Desiring God January 31, 2008

Our emphasis on prayer here on the Metro Mom’s blog has been sovereignly ordained by God.  We know this because everywhere we look it seems that the Holy Spirit is speaking the same to others.  We shared with you last week about an excellent post from Paul Tripp on his blog.  If you haven’t made the time to read it, please do!  It is too good to miss, and it will serve you as you seek to pray more in 2008.

Today we offer a sermon that my husband and I listened to last weekend by John Piper with Desiring God Ministries.  It is from December 30, 2007 and is entitled "Pray Like This: Hallowed Be Your Name".  The sermon lasts 45 minutes, but the download is free.  Or you can choose to read the sermon.  Whatever method works best for you I hope you will make the time to benefit from his excellent preaching on why and how we should pray.  I pray that it will convict you, bless you and stir you on to excel still more (as it has me) in this God-glorifying practice of praying, "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name…"

Posted by Debi

12 Prayers Answered January 30, 2008

That’s right!  This time last year many of us set out on a journey we aptly called the Route 66 Club.  It was our desire and goal to read through the entire Bible (all 66 chapters) in 2007  Some had to bow out – understandable in this busy season called "motherhood."  But there were twelve ladies who were able, only by God’s grace, to finish this journey. 

As promised, we had a party Sunday night to celebrate and to glorify God for what He had accomplished in our lives as a result.  There were tears as some shared how God convicted them of sin and the freedom God’s mercy brought as a result. Others shared the joys and struggles of staying on such a tight journey, but how God used those seemingly unproductive days to teach them the importance of being faithful.  All finished the year with a renewed love for His Word.  Twelve ladies who embraced God’s Holy Word for 365 days have found themselves wanting to do it again! 

So our Route 66 Club will continue into 2008!  It’s not too late if you would like to join us! To sign up just post a comment to this post. This year we are reading the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. Since our church will be focusing most of the year on the Parables of Jesus, we thought it would be good to take our time through the New Testament in 2008.  The slower pace might allow more of you with little ones to take part.  Heartlight offers a wonderful plan that includes reading only 1 – 2 chapters a day.  

Also, with the emphasis the Holy Spirit is bringing on the importance of prayer, the slower pace will allow us to concentrate on growing in our prayer life during our devotion times too.  Can you imagine this time next year the testimonies that will be told and the glory that God will receive when more of us have committed our days to pursuing God through His Word and through prayer! 

I’m in my car and ready to hit the road!  How about you?  Please consider joining us.  You can start your plan on February 1st and join us for our 2nd Annual Route 66 party in February of 2009!!

Posted by Debi

P.S.  From Sheree:  Thank you, Debi, for making Route 66 possible AND for the wonderful party at your home!  Your hospitality is almost as contagious as your love for God’s word!

God Answers Prayer! January 29, 2008

I love this emphasis we’re having on prayer.  It’s been inspiring to see how the Holy Spirit speaks to each of us in such specific ways!

Today my heart is full of thanks to God that He hears and answers our prayers!  I love it when the Lord brings a certain truth to our hearts, reviving our faith in the application of this truth to our personal lives!

As I’ve been considering the priority and privilege of prayer in my life, I’ve been humbled by answers to several very specific prayers.  Last week Benny and I were privileged to attend the out-of-state funeral of a dear friend.  In addition to the funeral, the trip involved several other important situations that tempted my sinful heart to anxiety (what the Puritans aptly call "borrowing trouble"…that’s exactly what I was doing!). 

The first answer to prayer was the provision of finances.  God lavishly provided plane tickets and the hospitality of friends to allow us to stay with them.  But even more dear to me was how God cared and provided for us in other ways.  Before we left our pastors prayed for us.  God gave them the exact words to pray, including requests He would guard my heart from anxiety and "surprise" us with grace during the trip.  As they prayed, faith rose in my heart. 

The Lord answered every one of their prayers!  For each of the three days we were away God meticulously led and provided "surprises" for us.  At points during our trip Benny and I turned to each other and said, "What is going on?" or "What in the world just happened?" because of God’s lavish grace on display! I was regularly aware that He was giving me eyes to see that He had prompted us and others to pray things just so I could see Him answer!

This has built my faith all the more.  I know the Lord has been answering prayers throughout my life.  Yet on this trip He kindly opened my eyes to see His hand at work in direct response to prayer.  He helped me to LOOK for those answers…and then surprised me with answers that looked very different than I had expected by doing "exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph 3:20). 

Lord, You don’t just command us to pray…You LISTEN and respond to our cries for help!  Thank you for helping me last week.  For calming my anxious heart; for surprising me with precious times of fellowship with dear friends; for providing every practical need; for allowing me to experience the God-glorifying funeral of someone I love that is now worshiping at Your feet; and for allowing me to experience your power and presence for difficult things I could never have walked through in my own strength.  You didn’t have to do this, Lord.  I’m so grateful.

Posted by Sheree

Purposing to do Two Things… January 28, 2008

This week we continue to look more closely at prayer.  Today Elyse offers us two ideas that will help us become more purposeful in praying to our Father. 

As I read Sheree’s post, I too, was convicted of my lack of prayer and lack of passion in prayer.  So many times, I forget to pray or become distracted during my prayers.  My heartfelt desire is to change in this area.  I want to pray without ceasing, but also to be purposeful (this was my first button) in my prayer life.  I am planning to do two things this year which I have done in this past and have been very helpful to me.

First, I assign certain days of the week to pray for certain things or people.  If you have never done this it is really so simple, but I have found it a great help.  This way I know I am remembering to consistently pray for those things the Lord has laid upon my heart at this time.

The second thing I am going to do is pray the Psalms.  Many years ago Donald Whitney spoke at Metro and he taught us a method of praying the Psalms.  Each day you will pray through five Psalms.  You start with the one that coincides with the date of the month and then add thirty to it, then thirty again, until you have done five Psalms.  For example, on February 1st you would do the following Psalms:  Psalm 1, 31, 61, 91 and 121.  As you read through those Psalms you use them to formulate your prayers.  It is so wonderful to use God’s Word to pray back to Him.  I am always amazed at how perfectly the Psalms fit what the Lord lays on my heart that day and all the things He reveals to me that I would never have thought to pray.  It also helps to keep me from being distracted while I am praying. 

Charles Spurgeon said of prayer,"It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian.  If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father’s face, and live in thy Father’s love." I pray for you and also myself, that we would do as Spurgeon continued, "Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer Communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of His love.  Pray that thou mayst be an example and blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory of thy Master.  The motto of this year must be, "Continue in prayer." Col. 4:2

Posted by Elyse

One of my Favorite Blogs January 25, 2008

As we finish week two with this series on getting the first button right for 2008,  I wasn’t sure what to post for our Friday Favorite.  Leave it to Paul Tripp to post about exactly what we’ve discussed this week – prayer.  He has a way of summarizing all that we’ve expressed through confession and repentance, and raises the bar as to why we can pray to our Heavenly Father in the first place.  He lists five reasons in his post from Wednesday.  May this encourage you to pick up the banner of prayer on a daily basis.  Why?  Because God not only hears us, but He delights to answer us for His glory.

Have a great weekend!

Posted by Debi

Always Interceding January 24, 2008

"Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."   Romans 8:34b

Recently in my quiet time I was affected by this verse in a new way.  I’ve always understood that Jesus is interceding for me, but I realized that I assumed that He was praying exactly what I am praying for — kind of like Jesus echoing my prayers to the Father.  How arrogant, and what’s worse is that I didn’t even see this for years! 

Graciously, the Holy Spirit convicted me of my pride and self-focus allowing me to consider the thought that I should be agreeing with the prayers Jesus is praying for me instead of thinking that He is agreeing with my prayers.

I must admit that I was at first a bit nervous agreeing with what Jesus is praying without knowing exactly what His prayer is.  Again this just revealed another sin — lack of trust in My Savior and doubting His perfect plan for my life.  Truly if I am to live the life God has ordained for me it will start with the very simple act of faith displayed in my prayers to the Father, where Jesus Himself is always interceding for me.  What a gift that as we are learning to pray more fervently and faithfully this year, Jesus has already set the example for us.

Dear Father, I ask for help in my prayer life.  How often I pray what I think is best and what others need without considering your hand at work in the situation.  Help me to mortify this sin of self, so that I am free to pray as You are praying.  What a gift it is to know that you are even now praying to the Father to help me grow in this much needed area of intercessory prayer.  Thank You for Your patience concerning me; it is far more than I deserve.  In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Posted by Debi

Consistency in Prayer January 23, 2008

As Sheree posted about prayer, it has drawn me to think about how I pray for people.  I go through seasons where I will fervently pray for people and situations, then there will be times when I seem to just forget to pray for people!  (As horribly selfish as that sounds, it can be true!)

I don’t have a good routine for praying for people.  Usually,  I pray for people as the Lord brings them to mind – this can be while I am doing dishes, laundry or cooking dinner.  I also try to send the person an email to let them know they were on my heart – but that doesn’t always happen!  For certain big events (i.e. doctor’s appts, surgeries, difficult meetings, etc), I often put them on my calendar – so a reminder will pop up!  So on one hand, I like praying for people throughout the day, but I would like to develop a better way of remembering specific prayer requests.

My grandparents are an amazing example of consistent prayer.  Every morning, they sit at their kitchen table, eat breakfast, read God’s Word and then pray.  They lift our names (each family member) in prayer before the Lord – every day!   I KNOW that if I call and ask them to pray for something, they will specifically, consistently and fervently pray for that request!  What a gift that is!  I desire to follow their example – but it is going to take some discipline on my part! 

Lord, I ask that You will help me be more strategic with my prayer life.  I know that you have given us prayer as a gift.  Help me to be consistent with lifting the needs of others to You.  Thank You, that You have promised to help us grow when we call out to You for help!   In Your name I pray, Amen.

Posted by Stephanie

Right Now! January 22, 2008

Have you ever had a conversation with a friend where they were pouring their heart out and towards the end you say, "Well, I will be praying for you."?  Maybe they are sick or are really having a hard time with having self-control with their children or in a deep conflict.  I know for me sadly I can forget to pray for them ~ I have every intention, but if I don’t write it down many times I forget. 

What if I prayed for them right then, over the phone, through an email, or take a moment after church to lay hands on them and petition the Lord for help?  What would be the culture of our church life if we were constantly in prayer together?  Hmmm, I have faith that God can do mighty works among us.

So the next time your friend calls you to tell you about their kids with the stomach flu, take the few moments right then and there and ask, "Can I pray for you right now?"

Posted by Taraleigh

The “First Button” of Prayer January 21, 2008

Last Saturday was our regular student ministry meeting at Metro.  Benny and I love attending the meetings with our teens and young adults.  It’s wonderful to worship together, and to hear firsthand what our kids are being taught for discussion and follow up as a family.  The message that night on revival was both inspiring and convicting.  Our youth and their parents are being encouraged to read the outstanding book Signs of the Spirit by Sam Storms (his must-read "translation" of Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards). We learned that Edwards speaks of the test of true revival being this: If revival is genuinely happening there will be increased affections for God in praise (worship), preaching and prayer.

Prayer, Jesse reminded us, isn’t to inform God of anything!  After all, He is the omniscient One who knows and sees all.  Prayer is for our benefit — to cultivate faith and to fan to flame our affections for the One who hears and responds to the desperate cries of His children.

As I sat there listening, I was convicted of my passivity in prayer.  I believe the Lord wants a commitment to consistency and fervency in prayer to be my "first button" in 2008. (A part of me hasn’t wanted to admit this because I’m now accountable to God and those of you who I know will ask me about this throughout the year!  There’s my pride again in all it’s ugliness.) 

By God’s grace, I don’t typically find it challenging to engage my affections in worship or preaching. My heart is often moved toward deeper love for the Savior by these powerful means of God’s grace.  But I have to admit that in prayer my mind often wanders.  Whether it’s listening to others pray, or while praying myself, I battle consistent distractions. I pray for a few minutes and then I begin thinking of needing to put the clothes into the dryer…responding to that email…taking the chicken out to thaw…checking Julia’s math…

I recently admitted to some friends that, "After a few minutes of praying for this person or that situation I start thinking about the stuff I need to get done" or "Often when someone is praying I start thinking of what I need to pray about."  Obviously I don’t love prayer like I do preaching and praise.  And my mind is shamefully self-centered rather than God-centered, even though I have been given the glorious privilege of having access to a Holy God — access that cost the life of my sinless Savior!)

This year I pray this will change as God helps me to mortify the pride and self-sufficiency that hinders me.  I’m still trying to figure this one out.  (This morning I was praying about some weighty things Benny and I are facing this coming week and once again found my mind cluttered and wandering.  Ugh!)

But I’m confident He will help me.  The same faithfulness to change my heart — so prone to wander — that He has demonstrated to me in years past will be there for me this year! 

Posted by Sheree

Can you relate? January 18, 2008

This story made me laugh out loud.  I have felt the same way many, many times.  Maybe you can relate.  Thank you, Stephanie for sharing this with us…

An old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard.  I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home.  He followed me into the house, down the hall, and fell asleep.  An hour later he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, resumed his position in the hall, and slept for an hour.  This continued for several weeks.  Curious, I pinned a note to his collar:

"Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap."

The next day he arrived with a different note pinned to his collar: 

"He lives in a home with ten children — he’s trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?"

NOTE: Tonight marks the beginning of Metro’s Annual Men’s Retreat.  Set aside some time to pray for your husband today that God would meet him in a special way, and then, find time over the weekend to ask him about it.  We are called to build up and encourage our husbands.  This will be a great opportunity to do just that!  Maybe you can even release him to take a much needed nap so that he doesn’t fall asleep next week at work! 

On behalf of the blog team, have a restful weekend!

Posted by Debi