Risking in Prayer

When the New Orleans Saints fell behind Indianapolis early in the Super Bowl, 10-0, I broke a personal rule and prayed for the Saints. Specifically, my prayer was that the Saints would intercept a pass and run it back for a touchdown to win the game. Of course, my prayer was answered in the fourth quarter.
How silly and even blasphemous could I get, praying for the Saints? Is God, with all His cosmic problems, going to intervene on behalf of the home team? We all do that, we major in the minor things of life and we trust God for that. It's a no- risk prayer.

or...

When a friend I care for gets the word from the doctor, cancer, I pray. I ask God to help comfort and heal but I do not pray as specifically as I did for the interception.  I will pray things like... God if it's your will, please heal. Yet in the New Testament there is a different level of prayer. The language is more direct, and more acknowledging the power of God to intervene and make a difference. Now please, this is not an act of presumption but an acceptance of the place of authority that God has given us as His children.

James 1

⁶But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 

This is not talking about changing your mind or opinion but about fully putting your trust in one solution. You can't hedge your bet when it comes to prayer, you need to be all in. Ask for the complete in- breaking of God's power not a half measure, or attempt.  Let God be sovereign and fulfill the outcome but in the mean time, move out in your prayer and ask, plead for the specific things that align with His will and go for it.

So what are some things that are "risk it" level things that only God can move on? 

Make a list 

Ask him to move into those areas pray over them... and see what He does, and the answers can be yes, NO, or not yet. God has this all in His hands we pray so that we change and become more like Him. Just think about this, the risk He takes making us the vessels of grace and eternal love every day! Wow! 

So now keep track of those risk it prayers and let's see what stories we can encourage each other with.

I'm too busy...

De*Busy*fication-
There is in us a tyranny of the urgent. I drive to do and be in everything and stay connected to everything. So what do you do at the end of the day when it is all said and done, and you come crashing into bed with all the wants and need to do's, completely undone? Stress more? Wonder what next time management trick you can do to get what you want?

There is a simple truth that we do not realize. There are 24 hours in a day, seven days a week, time cannot be created, only managed. Being a limited resource makes it more precious, and more valuable. So you make decisions based in what will make the best sense and the most in line with what God says is important. When we say "YES" to one thing... we say "NO" to many others. So think about this... does my schedule reflect my priorities? Obviously, yes, you wouldn't spend time on things you value. The problem is that our time tells us what we value and we really don't like it at all! We value rest and renewal, and use a TV to unwind, how does that work for you? Are you rested? We want to grow in our faith and passively listen to a speaker that we agree with and never look at the passages that we are being taught, we just mindlessly and passively sit there. So let's do this... see if you are prioritizing your time by what you really value and be ruthlessly honest about it.

Journal a week of your events and see where your time goes, see what you really value and then, lay that before God and just be honest with him about what you value and where you're at. This is not a negative thing!!! It is a great snapshot of the stress in your life and is it really worth being busy with. So do it, start today and have the courage to become the Christ follower you want to be by putting your time under His lordship again. It is an eye opening experience that you will find quite enlightening! At the end of the week- lokk at what really doesn't contribute to the person you want to be become and say "NO" to that so you can say "YES" to the things that are going to contribute to your growth.

Shalom...

Prayer - III Faith passages

So what do you believe in, and what do you have faith in?
There are times when what we see, and then believe, so overwhelms what we trust in that we have a crisis in faith. The challenge is to choose the reality you buy into... is it God and His truth, or is it the conclusions you have come to? So before you start take a look at those conclusions you have come up with.. how have they been working for you? Maybe it's time to see if God's reality is a better solution... just try it on.

Here are some verses to establish God's reality in different chapters of our lives, see how they fit. Read and meditate on what they are saying to you. Listen for the still small voice of God in each verse that applies to you. Then open your bible and read the verses surrounding the verses here and meditate on what is there for you. It will take you about fifteen to twenty minutes to dramatically impact the next twenty four hours.

Anxiety

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) • More on Anxiety

Brokenhearted

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NASB)

Confusion

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace ... 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV)

Defeat

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair ... 2 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV)

Disappointment

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT) • More on Disappointment

Doubt

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

Failure

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)

Fear

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) • More on Fear

Grief

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

Hunger

Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

Impatience

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

Impossibilities

Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:27 (NIV)

Inability

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)

Inadequacy

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

Lacking Direction

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Lacking Intelligence

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 (NIV)

Lacking Wisdom

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV)

Loneliness

... the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) • More on Loneliness

Mourning

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

Poverty

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)

Rejection

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 (NIV)

Sorrow

I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13 (NASB)

Temptation

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) • More on Temptation

Tiredness

... 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. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Unforgiveness

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NLT) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV) • More on Unforgiveness

Unloved

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 (NLT)

Weakness

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Weariness

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Worry

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Active Listening

Have you ever been a part of a conversation and the other person is actually into it? They lean in, they respond, they ask about your statements to not lose the meaning. That is how prayer should be like, active and leaning into what God is saying in the moment to us. As you go through this exercise... savor the pauses, grasp the moments, hang on the words... seek and you shall find.


I pause for a moment and think of the love and the grace that God showers on me: I am created in the image and likeness of God; I am God's dwelling-place.

Pray this... 
Lord grant me the grace
to have freedom of the spirit.
Cleanse my heart and soul
so I may live joyously in your love

In the presence of my loving Creator,
I look honestly at my feelings over the last day, the highs, the lows and the level ground.
Can I see where the Lord has been present?


Meditate on this...
 Matthew 20:20-23
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him. And he said to her, 'What do you want?' She said to him, 'Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.' But Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?' They said to him, 'We are able.' He said to them, 'You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.'

What are you saying to me, Lord?

Take some time to hear your soul and listen to what God is saying, even jot it down and carry it with you today. Or comment your thoughts on this by clicking below.

Jesus, you always welcomed little children when you walked on this earth. Teach me to have a childlike trust in you. To live in the knowledge that you will never abandon me.
I am your child.