Day 8 - A Week With Prayer

I can't tell you how many times I have seen the following scenario.  Your in a restaurant and you see another couple at a table across from you.  It's apparent they are married and most likely have snuck away from the kids for a while.  Yea, I know it's nosy, but you keep watching them from the corner of your eye and they say maybe two words to each other the entire meal.  It's not like they are mad at each other, but you can tell its awkward for them to look each other in the eyes and have a conversation.  Maybe you've never noticed this, but when I do it hurts my heart.  Two people who probably love each other to death who can't even carry a conversation when they are eye to eye.  The reason for this is a very simple.  They don't make it a regular habit to sit and talk and communicate.  The problem is similar to the discussion from yesterday based on the fact that we live super busy lives.  It seems like our days are filled with talking on the phone, texting, helping the kids, in business meeting and the such.  Many times by the end of the day Becky and I sit in a worn our stupor watching TV after the kids are in bed because we are so worn out.  So, over time it is possible to even grow apart as we forget to communicate with the ones we love.

Imagine what God feels like when we don't talk to Him.  What might He think as we lay our heads down at night and not one thought had crossed our minds of Him that day?  Now when you think of it that way, it's not unlike the relationship we have with the ones we love.  Our relationships will not and cannot grow if were not talking and learning new things about each other.  Bill Bright puts it this way, "We pray to have fellowship with God, receive spiritual nurture and strength to live a victorious life, and maintain boldness for a vital witness for Christ."  The fact is, if were not praying (communicating with God) its hard to believe we have any fellowship with him.  The one word that comes to my mind when I hear fellowship is companionship.  Have you ever had a companion, buddy, pal or bff?  I'm not making light of the majesty and holiness of God, but the fact is that He wants to be our friend.  We see in James 2:23 and Job 29:4 the God is actually called Abraham and Job's friend.

Did you have that friend as a kid like I did that you were connected at the hip with?  Yea, well I did and it didn't matter where one of us was the other was nearby.  We went out everyday and rode bikes, explored and most times found ourselves in some sort of trouble by days end.  If we would begin to view God as that friend and as soon as our feet hit the floor in the morning all our thoughts are on spending that day with Him.  The verse that states we are to "Pray continually" (I Thess. 5:17) really is a command to spend the entire day with our best friend.  It doesn't mean that we walk around mumbling something 24 hours a day, but to live in a constant fellowship with the Lord.  It is an act of walking in companionship with the Lord every moment of our lives.  We are actually even commanded to do this (Luke 18:1; Acts 6:4; Mark 14:38; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Timothy 2:1,2).

So, if someone is watching your table what do they see as you and God sit across from each other?  Do they see an awkward moment or do they notice a special kinship because you truly know one another?  I hope this encourages you to change your mindset of prayer and it finds you walking in the presence and companionship of Christ today.

Day 6 & 7 - A Week With Prayer

Wow, what a couple of days!  Ok, a bit of a slacker on day 6, but let's pick up and continue this whole thought of prayer.  I would like to start with reminding all of us that we have called a corporate day of fasting and prayer on each Wednesday during Lent.  I do hope you have been reading and have begun to understand fasting and are planning on joining us for this time of prayer.  The churches chapel will be open from 6am - 9pm as a place for you to land at some point during the day to escape and spend some quiet time.

If your anything like me, life is so chaotic!  From the time I roll out of the bed until I jump back in nothing seems to slow down.  With carting the kids all over town, ministry meetings, work, time with family, hours at the ball fields, etc., etc., and you know what I mean.  What happens at the end of many days as I lay my head down on the pillow is remember that I haven't had any time with the Lord that day.  I know that's why Jesus taught many times for us to be intentional about our daily time with the Father.  It is like the saying, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."  If your not strategic in your daily walk and what that looks like as to when we spend time with God most likely we will fail.

Early in Marks Gospel in chapter one we see the following account: " ³⁵Very 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."  There are several contextual things you need to understand about this narrative.  First, lets just take the verse at face value.

• It was "very early" in the morning....I mean it was still dark.  That time of the day doesn't thrill me at all!
• Jesus got up
• He left the house and presumably left the disciples sleeping like usual
• He found a solitary and secluded place to pray

The assumption is that this all happened because this was probably the only time of the day that he could get away from it all to pray to the Father.  We also get a glimpse into Christ's humanity as we see the necessity for him to actually have to spend this time in prayer.  However, to truly understand the impact of this movement of Christ so early in the morning, we have to scoot back a few verses.  Here's the rundown of Mark 1:21-34:  Jesus and His disciples come into Capernaum and went into the synagogue and casts a demon out of an uncontrolled man.  All who noticed what had happened were amazed and news began to spread like wild fire about Him.  After this He went to the home of Simon and Andrew.  Simon's mother-in-law was laid up in the bed sick and Jesus did what only He could do.  He took her hand, helped her up and the fever left her.  That evening after sunset the whole town came and wanted to have a house party and Simon and Andrew's house.  They had brought all the sick and demon-possessed to be healed by Jesusl  The picture is painted as the procession of the town people's marching up to the front door of the house.  " ³⁴and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was,"  Wow, what a season of events.  Lets for a moment imagine how exhausted He was.  We have to imagine that many of his un-penned days ended in similar fashion.  As he became a rockstar and everyone was either looking for him to follow or to string him up for blaspheme!

So, He finds himself in one of these moments in Mark the first chapter.  All these event happened as was stated and at the end of that day Jesus laid his head down in Simon and Andrew's house for a necessary night of snoozing. And we should be surprised at what happens next....."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."

Wow, are you kidding me!  After all the He had done over the course of the previous day, could he not sleep in for a while and rest for the unknown of the new day?  Well, that just was'nt in his tool bag.  Jesus lived His waking and probably his seeping hours in intentional and calculated moments.  HE knew what all would transpire for Him to fulfill the purpose of His sending, but He even knew more well what it would have to take to get to that place.  I can hear Jesus shouting out to God "At All Costs" as what could have been his mantra (my interpretation of course).

The narrative above really tells the story.  Listen, life never slows down and for the most part the pace continues to get faster.  Despite these fact, we should get up out of bed the next day and find a silent and solitude place where you can pray.  So, when it all seem to be overwhelming apply this principle of prayer and grow in those intimate quiet places with the Lord.

Psalm 46:10
 ¹⁰ "Be still, and know that I am God"

Day 5 - A Week with Prayer

In 1995 I spent the Summer in North Carolina at a small church working my first youth pastor internship.  I remember this Summer more than any I guess as I was counting down the days till Becky and I would be married in July.  I really didn't know what it the world I was doing, but I fumbled my way through and all-in-all was a great summer.  There was one moment I will never forget during those few short months there.  There was nothing really profound about this brief memory, but for me it spoke to the center of my soul.  I was visiting the pastor's house and I walked into his home office and noticed a little note hanging on his bookshelf.  It simply read "Prayer Changes Things."  Yea, well I told you it wasn't anything new, but it must have been the right moment and right time for it to speak to me deeply.  As you think of it, that small quote has the potential to change our lives.  If we as the people of God begin to pray - things will begin to change.

It is amazing how many people are basically clueless about how and what to pray about.  Well, that's ok and hopefully by the end of the week that will all change.

Prayer is basically communication with God.  It is our effort in our frail humanity to speak to God and inviting Him to speak to us.  I heard a pastor once share his unique way of visualizing this.  He would get up early in the morning and fix his coffee and sit at his breakfast table for a time of prayer.  He would also pour God a cup of coffee and sit it across the table as a way to remind him that he is simply having a conversation with the maker of the universe.  Some may see this as a over-simplification, but it is a simple way to understand that prayer is simply a communication line with the Lord.  So, in your own way try to find this time daily.  If prayer is that simple, we really don't have the excuse not to exercise it.  I know that I spend the time in between dropping the kids off at school and arriving at the office for my first time each day speaking to the Lord.  When do you or do you plan to have this time?

You know anyone can pray.  It's funny to me when I ask people to pray in public that many don't feel as if they can handle it.  Most of the time it's because they are so unpracticed in this area they don't feel comfortable praying.  The great thing about living for Christ is that we are all on an equal playing field.  So, here's some principles to help us get started on the right foot.

If were walking in disobedience we shouldn't expect to get the results were looking for.  We must be living in a right relationship with God first and foremost as we see in Matthew 14:6.

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Secondly, if you have unconfessed sin or have an unforgiving spirit against another person, you need to make it right before coming to the Lord in prayer (Psalm 66:18; Mark 11:25).  And lastly, when you ask do so with a believing heart.

Matthew 21:22
^"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

When we look at these principles it doesn't exclude anyone from not only praying, but praying with results.  If we walk in obedience, repentance and pray with faith we can have a prayer live that will "change things."  Let's take today and meditate on this truth, put into practice and trust God to do the rest.

I will be spending the rest of the week unpacking different aspects of having a powerful and effective prayer life.  I use a lot of sources for study and the Campus Crusade For Christ website is a great resource if you want to study more on your own time. (http://www.ccci.org/)Technorati Tags: prayer, believe, unforgiving,

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Sunday #1

If your following us during the Lent season you know that the 40 days that we celebrate as this season doesn't include Sunday's. As we have been discussing, Lent season is meant to be a time of sober reflection and repentance. However, on the few Sundays during Lent we use as a time of celebration both privately and corporately. So, I thought it fitting just to share some great scriptures on how good our heavenly father is to us. Feel free to share your own and add a testimony of how God is speaking to your as you fast and pray during this season.

Deuteronomy 7:9
"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands."

I Samuel 2:2
"There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

Psalm 36:7

"How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings."

John 3:16-18a
¹⁶"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,^f]">[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned"

You know this is one of those things that could continue to forever. When I think about the Lord and all He has done for me I become overwhelmed. I think about the season when our first son passed, when I was battling an unknown sickness and even lately with some physical battles and know how close the Lord has been I am lost for words. There is no denying that the Lord is close. He is the Emmanuel "God with us" and for those of you who need His presence, it is there for the taking.

Take time today to lift your eyes to the Lord and just say, thanks! I mentioned some hard seasons of my life, but the fact remains that He has been with me in the silent times just as much. How have you seen the Lord at work in your life? Take time to share and encourage the rest of us with your story of God's hand of provision and mercy in your story.

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Day 4 - The Discipline of Fasting (cont.)

A question that must be answered is, "why should i fast?"  That is a good and legitimate question because why should I suffer if it's not necessary, right?

• Jesus warns us about the dangers of living in a society such as ours. In Luke 21:34 he said, "Be careful, or your hearts
  will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly
  like a trap." He was speaking to the church. What was he warning them about? Dissipation. Surfeiting. Eating and drinking
  more and more and more.

Dissipation - to indulge in extravagant, intemperate, or dissolute pleasure

Fasting can be used as a regular practice to keep our lives in check from overindulging in our culture.  Why should we fast? Remember, one of the major problems in our country is that we have such an abundance of everything. We are an indulged society.  A regular regime on fasting can help you stay focused on your dependence on God and less on the fact that we really aren't in need of anything.  You may be proud of yourself right now because you are very health conscious and go to the gym three times a week.  Don't stop with this whole idea of over-indulgence with food alone.  In our present day culture there are so many other things that we overindulge ourselves in like: media and entertainment, materialism, laziness, etc...  So, as we think about starving our lives of those things that weight us down with "dissipation" lets add these other things and begin to fast from those things as well.

• Fasting is an act of humility before God, undertaken in part to seek His divine intervention in the events of our physical world.

• It is the example of Christ, the prophets, and the apostles.

• It provides more time to pray, seek God’s face, and repent because we are more focused on the Lord and less concerned
with daily routines such as preparing meals and eating, being entertained or just being lazy.

• It brings revelation by the Holy Spirit of our true spiritual condition, leading to brokenness, repentance, and change, and
allows the Holy Spirit to work in a most unusual, powerful way.

• It helps us concentrate on the Word of God to make it more meaningful, vital, and practical in our lives.

• It transforms prayer into a richer, more personal experience.

• It can help us regain a strong sense of spiritual determination and restore the loss of our first love for our Lord.

• Fasting is private in nature, in that Christians do not use it to been seen, but to follow the example of Christ (Matt 6:16-18).

Even though were not expounding on each of these, they do give us a clear picture on some of the why's for fasting.  Could you imagine the personal and corporate revival that may happen if we all began to fast and pray.  My prayer is that we do.  That we humble ourselves and just trust the promises of God and see Him begin to work in our lives and our community.

Day 3 - The Discipline of Fasting

Ok, well if you were at the Ash Wednesday service you should have a better understanding of what Biblical fasting may look like. However, just in those few short minutes it is difficult to really go into any depth. So, I am going to take some time to dig a little deeper about this rewarding and yet very hard to practice discipline.

"Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it."

-John Wesley

The problem with fasting is that for the most part it is misunderstood which usually leads to inactivity. As we dig through Scripture is becomes apparent that the action of fasting is peppered throughout. Everyone from Esther, Ezra Samuel, Elijah, Paul and even Jesus spent seasons of their lives in fasting and prayer. Clearly that should help us get closer to at least asking more questions about this discipline.

So, where do we start? I want to first remind us of several things that were taught on Ash Wednesday.

#1 We are told to do it:

· Matthew 6:16-17

o ¹⁶"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

• When we look at Jesus' words to His disciples here in Matthew 6 it is very apparent that He expects His disciples to fast. Even though we find nowhere in Scripture a command to fast it is clear that we are highly encouraged to do so. Whether it is simply through the examples set before us or passages such as the one here in Matthew we cannot escape the reality that fasting was and is an "expected" practice of the disciple.
• Look also at passages like Luke 9:23 “ ²³Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. “ The simple fact that we are called to deny ourselves even leads us in the direction of fasting. Now does it say that? Of course not, but the simple language suggest an act of suffering and humility which is basically what fasting leads us to.
  
• So, to me there's no question about the fact that we do need to fast.
  

#2 What it fasting

The next thing is to clear up exactly what fasting is:

• Traditionally fasting is a period of abstinence from all food or specific items
• Today, many have taken this to mean abstaining from any item in an effort to sacrifice to grow in faith. Examples: TV, Music, etc.
• Fasting "pursists" would fight tooth and nail that fasting has to do with food alone and anything else doesn't align itself with the Biblical model.
• However, fasting may be defined as abstinence from anything that is legitimate in itself for the sake of some spiritual purpose. For example, sleep is a good and legitimate thing, but sometimes we are led by the Holy Spirit to fast from sleep and give ourselves to prayer instead. This is called watching. Jesus spoke about watching in Matthew 26:41, and Paul referred to it in 2 Corinthians 6. And in the gospel accounts we read how Jesus himself prayed all night at times.
• Here's one the guys might not like. Sex is good and legitimate within marriage, but in 1 Corinthians 7:5 we read that fasting from sex can be proper. If a couple desires to spend some time in prayer, they may go without sex by mutual consent for a period of time.
• So, it's clear that food isn't the only Biblical model for fasting. The main objective is that you are truly making a sacrifice in order to humble yourself before God.
  

As we head into this Lent season be thinking of what items in your life would fit into the category of sacrificial to God. Honestly, for most of us this would be food or the like. Also, remember that our called day to fast and pray as a church is on Wednesday's so be preparing for that. The chapel will be open from 6am-9pm on Wednesdays as well.

I will continue on this thought tomorrow, so hope to see you then.

Day 2 - What's the significance of 40 days?

If you have been around the church for any time you have probably noticed that there is a pattern in the Bible when it comes to numbers.  One of those is the number 40.  There are so many examples where a 40 day period of time represented a turning point in the lives of those in the story.

• Forty days Moses was in the mount, Exodus 24:18; and to receive the Law, Exodus 24:18.

• Forty days of the spies, issuing in the penal sentence of the 40 years, Numbers 13:26, 14:34. 

• Forty days of Jonah and Nineveh, Jonah 3:4.

• Forty days Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Matthew 4:2. 

And now we are on a 40 day journey through the season of Lent.  What in the world does all of this mean, or does it even make a difference to me living in 2010?  Check this out....

"The number 40 holds particular significance in the Bible and refers to a precise number, not just a long period of time. There are at least ten instances in the Old Testament and New Testament where 40 occurs, either in years or days, e.g. it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, Moses was on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights, the Israelites wandered 40 years, Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days and was seen on the earth for 40 days after His crucifixion.

A 40-something time period, whether days, months, or years is ALWAYS a period of testing, trial, probation, or chastisement (but not judgment) and ends with a period of restoration, revival or renewal.

Thankfully, God is consistent, so the meaning of a number in Genesis remains the same all the way to the book of Revelation. Sometimes the spiritual significance is not revealed directly, but in the case of "40" and its many examples throughout the Bible, we can be certain of its importance and significance."  (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_significance_does_the_number_40_have_in_the_Bible)

Ok, if this is true this "40" number certainly has a deep meaning for you and I.  What we intend to do throughout Lent really does line up with the meaning of the number 40.  We are on a journey of repentance, self-reflection, prayer, fasting and seeking the face of God.  As we spend this time humbling ourselves it will most definitely be a time of testing and trial but as we shared at the Ash Wednesday service it will end with a time of restoration and revival.

A couple years ago when I was ending an extended time of fasting and I had this very clear revelation.

"Pay the price and I will see His Glory!"

Are you willing to pay the price?  Are you willing to humble yourself and pray and seek His face in order to see God totally transform your life.  As those ancient believer's did, we take these 40 days so that in the end we will be renewed by the presence of the Lord.

DAY 1 - Ash Wednesday

So, today is Ash Wednesday.  To be honest, this was always a confusing day to me.  I would always wonder why the church would be so excited to celebrate a day that hailed as its mascot a bowl of ashes.  Only over the last few years have I come to love and appreciate this day and the season it starts.
Ash Wednesday is a day to reflect, repent and to truly be sorrowful for our sinful condition.  And really throughout the rest of Lent, this is and should be our main focus.  Taking this time to really step to the side and reflect on the condition of our lives and know that without the intervention of Christ, we would be in one heap of trouble.  But, that's the beauty of Ash Wednesday and Lent.  It's actually a celebration of weakness!  A celebration based on the fact that we don't have the power in ourselves to overcome, but we know the source of such power.  That all our focus is to prepare ourselves over these next few days to rejoice in our resurrected savior Jesus Christ. 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
^"9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

The fact that we can brag about being weak is awesome to me.  It is through our weaknesses that Christ is illuminated and made known to the world around us.  So, as we celebrate our weaknesses this Lenten season we do so only because it is through the provision of Christ that we can go forward.

Today is a day for repentance and self-reflection.  Make sure you take time today to take a knee or sit in your favorite chair, lift your eyes to heaven and truly pour your heart out to the Lord.  Let that moment begin a journey for you for the next 40 days as we await the resurrected Christ.