Prayer Journal

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Jeremiah 10:21

    [21] For the shepherds are stupid

        and do not inquire of the LORD;

    therefore they have not prospered,

        and all their flock is scattered.

Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me.

—Jeremiah 9:23–24 NLT

1 Samuel 12:23, in which the prophet and leader Samuel says to the people of Israel, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.”

Roger - anticipation expectation in prayer. Dangerous prayer. Sleep apnea, life group, 

Bruce  - being encouragement, work, Mia transition, Ty’s sports and peer pressure, friends. 

Could you not pray with me one hour? (Matthew 26:40)

 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matthew 26:41).

 “This kind can only come out through prayer” (Mark 9:29).

 Abide in me; without me you can do nothing (John 15:5).

 The Father is always with me (John 8:29).

 “When you pray…” (Matthew 6:5).

Jesus taught them that they should always pray (Luke 18:1).

Fear Industry

 FEARFUL?

I am convinced fear-making is a cottage industry in our country. It so stinking effective. Think Fund-raising. Think manipulation. Think groupthink and control. Think conspiracy theories. Fear paralyzes, erodes faith and leaves us in bad places emotionally. Fear is usually the loudest voice in the room. Fear always grabs the megaphone.

Fear comes after all who have a heart to honor God. I was reading about Elijah today. What a man of God. He served during a time that a man and woman had a great political alliance that produced fear and intimidation to promote unbiblical values. This power couple gave lip service to spirituality but promoted perversion. Their names were Ahab and Jezebel.

Queen Jezebel got the word out through every media market there was a price on Elijah’s head. The message was LOUD and clear. Fear consumed Elijah. That’s right… FEAR. He fled, he forgot who God was, he played woulda, coulda, shoulda and he wanted to die.

God graciously restored Elijah spiritually, physically, relationally and in his callings. You can read about it in 1 Kings 19. My take-aways on fear:

1. The Spirit of Jezebel is still around today. Be discerning.

2. Fear is usually the loudest voice in the room.

3. I need to tune my ear to the ONE with the still small voice… every day.

4. Exhaustion and mismanaged expectations can make cowards of the best of us.

5. God has not given me a spirit of fear but of love, power and sound mind.

6. I will not be driven by fear even if it is coming from my own sub-culture.

7. There are legitimate concerns but fear only produces unhealthy responses.

8. The good news is I get to decide who gets the megaphone to my heart. Do not let the negative and false voices have the megaphone.

Michael Sprague

Dane Ortlund

 His yoke is kind and His burden is light. That is, His yoke is a nonyoke, and His burden is a nonburden. What helium does to a balloon, Jesus’s yoke does to His followers. We are buoyed along in life by His endless gentleness and supremely accessible loneliness. He doesn’t simply meet us at our place of news; He lives in our place of need. He never tires is sweeping us into Hks tender embrace. It is His very heart.  Page 23

Gentle 2

 From a world’s point of view, one would think Jesus would have lost His temper as He saw the injustice, suffering and pain experienced by His creation. One record of Him losing it was with religious people who thought they were clean and holy. C.S. Lewis said that no one has met a mere mortal. Each person is a soul with a destiny and a longing in their heart for meaning and purpose. Only Jesus can make our mess into a message that honors Him. He is gentle and approachable, a theme I need to repeat to myself all of the time. 

“Meek. Humble. Gentle. Jesus is not trigger-happy. Not harsh, reactionary, easily exasperated. He is the most understanding person in the universe. The posture most natural to him is not a pointed finger but open arms.” - Dane C. Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers

Gentle 1

 What did Jesus mean when He said that He would give rest if we allowed Him to carry our burdens?  How is His love consistent and ever present, regardless of the circumstances?  What can we learn about who Jesus is by the words He spoke?  Dane Ortlund’s book has been a profound encouragement to look to Him for our hope and direction. As the devotional states:  

Jesus Christ’s desire that you find rest, that you come in out of the storm, outstrips even your own. “Gentle and lowly.” This, according to his own testimony, is Christ’s very heart. This is who he is. Tender. Open. Welcoming. Accommodating. Understanding. Willing. 

“You don’t need to unburden or collect yourself and then come to Jesus. Your very burden is what qualifies you to come. No payment is required; he says, “I will give you rest.” His rest is gift, not transaction. Whether you are actively working hard to crowbar your life into smoothness (“labor”) or passively finding yourself weighed down by something outside your control (“heavy laden”), Jesus Christ’s desire that you find rest, that you come in out of the storm, outstrips even your own.” - Dane C. Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers

Bible 1-24

 My prayer life could be described like the guy in the devotional who complained to his doctor but didn’t stay for the doctor’s advice. I can read the Bible but if I’m not reflecting or learning to apply what I’ve read, I might be wasting my time. I want to be a learner, not a prideful know it all with no practical application. I’ve tried to memorize Proverbs 3:5-5 to remind myself that my self sufficiency and independence may not work. I need to lean on His wisdom with my whole self. 

Bible 1-23

 Psalm 14 shows the huge contrast among humans. God is looking for those who trust him. We can either live life with Him or without Him. It would seem that there are no fence riders on this issue, because we cannot say that we sort of trust Him. The passengers on the jet had to trust Captain Sully for his skill in landing the plane on the Hudson. There was no other option - just like our lives before the Creator.