Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #27 (Prayer). July 21, 2012

Hello my dear friends! We live in a very CONNECTED world. Email, text, twitter, facebook, tv, radio, cell phones and the list goes on. We have been trained to stay connected. If we lose connection we may feel somewhat lost on what in the world is going on around us. This is especially true when it comes to prayer. Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a vivid contrast between just talking and connecting. May we all learn the discipline of connecting to the Lord in prayer.

Connected to Him,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #27

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

Key Scripture: 17 I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue. 18 If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; 19 But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me. Psalm 66:17-20

Core Value: Prayer

There is a great difference between talking and connecting. People may talk a lot but never be heard. There are some who think the best way to communicate is to use a lot of words linked with an intensity of volume (i.e., yelling). Others think the best way to communicate is to speak using fancy words that only are understood by the speaker.

The Psalmist understood the key to connecting with the Lord in prayer was the condition of his heart. A wicked heart (a heart that has been poisoned by sin) cuts off all communication. On the other hand, a heart that is right with God makes the connection between creation and the Creator.

Is there anything standing in your way from connecting with the Lord?

Principle #27 & Personal Application: Quality disciples offer prayer upon the basis of grace that cleanses the heart and the tongue.

• Prayer offered under the basis of grace is a vocal expression of worship and praise: I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue

• Prayer is quenched when there is sin in our heart: If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear

• Prayer is liberating when we know that God hears our prayers: But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer

• Prayer, undergirded by His grace, made possible by the completed work of His Son, is the means given that we may be received with open arms and come into His presence: Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Is there anything in my heart that is quenching my communication with the Lord?

How can a better understanding of grace empower my prayer life?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for providing a perfect way for me to communicate with You. May my heart learn how to keep short accounts with You, freely accepting Your offer to forgive me and cleanse me of my sin. May I learn to turn to You, knowing that it is Your desire to hear my prayers. Thank You for not turning away from me or withholding Your lovingkindness from 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.

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

Postscript:

I am genuinely excited for the opportunity of doing things that I have only dreamed about previously. By God’s grace I hope to build a leadership coaching and speaking business and impact the market place for Jesus. My business is a RELATIONSHIP business, so as you pray for me ask the Lord for KEY contacts that will lead me to KEY people in KEY organizations. In your own circle of influence, do you know anyone who desires to grow in leadership? I’d love to meet them.

In order to gain a better understanding of what I am offering, you can check out my website at http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/dennybates

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #51--Grace--December 31, 2011

Hello my dear friends! As we come to the end of another year, its a convenient time to reflect upon the experiences that impacted us this year; both the good and the not so good. In every day, and in every experience, the Lord was with us. One of the most profound things He has done is the work He has done in our heart. Today's Psalms of Discipleship gives us a front row seat into the thoughts of David as He asked God for a great miracle: a brand new heart.

A new heart, every day, all year long. What a gift for each one of us to look forward to in the coming new year.

Happy New Year!

Denny



Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #51

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

Key Scripture: 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:10-11

Core Value: Grace

Planned obsolescence. We buy it. We use it. We break it. We dispose of it and begin the whole cycle again until we die. Those of us who are old enough remember the quality that went into the electrical fan that sat on a table keeping us cool. Our sole responsibility was to inject lightweight oil into the motor on occasion that not only guaranteed the long life of the appliance but also meant we could spend our hard-earned money on other things.

The human heart is the epitome of planned obsolescence. It breaks all the time and needs to be constantly replaced. The disciple’s heart comes with an extended lifetime warranty of sorts. Unlike the fans that kept on working after many years of use, the human heart is different. Because of sin (which rusts us away), our heart is always in need of repair. Those who have given their heart to Jesus have the promise of a replacement heart that is clean. It is a miracle every time it happens.

In a word, it is grace. May we learn to echo the prayer of David when he requested, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

Principle #51 & Personal Application: A quality disciple requests a miracle every day: the creation of a clean heart from the Lord.

• It is a miracle of grace when God can “create” (literally make something out of nothing) in me a clean heart.

• It is a miracle of grace when God renews a steadfast spirit within me.

• It is a miracle of grace when God does not cast me away from His presence.

• It is a miracle of grace when God does not take His Holy Spirit from me.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What does it feel like, what descriptive words come to mind, when God removes the plaque of sin that has sickened my heart?

Am I more prone to allow guilt to keep me from enjoying the presence of the Lord or do I live like the shed blood of Jesus has set me free?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the miracle of a clean heart. You are the Great Physician and only You can heal the sin-sickened heart. Thank You for the miracle of renewing in me a steadfast spirit. Thank You that I will always be a child of Yours and You will never cast me aside and take away Your precious Holy Spirit from me.

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

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

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

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