Foundations Blog

We’re in a new series called “Foundations” which builds off of Jesus’ metaphor in Matt 7: A house built on sand will never be able to stand BUT a house that’s built on the rock will never be able to fall.

09-23-2021 4:52 AM

Practice #3 PRAYER - Day 4

09-23-2021 4:52 AM
09-23-2021 4:52 AM

This week, we’re in Practice #3: Grow in Prayer. If you can, give yourself 15 minutes to just be with God. Set a timer and put everything else away except for you, your Bible, and the device you’re reading this on.

As we did on the previous two days, let’s continue researching the six Greek verbs used in the New Testament to describe prayer. Start by visiting this webpage and reading the fifth entry for “Prayer (1162) (deesis).” Write down what you learn.

The words you likely listed carry with them

  1. A profound awareness of the person’s lack of resources
  2. A realization that only God can supply what is needed

Evaluate your own prayer life. Do you feel needy? If not, why not? 

One of the self-deceptions that can overtake those of us living in wealth is that we forget that we’re actually in need. We begin to believe the lie that we can take care of ourselves and that God is just an extra, an add-on to our life. 

Prayer reorients us to reality. We are in desperate need. The things we have (food, clothing, jobs, families, security, money) have all been supplied by God and could be taken away at any moment. His provisions are designed to make us grateful to Him, not self-sufficient. But self-sufficiency is an alluring idol.

Spend some time in prayer. Talk to God. Tell Him how much you need Him! List out the ways. Praise Him for how He sustains you - get specific. 

Confess the sin of self-sufficiency. Recite 2 Corinthians 12:7a-10 out loud:

“Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant. I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.”

Linger in God’s presence as you ask Him to be all that you need and all you desire.

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