Prayer
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When the pressure mounts in our lives the assumed answer, or the “default” answer, might be: “Do something!” or “Fix it!” or “Worry more!” But generally, when the pressure mounts, the answer is probably… pray. Ask and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking. Knock and keep on knocking. Read more
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Several years ago I was sharing with a historian in our denomination my work on the monks of the 4th Century in Egypt and what I was learning about their “Pentecostal” experience. He dismissed it quickly, saying that he wasn’t interested in people who retreated from culture and the world instead of engaging it. We… Read more
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Over the years I have worked hard to maintain a commitment to study of the Scriptures. I will visit passages over and over. I find different ways to make my way methodically through Scripture, trying hard not to “skim over” places. I know it happens, so I’ve tried to dedicate my life to continually plowing… Read more
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Luke 8 has the story of the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. It’s a great story of “pressing in” (literally) to Jesus. The question that comes to my heart today is this: “Are you so passionate about prayer that Jesus knows you just showed up?” All the people pressing in, Jesus knew something happened… Read more
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The Spirit has ground my Bible reading to a halt. Not really a halt, but from a fast walk to a crawl. Well, more like a “sit.” AND he won’t even let me access the one book I know will help me “read” this passage more “clearly.” He actually wants me to stop and listen to… Read more
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When I was in college one of my professors told of a missions teaching trip he had made to India. Near where he was staying were several small caves where those following Hinduism would go for silence and prayer. He decided to hike into that area one day and out of curiosity found a cave… Read more
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I reflected on this passage not too long ago, but the Lord testing me on this keeps it close. I need to HEAR! 11 The days are surely coming, says the Lord God, when I will send hunger and thirst on the land; neither a hunger for bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Lord ’s words. 12 They will… Read more
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I woke up this morning with text from Isaiah 2 on my heart and this challenge from the Lord: “Will you dare to pray differently?” This is what Isaiah saw. With the doom and gloom of Isaiah 1, he still saw something different (2:1). The Lord has challenged me over the past few months to ask HIM for… Read more
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What level of obedience ARE we willing to go to with Jesus? 7 He called for the Twelve and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority over unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a walking stick—no bread, no bags, and no money in their belts. 9 He told them to wear… Read more
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But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold. (Ps. 106:13) We think we’ve “prayed forever” on something… only to realize that while we say we’ve prayed for something “for weeks” or “months” we’ve only thought to mention it to God about 10 seconds a day… And when… Read more
Apprentice 2 Jesus 