Judges 6:1-6:10 "Sorry, I Forgot....Again"

"I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave them your land." ~Judges 6:9 (NIV)

Here, once again, the Israelites did evil in God's eyes and the Midianites swooped in. For seven years God's chosen suffered under a foreign oppressor. It finally got so bad that they cried out to God for help -- again. This time, God didn't just rescue them, but reminded them of where He had brought them from and their disobedience to Him. Thus, they are suffering.

When I read this passage, two questions popped into my mind. 1) Why are we so forgetful? 2) Is there a way to break the cycle of forgetfulness?

All of life is filled with peaks and valleys. We experience them in our marriages, our jobs, our weight, our moods, our exercise plans, our bank accounts. So is it just inevitable that we will have peaks and valleys in our spiritual walk? Probably. My daughter, Gabby, was just at youth camp. She said that the speaker, Matt, gave a great final sermon on coming down from the mountain top that they had been on all week -- both physically and spiritually. Gabby summarized it this way, "You can't keep the high, but Jesus can keep you in the lows." With sin, pain, and disappointment in the world, we are going to experiences many highs and lows. But we serve the King and have His Spirit living within us. There must be a way to minimize those lows that cause spiritual forgetfulness. I need to be able to face the next mountain I need to climb by remembering how God enabled me to conquer the last mountain. And the one before that. And the one before that.

Here are some ways I know I can remember:

1. Stay in the Word and Prayer!!! If I become slack and don't maintain regular times alone with the Lord, I drift in my thinking and attitudes. It's like checking the rope daily to be sure the boat is connected to the dock. If you don't, wind, rain, and the pounding waves will loosen that rope and the boat will drift away. I need clear rope-checking time every day.

2. Faith Journal. I have not been good about keeping this and need to do better. When I just stop and think for a while about my life and the things God has brought me through, I am completely overwhelmed by His faithfulness. I have so to speak been rescued from Egypt; I have faced plague and famine; I have met up with opposing armies at insurmountable odds. God has worked in my life, and I must remember His power that can conquer any obstacle I face and trust the He will be there again. But to do so, I must stop and remember. Quiet reflection time is difficult to find with jobs, families, responsibilities. But floundering in the insecurity of facing battles without power is so much worse. All I have to do is remember and believe.

3. Keep myself accountable. I'm a list maker. If I don't, I will not remember. Already this week I double booked myself because I didn't write down the first commitment. Maybe I need some more vitamins or possibly shock therapy, but I just do not have a good memory. Used to; but time has robbed me. In the same way as I use lists to keep track of my "to do's," I need accountability to keep track of my spiritual walk. I have my husband and one main female accountability partner, but then I am also in an accountability group. Those regular meetings help keep my mind on God's activity in the world today. I am constantly reminded through those ladies of God's power at work in and through every day people, and it builds my faith and attentiveness to His plan.

4. Run from sin. If I am doing #1-3, this one is so much easier to accomplish. Because I spend time with my loving Father, I want to obey Him. Because I remember His faithfulness in the past, I don't want to hinder Him working in and through me in the future. And because I am accountable to several people, I have fellow warriors fighting through the battle with me and I am made stronger.

I know I am going to face times of doubt and fear. I know that I will sometimes start up a mountain with trepidation. But I will push through because I have safeguards in place to make me stronger. I never want to forget again -- He is always with me.

Further Thoughts:
1. When have you forgotten and what were the consequences?
2. Do you really want to be there again? Why or why not?
3. What's your plan to not forget God's faithfulness?
4. Who are you going to ask to hold you accountable?

Father, we are frail and weak, but that is no excuse for forgetting your amazing grace and faithfulness. Empower our minds to remember, Lord, and help us develop daily habits of remaining focused on You and the goal -- to run the race well in Your strength and power.

Judges 1:1-2 "Always Ask First"

¹After Joshua died, the Israelites asked the LORD, "Which tribe should attack the Canaanites first?" ²The LORD answered, "Judah, for I have given them victory over the land." ~Judges 1:1-2 NLT

I have decided to tackle my first Old Testament book. The Old Testament is the history of the Israelite people and God's first covenant with man. Therefore, it can be difficult to glean practical lessons from listings of laws, battles, and prophesies. So I won't be going verse by verse in this study. However, there are many, many valuable lessons to be learned from the journey this amazing nation took to get where God wanted them as His chosen people. And, of course, God stopped me in my reading at verse 2.

Here the Israelites have just lost their beloved leader, Joshua, who had finally gotten them into the promised land after many years of wandering through the desert. Now they are faced with a dilemna -- how to remove the Canaanites from the land God has told them they are to live in. They immediately ask the Lord who should lead the charge, and He answers, "(The tribe of) Judah is to go...." Why is that significant?

What struck me was the fact that they immediately sought God's leading. How often do we face an obstacle and immediately stop and seek God's direction? Now may we may often do so in very large decisions or trials in our lives. We may ask for His direction in finding a job or asking for healing from a major illness or accident. And this is what the Israelites did. They sought God for a very big task at hand. And this is a good thing. I certainly do not want to take a job without knowing I am going where God wants me to be. And if I or a member of my family is facing a life-threatening illness, I am certainly going to claim healing in the name of Jesus. But what about all the other times....

How many times a day do I need to seek God's direction and don't? He desires to abide in every aspect of your life -- not just in the big decision or major crisis. Of course He wants you to seek Him in the "big" matters of life. But He is not just some super hero or mega-doctor. He is our Father who desires a relationship that is involved in every situation, every choice, every action of our life. He left His Holy Spirit here with us to maintain a running dialogue throughout our day -- guiding each step we take. Without His constant direction, I will be prone to selfish decisions and will miss out on amazing God-filled opportunities. I must connect with Him to begin each of my days, and then maintain that connection until I lay my head on the pillow at night. Without His guidance, I exist. With it, I live purposefully in His will. That is where I want to remain.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you just seek God's guidance in "big" moments of your life? Why?
2. Do you think God doesn't really care about this "little" parts of your life? If so, read Psalm 139.
   
3. What can you do to open that running dialogue connection with God in the morning?
4. How do you maintain the connection throughout the day?
5. How do we hear God's voice?
   
6. What big and small decisions do you need to take some concentrated alone time with Him to seek his guidance for? When will you do that?

Father, forgive me for the days I try to guide my own steps and only look to you for the "big" stuff. I need you every moment of every day because by myself, I will mess everything up. Holy Spirit, direct my steps today. I want to say what you would have me to say, to think what you would have me to think. To go and do what you would have me to do. And to remain in Your presence moment by moment. Amen.

Colossians 4:12 "True Intercession"

Colossians 4:12.

"Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured." NIV

Epaphras was always "wrestling in prayer" for the church at Colosse. What does that mean exactly? The KJV says, "labouring fervently." Fervently means "with great struggle, with difficulties, to contend with adversaries, strive, to obtain something." Epaphras was putting in a lot of time fighting the enemy in intercession for the Colosse church. I have to stop and ask myself, do I "wrestle in prayer" for anything or anyone? I pray, but am I truly engaging in the battle. For anything to be worthwhile, you have to commit time to it. How much time am I giving? Not nearly enough.

Along with being a convicting passage toward intercession, Paul also tells us how to pray for others and for ourselves. We may pray for all kinds of things, and that is okay. But what is our primary focus to be? We should labour fervently for the ability to stand firm in all the will of God. At first glance, I thought standing firm was just the first of three things, but looking closer, standing firm means to be mature and fully assured.

Maturity in the Christian walk would mean that we have reached an adulthood in our walk. As babies, we needed to be brought along by others -- very dependent on them for everything. We needed help in how to read the Bible and understand its Truths; we needed help in how to pray; we needed guidance in how to live as Christ would have us live. But maturity implies that we now are learning from the Word on our own. We are in communion with the Father on a regular basis, and we are making choices in our lives that are directed and in tune with the Father. Not that we don't need others to do life together, but we are not dependent on them for everything as we once were.

Standing firm also means being fully assured. We have no doubts about Who we serve or why. He is our complete source, and we live our lives fully devoted to Him. Sold out for the mission of Christ. This is our Lord's will for us and something we should be praying earnestly for in ourselves and others. The battle of life truly does begin on our knees.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you seek the Father only for daily comforts and safety or do you seek His will and the ability to live in it?
2. I don't know if we ever reach complete maturity in this life, but have you left the infant stage? If no, why not? What needs to change?
3. A fully devoted believer no longer looks to their own interests, but fully looks to the interests and will of the Father. Are you there yet? If no, why not? What is holding you back and why?

Colossians 4:2-4 "The Daily Conversation"

Read Colossians 4:2-4.

"Devote yourselves to prayer...." NIV

Devote means to "commit by a solemn act <devoted herself to serving God> 2 : to give over or direct (as time, money, or effort) to a cause, enterprise, or activity." (Merriam-Webster) I have to include the synonyms because they are so descriptive. "synonyms devote, dedicate, consecrate, hallow mean to set apart for a special and often higher end. devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective <devoted his evenings to study>. dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose <dedicated her life to medical research>. consecrate stresses investment with a solemn or sacred quality <consecrate a church to the worship of God>. hallow, often differing little from dedicate or consecrate, may distinctively imply an attribution of intrinsic sanctity hallowed by the blood of patriots>." (Read through those again.)

As I read each of the definitions of "devote" and its synonyms, I have to ask myself, "Is this the way I treat prayer?" Do I treat it as a solemn act or a quick duty? Do I truly believe and have faith that it is for a serious use or purpose? Do I invest in prayer? These are all important questions that beg an answer. God has shown again and again in history, in the Church, and in our personal lives the power of prayer. He honors our prayers when given in accordance with His will and His Word. He desires that time of communion with us to love on us and instruct. But I must be committed or "devoted" to keeping those moments with the Father sacred and regular. I should always have the communication line open to the Holy Spirit, but I also need to just sit in His presence, share from my heart, and listen to His still small voice.

Paul continues to say that our hearts should be watchful and thankful. We need to be alert to where God is at work to join Him there. He will direct if we are listening in prayer. Then thankfulness should pour from our hearts for the prayer requests answered. We should thank Him for all answers. (Sometimes the answer in "no." But that is still an answer from God.) And we should lift up our fellow brothers and sisters as they navigate through this life representing the Father.

If I were a business woman and Bill Gates offered to meet with me daily for a discussion, I would not miss a one. If I were a restaurateur and I could sit down and talk to Chef Emeril Lagasse every day, I'd make that appointment a priority. Having a conversation with the Almighty Creator of the Universe should never be taken for granted. And we should never miss an opportunity to sit down with the Father, love on Him, and let Him love on us. Christian action is necessary; devotion to prayer is life-changing. He's waiting.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you purposefully talk and listen to the Father or is it a passing conversation?
2. Some of the greatest believers in history spent hours a day in prayer. How much time will you commit to the Lord each day?
3. We can use the phrase, "I'm too busy." (I'm preaching to myself here.) But what are we too busy doing? Can we not make time for the Lord? Will any of those others things that make us "too busy" matter in the end?
   

Colossians 1:9-14 "Prayer and Purpose"

Read Colossians 1:9-14.

"...asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." NIV

I absolutely love this passage and here's why. It is a complete instruction on prayer and walking the Christian life. Absolutely, complete -- the how, why, and what for. In fact, I'd suggest you read the passage slowly at least two more times and completely absorb what it's teaching us.

Did you read it? Waiting.......

Okay, now let's look at it step by step.

What do we pray for? I listen to prayer request after prayer request and they always seem to be about the same thing - meet my need. And I know God hears those prayers. But where I think we are missing the boat is that God already promised to meet our needs. He knows every hair on our head, and He will provide for our needs. Now He does say to ask, so I'm not saying these prayers are wrong. We are to ask, but there is something greater that we should be praying for -- "the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." If the Spirit gives me insight into that, there really isn't anything else I need. Every other part of my life will fall into place. I will have a divine perspective that far exceeds any simple need I have here in my mortal life.

What kind of life will this prayer bring? One that pleases God. Is there anything greater than pleasing the Almighty God of Universe?

What pleases God? A life "bearing fruit in every good work." Actually accomplishing something for the kingdom -- reaching out to those in need, comforting the hurting, taking care of the widows and orphans, helping the wayward, lonely teenager, etc. It's also a life growing in the knowledge of God and being strengthened with all power.

Strengthened for what? So you can have "great endurance and patience." We have a long race to be running. Our work here is hard and unending. We are on this earth to share God's love and we certainly aren't running out of people who need it or opportunities to give it. And while we are running, we are attacked on all sides. The enemy wants to take us out and will try by any means to do so. But with the strength and patience of our Father, we can continue running the race we have been given to run.

Why run the race? Because we have already been given the prize of sharing "in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." Heaven is waiting for us. We have a hope and a future that no one and no difficulty and no government and no tragedy and no recession can take away from us. Glory is waiting for us to cross the finish line and to cross it strong.

Why should we be thankful? Because our loving Father "rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." He paid the ultimate price so we don't have to. He loves us that much!

Why can I have such hope? Because through Jesus Christ, "we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Without His sacrifice and our surrender, we will be separated from God forever. But His one act of love saved us for eternity, if we will only receive.

Amazing..... and humbling.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do I need to change how I pray? Am I spending too much time on "needs" and not enough time on asking for God's will and wisdom? (Praying for our needs makes us "self-focused." Praying for God's wisdom will always make us "others-focused.")
2. Where in Scripture does God promise to give us His wisdom and understanding?
3. Where does He stress the limitations of that understanding?
4. When we can't understand, what do we rely on? Give Scripture.

James 5:13-18 "Prayer Faith"

Read James 5:7-12.

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." NIV

James gives the answer to about anything we can face -- trouble, happiness, sickness, sin. That one word is pray. One of the simplest acts man can do. It can be filled with words or a simple, "Help" or "Thank you" or "My Lord" will be enough. We underestimate the power those unembellished utterances hold. With a word a mountain will be moved or with a word we are ushered into the presence of the Almighty.

In our visual, instant-gratification world we live in, prayer can seem so inactive and useless. But we must never forget the power. When I was with my mother in Fargo the last ten days of her life, I had people from all over the country praying for me. I didn't really know this until I came back home and saw all the emails, facebook messages, and cards. But I'll tell you -- I felt those prayers. I have never been so buoyed by prayer in my life. There is truly power in those simple spoken words of faith, petition, and praise. And until we truly grasp the power of prayer, we will walk ineffectually through the motions of Christianity. That communion with the Lord is the foundation of our relationship -- speaking, but mostly listening. And when we spend that time with Him and learn who He is, and surrender every moment to Him, our prayers will mirror the character and will of God. Then things will happen that will blow our minds. It may not be today, or tomorrow, but it will happen. We serve a faithful Master and no one is His equal. Pray to Him, believing.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look through the Old Testament. Who knew how to pray? How do you know? What evidence did they show of being an effectual pray-er?
2. Do you pray but struggle with the faith to believe your prayers will be answered? If so, are you surrendered to whatever God has for you?
3. Spend time every day talking with the Lord. His Word and Spirit speak to you. Are you listening?

James 1:19-20 "Purposeful Communication"

James 1:19-20.

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." NIV

Oh, how many difficulties, wars, divorces, and broken relationships could have been avoided if these verses had been written on everyone's heart. We each could read this every single day, and still not get it right. Let's look at each part of the verse.

"quick to listen" - How many times do we really listen when someone is talking to us? I would adventure not real often. Most of the time we are formulating in our mind what we will say next. We just don't seem to take enough time to really listen to what people are saying - both verbally and non-verbally. What are the nuances of their speech, word choice, body language? Are we just hearing words or discerning meaning? Communication takes time and time is precious. If this person is giving up time to speak to me, then I need to give them time and really listen to what they have have to say with attentiveness and respect. I don't have to agree with them to listen. I don't have to like what they are saying or even be interested in the topic. But to show them love as a human being, I need to honor them with my attention. Besides, you may be amazed at what you will learn.

"slow to speak" - Have you ever watched a wise elderly person. They never speak quickly. They choose their words very carefully and seem to always say something profound with each breath. That is what I am always striving for and seem to so often miss. I have a friend who before she answers her phone, she will pray for the person on the other end. We should take that approach before every conversation we have. "Lord, bless this person and may I speak wisdom and truth to them." Thinking through our words; letting the Father guide our conversations. Responding in love, not reacting in haste or anger. Taking time to breathe and speak from a place of peace rather than panic. Maybe in that pause realizing we must remain quiet.

"slow to become angry" - This is probably the toughest one of all three. Our first inclination and evidence of our sinful nature rearing its ugly head is lashing out at someone who is attacking us. Or maybe its because they are inconveniencing us. No matter what, anger usually is based in selfishness. You are doing or saying something I don't like, so I have a right to retaliate because I'm being hurt; I'm being inconvenienced; I'm not happy; I'm; I'm; I'm.

So many of our outbursts of anger could be quashed if we took time to listen and were slow to speak. It's all about slowing down in love. To truly express love to our fellow man, we must give them our time. Time to hear what they have to say -- not just in words -- but in meaning and heart. Time to speak truth and wisdom back to them -- guiding them in love. And time to save our anger for the things God would be angry about, not just exploding at every inconvenience to me. Then we will be living the righteous life that God desires.

Further Thoughts:

1. Study how Jesus responds in difference situations. His words are never wasted and His anger is reserved for very specific situations.
2. Work really hard today to listen intently. What are people really saying to you?
3. Pray before each conversation. It doesn't have to be a long prayer; simply commit your words to the Lord and ask for His guidance.
4. Check your anger. Before getting angry, stop and complete the first two directives -- quick to listen, slow to speak. Take time, in love, to understand the other person before spewing venom all over them. There may be hidden meanings behind their actions or words that you need to hear and understand.

James 1:9-12 "Humility Through Trials"

Read James 1:9-12.

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial." NIV

James 1:9-12 is a continuation of :2-8. James has given direction on trials and our response to them and on wisdom and how to receive it. He then goes back to trials in verse 9. Sandwiched in between is a paragraph on the man of low position versus the one of high position. Why is that?

As I've observed people who have gone through terribly trying times, the ones who do it well possess one very important quality -- humility. They quickly discovered that when you have been broken down into tiny little pieces and all control of your life taken away, haughtiness, pride, and position have no power. When lying flat on your back, you are profoundly made aware of Who is in charge. At least you're very clear about who is not in charge and that is you.

Devastation in life leaves us asking all kinds of questions -- why me? why now? how could this happen? what's the purpose in this? The unsurrendered may start kicking and screaming, spending all their energy and frustration in angry outbursts or lonely depression. But the committed believer fairly quickly recognizes that those posturings will get you nowhere. It is only when we accept our humble position before the throne that God will give the wisdom we need and the peace our heart yearns for to endure trials and come out on the other side a better person and servant of Him.

Trials will come -- that is a fact we can't escape. It's how we handle them that shows our true character. And as a body of believers, we should always lift up those who are going through trials to our Lord in prayer. They need all the support they can get to make wise decisions and stand firm in their faith. I am personally so grateful to my brothers and sisters who have remembered me to Him through difficult times. I have truly "felt" the power of their prayers as the Father has honored their requests for peace, strength, comfort, and wisdom. The bottom line -- not only do we have the Almighty Creator of the Universe on our side, but we have a bountiful supply of brothers and sisters to stand by us. We are not alone and we don't have to do life alone. This is a battle of armies, not single hand-to-hand combat. We must always rely on the body to help hold us up through trials and to remember to be the body to others when they need us.

Further Thoughts:

1. Study some of the Old Testament mentors who came through trials with humility and wisdom. See David, Ruth, Joseph, Job and Hosea to start with.
2. Read through the lyrics of this amazing song.
3. Are you going through difficult times? Humble yourself before the Lord and let Him fill you with His wisdom. Tell your brothers and sisters in Christ. They will help hold your arms up through the battle.

Matthew 18:19-20 "Agreeing Together"

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask
for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." NIV

The encouragement here is to corporate prayer and the power of 2 or more joining together. In this chapter, Jesus had been dealing with disciples wanting first in the kingdom, the sin of leading another astray, that no one should be lost, and confronting a brother's sin. He is showing that in these cases and for that matter, any case, the believers should unite in prayer for power to happen. Coming at the end of the wayward brother, He is not only putting a stamp of approval on the decisions of the many concerning the one, but that He is ready and willing to meet all the needs of the body when they are united in petition to Him. The caveat is that it must all be done by those that "humbles himself like this child." Joined together, humbled before the Lord, surrendered to a faith that can move mountains, we are given by the Lord as we ask.

I don't believe in a name-it, claim-it theology. God is not Santa Claus. But I do believe that if we have a mind set on the things of God and His will, if we are surrendered to His desires and plan, then agreeing with another in prayer brings the power for it to happen. The key is vs 20 - we must come together in His name. We can't be united by desire. We can't be united by desperation, We can't be united by pride. To be united in His name is to submit to the Almighty's authority and desire what He desires to His honor and glory.

And the results must be for the advancement of what He deems worthy. I don't think if I get my family together (which is 2 or more) and we all pray that I get a brand new car, then a new car is going to show up in my driveway. Maybe if I was needing a car, I'd receive a car, but not necessarily brand new. And maybe I don't really need a car. Maybe the bus will do, or I need to walk. Did I pray according to His desire or mine? Will a brand new car honor Him? I'm not saying that God never blesses people with nice things. But our hearts must be surrendered and in line with His heart. A worldly mindset of health, wealth, and prosperity just won't cut it. He wants our hearts in submission to His will.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look up in a concordance Scriptures on prayer. What is always associated with prayer? (Hint: What must be the attitude of our heart or will?)
2. Is there something that you know is the Lord's will and you need to ask Him for it? Do you need to join with others to pray and agree together?

Matthew 10:17-20 "The Words of His Mouth"

Read Matthew 10:17-20.

“…do not worry about what to say or how to say it.” NIV

Being a wordsmith, this is a very difficult one for me to do. I will work and work to get even a conversation worked out in my head before I have it. But Jesus is saying that when we are faced with opposition, we don’t have to worry about the words to say, God will give us those words.

Now this is only going to happen under two conditions 1) we remain in an intimate relationship with the Father 2) we are listening for His voice.

Remaining intimately close to the Lord involves spending time with Him and learning His character. The more we study who He is and what He is about, the better we recognize His words when they come to mind. The enemy will try to interfere. But because we have known the Father, we will know whether or not the words coming to mind line up with who He is. If they don’t, we discard them as foreign and wait on the Lord. God never does anything or directs anyone contrary to His nature. If we learn as much as we can about His nature, we are prepared to discern anything that is not of Him.

Developing the skill of listening for God’s voice takes patience, solitude and silence – and sometimes fasting. It requires resisting the urge to always talk to Him and remaining silent to receive from Him. Sometimes, God remains silent for reason unknown to us but very clear to Him. But according to this verse, when words are needed, He will not fail to deliver.

Usually when we are confronted like the disciples were, the situation is very chaotic. The moment is urgent and the pressure is high. But if we’ve taken the time to exercise and develop our spiritual muscle of listening, we will know what we are to say when we need to say it.

Further Thoughts:

1. Moses needed God’s words to speak through him to get the Hebrews freed from the Egyptians. Read how Moses got to the place of being used by God in Exodus 3:1-4:31.
2. What words did Stephen use when faced by the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:1-53? How are these words given to Stephen differently than Moses received his words?
3. What words did Jesus use against Satan in the desert in Luke 4:1-13?
4. Are you spending enough time in the word to recognize the character of God? If not, commit to more intimate times with our Lord in His Word.
5. Prayer is not a monologue, it’s a conversation and God wants His share of the talking time. Do your prayers tend to be one-sided and full of “give me’s?” Spend more time in worship, praise, and thanksgiving, then in silence. It’s amazing what the Lord will speak to you. Keep a notebook nearby to record His words. When the Almighty Creator of the Universe takes time to talk to us, we should write it down. It must be very important.

Matthew 6:5-13 "So Be It"

Read Matthew 6:5-13.

"'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed by your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'" NIV

In this second act of righteousness that Jesus addresses, He once again assumes that we will prayer. It's not an option. He says, "And when you pray,...." So we can begin with the idea that we are supposed to be praying as followers of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, the act of praying is not for self-promotion or entertainment. It's a solemn communication between us and the Almighty Creator of the Universe and should never be taken lightly. He not only wants to hear the desires of our heart, but longs to speak to us as well. Prayer is a dialogue and the Lord wants to hear from you and get in His two-cents worth.

Which brings us to how we pray. Jesus gave us a beautiful structure for our prayers. If we examine the bones of it and understand the meaning of each part, we can fit it to meet every communication with the Lord that we have.

In verse 9, Jesus teaches us to acknowledge exactly who we are speaking to. This is much more for our benefit than God's. By addressing God as being in heaven and holy, we are immediately separating ourselves from a superior position to one of the humility of a servant ready to do the Master's will. This attitude sets the tone for the entire prayer.

That leads us to verse 10 where we literally speak our surrender to God's will as opposed to our own. We are acknowledging that our desire is to submit to Him and His direction. And that all things around us are governed by His hand. He allows both good and bad to come into our lives, but the reasoning of it is His own. He is in control and that is as it should be.

Once we've totally surrendered to who God is and the power and dominion He possesses, our asking becomes minuscule. When I am completely submitted to Him, He has my life under control. Now I just ask Him to provide for our basic needs. The rest He allows me to have is pure gravy. He never promised me mansions or fancy cars, but He did promise to never leave me nor forsake me. And His promises are always true.

As imperfect sinners saved by grace, we must never forget to ask for forgiveness when we fail. Sin is sin and must all be forgiven. Again, our hearts must be in a place of humility. This act has two outcomes, we are forgiven for our sins, and we are reminded of our fallibility that will keep us from a judgemental attitude toward others. We'll discuss the second part of this verse tomorrow.

Lastly, we ask for protection from the evil one and the temptations to sin. That's where the Holy Spirit comes in. We must be constantly in-tune to the Spirit's directions and warnings and always listening in humility and surrender to the Master. As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus - and off of the world and our own selfish desires, we will be able to overcome the evil one's attempts. It's not an easy task; the temptations are great. Hence, why Scripture says we are in a battle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers we cannot see. The enemy will never stop fighting to get us back from the Master. So diligence is a necessity.

Never stop communicating with the Master. He created us for fellowship. Share your life with Him and He will pour out Himself on you.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look up the meaning of the word "amen." Does ending prayer with this word apply to how you pray?
2. Read Jesus' prayer in John 17:1-26.
3. Does selfishness ever have a place in our prayers? Why or why not?
4. Does God answer our prayers? Read John 16:23-24.
5. I know we live busy lives, but I challenge you to spend quiet, quality time with the Lord each and every day. He's our source. Get plugged in.

Ephesians 6:19-20 "Living Fearlessly"

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." NIV

I think two of the greatest enemies we battle against every day are fear and selfishness. They are the Siamese heads of a monster that want to stop us dead in our tracks as followers of Jesus Christ. They loom at every turn we take, and boy, are they good at what they do. They are waiting for us when we wake whispering thoughts of sloth. They follow us to work and to school, hovering with lies of doubt but at the same time pushing for more power and authority over others. Looking for praise and promotion, but living afraid to be who I really need to be. Will I be accepted? Will I be made a fool? They follow me home and push against the relationships in my own house -- battling for control and self-satisfaction. Then when I lock my doors at night and lay my head on the pillow in the dark, they want to rewind the day with doubt and second guessing. Fear that I over did it, and fear that I didn't do enough. Replayed conversations bounce around our heads robbing us of true rest.

In spite of all that Paul did, he was still human enough to have moments of fear and selfishness. And here we see him asking for prayer to live and share the gospel fearlessly. Pretty ironic for a man that couldn't be stopped from speaking. They threw him in prison, he shares with the prisoners and guards. They threaten to kill him, he welcomes the death that will allow him to go be with his Lord. They let him go, and he goes right out to preach again. Paul was unstoppable. But it was because he was sold out for Jesus Christ. He knew he'd face temptations of fear, but he also knew where the strength and power to overcome it came from. "The prayers of a righteous man availeth much." If we only ask, the power of the Holy Spirit can decapitate that two-headed monster that wants to defeat us and ruin our effectiveness for Christ.

Lord, I desire like Paul to stand firm in my faith, to walk boldly in the world. "Whenever I open my mouth..." -- fearless.

Further Thoughts:

1. David battled fear in his adult life. Read some of the Psalms. What did David do with that fear?
2. Compare and contrast "boldness" and "arrogance." Find Scripture on each one.
3. Did Jesus battle against fear or doubt? If so, how did he fight it? (Read Matthew 26:36-44.)
4. Using a concordance, find some supportive Scripture to claim against fear. Also look up the word, "afraid." (One online concordance is at crosswalk.com.
5. Is fear and doubt trying to overtake you? Pray for boldness through the power of the Holy Spirit. Then walk fearlessly.

Ephesians 6:18 "The Commander's Voice"

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." NIV

Paul wraps up this passage on putting on the Armor of God with "And pray." It's not a "possibly pray" or "maybe pray." He says, "And pray." Donning all that protection, no matter how powerful it is, will be ineffective if we do not keep the communication lines open between us and the Master. The supreme commander of the army needs to speak to His troops and His troops must communicate with Him -- at all times in many different ways. I would love to sit down with Paul and hear about his "all kinds of prayers." I don't see him discussing in his other books about different kinds of prayers. But in any case, prayer is less a method and more an attitude.

If I come before my God dressed in the armor and power He has made available to me as His child and soldier of the gospel, ready to face the fiery darts of the enemy, armed with the power of His Word, I'd better come in humility. As I walk through my day, I'm facing an enemy and his temptations that I have no power to face on my own. I face dangers that could take my life. (Well, have you been on a California highway lately?) I must make regular decisions that could change the direction of my life. I cannot imagine going through each day without my Lord's guidance. Do I listen perfectly? Sadly, no. My ears often become clouded with the clamor, chaos, distractions, fear and selfishness of my human nature. But in my continual efforts to please my Lord, to put off the old self and wear the new, to live a life pleasing to the Master, I strive to listen closer for His voice. And the more time I spend with Him, in prayer and meditation on His Word, the clearer the resonance of His voice becomes.

When our oldest daughter, Lauren, was born, practically the entire family was at the hospital. They were all outside the nursery window as she was screaming through her first bath. Even drying her off and bundling her up didn't calm her down. But so the family could take better pictures, the nurse kindly opened the door and held our screaming baby up for all to see. Of course, I wasn't there, but my husband was videotaping the whole event. On the tape you can hear all the family talking to Lauren, welcoming her to the world, and she is loudly voicing her complaints. Then, her daddy speaks. "Lauren, it's your daddy." She instantly quiets. In the midst of the dozen voices coming at her, as well as her own screams in her ears, she recognizes her daddy's voice.

Oh, how I want to be able, in every situation, to tune out the chaos and clamor and hear my Daddy's voice. When I'm working under a ridiculous deadline; when I'm in the middle of swearing, angry parents at my daughter's softball game; when I'm racing through the crowded mall; when I'm sitting on an airplane; when I'm facing criticism; when I'm disciplining my child; when I'm tired and alone or when I'm ecstatically happy. "On all occasions," I want to hear what my Father is saying to me. I can't do any of this alone - armored or not. I desperately need His voice.

Lord, open my ears to Your voice and Yours alone. I cannot do any of this without You. Whatever Your will, I am listening.

Further Thoughts:

1. If you don't know how to pray, beginning with how Jesus taught the disciples to pray. Read Matthew 6:9-13.
2. Outline Jesus' prayer in Matthew 6. What are the basic points He covers in His prayer?
3. Read through some of Jesus' prayers. (i.e. Luke 22:39-44, John 17:1-26)
4. How are prayer and humility connected? (Read 2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 6:5-8. Find other examples in Scripture.)
5. Set your phone or calendar to remind you to pray. (At the link, see Further Thoughts, #4)
6. For parents, take time each morning to pantomime with your children putting on their armor. Here's how we did it when the kids were little, "The helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, our feet ready to spread the gospel and peace, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit." Then the kids said, "Are we dressed yet?" and we all said, "Yes." Then they said, "What are we going to do for God today?" And we all listed what we were doing that day -- school, work, playing with friends.... And we had prayer. It's a good way to start your day, too.
7. Pray

Ephesians 3:16-19 (Part 1)

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power throughhis Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." NIV

I love how Paul is going along telling the Ephesians about the wonderful mystery revealed in Christ Jesus, and he stops and tells them how he prays for them. Here's the facts of the situation and here's how I pray that they will change your lives. Isn't that awesome?! I want to do that more -- share with people how I'm praying for their lives to be enriched by the power of the Almighty. What a gift that is to give to another human being!

I heard a sermon on this passage a long time ago. One point he emphasized was to pray the prayer for myself as well. Since this is a prayer to the church at Ephesus and I am a part of the church universal, then I can read this prayer and replace all the "you" and "your" with "me" and "my" to personalize it. Wow, not only is this an amazing prayer for others, but also one for myself. Try it. Read through the prayer a couple of times changing the second person pronouns to first person. You'll be blessed.

More on this prayer tomorrow.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look for other prayers in Scripture that are given for the believer and change the pronouns to make them personal. God wants you to ask for His power in you as well as in others.

Ephesians 1:15-19

"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened
in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." NIV

I love this example of how we should pray for others. How often do we think of our family and friends and pray for their health or their job, or for a trip they are taking. We tend to dwell on the temporal, insignificant part of life. We focus in so tightly on their immediate, perceived need that we miss praying for them something so much great -- the wisdom and power of God. What more can we pray for other believers than that they would know God more or that their eyes would be open to the hope He has called us to? And nothing on this earth can match "his incomparably great power for us who believe." I'm not saying we never pray for the needs of others. We are instructed to prayer for each other for healing. But the focus encompasses so much more when it's on Him and not on the need. Phil. 4:19 says that "he will supply all your needs...." Even in Matt. 6 Jesus prays for bread, forgiveness, and deliverance from evil. So my question is by praying the prayers we pray, are we keeping ourselves too focused on this decaying body on a dying earth and less on our Father and His purposes. I would think we'd be able to handle the tragedies, disappointments, and challenges we face if we spent more time in prayer for the latter.

Further Thoughts:

1. Read Matthew 6:5-15 where Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. Break down each part of the prayer into what exactly Jesus is praying about, i.e. praise.
2. Read through Jesus' prayer for Himself, the disciples and all believers in John 17.
3. How do we pray for those who don't yet believe? (See John 16:5-11)
4. Now take some time in prayer. Pray for others as Jesus has shown us to pray.