"In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears." Psalm 18:6 (NASB) It's easy to assume that our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. It's easy to assume that our prayers are going unheard. It's easy to assume that God has far more significant concerns. The Psalmist reminds us that God does indeed here our prayers. You are heard. You are cared for. Be encouraged and keep moving forward.
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"Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." 1 Timothy 2:8 (NASB)
Paul, the writer of this letter to Timothy gives Timothy and us some practical advice on the topic of prayer. Here are just a few snippets. In Every Place - Our prayer should be on-going, in every place, at all times. This speaks to the necessity of prayer and prayer as a lifestyle rather than a prescribed moment in the midst of our day filled with other things. We can learn to pray while driving (keep your eyes open), while at work, in a meeting, fixing dinner, doing chores, there is no limit to where we can connect with God through prayer. To Pray - We serve a God who has provided for us we need only to ask for what we need. I'm not talking about prosperity gospel or thinking, I'm talking about the importance of asking for what we truly need. Think James 1:5, "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." We must ask for what we need. Paul tells Timothy this towards the beginning of his letter when he says, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men..." 1 Timothy 2:1 Lifting Up Holy hands - It was the practice of early Christians to lift their hands towards Heaven, palms up as they prayed, as a sign of expectation of what was to come. Lifting up holy hands speaks of the importance of right living as we come to God. We're not speaking of perfection but of an active pursuit of holiness. See Psalm 24:3-4, "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully." Without Wrath or Dissension - A fractured horizontal relationship can get in the way of a healthy vertical relationship. I think of Matthew 5:23-24, "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering." Perhaps Matthew 6:15 paints the starkest contrast when it says, "But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." We aren't expected to agree with everyone in life or not stand up for righteousness and the truth of God's Word but we are expected to not to treat one another with wrath and thereby create dissension. Let's learn to become more effective at our communication with God. Be encouraged and keep moving forward. Scripture: "Pray without ceasing" 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NASB)
Prompt: If we're honest there aren't a lot of things we do without ceasing. Breathing certainly makes the list. Even for the avid things like exercise and work wouldn't truly fall into this category. I could personally make a case on some days for eating non-stop but even that isn't really "without ceasing". We devote massive amounts of time and energy to things we are passionate about and while we may not truly be doing those things without ceasing, we certainly come close. Where does prayer fall on that list? I'm not talking about "eyes closed, kneeling by the bed" prayer I'm talking about the "going about my day while in a constant conversation with God" type of prayer. When I read, "pray without ceasing" I read questions and phrases like, "Hey God, what do you have for me today?" "Hey God, should I post this?" "Hey God, should I respond like this?" "Hey God, who should I reach out to today?" "Hey God, give me the strength to navigate this conversation gracefully and full of your Spirit." Prayer in the form of on-going two way conversation is what prayer without ceasing is all about. My challenge to you is to spend today in prayer. Make today a day of prayer without ceasing. Be encouraged and keep moving forward. Scripture: "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one." John 17:15 (NASB)
Prompt: I did some teaching tonight on the topic of evil in the world and the importance of us having a correct understanding of exactly who we are battling in this world. Hint: it's probably not who you think it is. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Our battle isn't against anyone who roams this earth in the form of a man or woman. Our battle is a heavenly battle and the sooner we recognize that the sooner we can learn how to hand off the battle to someone far more capable than we are at not only fighting but winning. Ask God to help you see your battles for what they really are. Be encouraged and keep moving forward. Scripture - "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2 (NASB)
Prompt: The promises of politicians have always been lofty. Whether at the local, state or national level, the promises of sweeping reform and a betterment of society and life as you know it is promised. In theory people aren't voting for what's currently happening, people are voting for what they perceive the future to hold if their candidate is elected or not elected. We long for transformation. Scripture paints a different picture of what it looks like to be truly transformed. True transformation comes from the renewing of your mind and I'd suggest to you today that the renewing of your mind starts with prayer. Prayer for God to reveal His plan for your future. Prayer for God to chisel out of us those parts that aren't pleasing to Him. Prayer for God to give us His eyes and ears as we interact with those around us. I challenge you today to put your complete and total trust not in a particular candidate but in the process of renewal that God maps out for us in His Word. Be encouraged and keep moving forward. Scripture: "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 (NASB)
Prompt: This is a verse that is found in the midst of Jesus' time in the Garden of Gethsemane as He was praying to God, "Not my will but yours be done" and the disciples were...well, not praying but sleeping. The disciples certainly talked a good game but when the hour got late, they got sleepy and cashed in the chips for a little shut eye. Perhaps the same could be said for you and I as well as we've entered this election cycle. Prior to things heating up, we talked a good game about our love and compassion for one another, we talked about forgiveness, patience and the fruits of the Spirit but as the hour has gotten late and we've grown weary, we don't always walk out what we talk out. We spew hate, our language grows coarse and those that we were once in Christian fellowship with we now can't even speak to without foaming at the mouth. Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. Let's keep watching and praying. Take some time today to pray for your Christian brothers and sisters who do not agree with you politically. Don't pray for God to change their vote, pray for God to change your heart as you think of them. Be encouraged and keep moving forward. Scripture: "and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NASB)
Prompt: Over the millennia we as a people have invented endless ways to deal with the problems we encounter in our society. Sadly none seem to truly fix what ails us. Scripture writes a pretty clear prescription for our issues: humility and repentance. Some would argue that this route is playing the long game and that there's no time for that when an election is right around the corner. They argue that voting would fix our immediate problems. Friends, there is no candidate or platform that will truly fix our problems, not in this cycle or any cycle to come. We need the healing that only God can bring and that begins with you and I as believers allowing Him to heal us first. That healing will then begin to ripple throughout society and bring the lasting change that is truly needed. Be encouraged and keep moving forward. There are 30 days left until the election. This isn't a plea to get out and vote. This isn't about a particular candidate or platform. This is about coming together to ask God to pour out His protection, wisdom, blessing and guidance on this nation. Over the next 30 days I'm going to be specifically praying for these things and more. I invite you to join me. I'll post a few prompts each day along with Scripture and together we can beseech God knowing that He does indeed hear our prayers.
Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21 (NASB) "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Prompt: Sometimes it's easy to forget that God desires to have a relationship with everyone on the planet, even those we don't agree with politically. Ask God to bless, protect, guide and watch over the candidate you don't plan to vote for. Be encouraged and keep moving forward. |
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