Welcome to Lent Day 5, Follow Me! Today we start our first full week of study, focusing on the theme of self-denial. I know–it’s not always a popular topic, but a much needed lesson for us as we journey towards Easter.
Just click on the link below to read today’s Lent devotional.
Image courtesy of graur razvan ionut/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
May God bless your reading.
Welcome to Day 4 of our Lenten Devotional! Today is the last day discussing temptation. Tomorrow we will move into our first full week of study with the theme of self-denial. Thank you for joining us, and please click on the link below to read today’s devotional.
A Franciscan Benediction
May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen.
(from many sources, including Prayer, Does It Make Any Difference by Philip Yancey, p. 105)
FIRST LESSON.
‘Lord, teach us to pray;’
Or,The Only Teacher.
‘And it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, that when He ceased, one of His disciples said to
Him, Lord, teach us to pray.’–LUKE xi. 1.
HE disciples had been with Christ, and seen Him pray. They had learnt to understand
something of the connection between His wondrous life in public, and His secret life of
prayer. They had learnt to believe in Him as a Master in the art of prayer–none could
pray like Him. And so they came to Him with the request, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ And in after
years they would have told us that there were few things more wonderful or blessed that He
taught them than His lessons on prayer.
And now still it comes to pass, as He is praying in a certain place, that disciples who see
Him thus engaged feel the need of repeating the same request, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ As we
grow in the Christian life, the thought and the faith of the Beloved Master in His never-failing
intercession becomes ever more precious, and the hope of being Like Christ in His intercession
gains an attractiveness before unknown. And as we see Him pray, and remember that there is
none who can pray like Him, and none who can teach like Him, we feel the petition of the
disciples, ‘Lord, teach us to pray,’ is just what we need. And as we think how all He is and has,
how He Himself is our very own, how He is Himself our life, we feel assured that we have but to
ask, and He will be delighted to take us up into closer fellowship with Himself, and teach us to
pray even as He prays.
Come, my brothers! Shall we not go to the Blessed Master and ask Him to enrol our
names too anew in that school which He always keeps open for those who long to continue their
studies in the Divine art of prayer and intercession? Yes, let us this very day say to the Master,
as they did of old, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ As we meditate, we shall find each word of the
petition we bring to be full of meaning.
‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ Yes, to pray. This is what we need to be taught. Though in its
beginnings prayer is so simple that the feeblest child can pray, yet it is at the same time the
highest and holiest work to which man can rise. It is fellowship with the Unseen and Most Holy
One. The powers of the eternal world have been placed at its disposal. It is the very essence of
true religion, the channel of all blessings, the secret of power and life. Not only for ourselves,
but for others, for the Church, for the world, it is to prayer that God has given the right to take
hold of Him and His strength. It is on prayer that the promises wait for their fulfilment, the
kingdom for its coming, the glory of Go
slothful and unfit we are. It is only the Spirit of God can enable us to do it aright. How speedily
we are deceived into a resting in the form, while the power is wanting. Our early training, the
teaching of the Church, the influence of habit, the stirring of the emotions–how easily these lead
to prayer which has no spiritual power, and
T
strength, that availeth much, to which the gates of heaven are really opened wide–who would
not cry, Oh for some one to teach me thus to pray?
Jesus has opened a school, in which He trains His redeemed ones, who specially desire it,
to have power in prayer. Shall we not enter it with the petition, Lord! it is just this we need to be
taught! O teach us to pray.
‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ Yes, us, Lord. We have read in They Word with what power
Thy believing people of old used to pray, and what mighty wonders were done in answer to their
prayers. And if this took place under the Old Covenant, in the time of preparation, how much
more wilt Thou not now, in these days of fulfilment, give Thy people this sure sign of Thy
presence in their midst. We have heard the promises given to Thine apostles of the power of
prayer in Thy name, and have seen how gloriously they experienced their truth: we know for
certain, they can become true to us too. We hear continually even in these days what glorious
tokens of Thy power Thou dost still give to those who trust Thee fully. Lord! these all are men
of like passions with ourselves; teach us
gifts of the heavenly world are for us. O teach us to pray so that we may receive abundantly. To
us too Thou hast entrusted Thy work, on our prayer too the coming of Thy kingdom depends, in
our prayer too Thou canst glorify Thy name; ‘Lord teach us to pray.’ Yes, us, Lord; we offer
ourselves as learners; we would indeed be taught of Thee. ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’
‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ Yes, we feel the need now of being taught to pray. At first there
is no work appears so simple; later on, none that is more difficult; and the confession is forced
from us: We know not how to pray as we ought. It is true we have God’s Word, with its clear
and sure promises; but sin has so darkened our mind, that we know not always how to apply the
word. In spiritual things we do n
according to the law of the sanctuary. In temporal things we are still less able to avail ourselves
of the wonderful liberty our Father has given us to ask what we need. And even when we know
what to ask, how much there is still needed to make prayer acceptable. It must be to the glory of
God, in full surrender to His will, in full assurance of faith, in the name of Jesus, and with a
must be learned. It can only be
learned in the school of much prayer, for practice makes perfect. Amid the painful
consciousness of ignorance and unworthiness, in the struggle between believing and doubting,
the heavenly art of effectual prayer is learnt. Because, even when we do not remember it, there
is One, the Beginner and Finisher of faith and prayer, who watches over our praying, and sees to
it that in all who trust Him for it their education in the school of prayer shall be carried on to
perfection. Let but the deep undertone of all our prayer be the teachableness that comes from a
sense of ignorance, and from faith in Him as a perfect teacher, and we may be sure we shall be
taught, we shall learn to pray in power. Yes, we may depend upon it, He teaches to pray.
‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ None can teach like Jesus, none but Jesus; therefore we call on
Him, ‘LORD, teach us to pray.’ A pupil needs a teacher, who knows his work, who has the gift
of teaching, who in patience and love will descend to the pupil’s needs. Blessed be God! Jesus
is all this and much more. He knows what prayer is. It is Jesus, praying Himself, who teaches to
pray. He knows what prayer is. He learned it amid the trials and tears of His earthly life. In
heaven it is still His beloved work: His life there is prayer. Nothing delights Him more than to
find those whom He can take with Him into the Father’s presence, whom He can clothe with
power to pray down God’s blessing on those around them, whom He can train to be His
fellow-workers in the intercession by which the kingdom is to be revealed on earth. He knows
how to teach. Now by the urgency of felt need, then by the confidence with which joy inspires.
Here by the teaching of the Word, there by the testimony of another believer who knows what it
is to have prayer heard. By His Holy Spirit, He has access to our heart, and teaches us to pray by
showing us the sin that hinders the prayer, or giving us the assurance that we please God. He
teaches, by giving not only thoughts of what to ask or how to ask, but by breathing within us the
very spirit of prayer, by living within us as the Great Intercessor. We may indeed and most
joyfully say, ‘Who teacheth like Him?’ Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how
to pray. He did not speak much of what was needed to preach well, but much of praying well.
To know how to speak to God is more than knowing how to speak to man. Not power with men,
but power with God is the first thing. Jesus loves to teach us how to pray.
What think you, my beloved fellow-disciples! would it not be just what we need, to ask
the Master for a month to give us a course of special lessons on the art of prayer? As we
meditate on the words He spake on earth, let us yield ourselves to His teaching in the fullest
confidence that, with such a teacher, we shall make progress. Let us take time not only to
meditate, but to pray, to tarry at the foot of the throne, and be trained to the work of intercession.
Let us do so in the assurance that a
most beautifully. He will breathe His own life, which is all prayer, into us. As He makes us
partakers of His righteousness and His life, He will of His intercession. too. As the members of
His body, as a holy priesthood, we shall take part in His priestly work of pleading and prevailing
with God for men. Yes, let us most joyfully say, ignorant and feeble though we be, ‘Lord, teach
us to pray.’
‘LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY.’
—–0—–
Blessed Lord! who ever livest to pray, Thou canst teach me too to pray, me too to live
ever to pray. In this Thou lovest to make me share Thy glory in heaven, that I should pray
without ceasing, and ever stand as a priest in the presence of my God.
Lord Jesus! I ask Thee this day to enrol my name among those who confess that they
know not how to pray as they ought, and specially ask Thee for a course of teaching in prayer.
Lord! teach me to tarry with Thee p
sense of my ignorance, of the wonderful privilege and power of prayer, of the need of the Holy
Spirit as the Spirit of prayer, lead me to cast away my thoughts of what I think I know, and make
rit.
And fill me, Lord, with the confidence that with such a teacher as Thou art I shall learn to
pray. In the assurance that I have as my teacher, Jesus who is ever praying to the Father, and by
I will not be afraid. As much as I
need to know of the mysteries of the prayer-world, Thou wilt unfold for me. And when I may
not know, Thou wilt teach me to be strong in faith, giving glory to God.
Blessed Lord! Thou wilt not put to shame Thy scholar who trusts Thee, nor, by Thy
grace, would he Thee either. Amen.
This book is in the public domain and can legally be reprinted.
“That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” Colossians 1:10In the last blog post, we discussed four ways you could do this in 2012. After having some time to mull these over and maybe try a few of the suggestions, let’s look at the next four items on the list.
5. Choose a non-fiction Christian book to read that challenges you. Before you start reading this book, pray and ask that God will change you in the process. Ask Him to show you what you need to learn from this book, and pray that you would be open to making the changes God wants you to make. Stick with it, even if it’s slow going. Actively read the book. If the book is your own copy, this means you should write in the margins, highlight sections you want to remember, and make notes in the text. The more you interact with the text, the more of it you will take in. Try to repeat this process a few times this year. If you’d like a few book suggestions, you could start with one of these:
6. Schedule a retreat at a retreat center. Do this with a group from your church, some of your friends, or take a night or two or three by yourself at a retreat center and spend some time with God in prayer. I know you spend time in prayer at your own home, too, but there’s just something different about getting away to a retreat center that you can’t duplicate elsewhere. First of all, when you’re away from home, you can’t be distracted by all the work you think you should be doing at your house. You’ll be able to use the time to completely disengage from the responsibilities of child care, cleaning the house, or doing the laundry–guilt free.
Secondly, retreat centers have resources for you to take advantage of like prayer labyrinths, chapels, libraries and even classes for you to take. Try it. You’ll love it. Ask God to show you what He wants you to learn from the weekend. Be sure you write down what you are learning and where you go from here. You can use the following link to help you find a retreat center near you, searching by your state: Retreat Finder. Keep in mind that not all of the sites listed are Christian, so research the listings before you make a reservation. I even found a site close to my house that does not charge a set fee–it’s on a donation basis!
7. Begin a new spiritual discipline in your life. Have you ever wanted to explore fasting? Or perhaps you have an interest in journaling, or maybe the discipline of self-examen has piqued your interest. Spend some time learning about a discipline and then begin to incorporate it into your life. Both Dallas Willard and Richard Foster have classic books available on the disciplines, and either book would be a good place for you to start learning.
8. Begin praying through the World Watch List of the 50 most hostile, restrictive countries in the world (to Christianity). Open Doors USA compiles this annual list. Click for the 2014 version.
I’m excited about living a life of purpose in 2012. I wonder how God will change me through this process. Have you tried any of the suggestions yet, or are you planning on doing one soon? If so, we’d love for you to leave a comment and tell us about it.We’ve got four more suggestions to go, and Mary is going to cover those in the next blog post.
Until then, pray on!
Happy New Year!
The start of a new year is always exciting, because I feel like I’ve got a clean slate ahead of me with lots of possibilities. One theme that has been running through my mind is that I want to live a life of purpose in 2012. Mary and I have jotted down some ways we’re going to try to do that this year, and we wanted to share those with you.
So, here’s the first four items on our list:
1. Get involved in something bigger than yourself. It’s easy to get so caught up in our own lives so that all we think about is ourselves and our situations. When we are going though a difficult time, we tend to think the world revolves around us and our situation because we are so inner focused. Having a cause that is outside of yourself is one of the best ways to maintain your stability and a healthy spiritual and mental outlook. It’s a wonderful antidote to depression.
Even if you are physically incapacitated, you can still be involved in world matters simply by praying. I know two women who are just about housebound because of health problems. One of them is actively involved in placing at-risk children in temporary housing, and the other one has a vibrant prayer ministry for people all around the world. Both of them do these activities from their homes.
Here’s a few ideas to get you started on finding a cause to be involved with:
2. Pray faithfully for your family. Sometimes we forget to pray for our families because we are busy praying for other people. Or, we may get discouraged if we don’t quickly see the changes we want to see. Make it a priority to pray for your family. Write down in a safe place detailed requests and perhaps some scripture that relates to the situation and then pray for them several times a week. Remember to record any changes you see in your family–and you– so that you have a record of God working in your lives.
3. Pick a Bible study and see it through to the end. I know I often start a new Bible study with enthusiasm, but half way through it, it can become hard to maintain that motivation. I’ve found that if I stick with it and finish the study, God always does a work in my life. Check out some studies from Beth Moore and Kay Arthur (Precepts) just to name a few to get you started.
4. Take a few minutes each day to connect with God through His creation. Have you ever tried keeping a nature journal? I’m not particularly artistic, but I really enjoyed this activity when I tried it a few years ago. It forces you to slow down and really see things. Study a snow flake. Set up a bird feeder and watch the birds for a few minutes each day. In the warmer months, grow some flower and vegetables. Learn the names of the different trees in your area.
You can keep a traditional nature journal by purchasing a blank artist’s notebook and colored pencils. Sketch as best you can what you see. Or maybe you want to try an online version. Take pictures with your digital camera and upload your pictures to an online gallery, such as Picasa Web Albums or Flickr. You can also use Mixbook, Walmart, Meijer, or any of the other myriad photo applications to make an actual printable book with your photos.
As you begin to observe the world around you, God’s hand prints become so much more noticeable, as does the verse from Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”
I’ll continue this series in the next blog post. If you have any of your own ideas to add, please leave us a message. Until then, pray on!