I got home from work and the smell of chili in the air was fantastic! My wife had taken the time to make a large pot of chili on the stove. I sat my computer down and grabbed a spoon so I could taste and see the chili as it continued to simmer.

I’m still reading in the first chapters of Psalms. I can’t seem to move beyond the depth of prayer that David experienced. I linger over Chapter 5 where David says to God,

“Every morning you’ll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for the fire to descend.” (5:2-3, The Message).

Skip down to verses 7-8, “And here I am, your invited guest – it’s incredible! I enter your house, here I am, prostrate in your inner sanctum, waiting for directions to get me through enemy lines.”

There is a depth of living in God’s presence that I want to experience. it seems like I don’t spend the time necessary to move beyond the surface of this life. I note in these words of David that God could count on him, “EVERY MORNING I lay out the pieces of my life…”

David had a time and he was consistent in going before the Lord. He was also patient as I read in verse 8, “Waiting for directions to get me safely through enemy lines.”

My prayer life so often is me running out the door, sipping my coffee, while racing to work. At least I have the every morning piece of this together. It’s strange that I expect to know how God wants me to navigate my life on this hap-hazard prayer time racing to work.

It’s time I throw away my microwaved prayers and learn to simmer in the Lord’s presence so that the fragrance can fill up the room… fill up my life so that others can say, “Hey, there is something about that guy.” That something being the love of Jesus.

We sat down for leftover chili the next evening and each bowl had been individually microwaved for the sake of time. As we sat down to eat we discovered not all the bowls had been heated thoroughly. The chili was only hot on the surface.

It’s time to move beyond the surface and dig deep into the presence of God every morning and to wait for his direction.

I am feeling desperate… I really want to get God’s attention. I want to know that He hears me when I pray. I want to understand Him more and to go deeper in His love and grace.

As I read Psalms in The Message, I see David’s unique way of communicating to God through praise and prayer. This morning I’m reading one of his prayers found in Psalm 17. He begins with, “Listen while I build my case, GOD, the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear.”

David does not lack confidence as he approaches his Heavenly Father. He was sure of himself and he was sure of the One he sought. He spoke directly to God, “Go ahead, examine me from the inside out, surprise me in the middle of the night – You’ll find I’m just what I say I am. My words don’t run loose.” (17:3).

In verse three, he is honest before God. There is not manipulation in his words to try and get his way. He lays his life out before God and asks for an examination. Much like how we do when we go to a doctor for a full physical on our physical health. We want the truth from the doctor and we hide nothing from them.

I have a strong desire to be used in God’s plan on this earth. I want to be available to be used by Him however He desires. Sometimes I seem to get lost in this pursuit. During the last several years I have been in pursuit of this but the circumstances of my life have thrown me a nasty curve ball I wasn’t looking for. I struck out. I was even hit by a pitch. Now I’m on deck warming up and I am starting to fear getting into the batters box.

“I’m staying on your trail; I’m putting one foot in front of the other. I’m not giving up.” (17:5).

David prays in verses 6-7, “I call to you, GOD, because I’m sure of an answer. So – answer! bend your ear! listen sharp! Paint grace-graffiti on the fences; take in your frightened children who are running from the neighborhood bullies straight to you.”

David sought God desperately to get away from the clutches of his enemies. He prayed what he wanted to see happen to those who came up against him. (17:10-14). He didn’t hold back and presented his circumstance to the Father.

Finally in 17:15, “And me? I plan on looking you full in the face. When I get up, I’ll see your full stature and live heaven on earth.” David knew victory would be his. He knew who he was and he knew his GOD… he trusted with all his heart. David didn’t give up or give in. He stayed hot on the trail seeking GOD.

Let’s do the same!!

This Christmas season I’ve decided to explore the book of Psalms. As I read, I hope to grasp a better understanding of God, His love, and that I will draw closer to Him.

Psalm 3 comes from a time when David was running for his life from his son Absolom.

Fear and anxiety are paralyzing emotions. They can grip your heart and and leave you naked, vulnerable, and utterly exposed.

I ran track and cross-country when I was younger. I recall being at a meet in Cedartown, GA. It was a very warm spring Saturday. I was running the two mile race. It was the only event I would be running that day. I recall being in the pack on one of the first few laps.

Racing through my mind was I’m not going to make it to the end of this race. I had sat out in the sun ALL day! I had let the elements of the day drain me so that at race time I didn’t have anything to give. on about the third lap I knew iwas not going to finish well. As I made my entry into the first turn I recall thinking I can fake an injury and get out of this race… Which means I will not have to face the humiliation of defeat… (I didn’t like to lose).

I stuck it out and finished the race. I didn’t do so good at the finish.

The moment I felt like there was no hope and that I should give up – something turned on inside of me. It’s strange and maybe you can relate to this voice that says, “Keep fighting and don’t give up!”

Instead of dwelling on the “thing” that the enemy uses to bring you down – dwell on the Son of God. Allow the thoughts to take you into His presence and tell Jesus what is on your heart. As you do, you will come to know God in much the same way as David. You will also be able to say,

“But you, GOD, shield me on all sides,
You ground my feet, you lift my head up high; With all my might I shout up to GOD, His answers thunder from the holy mountain.” (Psalm 3:3-4, The Message).

“Real help comes from GOD.
Your blessing clothes your people!” (Psalm 3:8, The Message).

Day after day I pray, “God help me with this, give me this opportunity, help me do that.” My struggle is that I can’t seem to get past this prayer. Today’s My Utmost for His Highest shows me that I’m afraid of what Oswald Chambers calls becoming “frost bitten.”

My desire MUST be to please Jesus no matter what it costs or how frost bitten I may become. As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, I should desire nothing less and nothing more than Jesus – his love.

This love from Jesus compels me to live within the realm of his purpose for life. “I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me. God is using me from His great personal perspective, and all He asks of me is that I trust Him… He can crush me, exalt me, or do anything else He chooses. He simply asks me to have absolute faith in Him and His goodness. (My Utmost for His Highest, November 10).

I MUST trust and walk by faith.

Last weekend I was hanging out with friends at their home. It was overcast most of the day. I like dark and dreary days… I love rainy days even more!

My son was alarmed by the sky and afraid it was going to rain. He wanted to swim and didn’t want his fun in the pool spoiled with bad weather. He looked at me and said, “I’m going to pray that it doesn’t rain.” I smiled and said, “You do that buddy and I’m going to pray that it rains.”

Well, it wasn’t much longer before the rain began. He was in the house at the time it started. He came outside and said, “Why did you win?” I could see the disappointment on his face and hear it in the tone of his voice.

My response to him was: “Turn around and look up at the sky. God is giving you right now the blue sky you have asked for. You see, God has answered both of our prayers today. He loves us both and desires to give us both the desires of our hearts.”

I love my son! He is 7 years old. As his Dad I want to give him everything his little heart desires. But more than the stuff he wants to play with I want to give him Jesus. I want to make the most of every opportunity so he can grow strong in his faith, understanding of God, and the love God has for him. He is learning to seek God in all things. At 7 years of age, I’m excited to see him learn to pray. I know God has great plans for him…

God has great plans for all of us. When life all around is looking dark and dreary… When the rains begin to fall… Don’t give up hope! Cling to these words found in the Bible,

“Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:33-34, The Message).

I’m having a beautiful moment with the Lord. I’ve wondered if this is one of those moments I should keep to myself or not. Obviously, I’ve decided to share a bit of it.

I’m worlds apart from the person I am to the person I dream of becoming. I wake everyday hoping that today I become more like the man I have entrusted every bit of hope I have… The man is Jesus Christ.

The lyrics of Worlds Apart by Jars of Clay are more beautiful than anything I could ever write on my own:

I pray… “To rid myself of all but love, to give and die… Take my world apart – I am on my knees – take my world apart – broken on my knees… All I am for all you are because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart.” (Jars of Clay).

I pray God takes my world apart and uses me for His glory. I ask him to use the breath He has given me to glorify Himself however he chooses.

I’m understanding today a little bit about obedience thanks to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I am am rejoicing today with the words of David found in 2 Samuel 22:21-25,

“God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I cleaned up my act, he gave me a fresh start. Indeed, I’ve kept alert to God’s ways; I haven’t taken God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works, I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.”

God take my world apart and let me change the world for your glory…

Today is the National Day of Prayer.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Our Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families. The Task Force represents a Judeo Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible.  (http://www.ndptf.org/about/index.cfm).

I was reading in James 5 yesterday and decided to let this passage set the tone for my day of prayer.

Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out.

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

 My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.  (James 5:13-20, The Message)

What did you do to observe the National Day of Prayer?

“Why Worry?” is the series we are in the midst of at Tapestry Church.  Sunday nights message was great.  Andy Stanley has such a great way of communicating whatever he is talking about.  As I was leaving the church, I told Richard, ”This was a great message but it stressed me out!”  I kept catching myself rubbing my neck and shoulder throughout the message.

At the end of the message we were encouraged to read Matthew 6:24-34 for the next 5 days.  I began reading it today.  Every time I’ve begun to worryI’ve thought about those birds that Jesus talks about in this passage.  Then the next thing I knew I was back to the worry.  Yesterday I was read ing Oswald Chambers.  Once again he hit me right between the eyes.

Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? ( Matthew 6:33  ). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied— “I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.”  (My Utmost for His Highest, April 20).

This week prayer has been on the front burner for my own life as I walk through the worry mine-field of life.  Since Sunday I have come across several people with overwhelming circumstances.  I now have a new way to pray for them as I focus on Matthew 6:24-24.

What’s on your mind today?  Have you prayed about it?  Or have you worried your way through your day with that thing on your mind?

@TapestryChurch this coming Sunday we will be in a new series entitled “Why Worry?”  Knowing that this new series is coming up may be why I have Pray vs. Worry on my mind.  It could be that God’s timing is so perfect that my thoughts and the upcoming series are in the midst of a mid-air collision.  Whatever the reason it’s good to have this as a focus right now.

Each day I desire to live life by faith in obedience to Jesus.  How can I when allow stuff to eat at me in the form of worry minute by minute. 

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 4:6-7).

No matter what you have on your plate – let Christ displace the worry that is at the center of your life.  Begin to thank him and praise him let God know what you are concerned about and live by faith – knowing God is going to walk with you through whatever you may be facing.

There is no way to out-give God.  He gives to us in ways we never even think about… without us even asking!  Have you ever just stopped what you were doing and got totally silent – trying to think of all the ways God gives to us everyday?  If not, give it a try.  I bet you will leave out something!

I know I am not as thankful as I need to be for the many ways God provides.

When you have a need what do you do?  Do you sit around and hope God will meet it?  Do you just think a thought or two and hope that he catches them?  Or do you go to Him with faith..

Jesus says in Luke 11:9-13,

“Here’s what I’m saying:

   Ask and you’ll get;
   Seek and you’ll find;
   Knock and the door will open.

“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”  (The Message).

What is it that you lack today?  Ask. Seek. Knock.