TNBS 10/20/09
Posted by Stephen (Webmaster)Oct 20
John 17:1-19
Jesus prays for His followers.
20-26
Jesus prays for the world as a whole.
Luke 22:39-46
Jesus prays for Himself.
“Open” video by Rob Bell
Don’t ask God to feed someone who’s hungry, if you have plenty of food.
Prayer isn’t a formality, we should pray unceasingly. Prayer is meditating, reflecting, listening…
Prayer is tapping into the same energy that created the universe.
When God created, He enabled His creation to do likewise. The Creation is an ever-continuing process in which we continue His work by filling the earth with more of the same. Through prayer we have the power to speak life, to create, to share the blessings of God and the wonders of His creation. Often we ask why God doesn’t answer our prayers. Why doesn’t He? Will we ever really know?
Maybe not.
There are many times we will be hurt – many times we will face situations we don’t understand. However, God eternally promises us peace. He offers us the grace to accept His will in our lives and in the world around us.
What are some realistic things that we can do to help others with an understanding of prayer and an understanding of God?
We must all learn to listen. Without taking the time to just stop and pay attention to who God really is, we will continue to miss out on His reality. Why do we brush aside opportunities to encounter others for Christ? It takes a boldness to step out and reveal the love that God so openly exposes to us.
God’s relationship with us is not intended to be a series of chance encounters, our spirituality should be intentional, purposeful, and meaningful. As Christians we need to listen and and learn or we’re missing out on all that He has to offer us. He has the answers if we will just open up our hearts and receive what He is offering.
2 comments
Comment by Rachel on October 20, 2009 at 8:47 pm
What people need to understand is that prayer isnt just asking God to give you things. That is one of the things,but there is so much more than that Prayer can even be a form of praise. Giving God the glory through prayer can make all the difference.
I agree that spiritual encounters should be intentional. We should constantly be looking for ways to glorify God. I admit that i have messed up recently in this and i need to fix it pronto. Forgiveness has never been easy for me and admitting i am wrong is much worse. But i need to step up as a christian and be as God wants me to be. I should intentionally step out and shine like the christian i know i can be.
Comment by Brittany on October 26, 2009 at 9:20 am
So I finally got around to reading it. I feel like a slacker lol I wish I could have been there, but I think it’s so cool that God wanted this to be discussed in the same week He wanted me to talk about prayer. I think it’s wonderful that my girls got a double portion of this lesson. Goes to show that God really does want us to talk to Him more. He probably really misses having conversations with a lot of us.