than a reluctant friend. God is better than the most caring parent. God wants to share a deep, intimate, and mutually reciprocal relationship with us. Our challenge is to possess the holy boldness to approach God at all times and for all things, trusting God to provide what we need most. »more
According to the Christian tradition, the greatest sin is that of spiritual pride. Spiritual pride mimics righteousness but its fruit is evil - hatred, intolerance, and division - and leads us to look down on others and hold them in contempt. We must be ever mindful of the danger of spiritual pride, especially in the midst of our greatest spiritual advances. »more
In our litigious society, warning labels are affixed to most products in order to reveal possible negative consequences of using a product. Some warning labels are humorous and unnecessary. But not all are. Jesus believed that religion should come with a warning label. Jesus' warning can be reduced to one word: Warning - hypocrisy! »more
If Jesus needed times of solitude, how much more is this true for us. But solitude feels more like a punishment than a reward. We are part of a culture addicted to amusement, noise, and music. The constant chatter and endless buzz keeps us focused on trivial distractions and prevents us from truly wrestling with ourselves, God, meaning, and real life. »more
Results tagged “Prayer”
"The fundamental conviction of our faith is not so much that God is, as that God speaks" (Eugene Peterson). And "God speaks in personal address. God does not speak grand general truths, huge billboard declarations of truth and morals; the Lord's speaking is to persons, named persons: Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul. And Samuel" (Eugene Peterson). God's "Samuel! Samuel!" is an invitation to a deeper relationship. Let our answer, like Samuel's, be "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." In this session, we focus on what is necessary to prepare one's self to listen to God.
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1 Samuel 3:1-10 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" 5 and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. 6 The Lord called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." »more
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1 Samuel 3:1-10 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" 5 and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. 6 The Lord called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." »more
Paul prayers that the believers in Ephesus would come to greater knowledge and experience of God - Father, Son, and Spirit. The Spirit deep within manifests the presence and love of Christ, filling us "with all the fullness of God." Paul's prayer is a model for us. We should pray - on behalf of ourselves and others - for a deeper awareness and experience of knowing the Triune God. No matter how high our expectations, God is "able to accomplish abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine."
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Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. »more
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Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. »more
The great masters of prayer have compared the spiritual life to an ocean. On the surface life may be roiled by wind and tides. Yet beneath the surface, even amid a stormy sea, the water is calm. Deep contentment and inner peace are anchored in these depths - the truth behind, "Be still, and know that I am God."
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Psalm 46:10-11 "Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah »more
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Psalm 46:10-11 "Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah »more
The great masters of prayer have compared the spiritual
life to an ocean. On the surface life may be roiled by wind and tides. Yet
beneath the surface, even amid a stormy sea, the water is calm. Deep contentment and inner peace are anchored in these depths - the truth behind, "Be still, and know that I am God." »more
Why is praise so important? Why is it a consistent feature
of almost every prayer? Does God need it? No. God's ego is not so fragile that God needs our constant praise and support. But God knows we need to praise God in order to keep our focus centered on God. We need to remember who God is and how God acts prior to our asking God for anything. »more
Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." Most of us exist in a state of desperation, but we are afraid to admit it. Strangely enough, we will not pray as we ought unless we are willing to admit our weakness, brokenness, and desperation. We need God in our lives. It is for this reason that we pray.
[Mp3] | [Manuscript]
Mark 10:46-52 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 4 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." 52 Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. »more
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Mark 10:46-52 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 4 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." 52 Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. »more
Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." Most of us exist in a state of desperation, but we are afraid to admit it. Strangely enough, we will not pray as we ought unless we are willing to admit our weakness, brokenness, and desperation. We need God in our lives. It is for this reason that we pray. »more
God's silence can be interpreted as "No," "Not yet," or "I can't." There is one other way to interpret God's silence: "Yes... but my answer is not what you expected." We might get what we want in a way we don't want! Our prayers are answered, but not in the way we anticipated. God is out to change our needs and desires, not merely grant them. Do we really want to be transformed into the likeness of Christ, or do we simply desire to feel better about ourselves?
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Phil 1:12-14 I want you to know, beloved that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. »more
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Phil 1:12-14 I want you to know, beloved that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. »more
Waiting makes me feel unproductive, ineffective, and inconvenienced. Raised in a fast and furious culture I delight in instant gratification and immediate solutions. I hate waiting. And I don't think I'm alone. Yet, waiting on God has deep spiritual significance. It has deep connections to the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love. In order to sustain ourselves while waiting, we must constantly remember who is with us and what he is doing with us - healing us! Though we generally are impatient when we have to wait, we will wait when it seems advantageous to us. We wait in traffic to get where we want to go. We wait in line to purchase what we want to possess. There is one other place where we willingly wait - one place we expect to wait while suffering pain with the possibility of suffering even further pain in order to be made whole. That place is aptly named, "a waiting room."
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Lamentations 3:21-26 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Romans 8:24-25 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. »more
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Lamentations 3:21-26 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Romans 8:24-25 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. »more
On the night of his betrayal, Jesus prayed an urgent prayer. He prayed, "God, with you all things are possible. If it is possible, remove this cup from me." God's answer: "It's not possible." Jesus faced the "I Can't" or "I Won't" of God - not because God is apathetic (God cares for us) or impotent (with God all things are possible) but because of God's self-imposed limitations out of respect for creation's order and human freedom. What we want may not be possible because God is not willing to completely disregard the order of creation (which God established) or deny the consequences of human freedom (which God gives). Though this initially appears to deny God's sovereignty, this has nothing to do with any lack of power on God's part, but rather, is a result of the way God chooses to use his power. In this session we consider the reasons behind God's "I Won't" as well as the "I Will" behind the "I Won't." The story of "Finding Nemo" is used to illustrate.
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Matthew 26:39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." »more
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Matthew 26:39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." »more
We come to God in prayer because we are assured that God both hears our prayers and cares for us. These great promises are the source of great comfort, but also of great confusion. If God both hears and cares, what do we make of God's silence? How do we interpret God's failure to answer our prayers? One possible interpretation is "No." But in order to hear "No" rightly, we must seek to discover the "Yes" behind God's "No."
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Romans 8:26-29 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. James 4:1-3 Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? 2 You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. »more
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Romans 8:26-29 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. James 4:1-3 Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? 2 You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. »more
Prayer is simple, but it is not easy. What is easy is this: to lose heart, to throw up our hands in despair, to give up praying. When we experience long delays to an answer, when we face prolonged or intense suffering, when we are overwhelmed by injustice, our temptation is to ask: "What's the point? What's the use?" Jesus knew we would need encouragement to continue to pray and not lose heart and thus he gave us "The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge." If prayer were easy, Jesus wouldn't have to encourage us to not lose heart!
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Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night though he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" »more
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Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night though he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" »more
Children who know their parents love them have no problem asking their parents for anything. They are not timid, shy, or reluctant. They know the unwritten rule that they won't get what they want if they don't ask. And they ask because they know their parents love them and have their best interests at heart. God is greater than a reluctant friend. God is better than the most caring parent. God wants to share a deep, intimate, and mutually reciprocal relationship with us. Our challenge is to possess the holy boldness to approach God at all times and for all things, trusting God to provide what we need most.
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Luke 11:1-13 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." 5And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight a nd say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7 And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence (lit. shamelessness) he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" »more
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Luke 11:1-13 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." 5And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight a nd say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7 And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence (lit. shamelessness) he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" »more
God is greater than a reluctant friend. God is better than the most caring parent. God wants to share a deep, intimate, and mutually reciprocal relationship with us. Our challenge is to possess the holy boldness to approach God at all times and for all things, trusting God to provide what we need most. »more
According to the Christian tradition, the greatest sin is that of spiritual pride. Spiritual pride mimics righteousness but its fruit is evil - hatred, intolerance, and division - and leads us to look down on others and hold them in contempt. We must be ever mindful of the danger of spiritual pride, especially in the midst of our greatest spiritual advances. »more
In our litigious society, warning labels are affixed to most products in order to reveal possible negative consequences of using a product. Some warning labels are humorous and unnecessary. But not all are. Jesus believed that religion should come with a warning label. Jesus' warning can be reduced to one word: Warning - hypocrisy! »more
If Jesus needed times of solitude, how much more is this true for us. But solitude feels more like a punishment than a reward. We are part of a culture addicted to amusement, noise, and music. The constant chatter and endless buzz keeps us focused on trivial distractions and prevents us from truly wrestling with ourselves, God, meaning, and real life. »more
