Archive for attitude

Our Attitude in Prayer – Part 2

Reflections on Psalm 130:1-2

The Lord has been challenging me about my prayer life through Psalm 130.  For the past few weeks I have “camped out” at verses 1-2, where the Psalmist
writes as inspired by the Holy Spirit,

  1. [A song of ascents.] Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
  2. O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

I sensed the Lord asking me, “What are my depths?”  I felt led to answer that question by looking at 1 John 2:16, which says,
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the
world.”

As I reflected before the Lord about these 3 areas of “lusts of the world” – of the flesh, of the eyes and of the pride of life – I realized that the
Lord wants to do an “on-going-emptying” of the container and vessel that is my life.  These “depths” include:

  1. What we do and are doing to ourselves
  2. What others have done and are doing to us

But whichever it is of the 2, I need to let the Holy Spirit show me “the depths” of my life where God’s mercy is needed to set me free; where God’s mercy needs to dig out the garbage so that there is a bigger place for “holy habitation”.

What are your “depths”?

Our Attitude in Prayer – Part 1

Reflections on Matthew 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25

While there is disagreement about what Jesus meant by, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of God” (cf.mat.19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25), I would like to share a few thoughts on what challenges me:

  1. If Jesus is talking about a literal “eye of the needle”, then it is clearly letting us know the impossibilities of earning salvation on any merit of our own, and;
  2. “riches” are NOT necessarily a sign of our righteousness and blessing.

If it relates to a particular gate that livestock went through, then I see a strong word-picture of surrender and humility that Jesus presents us with.  And there are three components to getting through this livestock gate:

  1. We need to surrender and humble ourselves to “the gate” – Jesus said that He is the “gate” for God’s sheep (John 10:7);
  2. We must yield and surrender to the “gate-keeper” – God, the Father is the “gate-keeper” (cf. Psalm 24:7-10); and,
  3. We must yield and surrender ourselves to the Spirit of God who leads us through the gate and sets the pace for us (Galatians 5:25).

How Should I Pray? Part 2

Ephesians 3:15

“… from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derive its name.

The Apostle Paul takes his posture of humility and attitude of gratitude for God’s grace (vs.14), then proceeds to declare another 2 reasons for his sense of awe, humility and gratitude towards God:

Reason #1: Paul has been a member of an eternal family that has members both in heaven and earth… and so have you and I!  Think of the “family reunion of joy” we will have when Christ’s Kingdom is fully established on earth.  And those people of faith who you have admired from afar, are not a part of your eternal family.  For me, that means I get to rejoice with King David as just 1 of many people of faith I admire, and not get to call a “brother in the Lord”.

Reason #2: God gives us “His Name” through Jesus Christ.  No matter how much you like – or dislike – your family heritage, you NOW have a heritage of eternal glory and honor.  “Child of God” will be put on your “eternal resume”!  WOW!

We should pray with the knowledge that we have the support and encouragement of our eternal family of God; and with the support of “Our Father Who is in heaven”; with the support of Jesus Christ, who is Friend, Brother and Lord; and with the support of God’s Eternal Spirit.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Pastor Denny

Intercessory Prayer Style

My prayer journey has gone through many changes over the past 30 years. Probably one of the most significant has been in my Intercessory Prayer Style that seeks intimacy with Jesus, as well as, seeks to make myself available to intercede for Him as His heart desires. The changes to my “Intercessory Prayer Style” could be compared to the position of intimacy (or, lack thereof) that we see happening with Mary or Martha in Luke 10:38-42 when they invited Jesus into their home for a meal and a time of hospitality.

(38) Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. (39) She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. (40) But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” (41) But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; (42) but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Martha’s attitude of intimacy was that of doing and being busy for the Lord; but all her activity kept her presence – and her heart – at a distance from Jesus. Mary’s attitude of intimacy was to sit at Jesus’ feet listening! Over the years, the Lord has been helping me make a change from a “Martha style” of personal prayer to a “Mary style”. For awhile, I even discontinued the use of devotionals, as well, because they became a “substitute” for my own personal prayer rather than something that “primed the pump” for my own prayer.

What is your style of personal prayer? Are you like Martha or Mary in approaching your time with Jesus? Please add your comment below ~