Prayer tools

How is your prayer life? Do you have one? Could you use some help? 

I doubt there are many who consider their prayer life top notch (I certainly don't), and I appreciate the fine folks at Renovare for pointing out this free online prayer course from 24-7 Prayer. 

I haven't checked out the course, but I do like this list of 30 printable 'Prayer Tools.' They're laid out well and easy to follow.

Good stuff!

Prayer of no words or thoughts

How then should we pray? I've heard more than a few arguments over whether our prayers are best as written out or simply off the top of our head. Liturgical versus spontaneous. And is prayer a 'bending of God's will' or a listening to God?

Well, far be it from me to know, but in chapter 5 of Thomas Merton's 'Contemplative Prayer' he caused me to think of prayer in a way I'd never really thought about (that I can recall).

He says...

"The prayer of the heart introduces us into deep interior silence so that we learn to experience its power. For that reason the prayer of the heart has to be always very simple, confined to the simplest of acts and often making use of no words and no thoughts at all."

Wowza! Prayer with no thoughts? I can already hear someone suggesting we are then ripe for the devil to take over our minds! We seem forever afraid...

Personally, I guess I always considered prayer more of a mental exercise. Pretty much based solely ON thoughts! Even considering our posture and body position as important, I still thought of it as connecting my mind to the mind of God. And maybe it is, but maybe it's not

I have also viewed prayer as sort of pleading with God. "Dear Lord, please be with little Joey and help him get over this hangnail that's causing so much pain." 

And... I don't know that prayer can't be those things... But I like how Merton presents it more as something else entirely. A simple openness to God; being present with God, or to God. Why do we so often feel that is not enough? Could it be because we don't trust God, or - egad - because we don't think He IS enough?

I want to trust God. I want to believe He is enough, and He is in control. 'Nuff said.

***

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." -- Proverbs 16:9

Every day prayers

I came across an article the other day featuring an excerpt from the Renovaré book 'Devotional Classics.' The book was edited by James Bryan Smith, and the fifty-two selections in Devotional Classics have been organized to introduce readers through the course of one year to some of the great devotional writers. After I check to make sure I don't already have the book, I intend to order it.

The article, however, featured eight "morning prayers" from John Baillie that are included in the book. That's what caught my eye.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I simply don't know what to pray anymore. I will occasionally reach a point where I seems all I can do is say "help" every day. Sometimes I can even start to wonder if it really matters at all.

That's why I like using written prayers from time to time. They're something different; something fresh. Included are one for each morning, and then an evening prayer. I hope the author(s) doesn't mind me listing them here. I want to use them at some point in a prayer exercise, and I do also intend to buy the book. Here are the eight prayers:

1. First Morning: “My First Thought”

Eternal Father of my soul, let my first thought today be of You, let my first impulse be to worship You, let my first speech be Your name, let my first action be to kneel before You in prayer.
For Your perfect wisdom and perfect goodness:
For the love with which You love mankind:
For the love with which You love me:
For the great and mysterious opportunity of my life:
For the indwelling of Your Spirit in my heart:
For the sevenfold gifts of Your Spirit:
I praise and worship You, O Lord.
Yet let me not, when this morning prayer is said, think my worship ended and spend the day in forgetfulness of You. Rather from these moments of quietness let light go forth, and joy, and power, that will remain with me through all the hours of the day; 
Keeping me chaste in thought:
Keeping me temperate and truthful in speech: 
Keeping me faithful and diligent in my work:
Keeping me humble in my estimation of myself:
Keeping me honorable and generous in my dealing with others:
Keeping me loyal to every hallowed memory of the past:
Keeping me mindful of my eternal destiny as a child of Yours.
Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

2. Second Morning: “Continued Dependence upon You”

O God my Creator and Redeemer, I may not go forth today except You accompany me with Your blessing. Let not the vigor and freshness of the morning, or the glow of good health, or the present prosperity of my undertakings, deceive me into a false reliance upon my own strength. All these good gifts have come to me from You. They were Yours to give and they are Yours also to curtail. They are not mine to keep; I do but hold them in trust; and only in continued dependence upon You, the Giver, can they be worthily enjoyed.
Let me then put back into Your hand all that You have given me, rededicating to Your service all the powers of my mind and body, all my worldly goods, all my influence with others. All these, O Father, are Yours to use as You will. All these are Yours, O Christ. All these are Yours, O Holy Spirit. Speak in my words today, think in my thoughts, and work in all my deeds. And seeing that it is Your gracious will to make use even of such weak human instruments in the fulfillment of Your mighty purpose for the world, let my life today be the channel through which some little portion of Your divine love and pity may reach the lives that are nearest to my own.
In Your solemn presence, O God, I remember all my friends and neighbors, my fellow townsfolk, and especially the poor within our gates, beseeching You that You would give me grace, so far as in me lies, to serve them in Your name. Amen.

3. Third Morning: “Joyous and Helpful Labor”

Lord of my life, whose law I fain would keep, whose fellowship I fain would enjoy, and to whose service I would fain be loyal, I kneel before You as You send me forth to the work of another day.
This day, O Lord—
give me courtesy:
give me meekness of bearing, with decision of character:
give me longsuffering:
give me chastity:
give me sincerity of speech:
give me diligence in my allotted task. 
O You who in the fullness of time raised up our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to enlighten our hearts with the knowledge of Your love, grant me the grace to be worthy of His name. Amen.

4. Fourth Morning: “Your Waiting Presence”

Almighty and eternal God,
You are hidden from my sight:
You are beyond the understanding of my mind:
Your thoughts are not as my thoughts:
Your ways are past finding out.
Yet You have breathed Your Spirit into my life:
Yet You have formed my mind to seek You:
Yet You have inclined my heart to love You:
Yet You have made me restless for the rest that is in You:
Yet You have planted within me a hunger and thirst that make me dissatisfied with all the joys of earth.
O You who alone know what lies before me this day, grant that in every hour of it I may stay close to You. Let me be in the world, yet not of it. Let me use this world without abusing it. If I buy, let me be as though I possessed not. If I have nothing, let me be as though possessing all things. Let me today embark on no undertaking that is not in line with Your will for my life, nor shrink from any sacrifice which Your will may demand. Suggest, direct, control every movement of my mind; for my Lord Christ’s sake. Amen.

5. Fifth Morning: “The Lord and Giver of Life”

God of my forefathers, I cry unto You. You have been the refuge of good and wise people in every generation. When history began, You were the first enlightener of minds, and Yours was the Spirit that first led them out of their brutish estate and made them human. Through all the ages You have been the Lord and giver of life, the source of all knowledge, the fountain of all goodness.
The patriarchs trusted You and were not put to shame:
The prophets sought You and You committed Your word to their lips:
The psalmist[s] rejoiced in You and You were present in their song[s]:
The apostles waited upon You and they were filled with Your Holy Spirit: The martyrs called upon You and You were with them in the midst of the flame:
Forbid it. Holy Lord, that I should fail to profit by these great memories of the ages that are gone by, or to enter into the glorious inheritance which You have prepared for me; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. 

6. Sixth Morning: “This Your Greatest Gift”

O God, who has proven Your love for all humanity by sending us Jesus Christ our Lord, and has illuminated our human life by the radiance of His presence, I give You thanks for this Your greatest gift.
For my Lord’s days upon the earth:
For the record of His deeds of love:
For the words he spoke for my guidance and help:
For His obedience unto death:
For His triumph over death:
For the presence of His Spirit within me now:
I thank you, O God.
Grant that the remembrance of the blessed Life that once was lived out on this common earth under these ordinary skies may remain with me in all the tasks and duties of this day.
Let me remember—
His eagerness, not to be ministered unto, but to minister:
His sympathy with suffering of every kind:
His bravery in the face of His own suffering:
His meekness of bearing, so that, when reviled, He reviled not again:
His steadiness of purpose in keeping to His appointed task:
His simplicity:
His self-discipline:
His serenity of spirit:
His complete reliance upon You, His Father in Heaven.
And in each of these ways give me grace to follow in His footsteps. Amen.

7. Seventh Morning: “O Lord and Maker of All Things”

O Lord and Maker of all things, from whose creative power the first light came forth, who looked upon the world’s first morning and saw that it was good, I praise You for this light that now streams through my windows to rouse me to the life of another day.
I praise You for the life that stirs within me:
I praise You for the bright and beautiful world into which I go:
I praise You for earth and sea and sky, for scudding cloud and singing bird:
I praise You for the work You have given me to do:
I praise You for all that You have given me to fill my leisure hours:
I praise You for my friends:
I praise You for music and books and good company and all pure pleasures. Amen.

An Evening Prayer

O God, immortal, eternal, invisible, I remember with gladness and thanksgiving all that Thou has been to this world of men:
Companion of the brave: Upholder of the loyal: Light of the wanderer: Joy of the pilgrim: Guide of the pioneer: Helper of laboring men: Refuge of the broken-hearted: Deliverer of the oppressed: Succour of the tempted: Strength of the victorious: Ruler of rulers: Friend of the poor: Rescuer of the perishing: Hope of the dying:
Give me faith now to believe that Thou can be all in all to me, according to my need, if only I renounce all proud self-dependence and put my trust in Thee.
Show thy lovingkindness tonight, O Lord, to all who stand in need of Thy help. Be with the weak to make them strong and with the strong to make them gentle. Cheer the lonely with Thy company and the distracted with Thy solitude. Prosper Thy Church in the fulfillment of her mighty task, and grant Thy blessing to all who toiled today in Christ’s name. Amen.

When we don't know what to do

I am still using N.T. Wright's 'John For Everyone' commentary for my morning devotions. I read the text, and his thoughts on them, and then journal my thoughts and a prayer to God. I must admit, most days it results in little more than, "God, I don't know what this means, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. Help." Today, however, was NOT one of those days!

Today's reading was from John 6:1-15, dealing with the 'feeding of the five thousand.' For starters, this is an incredible story and piece of writing. More than that, though, I really like how Wright handled it.

Much like a good detective story, Wright contends, John weaves several clues to the meaning throughout. Every little detail has meaning. For instance, this is the second time John has mentioned something happening at Passover time. He seems to want us to connect our minds to the Passover itself - when God liberated the children of Israel from Egypt - and with the other Passover events in the gospel... such as Jesus' death and resurrection. Not only did God provide 'bread from heaven' during the wilderness wanderings, and at this event with a crowd in the hills, but he has provided for our ultimate need in the 'bread and cup' of Jesus himself!

What really caught my interest today was something else Wright points out though: the exchange between Jesus, Philip and Andrew - and, of course, the unnamed boy with the bread and fish. As Wright writes:

"Philip doesn't know what to do. Andrew doesn't either, but he brings the boy and his bread and fish to Jesus' attention. The point is obvious, but we perhaps need to be reminded of it: so often we ourselves have no idea what to do, but the starting-point is always to bring what is there to the attention of Jesus. You can never tell what he's going to do with it - though part of the Christian faith is the expectation that he will do something we hadn't thought of, something new and creative."

Yes! Yes! and Yes! again!!! Isn't that so awesome?!?

Wright also points out the jump Jesus' hearers make from 'prophet' to 'Messiah' (or king). He notes, "...the reaction of the crowds shows that they understand both of these in what Jesus regards as a quite inadequate sense. In much of the rest of the chapter, Jesus will attempt to move them towards a deeper and truer understanding. We must hope and pray that this chapter has that effect on us as well." Amen!

But back to the bolded point above (the exchange between Jesus, Philip and Andrew)... This really triggered something in my mind this morning. I'm not entirely sure why, but... it's what is there.

What it has me thinking is... is this the point of prayer? Are we simply to bring what we have to Jesus... in hopes that he will do something with it? Something new and creative... something we'd never guessed, or expected, or thought possible? I mean, that's kind of what faith itself is, am I right?!?

Anyway, in my journal this morning I just wrote down what was there. I tried to 'be still' and simply notice my surroundings, my thoughts, what was happening in and around me. It didn't seem like much to me... like a sack lunch... but I, even I, admit to being just a little excited - for at least a moment - at the thought of what Jesus might be able to do with it.

So what about you? What is 'there' in your life... that you can bring to Jesus' attention? Think of it not only as an experiment in mindfulness... but faithfulness too. :)

Peace out; and in.

I prayed

This past Sunday I actually, finally, prayed in front of a congregation of people again. I was sooooo stinking nervous all day Saturday, but I did live to tell about it. As I will now do...

This was really the first thing I've done in a church service since being asked to not return to my church almost 6 years ago. Yes, I preached once at our home church in Illinois, but other than helping serve communion or being a greeter, this was the first time I'd held a microphone and actually spoke in front of people.

I'm sure you're thinking, "What's the big deal?" Well, it probably shouldn't be a big deal... but you've no idea the war that's been waging inside of me these past several years. The feelings of inadequacy, the timid little boy that bosses me around, the questions of, "Am I good enough?" "Who do I think I am?" "Will I ever recover?" "Why, why, why???" I mean, the amount of drama my brain puts me through is almost unbearable sometimes...

Anyway, last Thursday I was asked if I would be willing to offer the Sunday morning prayer (by the person who is apparently in charge of it - even though I have an inkling they may forget this from time to time). It was a big long message with all sorts of justifications and explanations and whatnot. I simply said, "Sure. Thanks." Then it turned out that our pastor got sick and wasn't able to be there Sunday, so he also texted me Saturday night to see if I would do the prayer time (apparently not knowing his wife had already asked me).

To be honest, it helped a great deal finding out on Thursday instead of Sunday morning. Yes, it meant that much more time for me to stew and fret, but I just don't do well with spur-of-the-moment stuff. So I was nervous as a cat as the day approached. I went through old books, and looked up stuff on the internet, trying to find what would be THE PERFECT prayer to astound people with.... And it occurred to me... I might be going about this all wrong. Ugh... why am I like this?

Eventually, I did write out a prayer that I thought would be simple enough, but also sufficient to give a little glory to God (rather than just pray for people's ailing body parts). I wanted to be prepared in case I froze with the mic in my hand, but hoped to pray more extemporaneously. And I did. I'm sure there is video evidence of it somewhere on the interwebs. I honestly have no idea what I said, or if I made any blunders or not, or if I spoke loud enough and clear enough for people to hear me. I don't think my praying brought any sinners into the kingdom, but in my mind, it was a start.

---

I've had these rumbling thoughts lately... and I was more fully convicted this morning during my reading/journaling devotions that... I maybe, kinda, sorta have this problem. I'm not sure if I am more concerned about others learning and hearing about God... or if I merely want to 'appear' that I know something about God. Either way, it struck me that my concern has NOT been that 'I' know God! You know... I want to share a great prayer so people might see Him in it... but am I able to simply pray from the heart because I see Him and know Him?

This is not something to be proud of - nothing in this post is! But I feel like it's significant for me. And my prayer this morning was one of those, "I don't know what to do, God." Also, "and I want to know You."

I think I've been so concerned with wanting to prove that I 'am' somebody - to others and even to myself - that I've forgotten about simply 'being' somebody. I've forgotten about integrity and character and the idea that who I am when no one is around is more important than who I appear to others to be.

Maybe it's because it is Lent (even though I haven't really thought about Lent at all); or maybe it's reading this daily devotional about all the saints of old... I don't know. I suppose it's humbling, but if feels more like I've just been stupid. But that's okay.

So... I prayed during our Sunday morning service last week. And I'm still praying. Hear my prayer, O Lord. Amen.

No more tears

I was hoping to write something every day. It's been a chore I've not kept up with very well so far.

Anyway, something I've been thinking about for awhile now is... crying. I actually didn't realize 'No More Tears' was an Ozzie Osborne album - which isn't what this is about. It's also not about Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes."

The thing is... I don't seem to cry anymore. I used to do so regularly - especially when I was pastoring. Times of prayer would often result in tears; or heart-to-hearts with friends and/or acquaintances. Even church meetings and conversations about how to care for one another better. But now... I don't even remember the last time I cried.

Certainly my day to day life was different working in self-storage than it used to be. I don't think it's just because I've become too 'busy' though. My fear is I've lost a heart for the things of God. For instance, the flooding in Texas. I really have no thoughts or feelings on the subject whatsoever. Tragic scenes have no effect.

Another thing is simply not having - or taking - the time to ponder the things of life deeply. I miss intimate moments in prayer, and hours spent empathizing with and for lost and hurting souls. It's like, not only is there a disconnect from God and others, but from my own inner self too. My mind is too far from my heart.

I'm not saying I want to become a cry-baby, but I do desire a deepening within; a better connection to my soul; to the place of emotions and compassion; and also to God. That's what I've been thinking about, and what I want back.

Peace out; and in.

All I know about transgender

The president has made transgender people a big topic of discussion since he tweeted some nonsense the other day. I have to confess: I don't really know what to think about L, G, B, or T people. Meaning - I don't understand how it works. I don't know if people are born that way or not. Personally, I don't care. I have never been interested in ANYONE'S sex life - gay, straight, single, married, or whatever! And in my ignorance on the subject I don't even know if that's what it's all about. Basically, I guess I choose to not take a position on the subject. People are people, and everyone should be valued and respected on that basis alone. That's all there is to it in my mind.

So, last night we did our usual Wednesday thing of sharing a meal with the under-served of the city on the library plaza. There was an odd feel in the air, as there often is. At one point a guy showed up who was obviously high on something and he was getting rather loud and obnoxious. He shoved his plate down in front of me at one point - because the potato chips I was giving out had crumbs in them - and even later when I'd opened a new bag and took him a new plate he was belligerent about it and refused to take it. Of course then he complained about how we wouldn't feed him. So it was one of those nights.

And... you're probably wondering what this has to do with transgender people, right? Well, before all of that happened, Jane and I were approached by a woman who used to be a man (at least I think so). We were familiar with this person. We have interacted on many occasions. But tonight was different. She told us she recently discovered she has full blown AIDS. And she wanted prayer. So I took her aside while Jane tried to dole out watermelon AND potato chips. And I have to say, I'm ashamed to admit that I had to think about how close I should get to her. I finally put my arm on her shoulder, and we prayed.

So all I know about transgender people is... This particular one was scared. She didn't mention anything about Trumps tweets or politics or problems in society. She was scared of dying. She wanted help. She wanted Jesus to know that she needed him. So that's how we prayed, and that's really all I know about transgender people. For a few minutes on a Wednesday night I knew one soul that wanted to reach out to Jesus. So we did. Together.

Sometimes I feel like a coward for opting to not take a stand on certain issues. On the other hand, I think my stand is somewhat the same regardless... I am FOR people. I want people to have peace in their soul. All people. And that's about all I know.

Thoughts on prayer

I am reposting these thoughts on prayer from Will Willimon. I first ran it in July of 2007 on this blog, and was for some reason drawn to it again today. Good stuff (imho):

Prayer, at least prayer in “Jesus’ name,” as Jesus practiced it, does not come naturally. Most people I know think that our prayers ought to be “heartfelt” or “sincere.” Jesus apparently could care less about such sentimental mush. He has a definite, peculiar notion of what constitutes prayer. Prayer is not whenever I spill my guts to God: prayer is when I obey Jesus and pray for the things that he teaches me to pray for and when I pray the way he prays. Prayer is bending my feelings, my desires, my thoughts and yearnings toward Jesus and what he wants me to feel, desire and think.

In most churches I visit, a time of prayer is often preceded by a time of “Joys and Concerns.” I notice that in every congregation, the only concerns expressed are concerns for people in the congregation who are going through various health crises. Prayer becomes what we used to refer to as “Sick Call” in the army. Where on earth did we get this idea of prayer? Not from Jesus. He healed a few people from time to time, but he doesn’t pray for that. He prays for the coming of God’s kingdom, for bread (but only on a daily basis, not for a surplus) and for forgiveness for our trespasses. It’s curious that physical deterioration has become the contemporary North American church’s main concern in prayer. Jesus is most notable for teaching that we are to pray—not for recent gall bladder surgery—but for our enemies!

To be a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, is to pray like Jesus. Therefore Luther called the Lord’s Prayer “a summary of the whole gospel.” A Christian is someone who talks to God about what the Lord’s Prayer talks with God about. Thus this prayer is not only a gift that Jesus gives us, but also judgment against us as we measure our own fidelity against the standard of Jesus.

Bible bullet points

One of the things I like about the church we've been attending on Sundays is that the pastor isn't one of those people who makes statements about the bible as though they are definitive facts - or that his understanding is the only possible understanding. Not that there aren't facts in the bible, but many people seem to claim certain truths that, really, are nothing more than educated guesses.

At any rate, this past Sunday the message was on the last part of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and into chapter 5. Verses 12-22 of chapter 5 weren't really the bulk of the message - we just kind of touched on them at the end - but the speaker said something like, "I know there aren't bullet points in the bible, but if there is anything close to bullet points on what it means to be a Christian, this is about as close as it gets." I would tend to agree.

Here is 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 in the New Living Translation:

¹² Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. ¹³ Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

¹⁴ Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
¹⁵ See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
¹⁹ Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Do not scoff at prophecies, ²¹ but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. ²² Stay away from every kind of evil.

Our challenge from this is to pray this each day:

TODAY I WILL...

• Honor my spiritual leaders
• Live peacefully
• Not be lazy 
• Encourage the timid
• Take care of the weak
• Be patient
• Be joyful
• Never stop praying
• Be thankful in all circumstances
• Not scoff at prophecies
• Test everything
• Hold on to what is good
• Stay away from evil

Again, I like that. While I don't believe it is prescriptive, it is a very good description of what a Christ-like life should include. I am going to try to pray it each day for awhile. God knows I could be better at just about every one of them.

God's will vs god

I believe I've mentioned before how Jane and I have been seeking and praying for God's will for our lives for quite some time now. Shoot, it goes back to before we were booted from our church even. It was interesting, then, when at the last minute we decided to attend the church we've been attending this past Sunday (we were planning to go somewhere else), and the pastor spoke pretty clearly about the subject.

According to him (in this sermon), he said that God's will for us really boils down to two simple things:

1. Eternal life
2. Holiness

The message was from 1 Thessalonians 4, and dealt more with the holiness aspect. What really struck the both of us, though, was this statement he made towards the beginning:

"What if you stopped seeking God's will for your life, and simply started seeking God?"

Um, yes, I think that was a word from God to us. So we have changed our nightly prayers. Slightly. We are still asking for direction on where to live, ministry, church, etc. But mostly we are simply trying to seek God; to know him more; to be more fully known and open to His work in our lives.

I can remember a couple periods in my life where I was earnestly desiring to be holy. It wasn't a legalistic or works-centered thing, I really truly wanted to live a holy life - pleasing to God. Those were probably my best days.

I can even remember when I had finished my seminary schooling and we were seeking direction. I believe it was Jane who pointed out that God probably didn't really care where we lived or what church position we had or anything of the sort. So... that's where I'm trying to direct my mind nowadays. I want to have a heart for God; all the time; in everything I do. Which doesn't mean I want to be a bible-thumping, uptight religious snob. I simply want to seek God with all my heart, mind, and strength. I'm sure I will continue to struggle and occasionally fail just like I always have, but I want to keep trying.

Peace out; and in.

Listening for the spirit's voice

Today's topic is from chapter 5 of Michael Frost's great little book 'Surprise the World: The Five Habits of Highly Missional People.' It is on developing the habit of listening for the Spirit's voice in our lives.

This came at a very interesting time for me, personally. My present tribe is fond of emphasizing two main questions to ask ourselves: 1) What is God saying to you? and 2) What are you going to do about it? While sitting in our weekly worship gathering this past Sunday it became apparent to me that... I don't have a clue what God is saying to me. So I prayed about it a couple times that day. Then, on Monday, I opened up this chapter on listening for the Spirit's voice! Quite the coincidence, I would say. ;)

Frost suggests spending at least one period of the week listening for the Spirit's voice. Simply a time - preferably at least 20 minutes - where we stop and create space to commune with God. As he says on p. 58:

"How are we to know how to navigate our way through the world, eating with and blessing unbelievers, without the Spirit's voice to guide us away from falling into sin?

When I say "falling into sin," I don't necessarily mean getting drunk or running off with your neighbor's spouse (although of course we're never immune to making such choices). I'm referring to the much less dramatic but far more prevalent sins of fear and laziness.

Fear and laziness are mission killers. Fear of persecution, fear of standing out or causing offense, fear of having to answer someone's tricky questions--fear will shut down missional engagement every time. Likewise with laziness: I don't mean the kind of laziness that has you lying on the couch eating Doritos and watching sports on television. I mean the inner voice that prompts you not to bother with offering yourself in the service of others. Laziness tells you that you don't have the time; laziness whispers to you that you need to take care of yourself first."

He continues on the next page:

"My experience when engaging with my neighbors is that I must open my heart to the Holy Spirit in order to separate truth from untruth, fiction from knowledge, the honorable from the dishonorable. Figuring out how best to be an intriguing, blessing, godly presence in community isn't easy. If I'm going to encourage you to bless others and eat with them, it would be irresponsible of me not to also encourage you to listen to the Spirit."

This habit of listening is designed to provide us with the nurture, sustenance, and accountability for the missional lifestyle. So for those willing to undertake the challenge of silence and solitude as a missional habit, this is the advice he offers for fostering an openness to the Spirit's promptings:

1. Set aside a designated time - Actually block it out on your schedule. He prefers a Sunday or Monday (early in the week).
2. Eliminate distractions - Find ways to avoid any intrusion on the senses of touch, sight, smell, taste, or sound. As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:6, "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray... in secret." Again, he suggests 20 minutes or more, saying something often happens to the stillness around ten to fifteen minutes in.
3. Let God in - He suggests some type of "centering prayer" (more in this below). As Thomas Merton said, "The prayer of the heart has to be always very simple, confined to the simplest of acts."
4. Follow God's promptings - It is somewhat pointless to listen if we are not prepared to follow.

CENTERING PRAYER:
On pages 64-65 Frost talks about "centering prayer." Centering prayer is different from classic Eastern meditation, which is designed to empty your mind by pushing thoughts away or by having no thoughts. The key to Christian contemplative prayer (centering) is to focus our attention. Perhaps using a prayer-word, such as: amen, Abba, grace, love, let go, stillness, Jesus; or maybe the so-called Jesus Prayer (adapted from Luke 18:13) "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." It's okay to let thoughts in, but we don't want to engage them. Ideally, after a period of centering prayer, our thoughts will begin to slow down, becoming more captive to the object of our worship, and shaped by the Holy Spirit.

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One thing that really leaped off the page for me in this chapter was the quote by St. Therese of Lisieux:

"If you are willing to bear serenely the trial of being displeasing to yourself, then you will be for Jesus a pleasant place of shelter."

Wow. That brought me such a sense of hope and comfort. I am often displeasing to myself. I like the thought that, rather than disqualifying me for Christ's love, it actually qualifies me as a "pleasant place of shelter" for Jesus; A person he wants to be with.

Naturally, as an introvert, this chapter on listening was much more to my liking than the acts of blessing and eating. It's not anymore important, perhaps, but I found it very timely and powerful.

Morning prayer

This past Sunday we took in a Sunday morning worship time at a nearby mega-church (www.fmcfw.org). It is literally just minutes from our house, and it's a nice place to visit sometimes, but it is pretty "urban" for us. It's also very huge. They have three services and run near 2,000 people a Sunday. The music borders on hip-hop, and while it's done extremely well, it just doesn't connect with us. We do really like the main pastor's teaching though (Dave D.). He is very encouraging, very passionate, and a superb communicator.

On this particular day Pastor Dave was preaching on Ephesians 3:14-21. It is a beautiful piece of Scripture, and a great prayer in itself:

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

It was a very simple, yet wonderfully profound message. The points were:

1. We will realize our potential when we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit's POWER.

• This is a function of presentation. 

2. We will realize our potential when we are rooted in Christ's LOVE.

• This is a function of reflection.

3. We will realize our potential when we are filled with God's FULLNESS.

• This is a function of submission.

The "challenge/application" was to try to start each day with the following 3-part prayer:

PRESENTATION: "Lord, I can't be what you want me to be and I can't do what you call me to do without Your Spirit freshly empowering me. So I humbly yet confidently come to you yet again asking for this grace for another day."

REFLECTION: "Lord, I want to rest again in the fact that your love is so high and wide and long and deep. Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

SUBMISSION: "Lord, I bow before You, asking that your ways become my ways... that your will becomes my will. As I empty myself of myself, fill me with Yourself."

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So... I've been trying to do that. I'm not sure the specific words are as important as the focus it establishes. It's so easy to just wander into a day, and I believe it helps me a great deal to start by presenting myself to God, reflecting on who he is and who I am to him, and submitting to Him and His ways. In fact, I think I will put this prayer in my phone so I will have it wherever I happen to be.