It's important that we look at what Scripture says is true in this matter.  First, let's look at the importance of Scripture-based wisdom.

My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
⁸ for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

God has given us Scripture to be the foundation of our truth and faith.  He's given His Holy Spirit to correct, guide, and shape us in all truth.  And He's given us other Spirit-filled Christians to also correct, challenge, encourage, and more. 

But as so often happens, we can be deceived by lies or partial truths shared by others when a statement isn't held up to Scriptural truth and guidance by the Holy Spirit, combined. 

When a concept or idea comes along that tickles the mind or heart; its seemingly cute, lofty, or new/different nature shouldn't make it an automatic "must-share" with others.  We would do well to test the spirits, examine the Word, and ask the Holy Spirit to show us what's true before we spout whatever the latest phrase, teaching, or buzz-word is being given the spotlight inside or outside of Christian circles.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. - 1 John 4:1-3

Unbalancing God

The concept of "God is going to do what He's going to do (and there's nothing I can do by prayer or anything else to change it)," is simply not true.  Yes, it's true that God is sovereign (able to do what He pleases, whenever He pleases, in His holy perfection).  But let's not forget that God has innumerable attributes- each one perfect in itself and in perfect harmony with all the others! 

The statement we're considering places God's sovereignty under a microscope and makes it appear to be the only attribute that matters.  This kind of thing (overemphasizing a truth or attribute) has happened often throughout history; and when it has, false teachers and teachings have followed that have led/misled millions away from Christ by weakening their faith in Him or by outright leading them into an ungodly cult or occult practices. 

This statement may sound harsh or extreme, but spiritual half-truths (masked as truth, or sometimes as the popular thing to believe or do) are not to be handled lightly- and especially so apart from close comparison to Scripture and what the Spirit accurately says about the matter/statement!

A Correct Way to Think

In Ezekiel 22, God reveals to Ezekiel what He plans to do regarding Jerusalem's sins.  Jerusalem had become sinful and wicked in the eyes of God (but not to themselves).  It's worth reading, praying, and taking to heart what God says in this passage - see Ezekiel 22:1-29.

But then God says, "“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.  So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.” - Ezekiel 22:30-31

God's will for Jerusalem was for her to repent from her sins and return to Him.  He didn't want to destroy them.  But He is holy, righteous, and just.  There was no one praying.  There was no one to stand in the gap.  There was no one confessing their sins, or those of Jerusalem before God; no one repenting from their sins.  They were "letting God be God" and were not considering their ways by His Word.  They reveled in their sins and neglected personal relationship with God.  The result was rampant sin that God, in His holiness, righteousness, and total perfection, had to deal with directly, justly, and righteously.  His will (Jerusalem's repentance) was not accomplished- and all because there was nobody to pray or stand in the gap by prayer.

God continues to look for people to pray- to seek His face, to intercede and intervene on behalf of men before Him, and on His behalf to men.  But if we neglect prayer and check out of both our relationship and responsibility with Him, why should we expect mercy from God in our sin-filled culture or nation?

Standing in the Gap

In Exodus 32, we read where Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites.  God tells Moses that his people were worshiping a golden idol that they had fashioned into the shape of a calf.  God's anger was aroused because of their sin and idolatry, and He told Moses that He would destroy the people and make a new and great nation out of Moses and his descendants.  

But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God.  He asked God to remember why He brought them out of Egypt- to reveal to them and others His great power, might and Name; also that He would make Abraham's descendents as numerous as the stars in the sky.  God relents, but there still are consequences to sin that are meted out.  The whole nation wasn't destroyed, but some were due to their idolatry, wickedness, and unrepentant hearts.

Later, in verse 30, Moses confronts the Israelites about their sins, then goes before God on their behalf seeking forgiveness of their sins.  Read Exodus 32

So he said he would destroy them—
    had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach (gap) before him
    to keep his wrath from destroying them. - Psalm 106:23

We see here that God was not going to stop unless someone prayed.  This time, someone did (Moses).

Prayer is the way God has chosen to accomplish His will on earth.  If we choose not to pray, we won't see His will be done.  

Too often, we ask little, expect little, and then are surprised when we receive little from God.

It's a strong reminder that God is a Perfect Gentleman.  He won't prevent us from sinning if we choose to do so.  He yields the right of way to us (He's given us free will because He's great enough to correct us and renew us- if we let Him) and will let us do what we choose to do- whether it matches up with His perfect will or not.

He won't make us pray.  He's a Perfect Gentleman.  While He wants to partner with us to see His perfect will accomplished in, through, and around us, He won't force us to do so.  It's our choice.  We'll "have it our way," as a fast food company's slogan once said.

He's waiting on us to seek Him in His Word, by His Spirit, and in prayer with other Spirit-filled Christians.  He's a Perfect Gentleman.  He's patient, but He won't wait forever.

Let's consider our ways (in light of Scripture and ask the Holy Spirit to search, know, and correct us where we're out of line).  Let's do what we must to realign our hearts with God's and His truth, then continue in prayer- seeking God for what He wants to accomplish through our prayers; listening to His promptings on how to pray, then faithfully pray as He leads. 

His will won't be accomplished without you.  You matter more to God, and His plan for the world, than you realize!

Let's pray.

Father, I confess that too often I check out from prayer and Your presence.  I look at natural conditions and assume that things are going the way You design- even when there's sin, pain, death, and destruction.  But Father, I'm failing to pray.  I'm failing to seek You in prayer to ask what You want accomplished in that moment, life, or circumstance.  I've too often relied on my natural eyes and thinking, and have neglected to ask You to show me what You see, how You'd like me to pray, and if there's anything else You'd have me do in that moment.  Renew my mind by Your Word, and correct and refine me by your Holy Spirit.  Teach me Your ways, and help me to live in them; practically working them out in my day-to-day life. I want Your perfect will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven, but I also want to pray as specifically as You'll allow me; not just in generalities.  Teach me to pray, to seek Your face; and have Your way in and through me.  You are my Help, Strength, Joy, and so much more.  I worship and praise You as You shepherd me forward.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

* Portions of this were written from notes taken at a prayer conference talk by Dave Butts, Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Committee.

But then we read Hannah's prayer in verse 11: "“Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

Chapter 2 opens with Hannah's prayer of praise, truth, wisdom, understanding, and strength.  We can learn a lot about God, and ourselves, by what Hannah prays here!

“Do not keep talking so proudly

“He will give strength to his king
    and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Hannah remembered to give thanks to the Lord!  But she did more than give a simple thank you to God.  She offered Him praise and honor; bringing glory to His name- for she recognized that all that happened was done by Him.  She worshiped Him, thanked Him, prayed truth about Him and others.  All this helped remind her, and others, of the mightiness of God and the low position of man before Him.

Continue to teach us to pray- not only for our growth and edification, but ultimately for Your glory- in heaven and on earth.  Lead us in prayer far beyond what's written here.  Holy Spirit, lead us now as we continue to pray...

Following Through in Prayer

So, move beyond merely thinking and wishing.  Take the matter to Him.  Engage God in prayer!  You'll likely notice a difference both in the person/matter you're praying for- as well as in yourself as God meets you, grows your faith, and more!

James agrees:  Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned. - James 5:12

As Christians, we mean well when we promise others that we'll pray for them.  But so often, as we busy ourselves with tasks, goals, service, objectives, missions, and more, we can quickly lose sight of promises made to others.  Distractions happen to everyone.  Our promises can be put on a back burner, but sometimes they're left there and are lost.  We can do much better!

This seldom happens, but again, ask God for wisdom in how to pray in that moment.  It's okay to take a few moments to pray silently before you begin speaking in prayer.  In that time, God may quiet your heart, give you His insight in how He'd have you pray as well as honor the person/people requesting prayer, etc.  Again, begin praying aloud by praising God for who He is.  Center the focus on God.  He matters most.  The matter, as well as the people you're praying for/with, are His.  Pray biblically.

We continue exalting you in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.  In Jesus' name...

Twice, in Luke 22:39-46, Jesus instructs his disciples to pray that they would not fall into temptation. 

³⁹ Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground^.

⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Turning our focus on God, zeroing in on Him, His Word, and the ministry of His Holy Spirit, helps fill our focus and attention with the One who is greater than all; the One who sent His only Son as a perfect, unblemished, sacrifice for all mankind- that fully and permanently defeated sin, death, and the devil- after being tempted in every way as we are.


Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. ¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.  - Hebrews 2:14-18

Bob Hostetler offers 31 ways to pray for your teen (or a teenager you know or see around you).  His first prayer point is vital to pray; and the Scriptures that each prayer point is focused or centered upon are worth looking up, reading, and praying through individually beyond simply praying or parroting what he's written!

Praying for Your Teen is a link with additional Scripture-based prayer points to help focus on praying for teens.  A statement in the article, "There is a myth that teenagers cannot practice self-control, that the teenage and young adult years are the time for "sewing wild oats", and Scriptures refuting that idea, are also valuable.

As you'll see as you read and pray through many of the Scriptures and prayer points offered in these links, you may also find that you pray some of these points for yourself and your personal walk with Jesus Christ.  That's perfectly okay!

God often does His greatest work of answered prayer in the heart of the person praying- although He often reveals ways He's answered our prayers for others in their lives/circumstances as well.  Our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ is our most valuable possession- and it's one of, if not THE most valuable possession to God as well.  Let's continue seeking and pressing into Him through today, tonight, and the day(s) to come.  Whether we focus our prayers on children, teens, ourselves, or others, we won't be disappointed as we turn to God as our Rock, Center, Stronghold, and more!

In His grip,

Rob Griepentrog

So, as we pray, and prepare to pray for God to revive and awaken our nation, where do we begin?

Our adversary, Satan, knows Scriptures well and is one who works to twist meanings to his own ends.  For many Christians, when they read this passage, they surrender, thinking, "I know my sins and my sinful triggers.  I'm not righteous as God is righteous.  Therefore, God doesn't hear or answer my prayers because they're neither powerful or effective.  What's the point of praying?"

But our adversary doesn't have the last word... not even close!

⁹ What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. ¹⁰ As it is written:

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. ²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. - Romans 3:9-20

Here, Paul writes that nobody is righteous by their thoughts, words, or deeds.  There's no natural righteousness in self.  To think one's self to be righteous, apart from God, is to be deceived.  But then he continues...

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. - Romans 3:21-26

Here, Paul completes the rest of the story and answers our question.  While nobody is righteous on their own, Jesus gives us His righteousness through faith in His shed blood on the cross.


For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Cor 5:21 (ESV)

Let's Resume Our Relationship with God

If you've been wrestling in any way with concerns that your life isn't good enough for your prayers to be heard and effective, the matter is settled.  Christ settled it on the cross and with His resurrection from the dead.  If you believe that Jesus did this, your responsibilities are to confess your sins (all sin is sin against God- whether done privately, to somebody else, or a group of people), and grow in deepening relationship with Jesus Christ.  Prayer is the means in which we do both.  Resume praying now and continue growing in love, faith, trust, and depth with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!  Your prayers are powerful and effective; made so by the righteousness of Jesus Christ- given to all who believe in Him!

*Portions of this devotional were written by OnSite prayer partner, Ruth Jackson.

Rob Griepentrog

But one thing we can forget to pray is, "Lord, please help quiet my heart so that I can accurately hear from You."  Then after He does, ask, "How would You have me pray in this moment, for this person/people, or situation?"  It can make a significant difference in both how you pray, and how you see God answer your prayer(s)!

Many Christians (including me) have offered such prayers, sometimes with an expectation that God will respond in one particular way or another, only to later be disappointed when the condition worsens, the person prayed for passes away, or God doesn't answer in the way we've specifically requested or hoped.  Sometimes the disappointment wounds the Christian's faith in God or makes them question if they can effectively pray again if faced with a similar situation.

God has given all of us emotions.  Happiness, sadness, anger, amazement, wonder, awe, frustration, tiredness, and many more.  Emotions are a gift from God to enhance and embellish our lives.  Without them, our lives, our interactions with God and each other would be very flat, dull, and expressionless.  We can, and should, thank and praise God for giving us emotions- they're a gift He's given us out of His perfect wisdom, love, and affection!

Different emotions, if driving instead of embellishing us, can steer us to pray and behave differently, depending on the emotion.

Heart-Check

When we begin by asking God to help us pray beyond our emotions, we're not asking Him to cancel or negate our emotions as we pray.  What we're asking Him to do is help us balance the emotion(s) that's dominating or attempting to dominate us as we pray and seek God to intervene somewhere.  It's a request to help us see clearly; see the matter, circumstance, or person we're about to pray for through His eyes and understanding.  It's a spiritual and emotional heart check.  If we take time to allow God to align our hearts, minds, and emotions with His, we'll hear more clearly from Him about how He'd have us pray.  When we pray as He instructs (He instructs us in alignment with His Word and Spirit), we can be confident He'll answer our prayer(s) in the ways He's instructed us to pray.  It's also possible He may grow, strengthen, and deepen our faith in Him as a result!  That's a double-blessing (answered prayer and personal growth together)!

What if You're Prayerfully Stuck?

When faced with a shocking or stunning prayer request, and you can't seem to come up with words to pray, yield to the Holy Spirit to give you words or ideas/impressions about how He'd have you pray.  Although He personally intercedes for us, He will also give us His impressions as a way of guiding us how to pray and respond in the moment.  God invites our prayerful involvement in every moment of every day- and He'll help instruct us how to pray (especially when we feel inadequate or unable to pray- if we press into Him).

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. – Romans 8:26-30

Blog also found at:  http://www.prayonsite.org/blog/handling-significant-and-shocking-prayer-requests

God has given us gifts called time and prayer that coincide within our lives. Prayer is intended to be an ongoing conversation, personally and/or corporately, with God- at all times and in all places. Yet often, prayer is treated like it functions on a light switch; being turned on, then off, then on again as we have needs. Then off again when things seem under control and we can manage things going forward.

Solomon talks about the matter of time in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 14:

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

What about time to pray? In verse 7, Solomon mentions there's time to be silent and a time to speak. So, does that mean we can shut off prayer? No it doesn't. Prayer (communicating with God) is intended to be an ongoing two-way conversation within our personal relationship with Him. That means we share with God what's on our hearts, AND we stop so we can listen to His reply. Listening to God will help us consider which season of time we're in- and/or how He'd have us respond within that given season! Listening to God also can inspire worship- something He's worthy of receiving at all times and in all places as well!

Paul, in encouraging all kinds of prayer, states the matter this way:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

Rejoice, pray, and give thanks- always, continually, and in all circumstances. All, means everything, or without exception. Continually, means without ceasing or stopping. Many Christians believe prayer is the most powerful and active gift God has given us. If that's true, why are we as Christians so quick to stop praying once we begin?

Prioritizing Prayer

“Our devotions are not measured by the clock, but time is of the essence. The ability to wait, and stay, and press belongs essentially to our intercourse with God.”  ― E.M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer

Often, like young children called to the dinner table while playing games with friends, we set our hearts on other things that can have an immediacy or importance in the moment, but are secondary to what matters most. Children don't see the bigger picture that parents do. Children quickly sit down and eat with hopes they'll return to their friends and continue the game, but often find their parents want to keep them at the table longer than they desire. There's friction, squabbling, and sometimes some tension as the children wrestle to get their way. But for their greater good, the parents keep them at the table until the meal, and conversation, is finished.

Often, when God calls us into a time of focused prayer (maintaining our ongoing prayer mindset of speaking and listening with Him, but pressing further into Him still), it may seem to come at an inconvenient time to us. We may be focused on our schedule, a task, some form of entertainment, or something else entirely. The matter we're involved in wrestles to take precedent over what/whom God is calling us to be in prayer for in the moment.

We immediately face some choices.

1. Will I immediately press into God in prayer about this, or will I make Him wait?

2. Will I neglect or pass on praying altogether in favor of what I'm doing currently?

3. If I press further into God about this, will I remain with and in Him until He declares it settled, or will I just give God a few seconds or minutes, then hurry back to what I am doing?

Prayer often changes us more than what/whom we pray for! How we answer these questions will determine how much we'll permit God to change us as we pray. It will also affect how we see God answer that burden He invited us to be in prayer for. Make no mistake, He will accomplish His will fully- whether we obediently pray in that moment or not! How much we're allowed to see and experience of that answer may directly relate to the decision we make and time we invest.

Is it any surprise that our adversary would do all he could to keep us from using the most powerful weapon God's given us in spiritual warfare? A bumper sticker was recently seen that read, "If Satan can't make you immoral, he'll make you busy."

Busyness is an adversary to prayer- and keeps many Christians from utilizing their most important and powerful weapon! Busyness also hinders many from growing in deeper relationship with God through prayer and the reading of Scripture. How busy are you? How much time with God are you losing each day because other priorities take precedent over communication and communion with Him?

Poor Modeling of Prayer

Whether we care to admit it or not; how we pray, or choose not to pray with or around others impacts how they think about prayer.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Paul states, "Do not quench the Spirit." Quench means to sadden, disappoint, or grieve the Holy Spirit. The idea of quenching the Spirit should make us uncomfortable. Yet is it possible to do so when we pray?

Often, like children at the dinner table, eager to return to playing with friends, we can back away and dart off from the dinner table (times of prayer) without a second thought. The Holy Spirit might caution or encourage us to stay longer in worship or prayer, but He won't force us against our will. When we dart off before He's finished, we cut off our individual or corporate prayer times abruptly; quenching Him and placing something other than God in higher importance in that moment. We also miss out on greater worship, truth, or power He may intend to share if we'd stick around with Him until He's finished in that time.

As others around us see prayer, worship, and/or the Spirit quenched, it may give the impression to them that it's okay to do such a thing. If they see it happen repeatedly, soon it can turn into an expectation, something's that anticipated, a common practice, and even possibly a tradition.

What if the Holy Spirit has something deeper to share or do if we'd stay with Him a few minutes more? What if He's starting a work in someone's heart in the midst of the prayer group that suddenly risks screeching to a halt because someone sees time on the clock butting against the traditional ending time of the prayer/worship meeting? Can we truly afford to stop praying deeply until He's given the okay to do so?

In corporate prayer settings, tradition often seems to trump the Holy Spirit. We all lose when this happens.

"Take the mind that God has given you, and use it as an instrument of worship; for that's what it was created for." - Ravi Zacharias

The Remedy- Liberty

Breaking the binds of traditionalism or the tyranny of the urgent (busyness) may simply be accomplished by extending liberty to all in attendance (speaking mostly within the context of a corporate prayer gathering). Prior to the group pressing in to pray, a leader may announce the intent to follow the Holy Spirit until He's completed all He desires to do during that time of prayer. Those desiring to leave prior to that time have full liberty to leave whenever they desire (as quietly as possible).

This extends both an openness and willingness to follow the Spirit, as well as freedom to allow those who need to leave earlier the ability to do so. If the Spirit leads 2-3 within the group to pray deeply for 2-3 hours (or longer), nobody leaving earlier need feel guilty- especially if the Holy Spirit has released them at that earlier time.

Our times of personal and corporate prayer will see much greater fruits of the Spirit when we permit the Spirit to begin, and complete, all He desires to do each time we meet together in prayer!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. - Galatians 5:22-26

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

¹⁴ And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, ¹⁵ and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. ¹⁶ God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. ¹⁷ God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, ¹⁸ to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. - Genesis 1:1-5, 14-19


God created time to help bring order to our lives.  Day and night was established to mark sacred times, and days and years (v. 14).  Do you ever marvel at God's desire for order and structure instead of chaos?  Time brings order to our lives and exists to help us align our hearts, minds, tasks, and all things before God.

Time was Created for Man
God exists both within and outside of time- all at the same time.  This can be difficult to ponder.  For God to create time, He had to already be existing outside of time.  Once he created time, He was both within and outside of time- as God does not abandon His creation or works. 

As created beings made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), God ordained that we live, work, and worship within a structure called, "time."  When God created time, He saw it was good (Gen. 1:19).  His whole work of creation was completed in 7 days.  Have you ever considered that days did not exist prior to creation?  Even the existence of days point us toward God and many of His perfect attributes!  What a perfectly wise God we serve and worship!

Those familiar with the creation account in the beginning of Genesis are aware that by chapter 3, Adam and Eve fell into sin.  Sin brought a curse that affected all of creation, including man and time (Gen. 3:17-19).  Since then, all of creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (Romans 8:22) 

Taking a Good Thing too Far
Often in our fallen, sinful, world, time can seem to become a burdensome yoke or restrictive slave master.  This was not God's original design.  While time exists to help bring order to our lives, we can easily take orderliness too far- to a point where it can dominate our thoughts, actions, and attention.  When this happens, our relationship with God is the first to suffer.

Sin has warped how we see and utilize time in our daily lives.   It has caused activities, others-focused priorities, and self to usurp God's #1 place in our moment-to-moment lives.

Sadly, in our culture, doing things (whether to please God or self) often take priority over the abiding, deepening, relationship that God desires to have with us on a moment-by-moment basis.  When this happens, time can easily become an idol.  Activities on to-do lists are exalted before time with God, and our flesh becomes the driver of our lives instead of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.  When this happens, and happens with increasing frequency, our awe and wonder of God, His power, perfections, and other attributes, are dimmed- often to a point where God may seem distant or even irrelevant.  Time, and the act of filling our time to accomplish things, replaces a deepening relationship with the Holy, Perfect, Sovereign, Mighty God of all.

The Holy Spirit does not often perfectly fit into our schedules, our set-aside times with Him, or the clock on the wall.  What if He desires to minister to or through you beyond, or outside, of your scheduled quiet time?  Will you let Him, or will you permit your other priorities to quench Him?

Some Pertinent Reminders:
God is sovereign (He can freely choose to do whatever He pleases whenever it pleases Him to do so). 

We can miss much, if not all, of what the Spirit may desire to teach or do.  This can happen by boxing God into specified appointed times in our schedules.  If we're inflexible with aligning our schedules with God's, we miss out on God's best for us in that moment and afterward.

When the Lord has completed showing, teaching, or doing what He desires, He'll release you to your next assignment, activity, etc.  He is trustworthy!

Lord, you are my all-in-all.  Everything I have and am is Yours.  The time you've given me this day belongs solely to You.  Thank you for giving me this day and night ahead.  I desire to utilize the time you've given me in fellowship with You- even while I work, serve, and do all things as unto You.  Have Your way in me and through me.  Help me to realize things I hold on too tightly to, and grasp You more fully in my heart, mind, life, and soul.  Be glorified and magnified in this day.  Teach me Your ways and show me greater depths of Your heart for me and others.  You are the One I seek.  I worship You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

As we near the annual holidays of Thanksgiving, the celebration and remembrance of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the celebration of New Year's, we enter a season where many of our routines are interrupted with different activities and interactions.  Family, celebrations, and travel, bring many people a respite from the routines established in daily/weekly life.

For many, holidays seem to accelerate our busyness- darting from home-to-home or place-to-place; sharing time with friends and family members not regularly seen.  For some, a return to the routine after the holidays may even seem like a relief!

But routine or no routine; how many of us as Christians make every day a holiday with God?

While it's true that no two days are exactly alike (there may be similarities in routine, etc.); do we ever consider setting apart each and every day as a holy day (holiday) for/with God?

Redeeming the Time

Jesus kept in constant contact with the Father in prayer and thanksgiving (spoken and silent).  In doing so, he was able to do and be who the world needed to meet, see, and come to know!  He was holy; that is, set apart from the world- yet while in the world.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we're called to do and be the same- just like our Teacher; our Master!

³ We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. ⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:3-6

So, what could it look like to make each day a holy day?

All people- As you get up in the morning, praise God for who he is.  Share time with him.  Ask him to establish your steps (your plans, schedule, and more), and listen for his answer(s).  Throughout the day, continue asking him to revise your plans if he desires.  Obediently follow him if/as he does.  Ask him to help you realize opportunities to share your faith with others, then let him empower you (your words and actions) to do so.  Without realizing it, you've woven prayer and a closer ongoing connection with the Lord into and throughout your day.  The day has become more of a holy day!

Teachers- Begin as suggested above (All people).  Throughout the day, ask the Lord to provide you with his wisdom in instructing, correcting, teaching, and loving the children and/or students you teach and serve.  While correcting tests and homework, ask the Lord to bring you deeper insight into each child's life and thinking- so that you may more effectively pray for each one as the Spirit leads.  In doing so, the day has become more of a holy day for you- and for those you're in prayer for!

Businessmen- Begin as suggested above (All people).  Throughout the day, ask the Lord to speak to you truths about how he sees your dealings, service, networking, presentations, preparation, interactions with others, the spreadsheets you may review and revise, and more.  Invite Jesus to review and advise you in each decision, contact, presentation, and more throughout the day/night. Follow him as he guides you.  As you do, each day becomes more of a holy day- yielded and led by the Lord instead of man's earthly thoughts or wisdom.

Students- Begin as suggested above (All people).  Throughout the day, ask the Lord to instruct you in your relationships with other students or teachers.  Ask the Lord to sit with you and instruct you (help you learn what you're studying) as you read, prepare your reports or projects, and more.  Ask the Lord how he'd have you pray for others around you in class, between classes, or after school.  Obediently follow him and do what he instructs.  He's all-knowing and will always tell you the truth- with your best in mind as he sees and knows you personally.  As you seek and follow the Lord throughout each day, each day becomes holy and set apart for his glory- working in and through you.

Retirees- Begin as suggested above (All people).  The world would tell you that your best days have passed and that you should simply coast and surrender the latter days of your life until you pass away.  Nonsense!!!  Each day is a holy day where Jesus desires to minister to and through you!  Call or visit a friend or acquaintance (maybe someone you haven't spoken with in awhile).  Tell them what Jesus has been doing in your life recently.  Ask them if they've seen Jesus working in their lives.  Encourage them to read or listen to the Word of God (maybe suggest a Scripture passage to read/listen to).  Offer to pray for or with them in person, over the phone, via email, or another means.  Let the Holy Spirit instruct you as you pray.  The day becomes holy and set apart as you redeem the time in the Lord's strength and wisdom.  You'll also likely bring encouragement to that other person/people as you do (encouragement that might last far beyond that very day!).

Finish this day by making it holy.  Then begin and practice making tomorrow a holy day... and the day after that... and the day after that...

Training Up a Child

Call, text, or email us today.  Our contact info is below.  Together, we can equip our current and future peers in prayer and develop deeper relationships with Jesus Christ as we do!  Give yourself, or someone else, the gift of prayer this Christmas and beyond!

Rob Griepentrog

Executive Director, OnSite International, Inc.

317.506.7278

www.prayonsite.org
robg@prayonsite.org

We live in a day and age where many people exercise for health, appearance, and happiness.  Many who do so wear heart rate devices to monitor the speed of their heart rate as they run or work out.  If the rate is too high or low, they change pace to bring it into a safe or more comfortable range to prevent injury or worse.

But how do we check our spiritual heart rates?  Has someone developed a device that will do such a thing? 

If such a device exists, would we be scared to own something that shows us the rate our spiritual heart beats for God?  What if it showed a heart beating faster for something or someone other than God?  What would we do?

God has given us at least three such devices- and the good news (or bad news; if you fear having such accountability) is that we already have them.  There's no purchase to make!

Our first spiritual heart rate monitor is the Holy Spirit.  We who've already received Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior know the Holy Spirit dwells within us (Romans 8:5-17). He resides within to help us worship God throughout each day.  He points out sin areas in our hearts that must be addressed before He will work more fully and completely within and through us (Galatians 5:16-25).  He also helps align our hearts with His heart, God the Father's, and Jesus' heart- so that we can know what to do, and how to pray, moment-by-moment throughout each day.

Our second spiritual heart rate monitor is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  God has given us His Word to help quicken our spiritual heart rates toward Him, His creation, and others (all pointing our hearts back to worshiping God for who He is).  Without reading and applying God's Word into our lives each day, we quickly can become spiritual couch potatoes; unhealthy and out of shape to serve God or others.  Spiritual couch potatoes absorb God's glory and poorly reflect it back to Him.  They struggle or fail as fruitful witnesses to others who need to come into a personal relationship with God.  They can exhibit slow, or sometimes even hard-to-notice, heart rates toward God or others.

Healthy time and prayer in God's Word (and with the empowering of the Holy Spirit) quickens the heart for the Father, increases awe in who He is, and motivates the Christian to both watch for God working around them daily, and witness as He provides opportunities to do so.

Our third spiritual heart rate monitor comes in the form of other Spirit-filled, Word-grounded, Christians (Hebrews 10:24-25).  These Christians exhibit healthy beating hearts and lives as they pray, serve, and train (disciple) others around them.  They aren't actors, but are living fully in the joy, power, love, grace, and truth of God and His Word.  These Christians are eager to help others freshly taste and see that He is good- in every day and every way; making disciples of Jesus out of others around themselves.  Proverbs 27:17 also sums it up well.  "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." 

Heart Check Time

Have you checked your spiritual heart rate monitors recently/today?  Are you willing to believe what they say?

What are your spiritual heart monitors saying?  Is your heart beating quickly in God's presence (worshiping, praising, and thanking Him for who He is and for specific things you see Him doing in and around you)?

Is your heart rate slow; maybe barely beating?  Does it seem like a lot of time has passed since you've dwelt in His presence; worshiping, watching, or quietly listening for His voice as you worship Him in your heart?

God desires that our hearts beat quickly and only for Him.  He is a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4:23-24).  Our hearts quicken as we seek Him, worship, and allow our hearts to be filled with awe and wonder of who He is (by His Word, Spirit, and the witness of other Christ-centered people).

Take some time right now to ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and assess your heart rate (Psalm 139:23-24).  If it's not where He'd (or you'd) like it to be, don't beat yourself up or become frustrated.  Instead, confess whatever needs to be confessed to God.  Realign your heart with His as He instructs, and allow Him to fill you with His joy, presence, fullness, and more that will quicken your heart rate for Him and reflect his glory outward to others as well.  As you do, others will begin to see more and more of Jesus within you!

Continue checking your spiritual heart rate throughout each day.  It's a vital way to live a healthy and Christ-honoring life moment-by-moment!

http://www.prayonsite.org/blog/being-useful-conduit-lord

If we're honest with ourselves, we've all Tivoed God (placed our endeavors, schedules, concerns, plans, etc.) ahead of God's in a specific moment in time.  It happened to me a number of times this past week. 

It's not pleasant to realize when one's put God off for their own selfish desires, schedule, or busyness.  Often, what God planned to do or share in that moment is lost.  Other times, He may offer a window of grace for us to repent and immediately follow Him in His prompting.  God is working to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ- so sometimes the lesson is best learned through us realizing our error, but also losing the blessing we may have received as a result of our delayed obedience.  Tough lesson!

Lord, today I seek your face to worship You, thank you, and honor you.  Show me any thing or way within me that obstructs your Spirit from filling me fully.  I desire to place You and your ways before mine.  Align my thoughts, schedule, plans, and desires with yours today- and help me to pray, meet you, and others at the exact times you've set aside.  You are faithful and will give me the words, thoughts, and actions in those moments as I humble myself before You.  I'm sorry for selfishly Tivo-ing you and your Spirit's promptings.  I desire to better hear your voice and respond to Your Spirit's quickening of my heart, mind, and life.  It's You I long to glorify.  Not myself or my ways any longer.  You are my Lord, King, Shepherd, and Savior.  Thank you for first loving me and drawing me to Yourself through faith.  Help me to hear and seek you every moment of this day.  You, alone are my Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen.