Day 24 - Prayer and Unbusyness

 

Dear Church,

I want you to slow down and be unbusy before God.

In 1981 God called me to a deeper praying life. I needed it so badly! I was doing, doing, doing, and the inner fire was leaving, leaving, leaving. God told me to take Tuesday afternoons, get unbusy, and pray. I needed to tend the fire within. 

This was a new beginning for me, a time when my doing began to emerge from my being in God. This was important, since in the spiritual life being precedes doing. 

That first Tuesday afternoon was spent sitting on a rusty tractor, in a field, in a forest preserve north of Lansing, Michigan. I remember being there, trying to pray, while my mind kept asking, "Just what the heck am I doing here, anyway? What am I accomplishing?"

The answer seemed to be: "nothing." I wasn't xeroxing. I wasn’t at some planni9ng meeting. I was producing nothing. No empirical "product" was coming from sitting on this old tractor. And yet…

…That was one of the most important days of my life. I was getting reattached to Jesus, the Vine!

Prayer is wasting time with God. The world says, “If you are not making good use of your time, you are useless.” Jesus says: “Come spend some useless time with me.”"

Henri Nouwen writes: "If we think about prayer in terms of its usefulness to us—what prayer will do for us, what spiritual benefits we will gain, what insights we will gain, what divine presence we may feel—God cannot easily speak to us. But if we can detach ourselves from the idea of the usefulness of prayer and the results of prayer, we become free to “waste” a precious hour with God in prayer. Gradually, we may find, our “useless” time will transform us, and everything around us will be different."

The world measures us by how much we do, how much we accomplish. We impress others by how busy we are, by datebooks filled with engagements, deadlines to be met, and meetings to attend. Jesus, on the other hand, calls us to do nothing, accomplish nothing, until we first spend much time with him. “Be like a tree branch,” counsels Jesus, “that stays attached to the trunk of the tree.” Then, your life will bear much fruit.

I confess to having led church meetings where we decide on what we are going to do, and then baptize our decisions with prayers. The opposite, counter-intuitive way of Jesus is to first, spend much time praying and, in that God-seeking environment, discern what the Lord would have us do.

In a sense, prayer is being unbusy with God, instead of being busy with other things. Prayer is primarily doing nothing useful or productive in the presence of God. If anything important or fruitful happens through prayer, then we work hard, and behold how God achieves the result.

Love,

PJ

 

REFUSE

Refuse to identify your worth by…

…your accomplishments, by…

…your datebook, by…

…your checkbook, by…

…your material possessions, by…

…your appearance, by…

…your performance, by…

…what others think of you.

From my book 31 Letters to the Church on Praying.

Day 23 - Prayer and Anxiety

 

Dear Praying Church,

A praying life is an anxiety-buster.

Many people, to include Christians, struggle with anxiety. This includes me. I have had my anxious moments.

Jesus addresses anxiety in John 14:1, as he counsels his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Jesus said this, knowing his disciples’ hearts were troubled.

The biblical Greek word for ‘troubled’ can be translated as ‘agitated.’ Like the agitator of a washing machine goes back and forth, so the human heart can go back and forth, up and down. Agitation, troubledness, anxiety – they can all refer to a negative condition of the heart.

Anxiety produces nothing that is good. Thus, in Philippians 4:6, Paul counsels Jesus-followers to “be anxious about nothing.” The biblical Greek word for ‘anxious’ is often used in contexts where persecution is happening. For example, in Matthew 10:19, Jesus counsels his disciples: “When they arrest you, do not be anxious about what to say or how to say it.” Here the word ‘anxious’ is related to ‘worry.’

 When Paul counsels the Philippians to not worry, it’s not like he’s sitting on the beach, savoring a latte. He’s in prison! The admonition to not worry comes in an atmosphere of fear and persecution. The Philippian Jesus-followers were suffering under opposition from their pagan neighbors, like Paul and Silas suffered when among them (Acts 16:19-24; Phil 1:28-30).

I know what anxiety is. I have experienced it in troubling times. How realistic is it to be told "Be anxious for nothing" when you are facing hard circumstances?

Paul's answer, emerging out of his experience, is found in his rich, ongoing prayer life. He writes:

Do not be anxious about anything, 

but in every situation, 

by prayer and petition, 

present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6-7

Henri Nouwen had a proof that prayer works. (See Nouwen, Gracias! A Latin American Journal.) Nouwen said when he didn't pray, he was more easily filled with fear, worry, agitation, troubledness, and anxiety. But, as he lived a praying life, God diminished these things.

I have found that a consistent praying life works to stop the inner agitator. I experience God as a great Counselor and Caregiver who casts out my fears. It is in praying that I come to know, by experience, that I have a Father God who loves me, and whom I trust.

 Worry and anxiety cannot co-exist with trust. Trust is established in the heart of a person who prays. In praying, we place our burdens on Jesus, for he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)

 My dear brothers and sisters, bring your anxieties and fears to the Lord, in prayer, and discover that he cares for you.

 Love,

 PJ

 

 

TODAY

Let this day be a day of trusting the Lord.

Repeat, “I trust You, Lord.”

From my book 31 Letters to the Church on Praying.

Day 22 - Prayer and Purification

 

 Dear Church, 

 Spiritual and emotional detoxifying happens when you pray. 

 I have, on my computer laptop, antivirus software. This program scans my laptop and sends me reports of threats that have been removed, and viruses it has exorcised. My laptop gets detoxified. Praying does this for me. 

Praying de-pollutes me. Praying unburdens me. 

 Sometimes, when I get alone to pray, I have a fear of the unknown, or am anxious about a hard situation. I might think of a person who has misunderstood me, or a situation I am facing that seems to have no solution. 

Philippians 4:6 counsels us to be anxious for nothing. Sometimes, I am anxious about nothing I can identify. 

 Anxiety and worry are toxic viruses that threaten our spiritual and emotional well-being. Praying detoxifies the human heart. 

 I have had a praying life for over five decades. I have seen that a praying life brings detoxification and purification. If I did not have a habitual, disciplined praying life, deadly pollutants would take up residence in my spiritual and emotional being. 

1 Peter 5:7 says, Cast your burdens on him, for he cares for you. 

 My brothers and sisters, acquire a disciplined praying life. One outcome will be this. You will, more and more, experience the Holy Spirit’s antiviral, protective, cleansing agency. 

 Blessings, 

 PJ 

 UNBURDEN 

 Learn, by practicing, how to cast your burdens on Jesus. 

 Begin by identifying a burden and writing it in your journal. 

 Cast the burden onto the pages of your journal.

From my book 31 Letters to the Church on Praying.

Day 21 - The Wandering Mind

 

 Dear Church, 

 When your mind wanders while praying, it wanders to a burden. 

 The first seminary class I ever taught was after I graduated from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was the spring of 1977, and my theology professor, Tom Finger, asked me: “What class do you think we need in our theology department?” 

 “We need a class on prayer,” I responded. 

Tom said: “I want you to teach it.” 

 I did. 

 Since then, I have taught on prayer in several seminaries, pastors’ retreats, and seminars and church conferences, in the U.S. and around the world. My estimate is that between four and five thousand pastors and Christian leaders have taken my courses on praying and spiritual formation. 

 When I teach, I assign my students to pray. I ask them to keep a spiritual journal. “When God speaks to you,” I instruct, “write it down in your journal.” 

A common concern is this. Students will write me, asking, “I am taking time to pray. But sometimes my mind wanders so much, that I cannot focus on praying. What can be done about this?” Here is what I tell them. 

 When your mind wanders while you are praying, it always wanders to something like a burden. Identify the burden. Then, employ 1 Peter 5:7, which counsels, “Cast your burdens on him, for He cares for you.” 

 Note this: the less you spend time praying, the more will burdens accumulate, unaddressed, in your heart. 

A burden-free heart is in direct proportion to your praying life. 

 One more thing. When your mind wanders to a burden, about a person or a situation, this can be the Holy Spirit leading you to pray towards that event, and for that person. 

 My dear friends, do not focus on your burdens, but on making times to get in God’s presence and pray, and experience an unburdened life. 

 Love, 

 PJ 

 JOURNAL 

 Write down where your mind wanders to.

From my book 31 Letters to the Church on Praying.

Linda and I Teach Our Church's Youth

 

Day 20 - Focused Praying

 

 Dear Church, 

 To listen to God in prayer requires focus. 

 In what is arguably the most influential sermon ever given, Jesus, in Matthew 5:8, says: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."  What is purity of heart?

 The Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said, “Purity of heart is to will one thing.” With this in mind, here is my translation of Matthew 5:8. 

 Blessed are the mono-taskers, for they will see God. 

 Real praying requires laying your multi-tasker down. 

We see this in the garden, on the week of Jesus’s suffering and death. Jesus asks his disciples to watch and pray. 

 Watch. 

Pray. 

 Be alert. 

 Focus. 

 Real prayer mono-tasks the God-relationship. It has no agenda other than to be with our Lord. 

 When I go to a place of least distraction to pray, I carry with me my journal, my Bible, and a devotional book. (For example, for years I used A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants.) I lay my cell phone down. If Linda calls, I will answer. 

 In that quiet place, I watch. I clear away mental clutter (see 1 Peter 5:7). 

As I do this, spiritual alertness increases. 

 Effective praying requires giving Jesus my undivided attention. As this happens, hearing His voice happens. 

 I want you to learn the beauty of mono-tasked praying. 

 Love, 

 PJ 

 DECLUTTER 

 Clear away spiritual hindrances in your heart.

From my book 31 Letters to the Church on Praying.

A Disciple of Jesus Is a Praying Person

 

The year was 1977. I had just graduated from seminary. My theology professor, Dr. Tom Finger, asked to meet with me. Dr. Finger said, “What theology class do you think our seminary needs?” I thought for a moment, then answered, “Prayer. We need a class on prayer.”  

“Would you teach this class on prayer?” 

 “No. I need a class like this. I am in no position to teach it!”  How many of you know that a teacher, especially a beginning teacher, often learns more than their students? God was speaking to me through Dr. Finger. He persisted. I acquiesced.  

In the fall of 1977 I taught a class on prayer at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. My main requirement was: to pray. I required the students to go apart to a solitary place and pray, each day, for half an hour. I thought this was a stroke of genius! Of course, this assignment was for me, too. The result was that I, the teacher, acquired a praying life that has lasted to this day. I became a student of Christ in the School of Prayer.

What is praying? Praying is talking with God about what God and I are thinking and doing together.   

Praying is communicating with God about The Mission. 

In praying, I meet with my Commander and receive my marching orders. This is what Jesus was doing in Luke 5:16: Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.  

Jesus prayed. Therefore I, as his apprentice, pray. I pray in lonely places. I call them “places of least distraction.”  

I bring, with me to these lonely places, a Bible, my spiritual journal, and a devotional book (some book I am reading for spiritual direction). During my praying time, when God speaks to me, I write it down in my journal.  

In praying I experience comfort, healing, deliverance, and rescue. I receive encouragement. I am told that I am loved. I get corrected and directed, which calls for obedience. I find out what God wants from me and what he wants me to do.  

Praying, to me, makes following Jesus exciting and real. God really does expect me to follow him!

I have found that I can be myself, and use my own words and ways of talking, when I pray. I don’t have to learn a special language. God is not impressed by my words, but by the attitude of my heart.  

I bless you all with a deep, conversational relationship with the Lord Jesus!  

DECLARATIONS 

 I am a praying person. 

 I pray because Jesus, the Lord of my life, prayed.  

When I pray, I pray from the heart.  

Praying is exciting to me, because I am communicating with the Maker of Heaven and Earth!  

I am gaining control of my schedule. Therefore, I am finding more time to pray.

I am a prayer warrior, defeating satanic strongholds, and bringing in the Kingdom of God!

(From my book 31 Letters to the Church on Discipleship.)

Day 19 - Answering Prayer

 

 Dear Praying Church, 

You are the answer to someone else’s prayer. 

Often, while praying, my mind wanders to a person. I feel God placing this person on my heart, as a burden. This can mean that I am the one God is going to use, as God's answer to that person's prayer.   

Here’s a recent example. During my praying time, I felt led to pray for a man. Let’s call him “X.” While praying, I did not know that, in that very moment, X left his workspace, went to a place where he could be alone, and was praying. 

X had learned that his spouse was having a sexual affair with another man. She filed for divorce. X wanted to secure help for their marriage. She refused.   

That morning X received a phone call from his father. "Your mother has cancer. She's not expected to live much longer." X felt his knees buckle, his breathing difficult, the weight too much to bear. X had to get alone with the only One who could make a way where there seemed to be no way. X prayed, "God, help me... Help us!" 

Meanwhile I was alone, in my backyard by the river, sitting in my prayer chair, as X was appealing to God. As I prayed the thought came to me, "Call X now." I did. I assumed this thought was coming from God to me. 

I have learned, over decades of praying, listening, and risking, that God often comes as an interruption, in my "wandering mind." What could I lose from calling X to check in? This was a no-fail spiritual situation.  I called X. He answered, "I can't believe you called me. I couldn't focus on my job. I had to get alone with God. I was just asking God to send help. And then you called!" 

We agreed this was no coincidence. It was the orchestrating work of the Holy Spirit. In that moment I was God's answer for X. This was God saying, "I hear X's cry. I am going to answer X's prayer by placing the thought of X in John's mind."  

Here is an example from Acts chapter 9. We see the apostle Paul, who has been struck with blindness. He hasn’t eaten or drank anything for three days. He is praying. In a vision, Paul sees help coming. Who might that be? 

10  In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias.   The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”  

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.  

11  The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street  

and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, 

 for he is praying.   

12  In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come   and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

Ananias was the answer to Paul’s prayer. 

When you pray, listen for the voice of God. When an interruptive thought comes, check it out. You will begin to discover that such things can be from God.  

This increases your faith and expectation.  

You are being used by God to help others in their prayer-cries for mercy and rescue.  

My dear friends, life in Christ is a series of interruptions. The interruptions become your life. 

Love, 

PJ 

 

RESPOND 

Contact that person whom God has laid on your heart.

From my book 31 Letters to the Church on Praying.

Who I Am in Christ - Declarations

(On The Badger - Ludington to Manitowoc)

Print this out and carry it with you. 

WHO I AM IN CHRIST

I am accepted

John 1:12	I am God's child.
John 15:15	As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1	I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17	I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20	I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27	I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:3-8	I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14	I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10	I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16	I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
	I am secure...
Romans 8:1-2	I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28	I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39	I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22	I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4	I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6	I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20	I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7	I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18	I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
	I am significant...
John 15:5	I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16	I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16	I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21	I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6	I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10	I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12	I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13	I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me

Day 17 - Prayer and Purpose

Dear Church, 

 People who pray find their work purposeful. 

 I have a friend who loves to work in his large vegetable and flower garden. He talks about needing "garden time." I say to him, "That's your therapy." 

 Working and laboring for a purpose brings satisfaction. (For an example of working for no purpose, read atheist Albert Camus's The Myth of Sisyphus.) In praying, God gives me work orders. In the praying room with God, I receive his kingdom plans and purposes. Life-purpose grows as I pray in the garden of God's presence.

 Presence is prior to purpose. Purpose comes out of prayerful presence. In praying, I hear the call of God to "Go," or "Do." Famously, my doing emerges out of my being. My activity emerges from my praying times with God. Allow me to illustrate. 

 Linda and I enjoy food shopping together. I like collaborating with her about meal planning. She mostly has a better sense about this than I do. Klondike bars only go so far when it comes to nutrition. Sometimes, I food shop without Linda. She appreciates this. I embark carrying a list of items we need, authored mostly by her. But, alas, I have sometimes gone into the food wilderness without a list. At this point, anything is possible. 

 For example, I went to the store to pick up items I thought we needed. I had not consulted Linda. Like a sojourner in a strange land, I was in the store, listless. I came to the aisle containing spaghetti sauces. I marveled at the wide variety of choices shelved before me. We need, I thought, spaghetti sauce. When I arrived home with a few bags of groceries, I proudly showed them to my wife. “Look at this,” I said, as I pulled out a jar of spaghetti sauce. I handed it to Linda. She took it, walked to the cupboard, and placed it next to six jars of the same sauce. 

 I cannot remember her response. I am certain it was gentle, as she found the strength to say, “John, no more spaghetti sauce, please.” Lesson (hopefully) learned (again)! 

 Henri Nouwen was once asked, “Why did Jesus pray?” Nouwen responded, “To find out what the Father wanted him to do.” 

My friends, refuse to go forth into the arena of ministry without first consulting your heavenly Father. 

 Love, 

 PJ 

 PURPOSE 

 Discern what the Father is doing. 

 Join him there. 

 Ponder the implications of John 5:19-20.

From my book 31 Letters to the Church on Praying.