[The Good Life] On prayer: it's vision, motivation and practice in different stages of life
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βοΈ Happy Wednesday morning! To help you love like Jesus, here are 3 ideas from me, 2 quotations from others, and 1 question for you to live into. 3 Ideas From Me π€1) Jesus does not hesitate to motivate us with rewards because He made us to desire What Matters Most. 2) Prayer is not reduced to a singular expression in any particular stage. But because our experience of God's love differs within each stage, we prioritize practices of prayer that best align our heart, mind and soul to God. βSource. 3) A leader's vision for prayer, coupled with practical daily habits and a commitment to helping others grow in prayer, is essential for effective spiritual leadership. βSource. 2 Quotations From Others π€―1) Bible Project on approaching God in prayer: "Jewish people practice fixed-hour prayer, where they stop to pray wherever they are several times a day. Jesus calls out those who use this practice to be seen praying in prominent places. Instead, Jesus encourages hidden prayer before God alone. In Jesus' day, cultures surrounding Israel prayed long prayers, hoping to persuade their gods to act. But Jesus portrays God as a Father who cares about his children and knows their needs. So he teaches a short prayer to align us with God's will." 2) Anglican priest and scholar John Nolland on the purpose of prayer: "Prayer is not to be used to build a reputation for piety, but solely for engagement with God." βSource. 1 Question For You π€Jesus teaches us to "go to the secret place, where your Father is present and waiting to reward you as you pray." (Matthew 6:6) Think about this text and your everyday life in the world around you. In time and space, where is this secret place experienced in your everyday life? In the morning on your back porch? In your car during your morning commute? At the end of the day before you go to sleep? I'd love to hear your answer! Shoot me a text (706.424.1130) or an email (matt@transformdiscipleship.org). This week, there are three ways that you can join us as we help each other become like Jesus:
π¬ Thanks for reading! Please invite your friends to join our journey. β Until next week, Matt Adair - Creator of Transformational Discipleshipβ E - matt@transformdiscipleship.org C - 706.424.1130 |
Matt Adair
I help church leaders make disciples who love their enemies.
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βοΈ Happy Wednesday morning! To help you love like Jesus, here are 3 ideas from me, 2 quotations from others, and 1 question for you to live into. 3 Ideas From Me π€ 1) We ask God to "hallow" his name because our understanding and imitation of God rings far too hollow. 2) While discipleship to Jesus can't be reduced to the Our Father, there's hidden wisdom in discipling people to a) pray, b) pray often, c) direct their prayers to a God we know as Father, and d) to ask our Father to "hallow" his...
βοΈ Happy Wednesday morning! To help you love like Jesus, here are 3 ideas from me, 2 quotations from others, and 1 question for you to live into. 3 Ideas From Me π€ 1) To pray "our Father" is an invitation into reality where God is compassionate, merciful, slow to anger and filled to the brim with a love that never waxes or wanes. 2) By calling God "our Father," Jesus encapsulates the essence of discipleship: we are God's children who share a common life with Him and each other in every...