Many of us have lost sight of the goal. Amid the noise of political debate and the warnings of economic disaster, along with the daily cares of life -- it can be a struggle to keep a Kingdom perspective. A nugget from Dallas Willard helps me adjust my focus.
"Jesus did not send His students out to start governments or even churches as we know them today, which always strongly convey some elements of a human system. They were, instead, to establish beachheads of His person, [His] word, and [His] power in the midst of a failing and futile humanity. They were to bring the presence of the kingdom and its King into every corner of human life simply by fully living in the kingdom with Him.
"We must make no mistake about it. In thus sending out his trainees, He set afoot a perpetual world revolution: one that is still in process and will continue until God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. As this revolution culminates, all the forces of evil known to mankind will be defeated and the goodness of God will be known, accepted, and joyously conformed to in every aspect of human life. He has chosen to accomplish this with and, in part, through [us] His students." excerpt from Renovation of the Heart
That's something to ponder.
David
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sincere Prayers
Growing up in a non-liturgical church, we almost never recited a written prayer, not even the Lord's prayer. In our tradition, prayer had to be spontaneous in order to be sincere, or so I thought. But as an adult, I began to discover the rich prayers in the Bible, and often relied on them to express my feelings to God in heart-felt prayer.
Any written prayer can be made your own, and will be heard by God, if it expresses the desire of your own heart and is in harmony with the will of God. At times the following prayers have served to focus my heart and mind when talking to God. I have seen Him answer many times. They are an adaptation from Glenn Clark, one of the most widely published authors on the life of prayer in the 20th century. You will find they are in harmony with the Bible, and that God is eager to answer them.
Blessings,
David
1. I pray for Your spirit to enter me and fill me completely. "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24)
2. I pray for Your kingdom to come in earth as it is in heaven.
"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." (Jn 14:13)
3. I pray for my will to become completely and utterly Your will. "...I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (Jn 16:23)
4. I pray for my actual needs to be met by the right supply in the right way and at the right time. "We receive from him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him." (1 JN 3:22)
5. I pray for the right persons to come into my life, at the right time and in the right way. "And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him." (1 Jn 5:15)
6. I pray for the right ideas to come to me in perfect sequence and in perfect order, in the right time and in the right way. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (Jn 15:16)
7. I pray for my deepest soul's sincere desire to be fulfilled in the right time and in the right way. "But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." (Jn 11:22)
8. I ask You, Father, for the health and strength that will enable me to serve You, and never fail You. "Ask and it will be given to you...For everyone who asks receives." (Matt 7:7-8)
9. I seek from You, Father, the money and things that will supply the resources for a creative and fruitful life. "Seek and you will find...for he who seeks finds." (Matt 7:7-8)
10. Open the door, Father, to the right work that will enable me to make my finest contribution to mankind. "Knock and the door will be opened to you...for to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matt 7:7-8)
Any written prayer can be made your own, and will be heard by God, if it expresses the desire of your own heart and is in harmony with the will of God. At times the following prayers have served to focus my heart and mind when talking to God. I have seen Him answer many times. They are an adaptation from Glenn Clark, one of the most widely published authors on the life of prayer in the 20th century. You will find they are in harmony with the Bible, and that God is eager to answer them.
Blessings,
David
1. I pray for Your spirit to enter me and fill me completely. "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24)
2. I pray for Your kingdom to come in earth as it is in heaven.
"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." (Jn 14:13)
3. I pray for my will to become completely and utterly Your will. "...I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (Jn 16:23)
4. I pray for my actual needs to be met by the right supply in the right way and at the right time. "We receive from him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him." (1 JN 3:22)
5. I pray for the right persons to come into my life, at the right time and in the right way. "And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him." (1 Jn 5:15)
6. I pray for the right ideas to come to me in perfect sequence and in perfect order, in the right time and in the right way. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (Jn 15:16)
7. I pray for my deepest soul's sincere desire to be fulfilled in the right time and in the right way. "But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." (Jn 11:22)
8. I ask You, Father, for the health and strength that will enable me to serve You, and never fail You. "Ask and it will be given to you...For everyone who asks receives." (Matt 7:7-8)
9. I seek from You, Father, the money and things that will supply the resources for a creative and fruitful life. "Seek and you will find...for he who seeks finds." (Matt 7:7-8)
10. Open the door, Father, to the right work that will enable me to make my finest contribution to mankind. "Knock and the door will be opened to you...for to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matt 7:7-8)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.JPG)