Heart Soul and Might

“Theology without trusting, submissive prayer is no longer good theology; it is merely an academic exercise which may itself pose as a substitute for the process of knowing God. Where this happens, the means has become the end in a kind of perverse idolatry.”

David Wells, “The Nature and Function of Theology”

HT: Between Two Worlds (Justin Taylor)

This was encouraging and insightful from Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds. Prayer is so vitally important to the life of the believer and a helpful tool toward effective prayer is always a good thing…

Dana Olson, of Prayer First, provides a helpful acronymn and a needed exhortation for us to serve people through prayer. I’ve taken the liberty of reproducing much of his post below, and encourage you to check out his blog for regular encouragement in this practice.

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My point with this post is to remind you of the significant power of simply praying for people. By ‘power’ I don’t mean power in the signs and wonders sense (though neither am I discounting that he is able to do amazing things). I mean it in the sense of the incredible impact and joy when we pray with people in need. This kind of prayer is often neglected: all too often we think of it as a clergyman’s duty. Ridiculous! God has given to believers the privilege of coming to his throne of grace. All believers, not just pastors. And when we bring people in need before that throne, there is mercy and grace for their need, and there is delight in the love unleashed in doing so. Praying for folks who are hurting is a very practical means of showing the love of Christ. It is in the very doing a testimony of our faith in Christ and confidence in God’s grace and help. Here is a very simple acronym I have often used to train Christians to pray for someone in need. I call it H*A*B*I*T prayer, as in “make it a habit to pray for others around you.”

H — Honor God. Begin with a simple sentence or two of praise and adortation to God for His glory. Thank him for saving you through the cross of Jesus Christ, and giving you the amazing privilege of entering his throne room to pray.

A — Ask specifically. Bring the person’s need to the throne of grace. It is critical that you listen carefully to what the person has said, so that you can pray for them specifically rather than generally. It is disappointing to pour your heart out to someone, then have them pray as if they didn’t hear a single word you said.

B — Bless. Ask God to bless them in ways other than just the specific item prayed earlier. If the person is not a Christian, pray for their spiritual life and awakening to God’s grace through Jesus Christ. If you know them well and other aspects of their life, ask God’s blessing. “Lord, I ask your blessing on Ted’s wife and children as well. Give him wisdom in his business…etc.” If you do not know them, simply ask God to pour his blessing into every aspect of life, especially their spiritual life in Jesus Christ.

I – In Jesus’ name. We come to God in prayer only because of Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us, and opened the way for us into the Holy of holies.

T – Touch as appropriate. If it is appropriate, take the person’s hand when you pray for them, or put a hand on their shoulder, whatever seems appropriate to the situation. Take care with this. We should be neither inappropriately “touchy feely” nor cold and “hands off” as if we might catch something.

More could be said on each of these. But that can be at another time. My point today is to ask you, “Do you seize on the opportunities God gives you to pray for those in need who surround you every day?” If you don’t, you are missing out on a golden opportunity to communicate with God and communicate to others the love of God.

I finished this book by Samuel Chadwick yesterday on my day of spiritual refreshment and was really challenged in the area of disciplined prayer and intercession. I’m very passionate about prayer and dependence, but have never considered myself an intercessor. I don’t feel like I’m “wired” like most intercessors I know… and I’m honestly not very disciplined in interceding for others’ needs on a regular basis. I’m like a streaky baseball player who hits .450 for a week and then goes 0 for 30 the next week.

However, one of the things that struck me in finishing Chadwick’s book was that Jesus was an intercessor… He did the hard work of going off to a desolate place alone and interceding before the Father for many things. And, in my desire to be Christ-like - to be like Jesus - I too need to do the hard work of an intercessor. We ALL do. What I AM finding out as I continue this journey toward dependence is that prayer and intercession will never be easy for me. There will always be challenges. There will always be something else I could be doing. In fact, there will always be “good” things I could be doing with my time rather than praying. But, I need to pray, because that is how God moves.

A verse that has always struck me (and Chadwick refers to) is Ezekiel 22:30. God says:

“And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.”

God was looking for an intercessor. One man to go before the Lord on behalf of the nation of Israel to dissuade Him from destroying the nation… But there wasn’t one. Why? Because it’s hard work and it goes against our human nature to be still and make petitions before God. But the Bible clearly shows us the importance of intercession. Chadwick says this:

“The praying people of the Bible are intercessors. Abraham pleaded for Sodom and Gomorrah. Moses made intercession for apostate Israel. Samuel prayed all night for Saul and continually for the nation. David entreated God for His people. Daniel prayed for the deliverance of the Lord’s people from Babylon. Christ prayed for His disciples, and made special intercession for Peter… The one thing that is said to have surprised God is that the voice of intercession had ceased. ‘And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor,’ (Isaiah 59:16). His delivering mercy depends upon intercessors - people who will put their shoulders under the burdens of others… The normal function of prayer is to make intercession with God for others.”

Samuel Chadwick, The Path of Prayer, p. 109.

Intercession is a mystery. Chadwick says that praying for others “is the deepest mystery and the crowning glory of prayer.” But, in interceding, we are being LIKE JESUS. For “He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

I’ll be blogging the rest of the chapters of this book in the coming days. This is a challenging and convicting book, but one that is also inspiring as we realize the high privilege and calling it is to live a dependent life of prayer before our God.

I love the prayers of the Puritans. This beautiful prayer comes from a wonderful book, The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions:

Living by Prayer

O God of the open ear,
Teach me to live by prayer as well as by providence,
for myself, soul, body, children, family, church;
Give me a heart frameable to thy will;
so I might live in prayer,
and honor thee,
being kept from evil, known and unknown.
Help me to see the sin that accompanies all I do,
and the good I can distill from everything.
Let me know that the work of prayer is to bring my will to thine,
and that without this it is folly to pray;
When I try to bring thy will to mine it is to command Christ,
to be above him, and wiser than he;
this is my sin and pride.
I can only succeed when I pray
according to thy precept and promise,
and to be done with as it pleases thee,
according to thy sovereign will.
When thou commandest me to pray for pardon, peace, brokenness,
it is because thou wilt give me the thing promised,
for Thy glory, as well as for my good.
Help me not only to desire small things
but with holy boldness to desire great things
for thy people, for myself,
that they and I might live to show thy glory.
Teach me that it is wisdom for me to pray for all I have,
out of love, willingly, not of necessity;
that I may come to thee at any time,
to lay open my needs acceptably to thee;
that my great sin lies in my not keeping the savour of thy ways;
that the remembrance of this truth is one way to the sense of Thy presence;
that there is no wrath like the wrath of being governed
by my own lusts for my own ends.

The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, p. 147.

I’ve been reading books on prayer, looking for the right book for our congregation to inspire and encourage them in their prayer life. A few months ago I went to the Brooklyn Tabernacle website to see what they might recommend. I’ve had the privilege of meeting and spending some time with their Senior Pastor, Jim Cymbala, and view him as one of Christianity’s most passionate voices on prayer. Anything he would recommend, I would want to check out.

Sure enough, there is one book (other than those he himself has written!) that he highly recommends, and in fact, wrote the foreword to: Samuel Chadwick’s The Path of Prayer. The subtitle to this book is “A vital book on a vital issue written for plain people who are sincerely simple in their trust.” Upon coming across this book and knowing Pastor Cymbala so highly recommends it, I’ve read it and will be posting chapter summaries on my blog for your edification and encouragement.

About this little book, Cymbala says: “The Path of Prayer is a very special book about a vital subject. Most books on prayer only inform the mind, but Samuel Chadwick both instructs the intellect and inspires the heart to meet God at the throne of grace. I thank God for this precious volume for it has greatly affected my life and ministry.”

Chapter one is entitled “The Sign of Prayer” and in it, Chadwick lays out the biblical foundation for his view of prayer as being inseparable with God. He says “Belief in God and belief in prayer are elemental and intuitive.” The Old Testament is full of stories that show how central prayer is to the life of God’s people – deliverance, victory, experience and vision… all point to prayer and the answer to prayer. He says the basis of prayer is sonship: “It is natural for a child to ask something of its father, and it is reasonable for the father to listen to the request of his child.” The testimony of scripture and all of history is that God listens to and answers the prayers of His children.

Saul’s conversion at Tarsus in Acts 9 is where Chadwick finds a unique revelation concerning God’s heart for prayer.

“There is the man who prayed, the God who heard and the man through whom the answer came.  God, of course, is central. It is to Him prayer is made, through Him prayer is interpreted, and by Him prayer is answered.” He cites Acts 9:11 as a verse which shows the “wonder” with which God views prayer: “Behold, he is praying.” Chadwick says that the only thing in the universe more amazing than a man praying, is that man, knowing God’s heart for prayer, would NOT pray! He says that in the word “behold”, there is “wonder, rapture, exultation. In the estimate of God, prayer is more wonderful than all the wonders of the heavens, more glorious than all the mysteries of the earth, more mighty than all the forces of creation.”

It is clear that Chadwick sees prayer as absolutely central to sonship – to the proof of grace in one’s life – to life itself. His conclusive statement (actually a question) to this fact is this: “Is there any proof that a man is a man of God like the fact that he is a man of prayer?”

One of the reasons I love this book (in addition to Cymbala’s recommendation!) is that the author has absolutely no pretense, and certainly isn’t seeking to come across as an expert on prayer. On the contrary, it is clear that he is led by humility and in his introduction says honestly and candidly that he is simply writing out of his own prayer life experience. It’s because of that, I believe I can trust him as an author. It’s clear he has a deep relationship with his Lord. One that I hope to have as well.

When we come together to worship…to pray…to share life, based on Christ and the Cross, there is no condemnation, no judgment - no reason to fear. There’s only freedom here. In keeping with this thought, here is a prayer from one of my favorite books - The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. As you read this, I would encourage you to join with the centuries of believers who have prayed these same words, believing God for true freedom. I’m beginning to experience it.

Freedom

O HOLY FATHER, thou hast freely given thy Son,

O DIVINE SON, thou has freely paid my debt,

O ETERNAL SPIRIT, thou dost freely bid me come,

O TRIUNE GOD, thou dost freely grace me with salvation.

Prayers and tears could not suffice to pardon my sins,

nor anything less than atoning blood,

but my believing is my receiving,

for a thankful acceptance is no paying of the debt.

What didst thou see in me?

That I a poor, diseased, despised sinner

should be clothed in thy bright glory?

That a creeping worm

should be advanced to this high state?

That one lately groaning, weeping, dying,

should be as full of joy as my heart can hold?

That a being of dust and darkness

should be taken like Mordecai from captivity,

and set next to the King?

Should be lifted like Daniel from a den

and be made ruler of princes and provinces?

Who can fathom immeasurable love?

As far as the rational soul exceeds the senses,

so does the spirit exceed the rational in its knowledge of thee,

Thou hast given me understanding to compass the earth,

measure the sun, moon, stars, universe,

but above all to know thee, the only true God,

I marvel that the finite can know the Infinite,

here a little, afterwards in full-orbed truth;

Now I know but a small portion of what I shall know,

here in part, there in perfection,

here a glimpse, there a glory.

To enjoy thee is life eternal, and to enjoy is to know,

Keep me in the freedom of experiencing thy salvation continually.

The Valley of Vision, Arthur Bennett, p. 56.

Watts’ final chapter is called “Persuasive Arguments to Learn to Pray.” He begins:

“It is to little purpose that the nature of prayer is explained, so many rules framed and directions given to teach persons this divine skill of prayer, if they are not persuaded of the necessity and usefulness of it.” (p. 167)

In other words, it’s useless talking about it if we don’t actually do it. He lays out six reasons why we should learn to pray.

1.    There is such a thing as correspondence with heaven, and prayer is a great part of it while we dwell on earth.

One of the greatest joys of my life is talking with Julie, my bride of almost thirty years. There are numerous times we’re engaged in conversation and I realize how I look forward to the simple act of conversing with her. How much greater our joy should be in speaking with our heavenly Father!

2.    Prayer is necessary to our calling.

Watts points out that prayer is one of the things we do most frequently as Christians. Every believer in Christ, then, has the joy and privilege of seeking to mature in their prayer life.

3.    Our prayers bring God delight and can be advantageous to ourselves and those who join in prayer with us.

I distinctly remember occasions when I’ve heard some mature saint pray and become aware of how much I wanted my relationship with God to grow.

“What divine impressions of holiness have you felt in public worship in the congregation when this duty has been performed with holy skill and fervency, and in that prayer you have received more solid edification than from the whole sermon?” (p. 174)

4.    Our prayers can either support or detract from the honor of God and the reputation of Christianity in the world.

One of the reasons people don’t see prayer as necessary or helpful stems from hearing vague, faithless, and insincere prayers uttered by others. Watts reminds us that those around us should see something of the beauty of Christ through our prayers. It’s not just about what I’m feeling in my heart, but what others perceive.

5.    Learning to pray with the assistance of the Spirit is relatively easy compared to learning a trade or an art.

How odd that we so rarely hear teaching on one of the most basic and consistent practices of the Christian life. Even more ironic is the number of us who think our only need is to pray more, rather than to spend time learning how to pray. Again, prayer can be as thought of as simply talking to God. But that’s no reason for us not to mature in the depth, consistency, passion, and breadth of the conversation.

6.    If we don’t learn how to pray it will have a negative effect on others.

Watts describes one possible effect:

“The ignorant part of your household will sleep under you, while the more knowing will be in pain for you. And perhaps you will sometimes think to make amends for the dullness of the devotion by increasing the length of it. But this is to add one error to another and lay more burdens upon those who are weary.” (p. 184)

Been there, done that. We might also decide to reduce our prayers to repeated forms, or grow weary of praying all together.

What will you do to grow in your prayer life? I pray that by God’s grace you’ll do more than simply feel guilty about not praying more. God is ready and able to assist us as we take pains to deepen the quality of your relationship with Him through the immeasurably sweet practice of prayer. Who knows what joy, faith, and fruitfulness lies ahead? One thing is sure – our Savior is eager to meet us every step of the way.

HT: Worship Matters (Bob Kauflin) 

Bob Kauflin continues his series on Isaac Watts’ A Guide to Prayer on Worship Matters with the following: 

Over the past few weeks I’ve been sharing summaries of chapters from the book A Guide to Prayer by Isaac Watts. I’ve been using it in my own prayer times, and want to share the benefits. I know I could be addressing many other topics, and will eventually get to them. But if my sense is right, I think that prayer, both public and private, is an area of our relationship with God that we would all love to grow in.

In his chapter on The Spirit of Prayer Watts reminds us that all the rules and directions he’s laid out for praying will be ineffective without the aid of God’s Spirit. After providing extensive Scriptural support for the Spirit helping us in prayer (Zeph. 12:10; Luke 11:13; Rom. 8:26; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 6:18; Jude 20-21), he describes how the Spirit assists us. Some of the ways include increasing our natural capacities, blessing our diligent attempts to grow, inclining our hearts to pray, supplying us with content, influencing our methods, and helping us in expressiveness and our affections. He offers this encouragement:

“If the great God has required every man to pray, and will hear and reward the humble and sincere worshipper, why may we not suppose he is so compassionate as to help us in this work which he requires?” (p. 145)

How often do I pray that God’s Spirit would enable me to pray more effectively? Not enough.

Watts then lists cautions as we pursue the assistance of the Spirit. In his typically pastoral, balanced, and biblical way he encourages us not to believe that any and every impulse we receive is the Spirit of God speaking. This counsel alone could improve some of our prayers immeasurably. He reminds us that the influences of the Spirit won’t always be easily distinguishable from the stirrings of our own spirit, but we should avoid saying that the Spirit never exerts extraordinary influences when we pray. He also shares that beautiful praying may not be an evidence of the Spirit’s work, while those whose prayers are cumbersome or disjointed may have hearts alive to the Spirit of God.

Finally, he gives directions on obtaining and keeping the Spirit of prayer.

•    Seek earnestly after converting grace and faith in Jesus Christ (a key point…)
•    Be much in the practice of prayer (we don’t improve in anything without doing it)
•    Don’t confine yourself entirely to any set forms of prayer (although they’re useful at times)
•    Don’t ever indulge in mere formality (fight mindless externalism like the bird flu)
•    Be thankful for every aid to prayer and use it well (benefit from the tools God has given us)
•    Beware of pride and self-sufficiency when your emotions are heightened (God is responsible for effective praying, not us)
•    Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit in your life (impressive prayers, when spoken from unrepentant lives, are actually unimpressive to God)

Watts closes with instructions to those who feel that the Spirit has withdrawn from their prayers. Rather than simply wait around until we feel “moved” again, he gives strong counsel to pursue God’s activity in our lives:

“Reflect whether you have not sinfully neglected your prayer closet often; or often left it almost as soon as you came to it from a prevailing carnality of mind and sinful weariness of duty; or often shuffled off the work like a tiresome task because you fancied the world called you.” (p. 164)

“Do not dare to indulge a neglect of prayer upon pretence that the Spirit is departed, for without stirring up your soul to seek him, you cannot expect him to revisit you.” (p. 165)

Some people would be concerned about seeking any kind of evidence of the Spirit’s working in our prayers. They fear it might lead to excessive emotionalism, or running after experiences. Watts again gives us wise counsel:

“Though he is a sovereign and free agent, and his communications are of pure mercy so that we can claim no merit, the spirit of God has condescended so far as to give promises of his own presence to those who seek it in the way prescribed.” (p. 163)

Let’s remember that praying, like everything else, isn’t something we can do on our own. God’s Spirit is ready and willing to help us every step of the way.

I just had a pretty great experience putting my son Josiah to bed. This is the kind of experience I won’t soon forget. It started out in typical fashion getting him in and out of the bath and into his PJs, playing hide and seek, reading a book, putting him into the “tickle machine” (a form of tickle torture I’ve invented) and brushing his teeth. Then, after singing a song, as is our custom, we turned off the light and knelt down by his bed. Tonight for the first time, we learned the word “posture” and talked about how our posture of kneeling communicated to God our dependence on Him. I don’t know if he’ll remember the word “posture” tomorrow, but it was a fun discussion with a three year-old.

We can usually keep Josiah on his knees for about 15 seconds max, but tonight, he was kneeling a little longer than usual as he prayed through his list of “Grandma Nancy and Grandpa George, Grammy and Poppy…” And then the unexpected happened. We’ve prayed the words of 2 Kings 23:25 over him since the day he was born - the verse after which this blog is named. Regarding King Josiah, it is said that no king before or after him sought after the Lord with all his heart, all his soul and all his might…” And every night, as a family, we pray those words over both of our boys. (And we add words from a verse in that chapter that says that King Josiah “did not turn to the left or to the right.”) Josiah prays them with us, and for now, Jonathan listens…

Tonight, however, without any initiation on our part - and without our assistance - Josiah concluded his prayer with these words:

“And thank you God that a strong man of God who seeks the Lord with all of his heart, soul and might and does not turn to the left or to the right. Amen.”

OK. He left out a few words but I didn’t care of course. This is my little three-year-old guy that I’m so extremely proud of… and he’s on his way to becoming a strong man of God! When we named him Josiah - after the great King in 2 Kings 23 - we prayed that someday he would live a life like that of his namesake. I think he’s moving in that direction… and I can’t wait to see how God brings glory to Himself through his life. (and Jonathan’s too!)

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.

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.

“You are great, Lord, and greatly to be praised. Great is your power, and of your wisdom there is no end. And man, who is part of what you have created, desires to praise you. Yes, even though he carries his mortality wherever he goes, as the proof of his sin and the testimony of your justice, man desires to praise you. For you have stirred up his heart so that he takes pleasure in praising you. You have created us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

— Augustine of Hippo (354-430). THE HARPERCOLLINS BOOK OF PRAYERS, comp. by Robert van de Weyer (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1993), p. 43. As collected in BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH: PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS THAT CELEBRATE AN INTIMATE GOD, compiled and edited by Ken Gire (New York: HarperCollins, 1997), p. 72.

HT: WQOTW, Chip Stam, Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org  www.sbts.edu/icw

I’ve been reading a number of things recently on prayer and just finished a very short and readable book by David Jeremiah called The Prayer Matrix: Plugging into the Unseen Reality. 98% of this book resonates with where God has been leading my heart regarding prayer over the years, and I would recommend it for your reading list.

We lose Biblical perspective when we see prayer merely as the words we say when we close our eyes and bow our heads, or attend a prayer meeting, or ask for God to bless our meal. If Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 are to have the meaning the author intended, prayer has to be more than words. It was to be our lifestyle. In this passage, Paul says “Pray without ceasing.” This kind of prayer doesn’t end with “amen.” It doesn’t end when we open our eyes or move on to our next agenda item. This kind of prayer is happening all the time - because it is how we live, not what we say. The word that has been resonating with me for quite some time now is “dependence” - because it is as we posture our life in complete and total dependence on our sovereign God that we can pray without ceasing. David Jeremiah says this in The Prayer Matrix:

“We become men and women of prayer when we recognize our desperate need. Our culture teaches that we don’t need God because we ourselves are god. Prayer stabs at the heart of that idea. God tells us that we’re dependent upon Him, and He doesn’t say that just to lord it over us; He’s telling the truth, and we can either accept it by faith or have to learn the lesson the hard way through the difficulties of life…

I have learned, and am learning, that there’s no real victory or joy in the Christian life unless there’s also a sense of total dependence upon God. And that sense of dependence is what makes prayer spring to life.”

David Jeremiah, The Prayer Matrix, Multnomah Publishers, Sister, Oregon, 2004, p. 65.

I know that in my own life, I became much more dependent when I realized my desperate need for the grace and mercy of God to change my heart and make me more like Christ. It is so easy to walk in our own strength - especially when times are good - but God is calling each of us to realize our utter need for Him and to surrender our self-agenda for His eternal agenda. And when we plug into this mysterious, unseen reality of His divine and sovereign plan through dependence, only then can we truly experience all God has for us in this life. Not for our purposes, but for His. We can claim the truth of Psalm 138:8 - “He will fulfill HIS purposes for me” - only as we allow our lives to be shaped by His hand of grace, through dependence. It’s a complete denial of self, and a complete surrendering to Him. This is a life of dependence. This is a life of prayer.

I’m just finishing up reading this short book by David Jeremiah The Prayer Matrix: Plugging Into the Unseen Reality. God has had me on quite the prayer journey over the years. I’ve always had a heart for prayer and know the value of prayer - and even recently have been humbled as the elder board has asked me to lead our body in deeper prayer and dependence. The only problem is: prayer is so hard for me! I try to pray… I know the incredible effects of prayer… I want to pray… I know God answers prayer… But I’m not a disciplined person by nature, and as someone who is very active, I find it hard to spend time in prayer. Journaling, yes. Reading, yes. Praying…hard.

Thankfully, I believe biblically, prayer is not simply the words we say when we bow our heads and close our eyes. Prayer is a lifestyle. Prayer is how we live, not merely what we say. It is living life dependently, constantly inviting the Lord to lead and guide every word, thought and action. But even as I say that, I know that there is also a component to prayer that involves the hard work of getting on our knees and asking, petitioning and interceding in using specific words, in specific ways for specific things.

I like this little book (97 pages) by David Jeremiah. It has many bite-sized ideas to chew on and a lot of practical applications. I was very encouraged to read that even the author of a book on prayer finds prayer hard! In fact, he says that he is always in the process of reading a book on prayer BECAUSE he finds prayer so hard. However, essentially we can really only learn to pray by praying…

His reason for calling God’s plan for prayer “the prayer matrix” is that in Jeremiah’s words “Scripture insists that God has hard-wired the universe in such a way that He works primarily through prayer…At the moment we pray, we become subject to the most powerful force in the universe.” He goes on to say when we’re prayerless, we short-circuit what God desires to do on our behalf. We have not because we ask not. (James 4:2)

Prayer is our way of being involved in God’s purposes of redemption throughout the world, all to bring Him glory. There is no other purpose that is worth anything but God’s glory. And prayer is the way it all works - and if it’s helpful, think of life in terms of the “prayer matrix.” My encouragement to you would be to read this book - or anything by Andrew Murray for that matter - and simply… pray.