Category: Prayer

  • Hear

    Hear

    when you look at your life right now, what are you hearing? Is it God’s clear, loving voice, or has it been shaped by the enemy’s discouraging suggestions?

    Life is a journey, and along the path, it’s easy to get sidetracked. Distractions, challenges, and even seemingly innocent suggestions can cause us to drift away from the core truths that sustain our spiritual health. Today we look at the discipline of listening to God speak to us personally.

    The Power of Suggestion

    Remember those silly primary school jokes, like “elephant shoe”? It highlights a psychological phenomenon called the McGurk Effect. When what we hear conflicts with what we see, our brain can create a completely different perception of what’s being said. This illustrates the power of suggestion: we often hear what we are led to see, even if it’s not the actual message. In our spiritual lives, this phenomenon has a profound parallel. The enemy, the devil, is a master of suggestion, subtly working to distort God’s truth into a “silly joke” in our minds.

    The serpent didn’t directly contradict God when he confronted Eve in Genesis 3, instead, he used a suggestion: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” This subtle insinuation was enough to plant doubt and twist what Eve had heard directly from God. Similarly, in Matthew 4, the devil tempted Jesus in the desert with suggestions, even quoting Scripture out of context: “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread…” and “Throw yourself down, for it is written…”

    Jesus’ Example: Placing Truth Before Suggestion

    The crucial difference between Eve and Jesus lies in their response to these suggestions. Eve was misled, more like many of us in our humanity. As Paul warns in 2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

    Jesus, however, countered the enemy’s suggestions by correctly placing God’s spoken truth before Himself. His responses communicated a profound truth: what the enemy suggests cannot change what He hears God saying. This is a vital lesson for us. The enemy strategically forms suggestions, like a potter shaping clay, against us in our situations. His goal is for us to become discouraged and doubtful, to miss what God is truly speaking to us.

    So, when you look at your life right now, what are you hearing? Is it God’s clear, loving voice, or has it been shaped by the enemy’s discouraging suggestions? Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” This principle applies not only to what we speak but also to what we allow ourselves to hear. If we let the enemy’s destructive suggestions override God’s life-giving truth, we risk diminishing the abundant life God intends for us.

    Hearing God in Every Circumstance

    The thief comes to “steal and kill and destroy,” but Jesus came “that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The difference between abundant life and destruction often hinges on the words we allow ourselves to hear and hold onto, especially when faced with challenging situations. When suffering comes, what do you hear internally? “Where’s God gone?” “What did I do wrong?” “Am I a fool for having faith?” These are the enemy’s suggestions, designed to create doubt and despair.

    Think of Mary and Martha in John 11, grieving their brother Lazarus. Their suggestion to Jesus was, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” They felt let down. Yet, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, completely changing the story. The disciples, disillusioned after Jesus’ crucifixion, also spoke from supposition: “We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24). But Jesus defeated death, and their hope was restored. Even Joseph, chosen for greatness, endured years of pain and possible questioning, only to later declare to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20).

    We can hear a good God speaking to us, even in situations that hurt, as long as we are not listening through the lens of the enemy’s suggestions.

    The Inner Voice: A Starting Point

    A crucial starting point for hearing God’s truth is examining your inner voice. Dallas Willard noted that “God’s primary means of communicating with us is through the inner voice, the inner thoughts and impressions that are characteristic of our own minds when they are under the influence of the Spirit of God.” So, if you don’t speak kindly to yourself, who are you truly hearing? God is love, and His voice aligns with the characteristics of love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: patient, kind, not easily angered, not keeping records of wrongs, always protecting.

    While God’s truth can sometimes be challenging to accept, it will always be spoken in love, kindness, and patience, without anger or shame, and always for your protection. One of the simplest ways to begin hearing God’s truth beyond the enemy’s suggestions is to start speaking kindly to yourself. How can you truly hear God’s “I love you” if your internal dialogue is harsh and critical? We are called to be like Jesus not only to others but also to ourselves. How would Jesus speak to you if He were here?

    Reflect:

    1. What specific situations in your life right now do you feel are being influenced by discouraging or doubtful suggestions, similar to Mary and Martha’s frustration with Jesus?
    2. What have those suggestions been saying about God’s character or His care for you?
    3. How does your inner voice speak to you in these challenging situations? Is it kind and encouraging, or critical and shaming?
    4. Considering God’s love as described in 1 Corinthians 13, what specific changes do you need to make in how you speak to yourself?
    5. What truth from God’s Word can you intentionally place before yourself in your current circumstances to counter the enemy’s suggestions, remembering that God can bring life out of what seems dead, and good out of what was intended for harm?

    Closing Prayer

    Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your unfailing love and the truth of Your Word. Forgive us for the times we have allowed the enemy’s subtle suggestions to cloud our perception and cause us to drift from Your truth. Help us to pay closer attention to what we have heard from You.

    Strengthen our inner ears, Lord, so that we may discern Your voice amidst the noise of the world and the lies of the enemy. Teach us to speak kindly to ourselves, aligning our inner dialogue with Your loving heart. 

    May we, like Jesus, place Your truth before every suggestion and circumstance, knowing that You are a God who raises the dead and turns all things for our good. Amen.

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  • Prayer

    Prayer

    Prayer is not so much about us bending God’s will to our requests but our will bowing to His. Prayer positions us: it positions us under the submission of God’s power instead of that of our circumstances.

    In the rhythm of our lives, it’s easy to get swept away by the current of daily demands and distractions. Like a boat drifting from its moorings, our spiritual lives can subtly move away from the foundational practices that sustain us. This week, we’re called to return to one of the most vital of these practices: personal prayer. As Hebrews 2:1 reminds us, we must “pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth.” We have heard the call to prayer from Jesus himself, a practice he not only taught but exemplified.

    For many, prayer feels like a chore, a performance requiring eloquent words and a specific tone. We imagine God in a “box seat,” judging our spiritual theatrics. But Jesus, in Matthew 6:5-15, shatters this misconception. He invites us to a different kind of prayer, one that is not about outward show but inward connection.

    Prayer isn’t a verbal performance; it’s presence. Jesus urges us to “Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.” The invitation is profound: “Just be there.” Like a friend who simply desires our company, God doesn’t demand a polished presentation. He yearns for our genuine presence. Psalm 46:10 echoes this: “Be still… and know that I am God.” To be still before God is to acknowledge His presence, to allow ourselves to simply be with Him. As Mother Teresa wisely observed, “God is the friend of silence.” In the quiet, we create space for His presence to fill us, enabling us to give more fully in our active lives. Jesus himself sought such solitary places, demonstrating the power of silent communion. When we offer ourselves in stillness, we are not just asking for things; we are giving Him the greatest gift: ourselves.

    Prayer positions us: it positions us under the submission of God’s power instead of that of our circumstances. When we pray, we “hallow” God’s name, making Him holy in our hearts and minds. This isn’t about making God holy—He already is—but about acknowledging His holiness in our lives. We bring our weaknesses, imperfections, and struggles under the covering of His perfect power. This act of hallowing is an act of submission, placing our incompleteness under His wholeness.

    Prayer is not so much about us bending God’s will to our requests but our will bowing to His. Consider Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42). He honestly expressed his desire for the “cup of suffering” to be taken away, yet he concluded with ultimate surrender: “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” This isn’t transactional prayer, where we demand our desires be met. This is relational prayer, where we present our requests with vulnerability and then surrender them to God’s sovereign will, finding peace in His ultimate control and perfect plan, even when it involves hardship. As Mother Teresa articulated, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”

    Prayer gives us heavenly perspective. The story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6 beautifully illustrates this. When surrounded by the Aramean army, the servant saw only overwhelming danger. But Elisha, through prayer, asked God to open his servant’s eyes, revealing the “horses and chariots of fire all around.” Prayer shifted the servant’s perspective from victimhood to authority, from earthly despair to heavenly reality. It empowered him to fight from victory, not for victory.

    So, how do we return to this essential practice? Jesus provides a simple model: a certain time, a certain place, a certain plan. Mark 1:35 shows us Jesus rising “very early in the morning, while it was still dark,” going “off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” We can emulate this by intentionally setting aside time and choosing a private place. For a “certain plan,” consider the “LOOK” method, a simple yet profound guide for your personal prayer time:

    1. Look Up at God in worship (Psalm 100:4): Begin by acknowledging God’s greatness, His character, and His love.
    2. Look Inwards at yourself with confession (1 John 1:9): Humbly admit your shortcomings and receive His forgiveness.
    3. Look Around at others who need God’s intervention (1 Timothy 2:1): Pray for your family, friends, community, and the world.
    4. Look Backwards in gratitude for God’s blessings (1 Thessalonians 5:18): Remember and thank God for His faithfulness in your past.
    5. Look Forward for provision from God (Philippians 4:6): Present your needs and concerns, trusting in His perfect provision.

    “Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.”

    John Maxwell

    Reflective Questions:

    1. In what ways have you found yourself drifting from consistent prayer in your life? What “life’s distractions” have contributed to this drift?
    2. How does the idea of prayer as “presence” rather than “verbal performance” challenge your current understanding or practice of prayer?
    3. Can you recall a time when you experienced a shift in perspective or a sense of peace after surrendering your will to God’s in prayer, even if the outcome wasn’t what you initially desired?
    4. Considering the “LOOK” method (Look Up, In, Around, Back, Forward), which of these five focuses do you feel most comfortable with, and which do you find most challenging to incorporate into your prayer life? Why?
    5. What concrete “next step”—a certain time, a certain place, or a specific part of the “LOOK” plan—will you commit to this week to cultivate a deeper practice of personal prayer?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, we thank You for the invitation to come before You in prayer, not as a performance, but as a beloved child simply being present with their Father. Forgive us for the times we have drifted, for the distractions that have pulled us away from this vital connection. We pray that You would teach us to be still, to truly be with You, surrendering our will to Yours and trusting in Your perfect plan, even when it’s difficult. Open our eyes, Lord, to gain Your heavenly perspective in every circumstance. Help us to establish a rhythm of prayer—a certain time, a certain place, and a certain plan—so that we may consistently look up in worship, in with confession, around for others, back in gratitude, and forward for Your provision. May our prayer lives be a testament to Your grace and power, transforming us from the inside out. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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  • DAY 7 | SUNDAY | Celebration

    As our week of prayer comes to an end, we want to celebrate together and demonstrate what it means to be a people who belong.

    Jesus spent much of his time sharing a meal with people from all walks of life.

    Lk 19: 1-10          Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus’ house, a tax collector

    Lk 10: 38-42     A woman named Martha opened her home to Jesus

    Lk 7: 36-50       A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him

    There are many more stories in gospels like this.

    Sharing meals creates a space for people to feel loved and accepted, heard and connected. We can encounter God and one another and demonstrate hospitality in a tangible way.

    As we begin our journey together, creating a community of people who belong, let’s celebrate the end of our prayer journey around a table and share a meal together.

    My Prayer Response:

    Ask God to show you who you can invite to the table

    Ask God to show you who to pray with

    Ask God to make you a listening presence for someone

    My Daily Response:

    Have fun

    Laugh together

    Make time for connection

    Have communion together

    Build relationships with someone new

  • DAY 6 | SATURDAY | reflect on your race

    Paul the Apostle, writing to the church at Phillipi, encouraged them to continue growing in Christlikeness through every season of their lives. He uses the image of an athlete in a race:

    Philippians 3:13-15 (NIV)

    But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

    We are all running our own spiritual long-distance race and it’s important that we regularly reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going.

    First, reflect on your own personal journey of following Jesus. Our stories are all unique because each one of us is unique, bearing the image of God.

    • His Goodness
    • His Faithfulness
    • My Gratitude
    • My Worship
    • My Service

    And then transition to this past week and the themes of our devotions and prayers.

    What do they mean for our personal lives and the race we are running?

    What do they mean for us individual as we find ourselves in a community of people – His church?

    What do they mean for us as a community as we live out our lives together?

    • What’s your next step?               Bring your brick.
    • Identify distractions.                    Don’t stop walking.
    • Clarify your focus.                        Build a people who belong.
    • Participate with people.              Live your legacy through a Kingdom community.
    • Pray to the promise keeper.      Surrender your life to   God’s sovereignty.