Heart Soul and Might

I feel the need to shout from the mountain tops - or more appropriately here, from the top of the blogosphere…

I HAVE AN INCREDIBLE, VERY TALENTED, AND MUCH-SMARTER-THAN-ME WIFE!!!!

Just a few hours ago, my lovely bride, Heidi successfully defended her dissertation in front of her doctoral committee, and is now DOCTOR Petak!

Heidi started her Ph.D program in Communication at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA in 1999. Two years before we first met.

She completed her dissertation a couple weeks ago (340 pages!!) and flew out to Regent U yesterday to stand before the committee that would hold the outcome of her 7-year process in the palm of their hand. Two hours after her defense began, she left the room for the committee to confer… called me to tell me there’s nothing else to do but wait… was called back in, and welcomed by the committee with the words something to the affect of “You’ve passed with flying colors, Dr. Petak!”

I told her our mail will now often read “Mr. and Dr. Petak”… and she reminded me that since I’m an ordained minister, it might be “Rev. and Dr. Petak” sometimes… That just sounds too weird! But, I guess it fits…

Needless to say, I’m a pretty proud husband right now…  I can’t wait for her to get home tomorrow so I can take her out for dinner!

Bishop J.C. Ryle says this about the importance of living according to “the heart”:

What is the first thing we need, in order to be Christians? A new heart. — What is the sacrifice God asks us to bring to Him? A broken and a contrite heart. — What is the true circumcision? The circumcision of the heart. — What is genuine obedience? To obey from the heart. — What is saving faith? To believe with the heart. — Where ought Christ to dwell? To dwell in our hearts by faith. — What is the chief request that Wisdom makes to everyone? “My son, give me thine heart.”

As one who lives intimately connected with my heart, I really appreciate this. I believe we need to live balanced lives - balancing our intellect (mind) and our affections (heart). Living out of balance can be dangerous. Living only out of our mind, we can risk becoming unfeeling, cold, lacking compassion and grace, arrogant and critical. Of course, living only out of our heart, we can risk losing the soundness of our doctrine, principles and absolute truth and make critical decisions based in the subjective realm of our emotions. (I’ve done this!) Neither extreme is good. Taking a balanced approach, living somewhere in the middle would be something to shoot for…

HT: Together For the Gospel

I haven’t read this book yet, but I’ve been enjoying Bob Kauflin’s series of posts on Isaac Watts’ book A Guide To Prayer. He just posted his third in the series as he looks at each chapter in the book - click on the links below for the series so far.

Click here to read Kauflin’s post on The Nature of Prayer (#1)

Click here to read Kauflin’s post on The Gift of Prayer (#2)

Click here to read Kauflin’s post on The Grace of Prayer (#3)

I have a real burden for 1) growing personally in the area of prayer and dependence, and 2) exploring ways that our church members can grow in prayer and dependence. Typically, prayer is one of the neglected aspects of a person’s spiritual life, and it is often easy to overlook in the life of a church simply because… prayer is often hard work. And, let’s face it, prayer isn’t exactly a big drawing card in people gathering to meet. But, it’s so vitally important in the life of a believer, and is a real indicator of spiritual growth and maturity. It’s not attending a prayer meeting that is the indicator - but a life truly lived dependently before God - privately and publicly. I appreciate resources like Kauflin’s blog that keep these important issues that relate to our journey of sanctification before us.

Every Friday is Fenelon Friday, where we drink from the very deep well of my favorite 17th century French Bishop in the Catholic Church. (Everyone should have a little Fenelon with their coffee in the morning…) Francois de Salignac de La Mothe-Fenelon (born 1651) was a mentor to a number of younger men on the court of Louis XIV. In fact, he was given the responsibility of raising the young man who would proceed Louis XIV to the throne of France (the King’s grandson). Many of Fenelon’s writings are actually letters he wrote to some of these young leaders as they sought to walk the life of faith in the face of opposition and adversity. Fenelon’s teachings were met with resistance within the Catholic Church because they aligned more with Reformation teachings than with Catholic dogma at times, and his hope was that once his student became the King of France, he would be instrumental in the reformation of the Catholic Church and bring a real witness of Jesus Christ to France. Those hopes were dashed in 1712 with the premature death of the King’s grandson. Fenelon died not long after that in 1715 at the age of 63, but his teachings live on and continue to influence 300 years after he died.

How to Bear Suffering Peacefully

Concerning our friend, I pray that God will give him a simplicity of trust that will bring him peace. When we are careful to instantly let go of all needless worries and restless thoughts, (that is self-centered thoughts, rather than loving, outgoing ones), then we shall find ourselves on plateaus of peace even in the midst of the straight and narrow. We shall find ourselves walking in the freedom and innocent peace of the children of God, not lacking wholesome relationships either toward God or man.

I am willing to apply to myself the same advice that I give to others, for I am convinced that I must seek my own peace in the same direction. Even now my soul is suffering, but I am aware that it is the life of self which causes us pain; that which is dead does not suffer. If we were really dead, and our life hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3), we would no longer struggle with those pains in spirit that now afflict us. So we must learn to bear all sufferings with composure, even those which come upon us through no fault of our own. But we must beware of that restlessness of spirit which might be our own fault. We can add to our God-given cross by agitated resistence and an unwillingness to suffer: This is simply an evidence of the remaining life of self.

A cross which comes from God ought to be welcomed without any concern for self. And when you accept your cross this way, even though it is painful, you will find that you can bear it in peace. But when you receive your cross unwillingly, you will find it to be doubly severe. The resistance within is harder to bear than the cross itself! But if you recognize the hand of God, and make no opposition to His Will, you will have peace in the midst of affliction.

Francois Salignac de la Mothe Fenelon, Let Go pp.2-3.

This may be one of the Fenelon passages that has affected me most deeply over the years. God gives all of us crosses to bear in order to draw us closer to Him - indeed to make us more like Christ. Some crosses seem more like actual “suffering” than others, but each is a cross nonetheless. In my journey, I have been under the weight of some pretty heavy crosses at times, although I readily admit that the weight of the cross we bear is all relative to our experience as well as our capacity to bear. The lesson I’ve learned from Fenelon is that rather than focusing on either the cross, or the one inflicting my suffering, focusing on Christ and bearing each cross in peace really refines the spirit and brings about many wonderful benefits like endurance, perseverance, patience, steadfastness - and ultimately greater spritual maturity.

My problem at times has been, in the midst of the trial or suffering - I’ve often focused way too much attention on either the one causing the pain, or my poor wounded spirit - neither of which allows for much spiritual growth. In fact, spending much time ruminating on my affliction is a good sign that I’m too worried about “self” to be looking for ways God can be glorified even in the face of the difficult circumstances. This is where “self-love” needs to find death. Why spend so much time and energy thinking about how my rights have been violated when bearing an affliction in peace and with patience can allow God to do what He’s ultimately going to do anyway? We just cause it to take longer the more we fight it.

It really comes down to a paradigm shift away from self-centered living to God-centered living. I am still very much in process here. Self-centered living won’t allow me to bear suffering peacefully because my pride cries out for satisfaction and attention. It’s been the hardest lesson of my life to remain silent at times and bear something peacefully. Sometimes it even causes physical pain! But I have come to find that God is faithful and He will honor this kind of living. It’s His purpose. To refine us into Himself, and ultimately to more fully reveal His glory. That makes it worth it.

C.J. Mahaney quotes this phrase by C.H. Spurgeon in his book Living the Cross Centered Life - and it’s really impacted me as I’ve considered what it means to live a life that is centered on the cross. Actually, the entire quote from Spurgeon is “Abide hard by the cross and search the mystery of His wounds.” Spending considerable amounts of time ruminating on, dwelling in and meditating on the significance of the cross and how it deeply impacts not merely life on earth but more imporantly our eternal destinies.

How do we search the mystery of His wounds? What is this mystery and how do we go about uncovering it? Mahaney says this:

“Behind Christ’s wounds are mysteries, mysteries that are revealed in Scripture. So we want to look carefully and study closely the purpose of our Savior’s sufferings, from His agonized prayer in the garden to His cry of forsakenness on the cross. We want to look with more depth and detail at why He suffered and what He uniquely accomplished by His suffering in relation to God and for the sinner.”

Living the Cross Centered Life, p. 47.

This requires that we carefully search Scripture and allow the writers of God’s Word to reveal more fully what is behind these mysteries. The Gospels obviously have a lot to say as they depict Christ’s crucifixion. But probably the most graphic passage comes from the Old Testament - Isaiah 53. In Isaiah’s prophesy, he’s very detailed and graphic in his characterization of the sufferings of Christ, in his words some of the mystery is revealed.

Isaiah 53

1Who has believed what they heard from us?^[a]
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3He was despised and rejected^[b] by men;
a man of sorrows,^[c] and acquainted with^[d] grief;^[e]
and as one from whom men hide their faces^[f]
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned every one to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
8By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
9And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;

Part of the mystery is revealed in Isaiah 53:5 - it was His inflictions that brought us peace. And it was by His wounds that we are healed. A part of the revelation to the mystery of His wounds is that His blood, His scars, His suffering… have brought peace and healing to humanity. Is there peace that you sense, see or experience that comes from anything other than the Cross? No! Is there any healing ultimately available from any other source than Christ’s suffering, torture and death? No - it doesn’t exist except by the power of the Cross.

Spurgeon described this Isaiah 53 passage as “the Bible in miniature and the Gospel in essence.” Knowing what we can experience through the unmerited grace and overwhelming mercy obtained by the Cross, this passage while grotesque and apalling, is at the same time wonderfully beautiful. But apart from a saving faith in Christ based on His work on the cross, it doesn’t make sense. And if not for the beauty of a prophesy fulfilled, it seems ludicrous. Because a man shouldn’t be disfigured beyond recognition if He’s a savior. He shouldn’t be despised and rejected. Mahaney says this:

“By divine design the gospel is foolishness to all who through pride are governed by the wisdom of this world, restricted to human observation and impressed only by outward appearance.” p. 52.

But its real. It’s profound. It’s life-changing. And, yes it most definitely should change the way we live because it puts everything in life in the perspective of the cross.

In light of the upcoming release of The DiVinci Code in April, the deity of Christ is at issue world-wide, especially given overwhelming success of the book and the sure popularity of the movie. Dr. Andreas Kostenberger (blogging at biblicalfoundations.org) posts on this question and will be addressing more DiVinci questions in the days to come. We’ll undoubtedly find ourselves in conversations in the coming months , and we need to be equipped to be ready to well-represent Christ and the Gospel. It’s worth a read…

Click here for the whole post.

Here is an excerpt:

From time to time scholars suggest the divinity of Jesus is a later invention of the Church. Jesus, they claim, did not believe himself to be God, nor did he claim to be. His first followers, and the early church, likewise did not believe he was God but rather thought of him as a good teacher and moral example. The Da Vinci Code echoes such sentiments by declaring that “Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet . . . a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal.” He was not considered to be God until the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325.

The problem with this view, however, is that the NT records clearly and repeatedly state otherwise. Paul, writing in the A.D. 50s, said Jesus is the “Christ, who is God over all, forever praised” (Rom. 9:5). Equally clear is his statement, penned in the early A.D. 60s, that “Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped” (Phil. 2:6). Similarly, he noted that “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Col. 2:9). Elsewhere, he spoke of “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:13).

This is Mark Dever in response to C.J. Mahaney’s question “What is the gospel” on Together For the Gospel blog:

I think Augustine said somewhere that the cross was a pulpit in which Christ preached his love to the world.  I can’t remember (or just don’t know) where he said this.  If someone could supply me with a reference (Lig?) I’d appreciate it.  Anyway, that expression is a succinct way of drawing our attention to the holiness of God (a sacrifice was needed), His love (he provided the sacrifice), our sinfulness (we’ve been separated from God by our sin), His provision in Christ (his life and death) and our response (we need to hear this word preached and respond to it in repentance and faith).  So there it is–the gospel is about our holy and loving God, creator and judge, His creation of us in His image, our sin against Him, His amazing provision of us in Christ, whose life, death and resurrection was for us.  He then calls all who hear this message to turn away from their sins and trust in Christ alone for forgiveness of sins, restoration of a relationship with God, and even adoption as His children, now and forever!

I REALLY enjoy this blog. I love peering into this conversation that goes back and forth between these top-shelf scholars, moderated by my latest favorite author, C.J. Mahaney.

We had a great “Weekend to Remember” get-away with the FamilyLife marriage conference and are now back in the saddle at home with our precious boys. All that we took in at the conference this weekend made me appreciate even more the incredible family I’ve been blessed with: an amazing wife, God’s perfect provision to complete me; and two wonderful boys with whom I am seeking to leave a Godly legacy.

I’ve decided against giving a blow-by-blow re-cap of the entire conference. You need to trust me in that it is worth it (especially if you’ve never taken part in a “Weekend to Remember”) and you need to go to the FamilyLife website, look for the weekend conference nearest you, and register. You’ll be glad you did. What I AM going to do, though, is share with you my top take-aways… the major things I wrote in the back of my conference notebook to remind me of what God spoke to my heart this weekend:

1. Be “all there” with the boys when I’m at home - Sessions 1 & 2 dealt with “oneness” in our marriages, and it didn’t take me long to figure out that, a key to experiencing “oneness” in my marriage is how intentional and proactive I am with the family when I’m home. I can tend to get distracted with things like blogs (smile) and books, and I need to work on this…

2. Admit I’m selfish, and place my wife’s needs above my own - I’m selfish?? OK. We’re all selfish. And, though it’s hard to admit, I know I am. Actually, now that I think about it, it’s NOT hard to admit because it’s so obvious! I need to prioritize my family’s needs above my own.

3. Allow the Holy Spirit unhindered control of my life - There are ways that I still want to hold control, and they get in the way of what God wants to do. The sooner I realize that, the better. I need to get out of the way of the Holy Spirit, and let Him have free reign in every area of my life.

4. Truly seek to understand and be understood - The keys to communication (session 7). It involves valuing genuine communication and good listening skills. I know I will probably never fully understand Heidi, but I need to work hard at it, and at least make her feel understood while I’m in process.

5. Session 8 was the sexual intimacy session… I’m going to choose to only share my takeaway from this session only with my lovely wife. (smile)

6. Take the initiative to pray more often with Heidi - I have a real passion for prayer and dependence, and yet I find that it is so hard to be consistent in praying with my wife. Why is that!?! I need to take more initiative here.

7. I need to transfer God’s truth to the boys - I have an incredible responsibility and opportunity to build up Josiah and Jonathan in God and His word. What a privilege! I so desire to model Godly character to my two sons, and with every opportunity, point them to our incredible God. This is something I’m really passionate about.

8. Say “I’m sorry” and speak the truth in love - Why is it so hard sometimes to say “I’m sorry?”

9. Return a curse with a blessing - This might be one of the keys to having a great relationship. It is so much easier to return a curse with a curse or an insult with an insult… but following Christ’s ultimate example, returning a curse with a blessing creates an atmosphere for conflict to be resolves and love to reign.

10. Pray together as a family - The boys are small right now, but it’s never too soon to model effective and dependent prayer and go before God as a family.

Heidi and I are at a FamilyLife “Weekend to Remember” marriage conference this weekend in Franklin, just down the street. This is our second conference together - our first one was when we were engaged, so we’ve definitely plowed some ground since the last time we were at one of these! I know there are some challenging times ahead as I’m faced with the numerous ways I fall short and can improve on how I love, lead and serve my bride.

Last night the conference speakers covered the “Five Threats to Oneness.” If you never go to one of these conferences (which I would highly recommend if you are able), you can get the cliff notes version here on the blog as I’ll give a little summary for you to think about. (I’m hoping this doesn’t cut into their conference revenue by convincing you to stay home, but rather compels you to sign up for yourself!)

In looking at the five threats to oneness, the underlining understanding is that God’s purpose for marriage leads a couple to oneness. The opposite of oneness, and the inevitable result of humans being left to themelves, is isolation. Unless we’re purposeful in our pursuit of oneness, we’ll all naturally move toward isolation. This is the critical issue in marriage, and there are forces threatening to destroy oneness that need to get a hard look.

1. Difficult adjustments 

Culture does little to encourage making adjustments in our marriages and because of our contrasting backgrounds (values, vocations, religion, family history, etc), unless adjustments are made, husbands and wives will inevitably be on different pages. Add to the equation differing expectations across the board (roles, sexual issues, future plans), an you have yourself a true threat.

2. 50/50 Performance Pattern

The world’s pattern is that husbands and wives meet each other half-way in our roles, responsibilities and meeting each others needs. Acceptance is based on performance, giving is based on merit and motivation for action is based on how one feels. This is destined to self-destruct a marriage.

3. Selfishness

We all have a natural tendency to be self-centered. I don’t think anyone needs convincing of this. (Although, Heidi and I joked with each other in agreeing that, yes, the other certainly has a problem with this one!)

4. Failure to work through difficulties and trials

The failure to anticipate difficulties as well as the failure to respond properly to those difficulties both threaten oneness. We all need to realize that difficulties don’t mean that something is wrong with our marriage - because in God’s sovereignty and providence, He allows difficulties to refine us and transform us more into the image of Christ. But, we need to see it this way and take proactive steps to walk into these challenges.

5. Extramarital Affairs

We all think of a physical or sexual affair here, but they define extramarital affairs as “an escape from reality or a search for fulfillment outside of marriage.” Of course this includes the stereotypical love affair, but could also be an activity or hobby, possessions, a career, family…

The result of all of these threats is isolation. More to come…

Every Friday is Fenelon Friday, where we drink from the very deep well of my favorite 17th century French Bishop in the Catholic Church. (Everyone should have a little Fenelon with their coffee in the morning…) Francois de Salignac de La Mothe-Fenelon (born 1651) was a mentor to a number of younger men on the court of Louis XIV. In fact, he was given the responsibility of raising the young man who would proceed Louis XIV to the throne of France (the King’s grandson). Many of Fenelon’s writings are actually letters he wrote to some of these young leaders as they sought to walk the life of faith in the face of opposition and adversity. Fenelon’s teachings were met with resistance within the Catholic Church because they aligned more with Reformation teachings than with Catholic dogma at times, and his hope was that once his student became the King of France, he would be instrumental in the reformation of the Catholic Church and bring a real witness of Jesus Christ to France. Those hopes were dashed in 1712 with the premature death of the King’s grandson. Fenelon died not long after that in 1715 at the age of 63, but his teachings live on and continue to influence 300 years after he died.

The Death of Self 

I cannot express to you how deeply I sympathize with you in your time of suffering. I suffer right along with you, but still, it cheers me up to know that God loves you.

And the very proof that God loves you is that He does not spare you, but lays upon you the cross of Jesus Christ. Whatever spiritual knowledge or feelings we may have, they are all a delusion if they do not lead us to the real and constant practice of dying to self. And it is true that we do not die without suffering. Nor is it possible to be considered truly dead while there is any part of us which is yet alive. This spiritual death (which is really a blessing in disguise) is undeniably painful. It cuts “swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires with all their parts, exposing us for what we really are.” The great Physician who sees in us what we cannot see, knows exactly where to place the knife. He cuts away that which we are most reluctant to give up. And how it hurts! But we must remember that pain is only felt where there is life, and where there is life is just the place where death is needed. Our Father wastes no time by cutting into parts which are already dead. Do not misunderstand me; He wants you to live abundantly, but this can only be accomplished by allowing Him to cut into that fleshly part of you which is still stubbornly clinging to life. Don’t expect God to deal with those vulgar, wicked desires which you renounced forever when you gave yourself away to Him. That part of you is already dead. But, He will deal with the parts of you that are still alive. He might even test your faith with restrictions and trials of all kinds.

Should you resist? Certainly not! You must learn to suffer all things! The death of self must be voluntary, and it can only be accomplished as far as you allow. Anyone who resists death and repels its advances shows that he is not willing to die. You must be willing to yield to the will of God whenever He decides to remove from you all of the props on which you have leaned.

Do you fear that He may not be able to supply to you from Himself that help which He may have taken away on the human level? And why does He take human help away, except to supply you from Himself, and to purify you by the painful lesson?

So give yourself up to His plans. Allow yourself to be led wherever He wants to lead you. And be careful to not seek help from your friends if God is forbidding it. Your friends can only give you what He gives them for you. Why be so concerned about the dried up streams when the rivers of living water are so available?

Francois Salignac de la Mothe Fenelon, Let Go pp.7-8.

Yesterday, I listened to a tape of a message on prayer by Jim Cymbala, the senior pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City, and author of a number of books including Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. (You might be saying to yourself, “Did I just hear him say he listened to a TAPE?!” Yes, I admit it. I almost forgot how to use it, but actually found it was like riding a bike. Once I popped it in my car, it all started coming back to me.)

Basically, his message centered around one of my favorite passages, Hebrews 4:16:

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

We all have a favorite spot - a park, a certain state, an island, a certain room in the house, some foreign enchanted land… For me, I love the mountains and always seem to be compelled by them. I think that’s one of the reasons why the picture at the top of this page is a view from the top of Mount Everest. It’s as close as we can physically get to “the heavens” on this earth and in some incredibly significant ways, I feel closer to God when I’m in the mountains.

But, there’s a place that’s even sweeter than the grandest hidden chalet in the most majestic mountain range on earth. There is no enchanted foreign land that can compare to this place. It’s a very real place, a place  that we can boldly enter with confidence through the sacrifice of Christ - the Throne of Grace.

It’s through prayer and a life of dependence that we enter this place where the power and presence of God are most clearly seen and experienced. We can come to this place because Christ has given us access through His death and resurrection. There is no longer a dividing wall separating us from all that God offers here. And there are only two things that we find - truly only two things that we ever need - that we find here at the Throne of Grace. Grace and mercy.

Grace - unmerited favor. We don’t deserve it, but we desperately need it. It isn’t something we can earn or get credit for. It’s something we receive from God, through no efforts of our own - and we can’t spiritually survive without it. God gives it to us freely at His Throne of Grace.

Mercy - that God withholds from us what we all deserve - His wrath and judgment. It is free and available to us at the Throne of Grace. I don’t know about you, but knowing all the many ways I’ve sinned and how I’m so capable of sinning in any moment, I am so thankful for mercy.
We all need mercy and grace. And we don’t need to get our life all neatly wrapped up and figured out to approach the Throne of Grace in order to receive it. Actually, that’s the point of mercy and grace. We can’t get right or good enough to receive it on our own  - we simply need to accept the gift as we approach God through prayer at the Throne of Grace.

Don’t go there apologetically. Don’t go there out of guilt or shame. We are given the keys to enter the Throne of Grace confidently and boldly! If you have placed your faith in Christ, you can go there now. Whether you’re driving in your car, at a ball game, in an argument, in prison, in the hospital… All we need to do is call out to God in prayer and we’re there. I know this is mysterious - it’s not a physical place right now where we can drive or take a train to. But its a very real place that God has made available to us. And can there be any place sweeter than the place at Christ’s feet where mercy and grace are freely given to all?

We need to go there and go there often. It only happens as we lay our life before God in prayerful dependence. You can go there now.  There is no sweeter place than the Throne of Grace.

Yesterday morning, I had a life-changing encounter that I thought I’d share with you - because I think there is something meaningful in this for everyone who would be open to the Lord’s leading. The Father has been impressing on my heart the word “dependence” for quite some time now, and in my role as a pastor I’ve had the privilege of being able to help shepherd, encourage and equip our church body in the areas of prayer and dependence. I’ve by no means “arrived” regarding prayer. On the contrary, I honestly feel pretty feeble when it comes to living a life of prayer. Like all of us, I am growing in what it means to truly live dependently.

One of the things that God has been putting on my heart is the absolute need for our churches to be praying for our church leaders. There is so much at stake in the life of Christ’s church and there are so many challenges, obstacles and temptations that pastors and leaders face. They need armies of people coming around them in earnest prayer, going before the Lord diligently and specifically for needs and concerns to strengthen and encourage them in the work they do for the Lord. I say this because I’m one of those leaders that desperately needs the power of other people’s prayer for me - I can’t walk in my own strength. I’ve tried to do that. It doesn’t work and it isn’t worth it.

Well, for a good number of months now, I’ve sensed the Holy Spirit pressing into me that I need a prayer team - a group of people committed to praying daily and specifically for needs and challenges. And in fact, all our pastors and leaders need teams of people praying. I know this is an area of spiritual battle, because immediately the struggle began. I procrastinated. I put it aside. I justified not acting on it. I talked myself into believing that it seemed arrogant to ask a group of people to pray for me. And while it kind of felt programmatic, I knew it needed to be authentic and real for it to sustain.

Last week, the Spirit’s conviction finally got the best of me, and I got a hold of four dear friends who I know love me and have hearts for prayer, and asked them if we could get together. I even put out a number of disclaimers so they didn’t feel obligated - and I have to admit, I did struggle a bit with what it felt like to ask a group of people to come together specifically to pray for me.

We got together yesterday morning in one of their homes, and after a little bagel and cream cheese and some half decaf, half regular coffee, we sat down in the living room. I again put out my disclaimer and told each of them I didn’t want them to feel obligated to commit to something, but that I wanted to humbly ask them if they’d consider joining this small team to pray for me as a leader, husband and father. Almost before I could finish my disclaimer, one of the stellar women I’d invited basically said the decision was already made and I didn’t need to put out any disclaimers… She said it was a deep privilege for each of them to be asked to be a part of this. I was so humbled by that.

After spending a few minutes sharing some specific needs, and my hope for how this team could be an example for other leaders in our church to emulate, these four prayer warriors got to praying. I couldn’t believe the power that was coming from these friends of mine. And it no longer felt self-serving for them to pray for me, it felt right - because pastors and leaders desperately NEED to be prayed for. I am going to ask a couple more people if they’d like to join this team, and we’re going to meet monthly. I’ll also be sending them regular email updates of not only requests, but answers. WOW!

My life has been changed by this encounter and I can’t wait to see how God works through this prayer team that is coming together. I’m posting on this because if you are a pastor or a leader, I would encourage you to cast aside any fears or misgivings and simply do the not-so-hard work of putting a prayer team together. Those you ask will most likely be very honored that you’ve asked.

And if you are a church attender, I would encourage you to at the very least, pray for your leaders - specifically. And think about being proactive and putting together a prayer team for one or more of your pastors. God has promised to move mightily when His people pray - and He’s proven this time and time again. I can’t believe it took me this long to finally put two and two together. But it’s never too late.

Here is something I put together for my prayer team - a prayer guide that I adapted from a ministry called Prayer Shield. You can use this as a guide not only for your pastors, but also for friends and family members:

HEDGING IN THE PASTOR

Ephesians 6:10-18
“Be strong in the Lord and the strength of His Might”

MEDITATE on the Greatness of God in behalf of your Pastor:
Romans 8:28, 31, 37 and 1 Peter 3:12
EXPOSE the plans of the devil: Ephesians 6:11-12
CLAIM scriptural promises for Pastors overall protection: Isaiah 54:14-17
Psalms 34:7, Psalms 91, Luke 10:19 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
PETITION God our Father to grant Pastor a discerning Spirit:
2 Corinthians 11:14 and 1 John 4:1

PASTOR’S PRIVATE LIFE
“Stand, therefore, girded in truth”
Ephesians 6:14

REQUEST that pastor’s boast and glory be solely in the cross:
Galatians 6:14
PRAY for Pastors continued renewal: Isaiah 40:27-31
for their holiness: 1 Peter 1:16
SEEK for them a clear vision of the merits of Christ: Philippians 3:7-10
for godly contentment: 1 Timothy 6:6
for the love of God to be shed abroad in their hearts: Romans 5:5

PASTOR’S PERSONAL LIFE
“Stand . . . having put on the Breastplate of Righteousness”
Ephesians 6:14

INTERCEDE for Pastor’s spouse, children, and families: Psalm 91:9-12 and
Psalms 37:25
CANCEL in the authority of Jesus’ name all assignments against them:
Matthew 16:19
REMOVE by faith in the Word all obstacles to their total health & prosperity:
Mark 11:23 and Philippians 4:19

PASTOR’S PRAISE LIFE
“Stand . . . having shod your feet with the shoes of the gospel of peace”
Ephesians 6:15

ASK the Father to give Pastor a strong heart of Worship
Matthew 4:10
BIND the spirit of fear: John 14:1
the spirit gloom: Isaiah 6:13
the spirit of negativity: 2 Timothy 1:6-7
LISTEN for any other direction to pray: Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

PASTOR’S PRAYER LIFE
“Stand . . . above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one.”
Ephesians 6:16

QUENCH in the Holy Spirit, darts of doubt: Mark 6:5-6
REBUKE in the name of Christ all distractions from Pastor’s devotional time:
Mark 5:36
LOOSEN by God’s Word, all the forces of heaven to aid in prayer:
Mark 1:35 (private) and Acts 1:14 (corporate)

PASTOR’S PROFESSIONAL LIFE
“Stand . . . taking on the Helmet of Salvation”
Ephesians 6:17

SHIELD Pastor from the fear of men: Isaiah 11:1-3 and Proverbs 19:23
BESTOW on them favor in the denomination: Proverbs 18:16
support among their peers: Proverbs 11:4 & 24:6
ENTREAT Jesus to give Pastor an uncompromising truth:
Proverbs 4:20-27 and John 14:6
and Wisdom in leadership: James 1:5

PASTOR’S PREACHING LIFE
“Stand . . . with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:17

BLESS Pastor with rich study time: Acts 6:4 and 2 Timothy 2:15
GRANT Pastor a bold proclamation of Jesus: Colossians 4:3-4
to the opportunities: Colossians 4:3-4
ANOINT Pastor to preach and teach: Luke 4:18 and 1 John 2:27
Pastor to see results: Act 2:37
Signs and wonders that Glorify God: Mark 16:20
Pastor to reveal truth: Matthew 16:17

PASTOR’S PERSEVERING LIFE
“Stand…pray at all times in the spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance” Ephesians 6:18

HONOR them with lasting fruit: Malachi 3:11 and John 15:16
CONFESS steadfastness over them: 1 Corinthians 15:58
Bold vision: Isaiah 41:10
rest: Hebrews 4 and Matthew 11:28
GIVE thanks for Pastor’s call and gifts: Colossian 1:3-5
SECURE Pastor in courage: Joshua 1
“Fight the good fight of faith”
1 Timothy 6:12
EXPECT all that you have prayed . . ..
STAND behind them girding them in prayer . . .
YIELD to the Spirit for the other areas of prayer and intercession

In the name of our glorious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
AMEN

By the way… I did take part in this at my previous church where I was on staff from 1990-1998 - Grace Church in Racine, WI. If any of you from my Grace Prayer Shield are reading this, you can know that you are part of a legacy that continues to bear fruit and for which I am eternally thankful. Thank you for sowing seeds in my heart and life many years ago.

I’m reading C.J. Mahaney’s great little book Living the Cross Centered Life and am finding it a rich and powerful read. Al Mohler says in the foreward: “I need to warn you that reading this book will not be a safe and static experience. After all, the cross isn’t about playing it safe; it’s about being found safe in Christ - and that is the most exhilarating experience a human can ever know.”

Here is what Mahaney says might be some symptoms of not living a cross centered life:

• You often lack joy.
• You’re not consistently growing in spiritual maturity
• Your love for God lacks passion
• You’re always looking for some new technique, some “new truth” or new experience to pull all the pieces of your faith together.

He then says that if you learn to live a cross centered life, you’ll learn…

• how to break free from joy-robbing, legalistic thinking and living
• how to leave behind the crippling effects of guilt and condemnation
• how to stop basing your faith on your emotions and circumstances
• how to grow in gratefulness, joy and holiness

I definitely want to live a cross centered life - a life that walks in all the power and promise that Christ gives us through His work on the cross. Life has meaning lived in this way. There is really no other way to live.

This is written by Bob Kauflin at Worship Matters and is great stuff…
This comes from the prayer “Reproofs” in The Valley of Vision:

Teach me how to take reproofs from friends,
Even though I think I do not deserve them;
Use them to make me tenderly afraid of sin,
More jealous over myself,
More concerned to keep heart and life unblameable.
Cause them to help me reflect on my want of spirituality,
To abhor myself, to look upon myself as unworthy,
And make them beneficial to my soul.
May all your people know how little, mean, and vile I am,
That they may see I am nothing, less than nothing,
To be accounted nothing,
That so they may pray for me aright,
And have not the least dependence upon me.

In His mercy, God often sends people into our lives who courageously, if not always kindly, give us some form of correction. One of the indicators of maturity is how quickly and joyfully we welcome that kind of input.

I often respond immediately with justifying or blame shifting words, explaining why I took a particular course of action or made a specific comment. I’m quick to speak and very slow to listen. I want this conversation to be finished as soon as possible. In my worst moments, I start to judge the person giving me input, imagining all kinds of reasons why their judgment is faulty. “They don’t even know me…they haven’t seen all the other times I’ve been right…how do they know what’s in my heart?…they’re MUCH more guilty than I am in this area…someone else made me do it…I was tired/hungry/distracted/unaware…” My list of excuses is lengthy, thorough, and compelling. At least in MY eyes.

But in God’s eyes, every person who brings me a rebuke is His messenger, sent to help me conform me to the image of His Son. So why do I despise correction?

It’s simple. I don’t believe what God has said about me in the cross. I think there must be some aspect of my life, however small or pitiful, that is praiseworthy, meritorious, and beyond inspection. Alfred Poirier, in his very helpful article, The Cross and Criticism, provides this life-changing perspective:

“In light of God’s judgment and justification of the sinner in the cross of Christ, we can begin to discover how to deal with any and all criticism. By agreeing with God’s criticism of me in Christ’s cross, I can face any criticism man may lay against me. In other words, no one can criticize me more than the cross has. And the most devastating criticism turns out to be the finest mercy. If you thus know yourself as having been crucified with Christ, then you can respond to any criticism, even mistaken or hostile criticism, without bitterness, defensiveness, or blameshifting. Such responses typically exacerbate and intensify conflict, and lead to the rupture of relationships. You can learn to hear criticism as constructive and not condemnatory because God has justified you.”

What a thought. We can receive criticism graciously because God, who knows our wickedness as no one else, has fully forgiven and justified us. We will never be brought into condemnation! (Rom. 8:1) So we can confidently pray with the Puritan in The Valley of Vision:

Give me such vivacity in religion,
That I may be able to take all reproofs from other men as from your hands,
And glorify you for them from a sense of your beneficent love
And of my need to have my pride destroyed.

Oh, how we need to have our pride destroyed! What agents of God’s care will we encounter this week? Will we recognize them as tools in God’s hands, or view them as enemies to resist? How will we respond to input, feedback, and observations? May God help us to see each person who corrects us as a gift from his loving, wise, and sovereign hand, sent to make us more like His precious Son.

Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. (Psa. 141:5)

HT: Worship Matters (written by Bob Kauflin)

After having posted on fathers, sons and March Madness (basketball), C.J. Mahaney was asked by Mark Dever about how he prepares his son for their Sunday morning worship service. Having two little boys myself, I’m especially interested in this, and am challenged and inspired to be as intentional with my boys as C.J. is with his. Read the whole thing at Together for the Gospel. Here’s an excerpt:

Yep, Mark, I follow a similar approach in order to prepare Chad for the Sunday meeting at Covenant Life Church, only this event is much more important than basketball. Actually, as I understand it, parenting is all about preparation. I need to prepare Chad to fulfill his call as a man to serve and lead, and ultimately I must prepare him for the fast-approaching day of judgment.

My approach to preparing Chad for the Sunday meeting has been informed by the doctrine of the church as clearly taught in Scripture and the Savior’s love for the church as compelling demonstrated on the cross. I want to inform my son theologically about the church and demonstrate for him a passion for the church. I want to transfer to him my love for Covenant Life Church in particular.

Imparting a love for the church must begin with my example. Modeling precedes teaching. Before we teach, we must provide a genuine (not a perfect) example for our children. So, in order to effectively prepare Chad for Sunday, I must first prepare my own heart.