Thought for the Weekend: Working Toward a Disciplined Life

Weekend 4, Saturday – Sunday, January 30-31 (Days 27-28)

As of this weekend, you have completed 4 weeks of participating in this devotional, and practicing spiritual disciplines. We have really just scratched the surface of the impact that spiritual disciplines can have on our walk with God.

Over the next few days, our devotions will be focused on reminding us of the intent of practicing spiritual disciplines: Growing Nearer to God. By the end of this week, you will be challenged to write down how you intend to practice spiritual disciplines in the coming year. After Day 31, I will post descriptions of a few disciplines that I have practiced. My intent is not to convey the idea that I have mastered spiritual disciplines, but to share some possible suggestions for you to consider as you strive to grow in your walk with God.

For the next week, please think about your walk with God, and try to evaluate where you can work on growing in Christ. Do you desire to mature in your prayer life, or in the ability to listen for God’s leading? Do you wish to grow in your knowledge of scripture? Would you like to be more gracious in your attitude and willingness to serve others? Furthermore, pray that God will reveal the gifts that He has given you. He may want you to work at refining those gifts.

In the upcoming days, think creatively about the habits you can develop that will help you mature in your walk with God. You might not practice one single discipline for the entire year. Perhaps you will want to grow in your Biblical knowledge for a few months, so you will set aside daily time to read through the books of 1 and 2 Kings. This summer, you may want to grow through service, so you will volunteer to mow the lawn for an elderly neighbor for the entire summer. There are nearly unlimited possibilities for the ways you can develop habits to help you grow in your awareness of God’s presence.

Day 26: Secret Service

Week 4, Friday, January 29

Text:  Matthew 6:3-4
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Thought for the day:
There are times when we will want others to know our accomplishments. If you have ever interviewed for a new job, you interviewer probably asked about previous employment and successful accomplishments. When a church is hosting an outreach event, they will probably want to advertise it to the community so that people will attend. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:17 that His followers should let their good deeds shine before others, so that God will be praised.

However, there are other times, when our deeds should be done in secret. Jesus says this is true, especially when we are responding to the needs of others. We do not need to have every good deed known by others, because God knows our deeds, and we are promised that when we serve Him in secrecy, He gives us rewards. I am confident that His rewards are better than the congratulations that we might receive from other people who know us.

Journal/Exercise:
This weekend, perform an act of kindness for someone, and never tell them that you were the one who did it. I would prefer you to respond to a need of someone in your community. If you have a neighbor who has difficulty shoveling snow, clear their driveway at night. If you have a neighbor who is struggling with an illness, deliver a meal to their home. Be creative in how you can serve someone. If you cannot avoid revealing your identity, then be discreet, and avoid telling others of your service. See how this secret act of kindness is received by God.

Day 25: The Evidence of Faith

Week 4, Thursday, January 28

Text: Matthew 25:40
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Thought for the day:
True faith will be evident in our actions. We are saved if we have faith in Christ, not because of our works or deeds. However, when Jesus speaks of the final judgment day, he talks about works such as visiting the sick, giving a drink to someone who is thirsty or giving clothes to a stranger. Do His words mean that faith really doesn’t matter?

Christ’s words are not intended to teach us that faith is insignificant, but rather that true faith will always change the way we live.

Whenever we study spiritual disciplines, we run the risk of believing that faithfully walking with God means that we live quiet lives of sitting, thinking, prayer, reading, and fasting. Although we benefit from quiet times in God’s presence, the process of walking with Him is not a sedentary lifestyle. God calls His people to action, and the way that we act is the best evidence to others that we are walking with God.

Journal/Exercise:
You have been asked this week to serve others. Today, I would like you to write down in your journal what has happened as a result of your service. How have others responded to you? How have you felt about the experience? Do you see God working in you as you offer this service to Him?

Day 24: Love in Action

Week 4, Wednesday, January 27

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Thought for the day:
Where do you learn the meaning of love? If you watch a popular television show or movie, you will get the impression that love is a strong emotion that can be very intense for a period of time, but it capable of fading.

This picture of love is all wrong, because love is more than a feeling. Love starts with recognition of value, and it is evident in our action. I might have fond feelings towards a person, but if I do not treat that person well, I have not loved. The text today says a lot about love, but it says very little about our feelings. The Bible tells us that love is not easy, but it requires a willingness to serve. Even if we have been wronged, love requires that we keep no record.

Have you ever held the idea that love must be easy? Check again. You will find that the people we love the most are the people who cause the most work in our lives.

Journal/Exercise:
Go back to yesterday’s challenge. Did you offer someone a service on three different occasions? Write down what you did, and think about the response that you received from each service offered.

Think of someone in your life who loved you. How was that person’s love evident? Did he/she ever have to practice patience with you? Did he/she ever have to forgive you? Did you know you were loved by the way he/she acted toward you? As you think about the ways that person showed love to you, try to show the same kind of love to someone today.

Day 23: The Selflessness of Service

Week 4, Tuesday, January 26

Text: John 13:14
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

Thought for the day:
Washing feet was not a pleasant experience. Jesus gave an example to His disciples of what it meant to practice humility. Jesus did not have to wash anyone’s feet. He could have ordered one of His disciples to do it, or even asked the owner of the home to provide a servant. However, He willingly picked up the towel and the bowl of water, and proceeded to scrub the filthy feet of His followers.

God does not promise us that service will always be invigorating. There will be occasions when we do not enjoy the work God calls us to do. When God does call us to serve in humbling circumstances, we can remember that He was willing to humble Himself first. In fact, He was willing to humble Himself to the point of dying a criminal’s death for our sake.

Journal/Exercise:
Yesterday, you were asked to encourage one specific person. Today, you will be challenged to offer an act of service to three different people. I don’t want you to plan ahead, but I want you to be aware of the people around you today, and offer each of them a unique service. You could hold the door for someone who has their hands full, or offer your seat to someone who walks in late. If someone forgets their lunch, you could offer to share yours. Pray that God will open your eyes to the opportunity you have to serve today, and strive to offer an act of kindness to three different people.

Day 22: The Simplicity of Service

Week 4, Monday, January 25

Text: Romans 12:6
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.”

Thought for the day:
When I think about all the good things that a person can do, I get a little overwhelmed. We have so many possible ways to volunteer our time and resources. We have opportunities to serve lunch at school, deliver food baskets in the evening, read to children, rake leaves for senior citizens, teach Sunday School, serve on a church committee, write letters to prisoners, give money to 100 different organizations, invite our neighbor to church, build a home….. The list could go on indefinitely.

When God calls us to serve, He doesn’t tell us that we have to do every good thing that we can possibly do. He tells us to use our gifts. God has a lot of people who are working to service Him. This means that each person can use his or her individual gift to serve God, without feeling guilty about other opportunities. In Romans 12, the Bible describes the church as a group of people who should focus on using their gifts.

As we begin to think about service this week, don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by all of the possible service opportunities. Rather, pray that God will reveal your gifts, and give you wisdom to discern where you can best offer those gifts in service.

Journal/Exercise:
Spend some time in prayer. Pray for someone you know who is experiencing a difficult time in his or her life. Write down the name of that person in your journal. After you write down that person’s name, write down one way that you can encourage that person today. It could be a very simple gesture such as writing a note or sending an email letting her know you prayed for her today. Make an effort to reach out to that person as a sacrifice of service for Christ’s sake.

A Busy Council Meeting

If you have read the January 24 News and Notes, you know that there are a few lines written about the Council Meeting on Wednesday, January 20. Short notes can be helpful to give you a little information about Council’s discussions, but in this blog entry, I would like to give you a more in-depth picture of what is being discussed at our Council meetings.

Now that our congregation has voted to change our name to New Life CRC, members of council have been busy making arrangements to unveil the new name for our church. A new web address has been secured to reflect our new name (www.newlifecrc.com), and we will begin work to develop that website in the next weeks. Our denomination, classis, and many businesses have been notified of the name change, and we have begun the process to have the new name legally recognized. A committee has been appointed to make suggestions for new signs on Ridge Road and 5th Street to reflect our new name.

Council also approved the appointment of a committee to begin the search process for a Director of Community Outreach for our church. The person who fills this position will be the primary liaison for our church with Love INC, will coordinate events and activities to welcome people to join our church family, and will suggest ways to enfold visitors and new members into the life of our church. Council approved appointing a committee of five members to conduct this search process. At the time of this blog posting, Tom Sawyer has agreed to serve as the chairman, and the other members have been contacted to see if they are willing to serve in this capacity.

For the past few months, our council has been discussing how we will proceed with our High School and Junior High Youth Ministries after Ken Scholma leaves the position of Youth Pastor at First CRC. For a number of years, our church has combined our High School and Junior High youth groups with First CRC. Ken Scholma is graduating from a teaching program this spring, and does not expect to return as a youth pastor next year. We have been discussing the options of separating our youth groups, or continuing with one Youth Pastor for our two churches. At our council meeting, it was decided, upon the recommendation of a joint committee from the two churches, that we would continue the practice of hiring one Youth Pastor for the two churches. Council voted to appoint three members of our church (a Council Member, a Parent, and a current volunteer Youth Leader) to join members from First CRC on a joint search committee that will re-evaluate the Youth Pastor’s job description, search for a new Youth Pastor, and suggest ways that this position will be jointly overseen by the two churches.

Thought for the Weekend: The Role of Service

Weekend 3, Saturday – Sunday, January 23-24 (Days 20-21)

This past week, we have considered what it means to sit in God’s presence and listen for His will. It is important for Christians to develop the ability to be still in God’s presence. However, Christianity is more than a set of beliefs that we should ponder. Faith in Christ will change the way we live our lives.

In the coming week, we will change our focus from being still in God’s presence to being active as God’s servants. God calls us to serve others in order to demonstrate our love for Him and our love for our neighbors.

As you prepare for this week of service challenges, please try to think of ways that other people have encouraged you. On Day 18, you were asked to write the names of people who have given you advice. Have there been other people who have offered a service to you? This weekend, pray that God would help you remember they ways that others have shown you God’s love through service. Furthermore, pray that He will open your eyes to see the ways that He can use you to show His love.

Day 19: The Call to Study

Week 3, Friday, January 22

Text: Jeremiah 29:13
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Thought for the day:
I remember the day I graduated from high school. It was such a freeing experience, because I believed I had the choice to never study again. Even though I knew that I was going to college, and that I would study again, my graduation from high school marked the day that I could choose whether or not to study.

When we think of studying, we usually think of a boring, tedious activity that requires us to sit down, book in hand, in order to prepare an essay or report that no one will ever read. But studying does not have to be drab. In fact, studying can be a key way that we seek to know God.

When I got to college, I discovered an enjoyment in my studies, primarily because I could seek to learn about areas that interested me. I didn’t have to study Medieval Russian Literature or the history of the Ancient Amalekites (which held little interest to me). I could choose to seek knowledge in areas that interested me.

If studying seems like a terribly burdensome task to you, let me ask you to re-think your opinion. You can seek God through studying, but He is so vast, that there is plenty of ways that you can learn about Him through studying. Many have grown closer to God as they struggled with deep theological debates. Others have grown closer to Him as they made an effort to study the stories of His people in the Old Testament. Still others have sought God by reading books by Christian authors on topics that vary from prayer to evangelism to parenting.

Journal/Exercise:
See if you can recite your memory verse for this week. Has your attempt to memorize helped you grow in your understanding of this verse and what it means?

After you recite your verse, write down three of four specific ways that you can study to grow closer to God. These can include attending worship services, reading Bible Studies, reading the Bible, reading Christian books, asking questions, attending conferences, etc. Do your study times happen predominantly in groups, or are there some study habits that cause you to spend time alone with God?

Day 18: Seeking Good Advice

Week 3, Thursday, January 21

Text: Exodus 18:24
“Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.”

Thought for the day:
No mere human has ever talked with God the way that Moses did. He spent days on a mountain top speaking with God. He spent so much time in God’s presence that his face would glow. The book of Deuteronomy ends by saying that there has never been a prophet like Moses.

You would think that Moses would have received the answer to every one of his questions directly from God, but that was not always true. In Exodus 18, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, gives Moses some good advice that helped make Moses job more manageable. God didn’t tell Moses directly about this idea on Mt. Sinai, but used another person to bring this idea.

God regularly speaks to us through other people. Sometimes, he puts people in our lives who give us good advice. At other times, He gives us people who set an excellent example of handling tense moments with grace. As we seek to discern God’s will for our lives, please remember to notice the people He has placed in your path that have helped to guide you.

Journal/Exercise:
Review the text that you chose to memorize on Day 15. Can you recite it from memory yet? Have you had any occasion to think about that text as you have gone about your daily activities in the past week?

Write down the names of up to five people who have given you good advice in your life. I encourage you to make an effort in the coming weeks to write each one of them a note and thank them for the wisdom they have shared with you.  If you would like, write a brief sentence in the comments of this blog telling how someone offered you helpful advice.

Day 17: The Art of Meditation

Week 3, Wednesday, January 20

Text: Psalm 77:12
“I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”

Thought for the day:
To many people living in our world today, meditation seems like such a strange practice. We think of meditation as a mystical practice that causes people to enter a trance-like condition in order to receive supernatural inspiration. It seems so different than anything we do in our normal routines.

However, meditation is not some esoteric practice that is only for the spiritual or philosophical elite. In the Old Testament, the word for ponder means to talk to yourself. When we meditate, we are merely remembering what God has done, and thinking about it (talking to ourselves).

More than likely, you already practice meditation. You may meditate, or talk to yourself, about the meals you will prepare in the coming week, or how you will talk to your family member about a delicate topic. The Bible merely tells us that it is good for us to take time to talk to ourselves about God and His plans.

Journal/Exercise:
Spend some time in prayer. As you pray, ask God the following questions:

    “How am I doing in my relationships with family members?”

    “How can I gain greater integrity in my life?”

    “Am I being faithful to you, Lord?”

After each question, spend some time thinking about the answer. Ask God to guide your thoughts. As you do this, you are meditating. You are thinking about God’s will for your life, and how His word affects you actions. Write down any insights you gain regarding your family relationships, personal integrity, or walk with God.

Day 16: Hiding God’s Word in Your Heart

Week 3, Tuesday, January 19

Text: Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Thought for the day:
In the Bible, God promises repeatedly to guide us. I have known people who have longed for that guidance in relations to a very specific situation in their lives. They would like God to reveal to them what kind of cake they should order for a birthday party, or what kind of wallpaper they should use to remodel their dining room.

There may be occasions when God gives us very specific guidance in very mysterious ways. However, I believe that if we truly want God’s guidance, we should start by listening to what He has already said in His word, and my obeying it. The Bible gives us guidance for how we treat others, and how we should worship God above all else. It teaches us to submit to Christ and to receive His grace. It tells us that Jesus’ sacrifice is all we need for salvation.

By hiding God’s word in our hearts, we learn to understand the kind of guidance God gives. We learn that God is not some kind of cosmic advice service, who exists merely to answer our questions. Instead, we learn that God takes the initiative to guide us where He wants us to be. By hiding His word in our hearts, we learn to listen for His voice, before we begin asking our questions.

Journal/Exercise:
Write down the verse that you are working to memorize this week. What does that verse tell you about God? What does it tell you about yourself? Write down the reason you chose this verse as a text to memorize.

Day 15: Memorization

Week 3, Monday, January 18

Text: Psalm 119:11
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Thought for the day:
Many people would like God to speak to them in a clear voice. They don’t want to settle for a mere whisper. I have often failed to realize that God doesn’t only speak very quietly. He speaks very clearly to us in His Word. If you want to recognize God’s voice, listen to Him by studying His Word.

I know that Bible Memory Work is not as popular as it once was, but it is a wonderful tool for learning to hear God’s voice. If you have ever memorized a Bible passage, that verse probably remains with you long after you first read it. The practice of memorizing scriptures can help us to put God’s voice in our hearts, so that we have His words accessible.

Journal/Exercise:
Pick a text that you will commit to memory this week. My favorite Bible text is Isaiah 40:30-31.

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

The text that you choose to memorize does not have to be this passage, but I encourage you to pick one that is fairly familiar. There are sections from Psalm 23, Psalm 100, Romans 8, and Romans 12 that are favorites of many people.

Write down in your journal which passage you will memorize this week. While you are alone, take a few moments during the day to try to remember the words of this passage and silently recite them to yourself. Be aware of any way that the memorizing of this text changes your perspective during your normal activities.

Thought for the Weekend: Listening for God’s Voice

Weekend 2, Saturday – Sunday, January 16-17 (Days 13-14)

During the past two weeks, we have discussed the disciplines of prayer and fasting. I have said that prayer is the chief spiritual discipline, and I hope that you have been able to see that fasting helps us practice self-control and forces our minds to be drawn to thinking of God’s will and presence. This weekend, I challenge you to think about some ways that you will practice fasting in the coming year. Perhaps you will want to fast for a week before you child graduates, in order to pray for their life transition. You could fast as you pray while you are in the process of making a potentially life-changing decision, or when you want to thank God for His faithfulness following a success in your life. Write down in your journal one way that you will fast in 2010. Remember, fasting does not have to be the avoidance of food. It is voluntarily refraining from a regular practice in order to focus on God.

Next week, our devotion time will focus on how we listen to God. During the Old Testament times, many Jewish teachers would talk about hearing the “daughter of a voice.” This daughter of a voice, or whisper, was said to be God’s leading in their lives. I often struggle with the question, “How do I hear that whisper?” During the coming week, we will be reminded of ways that we can listen for that daughter of a voice, through practices of turning to Scripture, spending time in silence, and seeking advice.

Day 12: Where Is Your Focus?

Week 2, Friday, January 15

Text: Deuteronomy 6:7-9
“Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Thought for the day:
When you practice spiritual disciplines, you discover that the focus of your daily lives starts to change. You become more acutely aware of God’s presence as you begin to incorporate new habits into your routine. I hope that in these past two weeks, your focus has been sharpened so that you think about God’s will in your daily decisions, or that you see God’s grace in the middle of trying circumstances.

God is always available to His children. He does not change His love towards us when we practice spiritual disciplines. However, our ability to see Him and know His love will change through the practice of focusing on Him.

Journal/Exercise:
Write down one way that the practice of spiritual disciplines has affected you in the past two weeks.

Day 11: Simplifying Your Life

Week 2, Thursday, January 14

Text: Luke 10:41-42
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.

Thought for the day:
I have developed a New Year’s Day tradition. For the past 7 years, January 1 has been a day designated for emptying my closet. My rule is this: If I haven’t worn an article of clothing since the previous January 1, I have to get rid of it. Sometimes, this is a hard rule to keep. I have had years when I forgot about a favorite red sweater, or a pair of brown corduroy pants. As I get rid of this assortment of clothing, there is often a sense of loss. I don’t want to let go of some clothing for sentimental reasons, or because there might be an occasion when one particular shirt is the perfect item to wear. In spite of my loss, on January 2, I am almost always pleased with my purging. Throughout the year, clothing becomes clutter in my closet, and I often cannot find the shirt or pants that I am looking for. By getting rid of unused clothes, I gain access to my closet, and a greater ability to find my clothes.

In Luke 10, Martha had a day that was cluttered. She was busy making an elaborate meal for Jesus and His disciples. She was a gracious hostess, but her grace turned sour. Because her day was filled with the clutter of many preparations, she missed a great opportunity, to sit at Jesus feet. This story does not tell us that Martha was wrong to make a nice meal, but she was foolish to allow the clutter of the meal to sour her opportunity to be with Christ. She needed to release some of her good intentions, so that she could have access to something better.

Martha’s life and my closet had a common problem: too much. It is easy to be distracted by an abundance of good things, and miss what is best. This week, as you think about fasting, try to determine whether there are activities or priorities that are adding clutter to your life, and causing you to miss opportunities to be still and know God.

Journal/Exercise:
What are some activities that add clutter to your life? They can be enjoyable activities, and even bring a benefit in some way. Write down at least two activities that add clutter to your life. Then, turn to God in prayer, and ask Him for wisdom to discern whether these activities should be simplified so that you can have more time to spend in His presence.

Day 10: Setting Aside Time

Week 2, Wednesday, January 13

Text: Matthew 4:1-2
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”

Thought for the day:
One of our biggest hindrances to prayer is finding time to actually pray. One of the benefits of fasting is that is allows you to set aside time from your normal activity in order to pray.

We can pray in many ways. I often pray while I am driving, or when I finish meeting with someone.  These occasions, however, are usually opportune times to pray. They are not born out of an intentional effort to set aside time for God.

We should practice praying at opportune moments, but we should also set aside time for God in prayer. One of the benefits of fasting is that it makes us realize that time spent with God is worth a rearrangement of our normal routines.

Journal/Exercise:
Look back at your journal to Day 5. On that day, you were instructed to write down a blessing that you would seek from God in prayer. Have you noticed any ways that God has responded to that prayer? Have you continued to pray for that blessing? Pray again for that particular fruit of the Spirit to be evident in your life.

Day 9: Commandment or Assumption?

Week 2, Tuesday, January 12

Text: Matthew 6:16-18
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Thought for the day:
When Jesus spoke the words in our text, he assumed that many people were already fasting. I have heard people say that this text implies that we should be fasting too. Jesus’ intent in this passage is not to give a commandment that we should fast, but to tell us what the focus of fasting should be: growing closer to God.

Journal/Exercise:
Write down one prayer item that you will focus on as you come to God in prayer during your time of fasting. You may want to write down a characteristic that you would like for yourself: wisdom, contentment, patience. You may want to pray for someone else: for healing, comfort, or assurance. Although you might pray for other items during your times of fasting, please focus on this particular prayer item, and be alert to see how God responds to that prayer.

Day 8: Practicing Self-Control

Week 2, Monday, January 11

Text: 1 Peter 1:13
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Thought for the day:
This week, we are going to introduce the discipline of fasting to our spiritual disciplines. Do you have a regular exercise or practice in your daily routine that could be avoided? The discipline of fasting causes us to practice self-control for the greater purpose of approaching God in prayer. In 1 Corinthians 5:7, the Apostle Paul suggested that married couples might want to avoid sexual intimacy for brief periods of time for the purpose of drawing nearer to God in prayer. The spiritual discipline of fasting is the voluntary giving up of a regular practice (such as eating), in order to make time and space to focus your attention on God.

Journal/Exercise:
Write down one way that you will practice fasting for the next couple of weeks. Some potential suggestions might be: giving up a meal per day, giving up a favorite beverage, giving up television, giving up the use of your computer, etc.

Let me offer some advice. Please do not give up sweets in order to “lose a few pounds.” Losing weight might be great, but if this is your purpose, it cannot really be called a spiritual discipline. Do not give up spending money on collectible items in order to “save a few dollars.” Neither should you give up television in order to “read a good book.” The purpose of this practice of fasting is to draw you mind to God in prayer. You will be aware of God’s presence whenever you have to practice self-control, and you can set aside the time that you save by coming to God in prayer.

Write down in your journal how you intend to fast, and pray that God will bless your fast so that you can be more aware of His presence in your life.

Thought for the Weekend: From Prayer to Fasting

Weekend 1, Saturday – Sunday, January 9-10 (Days 6-7)

One of the themes that I want you to take from our week-long emphasis on prayer is that we can have our eyes opened to God’s work when we simplify our prayer lives and bring very specific requests before Him. During this weekend, look back at your journal, and continue to write ways that you can exercise the fruit of the spirit (from Day 5), and ways that God might be calling you to serve Him in His Kingdom.

Next week, we will begin to focus on the spiritual discipline of fasting. Fasting is usually thought of as the avoidance of food or drink. During the upcoming week, I want you to think of fasting as the voluntary act of giving up a normal part of your life, in order to take that time to focus on God in prayer. You may fast by giving up food, but you might also want to fast by giving up television, newspaper reading, unnecessary purchases, or another normal part of your life that you will noticeably miss. The discipline of fasting will serve as a reminder that we live to please God, rather than living to satisfy our routine desires. Pray for wisdom and a powerful experience as we continue our journey with God through spiritual disciplines.

Day 5: Asking for a Blessing

Week 1, Friday, January 8

Text: Genesis 32:26
“The man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Thought for the day:
Does it seem selfish to you when you ask God for a blessing? Do you feel guilty if you are praying for yourself? In Genesis 32, Jacob asked God for a blessing. We should ask God for blessings. Instead of thinking of it as selfish, think of that request as an act of submission. When we ask God for a blessing, we are acknowledging that we need His blessings. We don’t have anything good without Him, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Journal/Exercise:
Pray that God will bless you. I encourage you to consider the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Ask God to bless you with one of these attributes. Write down in your journal which attribute you would like God to give you, and continue to pray for this fruit in the coming weeks.

Day 4: Prayer Leads to Gratitude

Week 1, Thursday, January 7

Text: Psalm 40:1-3
“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.”

Thought for the day:
I had always been taught that prayer was important for giving thanks to God. I always believed it, but I thought it meant that in prayer, we had to tell God why we were thankful. I thought prayer was the way we gave thanks. I still believe that prayer is an important part of giving thanks to God, but now, I believe that it is also important because through our prayer lives, we become more thankful. The author of Psalm 40 was thankful because he turned to God in prayer, and then (after waiting patiently) saw God answer that prayer. He was thankful because He saw God act. His prayer life helped him pay attention to God’s actions.

Journal/Exercise:
Write down one way that you have ever seen God answer one of your prayers. Did that answer to prayer change your view of God? Do you believe that God really responds to your prayers?

Day 3: Praying for the Kingdom

Week 1, Wednesday, January 6

Text: Matthew 6:10
“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Thought for the day:
Have you ever felt like your prayers are little more than a wish list? I must confess that I have. You don’t have to work too hard to figure out what you would like God to do for you. It is easy for me to figure out what I want. It is much more difficult to discern God’s will. Jesus taught us to pray that God’s Kingdom would come, and that His will would be done. In other parts of the New Testament, we are told to pray “in the spirit,” and ask the Father “in the name of the Lord.” There has been a lot of debate about what it means to pray in Jesus’ name, or to pray in the Spirit, but whatever else it may mean, it AT LEAST means that we pray for God’s will to be done.

Journal/Exercise:
Spend a few moments in prayer, asking God to make it clear to you what He wants you to do for His Kingdom. After you make that prayer request, write down in your journal some ways you believe God wants you to serve Him for His Kingdom.

Day 2: Praying Specifically

Week 1, Tuesday, January 5

Text: Ephesians 6:19
“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.”

Thought for the day:
When I first started praying in public, I felt the need to pray for everything. At meal times, I would ask God to forgive my sins, thank Him for the food, ask Him to heal those who were sick, praise Him for the gift of salvation, ask Him to bless missionaries, and express appreciation for the blessing of living in free country. All of these prayer items were worthwhile, but I tried to cram too much into one prayer. If we are going to develop lives of prayer, we might have to learn how to pray shorter, more specific prayers. When we pray in big, general terms, we often miss the working of God’s hand. Instead of praying for “those who are sick,” if we pray for one person who is sick, we are more likely to see God’s answer. In the text for today, Paul was asking for a very specific request. He knew that there were other items to bring before God in prayer, but since God’s people were called to pray continually, those other items could be addressed in another prayer.

Journal/Exercise:
In your journal, write no more than 3 specific prayer requests that you will bring before God for the rest of this week. Please be very specific. Then, remember to pray for them. During the rest of this month, please write down in this journal any ways that you have seen God responding to that prayer.

Day 1: Prayer - The Chief Spiritual Discipline

Week 1, Monday, January 4

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Pray continually.”

Thought for the day:
As we begin this month-long journey of practicing spiritual disciplines, I want each of us to realize that spiritual disciplines are intended to help us enhance our life of prayer. It is possible to be a Christian without ever fasting, or meditating. There have been many Christians who have been unable to read, and therefore never read the Bible (even though they often heard it read). However, I believe prayer is vital to our walk with God. Prayer is our time to talk with God. I hope that during this month, we discover that God also reveals Himself to us through our life of prayer.

Journal/Exercise:
Please write in your journal an honest assessment of your prayer life. How often do you pray? What kind of patterns are little more than mere rituals in your prayer life? Have you ever seen the answers to your prayers? Also, write how you would like to see your prayer life change as you practice spiritual disciplines.