Prayer – Week One – This is a long one!
This fall I am in a bible study on prayer taught by Dr. RoseAnne Coleman. RoseAnne is an incredibly gifted teacher, and this is the third study I have participated in that she has taught. I have the privilege of leading a small group of women within the study. Each Tuesday night or Wednesday I am going to blog in an effort to:
a) reflect on the night’s teaching
b) allow those who could not attend “catch up” by reading the post.
I am hopeful that many will read these posts and be blessed by them. RoseAnne’s teaching tonight was awesome, and I am confident it was just the first of many blessed lessons. Some of this may seem quite simple, but read it all anyway. I know that the Lord will stir something in your heart. I know he did mine.
KEY POINTS/IDEAS
What is in our society that directs your attention to the quality of you soul – that calls you to be deepened? So often in society, the world directs our attention to other things/objects/happenings, but rarely does it direct us to pay attention to our soul. IE: When you are at Target, does someone ever say to you, how is your prayer life? No. People may talk about the cover of People or the latest television episode, but not go deeper than things like that…
“If you can holler, you can pray.”
It doesn’t matter the words you say.
ß We can talk with God
ß God knows you by name – it’s not like, “hey, you!”
ß You are beloved. You belong to God.
ß Check out Psalm 139 – God KNOWS you.
PSALM 139: 1-6 (English Standard Version)
1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
You need to know how important you are to God. The world tells you will be important because of things. It tells you other people are important – not that you are important. We must thank the Lord that He hears us when we pray. You can talk to God about anything.
Matthew 7:24 (New Living Translation)
Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
Your relationship with God is like putting on an oxygen mask – you must do that (pray for yourself and get things right in your walk with God) and then pray for others.
Is. 54:1 – The verse is saying that we can shout for joy because God has a different plan for you!
Prayer is a conversation, not a monologue. In the Psalms it says over and over that God inclines his ear to us.
We can boldly go to the throne in times of need. No matter where we are, there is something in our lives that is barren.
Exodus 33:11 – God spoke to Moses as a man speaks to a friend. The Lord said to Moses “I will go with you. I will give you rest – everything will be fine for you.” We read this and know that God’s presence is with us. YOU have the presence of God with you – the Holy Spirit!
RoseAnne ended with talking about Psalm 103. Please read it and think about the blessings that God bestows on your life. He forgives your sins everyone. You are young in God’s presence. He loves you. He gives you life to experience every day.
Psalm 103
A David Psalm
1-2 O my soul, bless God . From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God ,
don’t forget a single blessing!
3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
6-18 God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
as they follow his Covenant ways
and remember to do whatever he said.
19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
he rules over us all. He’s the King!
So bless God, you angels,
ready and able to fly at his bidding,
quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
everything and everyone made by God.
And you, O my soul, bless God!