Monday, November 18, 2013

When you Pray

He said to them, “When you pray.”
Luke 11:2a

For God to be the greatest in our lives, we’re going to need some help. Divine help. Because the natural inclination of our hearts is to be self-centered rather than God-centered, it’s critical that we humble ourselves in prayer.

When you pray, start with God. Jesus taught His disciples to begin their prayers by saying, “Father, hallowed be your name” (Luke 11:2). Start your prayers by telling God how great He is! Declare who He is and all He’s done. Delight in His names, nature, promises, and character. Beginning with God puts our prayers in perspective. We sense our powerlessness and His omnipotence.

When you pray, humble yourself before God. In the parable of the two men who prayed, the Pharisee prayed about himself. The tax collector beat his breast and begged for God’s mercy. It’s interesting to note that Jesus’ parable is more about the attitude of pride than the how-to of prayer. His intended audience was those who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else. His parable point was that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 18:9, 14b).

When you pray, don’t put on a show. Within the Sermon on the Mount Jesus instructs us to get alone with the Father. This is tender time between the Father and His child, not stage performance for those listening in. As far as word count, use less. There are no bonus points for babblers for our Father already knows what we need (Matthew 6:5-8).

When you pray, focus on God’s glory. God expects His glory to be the primary petition of our prayers. Jesus’ prayers for Himself, His disciples, and future believers were passionate and preoccupied with the Father’s glory (John 17). Phil Moore writes, “Jesus wants to teach us that His prayers are always Father-centered, not self-centered or us-centered, so that we learn to keep our own prayers focused on the glory of the Living God.”

When you pray, pray for humility. Pray that God would become greater and you would become less. Pray that He would clothe you with the attitude of Christ so people would see more of Him and less of you.

He>i: For God to become greater and bigger in your life, what change is needed in your prayers?

Father, we confess that we are naturally self-centered and self-exalting. Any humility we have is the gift of your Holy Spirit. Please, please touch us now with a humble heart, and break our pride and self-dependence. Amen.
C. John Miller

grace and peace,
Lenae

Monday, November 4, 2013

God is Greater Still


The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:4b

Mark Twain was quoted as saying that “History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” There certainly is rhyme and rhythm to Israelite history. The first time their toes touched the border of the Promised Land, they backed down in fear. The spies reported that the Israelites were like grasshoppers in comparison to the giants of the land. Ten of the twelve recommended retreat rather than attack, and the people agreed, rebelling against the Lord.

Forty years later it’s round two. The next generation now has their toes on the tip of the border, but nothing has changed in the enemy camp. Moses said, the nations are still “greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky” (Deuteronomy 9:2).  This wasn’t new news. They had heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites?”  

Moses assured this generation like he did the one that preceded them, “The LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you” (Deuteronomy 9:3).

God will do what He promised to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He will do what He said He will do, not because of their righteousness, but because of His greatness. Would they trust Him?

No matter what our toes are lined up to today, the enemy will always be too much for us. The enemy is always bigger, stronger, and more powerful then our weak wills and feeble hands. So stop focusing on the enemy and look up to your Great God! Will you trust Him?

* Are you fearful and frustrated? God is greater still.
* Are doctors’ reports too much to bear? God is greater still.
* Are you weary of whiney toddlers and troubled teens? God is greater still.
* Are you trapped in the lie that you’ll never change or be free from this destructive life pattern? God is greater still.

Maybe you can’t feel that truth in your soul today. That’s OK. You don’t need to feel it. God’s not a feeling; He’s a fact. With His help, choose to trust that His greatness is enough to point your toe in the right direction and His grace is sufficient to get you to the day’s end.

He>i: What feels too great for you to handle today? God is greater still. Will you trust Him?

God’s heart and mind are greater than ours. All that is asked of us is trust.
Henri Nouwen

grace and peace,
Lenae