Hello my dear friends! Within hours from now, many greetings will be shared by people from all over the world with these familiar words: "Happy New Year!"
I always find it to be useful to take some personal "inventory" time at the end of each year and see where I stand. For me, 2010 has been a year of challenges and growth (paradoxes, for sure. But they sure do seem to go together, hand in hand). As I survey the land of my life, I have been blessed in so many ways. God loves me. My wife loves me. My children love me. And many trusted friends love me. This is all true, even though I have so far to go in my spiritual life (Note: Grace allows us not to be perfect, but grants us permission to grow). For example, I tend to neglect frequent times of intimate prayer with a ready excuse in hand: I'm "too busy" or "too distracted" or perhaps even worse, "too self-reliant" to pray.
Over the course of the year, and especially over the past two weeks, I have made a fresh commitment to prayer. I hope you will do the same too as we all grow closer to the Lord in 2011.
I am praying for you. Thanks for praying for me.
Lets talk again soon; like next year.
Happy New Year!
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #52
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. 8 When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O LORD, I shall seek." 9 Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! Psalm 27:7-9
Core Value: Prayer
The gift of prayer is a wonderful resource . . . if the disciple of Jesus is willing to use it. We know it is there. We know of its benefit to the believer. And we know prayer is what our Lord desires us to do, on a frequent basis. And yet, for many of us, we find it difficult, seeming nearly impossible, to develop a healthy habit of meaningful prayer. Why is this? Perhaps, it is due to what Donald Whitney describes as “an impersonal requirement”:
“Don’t think of prayer as an impersonal requirement. Realize that it is a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, with all authority and with all love, who expects us to pray.” (Pg. 67) Whitney, Donald S. 1991. Spiritual disciplines for the Christian life. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
Has prayer become another religious “duty” that we simply check off of our so-called spirituality list and then move on to more of the same: an empty and unfulfilling relationship with the Lord? There are many things that we can do on our own that will give the illusion that we are something that we are not. A life marked by the power of prayer, biblical prayer, is not one of them. By God’s grace, may He renew our focus upon the One who desires to have an ongoing, intimate relationship with us.
The Psalmist has a lot to say about the intimacy and necessity of prayer. He reminds us that the God of the Universe desires to hear the voice of His child. He desires to answer prayers that are offered according to His perfect will. He has promised to walk with us, no matter how challenging are our circumstances. Our responsibility is to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and talk to and listen to Him.
Principle #52 & Personal Application: The Quality disciple has a laser-like focus to keep the face of the Lord in clear view.
When I seek the Lord, face to face:
• I am reminded of His desire to hear my voice.
• I am reminded of His desire to answer me.
• I am reminded of His desire to be kind to me and not to turn away from me in anger.
• I am reminded of His desire not to abandon or forsake me but to comfort me with His presence.
• I am reminded of His desire to be the God of my salvation!
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What kinds of things do I need to do for the following year that will help me keep my focus upon the Lord?
When I make an effort to seek the face of the Lord, what kind of impact does it make upon my life?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may this coming year be one of a renewed intimacy with You. May prayer not become a trite thing that I do, but a transforming way of life. When I seek Your face, may You impress upon my heart the beauty of Your face.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
P.S.
It has been a joy to walk with you this year, studying and applying the life lessons of the Psalms. As I plan for next year, it would be helpful for me to get some feedback from you. If you click on the survey link below, it will take less than 5 minutes of your time.
Growing with you,
Denny
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HYVLPS6
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