Category Archives: Christian Living and Practice

Three Keys To Effective Prayer

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I call upon you; answer me, O God. Turn your ear to me; hear my speech. Psalm 17:6

When was the last time you contemplated the importance of prayer? Almost everyone has an opinion on times, places, and frequency concerning personal prayer.  But have you taken the time to understand just how important prayer is to your spiritual life?

Psalm 17 is a prayer of King David, written down for our benefit.  His opening petition is instructive: “Hear, Lord, my plea for justice; pay heed to my cry.”  I think we can all connect to this idea – that God will hear and answer our cries.  We expect God to hear us and to answer us.

Since that is the case, what should our attitude concerning prayer be? I see at least three principles in this Psalm that if employed consistently will yield much fruit in our lives. I encourage you to study Psalm 17 on your own, to not only see these three principles but to see what else God might show you.

Here are the three principles: (1) Stay alert – don’t let your mind drift. How many of you will admit that you start off your prayer time with good intentions but before you know it you’re thinking about items on your “must do” list. David’s prayer is focused.  Keep in mind the Apostle Paul’s admonition to the Colossian believers to “persevere in prayer, being watchful in it” (Col. 4:2).

(2) Be specific with your petitions. When you go to a restaurant you don’t ask the waiter to “bring me food.” You specially request what you would like – “sirloin steak, medium rare.” Prayers that are nothing more than generalizations or meaningless catch-phrases ask for nothing and will receive the same in return.

Finally, (3) Expect to receive. If you pray simply from habit expecting to receive nothing from God, then you are really wasting your time. James the brother of Jesus said that when we pray we should pray “in faith, not doubting.” The whole point of prayer is that we are making our petitions known to God who will answer us according to His goodness and kindness.

Friends, prayer can change our lives when we approach it with a right understanding of its place and power.

This is a transforming truth.

A Thanksgiving Reflection

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first-thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving Day in America.  A day that is for the most part a celebration of our history as a nation, (although very dimly remembered) and all that is good and right about America.  This is not to say that America is without blemish for we surely have fallen in many instances, and continue to fail to uphold the ideals which our forefathers envisioned.  Nevertheless today is a day of giving thanks for the lives we have and the many attendant blessings, whether we use that particular word or not.

In the midst of this time of reflection I wonder though about the many Americans who increasingly disavow God.  If current studies are accurate and the latest statistics can be believed, Americans are becoming more secular and less religious in significant numbers.  This has a direct bearing on our ability to see life as precious and worthy of our best efforts.

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A Thanksgiving Prayer – Prayers of John Wesley

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John Wesley

“Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer; it is almost essentially connected with it. One who always prays is ever giving praise, whether in ease or pain, both for prosperity and for the greatest adversity. He blesses God for all things, looks on them as coming from Him, and receives them for His sake- not choosing nor refusing, liking or disliking, anything, but only as it is agreeable or disagreeable to His perfect will.”

John Wesley, How To Pray: The Best of John Wesley on Prayer

Use The Law

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“But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully.” 1 Timothy 1:8

Modern techniques for sharing the Christian faith utilize a wide range of approaches.  Unfortunately, the one approach Christians should use is largely ignored. I want to believe this oversight is out of ignorance, not knowing that the biblically prescribed method for evangelizing is to actually share with the unbeliever what God’s Word has to say about their spiritual condition, and the standard by which they will be judged if they remain in that condition.

Sadly I don’t think that is the case in far too many instances.  Instead of sharing the biblically prescribed method of sharing God’s mercy and grace in salvation, many Christians think it best to present the Gospel in a beautifully gift wrapped package comprised of exhortations to understand that God loves them so much and wants to bless them with a bountiful, abundant life. This well-intentioned, though misinformed advertisement for God is usually accompanied by a smiling “God wants you to have your best life now” promotion. Is this the biblical method of evangelism?

Friends, it is not.  The starting place for any conversation with an unbeliever is God’s Word and what it says about unbelief and eternal judgment. From there you must address the truth that apart from faith in God every unbeliever is trying to earn their salvation by their own deeds.  Finally, the unbeliever must understand that God’s Word says no one is righteous by their own deeds (Romans 3).

So how must we go about sharing the Christian faith with unbelievers?  What does the biblically mandated method include?  For one thing it includes telling the unbeliever about God’s Law.  Why the Law? The great reformer Martin Luther said this of the Law of God: “In its true and proper work and purpose it humbles a man and prepares him – if he uses the Law correctly – to yearn and seek for grace.”

The Apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy to “use the Law lawfully.” What does that mean? It means that we are to use the Law for its intended purpose.  What is the intended purpose of the Law? The Bible tells us that the Law is meant to be a tutor, leading us to faith in Christ. Other passages speak of the Law as a mirror that shows us what sin really is and having performed that task to shut up every mouth that tries to justify sinful behavior (Romans 3).

The problems with forsaking the biblical method of evangelism are myriad.  First, what will you do when the “God offers you happiness” approach comes up against someone who professes happiness already?  What will you say to the one who already has a good marriage, well-behaved children, a fabulous job, and a general sense of well-being with their life?

Second, how does offering someone happiness if they will believe in God cleanse them of their sin?  And how can anyone possibly be forgiven of their sin without repentance? The “God offers you happiness” approach to evangelism is simply unbiblical and results in false converts every time.

Friends, too much is at stake to be worrying about offending anyone with the truth of God’s Word concerning unbelief.  We should not become so preoccupied with how people will respond to our concern for their eternal destiny that we attempt to soften the biblical description of their predicament.

The Law of God was given to identify sin and to make the sinner understand that they are personally responsible before a holy God.  In the understanding of sin’s nature however come a broken heart and a repentance that leads to the cross of Jesus.

It is at the cross where transformation occurs. Oh what a glorious truth!

Cultivate Godliness In Your Own Life

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We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:3-4, 9

It is a well-known fact that today’s ministry leaders are busier than ever, with schedules full of meetings, counseling sessions, and church events. Add to this already burgeoning load the necessity to spend time with spouse, children, families, and you have a recipe for exhaustion.

How can today’s ministry leaders manage all of this well?  By remembering one very important fact – as a child of God by faith, we are called by God and are being conformed by Him into the image of Jesus Christ.  This has several implications.

First, we have a personal relationship with our Creator and Savior that needs to be cultivated. Second, our own sanctification and the time we devote to it will shape our ability to minister to others.  Third, we cannot give to others or model for others what we do not have or know ourselves.

There are a few things that are absolute musts for all believers and especially so for those who lead others. Here are 3 primary areas to cultivate in your life.

  1. Spend time regularly in Bible study, prayer, and if possible fasting. This can be a challenge for Bible teachers who spend a lot of time preparing to teach others.  Teaching others is not a substitute for being nourished yourself.  A personal prayer time outside of ministry settings must also be a high priority.
  2. Be a worshipper. This sounds oxymoronic but understand that as a ministry leader, worship can sometimes become that part of the service that occurs before you take the stage or teach the class. Be a devoted worshipper so that God is honored in your life. This will be reflected in your ministry to others.
  3. Finally, take regularly scheduled times to rest and recharge. This is something I am learning to do. After 10 straight years of preaching every Sunday morning with only 2-3 Sundays a year off, I have taken a 5 week in-house sabbatical while some of the men in our church teach through 1 Timothy.

Friends, it is important that you take an active role in your own sanctification. Understanding this will become a transforming truth.