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thoughts (3)

The Bible's Built-In Prayer Guide

Posted by Rob Griepentrog on December 7, 2016 at 22:33
If you're like me, you sometimes find yourself stuck trying to think of something to pray about.  While we're surrounded by people and matters to pray about, there are just some times when the mind gets stuck, and prayer can seemingly grind to a halt.

Recently, I was preparing a prayer guide for a prayer meeting focusing on Revival in the Church.  I was reading Romans 12, when quickly the Holy Spirit began to point out prayer points from within the text.  They began leaping off of the page right before my eyes!  Here are a few that caught my attention:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment...

Verses 9-16 have a wealth of prayer points packed in as well!

Some of these highlighted points can be prayed personally, while others can be prayed for the Church, a nation, community, or another group of people (either within or outside of the Church).

Here are a few prayer examples from the highlighted text above:

Lord, (from verse 1) I desire to be holy and pleasing to You everyday.  Help me to offer my body as a living sacrifice to You today.  I want to yield my agenda, priorities, and life to Your wisdom, love, grace, and guidance.  Please fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit, so that I may be increasingly sensitive to Your heart, and more obedient to Your promptings and will.

(From verse 2)- Father, I thank You for your presence in my life.  Thank You, too, for giving me Your Word, your Spirit, and the ability to read and take to heart what Your Word instructs.  I want to be able to confidently test and approve Your good and pleasing will.  Help transform my mind from this world's thinking into a mind that's renewed in Your ways of thinking.  You are my desire, Lord.  I love You dearly!  Grow my love for you deeper, still!

Verse 3- Father, I confess that I'm all too eager to think of myself more highly than I ought.  I want to think I'm smarter, more clever, faster, and better trained than others, but it's simply not true.  Thank you for quickly humbling me at times when I become puffed up in those ways of thinking or acting.  Help me to accurately see myself through Your eyes, so that I don't become the center of focus in my life, but so that You become and remain the center.  You are my all-in-all.

A way of praying verse 3 for the Church could look something like this:

Father, as a part of your Bride, the Church, I'm prone to thinking of myself more highly than I should.  And sadly, Father, I'm not alone in thinking with that mindset.  Many have been turned away from Christ due to encounters with Christians who have been prideful, hurtful, and sometimes just rude.  These are not attributes of You, Jesus; but many, including me, have given off that impression to others.  Please forgive me, and those in the Church who have hindered others from knowing You accurately, truthfully, and lovingly.  Please redeem those encounters, and help those of us within the Church to think of ourselves with sober judgment, not more highly than we ought.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

One of the benefits of prayer, is that God has given us His Holy Spirit to help us pray.  As we look at the Word of God, the Spirit can help us pray the Scripture back to God in ways in which honor God, and also change us, and others, from the inside, out.  The Spirit and the Word can also help us get unstuck when we feel caught at a dead end in prayer.

Try this way of praying.  Before you read the Word of God, or pray, ask God to fill and quicken you with His Holy Spirit.  He will powerfully meet you where you're at, and may lead you deeper into His Word than you ever expected or imagined!

Continue in prayer,


Rob Griepentrog

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Our Mindset of Prayer: No Matter is Too Great or Small

Posted by Rob Griepentrog on July 18, 2014 at 17:02
Father,

You are God of all (1).
 

I confess that I often approach both You, and Your gift of prayer, with too small of a mindset.  Sometimes, I imagine the things I have the ability to accomplish or dream up, and then ask You to do only that much.  Yet, You're able to do immeasurably more, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 3 (2).  Other times, I only pray thinking of the things of which I want or desire.  While it's not wrong or bad to do so, I confess that I often forget or neglect to worship, praise, and thank You for who You are, what You've done, and are doing (3).  I often fail to pray for others' concerns, joys, and for the lost (4).  I confess that I mostly consider Your actions and provisions ahead of You, Yourself.  Forgive me and continue to grow my trust, joy, and understanding in/of You (5).

Thank You for Your grace, forgiveness, compassion, and care (6).  Thank You for giving Your Holy Spirit to dwell within me (7).  Change my thinking, understanding, compassion for others, and more (8).  Continue to fill me with Your Spirit, that I may see others, and their situations, through Your eyes (9); that I may hear what they say, and don't say, accurately, as with Your ears (10); and that I may read, take to heart, and apply what Your Word says (11).

Help me to pray from Your Word and heart (12); think Your thoughts; see myself, people around me, and our matters of agreement and disagreement accurately and lovingly as You do.  I am not capable of any of these things on my own.  I yield to You.  You're the Rock that I stand upon (13).  You are my Joy and Strength (14), (15).  You are the Light of my life in this dark world (16), (17).  You are the Lifter of my head when I become discouraged, distraught, and even self-centered (18).  You are the Corrector of my vision; helping me to see You, myself, people, and matters with far greater accuracy than I could ever imagine or attempt to understand on my own (19). 

You are Lord of All.  Some try to convince me and others that You are not Lord at all (20).  Help me to love and pray for them with Your perfect love, compassion, and care.  Also, quicken the hearts and minds of other Christians to meet these people where they're at, to pray for them, and with them as Your Spirit leads and prompts.  Increase my sensitivity to Your Holy Spirit's promptings.  I desire to be obedient to bring You, and Your Name, glory; fulfilling things You've prepared for me to do since before You created time (21). 

I worry not about what's to come because You are there (22), (23).  I worry not about the things of the past: for You are my perfect Redeemer (24) (25).  I worry not about the present (26), because You are near, and Your Spirit and Word are guiding, sharpening, correcting, and renewing me; providing light to my feet and a lamp for the path before me (27).

I worship You, Jesus; Lord of All.  Nothing is too great or small; for You created and care for it all.  Continue to shepherd me through this day and night ahead (28) for Your glory alone.  In Jesus' name, and in increasing and endless praise, (29) Amen.

(Numbered Scripture references).  Their links, within the prayer, will take you to the verse(s), online.

1. Isaiah 37:16
2. Ephesians 3:20-21
3. Revelation 1:8
4. James 5:15-20
5. Nehemiah 8:10
6. 2 Corinthians 12:9
7. Acts 5:32
8. Luke 11:13
9. Psalm 33:13-14
10. Psalm 34:17
11. Psalm 119:105
12. Luke 11:1-10
13. 1 Samuel 2:2
14. 1 Chronicles 16:27
15. Psalm 28:7
16. 2 Samuel 22:29
17. John 1:5
18. Psalm 3:3
19. Exodus 4:11-12
20. 1 Thessalonians 4:8
21. Ephesians 2:10
22. Mark 13:11
23. Matthew 6:34
24. Job 19:25
25. Psalm 19:14
26. Matthew 6:27
27. Psalm 119:105
28. Psalm 23
29. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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Go Beyond Thoughts Toward Actually Praying

Posted by Rob Griepentrog on May 18, 2014 at 19:30
In our day and age, many people express words of encouragement to others by saying, "I'm thinking of you today," or "My thoughts and prayers are with you."  Statements like these express care and concern and are meaningful to many who receive them.  Kind thoughts and words can momentarily bolster someone who's experienced a loss; is struggling with loneliness, or may be struggling in one way or another. 

While expressions of encouragement are useful, there's a difference between thoughts and prayers.  What are they?

Wishful Thinking vs. Difference-Making Prayer
"I hope you feel better soon." 

"I wish there was something I could do." 

"I'm thinking of you.  Sending good thoughts your way."

These, and other similar expressions, express heartfelt concern and care.  While they may be encouraging and express care, how far do they go?  On what is the hope, wish, or thought based?
While it's good to express care and concern, it's also good to be careful not to make caring and concern about self.  Phrases like, "I'm sending good thoughts your way" can stem from a puffed-up view of one's self- as though that person is a/the source of good things, thoughts, or activities.  It may also be that the person saying this presumes to know that they're stronger or in a better position than the one they're expressing concern for.  Regardless, that statement can come off as self-centered or as at least self-glorifying.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. - Romans 7:18

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.  Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.  For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”  For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. - Romans 15:1-7

One way to build up our neighbor (friends, family, others around us) is to pray.  Praying for someone else sets them ahead of ourselves.  God brings encouragement to the person praying, as well as the person receiving prayer, as we seek Him to accomplish His will in that person's life.


This passage also points toward the Scriptures as the source of endurance, encouragement, and hope.  In Scripture we, and others we pray for, find hope.  It's a good reminder to search the Scriptures for appropriate verses and passages to pray for/with those we pray for!

Prayer is much different than merely thinking.  Going to the Creator, Author and Perfecter of our faith; the All-Knowing, Ever-present, Loving, Gracious, Merciful, Just, Righteous, Wise, All-Powerful God in prayer is where significant differences are made!  Prayer goes beyond simple wishful thinking and whimsical hope.  When we pray, we carry the concern, problem, or matter directly to the One who can alter circumstances and outcomes.  He fully knows all the circumstances and lives surrounding the person or matter in question- but He's also waiting on His children to invite Him to act!  He is a Perfect Gentleman- and will not intrude, even if He desires to do so.  He wants His children to prayerfully engage Him first!


Caution Against Presumptive Praying
Most people are curious and caring people.  When praying for someone in stress or distress, it's often tempting to imagine or guess what the person is thinking or going through right at that moment.  Based on that guess or assumption, one may feel led to pray based on that imagination.  But can we be sure that our assumption or imagination is accurate or how God would have us pray?

A Better Way to First Pray Instead of Presuming
A very simply way to unclutter one's heart from taking on thoughts that might lead to praying presumptively is to simply pray something like, "Lord, I give my mind and heart to You.  Align them with Yours.  Please instruct me how You'd have me pray for ___________ at this time." 

Then be still and listen for His prompting on how to pray. 

God, who is all-knowing, knows exactly where the person is physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  He also knows perfectly what He desires to do in or around that person's life (emotionally and spiritually, too)!  As praying people, we desire to see our prayers answered and God glorified as He answers.  An excellent way to do so is to ask God how He'd have us pray (seeking His will to be done, instead of our own). 

Real Hope

The Lord sustains the humble
    but casts the wicked to the ground.

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
the Lord delights in those who fear him,
     who put their hope in his unfailing love.

- Psalm 147:6,10-11

Praying people humble themselves before God.  The promise above mentions that God sustains the humble.  Praying people, while humbling themselves, are also expressing fear of the Lord (defined as awe, wonder, yielding to His majesty, power, and perfection).  The Lord delights in them; those who put their hope in his unfailing love (verse 11).  Here, hope is placed in the Lord, our Difference-Maker; not in self, or in some wishful ethereal place, thought, or desire.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13
God is our source of hope, joy, and peace as we trust in Him.  Hoping or searching for joy, peace, and other things from other sources will always fall flat in comparison.  The power of God, through the Holy Spirit, provides hope that is solid and sustaining!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. - 1 John 3:1-3

Hoping in and seeking God purifies (renews) our minds, hearts, and lives.  In Him we receive His limitless love.  In Him we're called children of God.  What a title and position He's given us!  Let's continually fix our prayers, hope, focus, attention, love, and more on God the Father and Jesus Christ! 

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand. - "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"


Following Through in Prayer

God knows our thoughts and minds.  While we can think good things and hopes toward others, prayer is what puts those thoughts into motion.  Prayer is what moves caring, concerned (but idle) thoughts into active pleas and sets those pleas before God- who can make a substantive difference in that moment, person, or matter.


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!

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