How to Prioritize Prayer in Your Crazy Busy Life... by Amy Carroll

 How to Prioritize Prayer in Your Crazy Busy Life

by Amy Carroll

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

Although I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, I’ve come to adore adopting a single word each year to guide me toward spiritual growth.

Last January as I sought God for my new word, I sensed Him leading me to the word “pray.” Terror is too mild a word to describe the way I felt about that particular directive.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve made daily prayer a practice for decades, but I knew it was still a weak link in my spiritual life. Bible study is one of my great loves, and I adore getting out to serve. But during my prayer times, my mind wanders, my faith wavers and I never feel as if I cover all the needs. Guilt and a sense of falling short typically describe my prayer life.

Have you struggled with prayer too? If you’re like me, maybe you know prayer is important, but it’s hard to wrap your mind around such a powerful, invisible force. It’s challenging to prioritize time for something so intangible with results that demand waiting.

As I surrendered and embraced “pray” with a trembling heart at the beginning of 2018, I pictured success as reading stacks of books from the 1700s. I imagined developing callouses on my knees from hours on them in the dark of early morning. But those images left me resistant instead of motivated. Truthfully, I couldn’t fathom fitting those assignments into my current schedule. Surely this was going to be the worst word-of-the-year ever.

I’m excited to report that’s not how God worked at all. Yes, He challenged me to grow in ways that required intention. He asked me to set more time aside for prayer, but He brought some beautiful, simple tools into my life that have allowed me to find peace and even joy in prayer. God directed me to:

Instagram, where I found a pre-prayer journal routine that settles my thoughts and quiets my mind.

A book that led me to pray one God-inspired verse for each of my sons every day.

A calendar with daily out-of-the-box prompts that leads me to pray for areas I wouldn’t have thought to cover.

A friend who encouraged me to set reminders throughout the day on my phone to pray for people I want to intercede for every week.

A group in the First 5 app where I write out my prayers based on that day’s Scripture.

A mentor who modeled on-the-spot prayer for those with a request: the best guarantee for follow-through instead of forgetting. Voila! Guilt free.

In a gentle yet persistent way, God brought Colossians 4:2 alive in my life in 2018: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Now my one word “pray” is an invitation for ongoing conversation with God.

As a rule-follower and reforming perfectionist, I used to look for formulas and how-to’s. Now, instead of limiting myself to a set number of minutes of prayer in a prescribed routine, the simple tools above allow prayer to permeate my thoughts. They’ve created a watchfulness in me that lasts throughout the day. I’m constantly looking for opportunities to pray, which leads to true devotion to the practice and thankfulness as I watch God at work. There are so many moments that beg for prayer!

If you long for talk with God that changes things, prayer is not as hard as you might think. Ask Him to send some simple tools your way, and let the dialogue begin.

Lord, I want to develop devotion to prayer because I long for a never-ending conversation with You. Please teach me to pray by showing me truths in Your Word and giving me the determination to use the tools You send my way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 17:6, “I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.” (NIV)

Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (NIV)

We Have a Trustworthy Guide... Dr. Charles Stanley

 We Have a Trustworthy Guide

Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalms 32:8-9

Hanging on my office wall is a print that I’ve had for nearly 60 years. It shows the Lord Jesus standing behind a young man whose eyes are focused in the direction that the Master is pointing. Jesus’ hand is on the man’s shoulder, and I imagine He is saying, “This is the way we’re going. I will get you to the destination.” Although the road will be marked with both joy and suffering, the Lord leads His followers all the way to their eternal home.

Anyone who is honest will admit that he or she is ill-equipped to go through life alone. Our all-knowing God created us with a need for His guidance. In our own strength, knowledge, and reasoning power, we are simply not able to figure out how to make the wisest decisions. But the Lord’s assuring hand at our shoulder can lead us down right paths to good choices.

The Lord is willing and able to guide us, if we will let Him. It isn’t difficult to fall in step with Him. Acknowledge that you have wandered down paths of life that led to sin and disobedience. Choose to follow His lead instead by reading the Word of God and applying biblical principles to your life. And learn to pray through both large and small decisions as you seek the path He has set for you.

Just beyond our last heartbeat lies eternity. That’s where our Savior is pointing us. The path may not be clear to our eyes, but Jesus is leading us there with a steady and sure hand. Our part is to follow in obedience so that we may reach heaven and hear the Father say, “Well done.”

What is Prayer?... Craig Denison

 What is Prayer?

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

This week we’ll spend time breaking down the individual components of First15 by sharing God's desire for each of them. The majority of First15 is dedicated to encountering God and learning about his character, but every now and then we will cover some teaching and tools that will help in pursuing God to greater depths. This week we will get back to the basics and learn some spiritual disciplines that will help us encounter him in deeper, more transformative ways.

Scripture: “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.”1 Corinthians 14:15

Devotional:

Prayer is one of the most fulfilling aspects of Christian spirituality. It’s time set aside to simply listen to God, to place our lives in his hands, and to pray in response to the desires of his heart. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Scripture tells us to “pray without ceasing.” In John 14:13-14 Jesus states, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” But perhaps the most important Scripture on prayer is when Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:5-15.

Because First15 is meant to stir your affections for God and lead you to a transformational encounter with him, I won't walk you through an exegesis of verses 9-15. There are numerous resources (one of which I will point out in the extended reading) to assist you in coming to a better understanding of the depth and applications of Jesus' model prayer. However, I want to focus your attention on verses 5-8 and lead you to a broader definition of prayer so that your prayer life would be marked by God’s nearness. Let's walk through that text and then apply it as a model we will use daily in First15. In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus says:

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

First, Jesus teaches us that we are to pray in secret. What an amazing God we have that he desires to meet with us in secret! All of us have a longing to know our Creator in a way that no one else is allowed into. We each need a secret place with our Maker. It’s vital to our relationship with God that we set aside time to listen to him and talk with him one on one. It’s in this secret place that our relationship with him will go deeper and our lives will be radically transformed.

Next Jesus teaches not to “heap up empty phrases” just to be heard for our “many words.” Jesus makes it clear that prayer is more about relationship with the Father than the words we say. Prayer is more about the heart than the lips. It’s about opening our hearts to God and letting him show us his plan for transformation in both our lives and in the world around us. Mother Theresa said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” C. S. Lewis wrote, “I don't pray to change God. I pray because I have to. I pray because I can't help myself. It doesn't change God. It changes me.”

Do you need God today? Do you need his presence in your life? Do you need to be changed through an encounter with your heavenly Father? Take time in guided prayer to “place [yourself] in the hands of God” and allow him to change you by his goodness and love.                                  

Guided Prayer:

1. Take a moment to place yourself “in the hands of God.” Open your heart to God and surrender your life to him that all of you would be completely his.

“‘Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.’ So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the Lord came to me: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.’” >Jeremiah 18:2-6

2. Take some time to listen to God.Ask him to lay something on your heart that he wants to accomplish in prayer today. It could be prayer for yourself, for someone you know, or for the nation in which you live. Sometimes God speaks with words, sometimes an inclination or a thought. Pay attention to anything the Spirit lays on your heart and trust his leading.

“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” >Proverbs 2:1-5

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

3. Pray for whatever the Spirit puts on your heart.Ask God how to pray for it. Ask God for his will. Through prayer we align ourselves with the heart of God and agree with what he wants to do in us and in the world around us.

Oftentimes we make prayer far more complex than the Lord ever intended. The weight of change does not rest on our shoulders. God alone heals and transforms. Just as salvation is about receiving the gift Jesus already paid for, prayer is about saying yes to what God already wants to do. We never have to beg him for mercy or compassion. He is a Father filled with grace to a level we will never comprehend. But it’s in prayer that we discover the grace God has and open ourselves up to be transformed by it. And through prayer we agree with God’s heart for others, that we might co-labor with him in what he longs to see happen in the world around us. May your prayer life be filled with the fullness of God and his powerful love.

An Attitude of Gratitude... LAURA BAILEY

 An Attitude of Gratitude

LAURA BAILEY

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” Psalm 73:26-28 (NIV)

I glanced at the clock — 12:05 a.m. My eyes begged to close, but my brain refused to switch off.

Unable to dream, I walked out to my back deck and stared into the night. The sky glistened with stars and the moon, breathtaking. Having spent previous evenings scrolling through social media to catch up on national news or discussing with friends the events that had recently transpired in their lives, I was restless … and somewhat resentful.

Alone on the deck, I called out into the vast night sky, “Why, Lord? Why does it seem that nothing good is happening around me? Why are Your children experiencing such suffering while those who deny You appear to prosper? Why does it feel like I am on the wrong team?”

In Psalm 73, we meet Asaph, a worship leader who was wrestling with his faith during the time of King David. Scripture doesn't describe the exact situation, but it is clear that Asaph was quite exasperated.

Though he was the leader of the temple choir, pursued holiness, denied himself and lived a life of righteousness, Asaph still suffered. Looking out across the land, he saw the “prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:3), who, while defying God, lived seemingly effortless lives, healthier and wealthier than those who worshipped Him.

Needless to say, Asaph became frustrated, believing that his faithfulness, obedience and steadfastness to the Lord were all in vain. What was the point in worshipping God when it appeared he would be just as well off, if not better, without Him?

Nevertheless, the second half of Psalm 73 reveals a distinct change of attitude when, instead of looking around and comparing his circumstances to those of others, Asaph looked upward to his Creator. Then his perspective shifted from self-pity to gratitude. As he worshipped in the temple, God reminded Asaph of His covenant promises for His children.

Despite the conditions surrounding him, as Asaph drew nearer to the Lord, he found comfort and hope in the Everlasting One.

We read in Psalm 73:26-28 that being in the presence of God renews our faith and restores our souls: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”

When I question the Lord's fairness, I find myself running away from Him instead of to Him. I turn on the TV in lieu of opening my Bible. Instead of praying, I chat with friends, arrogantly assuming I will eventually “figure God out” by myself. Sadly, we all suffer from spiritual amnesia from time to time, which is why we must return to the source of Truth and abide in Christ for renewal of our wanting hearts and wayward thoughts.

God has given us a gift exceedingly better than anything this world can ever offer: eternal life through faith in Christ. But Jesus never promised His followers an easy or comfortable earthly sojourn. In fact, quite the contrary; still, our fleshly selves grow cynical and bitter when we compare our lives to others’.

Instead of allowing comparison to thwart trust in God's sovereign plan for our lives, let’s cling to the hope we have in His promises. Let's set our sights on our heavenly Father, offering continual praise for His past, present and future faithfulness, for He “keep[s] his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9, NIV).

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your many blessings. May we always look to You when we find our faith wavering. Guide us back to You when we stray, and remind us that You are infinitely better than anything this world offers. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Power of Jesus' Last Words... By Debbie McDaniel

 The Power of Jesus' Last Words

By Debbie McDaniel

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” – John 19:30

Last words have power. And often, deep meaning and significance.

And if, like me, any of you have ever been at the side of a precious friend or family member who was whispering final words in their last moments here on earth, you know the incredible heart connection they hold for you, personally. We often find ourselves clinging to those words as we think about a loved one who has passed away. We treasure what they said and we remember…

There’s no doubt that Jesus knew what His last words needed to be here in this life. He knew the power those final words would have for generations still to come. And He had great purpose in them, which still breathe such life and meaning for our lives today.

Jesus became the final and ultimate sacrifice for our sin. The word in this verse, “finished,” is actually from the Greek word, “tetelestai,” which is the same word that means “paid in full.” Often, it was used in an accounting term, which indicates a debt was paid. The uniqueness about the way it was written is that the tense of the word indicates both a point in time it was complete and that it would also continue to be complete or finished. And this is the essence of what Christ came to do. He came to “finish” God’s work of salvation in us. He came to “pay it in full,” the entire penalty, or debt, for our sins. He’s at work in our world still today in powerful ways.

People sin every day. They did, then and we do, now. And that sin costs us greatly. It separates us from God, it sets up a barrier, it leads to further drifting away from what we know to be right, and often leads us to great despair. But the hope that we have now because of Christ’s death on the cross and His ultimate sacrifice on our behalf is this: He completed the work. He paid the sacrifice in full on our behalf. No other payment is needed. He just asks that we accept His gift of forgiveness and life.

Jesus came to save. He came to rescue us, a people without true hope, to give us a lasting life and freedom that we can only find through Him.

Laying Bricks ... by Ryan Duncan

 Laying Bricks

by Ryan Duncan

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Mark 10:43-45

Sometimes, I get restless. I went to college at Taylor University, a small Christian school in the middle of Cornfield, Indiana. Though Taylor wasn’t very big, it strove to serve Christ, and encouraged its students to impact the world for God. During the January term, when you could sleep all day and goof-off all night, Taylor offered something called Lighthouse Missions. Instead of wasting their brief vacation, students became a part of service-learning projects that allowed them to share Christ with a world in need.

When Spring Break came around, and the beaches of Florida were calling, it sent students everywhere from Russia to the neighboring town of Grant County, where they engaged in housing projects, orphan care, and outreach. It was tough giving up those precious vacation days, but it felt good to know you were serving Christ. Unfortunately, after graduation opportunities like these are harder to come by. With a forty to fifty-hour work week, not to mention budgeted money and vacation time, jetting off to some foreign location isn’t something you can just do.

I can remember sitting in church, boiling with frustration because I couldn't just go do something like I had in college. God clearly has a sense of irony, because at that moment the pastor stood up and asked for volunteers to help pack up after the service. My problem? I had become the “wealthy giver.” Not sure what I mean? Read this story in Mark 12:

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." - Mark 12:41-44

It’s amazing how serving Christ can easily become something selfish. I was only interested in serving if it was on my terms, and because of that, I let a lot of opportunities pass me by. The truth is that volunteering for a church nursery could be just as important in God’s eyes as building houses in another country.

An old professor once told my class that the kingdom of God is built on willing hearts. When we choose to follow God, we are laying the bricks of his kingdom, and creating a sturdy foundation for others to stand on. So get involved, and if you feel God leading you toward a big opportunity, take it. But don’t be too proud to serve in the small places. Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference.

Intersecting Faith and Life: What opportunities does your church offer for serving? Take a moment to look them over and see if one is good for you. Churches are always looking for volunteers to help with children and young adults.

Further Reading

Philippians 2:1-4

A Prayer for Holding on to God in Hard Times... By Kristine Brown

 A Prayer for Holding on to God in Hard Times

By Kristine Brown

“Rather, cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now.” - (Joshua 23:8 NLT)

Will these hard times we’re going through ever end?

If you’ve asked yourself this question lately, you’re not alone. For many of us, life hasn’t been easy in recent weeks, months, or even years. We know God’s Word makes it clear that “in this world we will have trouble” (John 16:33). But when difficult circumstances happen one after another, we can get overwhelmed by the extended season of hard times. So what do we do when hard times hit one after the other with no end in sight?

In his final words to the leaders of Israel, Joshua gave this command to God’s chosen people. His words still speak truth to us as believers today.

“Rather, cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now.” (Joshua 23:8 NLT)

The Israelites were enjoying a time of rest in the land God had given them. Joshua’s life on earth was nearing its end, so he encouraged God’s people to cling to Him in hard times.

Joshua warned the people not to be distracted by other gods. He knew the temptation they would face, whether in this season of rest or in the heat of battle. They needed to be aware of the dangers of turning away, while also reassured of God’s desire to fight for them. “Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised. So be very careful to love the Lord your God.” (Joshua 23:10-11)

When we’re in the midst of hard times and doubt how things could possibly work out, today’s verse offers the answer we need. We can hold on to God just as we’ve done in the past, and trust that He will be with us through it all. He is faithful. Let’s cling tightly to God right now with this prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father,

It seems like everyone around me is experiencing hard times. We see discouraging news in our world and feel the effects in our homes, families, and personal lives. We know we can hold on to You when circumstances overwhelm us, but we still struggle to find peace.

Lord, help us feel Your presence right now. We know You are faithful and ask You for comfort through hard times. The kind of comfort only Your Holy Spirit can give. Let Your words through Joshua seal permanently on our hearts today. We know there is hope and healing when we choose to cling tightly to You.

Forgive us for being distracted by the things of this world. We can get pulled away from Your loving arms without even realizing it. When we’re in danger of turning away, help us turn to Your Word instead. It will be our constant and steadfast lamp to guide our path through hard times. We cling to You, Lord, today and every day.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.