David Young's Posts

PRAYING IN A TIME OF CRISIS AND CHAOS

Posted by David Young on July 17, 2014 at 13:49

I recently listened while someone described the chaos that "will" follow a nuclear bomb launched by Iran, North Korea or independent terrorists and then exploded in the atmosphere, and/or the calamity following a sunspot, as well as the coming revolution in the U.S. where the hordes and roving gangs will murder us for our food and water. I need to say this caused me to pause.

This would not have bothered me so much had I not been memorizing Joel chapter 1 and thinking about the judgment of these days. I need to say that God is very patient. He waited 400 years for the people of Canaan to fill up their sins. He waited longer to bring upon Israel the judgment promised by Moses for rejecting God's revelation. Judgment is in the hands of God. But whether we face it today or God raises up prophets and prayer warriors to turn aside judgment on America and the world, I believe God is telling some of us to teach believers how to pray in such days. Here are some crucial perspectives for prayer that prayer warriors need to adopt for times of crisis.

1. Learn to Pray in the Perspective of Persevering.

In the midst of flagrant persecution Barnabas and Paul told the fledgling churches that "We must enter the kingdom of God through persecution." Jesus said we would have persecution in the world. And we will. We will need a grace for those days that God will not give until they arrive. But we must encourage one another today that persecution in this world is normal for those of us who are overcoming it. We can trust God to enable us to persevere. His own people will successfully endure hardship.

2. Learn to Pray in the Perspective of God's Protection.

You need to have some of the promises of God's protection memorized. Everyone should have Psalm 46 and 91 memorized. The arrow that flies by day and the terror of the night will surely come. You will need such powerful promises instilled into your heart. And you need to be used to praying through them now even though you will understand those promises far better in the coming judgment and the time of trouble.

3. Learn to Pray in the Perspective of the Purpose of God.

Christianity received a great boost in Europe when the plague was devastating whole cities. Christians showed compassion on those afflicted. They gave them food and water, cooled their fevers and comforted their hearts. Christians and people who lived near them were far more likely to survive the plague. Even in good times life is so much better when it is lived for others in the purpose of God. We can still rejoice even in days of great trial if we have an ultimate purpose.

4. Learn to Pray in the Perspective of Eternity.

How many of our prayers only consider the immediate? Those are not necessarily bad prayers. But they should not be the primary preoccupation of the children of the resurrection. We are the people of eternity who are not dominated by the tyranny of the temporary. We need to enter the calamitous day already in the habit of praying for the work of God in the climax of history.

FIGHTING DEPRESSION WITH PRAYER

Posted by David Young on July 10, 2014 at 16:30

I am a little hesitant to write on this subject for the obvious reason that prayer is far more than an antidote to selfish concerns. The perspective of prayer is far greater than my personal feelings. However scripture does deal with this concern. Psalm 42:5 asks, "Why are you so downcast O my soul." Psalm 130:1 reads, "Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord."

Let me suggest several steps in dealing prayerfully with depression.

1. Pray for deliverance.

I have not faced clinical depression in my own life, but I have dealt with it in others as a pastor. And seeing the magnification of the problem helps me see details more clearly in the depression of my own heart. A major issue of depression is that it defends itself. It may be more accurate to say we defend our depression, but the depression seems to take on a life of its own. When I have told someone to do something that might break their depression they immediately opposed it. So start by briefly asking God to deliver you. Depression may even keep you from praying about it.

2. Turn immediately to praise.

You might think you should start by asking God to change the circumstances that have depressed you. Aren't requests the heart of biblical prayer? They are. But prayer is supported theologically and practically by the glory of God; by the grace of God; by His mighty power; by His love and faithfulness. And nothing works more effectively at lifting our spirits than praise. Secular counselors sometimes try to treat depression with self-affirmation. But that often sets the sufferer up for a fall into deeper depression. Praise gets you clear out of the picture. In fact sustained praise is good and necessary for anyone at any time. Have you ever thought heaven would be boring if we spent all day praising God forever? That ignores the reality of praise. Nothing is more thrilling than connecting intellectually and emotionally with the wonder and glory of God.

3. Confess and forgive.

Praising God should move us into confession and forgiveness. Depression flows from pride. "I don't deserve bad things." Even a statement like "I am no good." is self-focused. Confession breaks pride. It demands a humble and dependent heart. There is relief in being forgiven. At that point God can lift our spirits because we are no longer estranged from Him. It is important to note that Jesus linked confession and forgiveness in the Lord's Prayer. "Forgive us . . . as we forgive. . ." This is so important for dealing with depression. Depression raises its ugly head in the aftermath of anger and continuing resentment. I am amazed that so many people treat anger as some sort of catharsis. We think of having a right to get angry. There is a place for righteous wrath. Jesus certainly modeled it. But anger must be under the control of God or it will destroy the person expressing it. Anger is not a privilege. It is more like a loaded gun.

4. Pray the word of God.

Praying God's word connects to the stability of faith. Much depression is unbelief. Notice I did not say, "simply unbelief." It is complex, but it is unbelief none the less. And it criples our relationship with God. Some of you may object to this, pointing out men like Charles Hadden Spurgeon or William Cowper, spiritual giants who suffered from depression. But many of the glorious sermons of Spurgeon came forth in victory over his occasional depression. And although Cowper's mental illness was more persistent and debilitating than Spurgeon's, it was God's truth and victory that burst out with "God's wonders to perform." Praying God's word ought to bring us naturally into personal promises God has whispered or thundered into your ear.

5. Sing.

I think singing is an important part of prayer. It usually helps us praise better than we could without it. Most hymns and choruses are filled with great theology. All of us can pray in song. I do not necessarily believe we have to sing well to glorify God, especially in private prayer. However, an important part of honoring God is seeking to improve our singing for His ears and even for the ears of His children.

6. Continue your prayer in obedience.

Activity is a natural antidote for depression. Praying our plans and God's plans leads us to carrying them out, not after we have prayed, but continuing to pray as we go, as we act, as we step out in faith. "Father, help me, encourage me, keep me going for you." amen

FIGHTING DEPRESSION WITH PRAYER

I am a little hesitant to write on this subject for the obvious reason that prayer is far more than an antidote to selfish concerns. The perspective of prayer is far greater than my personal feelings. However scripture does deal with this concern. Psalm 42:5 asks, "Why are you so downcast O my soul." Psalm 130:1 reads, "Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord."

Let me suggest several steps in dealing prayerfully with depression.

1. Pray for deliverance.

I have not faced clinical depression in my own life, but I have dealt with it in others as a pastor. And seeing the magnification of the problem helps me see details more clearly in the depression of my own heart. A major issue of depression is that it defends itself. It may be more accurate to say we defend our depression, but the depression seems to take on a life of its own. When I have told someone to do something that might break their depression they immediately opposed it. So start by briefly asking God to deliver you. Depression may even keep you from praying about it.

2. Turn immediately to praise.

You might think you should start by asking God to change the circumstances that have depressed you. Aren't requests the heart of biblical prayer? They are. But prayer is supported theologically and practically by the glory of God; by the grace of God; by His mighty power; by His love and faithfulness. And nothing works more effectively at lifting our spirits than praise. Secular counselors sometimes try to treat depression with self-affirmation. But that often sets the sufferer up for a fall into deeper depression. Praise gets you clear out of the picture. In fact sustained praise is good and necessary for anyone at any time. Have you ever thought heaven would be boring if we spent all day praising God forever? That ignores the reality of praise. Nothing is more thrilling than connecting intellectually and emotionally with the wonder and glory of God.

3. Confess and forgive.

Praising God should move us into confession and forgiveness. Depression flows from pride. "I don't deserve bad things." Even a statement like "I am no good." is self-focused. Confession breaks pride. It demands a humble and dependent heart. There is relief in being forgiven. At that point God can lift our spirits because we are no longer estranged from Him. It is important to note that Jesus linked confession and forgiveness in the Lord's Prayer. "Forgive us . . . as we forgive. . ." This is so important for dealing with depression. Depression raises its ugly head in the aftermath of anger and continuing resentment. I am amazed that so many people treat anger as some sort of catharsis. We think of having a right to get angry. There is a place for righteous wrath. Jesus certainly modeled it. But anger must be under the control of God or it will destroy the person expressing it. Anger is not a privilege. It is more like a loaded gun.

4. Pray the word of God.

Praying God's word connects to the stability of faith. Much depression is unbelief. Notice I did not say, "simply unbelief." It is complex, but it is unbelief none the less. And it criples our relationship with God. Some of you may object to this, pointing out men like Charles Hadden Spurgeon or William Cowper, spiritual giants who suffered from depression. But many of the glorious sermons of Spurgeon came forth in victory over his occasional depression. And although Cowper's mental illness was more persistent and debilitating than Spurgeon's, it was God's truth and victory that burst out with "God's wonders to perform." Praying God's word ought to bring us naturally into personal promises God has whispered or thundered into your ear.

5. Sing.

I think singing is an important part of prayer. It usually helps us praise better than we could without it. Most hymns and choruses are filled with great theology. All of us can pray in song. I do not necessarily believe we have to sing well to glorify God, especially in private prayer. However, an important part of honoring God is seeking to improve our singing for His ears and even for the ears of His children.

6. Continue your prayer in obedience.

Activity is a natural antidote for depression. Praying our plans and God's plans leads us to carrying them out, not after we have prayed, but continuing to pray as we go, as we act, as we step out in faith. "Father, help me, encourage me, keep me going for you." amen

PRAYING ON VACATION

Posted by David Young on July 3, 2014 at 12:00

I am continuing to pray for Pray Network. I hope God leads Navigators to continue this ministry. And I want to thank Him and them every day that it continues.

My blog this week is about praying on vacation. Many of us have taken prayer retreats that were glorious. But I am thinking about something much more difficult. I want to talk about praying on a family or recreational vacation.

So many things contrive to disrupt our prayer lives when we go on vacation. I am on vacation visiting relatives as I write this. And my my prayer times have hardly been complete a single day. The first problem is simply in the purpose and preoccupation of vacation. We are usually focused on recreation. Also the rhythm of our routines are broken. We have to catch the ferry at 4:00 A.M. Or we sleep in until 10:30. And we have to coordinate our schedule with family, extended family and others. If you have ever been on vacation, you know several more things that interrupt regular prayer.

What do you do about it? The very best thing I have ever heard about was done by my close friend and associate. From the time his children were small he planned devotions into their vacations months in advance. He prepared a fun personal devotional guide for each member of the family that went together with what they were going to do each day. I'm sure there was a time he faced the natural and spiritual opposition of instituting this program. But the children grew to be excited about this aspect of their vacation. And they treasure those devotional guides well into adulthood. I suspect this would be too difficult or impossible for most of us. But I wanted to plant the idea for some of you to think about.

A similar and less involved tactic might be simply planning a specific time for personal prayer and devotions for each day and talk with the family about the next day's prayer time.

I also think it worthwhile to continually remind yourself to pray for each family member and every other person you see or come in contact with through each day.

The most important thing you can do is pray about it in advance and during your vacation. If you read my blog at all you know that I believe the most important thing you can do to develop an extraordinary prayer life is to pray and keep praying for God to help you do it. Pray for God to keep you in communication with Him every day of your trip. I think you will find nothing brings more joy to a good time than prayer.

http://daveswatch.com/

Small Prayers

Posted by David Young on June 26, 2014 at 15:20

This is the final blog I will enter on Pray Network. I will miss it, but I will continue to thank God for all that God has done through it.

I have written a great deal in the past about praying great prayers. And I still believe they are terribly important. I have said, “I have cancer. I don’t want to spend my time praying for a better parking place at the Old Country Buffet.”

However, it is important to pray for small things as well. Jesus told us to pray for “our daily bread.”

One of the crucial things about praying for small things is that they are daily. I need to pray for my daily attitudes, my daily habits, my daily devotions. If I do not pray for these I will find I have little power to pray for great things that we face in life. The prophet warned us not to despise the day of small things. They are often the foundations of the mighty works of God.

Praying for small things lays the foundation for my relationship with God. I once heard a man say, “Some of the best praying I have ever done was when I was lying on my back wrestling with a stubborn nut underneath a car I was working on.” As we take our small struggles to God we become instant in prayer. We learn to begin praying as an instant response to life.

You can see my blog posts at http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

And you can see other things I have written and continue to write on my website.

http://daveswatch.com

SLOW DOWN

Posted by David Young on June 19, 2014 at 14:00

Have you ever felt you needed to slow your life down enough to pray? I have. I seem to be naturally in a hurry. Prayer calls me to slow down and rest, focus and commune with God. I have even felt the need to slow my prayers themselves down. Two weeks ago I made that as a commitment. So each day as I prayed through prayer lists and took needs to God, I told myself over and over again “Slow down.”

I tried to slow down to narrow my focus on people; to slow down and watch; to slow down and listen; to slow down and remember; to slow down and think; to slow down and give thanks, even or especially when I am not focused on anything I deem thankworthy.

The primary thing I learned in the experience was that I need God to help me slow down. I cannot do it on my own. Like every other facet of prayer. I need God’s help. It is worth asking God to help us slow our prayers down to connect with God rather than the hurried world.

http://daveswatch.com/

POOR IN SPIRIT

Posted by David Young on June 12, 2014 at 12:20

Our pastor is preaching through the Sermon on the Mount on Sunday mornings. A few weeks ago he preached on the first Beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” He pointed out that the word translated “poor” here means to be destitute. It can be used for a beggar who is absolutely dependent upon help from others. Poverty of Spirit is the heart of prayer.

We come to God because our help, our strength, our hope of salvation, our very lives depend upon Him.

Spiritual poverty is the starting place for prayer. “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Faith springs from spiritual poverty. “I come to You, Father because I know I cannot solve this problem. I cannot even understand the problems I face.”

The extent of my spiritual poverty is shown by the fact that I do not even know how to pray as I ought. I even depend on God’s Spirit to help me pray.

"Thank You, Lord, that You died for my spiritual poverty. Thank You, Father, for meeting my poverty with Your everlasting wealth."

http://daveswatch.com/

Who are you praying for?

Posted by David Young on June 5, 2014 at 12:37

Throughout history God has brought about great movements that shook the earth with His Spirit by raising up a man whom He chose to use. God raised up Martin Luther, John Wesley, Evan Roberts, D.L. Moody and the like to bring about great revivals.

Are you familiar with the prayer meeting held on the Graham farm where young Billy Graham who had not yet accepted Christ as his Savior was in the barn pitching hay? Eighty years ago men gathered on the Graham property to pray for spiritual awakening. Praying together in May of 1934 one of the men suggested a bold prayer. They prayed for God to raise up a young man who would be used to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

http://billygraham.org/story/praying-for-revival-80-years-ago/?SOURCE=BY146ANL1&utm_source=BGEA+Today+email&utm_medium=bgemail&utm_campaign=bgemailnewsletter&utm_content=6.3.14+email+1

Can we pray again for God to raise up such a person who would turn the hearts of America to Him? Can we pray for God to raise up another Moses or Elijah, an Ezekiel or a Daniel for our day? We could pray like the men prayed eighty years ago on the Graham farm. God heard them. We could pray for God to raise such a person up in China, South America or Africa that would preach to the entire world. You could also be praying for young people you know who already sense God’s call on their lives. For some time I have been encouraging people to pray seminary students at the Pacific Northwest Campus of Golden Gate Seminary. Can you pray for a seminary campus near you? Are there such young people in your church or otherwise in your acquaintance? God has brought them to you to pray for them. What great thing might God bring about in our day if we ask Him?

http://daveswatch.com/

WATCHING IN PRAYER 2

Posted by David Young on May 29, 2014 at 12:41

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ^{^[1]}

Psalm 37:4 is a particular treasure for every believer. Have you discovered wonders as you have thought about this verse this week? I would like to hear what you discovered. Last week I focused on choosing to delight. Now I want you to see that this verse calls us to delight in the Lord Himself.

DELIGHT IN THE PERSON OF THE LORD.

We ought to rejoice in His majesty. We should rejoice in His mighty power. We should rejoice in His holiness. We should rejoice in His wonderful Grace. You have sung God Is So Good, haven’t you? He is good and gracious and lovely and majestic. He is wonderful!

DELIGHT IN THE PURPOSE OF THE LORD.

Have you ever thought what a great privilege it is for God to reveal His will to you? You may say, “But I do not know God’s will for my life.” You do not know all of it. But you know something that is God’s will for you. And as you obey what He has already shown you, He will show you more.

DELIGHT IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God dwells in your life. What is more, when we gather together as believers He is present in our fellowship. Can you imagine how the disciples felt when Jesus first appeared to them? They were locked in the upper room for fear of the authorities who had crucified Jesus when the Lord appeared in their midst. He is with us when we gather as believers. And the Holy Spirit dwelling in you ministers to me, and visa-versa. We celebrate together in His glorious presence!”

.

http://daveswatch.com/

^{^[1]} The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ps 37:4). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

DELIGHTING IN THE LORD 1

Posted by David Young on May 22, 2014 at 17:13

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ^{^[1]}

Psalm 37:4 is a particular treasure for every believer. Great wonders can be mined, refined and crafted like jewelry to adorn the hearts of believers from this verse! I would like to show you a little of what can be drawn from it.

THE DECISION OF DELIGHT

The first word here both in Hebrew and English is the imperative, “delight.” A fact about joy and delight is given us here by the One who created you and knows your heart best. Delight is a choice. You can and must decide to delight in the Lord.

THE DESIRE OF DELIGHT

Someone wrote a negative review of my book, JOY[2] on Amazon.com. He said several things and then concluded that “some of it just didn’t make sense.” I may be too sensitive. No one likes a negative review. But I also think he was reacting to the fact that I said (and the Bible teaches) that joy does not come from pleasure, luxury and ease. We are tempted to desire many things in life. But this verse calls us to redirect our desires to delight in the Lord.

THE DELIVERANCE OF DELIGHT

I have found that I need God to deliver me from temptations and addictions to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life. I need the moving of God’s Spirit in my life to turn my perverted heart to His delight.

What I have shared here comes from my praying and thinking about this verse. But there is more in it. Let me encourage you to take some time to meditate on these words and see what God reveals to you. It would thrill me if some of you commented on it. Next week I will share more that is in this verse. And your meditation will give you deeper understanding of the verse and even of my musings on it.

^{^[1]} The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ps 37:4). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

[2] http://www.amazon.com/Joy-David-Young/product-reviews/1477665579/ref=sr_cr_hist_all?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

FOCUSING ON FOOT

Posted by David Young on May 15, 2014 at 12:50

Have you had trouble maintaining focus in prayer? I often have that trouble. It is embarrassing to write it out like this, but it is still the truth. Every day I pray for God’s anointing to keep me focused as I go through prayer lists. It can be an even greater problem as I try to pray for one person or a single concern. I did something this week that helped a great deal. I walked my prayer.

Many of us understand the value of prayer-walking to pray for a street or neighborhood. But it also seems to help me focus on whatever I am praying for. Twice this week I walked through our neighborhood praying for a single loved one. As I walked I did pray briefly for houses and people I saw. But most of my prayer was for the person I was concerned about. In both cases I did not exactly know what to pray for. And I am not sure I knew better when I finished the walks, but I was overwhelmed with peace and joy as I concluded the prayer walks.

I have not heard anyone else give this benefit of prayer-walking. I would like to know if others of you have found walking helped you focus your prayers.

Praying and Living in His Name

Posted by David Young on May 8, 2014 at 14:26

What did Jesus mean when He told us to pray in His name? John 14:14 reads,

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

In this chapter Jesus gave us a clear explanation. Phillip had asked Him to show them the Father. Jesus responded by declaring His unity with the Father.

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

A few verses later Jesus gave us what is arguably the most astounding promise in the Bible.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Shortly after this declaration Jesus said,

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

Jesus said we will pray such prayers in union with Him, for His glory and in His power.

In John 7:18 Jesus said,

“The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.”

Praying in His name is more than saying the words. It is praying in the purposes and for the glory of the One who has called us. And we will see greater things for His glory than He did while He walked on the earth. Are you praying for the gospel to the whole world? Do you ask for righteousness on the earth? Are you praying for His glorious return? Are you praying whatever the Father prompts you to pray?

AM I ASKING?

by David Young

PSALM 2:7,8

I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

It is hard to sit among those content with the comfortable mundane

And say out loud, “I am God-endowed with a mission to fulfill.”

It is a step of faith to stand unflinching and to all proclaim,

“I hear His call, despite it all. I know; I have been shown God’s will.

I have a vision of distant lands and people beyond the seas.”

He’s not forgotten His Only Begotten, and He’s shown His will to me.

He told me, too, “You are my son! Today I gave you heaven’s birth.

My precious one, to know I Am will be your inheritance and wealth.”

The Firstborn of many chosen brothers shares His holy worth.

Like the Father’s promised only Son, He holds me to Himself.

He is the Vine and I’m a branch on the heavenly family tree.

He’s not forgotten His Only Begotten, and He keeps His hold on me.

So will I ask for healing, wealth or some other selfish blessing?

For temporal toys and shallow joys, and maybe a nice vacation?

The ends of the earth are promised to me, given for my possessing.

He tells me, “You are mine; ask me for the distant teeming nations.”

They can be ours to know and love and tell as far as God can see.

He’s not forgotten His Only Begotten, and He will answer me.

Have I prayed for the Berbers and the Bora, the Jula, or the Han?

Will I ask for Madagascar, Persia, or the isles of the Coral Sea?

I can seek Him for the nations, Africa, Asia and far beyond.

I can pray and preach and go out and teach as far as I will believe.

He’s not forgotten His Only Begotten, and He has promised me.

WHEN YOUR SOUL IS TROUBLED

Posted by David Young on May 1, 2014 at 1:58

John chapter 12 gives powerful insight in to the prayer focus of Jesus. After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem the final week before the cross some Greeks approached Phillip asking to see Jesus. Phillip and Andrew came to tell Jesus. The Master immediately saw this as a sign of what was about to take place. He compared His coming crucifixion to a seed dying and being buried in the ground so it could bear much fruit.

In verse 27 Jesus said,

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. ^{^[1]}^[1]

For what purpose? Grammatically Jesus has to be speaking of the troubling of His soul. What do you do when your soul is troubled? Well of course you pray. But should you ask to be delivered from the troubling hour. Could God have raised you up for this very reason, for this very hour, for this very troubling? Jesus replaced such prayers with a simple request.

“Father, glorify your name.”

^{^[1]}^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Jn 12:27). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

LIVING IN GRACE

Posted by David Young on April 24, 2014 at 15:10

Prayer is not simply mouthing a few words spoken in the morning or at the dinner table. That us of course an important part prayer. But prayer is the opportunity to live our whole lives in God’s grace. Early this morning I read the story of the raising of Lazarus in John chapter 11. This passage gives us a vivid picture of living in God’s grace. While Jesus and His disciples were in Galilee they received word from Martha and Mary that their brother Lazarus was seriously ill. The message simply read, “He whom you love is ill.” Let me point out two simple yet difficult perspectives of living in God’s grace.

Waiting in His love

John 11:5-6 reads,

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”^{^[1]}

You can be sure that God loves you no matter what you are going through. To us these verses seem to be a terrible paradox. Jesus loved them, so He waited. We who have read the story know that something far greater came from the Lord’s delay. But we have also felt like it was too late for God to answer our prayers. It is difficult for us to get the principle into our hearts that the world’s deadlines are not necessarily God’s timing. Keep praying even when it seems to be too late. You may well see the glory of God through it.

2. Walking in His light

In this passage the disciples of Jesus faced an entirely different dilemma. They were terrified when Jesus announced that He was going back to Judea where the people had tried to stone Him. Jesus answered their concerns with a sort of parable.

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”^{^[2]}

If you want to understand what God is up to, walk in the light He has already given. Stepping out in faith is a powerful principle of answered prayer. What God calls us to do is often impossible. I remember Moses before the Red Sea. The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.^{^[3]}

I love the response of Thomas in this situation.

“Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

http://daveswatch.com/

http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

THE POWER OF LOVE

Posted by David Young on April 17, 2014 at 12:45

Prayer is a powerful expression of divine love in our lives. Most of us misunderstand this because our society has redefined love as romance. But love is not simply romantic feelings but expressing selflessness. When scripture tells a man to love his wife it is not necessarily telling him to be romantic. It may be when that is what his wife wants and needs. But romance usually focuses on how we feel about a person or how someone makes us feel. That is anti-love.

We pray because we love people and focus on their needs. We even pray because we want to love people that we don’t or can’t feel good about. Prayer is fundamental to stretching our love. I put the name of a person on a prayer list because he has wronged me or I know he will harm me or because he rubs me the wrong way. I am making a commitment to pray for that person however I feel. I have been angry and frustrated with someone and set aside a full hour to pray for her. Nothing develops such an attitude of love for a person like prayer.

In prayer we connect with the love of God, with His great love for us and with the power of His love through us.

http://daveswatch.com/

http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

HELP!

Posted by David Young on April 10, 2014 at 17:33

There is an underlying message in what the Bible, especially Jesus, says about prayer. We need God’s hand in everything we do. You cannot pray, you cannot think, you cannot live as a believer without God's help. In John 5:30a Jesus said, “By myself I can do nothing.” If Jesus was totally dependent upon His Father, should we be any less? Earlier in the same dialogue Jesus said. “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself.” Are you a child of God? You too are dependent on Him.

In fact all strength, all ability, every talent or gift to man comes from God. When we become followers of Jesus we surrender those gifts and ourselves back to Him. Then they are truly activated for their true purposes. We can no more operate properly without prayer than a drone could carry out its purpose without radio control.

It is not simply that we need what He will give us when we pray. We depend on His gifts. But we need more. We need Him. He is our food and drink. He is our life blood. We need to live in union and constant communion with Jesus. The Psalmist speaks of God as "an ever-present help.” (Ps.46:1)

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US

Posted by David Young on April 3, 2014 at 20:16

Have you ever thought about the fact that The Lord's Prayer is plural? It begins "Our Father." It continues with "Give us. . .", "Lead us. . .", "Deliver us. . ." I believe there is a sense in which our most public prayers should be prayed as if we were closeted with God. And yet there is a sense in which our most private prayers are prayed as a church. We are to pray in union with one another. I once had a covenant with a Christian brother that when either of us was tempted sexually he would immediately pray for the other. We need to pray as children of the same Father facing a common enemy. We are to see one another's hurts and hopes and needs as our own. We are to come to our Father as a family.

This is not to say we should never pray, "Forgive me. . .", "Lead me. . .", "Help me. . ." But we also need to stretch our prayer to embrace our spiritual family. This has been crucial for the church down through the ages. Believers survived terrible opposition because they faced it together. I believe it is just as important in these last days that seem to be coming upon us.

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LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

Posted by David Young on March 27, 2014 at 14:22

Why did Jesus teach us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” Does God ever lead us into temptation? Doesn’t our fleshly nature and the devil lead us into temptation?

I cannot answer every question this raises. But I do have some thoughts on it.

God does not tempt us. James 1:13 makes that clear. But God does sometimes lead us into situations where we will be tempted. Being tempted does not necessarily mean you are not following God’s leadership in your life. Matthew 4:1 says Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. God did not tempt. He even sent angels to comfort Jesus. But God did lead Him into the desert. God arranged for me to be born in a part of the world where I will face temptations people born say in the upper Amazon will never know, though they face different temptations. Someone who has never seen a TV will not be tempted to watch TV too late at night. People living where there are no roads will not be tempted to break the speed limit.

An example of praying not to be led into temptation. Is found in Proverbs 30:1-9. In verse 2 the writer says he is ignorant and does not understand. This is a good beginning for prayer. In verses 5 and 6 he establishes that scripture is true whether we understand it or not. Finally in verses 7-9 he asks for two things. 1. That lies and falsehood be kept far away from him. And 2. That he would have neither riches or poverty so he would not be tempted.

These last verses give us some perspective here. Would you like to win the lottery? Have you ever prayed for such a thing? With wealth would come many temptations. Can you imagine a teenage girl praying that she would attract an older popular boy? It is hard for her not to desire such things some of the time.

In fact we will face temptations in life no matter how we pray. But this section of the Lord’s prayer sets our hearts in the right direction. I know I will face temptations. But I only want to face them because I am following God for His purposes. Even then I need to see that temptations are dangerous. I don’t want to face them because I desire the things of the world.
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PRAYING SCRIPTURE

Posted by David Young on March 20, 2014 at 17:05

Have you noticed that as He prayed on the cross, Jesus prayed scripture? He repeatedly prayed to God in the exact words of Scripture. In fact he prayed so much of the 22^nd Psalm that a friend of mine believes He quoted the entire psalm in prayer, and the Gospel writers recorded enough of it for us to understand that. Praying Scripture can be a wonderful practice.

You can memorize a verse and pray it off and on throughout a day. The scripture itself does not have to be a prayer like Psalm 22. You can pray from almost any scripture by praying from the truth opened up in it. “I thank you, Father, that I know all things, even this trial I am facing, work together for good.” (Rom.8:28) “Lord, help me not do what I do to be seen by others.” (Mt.23:5)

However, I think a great way to begin or extend this practice is by praying prayers from the Bible. I have often been thrilled by re-praying the prayer of the believers in Acts 4. “Sovereign Lord. . .” I believe one of the best Bible prayers for us to pray is The Lord’s Prayer itself. Most people already know it by heart. And praying from each thought in the prayer opens great vistas of the character and grace of God. “I thank you, Father, that I am part of a family. You are ‘Our Father’.”

This week I intend to challenge a group, some of whom have not developed a daily quiet time, to pray through The Lord’s Prayer every day for a week. I cannot wait to see what God does in their lives.

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WITHOUT CEASING

Posted by David Young on March 12, 2014 at 13:15

Scripture commands us to pray continually. What does that mean? I have heard preachers say, (I have said this myself.) "This means we are to maintain an attitude of prayer.” But I do not think that is a practical way of thinking about prayer. Prayer is communication with God. It is asking Him for something or thanking Him, confessing sin or lavishing praise on His Name. It may even be listening to His still small voice. But it is always more than an attitude.

I recommend an exercise that helps us pray continually. Driving is one of those times when you cannot pray in your closet. I have been suggesting to people that they start trying to pray for the driver and passengers in every other car you meet on the road. This is a good beginning toward praying silently for everyone you see in the grocery store, the bank or at church.

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TEMPTATION TO EVIL

Posted by David Young on March 6, 2014 at 18:06

In The Lord's Prayer Jesus taught us to ask God to deliver us from evil. This request fills much of my prayers. Whether I have just seen a pretty girl at the Y, at the gas station, or at church, or I was just cut off in traffic. I find I need to cry out to the Lord, "Father, sin is at my door. Keep me from falling into it." It seems I am often in situations where I cannot keep from brooding on some wrong done to me. I have to pray something like, "Father, if you do not deliver me, I will say or do something sinful." In those times the enemy tells me I will not be able to resist temptation. But I am often surprised that God does indeed deliver me.

Sometimes I need to ask God to help me see the seriousness of sin so I will not cancel out His leadership when he warns me to avoid an entertaining TV show or some other tempting situation. I regularly need to ask God to deliver me from desiring to please people because of the multiplicity of temptations that leads me into.

“Lord, remind me to pray. You are the only protection I have from turning off into the path of temptation.”

”O Lord, deliver me from evil.”

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