Psalms of Discipleship (Prayer) Principle #16. April 28, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Do you ever feel stuck no matter how hard you are trying to get "unstuck" and move into a new-found freedom? People are stuck in challenging careers, stuck in habitual sin, stuck in harmful relationships. Today's Psalms of Discipleship addresses what we are to do when we are stuck. We are to pray.

Stuck to Him,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #16

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 1 Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:1-2

Core Value: Prayer

Do you ever feel “stuck?” No matter how hard to you try to change your circumstances, no matter how much you read your Bible, and no matter how many hours you pray, it may seem that you are no further down the path of progress than you were when you first sensed the need to change. Far too many times disciples of Jesus hoist the white flag of surrender and give up on God right before a prayer breakthrough invades our challenging situation. When we come to the place I call, “Wits Inn,” it is where we come to the end of our resources and begin to tap into His.

The Psalmist was weary, but not too weary to give up on prayer.

May His grace lead us to the rock that is higher, much “higher than I.” We all need to get a front row seat in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). For when we get stuck there, we gain a much better view of the world around us.

Principle #16 & Personal Application: Quality disciples believe that the ear of God is within reach, no matter how difficult life may be.

• Prayer is the resource we use when our hearts are full and we cry out to God.

• Prayer is the resource we use when we need an answer from God.

• Prayer is the resource we use when we come to the end of our rope.

• Prayer is the resource we use when we need a higher perspective.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

According to this passage of Scripture, what promises can I rest in when I come to the end of my rope?

Am I willing to be led by the Good Shepherd? Am I willing to follow Him “to the rock that is higher than I”?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank You for allowing me to cry out to You when my heart is full. Thank You for giving heed to my prayer. When I am at the ends of the earth (at the end of my rope) and feel like passing out, I rest in Your goodness to lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

Are you interested in going deeper in your walk with Jesus? Check out my website for a list of resources that will help you become "A Quality Disciple."

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

This week's featured resource!

One of my favorite books of the Bible is the Book of Psalms. For me, it is a never-ending wellspring of inspiration and encouragement. If you are a lover of the Psalms too, check out this link to A One Year Journey With The Shepherd and order your copy today. Now available in e-book format for only $9.99!

Why A One Year Journey With The Shepherd May Be A Great Resource For You!

You are invited to spend some time reading and reflecting upon “Psalms of Discipleship: A One Year Journey With The Shepherd,” a simple, easy to use, devotional experience. By spending five minutes or fifty-five minutes on the weekly devotion and Bible study, you will be afforded the opportunity to enhance your spiritual growth. This unique devotional consists of fifty-two practical lessons designed for small group or individual study.

http://www.dennybates.com/Home/OneYearJourney.html

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #15 (Prayer). April 21, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Warm, grace-driven greetings to each of you. Like you, I am always grateful for grace. When it is rightly applied it draws us closer to the Lord in prayer. This week's Psalms of Discipleship is a wonderful illustration of the tension we experience between spiritual victory and spiritual defeat. In order to consistently win this battle, we need to learn the art of surrender . . . to the Lord.

The lyrics of this classic hymn remind us that surrender is always a choice.

All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

Learning to surrender,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #15

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 11 O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain. 12 Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries. Psalm 60:11-12

Core Value: Prayer

One of the greatest challenges that disciples of Jesus face is a strong tendency of misplaced trust. We tend to trust in the “tangible” (what is seen) instead of the tried and true (often unseen). We often default to our own strength and even the strength of others instead of resting in the strength of our God. We look to other people and other things to deliver us from trouble instead of fixing our gaze upon the only One who can deliver us. There are many life principles that we can learn and apply from the Psalmist. This principle is critical: before we can win, we must surrender to the Lord.

Principle #15 & Personal Application: Quality disciples live in the on-going tension between spiritual defeat and spiritual victory, knowing only a complete surrender to God will produce a great victory.

Some background: In this psalm David has responded in prayer after his nation has been attacked by the Edomites who inflicted great damage. This temporary setback is a lesson in perseverance and in prayer. For the disciple of Jesus there are many spiritual battles that must be fought, and some of these we will lose. The key is to learn from defeat and set out to win the next victory. This is done when we believe and turn to God. After a defeat . . .

• We need to cry out to God for help against our adversary.

• The worst place we can place our trust is in other people.

• We need to believe that through God we will do valiantly (mighty things).

• We need to yield our will to His will for it is God, and only God, who will defeat our foes.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I lose a spiritual battle what kind of steps do I take in order to fight another day?

The Bible teaches that “Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.” There is a part for me to play and there is a part that only God can play. What is my role and what is His promise to me?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, remind me to cry out to You when I find myself on the losing end of a spiritual battle. I look to You for help against my adversary. I know that looking to other people instead of You will never produce a good outcome for me. I thank You that through You I will do mighty things as I testify of Your deliverance of my life.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

Are you interested in going deeper in your walk with Jesus? Check out my website for a list of resources that will help you become "A Quality Disciple."

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

This week's featured resource!

One of my favorite books of the Bible is the Book of Psalms. For me, it is a never-ending wellspring of inspiration and encouragement. If you are a lover of the Psalms too, check out this link to A One Year Journey With The Shepherd and order your copy today. Now available in e-book format for only $9.99!

Why A One Year Journey With The Shepherd May Be A Great Resource For You!

You are invited to spend some time reading and reflecting upon “Psalms of Discipleship: A One Year Journey With The Shepherd,” a simple, easy to use, devotional experience. By spending five minutes or fifty-five minutes on the weekly devotion and Bible study, you will be afforded the opportunity to enhance your spiritual growth. This unique devotional consists of fifty-two practical lessons designed for small group or individual study.

http://www.dennybates.com/Home/OneYearJourney.html

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #14 (Worship). April 14, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Worship of Jesus is to be a very intimate experience. Some of our best worship experiences are not always in a church service with hundreds (or even thousands) of other believers. Instead, we may often experience a deeper worship while taking that walk in the park, when driving alone in our car during a long trip, or even when we are alone with our thoughts in our favorite chair. Today's Psalms of Discipleship reminds us that our worship must become deeply personal before we attend the next corporate worship service.

Does any of this resonate with you? I'd love to hear your feedback.

Learning to worship the Lord as an audience of One,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #14

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress. Psalm 59:16

Core Value: Worship

Worship is a very personal experience. Yes, there are times when it is appropriate to worship with other believers. When corporate worship is focused upon Jesus and His glory and is not distracted by those who those who either intentionally or unintentionally draw attention to them, corporate worship can be a good thing, a very good thing to do. However, unless we are able to worship our God in a personal way and learn how to be alone with Him, our corporate offerings of worship can be shallow, lacking any depth of an authentic worship experience.

The Psalmist gives a very practical testimony: “But as for me.” May that be our response also. “But as for me, may I sing of Your strength, of Your lovingkindness, and of Your protection.”

Principle #14 & Personal Application: Quality disciples have a heart that sings of the Lord’s strength, His lovingkindness, and His protection.

In this Psalm, David’s enemies have surrounded him on every side. His foes desired to crush and humiliate him. What can we learn from his experience? Even though our enemies may surround us, like David, we can offer to the Lord a heart of worship:

• We can sing and worship Him for His strength

• We can joyfully sing of His lovingkindness (mercy) in the morning

• We can worship Him for His protection: “For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress”

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I feel overwhelmed by the enemies of my soul, what do I need to do?

Is there a heart of worship inside of me? What do I need to do in order to cultivate the kind of trust that will help me get through the difficult challenges of life?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You so much for being with me during my times of troubles. My enemies are great, but You are greater! Remind me to offer my worship to You. Help me to sing of Your strength. Help me to sing of Your lovingkindness (Your mercy) in the morning, and help me worship You for Your great protection to me.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

Are you interested in going deeper in your walk with Jesus? Check out my website for a list of resources that will help you become "A Quality Disciple."

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #13 (Prayer). April 7, 2012

Hello my dear friends! As we celebrate Resurrection weekend, its a good time to remind ourselves that Jesus defeated our greatest enemy, death, when He went to the cross, died, and rose again on the third day. Today's Psalms of Discipleship gives a unique perspective on how to handle the other enemies that harass us.

He is Risen. He is Risen, Indeed!

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #13

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me. Psalm 59:1

Core Value: Prayer

One of the great challenges that disciples of Jesus face is how deal with an enemy, in the right way. No matter how spiritual a person might be, there will always be enemies who will harass and oppose us. Now, here is the hard thing to swallow: sometimes it appears that even another member of the Body of Christ acts like an enemy to us. Instead of calling down fire from heaven upon them, what are we supposed to do?

Here is what Jesus suggests is the proper response (Luke 6:27-28): We are to . . .

• Love our enemies

• Do good to those who hate us

• Bless those who curse us

• Pray for those who mistreat us

Impossible? Yes. But with God’s help, it’s entirely possible. Resting in grace and being fueled by prayer is the only way to overcome the power of our enemies.

Principle #13 & Personal Application: Quality disciples look to the Lord during times of spiritual danger.

During times of spiritual danger, the believer . . .

• Can pray and ask God for deliverance: Deliver me from my enemies, O my God

• Can pray for a place of protection: Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me

• Can pray and look to the Lord with faith knowing that the Good Shepherd cares for His sheep.

9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. John 10:9-11 (NLT)

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

The disciple of Jesus has many enemies. What kinds of enemies are stalking me that require the Lord’s deliverance?

When do I feel the safest, the most secure from my enemies? What kind of actions can I take that will remind me of God’s protection over my life?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your promise to protect me from my enemies. All praise to You for setting me securely on high away from those who rise up against me. My heart can rest in knowing that You are the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

Are you interested in going deeper in your walk with Jesus? Check out my website for a list of resources that will help you become "A Quality Disciple."

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/