intimacy

Day 7 – The Prayer Cafe “31 Day Challenge”

October 13, 2015

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Day 7

 

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. – Colossians 4:2

“As the engine never moves until the fire is kindled, so preaching, with all its machinery, perfection, and polish, is at a dead standstill, as far as spiritual results are concerned, till prayer has kindled and created the steam. The texture, fineness, and strength of the sermon is as so much rubbish unless the mighty impulse of prayer is in it, through it, and behind it. The preacher must, by prayer, put God in the sermon. The preacher must, by prayer, move God toward the people before he can move the people to God by his words. The preacher must have had audience and ready access to God before he can have access to the people. An open way to God for the preacher is the surest pledge of an open way to the people.” – Oswald Chambers

 

Let us pray:

Father as our lives are the stories people read, may we spend time with you in prayer in such a way that our lives will be the greatest sermons people will ever experience. Grant us opportunities to live our lives out before people in such a way they will experience you and know there is truly a God in heaven. Be glorified.

#Truth #Grace #Prayer #LivedOut #Intimacy

 

 

Day 2 – The Prayer Cafe “31 Day Challenge”

October 8, 2015

Change

Day 2

 

…one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” – Luke 11:1

 

“Prayer is not a normal part of the life of the natural man. We hear it said that a person’s life will suffer if he doesn’t pray, but I question that. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God in him, which is nourished not by food, but by prayer. When a person is born again from above, the life of the Son of God is born in him, and he can either starve or nourish that life. Prayer is the way that the life of God in us is nourished. Our common ideas regarding prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.

To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying, “Prayer changes me and then I change things.” God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person’s inner nature.” – Oswald Chambers

 

Let us pray:

How true is this for you? Is prayer changing you? Talk to God right now about how He has changed you and what things you still see that need changing. Open up your heart to Him and be as candid as possible. He can handle it. He’s waiting to meet with you right now.

 

#Candidness #Change #Intimacy #NewEyes

 

Day 1 – The Prayer Cafe “31 Day Challenge”

October 7, 2015

Busy busy busy

Day 1

In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
– Psalm 18:6

 

“Praying is spiritual work; and human nature does not like taxing, spiritual work. Human nature wants to sail to heaven under a favoring breeze, a full, smooth sea. Prayer is humbling work. It abases intellect and pride, crucifies vainglory, and signs our spiritual bankruptcy, and all these are hard for flesh and blood to bear. It is easier not to pray than to bear them. So we come to one of the crying evils of these times, maybe of all times — little or no praying. Of these two evils, perhaps little praying is worse than no praying. Little praying is a kind of make-believe, a salvo for the conscience, a farce and a delusion.” – E.M. Bounds
Let us pray:

God, some of us are so guilty of little praying. We allow the busyness of our lives and the busyness of our hearts to keep us entertained and distracted from conversing with You. Help us to find our voice with You. Help us to find our place with You. Help us to see You are the friend who sticks closer than a brother. You are the friend who is always willing to listen and to talk with us. Forgive us for ignoring You and not seeking You more often and more diligently.

May our continued prayer today be to seek You, to find You, and to know You. Amen.

 

#Direction #Focus #Intimacy #Prayerfulness

 

Morning Leaders – Intimacy & Vulnerability

August 5, 2014

Morning Leaders. Some of the biggest lessons I am learning about presently have to do with Intimacy and Vulnerability.
As a quiet, shy kid I built up walls to protect myself. These walls were further solidified as a young adult. With God’s grace and some interesting scenarios, I have been getting a healthier perspective on Intimacy and Vulnerability, especially since I didn’t realize I needed the education…lol.
Today I am thankful for insight and growth in these areas of my life.
What are you thankful for today?

Morning Leaders – Trust & Intimacy

April 21, 2014

Morning Leaders. In the past three years some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned have had to do with learning anew about Trust, Intimacy, and Vulnerability. Although it has been a great deal of work (and still more to go), I have been able to find a freedom in my life and a freedom for myself that has been invaluable. #Maturity #Grace #MovingOnUp