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Praise Thursday

Praying Extraordinarily

Psalm 77:2 says, “I sought the Lord and my day of trouble. My hands were continually lifted up all night long.”

Many times, our prayer strategies go to the next level when situations reach a point of desperation. Health, finances, family struggles…these unexpected moments of intensity call for ‘drop everything’ prayer. It’s when you call or text friends to pray. Rally the church…prayer chains…everybody praying. Desperation can still be strategic.

This week, as we continue our series inspired by the Kendrick brothers’ book. The Battle Plan for Prayer, we’re focusing on how to pray extraordinarily.

The experience of Esther in the Old Testament led to the necessity for extraordinary prayer. You may recall how she, a beautiful young Jewish woman, was selected as a candidate for Queen of Persia when the king deposed his own wife. But from inside the palace, Esther learned from her childhood guardian, Mordecai, about a plan to exterminate the Jewish people.

The situation was dire – no less for Esther than anyone else. She wasn’t yet in a position to approach the king with any petition without permission. Customs of the day meant she could be lawfully killed for attempting to enter his presence. But she made a courageous call for extraordinary prayer: “So, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go into the king, which is not according to law; and if I perish, I perish“ (Esther 4:16).

The result of their praying was miraculous. The mastermind of the genocide was killed instead, hung on his own gallows, and Mortdecai, the Jew, was raised to a key position of leadership, charged with the state-sanctioned program of protecting the Jews from for the persecution. That’s the kind of prayer model the Bible guides us to follow.

There are three important elements of the extraordinary prayers in Esther: corporate prayer, fasting prayer and fervent prayer.

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CORPORATE: Extraordinary prayer is a team effort. We read about this in Acts. The apostles gathered after Jesus’ ascension into heaven and prayed together.

When Peter was literally thrown into prison under heavy guard, “prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God” (Acts 12:5). The night before his execution, chained between two soldiers, Peter was trying to sleep. Then an angel appeared, set him free and let him past the guards and gates on his way back home. As one old time author has said “the angel sent Peter out of prison, but it was the prayer that sent the angel.”

FASTING: They prayed with fasting. We know that fasting is one of the keys to prayer. But serious matters call for unusual sacrifice with focus, devotion and dedication.

God, through the prophet Joel, commanded his people to return to him “with all your heart…with fasting, weeping and mourning,“ (Joel 2:12).

Jesus, at the outset of his earthly ministry, prepared himself for the challenges ahead by committing to 40 days of fasting in Matthew 4:2. By taking time to deny the daily demands of our flesh to focus all of our attention on God, we can go more deeply and intimately into focused prayer in times of difficulty, strain, and emergency.

We fast because we mean business. Fasting together means we’re united in appealing to him and hearing from him. When it’s done in sincerity, God consistently honors it.

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FERVENT: They prayed fervently, persistently and passionately. Circumstances can reach a point where our survival instinct alone can produce fervent praying. When the men on board the ship with the prophet Jonah began fearing for their lives, they called earnestly on the god they didn’t even know, begging for mercy from the storm (Jonah 1:14). God spared them.

But many situations in our lives and world are just as severe and call equally for fervent prayer. Sin is in our nature, pride is in our churches, heartbreak is in our homes and persecution happens among our brothers and sisters. The seeds of hardship and hospitality against Christians – experienced even now and many nations of the world – are already here on our shores. But is the church of God broken and surrendered? Are we willing to be “miserable and mourn and weep when necessary?” (James 4:9)

We know without a doubt that difficult times will come (2 Timothy 3:1). Jesus realistically told his disciples, “you will have suffering in this world,“ in John 16:33. “Do not be surprised “Peter said, “at the fiery ordeal among you.” When these problems reach an insurmountable breaking point, they require an unusual power that will only result from extraordinary prayer.

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All of us tend to revert to a default level of praying – most likely an easier and more comfortable praying then we like to admit. But Jesus, in his own life, would ramp up the fervency of his praying depending on the need of the moment. From a joyful request, to praying all night, the crying out on his face before going to the cross.

Fervent prayer touches God’s heart. “The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).  But imagine what the combined, persistent, united prayers of many righteous people, each of them fasting and praying, might accomplish. It doesn’t just connect – it works miracles, moves mountains, ushers in revival, and changes the course of nations. Extraordinary prayer can produce extraordinary results!

Lord God Almighty, I praise you that nothing is impossible with you. Train us and lead us into extraordinary prayer. Help us throw off any sin, surrendering ourselves completely to you. May we see the needs of our city and our nation the way that you see them. Unite believers in my church and community an extra ordinary prayer. May we walk in love, I agree and heart, fast and faith, and unite in for rent, persistent prayer. Bring revival and spiritual awakening to our land. Be glorified through us, oh God!

 

  • Thanks for listening!
    -Lilly
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Praise Thursday – Preemptive Prayer

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What would you do if you knew someone was getting ready to attack you?  If you were the leader of a country and you knew attack could happen any day?  You would start doing everything possible to prepare – looking at resources, evaluating troop placements and developing a strategy.

This is what Chapter 27 talks about in The Battle Plan for Prayer. Alex and Stephen Kendrick remind us that our preemptive plans start in prayer. Last week, we talked about OFFensive prayer – seeking to take new ground for the kingdom. So, the spiritual battle for our heart is real. The Bible reminds us that we have a real enemy who is out to steal, distort, distract and destroy.

Christ himself recognized Satan – he resisted and rebuked him throughout his ministry on Earth.  I John 3:8 says, “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that Satan is simply a symbol of evil. He is not a fable. Not a figment of our imagination.  The Bible specifically mentions Satan by name in more than one dozen books. So, taking a posture of preemptive prayer is critical.

Today we’re talking about taking a stance of preemptive prayer. Because we have a real enemy seeking to attack us at any moment. How do we know Satan is real?  We have the story of Peter in the Gospels.

Jesus taught Peter and the rest of the disciples to preemptively pray, “do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:13). Then, on the night of Christ’s betrayal, Jesus warned him, “behold Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you” (Luke 22). Later that same evening Jesus instructed him to “keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

But…Peter fell asleep instead, and a few minutes later he was awake and off guard. Peter emotionally overreacted, hacked off a man’s ear, abandoned Jesus, then adamantly denied Christ three times instead of being loyal like he had promised a few hours earlier. He never prayed preemptively, so as a result he wept bitterly, was devastated and depressed for days, until Christ restored him.

We must learn to pray preemptively, lifting everything in our lives to the Lord. Prayer is the way we spiritually fasten in our armor and ask God to protect us before stepping into the heat of combat.

How can we pray preemptively? By understanding how the enemy attacks. If we know his moves, we can prepare and pray more specifically.

The book gives us four of the devil’s signature schemes.

#1 – Distraction. Psalm 55 reminder that David wrote, “I’m restless in my complaint and I’m surely distracted because of the voice of the enemy.” Satan will constantly try to get us off track.

#2 – Deception. Jesus said whenever Satan speaks lies because he speaks from his own nature, “for he is a liar and the father of lies.” That comes from John 8:44. Strongholds, addictions and sins are founded upon lies…promises never delivered…false advertising. Sin will fail you, let you down and leave you empty. We are not strong enough to stand on our own. We need God’s presence and the Bible’s trustworthiness.

#3 – Derision. Satan’s lies include running you down or running down (deriding) someone else in your mind. Bringing up things from your past. Falsely presuming someone else is guilty.  Yes, we’ve been forgiven in the blood of Christ, but he keeps reminding us of old wounds and inciting doubt. In order to the fight the accusations, you need to be studying the Word; to help you find your identity in Christ. We also continue to pray for wisdom and discernment.

How can we pray preemptively? By understanding how the enemy attacks. If we know his moves, we can prepare and pray more specifically.

The last scheme is #4 – Division. One hallmark of the gospel is the unity it brings to everyone, since we are all one in Christ. But Satan knows that the “house divided against itself will not stand” (Mark 3:25).

Anger and argument among God’s people may not destroy the gospel, but it can destroy our testimony and our effectiveness in sharing it. Disunity paints Christians and our faith as weak, hypocritical and phony.  So, we can’t live foolishly, ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). We should pray for God to help us stay focused on his will.

Ephesians 6 reminds us of the spiritual armor: truth dispelling his lies; righteousness from Christ worn around our chest and lived out in bold active and grateful obedience. Prayer is how we stay together. It’s what unites us and it’s what helps protect us.

The question is not whether the enemy is coming out to engage you in battle. He will. Seen or unseen. The question is whether you’re going to prepare in prayer first, or wait until the devil has you in his grip before you call on the One who has already defeated him.

Lord, thank you for alerting us in your words to the tactics and activity of the devil. Thank you also for equipping us with spiritual weaponry to stand firm and push back against his assaults and his campaign of lies, distortions, distractions and accusations. Help us not to be ignorant of his schemes. Give us the grace to discern how the enemy will try to attack so we can wisely pray preemptively and prepare ourselves to stand firm. Keep us steady, Lord, clear-minded, braced, ready, walking wisely and living in victory. Fix our eyes upon you by faith, kept by your power. In Jesus name. Amen.

Thanks for listening!
-Joe, Lilly and Hannah

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Praying Offensively

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The legendary Alabama football coach Bear Bryant is given most of the credit for this statement:  “Offense wins games, Defense wins championships.”  He actually did say that, but the credit can also go to a high school basketball coach named Dave Thorson, who wrote in a coaching manual, “Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships.”

So with all due respect to Coach Bryant and Coach Thorson, today we’re leaning on games and tickets. On Offense.

Because today we want to encourage you to pull out the most important tool in your tool belt, or weapon in your arsenal – PRAYER.

And encourage you to go on the OFFensive with your prayer.  Now, just like I would remind my students, let’s not get this confused.  I mean OFF-ensive, not uh-FEN-sive!  Going on the OFFensive.

The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen and Alex Kendrick is a journey of learning how to pray more biblically and strategically.  We’ve been sharing these strategies for the last few months.  We’re reminded to fight the battles of our life with prayer first.

So…OFFensive prayer.  Back to that. Sometimes we need to play defense.  But not all the time.   Sometimes we get caught too much in praying against.  Alex and Stephen remind us that there are things we need to pray FOR, not just AGAINST.  Look at the Lord’s Prayer – our model from Jesus Himself.

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.”

So what’s the OFFensive part?  “Thy Kingdom Come.  Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.”  Those are all things we’re asking FOR, not just things to pray against.

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Our prayers are not just about standing our ground against the enemy but taking new ground FOR the Kingdom.  We can pray for open doors for the gospel; for the outpouring of humble and repentant hearts, for the Holy Spirit to fill us with wisdom, discernment and knowledge of his will and to help us raise up a generation that will honor His name.

The book encourages us to think about these questions:

  • What is the most loving thing I can ask for right now?
  • What could I pray for that would be overwhelmingly good?
  • What could greatly advance God’s kingdom in my situation?
  • What could I pray for that would really glorify God?

Scripture is rich with OFFensive prayer.  Jesus encouraged this in Matthew 7:11, “if you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give what is good to those who ask Him?

When we love someone, we say we want nothing but the best for them.  3rd John says, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

We know God is good.  We know He is preparing good things for us.  So we should be active in seeking and asking for those things.  Praying that he will do more than we can ask or imagine – because His glory is the ultimate goal of all praying.

So maybe instead of praying, “Lord, please help my church members not to fight in this next board meeting,” pray “Lord, bring loving unity and humility to our gathering, providing for greater ministry opportunities.”

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Think about ways to OFFensively pray out of the Bible.  Colossians 1: 9-12 says, “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”

Wouldn’t you want something prayed over you like that?  That’s incredible!  This is how we use the word of God, the model we’ve been given, to drive an OFFensive prayer.

Paul does this again in Philippians 1: 9-11. “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

So…one thought is to consider OFFensive prayer as a way to encourage your pastor, since it is Clergy Appreciation Month. Every pastor needs encouragement in his or her life and ministry.

If you are a lay-leader in your church, take the lead on these types of OFFensive prayers for your pastor.  Treat them like a friend or family member, because he or she is both. Provide a listening ear and safe place for your pastor to share.

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Bob Briner, a former tennis pro, sports agent, college athletic administrator, and author of a great book, Roaring Lambs, wrote this before his death in 1999:

Our freedom is not so much under fire as it is under-used. We have so much more freedom than we actually use. We are free to become people of prayer. We are free to delve deeply into God’s Word. We are free to visit the sick, comfort the hurting and provide for the poor. We are free to become active and productive in our churches. Most of all, we are free to live holy lives of obedience. Our concern should not be so much about freedom, but about responsibility to the debt of love we owe to the Lord Jesus.

Bob’s talking about an OFFensive strategy.  So remember that while defensive prayer is important, offensive prayer can have an important place in our lives. let’s ask God to do something really, really good for HIS glory.

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CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, thank you for giving me prayer to help push back against the darkness.  But thank you, too, for enabling me to use prayer as a way of inviting your blessing, enjoying your presence, and actively investing, lovingly, into other’s lives. For while your strength and power amazes me, Lord, your love amazes me even more…because I know what I’m like; I know what I deserve. Yet, you still take care of me and transform me.  You keep turning my negatives into positives.  You keep giving me opportunities to win, advance and conquer.  And for this, I praise your name!

Our word of the day today is…
slapdash
adjective // SLAP-dash
This means done or made without careful planning : haphazard, slipshod

One of the first known uses of slapdash in English came in 1679 from the British poet and dramatist John Dryden, who used it as an adverb in his play The kind keeper; or Mr. Limberham: “Down I put the notes slap-dash.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines this sense in part as “[w]ith, or as with, a slap and a dash,” perhaps suggesting the notion of an action (such as painting) performed with quick, imprecise movements. Over 100 years later, the word acquired the adjectival sense with which we are more familiar today, describing something done in a hasty, careless, or haphazard manner.

 

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

 

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The Ways of the Holy Spirit

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Today we explored another section of the book The Battle Plan for Prayer, from Alex and Stephen Kendrick. This week we focus on the importance of the Holy Spirit in our prayer life.

The Holy Spirit is the engine of the Christian life. The Holy Spirit guides us and empowers us to do what we cannot do on our own.  The Holy Spirit, as the rushing, mighty wind we read about in John 3:8 and Acts 2:2, can and should breathe life into every segment of our prayer life!

Prayer is an admission that WE are not in control but that we are under GOD’S control (Psalm 103:19). God urges us into prayer because He has given us the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction.

The point of this study and this book is to offer Him our best work of prayer, but we still understand that we trust in the Holy Spirit to take it to the next level

John 14:12-17

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you.”

Remember that the Holy Spirit is what guides our prayer – we are still inadequate without His spirit guiding us!

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Powerful prayer starts with the Holy Spirit.  Paul reminds is in Ephesians 6:18 –

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

We all have the Holy Spirit within us – do you realize that?  Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…”

We must be filled with, submit to, and walk in the Spirit, instead of following our sinful flesh. Ephesians 5:18 “be filled with the Spirit,” is not a suggestion – it’s a command!  It’s a daily decision to submit and live walking in the Spirit.

We can ask God every morning to fill us with His Spirit and surrender to His Lordship.  When we obey and abide in Christ, which means to accept and act in accordance with something, we become more tuned in to the voice of the Spirit within us.

Let’s share what the Kendrick brothers write about three things that happen when we allow the Spirit into our prayer life:

#1 – He reveals God and His word to us.  John 14:17 – “The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

John 16:13 – “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

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#2 – He prays for us.  Wait.  The Holy Spirit prays for us?  Romans 8:26 says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

It’s awesome to think that we have two perfect prayer partners – Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Hebrews 7:24-25 says, 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.25 Therefore he is able to save completely[a] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

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#3 – He guides our praying. The Spirit inwardly reminds and leads believers to cry out to our father in prayer.  Sometimes we may say that God speaks to us; but it’s less of an audible sound and more of an internal knowing.  This drives us to do something specific for the glory of God.

It’s the Spirit saying, “this is the way, walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)

Does God communicate with us personally?  The testimonies from scripture indicate YES!

Acts 9:10-19: God directs Ananias to seek out Paul.

Acts 8:29-30: The Spirit directs Philip to seek out the Ethiopian reading Isaiah.

Our prayers are not bound by our limitations because the Spirit has no limits and he is living inside of us!

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me; and fill me with your wisdom and insight.  Just as you’ve sent Him here to testify to Christ through your people on the earth, I pray that my heart will desire him for that very reason – that my life will bear living witness to Jesus.  Fill me with your Spirit.  Teach me to walk in your Spirit and pray in the Spirit.  Everywhere I go, with everyone I encounter.  In every place, be glorified in me.

Thanks for listening!

-Joe, Lilly and Hannah

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Praying for Wisdom

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Our Praise Thursday prayer series continues today, inspired by the book The Battle Plan for Prayer, from Stephen and Alex Kendrick.

Today we’re exploring: what is wisdom and how does it help us? How often do we pray for wisdom?  How might wisdom guide our strategic prayers?

Proverbs 4:7-9 (The Message) says:

3-9 When I was a boy at my father’s knee,
the pride and joy of my mother,
He would sit me down and drill me:
“Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live!
Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding!
Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch!
Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life;
love her—she keeps her eye on you.
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it;
never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.
She’ll garland your life with grace,
she’ll festoon your days with beauty.”

So…based on that…can we assume that gathering wisdom is of supreme importance? The overwhelming answer is YES.

Prayer is a key to unlocking wisdom; prayer yields wisdom; then wisdom yields better prayer.  Wisdom is “the ability to apply knowledge to a given situation.” Taking what you know or research and making it work really well.

This involves friendship, marriage, parenting…it unlocks things that have been mysterious.  Wisdom helps you locate the straight, sure path.

Proverbs 4:12 reminds us that wisdom helps us keep from stumbling.  It keeps us from making rash or foolish decisions.

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Wisdom helps you see things from God’s eternal perspective.  He also promises to give it!

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

But we should also ask for it.  Proverbs 2:4 reminds us to seek it like a precious metal or hidden treasure.  God gives it to us without reproach, insult or condemnation.  He wants us to bear fruit – he’s on our side – because when we grow in wisdom and in the knowledge of God, He receives the glory.

He receives glory through our integrity, honesty, humility, purity and our faithfulness.  Our good relationships glorify Him.

King Solomon sought the Lord for wisdom – even when he was invited to ask for ANYTHING from God! This is in I Kings 3:9…

“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

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God answers our prayers every day for wisdom simply by giving us the book of Proverbs – every time they read these passages, the Kendrick brothers say, “it’s like taking a giant smart pill or anti-idiot medicine.”

The Proverbs point out the differences between:

  • Hard work and laziness
  • Righteousness and wickedness
  • Honesty and dishonesty
  • Humility and arrogance

Discovering what is BETTER is a key takeaway of Proverbs:

Proverbs 16:32 – Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Proverbs 15:16-17 – Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil. Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.

Proverbs 15:19-22 – The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.  A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother. Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,
but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course. Plans fail for lack of
counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

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We get wisdom from God, so praying for it should become a daily habit and a source for developing our prayer strategies.

Wisdom is not exclusive to older people – those who desire it can start receiving it at an early age.  Self-seeking, so-called mature people can still be unwise.

God puts His name on the line if wisdom is something you really want:

Proverbs 2:6 – For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

16:20 – Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

3:21-24 – My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Wisdom: pray for it often and expect it promptly!

CLOSING PRAYER:

Lord, you are my wonderful counselor and the source of all wisdom.  I take you at your word that when I ask for wisdom – from a heart that’s ready to put it obediently and faithfully into practice – you will surely pour it out upon me freely.  Because I surely need it! Every day and in every way.

I pray you’d help me view life from your eternal perspective rather than the world’s. Help me think long-term and understand the causes and effects of my choices.  Give me the discernment between what is good, better and best, and help me make right decisions in light of it.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Today’s Word of the Day is: tendentious (ten-DEN-shus), an adjective marked by a tendency to favor a certain point of view.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe, Hannah and Lilly

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His names. Our blessing!

Battle-Plan-Hero-699x200Today all three of the Afternoon Drive co-hosts were in the studio to talk about “The Wonder of God’s Names” from the book “The Battle Plan for Prayer” by the Kendrick Brothers. IF you want to find out more about the book click HERE.

We also gave you a a little teaser about tomorrow – which is the last First Friday of  the 2017 season! WNZR is going to be there with Dogtoberfest! Click HERE if you want to know more!

“Oh may your glorious name be blessed and exalted above all blessing and praise!” Nehemiah 9:5.

Let’s imagine someone named Dr. John Smith. He is called different names at different times. His father calls him son, his wife calls him sweetheart, his patients call him doc, and his friend at church: brother Jack. At the hospital he’s the doctor with the best bedside manner, and at the local restaurants, he is that happy Christian who leaves good tips. John is not multiple people. He is one man with multiple roles and character traits. Each of John’s names or titles reveals a little bit more about who he is, what he does, and how he relates to others.
In like manner, the Bible reveals that our one God has many names. When we pray to Him, we may come to Him for a wide variety of reasons. Because he is eternal and limitless, and many titles and descriptions used of him in the Bible are vast and astounding. But that’s the point. Each name of God helps us to understand, value, and worship him even more.
Unlike the Egyptians and Greeks, who prayed to different mythical gods depending upon their need, we worship one God who alone is living and limitless, maker and master, holy and most high, Savior and sovereign of all, and everything we need in all circumstances.
As we discover and get familiar with different names of God, we not only better recognize God for who he is, we can relate to him more personally and intimately.
God’s names reflect his invisible attributes, his eternal power, and divine nature. What an honor to discover more about God! His names are priceless to him, a privilege for us to know, and powerful for us to pray. We are constantly referring to God’s names in our prayer interactions with him.
God wants us to know his names so we can know him better. They are another way we worship and praise him – by recalling a name for him that specifically reflects an attribute we want to honor or call upon to help address a specific need.
That’s why we must never take any of God‘s name in vain or use them flippantly. Rather, we praise and worship him and his name will honoring his attributes, power, and position.
When we call upon Jesus Christ as our Lord, the other names of God take on infinitely more value to us. Jesus then becomes our savior, King, and high priest. God the father becomes our heavenly father and Almighty God. The Holy Spirit becomes our helper and counselor. When we pray to God, we too can address them according to who he is and what he’s done, and lean on our understanding of his unending power and glory. Jesus modeled for us how to pray based upon his unique identity in the situation, like when he said, “the harvest is abundant but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out the workers into his harvest. “ Matthew 9:37-38
He also has more formal names. in our time of need, God is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our provider. When we struggle with sickness, He is Jehovah Rapha – the lord our healer. When we need comfort, he’s Jehovah Raah – the lord our shepherd. When we are fearful or stressed, He is Jehovah Shalom – the Lord our peace. And when we need to be forgiven and cleansed, He is Jehovah Tsidkenu – the Lord, our righteousness.
The point is to seek him, worship him, and pray to him for who he is.

So as you pray strategically, remember to call out to your God by his names as you learn them. He loves to hear his children acknowledge him for all he does and all he can do. And doesn’t he deserve it? After all, he is God, our salvation. (Psalm 148:13)
PRAYER: Lord, your name is great, just as you are great. And while you are one God – creator of all, without rival – I praise you that you are more than I realized and everything I need. Thank you for allowing us to call on you at all times, in all circumstances, and for promising to be our all in all had every moment. I worship you today, Lord God, my Savior, my sustainer, my friend, my reason for living. Amen.
Today’s Word of the Day was:
vituperate (vye-TOO-puh-rayt), a verb meaning:

1 : to criticize or censure severely or abusively
2 : to use harsh condemnatory language

Thanks for listening!
– Joe, Hannah and Lilly

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The ‘Whatever’ from God

John 15:7 says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” What if the Bible said we could ask God for whatever we want, not just for what we need?

IT DOES! God is giving us complete permission to ask “whatever you wish” – is that even possible?  Some people claim that we can only ask God for what we need, not what we want.  That’s actually not biblical. The offer of ‘whatever’ runs throughout the scripture, especially the New Testament.

Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

John 14:13 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

I John 3:21-22 “ Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.”

I John 5:15 “And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

The noticeable pattern is “whatever.”

We know of course, that God is not Santa Claus, but our relationship creates an open-door atmosphere to ask for good things.
Psalm 103:19 “The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.”
James 4:3 “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

There’s something in God’s nature and the kind of relationship He’s made possible with us creates an open-door atmosphere to ask for good things. Our ‘whatever’ requests can be met by a favorable response from Him. Otherwise, He’d never make such an audacious claim. Why would He need to?
The key is, if you are walking with Him, on the path He wants you to walk, and if He’s your first love, and if your heart’s desire is to please Him, then He delights in the granting of your hearts desires. The good ones. Hannah didn’t need as son, but she asked one and God gave her one.
1 Samuel 1:27
 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

Jesus didn’t need to curse the Fig bush, but that was what He wanted at the time, and so it happened. Some people describe God like He’s an impoverished distant dad who only lets His kids ask for socks and underwear for Christmas.
When our delight is in Him, when the beat of our hearts is to say ‘Lord, what can I do for you today, Father?” The beat of His kind heart is to say ‘Well, what can I do for you, my child?’

Jesus declared with His mouth and demonstrated with His life that He always does what is pleasing to the Father.
John 8:29
“The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
The son lives to honor the Father, and the Father delights in blessing the son. And that’s where we can live too.
Psalms 37:4
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

But the word for ‘desires’ in the original language is ‘petitions’ and that’s where ‘whatever you wish’ becomes not just a pleasant thought, but a powerful prayer strategy.

But in all these ‘whatever’ verses from the bible, God is telling us not just to throw out the legitimate desires of our own hearts, afraid we’re asking too much. Don’t be afraid. Ask Him.  Ruth 3:11
 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.But God wants you experiencing His answers to desires that don’t grow old or out of style.
1 Kings 3:5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream,and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
And because solomons heart was turned to making the best choice – the one in line with the heart of God – the Lord said: “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.”

How many of your desires are those that please the Lord when He hears them?
1 Timothy 6:17

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

He delights in His amazing creation and wants us to fully delight in Him and all the good things He’s made. Think about it. He not only made food necessary and nutritious, but delightful and delicious. He could have made food taste bad or not even made taste buds at all. He not only made the universe functional, but beautiful. He also built us with our eyes and our bodies to experience it all. He could have made seeing or hearing painful to our bodies with every second of sight data taking months to mentally process. Instead, he made it instantons and effortless. The devil wants us to view God as dull and to view sin as delightful, but the truth is, the devil has never created anything good… or anything at all for that matter. Every good and perfect gift you’ve ever enjoyed in life comes to you from God. And because of answered prayer, you haven’t seen the last of these gifts. Not if your delight is in the lord.

Set your heart upon Him. Live to please Him. Acknowledge Him as being everything in your world. Then you’re free to ask Him for the moon knowing He’ll give you that wish, or something even greater… because He delights to give His beloved children the desires of their hearts.

Lord, I am so grateful that You delight in blessing me. And I don’t want to miss a single one of them. Keep me so close to you, Lord that nothing can stand between us. I realize no joy exists any way outside of your will for me, outside of the desires you’ve placed in me for following hard after you. I know I’ll never reach the bottom of your goodness and compassion towards me, and this truth makes me love you from the bottom of my heart.

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Praise Thursday – the Will of God

Battle-Plan-Hero-699x200Today Joe and I shared about the Will of God from our study series  in the book The Battle Plan for Prayer

John 6:38
38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

1 John 5:14
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

The best place in the world of any of us to be is squarely in the middle of God’s will. It is His perfect that will bring Him the most pleasure. It’s not only what’s best for us, but it’s what will yield God the most glory. He has promised every one of His children that we can live in His will continually. Some people are convinced that God is a mystery, Yet the best strategy to use first of all in beginning to seek Gods will for specific questions is to pray like Jesus did – to pray in surrender to it from the onset. Not my will, but yours be done.

Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The presentation of ourselves can lead to the revelation of His will.

Second, we should pray in accordance with what we already know to be His will. The chief goal of God’s will is that He will be glorified in all circumstances.
1st Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 115:1
Not to us, Lord, not to us
    but to your name be the glory,
    because of your love and faithfulness.
If your desire is for the glory of God to be elevated and made known, be assured His will is going to be accomplished in you.

God’s will is to advance His kingdom – the seen and unseen parts. In Heaven and on Earth.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

As you align your goals with His kingdom goals, He promises to provide everything needed for your life to flourish.

Third, God’s Will is for Christ to be Lord
This is giving Christ all the power and authority in every arena of your life.

So as you follow Christ as Lord, you’re saying with your life (not just your words), that you intend to give Him your full allegiance.

Titus 3:8
This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Glory. Kingdom. Lordship. Those are the 3 major components of His overall will for you. He also wants you living a pure, sanctified life.

1 Thessalonians 4:3
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
These verses are telling us that God wants us to produce fruit no matter where we are in life.

Philippians 2:2
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

Much of His will, therefore, is readily known. Not only does His word declare it, but the spirit affirms it in your mind and heart. So your quest for Gods will on a specific issue, be it a large one or a small one, it’s not a separate matter from the other elements of His will. They’re all tied together. The heart that isn’t only praying for His will, but is also surrendering to it simultaneously, whatever the Lord reveals His plan to be, will not miss his desires when all is said and done, because He will bail you out when you take a wrong turn.

Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.

The leadership that God gives as you pray your way through hard decisions is not to be evaluated merely by the physical events happening around you. Sometimes the most difficult, painful, fearful, or illogical path is the one that ends up being the open door. The one bearing His fingerprints.

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

This is not just an emotional peace that shows up for a few hours and then morphs into panic and confusion by nightfall. This distinctive ‘peace of Christ’ settles in and is often confirmed by other believers. The enemy may try to agitate you into doubting it. But being reverent and trusting and prayerful will lead you to the right door. And that’s faith. That’s obedience. That’s where His will for you shines and bears fruit. And that’s the kind of praying that leads remarkably to peace.

PRAYER:
“Lord, I know I’m in skillful hands as I pray for You to show me Your will and lead me faithfully into it. I accept from You specific guidance through your word to give me ‘a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ for this moment. Thank you for being Heaven – and – Earth beyond me in size and scope. Yet, somehow, stooping down to involve Yourself in my details. Tune my heart to the desires of Your heart. Align my mind with your thoughts. Guide my path to the center of Your plans and help me pray and live in accordance with Your will. I love You, and I will follow You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

We also gave away a pair of Sonfest tickets! Our Sonfest trivia question for today was “What is the name of Sarah Reeves’ husband?” The answer to this question is “Philip Kothlow”

Congratulations to Lisa from Mount Vernon who correctly guessed the answer to our trivia question!

If you would like to know more about Sonfest or to buy tickets click HERE.

Congrats to Maddie from Mount Vernon for being our third caller; she won two tickets to The Lion King Jr. show from MTVarts this weekend!

If you would like to know more about this show are just more about MTVarts click HERE.

Our word of the day today was:

Shofar
SHOH-far

Definition: the horn of an animal (usually a ram) blown as a trumpet by the ancient Hebrews in battle and during religious observances and used in modern Judaism especially during Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur.

Thank you so much for listening to the Afternoon Drive today!
-Hannah Radke

 

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Prayer and the Word of God

Battle-Plan-Hero-699x200

Today our Praise Thursday focus on prayer is about using the Bible as an inspiration and model for prayer. All inspired by the book from Stephen and Alex Kendrick.

The command of the Lord is pure; enlightening the eyes (Psalms 19:8)

If your heart is right with God and others, and you are ready to pray, then what should guide your praying?

Prayer doesn’t need a script. It is personal; unique.  Even with this much freedom, God provides powerful resources for us to pray specifically and strategically – this helps us know that our heart is in sync with God’s.

We are fickle – hot and cold.  Emotions today, forgotten tomorrow. But when we pray with words inspired by scripture, we are assured that our prayer is anchored in bedrock truths!
———-
Maybe you think you don’t know the Bible well enough to do this…so…

Pray about it and God will guide you.  James 1:21 says “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

John 15:7 says “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

God can help you find the right verse for the right time!
——
We can easily recite and use our favorite lines from TV shows and movies.  The same principle can apply to the Bible – but it’s better because it’s alive, active and not stale or generic.

Unlike other books or movies or shows, the author and inspiration for the book is RIGHT THERE with you as you read!  Like Paul said, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)

The whole story of Nehemiah’s prayer in the Old Testament is an example of this type of prayer strategy – we can do the same thing.  When we are fatigued, we can remember Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
——-
When stressed out or outmatched by situations and stress, we cry out to him like David did in Psalm 61:2:

“From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

If you doubt yourself, remember Psalm 9:10, 63:5, 17:15, 51 verses 10 and 12, 118 verses 1 and 21; 84 verses 8 and 11; and I Chronicles 29:11-12.

OUR CLOSING PRAYER:
“Thank you Lord, for your word. Thank you for not leaving me here to guess what you’re like or what you’ve promised to do. I pray you not only fashion your word in my mind, but also use it to direct my hands and feet to serve you, obey you and stay clean-hearted before you. May I truly love your word and cling to it as my lifeline; to your truth, love and wisdom. Amen.”

We’d also like to wish congratulations to Monica from Mt. Vernon who won our How I Became a Pirate tickets! And to Ruth from Howard who won our Sonfest Artist Trivia!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe, Hannah and Lilly

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