That was their request.
“Lord, TEACH us to pray”
The 12 that walked closest with our Savior in His time on earth. They communed with him all the day long, yet they knew there was something deeper. They knew that there was a fellowship beyond the meals shared and the parables heard.
And so they asked. These middle aged men, learned in the ways of the world and how to survive…they wanted something more.
They wanted what He had.
They saw this Savior King and they followed His footsteps.
Those dark, calloused, roped up sandals traveled paths avoided by the learned.
For He went where mankind chooses not to go.
Because that is where He meets us…in our most hidden places, where He longs to break us free.
He left footprints down roads cautioned with danger, because He knew Who went with Him.
But even though He went to those places…
Even though He was radical in His actions and built up a reputation by His scandalous love that was breaking captives free…
A more familiar path of this God man, was up the mountain, away and alone.
Those 12 would be with him one minute, then he would be gone.
He would steal away to meet with His Father.
And if He, who said, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me”
If HE made time to get away and knew the NEED for communication with His Father,
It should leave us wondering…
It leaves me questioning…
Where is my time spent?
Where do my footprints lead?
When those nearest to me are asked where I spend my time…
When they trace my footprints…what paths do they follow?
As I seek to learn this secret of contentment I wrote of last week, I must evaluate my time in communion with Him.
So I am trying to be more strategic in walking that out.
There have been some seasons that seemed to have naturally bred a depth of prayer.
And some seasons where it is a daily battle (like this current one)
So in this season of young ones and disabilities and pregnancy and rural India living and a palpable need for redemption that seems to throb around our home and neighborhood…
I am choosing to make more of a structure to my communion with Him, thru prayer
As of now, it looks like choosing Scriptures to guide me in how I pray
(A map of sorts)
(A map of sorts)
So I thought I would share some of them here with you.
My oldest boy, grafted in and thriving in life, despite all odds…
He is my focus today.
It is getting harder as he gets older
Especially the comments from others…the stares…the questions…
I find myself wanting to clam up and shut it all out
I am afraid of their voices harming my boy…
I fear their stares will break him down…break me down
I worry about one thing and then another…
My thoughts become a slippery slope
But what does He tell us?
To “take every thought captive”
Captive to Who?
To Himself.
The One who destroyed the dividing wall of hostility
(And let’s be honest, the dividing wall of hostility is not between me and others
It is between me and myself…
It is propped up in my heart and mind…
That is where hostility rises…But He came to destroy it…)
And good thing He did because it would have destroyed me
And it will destroy you
So let’s let Him take down that wall in our hearts and minds
Let me share with you how I am letting Him take down the wall of anxiety over my Adam
Through a relationship and communion with a God man who delights in me
Who delights in my Adam
Who delights in LIFE
Who delights in taking foolish things to shame the wise
So today, I am choosing to take my thoughts captive to Him and to exchange my vain attempts at planning Adam’s future and place them at His feet
I choose to make my abode at His feet
No longer do I want to just look at the Cross and remember my Savior who died
But I want to walk thru it…
For the Cross, it is a doorway to Himself
I want my footsteps to be found at the foot of His Cross
And end there
Because from there, I am His and I escape the worries of this world
I want to accept His invitation and enter that throne room, on high
I want to go past just asking, fearing, and bellyaching
I want to meet Him and learn the ways of His heart
For only then do I learn how to pray
Only then do I begin to learn this secret of contentment
So, as I start this making this map to prayer…
Here are a few ideas in how Scripture is guiding me
For it is the only Guide.
_________________________________________________
Perhaps you have one near and dear to you that is battling a tough diagnosis and needs prayer. Let these guide you as you intercede on their behalf. These are my “Scripture guide to praying for Adam, my son with a diagnosis”.
> Father, help him/her to not lose Heart as this body is temporary
“Therefore we DO NOT LOSE HEART. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an ETERNAL GLORY that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is UNSEEN. For what is seen is temporary, but what is UNSEEN IS ETERNAL” (2 Corinthians 4.16-18)
>Father, remind him/her that YOU CARE for their pain
” He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147. 3)
> Father, let him/her see today as a gift despite all the pain they may be walking thru. May each breath they take, no matter how painful or counted, be a gift and a joy to them and those around them. Remove the anxiety they may be tempted to feel, despite how impossible that may seem.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6.34)
>Father, let him/her understand that Your pleasure is not in his bodily health or strength
“His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, NOR HIS DELIGHT IN THE LEGS OF A MAN; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love” (Psalm 147.10-11)
>Father, let him/her sense your gentleness. Remind them you are as a Shepherd who lovingly cares for his sheep.
“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young” (Isaiah 40.11)
>Father, may he/she know that YOU, alone, are their REFUGE
“God is our refuge and strength. A very PRESENT help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46.1)
>Father, may he/she know that nothing is impossible with You.
“For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1.37)
> Father, give them REST and PEACE. For your yoke is easy and light. Assure them today.
” Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11.28-30)
>Father, remove all fear from his/her heart.
“Have I not commanded you? Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1.9)
>Father, may they know you as their HELP
“I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121.1-3)
> Father, HELP them today.
“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said ‘you are my servant’; I have CHOSEN you and have NOT REJECTED YOU. So DO NOT FEAR, for I AM WITH YOU; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…do not be afraid, o worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will HELP YOU,’ declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 41.9-11, 14)
> Father, remind him/her that You see the heart. Despite the comments and the stares that may come today, may he/she have a longing only for Your eyes…not the eyes of man.
” But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16.7)
” He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147. 3)
> Father, let him/her see today as a gift despite all the pain they may be walking thru. May each breath they take, no matter how painful or counted, be a gift and a joy to them and those around them. Remove the anxiety they may be tempted to feel, despite how impossible that may seem.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6.34)
>Father, let him/her understand that Your pleasure is not in his bodily health or strength
“His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, NOR HIS DELIGHT IN THE LEGS OF A MAN; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love” (Psalm 147.10-11)
>Father, let him/her sense your gentleness. Remind them you are as a Shepherd who lovingly cares for his sheep.
“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young” (Isaiah 40.11)
>Father, may he/she know that YOU, alone, are their REFUGE
“God is our refuge and strength. A very PRESENT help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46.1)
>Father, may he/she know that nothing is impossible with You.
“For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1.37)
> Father, give them REST and PEACE. For your yoke is easy and light. Assure them today.
” Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11.28-30)
>Father, remove all fear from his/her heart.
“Have I not commanded you? Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1.9)
>Father, may they know you as their HELP
“I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121.1-3)
> Father, HELP them today.
“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said ‘you are my servant’; I have CHOSEN you and have NOT REJECTED YOU. So DO NOT FEAR, for I AM WITH YOU; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…do not be afraid, o worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will HELP YOU,’ declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 41.9-11, 14)
> Father, remind him/her that You see the heart. Despite the comments and the stares that may come today, may he/she have a longing only for Your eyes…not the eyes of man.
” But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16.7)