The Prayer Habit

I just completed auditing a great ISOM course on Prayer and Worship. I plan to require myself to re-study these principles on a regular basis. Below, I have pasted the outline from my sermon yesterday which was based on notes from the class. If you need a sermon, "This will preach" :


"The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not of His answer. It is God we must have. He is more than enough for all that we need."

Life is too busy, and the important always gets swallowed in the tyranny of the urgent.


Prayer is the pathway to God’s Presence (John 7:37-38)

Jesus told us to come to Him if we are thirsty.

The neglect of the soul is a sure path to burnout

What does a healthy soul look like?

1. A continuing experience of grace
2. A sense of expectancy that is rooted in faith
3. The ability to respond to and see life from God’s perspective
4. Resilience
5. Compassion
6. Zeal
7. Integrity
8. Gratitude

Prayer was a common feature in the lifestyle of the early church
Prayer was the vehicle by which the Holy Spirit was poured out
Prayer was the vehicle for Miracles, Signs, and Wonders
Prayer was the means of Confirming and Commissioning God’s choice of Leadership
Prayer was the vehicle for Divine Guidance
Prayer was the Church’s Response to Persecution and Opposition

Prerequisites for hearing God’s voice

We must recognize the importance of Seeking God’s voice
We must commit to obeying God’s voice
We must stop long enough to hear God’s voice
We must learn to recognize God’s voice
We must anticipate hearing God’s voice

Seven Habits of Effective Pray-ers

1. Hearts in order
2. Houses in order
3. Persistence
4. Eternal Perspective
5. Bold Expectancy of Results
6. Pray according to the Will of God
7. Recognition of the seasons of the soul

Just do it!

In the book, “Wild Goose Chase” by Mark Batterson there is a section that gives advice about things we do not need to pray about. Things such as whether or not we should love our neighbor or whether we should give generously. There are some things that God has clearly spoken about and we need to act on it. I really like the quote from Peter Marshall, former chaplain of the United States Senate:

“I wonder what would happen if we all agreed to read one of the Gospels until we came to a place that told us to do something, then went out to do it, and only after we had done it, began reading again? There are aspects of the Gospel that are puzzling and difficult to understand. But our problems are not centered around the things we don’t understand, but rather in the things we do understand, the things we could not possibly misunderstand. Our problem is not so much that we don’t know what we should do. We know perfectly well, but we don’t want to do it.”

I am convinced that nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing is too difficult for God. It’s my job to find out what God tells me is not too difficult for me and then Just do it. I am reading through the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament this week. This really blessed me this morning:

Jeremiah 32:17 17 "O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

Weeds in the Driveway

Almost every day something happens that causes me to say “There’s a sermon in that!” It just reminds me that everything that occurs in our lives has potential in it. People are always asking me how I find time to prepare sermons with my sometimes crazy schedule. My response is that life is full of sermon material. Most sermon prep takes place in everyday experience and at some time during the week I actually sit down at the computer and place it on paper. Although as in last week’s, what was said didn’t really “follow the notes”.

For example, last night we were working to get rid of weeds between the cracks in the driveway. These particular weeds were holding on for dear life and not giving me enough stem to pull up. We had to get the shovel to get the job done. The driveway looks much better this morning. But, since we just cut them off with the shovel, they still have their roots and I am sure they will be back. I think I heard them snickering down there. Today, It’s time for “Round up!!!!” Let’s see them survive that.

Back to the sermon thing. There will always be weeds in the driveways of life. We can trim them off to be just below the surface, or we can hit them at the root and be rid of them for good. Jesus tells us to let some weeds be as they might damage the crop if we pull them up. Sort those out at harvest time. But weeds in the driveway? They’re outta Here!!!!!!

Attitude Adjustment

James MacDonald wrote:

"An attitude is simply a pattern of thinking formed over a long period of time. It is not a product of our genes or circumstances. It’s our choice-which means we can change it."

Fairly often, I find myself in the need of an “Attitude Adjustment”. If I want to soar high I need to keep adjusting it. Trimming the flaps on an airplane adjusts the way that the wind affects the wing and holds you in the desired attitude. Correctly adjusted for the wind, you can stay there without a fight. If the adjustment is not correct, you can maintain flight, but it is a constant battle because the aircraft constantly wants to go up or down.

Life application of this for me is to check my attitude on a regular basis ( several times a day ) and to allow God to make the necessary corrections without me whining about it or fighting the correction. As a perfect parent, God knows the way through the problems of life.

An old chorus from Sunday night church many years ago:

My Lord knows the way through the wilderness
All I have to do is follow
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness
All I have to do is follow

Strength for today is mine all the way
And all I need for tomorrow
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness
All I have to do is follow

The marketplace

A very late night last night as our district meetings concluded and I am back in the saddle again opening 3 days of mail and returning 3 days of messages. I feel refreshed in my spirit and on overload in my data bank of new ministry ideas and responsibilities. Here are 3 key points from last night's service where many new ministers were licensed and ordained:

How do we possess tomorrow?

1. We need an eternal perspective
2. We need to be willing to learn and grow
3. We need to listen to God and not men

We are able to do what God has called us to do because He enables us.

Today it's off the the marketplace to see it in action.

There is no Plan B

My life is blessed with some of the most awesome people in the world. I feel like I live in the Mosaic that has an unlimited possibility of interpretations and colors. I can stand in one corner of my life and see a perspective of the hand of God at work. Then go to a different vantage point and see the other side of the hand of God. The two can at times seem to be totally different but I know by faith that God is not changing His mind from day to day. God has no plan B that he may need to switch to when things go awry. He is that standard and puts each piece of the Mosaic in place with an intended purpose and plan. Some of the pieces are ornamental and some are crucial keystones that hold the project together.

“We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”
Jimmy Carter


Some have said that music is the Mosaic of the air. All added together life is this wonderful and sometimes tragic picture created by the many stones of relationship along the way.

I am asking God today to help me appreciate the wonderful friends and acquaintances who make up the mosaic of my life. Some of you just make me look good and other of you cause life to make sense and have stability. You are all highly valuable.

I am blessed.

A stirred Heart

One of the Bible verses that challenges me regularly is Luke 12:48:

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

I have been entrusted with things such as knowledge, experiences, insights, and a stirred heart. Because of that , I am reminded that I will never be the same again. Last night at the end of Praise Team practice Suzanne led a devotional for us about the places in the Bible where people committed themselves into the hand of God. “Into thy Hands” is one of those phrases that I find a need to use everyday. If I do not commit my “stuff” into the hands of God, I cannot expect blessing. It means I must hold very lightly to things and very tightly to God. I thank God for that stirring in my heart. It is that stirring that drives me to read the Bible every morning and to listen to podcasts from great teachers. I am driven to read books that challenge my learning curve. I spend time (not enough) in prayer communicating to and from God. I am driven to spend time socially with others and to spend time listening and counseling. As a pastor, I have the privilege of interacting uniquely with the spiritual and business leaders of the community. I take none of these things lightly and ask for your prayers that I will do them well.

A chorus we sing at church:

I will never be the same again,
I can never return,
I've closed the door;
I will walk the path,
I'll run the race,
And I will never be the same again.

The Tulip

From Dr. Wess Stafford in his book, “Too small to ignore”, comes this story that I read in my devotional time this morning. I hope it blesses and challenges you as it has me.

“ I remember as a young child in Africa coming upon a wild tulip in the jungle at the side of the road. A cement block had apparently fallen off a truck and rolled down the embankment to the jungle’s edge. Now the stem of the wildflower was twisted and gnarled as it had struggled to grow from under that cement block. It had contorted itself first this way and then that, seeking the light of day, until it had at long last found the edge of the blockage. Once freed, it had taken off as best it could in an upward direction. Its struggle had produced a tulip, but it was stunted, small and weak, exhausted. A flower alive, but barely, Its early struggle to overcome its blockage had sapped its strength, potential and growth.

As I think about that tragic flower, I now realize that God had done his part. He built a perfect design into the DNA of that little tulip bulb, a potential for beautiful color size and fragrance. The Bible tells us God has also done that in the life of each child. Each is beautifully knit together in the mother’s womb. Though some children are born with defects and imperfections that break a parent’s heart, none are beyond God’s ability to work in that new life and receive great joy and glory from what He has created. No Mistakes!

Likewise children were made to grow, develop, thrive and reach the fullness God knit into them. He lovingly said in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you….plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Having read that this morning, I am wondering what cement blocks I might find today to move off of the lives of people who are struggling to find some light.

Small adjustments with big payoff

Make an effort to be extraordinary. We really are far too easily satisfied. We settle for mediocrity when excellence is just around the corner. We are a small adjustment away from being really significant. Today I have decided to go for the tweak. When I worked in the electronics engineering field we had tweaking tools. They are specially designed to make the minute adjustments that take us from fuzzy to clear. Sometimes I need that creative whack in the head but most of the time a small tweak will get the job done. Leadership is a constant challenge. When you are a leader, your achievements are determined by those you lead. I submit to you that you are leading someone today. Everyone is a leader of something. There are unleashings that need to happen today, there are wrecks that need a rescuer, there are celebrations and anticipations today for the partaking. I don’t want to miss any of them.

With interesting things happening in the economy right now, A good sermon title might be, “Security in uncertain times”. There is protection on the sea of life when the boat is tossed. There is protection in the fire as God uses it to make us who we need to be. There is protection in your life as your mind is renewed by the Word of God. A scripture reference for this is Jesus walking on the water to get across the lake after miraculously feeding the 5000. It’s found in the gospel of Mark chapter 6.

Don’t miss out on the significance around you today.

Supporting Shoulders

The May 7, 1850 Hawthorne Journals contained this quote: ”Good men have to be lifted upon the shoulders of the whole world in order to conceive their great ideas or perform their great deeds.” What a statement! In life everyone has opportunities to be great. In one of my weblogs I said that those closest to us will determine our level of excellence. There are some days that we find ourselves standing on top and there are days we get to be underneath as a support for someone who is doing an important work. I think the greater joy is in the supporting role if I remember that I get to be part of a significant achievement. The Psalmist said, “Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere”. The position of second fiddle in the orchestra is what ads the harmony. The soloist may get the ovation, but a soloist with integrity will pass that glory down. Most days are filled with opportunities to place someone else on our shoulders. I have decided to look for those opportunities and see what they can do up there. Otherwise I may never know what kind of a level they may bring me to. By the way, sooner or later it’s your turn to be on top. At that moment you want to have made an investment in those under you so you get as high as necessary to experience true greatness.

Have a Great Day!

Strength Zones

“Attempt something so large that it will fail unless God is in it”
- Hermano Pablo

I subscribe to the idea that there are strength zones in my life that give me greater productivity than my weakness zones. I have a much better chance of reaching my potential when I operate in my strength zone. It really doesn’t make much sense to stay near the ground when soaring is an option. It’s kind of like the story of the rabbit that was terrible at flying so he was forced to stay in flying class most of the time. The Eagle on the other hand could fly and soar easily but he was terrible at running . He was forced to spend his time in running class. He was mediocre at best. The problem of settling for mediocrity is that very little gets accomplished. I think that we all know what we should be doing. The problem for me is that I try to do it all at the same time. It’s a time management issue. I need a plan. Today I choose to accomplish something I can and to attempt something that requires God’s help for it to happen. I guess that means I will need to operate in faith. That’s an age-old concept of believing without seeing. It is on my agenda today. I have started consciously updating my prayer list of people I am praying for. I know of some people going through the hardest trials they have ever gone through and I know people who are so filled with joy right now that they could handle no more. In the midst of all that I have that real need to listen to God. After all, He knows everything and I know very little. Why am I doing all the talking? I think I’ll take my advice from above and do what I should be doing. Prayer is the most formidable weapon in the arsenal of spiritual warfare

Rebooting required

My study of discipleship so far this year has taught me that it is something that happens more in the marketplace than in the church. When I add a new program to my computer library, the most important step is to apply the program. It may require me to restart the computer so that the program can be read by the operating system. Otherwise it is just like an unread book on the shelf of the library which is only ornamental. I have many books on the shelf of my life that are waiting to be read and applied. Some that I have read before need to be re scanned to allow the information to fit into the new model of me. I have learned that one of the key areas of priority in my growth and discipleship is “ATTITUDE”.

Some thoughts about attitude this morning from John Maxwell’s writings:

It is the “Advance man” of our true selves
Its roots are inward but its fruit is outward
It is our best friend or our worst enemy
It is more honest and more consistent than our words
It is an out ward look based on past experiences
It is a thing that draws people to us or repels them
It is never content until it is expressed
It is the librarian of our past
It is the speaker of our present
It is the prophet of our future


One of my favorite slogans is: "Get the tide up and all the boats will rise."

This is a good day to go up a notch in our thinking. We all have different roles in our lives. There is God’s role and there is our role. When I try to do the God part, I end up unsuccessful because only He can do that. My part though is to pray and trust. The better I do that, the more opportunity I give God to do His. Today will be about making room for God to operate by keeping my attitude right.

Don't fumble the ball

I have been thinking more and more lately about the importance of my generation setting up the play that will hand off the ball to the next generation. As a basketball player , when I was a child, I was taught to not be a “ball hog”. The ball hogs were people who wouldn’t pass the ball but wanted it for themselves so that they could score the points. They usually felt they were better that the others on the team. One of the problems with that kind of thinking is that the day comes when for one reason or another they are out of commission and the team must play without them. One of the core beliefs in my life is that I need to constantly be training those coming up behind me to replace me. I am not planning to retire in the near future, but there are some great ball handlers in the younger generation that need to be getting experience in game situations. There are two Greek words that we have been using at church. Exousia and dunamis refer to authority and empowerment. It is frustrating in life to have authority and not exercise it. Great leaders have a handle on the things they are authorized to do and empowered to do. As believers in Jesus Christ we have been given both with the purpose of successfully carrying the good news of the gospel to the next generation. This is not a time to fumble. It is a time to make good passes and sharpen our skills during practice times. I don’t want God to “bench” me for being a ball hog.

Intentionality

I have been thinking about the subject of intentionality. Doing things on purpose rather than flying by the seat of the pants. Having a handle on my appointment list and a grip on where I am in the day is a key to my attitude. Someone once said that change is inevitable, growth is intentional. I need to decide how the changes of life are going to affect me. The circle of friends I choose to get in with will determine what my life will be life 6 months or a year from now. I have long believed that I need to be making new friends constantly. I consider these new acquaintances divine appointments in the sense that our meeting is not an accident. Coincidence perhaps, but not an accident. Some of these friendships are life long and some are but for a fleeting moment. It is my intention to get something from each person I meet today but also to give something to that relationship. I have learned that the giving part of that formula is where the joy and peace lies. That which I receive might be minor or it may be life changing. Either way, it is a significant event because I am not the same as I was before I met that person. If I try to figure it all out by analyzing each moment, I may miss the moment of significance. I’ll save my analyzing for when the day is done and I look back to see all that I have gained. I will file some away for future reference, and some I will put on the front burner of my life. The new day is here. Let’s go get it !

Good or Great

It was a long School Board meeting last night. Lots of info to process. I try to pull a “boil down” statement out of meetings like that to help me kind of put it all in a mental folder. I have decided to quote our high school principal who said, “We don’t want to be good, we want to be great”

It is statements like that, that keep me fired up about what is going on in my life. Deep inside all of us is the need to excel and strive for greatness. There is a temptation to settle for mediocrity because it is easy. This is not the time to take the easy road. The easy road does not go through some of the towns I need to visit.

The Bible says that the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord. I read in Leviticus this week that blessings are ordered by the Lord. That tells me they are on order. A sure thing that is on the way today.

It’s our choice today: Good or Great.

Small Attitudes

A line about attitude From Rocky Grams:

“As the years have gone by, I have learned that these small and invaluable attitudes are the ones that have marked the thousands of the servants of God…..”

My purpose in this morning’s blog entry is not to write so much about particular attitudes as it is to remind us that our attitude, whatever it is, is the advance man of our lives. You attitude is the first thing that enters the room. It determines your altitude for the day and it makes an impact on the lives of others. The level of your surrender to God is evident in your attitude. You can attempt to mask it but it will find a way to express itself. Knowing that to be true, it is important that the small attitudes we carry today be positive and edifying. Someone will make decisions today based on my attitude while I am around them. Anne Frank once said,

“ Then, without realizing it, you try to improve yourself at the start of each new day; of course, you achieve quite a lot in the course of time. Anyone can do this, it costs nothing and is certainly very helpful. Whoever doesn't know it must learn and find by experience that a quiet conscience makes one strong.”

I like the concept that you can achieve a lot in the course of time. Colleen Barrett once said,

“Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun.”

Try it today. You’ll find that the decision to have a good attitude will work well. The Apostle Paul told us to let the mind of Christ be in us. The attitude of Jesus, Now that’s an example worth reaching for.