HOW I MESSED UP PRAYER

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  (Philippians 4:6 NIV)

This used to be one of the harder verses in the whole bible for me. When I was going through a tough time in my life I would do what I’d been taught: I’d take it to the Lord in prayer. My experience was the more and more I would pray about the troubling circumstances the more anxious I would become. It was the exact opposite of my expectation based on the verse above. I would be embarrassed to admit how many years I struggled with this verse. In my struggle I would avoid praying about certain things because if I did it would cause me to become anxious. I knew I had things messed up and mixed up, because there’s no way the bible was wrong. Over a period of time and with the help of the Holy Spirit, the Teacher, I began to understand where I was going wrong. Instead of hurrying to the end of the verse where it says, “…present your requests to God.” I considered the whole thing. The most important part of the verse for me, especially if I’m battling anxiety and worry, are the two words, “with thanksgiving.” In my earlier experience, I thought the point of prayer was to tell the Lord what I needed him to do in my life, the prayer and petition part of the verse. Looking back it’s almost silly to think about how I would tell an all-knowing God about the circumstances causing my anxiety and then give him advice regarding how to fix things. I can’t say I’ve completely eliminated anxiety and worry from my life and that prayer always brings me peace. I can say that things are so much better now as I focus more on all the things I am thankful for. It’s helpful, in a big way, to remind myself of God’s faithfulness. Something very powerful happens in my heart, where anxiety tries to settle, when I think about the many different ways God has rescued, restored, and redeemed people (myself included) from situations that appear to be completely hopeless.

If you’re going through a particularly hard time right now I encourage you to include huge amounts of thanksgiving in your prayers. Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness. Resist the urge to tell the Lord how to fix your problems. It’s nice that you want to help him out, but God has dealt with situations far more difficult than yours so let Him do His thing.

In my next blog I want to look at the two words, PRAYER and PETITION. Until then…

“Keep your roots deep in him and have your lives built on him. Be strong in the faith…and always be thankful.” (Colossians 2:7 NCV)

“Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking…always be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15 NCV)

“No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

HUNGER IS NOT A GAME

Recently I’ve been intentionally working to change some things about my diet. Earlier this summer my wife and I were fortunate to be able to go on an 8-day Caribbean cruise. This was my first adventure on the high seas and everything I had ever heard about the massive spread of food 24/7 was true on the Carnival Valor. I restrained myself from totally gorging myself at every meal, but mostly tried to counter my appetite by making sure I exercised every day. I may have gained a few pounds, but not much by taking this approach.

The problem was AFTER I returned from vacation. My appetite was used to three meals a day plus snacks and I was back to my office where most of the time I was sitting behind a desk. It seemed like I approached every meal like it was “the last supper.” Even though it’s still summertime, when my weight is usually at it’s lowest level of the year, I noticed my clothing was become tighter. My weight has been pretty consistent over the past fifteen years, so I notice when I add a few lbs.

It’s been said that a person will go on a diet “when they’re thick and tired of it.” For me the first things to go were milk products. I’ve noticed I feel better when I limited my consumption of milk and cheese. I may even have a slight lactose intolerance. This is a hard one for me because I’ve always enjoyed dairy products, but I enjoy being healthy more. That’s a key right there isn’t it? When it comes to the foods we consume (both quantity and variety), we have to value health more than anything.

I noticed something significant as I began to limit dairy in my life. The “craving” for a tall glass of milk late in the evening, or a slice of cheese, or bowl of cereal, first diminished and then completely disappeared. Our habits change as we establish new habits. The things we “crave” may or may not be leading us to a place of health or a better life, but we have the power to change.

I’m now reaping the benefits of the recent changes in my diet. I feel better. My weight is the lowest it’s been in a year. In my next post I want to shift the subject to the things in our life we are hungering and thirsting for. Stay tuned!

THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS

In my most recent post (THE SAFEST ROAD TO HELL, August 21) I began exploring the theme of “pure fun.” It seems like there’s such a strong emphasis in our culture on what I refer to as “the big three”: ALCOHOL – SEX – MONEY, there’s seemingly no other options available to us if we’re looking to have a good time. One or more of “the big three” has to be included in our weekend plans or we’re going to be bored out of our mind. Or so we think!

I was recently reflecting on a verse, 2 Corinthians 3:14: In the New International Version it reads, “…but their minds were made dull.” Paul, the earthly author of this verse, is directly referring to whether people accept or reject the good news about Jesus Christ. Those who lived under the old covenant, basically those who live before the birth of Christ, found it difficult to accept Jesus as the Messiah. It was like they had a veil over their eyes making it hard to see the Truth.

In a similar way, I believe sin (habitual disobedience) dulls a person’s senses. When someone is enslaved or in bondage to sin, someone may suggest a pure fun activity and sin will make it seem boring and uninteresting. Our flesh, the unspiritual part of us, wants what it wants. The fleshly part of us makes demands upon us and doesn’t give up the fight too easily.

I recently heard a talk by a good friend and I think that's what caused me to think more about “pure fun” activities. Scott spent a few moments commenting on how many of us have allowed technology to take over our lives, and in many cases we’ve lost touch with the superNATURAL things our Creator has made available to us. My friend is a big outdoors guy, so he enjoys hiking, camping, biking, etc. So, at the top of my “pure fun” list of suggestions is…Experiencing nature.

To help you to begin thinking more about “pure fun” activities here’s some additional suggestions (in no particular order):

Exercise (I writing this post from the Oregon State Fair and there’s plenty of evidence that most people need to exercise.)

Celebrations (Get together with family and friends to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, job promotions, school achievements, etc. Don’t wait for something big to happen to have a party; make a big deal out of small accomplishments!)

Group meals (One of the great pure fun activities is getting together with a group of friends and sharing a meal. You have to work real hard not to have a good time over food. If you fire up the grill, toss a salad and add a few other items, the conversation and laughs will follow.)

Car games (Organize your friends to have a scavenger hunt using your camera phone)

Group Karaoke (Many people have a personal MP3 player; print out lyrics and have a great time singing together)

Sports (watching; participating; coaching; etc.)

Read a book (When I’d whine to my mom about not having anything to do, she would often suggest reading a book. For some reason, it hardly ever seemed like a good idea.)

Journaling (Whether you ever share what you write with others, I think the process of writing is a great way to keep you mind sharp and to express your deeper thoughts and emotions.)

Call a friend (Live conversations have been replaced by texting, chat and email. Calling a friend will feed your soul. Fight the urge to gossip, or this activity will no longer be “pure.”)

Volunteer (I think it’s especially helpful to volunteer to serve with others. There’s so much synergy when people work together towards a common project or goal. There are many places in your school, church or community who are looking for someone just like you.)

Learn a new skill/subject (This may seem like a self-serving suggestion because I work for a university, but I think being a life-long learner is extremely important. You might consider learning a new language, or taking music lessons, or classes at your local community college, technical school or university)

As I wrote earlier, there’s a good chance the above “pure fun” activities look boring and uninteresting. Don’t allow your flesh to make the decision about how you’re going to enjoy your weekend or free time. There are other options to ALCOHOL – SEX – MONEY, you just need to open your eyes to all the possibilities. 

THE SAFEST ROAD TO HELL

With the invention of social media there’s a whole new window into the daily life of the people you know. The line between public and private has been greatly blurred. Many people freely post pictures and comments, without any thought to how such things reflect upon their reputation. Either they don’t think about it or they don’t care. Neither option is good. What’s becoming increasingly clear to me is that many people have bought into our culture’s definition and approach to fun.

My observation, reinforced by the commercials we view on TV and the common themes of popular movies, is that for many people a good time must include some or all of the following: ALCOHOL, SEX and spending MONEY. If you look at those three things and say, “Sin is expensive,” you’re right about that. Sin is expensive on multiple levels. I heard someone say, “Sin will cost you more than you planned to pay, will take you further than you planned to go and will be harder to overcome than you ever imagined.”

One of the common threads that runs through the big three (alcohol, sex and money) is each provides an immediate buzz. There’s a sense of immediate gratification or satisfaction that can be achieved through these types of activities, which is the primary reason they’re so popular. They provide an easy answer to the question, “What are we going to do this weekend?” We’d all do well to remember that the easy answer isn’t always the best answer. This is a good place to insert a quote from C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters: “Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape.” Where’s the road you’re on in your life leading you?

In my next post I want to suggest different ways to experience PURE FUN. There’s a better way to live than to allow alcohol, sex and money (either spending it or earning it) to dominate your life. 

PINK ELEPHANTS

In my last post, IT’S OKAY TO BE NAÏVE (July 30), I made a brief reference to the power that exists in personal purity. One of the most profound effects of forgiveness is the immediate sense of freedom experienced by those who are sincere. It’s one of those things that defies description. I’ve heard this effect described as feeling clean all over or as if a huge weight had been lifted off one’s shoulders or feeling so great wanting to sing or shout. I’ve experienced all these effects and more.

This past Sunday the pastor shared a thought-provoking message (Pastor David Libby; http://www.morningstarchurch.com/2012-archive) and quoted 2 Peter 2:19 ESV: “For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” Re-read this verse several times, slowly, and allow the truth of it to sink deeply into your spirit. The word, ENSLAVED (douloo, Greek), literally means, “to make a slave of, reduce to bondage.” (Source: Strong’s Concordance) Are you overcome by fleshly desires (sin) or are you overcome by a desire for more of God in your life (Spirit)?

The more we know about what the “disobedient do in secret” (Eph 6:12), the greater the challenge to our desire to live in a way that pleases God. There’s a part of us that is drawn to explore and experience the world. None of us likes to be ignorant. When our friends or co-workers are talking about something, we don’t like to feel like we’re the only one in the room who doesn’t have a clue. It’s a bummer when we’re the only one who doesn’t understand the dirty joke.

We seek out knowledge of the world because we don’t want to miss out on something that might bring us happiness or pleasure. The pursuit of happiness and the pursuit of pleasure may be the primary forces driving most of our lives.

As I stated earlier, there is tremendous power in purity. When we walk free of enslaving sin, while motivated by a strong desire to live God pleasing lives, the direct effect in our lives includes:

Ø Freedom from guilt and shame. Even though the devil will attack and accuse he’s got nothing on us because we know we’ve been forgiven by the Father.

Ø Freedom from regrets and remorse. This is a simple thought, but worth considering: You don’t feel bad about what you don’t do. Most of our regrets and remorse come from having said “Yes” to temptation.

Ø Freedom to use our minds for righteous reflection (thinking righteously). The enslaving nature of sinful desire is the fact it’s all-consuming. Sin demands attention and satisfaction. The battle to resist sin is a battle of the mind. The greater our knowledge and experience with the world of darkness (sin), the more difficult the battle will be. The more we feed our fleshly desires, the more they dominate our thoughts.

Proverbs 4:23 (New Living Translation) offer this encouragement: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” No wiser and more important words have ever been written.

I have a friend who was beginning to teach his young son about the power of the mind. He would tell him, “Don’t think about a pink elephant.” The little guy would scowl and strain to not think about a pink elephant, but he always eventually failed, usually after only a few seconds. Try it some time, it’s really hard not to picture a pink elephant, no matter how hard you try. When we succeed in guarding our heart and protecting what we allow to be experienced by our senses, the effect is powerful. The world in which we live is constantly bombarding us with messages and images, many that are positive and helpful and others that can cause huge damage if allowed to influence our heart.

Recommended Reading: Galatians 5:1,16-26