Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Prayer guidelines
Do we really believe that prayer works? I mean, even non-religious people throw out occasional prayers, right? You're familiar with the, "Oh God, please help me to find a parking space close to the front" or the one to keep your family safe when there's a loud noise in the middle of the night. In contrast to the occasional prayer blurb, some of us have flourishing prayer lives. But sometimes we can feel like it's not really making a difference. And I'm wondering, if prayer isn't effective, why do we do it at all?
As a Christian for the past twenty-six years, I've concluded that prayer makes a huge difference in my own life and for the world at large. That said, I think we should take it a little bit more seriously than we sometimes do. We pray for thing-A then thing-B, and our mind races off to thing-C. Before long, we're confused about what we even asked for because we are babbling while cycling at the gym. And I'm not the type who says prayer has to be done in a cathedral with a head covering either. But I think we make it a little bit too lackadaisical at times. We fit it in like it's a chore, rather than slowing down to sit with the Lord.
Here are three guidelines to pump up your prayer-life:
First, keep it simple. Rather than rambling on and on about every single person you've ever met or about every worry that fills your mind multiple times, ask the Lord to meet those needs, and then move on. This shows that you trust Him. It's not to say that He doesn't appreciate the squeaky wheel, asking again and again non-stop. But don't you think He heard you the first ten times? Instead of lingering on the never-ending requests, move on to praising God and thanking Him for His limitless provisions over the years.
Second, keep it real. Most of us realize that God knows our thoughts and concerns before we even think them. But still, we hold back during our prayer time because we think we can hide from His presence. As a Christian, you know He resides in your heart so wherever you go, He's right there with you. Plus, He does want to hear from you, all that's on your mind. And btw, in the first point, I never meant that we shouldn't bring all of our concerns to the King of Kings. I simply meant we should pray them to Him and then wait on His timing for their fruition. So go ahead and tell the Lord that you're stressed about your job or about your kids' future. Share your own health concerns with Him too. This honesty evidences a relationship between the two of you. And it shows that prayer is personal!
Third, keep it spirit guided. Sometimes I don't even know what to pray for so I'll just ask the Lord to press His thoughts and concerns onto my heart. I ask for guidance if there's someone I should be praying for in my extended family or amongst my circle of friends. I'll ask for wisdom to know His plan for me and for my family so I can pray according to His will for us. I even let my mind soar over the globe seeking how I can pray for those in other countries because I believe God cares for all of creation not just for those in America. The Lord will give you the words to pray.
So, get praying and keep us posted on how it goes. We'd love to hear from you. Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened for you." Pray and then trust!
As a Christian for the past twenty-six years, I've concluded that prayer makes a huge difference in my own life and for the world at large. That said, I think we should take it a little bit more seriously than we sometimes do. We pray for thing-A then thing-B, and our mind races off to thing-C. Before long, we're confused about what we even asked for because we are babbling while cycling at the gym. And I'm not the type who says prayer has to be done in a cathedral with a head covering either. But I think we make it a little bit too lackadaisical at times. We fit it in like it's a chore, rather than slowing down to sit with the Lord.
Here are three guidelines to pump up your prayer-life:
First, keep it simple. Rather than rambling on and on about every single person you've ever met or about every worry that fills your mind multiple times, ask the Lord to meet those needs, and then move on. This shows that you trust Him. It's not to say that He doesn't appreciate the squeaky wheel, asking again and again non-stop. But don't you think He heard you the first ten times? Instead of lingering on the never-ending requests, move on to praising God and thanking Him for His limitless provisions over the years.
Second, keep it real. Most of us realize that God knows our thoughts and concerns before we even think them. But still, we hold back during our prayer time because we think we can hide from His presence. As a Christian, you know He resides in your heart so wherever you go, He's right there with you. Plus, He does want to hear from you, all that's on your mind. And btw, in the first point, I never meant that we shouldn't bring all of our concerns to the King of Kings. I simply meant we should pray them to Him and then wait on His timing for their fruition. So go ahead and tell the Lord that you're stressed about your job or about your kids' future. Share your own health concerns with Him too. This honesty evidences a relationship between the two of you. And it shows that prayer is personal!
Third, keep it spirit guided. Sometimes I don't even know what to pray for so I'll just ask the Lord to press His thoughts and concerns onto my heart. I ask for guidance if there's someone I should be praying for in my extended family or amongst my circle of friends. I'll ask for wisdom to know His plan for me and for my family so I can pray according to His will for us. I even let my mind soar over the globe seeking how I can pray for those in other countries because I believe God cares for all of creation not just for those in America. The Lord will give you the words to pray.
So, get praying and keep us posted on how it goes. We'd love to hear from you. Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened for you." Pray and then trust!
Labels: Christian, guide-line, prayer
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Sit at the Feet of Jesus
To sit at the feet of Jesus... what does this mean? It's a challenging concept because it's not like he's right in front of us, staring into our eyes. In our scientific world where we depend upon empirical evidence, it's hard to wrap our heads around this idea... to sit at the feet of Jesus. And let's just say that we could actually sit in his presence, what does this look like in practical terms? Here are three simple thoughts to get us moving in the right direction.
First, slow down physically. Sitting at the feet of Jesus means jumping out of the race for a few moments. We get so busy with our day to day tasks that we find it taxing to stop and rest at Jesus' feet. But, this is essential because when we stop to listen, we can actually hear from God, even if it's just a whisper. As we sit down to listen to the Lord, we are able to "Be still and know that (He is) God..." (Psalm 46:10).
Second, slow down mentally. Find a place where you can be alone. This means no cell phones, no laptops, no iPods, and no Kindles. Sometimes, this feels impossible because you live in a house full of family members or room-mates. So, you might just need to get away to a quiet spot in your garden or patio. If you can wake up before everyone else, spend a few moments in your living room or even in that cozy chair next to your bed.
Mark 1:35 shares how Jesus went away to be by Himself to speak with his Father: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." He took some time away from Simon and his companions because even he needed some time alone to pray.
Third, slow down spiritually. Sometimes it's hard to "feel" spiritual. We get so distracted by the concerns around us: the plethora of unpaid bills, the text messages flooding our cell phones, or the stubborn check-engine light on our dashboard. To make this easier, place some symbols in front of you during your prayer-time to remind you of who Jesus is... even amidst life's daily stresses.
A good friend of mine likes to light a candle when she prays. The symbol of light reminds us of who Jesus is. John 1:4 says, "In him was life, and that life was the light of men" (v. 4). Another symbol could be a glass of water. Set it next to you during your prayer-time as a reminder of Jesus as the God of miracles. In John, chapter 2, Jesus turned the water into wine during the wedding banquet at Cana in Galilee. Remember that Jesus can do miracles in your life today as well.
Share how you slow down to sit at Jesus' feet. We'd love to hear from you. :)
First, slow down physically. Sitting at the feet of Jesus means jumping out of the race for a few moments. We get so busy with our day to day tasks that we find it taxing to stop and rest at Jesus' feet. But, this is essential because when we stop to listen, we can actually hear from God, even if it's just a whisper. As we sit down to listen to the Lord, we are able to "Be still and know that (He is) God..." (Psalm 46:10).
Second, slow down mentally. Find a place where you can be alone. This means no cell phones, no laptops, no iPods, and no Kindles. Sometimes, this feels impossible because you live in a house full of family members or room-mates. So, you might just need to get away to a quiet spot in your garden or patio. If you can wake up before everyone else, spend a few moments in your living room or even in that cozy chair next to your bed.
Mark 1:35 shares how Jesus went away to be by Himself to speak with his Father: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." He took some time away from Simon and his companions because even he needed some time alone to pray.
Third, slow down spiritually. Sometimes it's hard to "feel" spiritual. We get so distracted by the concerns around us: the plethora of unpaid bills, the text messages flooding our cell phones, or the stubborn check-engine light on our dashboard. To make this easier, place some symbols in front of you during your prayer-time to remind you of who Jesus is... even amidst life's daily stresses.
A good friend of mine likes to light a candle when she prays. The symbol of light reminds us of who Jesus is. John 1:4 says, "In him was life, and that life was the light of men" (v. 4). Another symbol could be a glass of water. Set it next to you during your prayer-time as a reminder of Jesus as the God of miracles. In John, chapter 2, Jesus turned the water into wine during the wedding banquet at Cana in Galilee. Remember that Jesus can do miracles in your life today as well.
Share how you slow down to sit at Jesus' feet. We'd love to hear from you. :)
Labels: faith, family, Jesus, prayer
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Pray Without Ceasing
To "pray without ceasing"...what does that even mean? I know the Apostle Paul was a good guy and he wouldn't mislead us unintentionally, but his words from the Bible confuse me (found in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and in Ephesians 6:18).
As women, we tend to worry a ton. Unfortunately, praying becomes a common extension of that worry. So, when we are called to "pray without ceasing" it can seem like a stressful charge. To worry without ceasing...how can that be what God wants?
I've taught my kids to pray with thankful hearts. Because of this, we form our prayers out loud by saying, "Thank you God that you care for this or that specific thing." The problem is that it's easier to pray that way in front of my kids, but on my own, I'm like "Pleeeeeease God, help with this or that."
During my own private prayer-time I frequently beg like a whiny brat for what I think I need the most. Most of these petitions are honorable ones; however, my attitude becomes weary and repetitive like a child asking for some cotton candy at the circus.
I find it especially difficult to "pray without ceasing" when I don't see any results. What about the sour family relationship that refuses to mend itself no matter how hard I try to put it back together? What about practical needs like finances, our kids' health, or even our own health? If God cares so much, then why is he so slow?
I know we can't change Scripture, but I've decided for my own spiritual development to rethink Paul's words. Since the instruction to "pray without ceasing" makes me mindful of all of my troubles, I'm going to retrain myself to read it as "trust without ceasing."
This means re-evaluating what I get out of prayer. If prayer is mainly a place I go to "get" something in return, I may continue to be disappointed. In contrast, if I focus the time on Who I am with, by addressing the time reverently with praise and adoration, I feel it will lead to trust. As I learn to believe that God is trustworthy, then I think my prayer-time will conclude with peace instead of strife.
As women, we tend to worry a ton. Unfortunately, praying becomes a common extension of that worry. So, when we are called to "pray without ceasing" it can seem like a stressful charge. To worry without ceasing...how can that be what God wants?
I've taught my kids to pray with thankful hearts. Because of this, we form our prayers out loud by saying, "Thank you God that you care for this or that specific thing." The problem is that it's easier to pray that way in front of my kids, but on my own, I'm like "Pleeeeeease God, help with this or that."
During my own private prayer-time I frequently beg like a whiny brat for what I think I need the most. Most of these petitions are honorable ones; however, my attitude becomes weary and repetitive like a child asking for some cotton candy at the circus.
I find it especially difficult to "pray without ceasing" when I don't see any results. What about the sour family relationship that refuses to mend itself no matter how hard I try to put it back together? What about practical needs like finances, our kids' health, or even our own health? If God cares so much, then why is he so slow?
I know we can't change Scripture, but I've decided for my own spiritual development to rethink Paul's words. Since the instruction to "pray without ceasing" makes me mindful of all of my troubles, I'm going to retrain myself to read it as "trust without ceasing."
This means re-evaluating what I get out of prayer. If prayer is mainly a place I go to "get" something in return, I may continue to be disappointed. In contrast, if I focus the time on Who I am with, by addressing the time reverently with praise and adoration, I feel it will lead to trust. As I learn to believe that God is trustworthy, then I think my prayer-time will conclude with peace instead of strife.
