Month: August 2011

The last week has been filled with new concepts to ponder, reminders of things learned in the past that had slipped in the recesses of my mind and just an overload of information that will take some time to ponder and process. 

One topic was on prayer. I had the opportunity to watch Louie Giglio’s dvd:  Prayer:Remix (on sale for $5 at Family Bookstore for a couple of days near Labor day).  He challenges God’s people to do a remix on three of the most commonly used repetitive phrases we all tend to use in prayer.

• bless us or our loved ones

He reminds us that in Ephesians 1:3-4 that God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. The suggestion he makes: consider asking God to help us bless to Him, to allow Him to live thru us in a way that will bring blessing and Glory to Himself.

• be with us or our loved ones

For those of us In Christ, we have already received the Holy Spirit-Christ in us, therefore He is with us. Scripture tells us He will never leave or forsake us, that He goes with us and will be our rear guard. Remix- Lord, please help me allow You to live through me in a way that affects and influences others for Your Glory.

• watch over us or our loved ones

Here Louie reminds us that there is no place we can go where God is not already there, there is nothing hidden from God ! 

   This dvd is interesting and makes one think! Louie is not saying that there is anything wrong with these and admits he catches himself doing these same things. It is funny and has a lot of truth and has given me fresh ways to approach prayer.

    For me, it becomes a  problem  when  prayer becomes rote  or routine, just going through the motions.  That is when the daily issues of life tend to creep in and interrupt my time with the Lord.  (to do lists, we need … from the grocery,etc.)  I am beginning to  look  for ways to remix prayer and make it come alive in a new way that will keep it fresh.

    One way I have found is spending time focused on who God is and in thanksgiving. Keeping it more focused with more specific things helps also, then there are less of the little darty distractions  and a quieter mind that can take time and listen for the ‘Still small voice’ who is more than happy to direct our prayers in areas of need both in ourselves and in those around us.

   Have you ever been praying and felt the Holy Spirit was challenging you by giving you words to pray and suddenly your routine time with the Lord just comes alive with a life of its own???

   Just a time of normal prayer for normal things, those who have health needs, financial need, thanksgiving for all the Lord’s love,mercy, grace, blessings-then comes the prompting to pray for the really big stuff that we often neglect to think about and maybe there are others that do as well:

• Un-reached people groups
• Those suffering martyrdom 
• And the Body of Christ at large

  Today,  I was reminded of a statement I’d recently heard. The person I was listening to related that the United States was the third largest un-churched nation in the World. I have not confirmed this however after seeing many changes in our country throughout my life, it doesn’t totally surprise that it is true.  Ok, so how do I pray about these huge things? It reminded me of the old question: How do you eat an elephant?~One bite at a time.

Where to start?  was my next question and it seems the answer was to begin with the Body of Christ and the challenge to pray for us as a body to  put aside our denominational and doctrinal differences and to be united; to trust God more fully with the circumstances in our lives so that we can be more selfless and spend more time loving others; to quit seeing church as something to do and look toward being the church in ways that will have a positive effect on those we love and come into contact with; to see the Body of Christ work in tandem and to raise up more individuals who are devoted to allowing God to be first in their life and allow Jesus to not only live in them but to also live through them fully.

What a large challenge! Am I up to it? No. Do I believe God can and will answer it? Yes, with God, all things are possible and nothing is impossible!  Would you mind if I ask you who may choose to read these ramblings to join with me in these prayers if you are not already doing this? Changed hearts will change the world and how better than to unite together and boldly ask our Father in Heaven for these things??