Pray Network Forum

modeling (4)

Setting Aside Time with God

Posted by Rob Griepentrog on September 2, 2014 at 12:09
In Scripture, we read of men who sought God, desired to hear His voice, who were instructed in His ways, and who took great joy in knowing and following Him.  In Hebrews 11:5-6, we read of Enoch as one example:

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (NIV, emphasis added)


Others, like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and especially our Savior, Jesus Christ; all earnestly sought the God; desiring to know Him and be known by Him.  In more recent times, John and Charles Wesley, E.M. Bounds, Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, Bill Bright, and others each had powerful ministries, but much more importantly, deeply personal relationships with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
In our day, God continues to give each of us just as much opportunity to draw near to Him as He did for any of those mentioned above.  He allows each one of us to determine how much or little time we spend intimately in His presence; talking with Him, worshiping and adoring Him, thanking Him, listening to His voice, and more. The question we must each ask ourselves is, “How much of this opportunity am I willing to take advantage of each day or night?”  Tozer touches on this below:


"There are many logistical tasks to be done during the next few weeks. And it is so easy to be caught up in the hustle and bustle of a noisy life such that we fail to hear God’s still, small voice. Many of us need the “stripping away” of the “many loved objects which harm [our souls].” Please pray that God will give us the all-absorbing desire for Him that is the key to a life of radical commitment and radical devotion to Christ." – A.W. Tozer

 

History of the Modern-Day Quiet Time


Frank Buchman (1878-1961), a Protestant evangelist, is credited with establishing what’s known as the modern-day “quiet time,” or daily time set apart with God.


"We need a power strong enough to change human nature and build bridges between man and man, faction and faction. This starts when everyone admits his own faults instead of spot-lighting the other fellow's. God alone can change human nature. The secret lies in that great forgotten truth, that when man listens, God speaks; when man obeys, God acts; when men change, nations change." – Frank Buchman


Many set aside a specific time of their day to read and meditate on Scripture, pray (in a variety of ways), and be still and listen for God’s voice or promptings.  The benefits of time personally invested with God are many- and they will touch the lives of every man, woman, and child around us- if we'll but make Him our priority over all others.


How close we draw near to God is up to each one of us.  When we set aside time to dwell in God’s presence, He changes us; how we live; and how we view the world and all it offers us.  Time personally invested with God yields eternal treasures that will long outlive the temporary activities or things we think we desire in our present age.  Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 6:5-21.



Modeling a Quiet Time

OnSite is currently offering a training that models what a quiet time can look like.  The training then gives all in attendance the opportunity to experience one-on-One time with God- to freshly allow each person to personally taste and see that He is good; in the model of Psalm 34:8.  See our schedule for upcoming trainings, or contact Rob to arrange this simple one-hour training for your church, small group, or neighborhood gathering.

Read more…

A Way to Pray Through Scripture

Posted by Rob Griepentrog on August 5, 2014 at 14:31
One way to teach and encourage prayer is to model it for others.  It's not done with a mindset of, "Hey, look at what I can do," but is done out of a humble desire to love and encourage others to pray and practice a similar manner of prayer within their own devotions and ongoing personal relationships with God through Jesus Christ.

Some ways to begin this practice of prayer include:

*  Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to bring your attention to specific points or details as you read.
 
*  Read through the chapter, or section of Scripture, two or more times.  You may want to jot down specific points, ideas, or concepts that the Holy Spirit points out as you read (even ones that may seem unrelated to the text as they come to mind).

*  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray through the Scripture the final time you read through it.  Then begin praying through as you read.

*  Ask the Holy Spirit to show you opportunities to pray with prayers of praise, thanksgiving, confession, petition (asking), and more.


Today, we read Hebrews 5.

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

“You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”

And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Warning Against Falling Away

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

 
My prayer today:

Father, I praise you for being God of all.  In your many perfections, you display your perfect wisdom.  You watch and engage your creation and call forth your children to come before you in prayer.  Thank you for calling each Christian man, woman, and child to pray!  Although we no longer sacrifice animals to atone for our sins, we do offer you a sacrifice of praise, for you are worthy to receive it always, in all places, and times.  I worship you alone.  Thank you, Jesus, for being the perfect sacrifice for all my sins, past, present, and future.  You alone are worthy and capable!

I confess that I seldom deal gently with those ignorant or who are going astray.  I have established a pattern of quickly judging others in my heart and impatiently relegating them as a waste of my time.  I am weak, as they are, but fail to invite you to do what pleases you within me or through me.  Lord, forgive me for my arrogance and pride.  Renew my mind and heart by your Word and Spirit.  I long to obey and follow you humbly.  I desire to humbly lead and help others to know you, and know you deeply.

Jesus, I thank you for refusing to take glory in yourself or in the power you received from the Father.  You perfectly glorified your Father, and He did mighty things through you.  Help me to do the same; to look to the Father- to bring Him glory in all He does in and through me; taking none for it for myself.  Thank you, Father, for calling me one of your many children.  Oh, how I long for your glory to be reflected from me toward you and others!  Guide me by your Word and Spirit accordingly!

Father, I also confess that the words, obedience, and suffering, are not popular words in our time.  But Jesus, I praise you for living, and modeling, the importance of obedience following suffering.  You've promised that we will suffer for our faith in you.  Help me to hold my focus on you in times of suffering, as well as during times when it seems I'm not suffering.  I desire to follow you, and all you perfectly modeled during your physical time on earth.  You are my Rock, my Source, my Strength, regardless of circumstance!

Lord, I desire to consume the appropriate food within the teaching of your Word.  Please reveal to me what to read, learn, take to heart, apply, and more in this latest step in my walk with you.  I ask that you would do similar for my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Help us to accurately assess, and accept, where we are, regardless of how much or little of our lives we've walked with you.  We desire you, and to grow in you alone.  Teach us to pray, and lead us in your way everlasting.

Father, I continue to exalt you above all; all that could distract me from your presence or attention; all that would seek to tear me away from you.  And as I exalt you, I desire that many more would join in doing so.  You are perpetually worthy to be exalted; lifted up in our hearts and lives, in our countenance, in the outward living of our moment-to-moment lives, and more.  Equip us to humbly yield to you in all manners of our lives.

I worship you alone.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

--
What you've read is a model of how it's possible to pray a portion of Scripture.  It's an excellent way to read, pray, and grow in your study of the Word and your personal walk with God.

You may find that when you pray Hebrews 5 (or any portion of Scripture) on your own, that your prayer and praise may look much different than mine.  Guess what?  It probably will, and in my opinion, it should!  Your relationship with God is different from mine, and any other Christian's!   Talk to God with your own voice and heart.  He made them, gave them to you, and desires your praise, thanksgiving, worship, petition, and more through all He's given you.

This is also true if you practice praying Scripture with a spouse or friend.  Scripture is an excellent foundation to pray from- whether individually, with a spouse, or together as a family!

Attempt this form of prayer once or more this week, and let me know your impressions.

Also, if there's a portion of Scripture you'd like to see modeled in prayer, or would like to model in prayer yourself, please email me.
 
Thank you for reading the Word, and praying today!

Read more…

Should We Pray Aloud or Silently?

Posted by Rob Griepentrog on February 18, 2014 at 14:03
God, in His infinite wisdom, has given us many diverse ways to pray.  Some pray privately, some pray publicly, some pray while walking around, some pray in solemn stillness, while others pray in a variety of ways (some listed above, and in other ways not listed).
 

But does God have a preference whether we pray aloud or silently?

We look to Jesus- who not only taught about prayer, but modeled it for each of His followers.
 
In Matthew 4, we read that Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil for 40 days.  While prayer isn't explicitly mentioned in this chapter, it's fair to reason that with the Holy Spirit leading Jesus into the desert, that prayer (communication with the Father) was ongoing.  The Holy Spirit helps us to pray- and certainly did/does the same for Jesus!  We have no record of anything Jesus prayed in the desert because Jesus either didn't share what He prayed at that time with his disciples, or the Holy Spirit didn't have it recorded in the gospels.

In Matthew 6, Jesus gives us a model to pray by: (verses 9-13)


“This, then, is how you should pray:

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

He doesn't specify if God prefers us to worship, confess, petition, and thank God aloud or silently.  He simply gives us this model to shape how we pray when we pray.

In Matthew 11:25-30, we read:
 
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In verses 25-26 we see the first word-for-word recorded prayer of Jesus in Matthew's account- and it reveals praise and worship-based prayer to the Father.  This aligns perfectly with the beginning of Jesus' model prayer in Matthew 6:9.  We also see Jesus instruct His followers (including you and me) to align ourselves (our hearts, minds, and souls) with Him by taking His yoke upon ourselves and learning from Him.  Prayer is one vital part of the yoke we should take upon ourselves- if we haven't already done so!  He promises that we'll find rest for our souls therein.

On the night between the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water, we read in Matthew 14:22-23, "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone..,
 
Here, Jesus separates Himself from all others to be alone in prayer before the Father.  While there's no record of what He specifically prayed at that time, or whether he prayed aloud or silently (or maybe a combination of both), He gives us the model that it is good to separate ourselves from all others (people and things) to be still and alone before God.  There He found rest- and we can too.
 

He (the LORD) says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.” - Psalm 46:10

Then, prior to Jesus' betrayal in Gethsemane (Matthew 26), we read that Jesus prayed three times.  He strongly encouraged His disciples to watch, then watch and pray, but found them asleep each time He broke from concentrated prayer with the Father to check on them:
 
 
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

From this passage, it appears Jesus prayed aloud (at least the portion he prayed three times).  Someone present must have recorded His words before they fell asleep, or the Holy Spirit later shared the words Jesus prayed with Matthew following Jesus' resurrection.

From these examples in Matthew, we see that God prefers prayer.  The method (spoken or silent), and physical location doesn't matter.  What matters is the heart of the one praying.  God desires to hear our prayers in whatever way we offer them to Him.

The other gospels also show modeling of prayer by Jesus.  John 17 also reveals Jesus' prayers for Himself, His disciples, and all believers.
 
Some additional thoughts on praying in different means.

Benefits of Praying Silently

Praying silently, for many, offers the ability to pray more quickly than by verbalizing prayer.  Our thoughts move faster than our voices, therefore, it's possible to share one's thoughts more quickly with God when praying silently than when speaking our prayer(s).
 
Praying silently often establishes an undisturbed atmosphere to hear the Holy Spirit when He speaks.  While the Spirit certainly can be heard during spoken prayer- through impressions He places on the praying person's heart- directly, from Scripture, or from others around, the atmosphere of silence may reduce noise or distraction for the one praying and may make it easier to hear the Lord's voice.
 
Benefits of Praying Aloud
 
When one prays aloud, especially in the presence of others, the person praying not only makes their thoughts known by verbalizing them, they also model prayer for others around them.
 
Modeling prayer is one of the key ways Christians learn how to pray from others.  Certain words used, inflections of voice, ways of praying, Scriptures prayed, and more may be picked up when one hears or sees another Christian praying.  Reminder:  The one modeling prayer should check his/her heart to make sure their motive in praying is to glorify God and not bring attention or glory to one's self.  The best kind of modeling happens without the person praying realizing that they're modeling prayer!  They let the Holy Spirit model prayer through themselves without interference of personal pride.
 
Of course, poor ways of modeling prayer may also happen when one prays aloud.  But if the person praying has his/her heart focused on the Lord, and is praying as the Holy Spirit is leading them (and not from their own desires alone) they're likely honoring and blessing the Lord.
 

Praying aloud can bring instant encouragement to others near the one praying aloud.  If someone requests prayer, often the best time to pray is at the very moment while the praying person is in the presence of the one requesting prayer.  Spoken prayer, in this situation, not only models prayer to the one requesting, but often brings instant hope, encouragement, or even joy, to the one burdened or requesting prayer.

How Should We Pray?

There's no choice to be made other than, we should pray!  How we do so depends on our heart position before God and how He leads or instructs us to pray in that moment.
 
We need not divide ourselves within our Christian fellowships or apart from them based on how we pray or prefer to pray.  There are benefits to each way we pray.  Prayer often works to shape the one praying more than the people or circumstances we pray for.  The most important thing we can do is pray.  So let's get back to doing so!

Lord, we love and praise you.  You've provided the way to directly come before the Father and speak with Him.  Thank you for prayer!  Continue to teach us to pray each day- and by your Spirit, lead us in how you'd have us pray moment-by-moment.  We desire to reflect your glory back to you and to others you place around us.  Help us to keep our eyes firmly fixed on you, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  Have your way in and through us today- for your glory alone.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

Read more…

We Can Not Afford to Stop Praying Until We've Actually Prayed

Posted by Rob Griepentrog on January 21, 2014 at 22:30

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

Read more…