I have been studying and planning for our next teaching series on prayer. I love starting new discussions because possibilities abound. And as I have been thinking about/praying/contemplating about this next discussion a thought has kept coming to me…
if you commit to discussing and actively participating then your life will be completely changed.
I don’t usually like making such bold statements because people could view it as ego or as hyperbole or inauthentic. But I genuinely believe it. In fact, I may be so excited just for purely selfish reasons.
Prayer is really a whole lot simpler than we make it to be in practice and in our imaginations.
So I’m excited for you and I’m excited for you. And I am challenging you…if you commit to discussing and actively participating then your life will be completely changed.
Feel free to leave your questions or thoughts about prayer or things you’ve always wanted to say about prayer.
And don’t forget BBQ at the church this week to kick it off!
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September 9, 2009
As I have been preparing and studying for prayer, I have found that it’s helpful (almost necessary) for me to make a list of what prayer is and what prayer is not. It becomes so easy to get entrenched in our own habits and tradition, and when something doesn’t match our preconceptions of prayer then it can’t be prayer. During the next few weeks I want my preconceptions (some of them are misconceptions) blown out of the water. So here is the list I have so far:
- Prayer is honest and authentic.
- Prayer is not a wishlist.
- Prayer starts as a discipline.
- Prayer shouldn’t stay a discipline. (These last two still need some help on the wording. But what I am trying to say is that if prayer is like being on a diet then I don’t think it will ever work. Kinda)
- Prayer is personal.
- Prayer is corporate
- Prayer is not a specific method.
- Prayer is what connects you to God.
- Prayer is not a “set aside” time.
- Prayer is our running to God.
Those are my thoughts right now. What would you add or take away? What is prayer? What is not prayer?
This is headed in a direction that I didn’t anticipate. And I love that. I can’t wait to hear about the experiences from this week, and I am so excited about this next week.