Prayer

We need to believe that God will answer us when we pray. Look at a few verses from a conversation Jesus has with His disciples during the Last Supper.

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

John 14:12-14 (NLT)

But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

John 15:7 (NLT)

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

John 15:16 (NLT)

You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

John 16:24 (NLT)

What do you think Jesus was trying to get across to his disciples? I want to see God answer our prayers. But it’s not just a blank check from heaven. Look again at John 15:7, “...if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!" The key to answered prayer is remaining in Christ and His Word. IF we remain in Christ and abide in Him we can expect God to answer our prayers. This week pray, abide in Christ (John 15:5-8), and watch what God will do.

Worship & Prayer

For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!

Jeremiah 2:13 (NLT)

Worship and prayer are essential. They connect us to God. Without worship and prayer in our life we are on our own. We will try our hardest, maybe do our best, but it won’t be enough. We are broken people. On your own, you will never be able to be the person you were created to be. For me, in order to be the disciple, husband, father, pastor, teacher, neighbor, friend I am called to be, I need to be connected to God who mends my brokenness with his grace and love and then fills me with His living water! We must walk in God’s wisdom, strength, courage, new life, victory, etc. and not our own.

This week worship and pray and meditate on what Jesus tells you and me in John 15:5-8...

“...I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. “

Prayer Is Optional

Pray all the time.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (MSG)

This past week I attended a pastors’ retreat. I received the schedule of the days events and there were a variety of events we were strongly encouraged to attend and then I noticed the prayer time was “optional.” Optional? Interesting.

I know that those in charge of planning the event didn’t mean anything by it. And honestly, I’m not trying to find fault. I just wonder how many of us when we schedule the events of our day we make prayer “optional.”

Prayer is the glue in our relationship with God. And we are commanded in Scripture to “pray all the time.” But too often we wait to pray when we need something. Or maybe when think about it. Or maybe when someone asks us to.

What would any relationship be if you only rarely communicated? Or only talked when you needed something? Simply put, no communication, no relationship.

I want to challenge you to schedule a prayer time during each day. And don’t allow it to become “optional.” God loves you. He wants to hear from you. He may even want to say something to you. Make the time.

10 Minute Quiet Time

Welcome to Christian Life Church on Back to Church Weekend. We are so glad you are here! Christian Life Church is a worshipping, teaching, caring, and sharing church that connects people to God, connects people to people, and connects people to their calling. It is an honor as a church to offer so many ministry opportunities for you, your family, and your friends to connect. Beyond your involvement at Christian Life my heart is that you would connect with God each day.

Last Sunday I asked each of you the question, “Can you give God ten minutes each day?” Remember, obey God in the little things and He will do something BIG in your life! Here is the 10 Minute Quiet Time model I shared last Sunday.

10 Minute Quiet Time

1. Pray - 2 minutes
Use 3 Types of Prayer - 1. Praise 2. Thanksgiving 3. Asking

2. Read the Bible - 5 minutes
Read one chapter with a highlighter – If you have any questions just ask. (If you don't know where to start begin with Psalms, Proverbs, Mark, John, or James.)

3. Pray, Listen & Write - 3 minutes
Pray about what you just read then be quiet and listen to God. If you want, write down what happened during your time with God.

Let Your Light Shine

You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

Matt 5:14 (NLT)

As many of you know, it was my privilege to be asked to pray this past week at the Mount Prospect’s Walmart grand openings. There were two opportunities to pray. One was a private gathering with all of the associates and their families along with VIP’s from the city and state. The other was the grand opening to the community. Both were wonderful experiences. One Walmart associate commented after our prayer time that “it was like having church at work!”

What surprised me the most were the strong reactions I received from both believers and nonbelievers. Both sides felt free to offer both condemnation and praise. As a pastor I am used to navigating varying opinions, but the judgments I received this past week were especially intense.

I have felt the same strong opinions as we have planted our CLC Huntley campus in the Prime Outlet Mall. I believe these types of reactions come when we take our faith outside the walls of the church and into our community. The devil doesn’t mind if we hide out together and worship, but once we step out to impact the world all hell unleashes its fury.

Persecution should never stop us. Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT) Jesus also promises, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” Matthew 16:18 (NLT)

This week take your faith outside the walls of the church. Share your testimony. Do something kind in Jesus’ name. Maybe have “church at work.” Stretch yourself. Be ready for opposition. And always remember, God is with you always and will give you the strength you need!

Love Your Enemies

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 6:27, 28

Last week someone broke into our minivan. Apparently, it’s not wise to leave your GPS in the window overnight. I apologize for the sarcasm but it was a chintzy GPS and I thought I lived in a pretty safe neighborhood. I should have left the doors unlocked so they could have just taken it. Instead they threw a brick through the window doing even more damage to the interior of the car.

The next morning when I discovered what happened I felt violated and angry. How dare they! I didn’t care that much about the GPS I was resenting the time and money it would cost getting the van back into working order.

I had busy day waiting for me. After the police came I began cleaning up the mess. The more I cleaned, the angrier I became. I began thinking about what I would like to do to the person or people who did this. I was hoping that the police would catch them so I could let them have it in court. Maybe the judge would let me throw a brick through the window of their car!

As I was kneeling on the ground sweeping up glass I felt the Holy Spirit say, “Pray for them.” I quickly ignored the Spirit’s leading and continued to sweep and fume. As the prompting grew I finally relented and said a prayer as I swept and almost came to tears on my knees in my driveway.

I share this story with you because I needed to be reminded that I can’t pray for someone and hate them at the same time. We all need to be reminded to pray for our enemies. When we pray God’s love replaces our hate. Who do you need to pray for today?

Practical Prayer Ideas

Never stop praying.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Here is something I read this week from P. Douglas Small of Project Pray Ministries. www.projectpray.org


Practical Prayer Ideas

• Do you know that 75% of Christian couples do not pray together? Break the trend – ask your spouse to pray with you today! Pray to be more like Jesus.
• Go to a secular bookstore, not to purchase new books, but to pray. Walk the aisles. Look at the titles. Pray.
• Prayer walk your house. Pray in every room. Ask yourself, “How can our home itself more fully honor Christ?”
• Find a vista point. Pray for peace in and over your city.
• Go to the census website and look up statistics on your city or county. You may discover that the world is at your doorstep. Ask God if the Great Commission applies to people groups living next door?
• Give a gift today – the gift of joy or kindness, perhaps to someone you don’t even know. Give a “God bless you!” A smile. A prayer. A heart-felt “Thank God for you.”

Prayer

Prayer is one of the key components to our mysterious relationship with God. Here are some of my favorite prayers from great Christians.

O Holy Spirit of God, abide in us; inspire all our thoughts; pervade our imaginations; suggest all our decisions; order all our doings. Be with us in our silence and in our speech, in our haste and in our leisure, in company and in solitude, in the freshness of the morning and the weariness of the evening; and give us grace at all times humbly to rejoice in the Thy mysterious companionship.

John Baillie

Grant that I may not pray alone with the mouth; help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart.

Martin Luther

Lord, make my life a window for Your light to shine through and a mirror to reflect Your love to all I meet. Amen.

Robert Schuller

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.

Augustine

Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, "Speak, for Thy servant heareth." Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking. Amen.

A. W. Tozer

For more inspiring prayers pick up the Great Prayers of Great Christians sheet in the church lobby.

Cold & Snow

The cold and snow has arrived this first week of December. While I don’t like the bitter cold I enjoy this time of year as we give thanks at Thanksgiving, prepare our hearts for Christmas, and we look forward to a new year. Like the cold or not, this is an important time of the year in our lives.

There is one thing that I am going to miss now that it’s cold. I have gotten into the habit of taking the farthest parking spot at stores and such. It’s not about the exercise, although I know that’s beneficial. I have been using that extra walking time for prayer. Sometimes we are in such a hurry in our everyday lives that we miss little opportunities to connect with God. This was one way to add a little extra time with God each day.

Amazing things happen when you make room for God. I heard God speak to me as I was walking, and the feeling of being closer to God and an amazing opportunity to minister to someone at the store were just a few of the results of walking a little farther each day.

Now I have to find a new way to find those extra minutes with God each day. What do you do to connect with God? Let me know, I am looking for suggestions.

Pray. Vote. Change.

Change is coming. This week our nation will elect the 44th President of the United States. No matter what happens on November 4th, there will be new leadership in Washington, DC.

Our Tuesday ballots are loaded with profound consequences for the future. As Americans, we have a right to vote. As Christians, we have a responsibility before God to pray and vote according to the witness of His Word. Proverbs 14:34 says, Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. It is important, to the best of our ability, that we do things God’s way. The future and God’s blessing of our nation hangs in the balance.

If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country…
Deuteronomy 28:1-3

As we begin this historic week don’t forget to pray, don’t forget to vote, and don’t forget to remember that God is in control. On November 5th God is still in control of the universe no matter who is elected president. As we have been learning in our study of the end times Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords and His kingdom is without end. Never forget, we were made for eternity, we belong to God, and heaven is our real home.

As you pray (and possibly fast) this week for the future of our nation read Joel 2 and allow God to speak to you from His Word.


You can also check out my blog and most recent teachings at http://christianlifechurch.org.

Time with God

Pray continually.
1 Thessalonians 5:17

This is one of the shortest verses in the Bible. While it may be easy to memorize, it’s difficult to practice. This is one of the verses that challenge me to the core.

I’ve noticed that most Christians either have a casual or crisis approach to prayer. The casual approach is prayer happens when it happens. This person says if I have time, or when I have a family meal, or when I’m at church, I’ll pray. Basically, when it fits and/or when I think about it, I’ll pray. The crisis approach is prayer when we desperately need God, when we are uncomfortable, in bad situation, or see no way out. It’s when God is our last resort.

It’s OK to pray when we think about it or when we are in a crisis, but it seems like God wants a 24/7 approach to prayer. How is that possible? I’ve heard it reported that the average pastor only prays approximately 7 minutes a day. It’s scary to think that the average Muslim prays more than the average pastor.

So why does God want us to pray so much? It begs the question, what is the purpose of prayer? Prayer is communication or connection with God. So really, prayer is communion with God. God desires each one of us to be in relationship and to spend time with Him. It’s like any relationship we have. What if you rarely talked with your best friend or your spouse and when you did it was only because you needed something? What kind of relationship would that be? God is with us all of the time, He is a constant friend, He will never leave you or forsake you. He wants you to return the favor and commune with Him. This week set aside your casual or crisis modes of prayer and take time to commune with God. Put God’s Word into practice and watch what happens to your relationship with Him.