How To Not Pray

Barbara has knocked one out of the park with her most recent post titled "How To Not Pray". Here is her list:

1. Sometimes prayer is used as a means of proof to your church or others that you are a "good Christian".
2. Read all the books you can find on prayer so that you can pray "right".
3. Base your prayer on a request that you don't understand because it would take a semester long course to learn what it means.
4. Try to impress others by using all the prayer buzzwords.
5. Be forced to pray out loud in a group.

I recommend that you visit her post to read some of the most insightful stuff about the dynamics of group prayer and the silly rules that people make up about praying. It is good stuff and might just set you free J

Wait Until the End

I wasn't sure I liked this one at first ... it paints a troubling picture of the prodigal's journey ... especially the journey of a prodigal teen ... it was causing me to dial back into my past pain and fears ... hang on until the end and you might like it.

The Second Coming

Watching this reminded me of the Left Behind series of books. What is your perspective on the second coming of Jesus? Do you believe in a rapture of the saints?

Prayer is Universal

As you watch this video please join me in prayer for the hungry, hurting, lonely and broken people of the world.

Prayer is Worship

This morning I awoke and, I have to admit, I was sore - physically, emotionally and spiritually. It has been a difficult week. Then I began listening to some worship songs on YouTube ... you can catch them on my sidebar. As I listened and sang along with the music something wonderful began to happen ... I began to feel refreshed and encouraged. As I listened to the words of the song 'On Eagles Wings' I began to break and cry, pouring out my heart to God. As I sang along with 'Shout to the Lord' my spirit began to rise up in me. I began to sense God in me as I sang along with 'Blessed Be Your Name'. By the time I got to 'Everlasting God' I was doing so much better.

I think that prayer is sometimes about experiencing God's presence in our lives. Thinking about this reminds me of this scripture:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8)

I often experience a sweet closeness with God as I draw near to Him in worship ... it is a cleansing experience ... one that seemingly sets my heart in alignment with His ... helps me see life through His eyes. When Jesus taught on prayer He taught us to begin with worship: "Hallowed be Thy name". He offered us this invitation:

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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." (Matthew 11:28-30)

I think that this is a picture of what happens when we come to Him in worship - we find rest for our souls and our burdens are lifted. Take a few minutes today ... watch one of those YouTube worship videos ... sing along ... enter His rest.

Prayer is Therapeutic

Another brief thought on prayer. I think that the rise of secular psychology and Christian counseling over the past decades speaks volumes of our need to express ourselves verbally. There is often a psychological and/or emotional and release that happens when we talk about our stuff. Expressing our pain and frustrations verbally can often release us bringing new freedom. When I think about talking to God I often think about the dialog we often see in the book of Psalms ... I think about this verse:

Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalms 62:8)

Trust is often fully manifested when we get to that place where we our heart is laid bare before the Lord in prayer. Getting to that transparent and vulnerable place is not as easy as one might think it to be because we get there with our heart and not our head.

Prayer is an Invitation

Just a quick thought for your day (or night). Sometimes, I think that prayer is an invitation ... an inviting of God's presence into our life ... inviting Him to walk with us ... an invitation to experience His power when ours has run out ... inviting Him to intervene on our behalf and on the behalf of those who we love so much. Often I think that God is just waiting for a simple invitation to be involved - even saying something like: I can't do it ... God help me.