20Something 8-31-05 (Jen Austin)
20Something 8/31/05
Prayer
The God of the universe is only a breath away. It’s amazing to think that a being of this magnitude—Who so carefully crafted Adam and Eve, Moses, Jesus, and each one of us, and Who has the power to breathe life into us each day—is so utterly accessible. Usually power resides in a corner office and requires an appointment and a conversation with the secretary. But the living God is in our midst, and we need only open our mouths to open a meaningful conversation. There is incredible power in that.
Do you think there are right ways and wrong ways to pray?
Do you pray in the same manner every day? How do you pray?
Matthew 21:18-22
18Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.
20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked.
21Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus cursed the fig tree on Monday, and by Tuesday morning it was withered. In the Gospel of Matthew, the fig tree withered instantly. Even though the Gospels disagree on the timeline, the incident speaks to the incredible faith that Jesus possessed. Jesus was so connected and tuned in to God that he seemed to be one with everything that God created. He understood things as God understood them, thus he had a great deal of command over them. He believed what he asked for in prayer. And he received it.
What stops us from having that type of faith? What keeps us from feeling like we are one with God?
Do you believe what you ask for in prayer? Do you always receive it? If not, why not? (The latter may be an impossible question.)
The night before Jesus was crucified (just after he had finished The Last Supper), he went to Gethsemane to pray. Think of the concerns, the fears, and the doubts Jesus may have had rushing through his mind at that moment! He was going to die the following day. Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him as he prayed.
Matthew 26: 38-44
38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My God, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
It is obvious Jesus wanted to be alone to pray the first time. But the second and third time, it seems as though Jesus prayed because the disciples were asleep. Jesus must have felt a tremendous human void at that moment. His closest friends and followers chose to sleep rather than spend his last night on earth comforting him. But perhaps they didn’t fully understand or accept what was to happen the next day.
With all that Jesus had on his mind that night, he was still able to focus. Do you think it was difficult for him? In what ways did his faith guide him?
When it seems as though our closest friends and family members have abandoned us and we are all alone, God is there. We simply have to make a move toward God. Why is it so important to actively seek God?
What are the implications of praying face down? Have you ever done this?
Jesus’ faith told him to pray not according to his own will, but according to God’s will. Can you think of a time when your will was different than God’s will? How did God answer that prayer? Was it hard to accept the outcome?
God did not answer Jesus’ prayer to “take the cup from him.” God’s will was for Jesus to be crucified the following day. What can we learn from Jesus’ example?
God may not answer every prayer according to our will, but God will answer them. God desires a close relationship with each of us individually, and having an active prayer life is the chief way to feed that relationship. God want us to pray each time the thought pops into our head. We shouldn’t put it off until evening or until our next free moment. Prayer is instant access to God and it’s important to follow through with prayer each time the mood strikes. God is waiting.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
When we seek God every day, our lives become living prayers. In this way, we fulfill God’s desire for each of us to pray continually.
Pray continually and give thanks this week. We love you!
Prayer
The God of the universe is only a breath away. It’s amazing to think that a being of this magnitude—Who so carefully crafted Adam and Eve, Moses, Jesus, and each one of us, and Who has the power to breathe life into us each day—is so utterly accessible. Usually power resides in a corner office and requires an appointment and a conversation with the secretary. But the living God is in our midst, and we need only open our mouths to open a meaningful conversation. There is incredible power in that.
Do you think there are right ways and wrong ways to pray?
Do you pray in the same manner every day? How do you pray?
Matthew 21:18-22
18Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.
20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked.
21Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus cursed the fig tree on Monday, and by Tuesday morning it was withered. In the Gospel of Matthew, the fig tree withered instantly. Even though the Gospels disagree on the timeline, the incident speaks to the incredible faith that Jesus possessed. Jesus was so connected and tuned in to God that he seemed to be one with everything that God created. He understood things as God understood them, thus he had a great deal of command over them. He believed what he asked for in prayer. And he received it.
What stops us from having that type of faith? What keeps us from feeling like we are one with God?
Do you believe what you ask for in prayer? Do you always receive it? If not, why not? (The latter may be an impossible question.)
The night before Jesus was crucified (just after he had finished The Last Supper), he went to Gethsemane to pray. Think of the concerns, the fears, and the doubts Jesus may have had rushing through his mind at that moment! He was going to die the following day. Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him as he prayed.
Matthew 26: 38-44
38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My God, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
It is obvious Jesus wanted to be alone to pray the first time. But the second and third time, it seems as though Jesus prayed because the disciples were asleep. Jesus must have felt a tremendous human void at that moment. His closest friends and followers chose to sleep rather than spend his last night on earth comforting him. But perhaps they didn’t fully understand or accept what was to happen the next day.
With all that Jesus had on his mind that night, he was still able to focus. Do you think it was difficult for him? In what ways did his faith guide him?
When it seems as though our closest friends and family members have abandoned us and we are all alone, God is there. We simply have to make a move toward God. Why is it so important to actively seek God?
What are the implications of praying face down? Have you ever done this?
Jesus’ faith told him to pray not according to his own will, but according to God’s will. Can you think of a time when your will was different than God’s will? How did God answer that prayer? Was it hard to accept the outcome?
God did not answer Jesus’ prayer to “take the cup from him.” God’s will was for Jesus to be crucified the following day. What can we learn from Jesus’ example?
God may not answer every prayer according to our will, but God will answer them. God desires a close relationship with each of us individually, and having an active prayer life is the chief way to feed that relationship. God want us to pray each time the thought pops into our head. We shouldn’t put it off until evening or until our next free moment. Prayer is instant access to God and it’s important to follow through with prayer each time the mood strikes. God is waiting.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
When we seek God every day, our lives become living prayers. In this way, we fulfill God’s desire for each of us to pray continually.
Pray continually and give thanks this week. We love you!
posted by Jen Austin at 9:57 AM
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