I woke up this morning and asked the Lord to teach me to pray.  I want to really know what it means to pray, why he wants us to pray, and how prayer should be done.  I thoroughly enjoy praying for other people.  At various times, someone will come to my mind and I will pray for them, someone may contact me and ask me to pray for them, and there are those I pray for as I follow on Twitter.  I’ve even had times when people have contacted me and asked me how they could be praying for me.  It’s amazing to see how the Body of Christ works and serves through this simple yet difficult task of prayer.

One thing I know – prayer is not about me or you.  It’s not really about the person being prayed for, the help needed, the “answered” prayer, or the blessing desired.  It is about God, trusting Him, aligning our thoughts, actions, attitudes, and will with His.  Prayer is the emptying of oneself and the filling up, internally, with the Holy Spirit.

Prayer is an incredible tool. Jesus’ followers recognized it in his life and asked him to teach them to pray.  Luke 11:1  Jesus understood prayer to be the direct line to his Father.  Even when it came down to those final moments in his life on earth.  Jesus knew what he was going to face.  So, he got alone with a couple of his disciples and prayed. Matthew 26:36-42

I like the way Eugene Peterson interprets this passage from Matthew in The Message.  Jesus, “plunged into an agonizing sorrow” (verse 37).  And in verse 38, Jesus says, “This sorrow is crushing my life out…”

Too often I go to God with my back against the wall or I’m way stressed out with a situation. I beg and plead for Him to do what I want or “feel” like I need.  I ask Him for what I think I know will bring about the best ending.  Basically, the picture here is a one of a spoiled little kid at Wal-Mart begging for a toy.  

We can see from the life of Jesus that he went to his Father out of a close relationship… a mature one.  Ultimately, this act of prayer wasn’t self-centered. He had one thing in mind – doing the will of His Father. He knew by doing His will you and I would have salvation – God’s plan.

Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is anyway, get me out of this.  But please, not what I want.  You, do what You want. (Matthew 26:39, The Message).

Jesus’ prayer, “Not what I want. You, do what You want.”  – total reliance, trust, and confidence in his Father.  I want to live this way.  I want my life to be as such that it helps others desire the same thing.  I want to be able to respond to the Father the way Jesus does in verse 42.

He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.”

Are you ready to let Him do it His way?  I want to live life and pray His way.  There is no better way to live than to live life the way God intended for our lives to be lived.

I will be posting my thoughts on prayer as I follow a 21 Day Prayer Guide from Genesis Church in Orlando.

In my previous post “Take My World Apart,” I referred to my friend  exhibiting the following qualities: “confidence, love, passion, and abandonment to God for the people he has been called to serve.”  I mentioned having been in a place where I have experienced this before.  In order to get there, I recall having had to take some great risks and he is no different.

During church on Sunday I began to journal about the importance of taking risks when Brian Bloye said,

The greatest risk is not to risk at all.

As I have gone throughout this day, I kept having this thought that great risks will have to be taken once again in order to be where I really want to be.  I try each day with all that I do to seek Jesus and his teachings in my decisions.  Presently, I am camping out in the Gospels to continue getting to know him more.  I still hold fast to this passage found in Hebrews,

Keep (my) eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.  Study how he did it.  Because he never lost sight of where he was headed- that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever.  And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.  When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through.  That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (Hebrews 12:2-3, The Message).

I can’t tell you how many times I have walked out of West Ridge Church in the past 9 months and have been incredibly challenged!  This week was no different.  The message series is called, “One Month to Live”.  The following video challenged me… I hope it will you too.

There is this part of my life I haven’t found the courage to let go.  I think what I’m most afraid of is letting go of this fear or lack of courage and truly allow God to express Himself through me. I guess this place without courage has become comfortable. Yet more than anything else I want to live and prosper beyond this fear.

I was listening to someone talk recently.  This person has “found their voice“.  This person is at a place where their life has intersected with God’s destiny or purpose.  As I listened I could hear confidence, love, passion, and abandonment to God for the people he has been called to serve.  I’ve been in that place before and if you have or are there now you know what I’m talking about.

Over the past several years God has been deepening the foundation of my life.  It’s been a painful process… one that I have become to grow a bit impatient with… Yet deep down I know it is all for my growing.

 “In the spiritual realm, God only allows us to have as much of Him as our foundation, or life in Him, will support. If we want a powerful ministry that is Spirit-anointed, our house must be built on the Rock.  So when the storms come (and they will) our house will stand.”  A Cry in the Wilderness, Melody Green, xii.

I woke up yesterday morning with Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth,” on my mind.  As the day progressed, I took a moment to see how The Message read for this verse,

Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

We should never grow tired of the refining process God allows us to go through.  I know I am learning more and more each day that He is laying a greater foundation in my life.  Each day I live I pray that my life is “salt-seasoning that brings our the God-flavors of this earth.”

One of my favorite songs by Jars of Clay is ”World’s Apart”. My prayer is that as God continues to work in my life that I leave nothing hidden from Him.  I pray that He takes my world apart so He can use me to be salt in this world.

“Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out.” (Numbers 9:22).

The people of Israel were led by God with a cloud by day and fire by night. They followed as the Lord led them. It wasn’t without a lot of complaining either. As I read through Numbers, I’m convicted of my own sin of complaining to the Lord and the frustration I have been causing those close to me.

A friend recently told me I needed to do what God has called me to. If I don’t those close to me will suffer from my not being obedient. I’m beginning to see what he was telling me six months ago.

I was visiting a young adult worship service back in the fall. It was an awesome time of worship and teaching. The message was on how to deal with depression. There were 10 points on the outline. Then Dave said, “Number 11, Do what the Lord is telling you to do.”

Have you ever been in a fog so thick you couldn’t drive? Life seems a bit like that right now for me. Sit tight until the fog lifts… And I complain, get angry, and make everyone else miserable.

After I read Numbers 9:22 tonight I began to think that maybe the cloud is not so bad afterall. Maybe life seems cloudy right now because Im not ready to move on. Whatever the reason for this season I embrace it and ask God to forgive me of my complaining.

“The call of God only becomes clear to us as we obey, never as we weigh the pros and cons and try to reason it out… When we hear the call of God it is not for us to dispute with God and arrange to obey him if he will expound the meaning of his call to us.” (Oswald Chambers Devotional Bible, “The Call of God”).

Does your life have what Oswald Chambers calls, “sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is satisfying to Jesus.”?

How does someone’s life bring about that kind of pleasure to Jesus? Chambers would say it is found in, “…continual willingness to “go out” in dependence upon God…”

I’m reading about that kind of faith lived out in the lives if so many found in the book of Genesis. Abraham and Sarah’s lives were a continual “‘go out’ in dependence on God.” I believe there are many people living today with broken dreams because they have chosen not to “go out.”

What keeps us from living in the potential of what God created us for? Why is it that some seem to serve the Lord with reckless abandon? While others shrink back in fear.

Fear is a gripping emotion that takes us into “watch out for myself” thinking. How often do we read in Scripture about someone being spoken to by an angel of the Lord and hear, “Do not be afraid…” Once we lock ourselves in on fear we will not hear anything else. We will not move… we will not walk in faith.

On New Years Eve I was playing a game with my son. He was sitting on the sofa and said, “Daddy when I grow up I want to be just like you.” I’ve thought about those words a lot since then. I’ve thought about our relationship and my desire for him to grow up knowing, loving, and serving Jesus.

I’ve realized these past couple of days that my desire for him is much like the desire Jesus has for me. To live and walk by faith… To “‘go out’ in dependence on God.”

Today as I look to my Heavenly Father I echo the words of my son to Him, “Daddy when I grow up I want to be just like You.”

I discovered last night as I wrote a portion of my story out for a brother of mine (God has blessed me with in recent weeks) that my story is really no different than his. He sent me a reply sharing a chapter of his with me. The cool thing about our stories is that there is one key character in both.

I discovered just like my friend that our lives have been written with an end in mind. Without this central figure in our lives our story would lack meaning, hope, and victory.

One of the greatest honors in life is to be able to share my story with someone else. I was given that opportunity today. I’m not talking about sharing the laundry list of my problems or the particulars of my failures. But rather the part where I found hope to live another day. My story is one of brokenness that has been changed by grace and love.

The story I have to tell is not really mine… It’s really the story of Jesus that has been written out in the pages of my own life. Jesus – he is the writer and now I’m a charcter in his play. He is the one who has the power to make all things new… To make me a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Who is the main character in your story? Is it you? Is it your hurt, brokenness, and despair? Or is it Jesus?

If the main character is anything but Jesus, I ask you to take a moment and begin reading in the Bible. Read Matthew and ask Jesus to show himself to you.

He loves you and deeply cares about how your story ends.

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…

It’s been too long since I have posted anything here! Way too long! I’ve made the decision for awhile to not have cable or internet. It’s my hope that we will see some help with our finances as a result.

So, I figured tonight I would see how difficult it would be to post something from my BlackBerry… This may be another way to cut back too! Who knows?

Hope. Where does your hope come from? Is your hope centered on the external things of life? Or is your hope found on something that is much deeper?

I have hope that comes from within. This hope does not come from me… It is a hope that only comes from faith in Jesus. He gives me hope when life all around appears hopeless. He gives me hope when I don’t feel like there is any hope to be found.

This kind of hope comes from the Cross and what Jesus paid for all of humanity. Jesus is our only hope. He gives hope that can change the world…

Thanks to my good friend Joel, front man for Even Adam, I have been challenged by this word integrate.  I highly recommend reading his post, Integrating Worship.

After reading his post I began to ask myself, “What have I been integrating into my life?”  I’m not thrilled with the findings.  There’s a lot of worry that has come into my life in recent weeks.  To be totally honesty - worry has overcome the worship.  Oswald Chambers helped me as I began to ask myself the above question.

“. . . do not worry about your life . . . .” Don’t take the pressure of your provision upon yourself. It is not only wrong to worry, it is unbelief; worrying means we do not believe that God can look after the practical details of our lives, and it is never anything but those details that worry us. Have you ever noticed what Jesus said would choke the Word He puts in us? Is it the devil? No— “the cares of this world” (Matthew 13:22 ). It is always our little worries. We say, “I will not trust when I cannot see”— and that is where unbelief begins. The only cure for unbelief is obedience to the Spirit.

Are you being obedient to the Lord?  Are you living the life he has called you to?  Are you taking the cares of this world upon yourself?  Or have you integrated worship and prayer into your daily life? 

God’s purposes and plans will always prevail.  Don’t trade worship in for worry.  I read the book of Ruth in the Bible today.  You need to read the book to get the context of Ruth 2:20,

Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Why, God bless that man!  God hasn’t quite walked out on us after all!  He still loves us, in bad times as well as good!” (The Message).