Prayer

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Demanding Satisfaction

Satisfaction Guranteed SealSatisfaction Guaranteed!  Really? . . . Is that possible?  Can someone else guarantee your satisfaction, or mine?  How can satisfaction be promised when what satisfies you may not satisfy me?  How does a person enforce, or claim, this guarantee?  Is it possible to demand satisfaction and actually get it?  Is it possible to have such unrealistic expectations that you are never satisfied?

After each flight that I take, I fill out a survey for the airline regarding my satisfaction with the trip and their service.  One of the questions that I always laugh at, asks my opinon on the value received for the price paid.  As much as I search for the best price possible, I always think that I would have liked to have paid less.  I’ve not yet had a flight that I could truly say that I was satisfied with the price.  Does that mean the cost was unreasonable?  Not necessarily, but it may mean that my expectations were. 

True satisfaction seems to have a lot to do with contentment in spite of, not because of, expectations.  It is saying, “That is sufficient” and really meaning it.  “I know that I wanted something more and at less cost, but this is enough.”  True satisfaction is a mind-set, a decision, a committment on our part that must not rely on some other person or thing to bring us fulfillment. 

This can only come through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is in Jesus that we learn and know that His “grace is sufficient for you.”  It is enough.  It is plenty.  Jesus says in Matthew 6:32 that the pagans chase after the things they need to be satisfied, but it should not be that way with us.  He is to be our provider and our satisfaction.  “Then Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'” (John 6:35)  This is a satisfaction that does not rely on our physical bodies being fed and provided for, but rather a dependance on our spiritual being, our soul, being nourished and cared for.  It allows us to sing, “I’m satisfied with just a cottage below, a little silver and a little gold.”  It also allows us to live satisfied without a cottage and with no silver or gold.  It is a satisfaction that comes not from demanding, but from surrendering. 

Demanding always says, “I want more!”  It never has enough.  Surrender says, “I give up!”  It recognizes that I don’t deserve anything, so whatever I do have is plenty.  Surrender to Jesus brings a true satisfaction because it allows us to rest in His grace and mercy.  It is there that we learn through the Holy Spirit a peace and contentment that cannot be understood outside of a relationship with Jesus. 

Are you demanding satisfaction in your home, your work, your church, your world, your life?  If so, it is time to quit demanding and surrender all of these areas to Jesus so that you can know true satisfaction.

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Elijah Prayers!

Dry mountain desert.“Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”   James 5:17-18.

How often do you pray the hard prayers? You know, the ones that are directed by God but will lead to hardship or difficulty for you. Elijah was able to pray for the rain to stop and then to restart 3 1/2 years later because he was praying in obedience to God. This period of drought and famine was hard on Elijah, as well as the rest of the nation. Yes, God provided for the needs of Elijah but it was not an easy time for him, or for anyone in the nation.

Elijah was just like us in his nature and human-ness. His prayers were not answered because of a supernatural ability that he had. He was not empowered with a miraculous gift of controlling the weather. No, what he had is something that is available to all of us. He had a close and personal relationship with the living God. He could pray big prayers and receive big answers because he knew God well enough to know what God wanted. He was so familiar with God’s character that he could pray relying on God to be faithful to who He is.

How often do we settle for small prayers because we don’t know God well enough to have confidence in asking for big things? Or have we settled for small prayers because we have prayed big prayers in the past only to receive small, or no, answers because we were praying according to our will and desires rather than God’s?

I pray that you pursue God with such passion and energy that you are able to more fully grasp the nature, character, and will of God so that you can pray Elijah prayers knowing that God will answer beyond what you can think or imagine. When we pray calling on the character and nature of God, while we remove all selfish motives and hindrances, God will answer in faithfulness and truth according to our desires for His will to be done. But be ready. While God’s answers are often big, they are not often easy. Nor are they without challenges and difficulty for us that our faith may increase and abound.

Since Elijah was a man just like us, may we be people just like Elijah!

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Prayer: In Secret or Visible?

  “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”  Matthew 6:5-6 

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.  Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.”  Daniel 6:10-11

These two passages give words to two different responses that I get when I lead, promote, and teach about Prayer Walks, Prayer Gatherings, and other prayer events.  They also point out the problem of pulling a verse or two about a specific subject out of the Bible and using them to prove a point without looking at all the Bible says about the topic in question.

I’ve had people object to the whole idea of doing prayer events and they often use the teaching of Jesus in Matthew regarding praying in secret rather than “to be seen by men”.  Unfortunately, they not only miss the point of what Impact is doing in promoting prayer-based ministry, they also miss the point Jesus is making.  In the sermon on the mount, Jesus is addressing motive and motivation in prayer. 

The comparison is between “hypocrites”, who’s only purpose is to be noticed, and “you”, who prays out of a motivation to know and be known by God.  Daniel is a good example of this.  He prays and is noticed.  The key is in determining why he prayed.  The passage above tells us that he did this “just as he had done before.”  Daniel wasn’t praying “to be seen by men”, men happened to see him because he was praying as usual.  The trap was set because Daniel’s prayer life was consistent and obvious to all.  His devotion and pursuit of God was consistent and unstoppable.  A law banning prayer to God did not stop him from praying, nor send him into hiding.  He wasn’t showing off, he was actively practicing his faith in God.

I pray.  I pray at home.  I pray in private.  I pray in public.  My desire is to live a lifestyle of prayer.  Sometimes that is seen, sometimes not.  The problem that Jesus talked about is if I begin looking for people to notice my praying and I hope to impress them by it.  The problem isn’t being noticed, it is wanting to be noticed.  Last night I was eating dinner at Red Robin in Seattle, Washington and prayed before the meal.  Our waiter noticed and commented on how he didn’t see that much any more.  It became an opportunity that may have been missed had I not prayed with our group.

So, is prayer to be done in secret or visibly?  Paul writes to the Thessalonians and tells them to “pray continually.”  This would be always!  The question isn’t, “do I pray when I am in secret or do I pray when I am in public?”  Rather, we need to ask, “why am I praying?”  Prayer that has God as our only audience is always appropriate.

May you and I be people of prayer – not to be noticed by others, but to know and be known by God.

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A Broken Toe

Wow!  What a week of camp!  . . . OK, so I left a day early because of a trip to Seattle today, but it was a great week of camp.

It is so much fun to teach, especially 5th & 6th graders, the concepts of pursuing God with all the energy and enthusiasm they can give.  They have a bunch of it that they use on a variety of things, so helping to focus that on pursuing God has results that are often visible.

I have always loved using the camp-wide capture the flag game as an object lesson to teach the level of pursuit we need to have for God.  This year, I outdid myself!  I put so much effort and energy into the game so that I could talk to the students about it the next morning, that I broke my big toe and took a roll through the gravel drive.  That took the object lesson to a whole new level.  In the game, I had finally resisted “capture” to the point of shedding blood.  In life, though, I had to agree with Paul that I “had not yet resisted sin to the point of shedding blood.” 

Not only do we need an ultimate, sacrificial effort to pursue God with all our “heart, mind, soul, and strength”, we need to put equal effort into resisting temptations to sin.  Fortunately, in both endeavors we have the help and power of the Holy Spirit to partner and guide us in the truth of God’s Word.

Even with the broken toe, which happened on Monday night, I had a great week of camp.  The “pursuing God” was emphasized on Tuesday and taught throughout the week.  I also had opportunity to teach about being “models” of Jesus, about being disciple-makers, and about praying at all times, in all ways, for all people.  I was happy to be there and be a part of such an incredible camp.

May you and I be found pursuing God with reckless abandonment and resisting sin, even to the point of shedding blood.

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A Real Champions’ Breakfast!

We have probably all heard of numerous reports and studies designed to prove that a good breakfast is critical to the well-being of people, particularly students.  A well known cereal purports itself to be “the breakfast of champions”.  Their idea is that if you want to be a champion, this is what you will eat.  I don’t exactly agree with them, so I’ve found my own championship breakfast.  Those who have spent much time around me know that I always refer to my Dr. Pepper as the breakfast of champions.  I’ve often had fun with this, even while pointing out the obvious – that soft drinks of any kind do not make a good breakfast.

I do believe, however, that I have identified the true “champions’ breakfast”.  It cannot be found with a simple one course meal.  It requires a balanced diet, therefore several courses are necessary.  I believe that by beginning each day with a three course meal of prayer, God’s Word, and worship, we begin to prepare ourselves to be true champions.

As we study the lives of “champions” in the Bible, we find that these three elements are consistently present.  Bible characters became champions by staying connected to God.  They did this with regular time spent in prayer.  They knew the scriptures.  They would meditate on it day and night.  They worshipped God with their lives.  I’ve read a quote from someone that says, “If you’re too busy to pray, you’re too busy!”  This would be true of this entire “champions’ breakfast”.

When we begin each day with time spent in prayer, it helps put our entire day into perspective.  When we start the day with Bible reading, it helps us to meditate on God’s Word throughout the day so that we would choose to do right.  When we greet the day in worship of God, it shapes our attitude and responses as we interact with others.

As we feast on this “champions’ breakfast”, may God change our lives so that we are true champions in His kingdom.

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On The Road Again

I’ve been away from internet connection for a number of days and it is good to be back in touch with the world.  🙂

I am in Salt Lake City for a Prayer Gathering.  I got into town this past Thursday and was able to spend some time with God in the midst of some of His beautiful creation. 

Even more special was meeting some of His beautiful people.  I spent the weekend with Tom Koehler and his family in Clearfield, Utah.  Tom is co-pastor of Christ Community Church in Clearfield.  I thoroughly enjoyed our time of worship together on Sunday and was able to share with a small group at his house on Sunday evening.

Pray that God uses this week to continue to reveal His will for ministry in Utah.

I’ll continue posting my teachings and articles as I get time.  Stay tuned!

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Michiana Christian Service Camp

Michiana Christian Service CampI just got back from Michiana Christian Service Camp.  I love this camp!  I was there this morning to teach and lead the 5th & 6th grade campers in praying.  I had three “class” sessions where the campers and faculty would come to me and we would use the surroundings of the camp as prayer prompts to worship and communicate with God. 

We praised God for His creativity, His goodness, His provision, His kindness, His gentleness, and His love among other things.  We also thanked Him for the camp facility, the camp staff, the opportunities for fun, and for friends -new and old.  We took our requests to God for safety, for the camp’s expansion plans, for endurance and rest.  I am always impressed at how quickly young people catch the concept of constant communication with God.  They don’t have a problem praying and talking with God about everything and anything.  I pray that they never lose that love for God that just wants to know Him and be known by Him.

I highly recommend Michiana Christian Service Camp to any and all young people.  It is a great place to connect with friends and more importantly, to work on that connection with God.

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E. R.

“Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'”  Luke 5:31-32

As I wrote this (July 2001), my wife and I had just spent much of the previous night in the Emergency Room with our daughter. 

You can learn a lot in the E. R.  As we look at the words of Jesus recorded for us by Luke, I can’t help but think, “Now there’s a guy who ought to know what Jesus is talking about.”  Dr. Luke should have had first hand knowledge of identifying the sick and giving them his attention.  Jesus wanted His disciples, and those who would listen, to understand that He too was concerned with identifying those who were sick and giving them the care they really needed.

The E. R. was busy last night.  The doctors needed to identify individuals with the greatest need and make sure they were cared for.  The doctors and nurses kept busy trying to keep up with all of the needs brought to them.  They did a great job.  Some even stayed beyond their shift to help get the job done.

We live in a world that is sick and dying.  The problem is sin.  The diagnosis was made and announced by God through His Word that this wasn’t an isolated problem.  It is an epidemic that affects everyone.  Once we’ve been cured through the blood of Jesus, it becomes our responsibility to become the messengers of healing – the nurses if you will – to those around us who are sick and dying. 

Are you preparing people to meet the Great Physician, Jesus?  He is the one who has cleansed us from sin and He wants to do the same for all.  I pray that you would make it a priority to seek out the lost and introduce them to Jesus that He may cleanse them of their sin.

May we become E. R. personnel as we recognize the emergency nature of sin in the lives of people.