Archive for the ‘Prayer’ Category

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Prayer and Fasting

October 31, 2011

I’ve been studying in The Acts of the Apostles for a couple of months. If there is a sort of foundation theme to the book, it lies in the spiritual disciplines of worship, prayer and fasting. In the first few chapters things happen when the group is gathered together in worship, prayer and fasting. Then decisions are made later as they are beginning to get organized only after prayer and fasting.

This seems to be a worthy practice for us to emulate–both in church work and in our personal lives. We tend to get so opinionated. We are capable of having a firm opinion on things even in the face of unarguable facts and evidence to the contrary. And we are capable of arguing that point forever. No listening. No compromise.

How refreshing would it be to have a process something like this–recognize a problem that requires a decision; formulate the problem clearly; stop, take a deep breath, pray, center your whole attention on God (something fasting will do for you); and then listen for God to speak.

The original apostles made momentous decisions that way. While fasting and praying, they were consumed by the Holy Spirit. Good things happened to those who gathered together for prayer, fasting and worship. I bet it still happens today. Maybe we should all try that.

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Maintaining Equilibrium In Changing Times

September 7, 2011

Saturday’s weather was a humid 97 deg F. While I was refereeing a soccer match, I’d stop and mentally scan my physical condition at the end of a sprint. I was looking for any signs of heat problems or dehydration such as dizziness or mouth drying. Probably lost several pounds of water weight.

Monday was like the first day of fall. After a dry summer, leaves have begun falling early. The temperature was a cool 61 deg F. A 37 degree swing. An entirely different feeling as I walked through the woods along the old canal path.

Weather swings can cause or exacerbate mood swings. There are other causes of mood swings. If you get to swinging too far each way, alarm bells should sound as you mentally take stock of yourself.

I can’t help you if your swings border over into a diagnosable illness such as bipolar disorder. But most, if not all, of us suffer from feeling close to God then apart from God — consolation and desolation as the ancient Christian writers put it.

To combat these feelings, you need a rock. A solid foundation of faith and practice to remind you that, even if God does not feel present, He really is. That is where the solid habits of spiritual discipline help you. Just by getting up in the morning early and studying spiritual writing then meditating and praying on them can start your day solidly. You recognize that God is still there even if you don’t feel His presence–or sometimes even when you feel that you don’t even want His presence.

Other spiritual disciplines help, too. Try service. No, not necessarily a big mission trip. Try just saying something kind to someone. Helping someone with a package. Giving something to someone. Or try worship–getting together with other people to focus on God is a wonderful help.

It’s autumn in Ohio. We’re due for more swings in the weather until winter settles in. Establish a pattern of stability in your life to help keep you in equilibrium.

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Benefits of Meditation

June 27, 2011

I got into a brief conversation on mediation based on this post from a week ago or so. Beyond the initial response, this discussion caused me to think a little more deeply about the situation.

Many people, even Christians, are suspicious of what has been called spiritual enlightenment. They are more rooted into everyday life and prefer the physical realm. Not a criticism–it’s just the way people are wired. Often Christians are worried about creeping “New Age” mysticism infiltrating churches. This worry is not without justification. I’m amazed at the number of New Age books in bookstores these days–and at the number of middle-aged women buying them.

But–there are two aspects of meditation that will change your life if you practice it.

There is first of all a physical side. Apart from the histories of Christian, Buddhist or Hindu meditation, there is mounting scientific evidence that the mere physical acts associated with meditation have beneficial effects upon your health. When I teach Yoga, I don’t teach Hindu theology. But I teach mind-body awareness. That’s the first step toward feeling better. Long-term practice of meditation (simply sitting quietly in silence for a period of time even as brief as 10 minutes twice a day) will help slow your pulse, reduce high blood pressure, lower stress, make you calmer.

Think of the deeply spiritual people you have met. Don’t they live a combination of calmness and energy? This sounds contradictory, but it isn’t. They actually go together.

Further than the physical benefits are the spiritual ones. Rather than sitting quietly and concentrating on your breath or a sound, you can read a passage from the Bible as the source of contemplation. As you sit quietly, allow God to talk to you through that scripture. You will be amazed at the insights you will receive. Your knowledge and spiritual growth and maturity will ever expand.

Skeptical? Even professional soccer referees are taught the value of pausing a moment and taking one or two deep breaths before confronting an angry coach or player. Your actions will be something you won’t be embarrassed watching on TV replay. Same with you.

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Focus, Attention Aid Listening

May 20, 2011

To be able to balance on one foot as we teach in Yoga, the key isn’t balance itself. Or even thinking about balance. The key is to empty your mind, focus on a stationary point and place all your attention on that point. As in all Yoga poses, you also must attend to your breath. You must train yourself to breathe in a slow, rhythmic pace.

It occurred to me recently while teaching a new student how to balance, that listening requires many of the same attributes. Emptying your mind, for example. If your mind is full of thoughts there is no room for a new thought that might come from the person, reading or God to whom you should be listening.

Do you know the phenomenon called reflecting? I know someone who does this–a lot. He says something to you and then “hears” you say it. Then he tells others you said something, when in fact, he said it. That is disconcerting to the other person. Why does that happen? The “hearer” is actually so wrapped up in him/her self that listening never occurs.

Try this the next time you are in conversation with a person–or with God. Take a deep breath. Exhale. Clear your mind of thoughts. Focus on the person or on God. Place all your attention there. You’ll be amazed at the results. You may learn something new. You may change your life.

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Restore Me To Joy

March 31, 2011

I’m grateful to Bill Hybels for pointing out Psalm 51 to ponder during Lent. This plea from David has much to contemplate.

After the horror of the terrible things he had done became apparent to David, he wrote, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.”

As you contemplate each day what Jesus did for you and how the Spirit can now enter your life, maybe it’s time to ask God to restore you to joy. It is good when Christians are a smiling people. Happy in outlook because they are resting in salvation.

But David doesn’t ask for personal joy just for himself. In this era we live in, it seems that everyone is tuned to the old famous radio station WII-FM (what’s in it for me). I’m sometimes discouraged by the many conversations I have where the other person is only interested in themselves. Humans have probably always been self-centered to a degree. Today, though, that attitude seems to define the era. It is everywhere just like mixing yeast into the dough.

David wants restoration of his relationship with God—so that he can tell others. “Then I will teach transgressors your ways.” A witness coming from deep personal experience is the most powerful one. I can teach you from theory or from other people’s problems. But when you’re broken and restored, it’s a powerful witness.

And by the way, David did teach us. We’re reading his words 3,000 years later. Wow, that’s powerful.

It may seem weird to pray for joy in a time when emotions akin to mourning are more prevalent during Lent. But I think it’s a God thing.

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Clean My Heart O God

March 30, 2011

So yesterday I contemplated sin as a life out of balance. Then I went out for my morning run. I listen to “podcasts” when I work out (audio talks and programs downloaded to my iPod). As things often work, I listened to Willow Creek Community Church senior pastor Bill Hybels who was talking on sin.

It seems there was a king who decided not to lead his troops into battle but stayed home. While looking out over the city from his palace in his idleness, he saw a beautiful woman on a nearby rooftop. He desired her, sent a servant to bring her to him, had sex with her that led to pregnancy, had her husband killed so that he could marry her to cover up the act. Whew. What a list of sins.

This king’s name was David. His friend Nathan came to him one day and told him a story. The story indicted David and pierced David’s soul as if like an arrow. You can read about David’s repentance in Psalm 51.

Two verses stand out to me. In one, David says (verse 3) “for I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” One consequence of sin, that is doing things that you know are wrong and send your life away from God, is that you can’t forget. Like Lady Macbeth, you just can’t wash the blood from your hands. It weighs on your mind.

There are times when I am contemplating and it seems that every sin I’ve ever committed flashes before my eyes. I am reminded constantly.

But David goes on to ask God (verse 10), “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”

Jesus came to show us the way to that clean heart. He showed us the way to God. He said I will die and show you the resurrection. I will die and show you that God can create in you a clean heart and you don’t have to listen to the Accuser who tells you that you aren’t good enough, that your sins are too great.

Ask God for that right spirit.

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How to Pray

February 17, 2011

How do you pray? What do you visualize, if anything? I think that it was Donald Miller who gave me the picture of God as some sort of giant vending machine. Put your request in, pick up the solution from the little tray at the bottom. Do you picture God as a giant Dad to whom you ask for the keys to the car so you can go out?

I have hit the sections on prayer in Julian’s Reflections and she has several meaningful observations. Like contemplatives before her (including Paul who talked about being one with Christ), she builds on her experiences and discusses prayer as union with God.

So, when you pray, are you just looking from a goody from the vending machine in the sky–or are you resting in the bosom of God. You can slow down, breathe, open yourself in trust to God, and let Him just infuse your being. Think rather than machine but a tea infusion that lets the tea totally mix with the hot water.

Sometimes we’re in a rush. We just need a friend to talk to. If you’re in a rush, that’s the best signal to slow down and take time with God. If you need a friend, that’s OK, just take the time to settle in with the friend–kind of like meeting your friend for coffee and taking a little time to connect before sharing all your problems.

Julian has another observation. When you pray, conform your soul to God. She says if you try to make God conform to your soul, it won’t work–because God is never changing. People of my generation in the US (called Boomers) have been great at trying to manipulate everything to conform to their wishes. I see people trying to conform God to their own ideas or wishes.

No, God is God. God is the creator, not the created. God existed before humans, and will exist after humans have disappeared. The best thing is to quit trying to make God into something and just rest in Him. In that way, the fruits of the Spirit will grow in your life and you’ll find true happiness.

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