One of the keys of silence is rest. There is such a need to unplug and let the quiet envelope us once again.
But in that rest comes war. The silence, if we allow it to take effect, will actually us to hear the voice of God more clearly. There is an enemy with a stake in us NOT hearing God. It’s why he likes us having so much noise in our lives.
Coming aside is a paradox. Rest for the soul, but warfare as well. In both we find the hand of God.
Posted in Discipleship/Spiritual Formation, Prayer, Solitude
THIS is injustice. We are too silent on behalf of people who have been pawns for generations.
Today is a day the Church in Turkey has asked the Church around the world to pray for them. Three years ago today three believers gave their lives for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This video will help lead us in prayer. Please take a couple of minutes to lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ in this land. Remember, this was once the powerful cradle of Christianity!
The other day I read a story about a man I have admired for well over 20 years. He is the top in his profession, in my opinion. He has known tremendous success in just about any way you could measure it. Not just money, but integrity, family, awards… I have not known him personally, but everything I could ever read about him spoke of excellence.
The other day I heard a story about another person. Not nearly as well known, but a friend. Though I’ve known of difficulties, I have known this person to be a loving person. Though there are struggles, she would be one I would look at and say, “You know what? She loves God and pursues God and loves people. I truly admire that.”
The stories I heard about both of them were the same: ultimately, they weren’t “enjoying the ride.” For the successful man, the article I read talked about how he never let the successes carry him along. He would let the defeats in life depress him for weeks or months. He couldn’t savor the successes, even when it meant so much to so many people.
For the friend, she was allowing words of defeat and depression take away all the Lord had done in her life over these years.
It is like we cannot believe in contentment. Paul’s admonition that “godliness with contentment is great gain” is lost on us. It is too often lost on me. There is always something better I SHOULD be doing, or I left something undone. And should I ever feel a moment of contentment, it is often overwhelmed in a few minutes with guilt. “There are so many who don’t have what I have.” Or other thoughts like that.
Yet, the Word almost yells at us about our incredible God. He is abundant. In him we FEAST on his grace and mercy.
“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips” (Ps. 63:5).
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight” (Eph. 1:7,8).
I am incredibly, deeply satisfied in God’s grace and provision. Truly. My heart is full. It is such a pain to write those words.
Posted in Prayer, Questions on life, Spiritual Formation
Tagged Contentment, Ephesians, Godliness, Psalms, Satisfaction
Intercession. The picture I see of intercession is found in Numbers 16. A plague has rushed through Israel’s camp (again) because of their complaining (again). Moses (AGAIN) intercedes for the people. He falls to his face asking God to stop the plague. He then sends Aaron out with the censer from the altar. The incense was offered up as a prayer. Aaron stood between the living and the dead and the plague was stopped.
Are we ready to intercede? Are we ready to stand between the living and the dead and beg God to do his work? Are we willing to stand in the gap for those who need prayer? Our lives can be offered up in prayer for those who need to see God touch their lives. Take up the censer. Offer up the incense of prayer. Call to God on behalf of those needing his touch.
One of my heroes in the faith is Calvin Olson. Calvin was a missionary to southern Asia for many years. When I knew him he was retired as a missionary and traveled throughout our state with our district superintendent to conduct monthly prayer and fasting days. Every fall prayer retreat before he passed away, you could find Calvin Olson there.
One of the last things I remember Calvin saying was this: “I have a confession to make: I’m addicted to prayer meetings.” The man loved to pray and you could tell. Talking to Calvin was like talking to God. I’m serious.
My friend, Kevin Senapatiratne of Christ Connection Ministries, has come out with a book that will help all of us become addicted to prayer meetings, and prayer. (Don’t try and pronounce that last name unless you are from Sri Lanka.)
Kevin’s book is called Enjoying Prayer: Launching Your God Adventure. It is completely accessible. Each chapter is short and its intentional. Read a chapter and try it out. It’s a good strategy. Kevin proposes different strategies to really make prayer real… and, well, enjoyable. He tries all kinds of crazy things in prayer. He even named his dog after a TV personality because he is praying on a consistent basis for that TV personality. What a way to remember to pray for someone! (I’ll name my hamster Paris.)
Each chapter concludes with a “Next Step Question” and a prayer idea. It’s a great work to help people launch into the JOY of prayer!
I enter this year with hope, as always. I enter this year with plans, as always. Then, I look back on a year and realize… well… not many things may have ended up happening as planned. Consistency and intentionality are always key.
This month begins a journey. The Lord has been challenging me on prayer and fasting, so I enter this month, though it’s the second day, with a heart to hear the voice of the Spirit. At some point in this month the fast will be water only. I can’t start that way, due to the holiday feasting! Yet, I am not going to stress over what I think I should be doing. It is a walk of grace. I will be easing into this fast with fresh fruits and veggies.
The journey also begins with some intentional reading. My schedule is so full it’s been difficult for me to get a lot of reading in. Yet, the challenge from the Spirit is to pick up Merton’s autobiography again and read. It’s the only book I’ve read more than twice and there is a call from the Spirit to read it again.
I do not know where all of this will lead. There are no goals in mind. It is about “wasting time” with God and letting him set the agenda. So, we begin.
Posted in Holy Spirit, Prayer, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual hunger
Tagged fasting, Thomas Merton
For those in my church, or those in the Cities and interested, we are doing something different with our prayer retreat this year. It will be February 12-13 at the Benedictine Center in St. Paul. The focus will be on silence and meditation. Rooms are for individuals and space is limited. The cost will include the room plus meals. If you are interested, please let me know.
At one point in time I remember reading that living prophetically as a Christian is having a Bible in one hand and newspaper in the other. Well, both are readily available online, so maybe our hands are freed up to raise them to God in intercession.
But we MUST pay attention to our world. There are things happening where we have opportunities to hear from the Spirit. It’s not just about politics. Reading the news is often about prayer.
One place I recommend HIGHLY for world opinion is The New York Times, and specifically Thomas Friedman. He has a grasp on the Middle East like no one’s business. This column is incredible, and we need to pay attention.
Also, for another pulse on cultural issues, go over to Ben Witherington’s blog post on gay marriage and an evangelical perspective. Read the comments as well. This man is not afraid!
Let us engage our culture prayerfully. But above all, let us pray.
Posted in Bible Study, Blogging, Culture, Prayer
Tagged Ben Witherington, Thomas Friedman
