Danny Panter – Page 7 – The Everyday Prayer

Revolutionary

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 2:1-10 (day six)

The Gospel is a revolutionary message with surprising results. No one could have imagined the depth of its redemptive power. No one imagined that Jesus could redeem a passionate persecutor of the earliest Christians, and yet he did. Or that non-Jewish pagans would embrace its truth.

Not everyone responded to this news with joy but with suspicion and jealousy. They questioned the man, his Gospel message, and these pagans’ “new freedom.”

Here’s the rub, they began to think the only true way to become children of God is to become like us. So they began to whisper and accuse, who is Paul not to demand that they become like a Jew!

But the Gospel revolted, busting through that twisting of the truth, demonstrating with surprising results that Jesus is enough!

Christian, let’s pray for the revolution; let’s be joyful revolutionaries of the redemptive power of the Gospel in San Antonio!

Revelation

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 1:11-24 (day six)

…it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. Galatians 1:16

Paul realized in Jesus, that it was never God’s ambition that Gentiles become children of Israel but that they become children of God, resulting in a global multi-ethnic family united in Jesus.

Jesus does not undo or abandon the law but fulfills it (by his life, death, and resurrection) for all those who believe, and that is good news! Furthermore, through Jesus the promises God made to Israel are now available to the whole world, which was his intent all along.

Aren’t you thankful?

Paul

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 1:1-10 (day six)

This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead. Galatians 1:1

What I appreciate most about Galatians is its intimate portrait of Paul the Apostle. No other epistle includes the same details of his life as Galatians. While his introduction is not necessarily unique from his other letters, it does set us up to learn more about Paul’s life.

Paul makes clear from the beginning that he was appointed by Jesus himself and given special authority to be his spokesperson.

Sometimes, it helps me to give Paul’s history real thought, that he was a real person in history, with real encounters, struggles, and ambitions. In these few verses, we re-learn two valuable and personal things about him. First, he really cared about the truth; he had given his life to the Truth. Second, he really cared about people. What becomes clear is that the two are not at odds. In fact, the reason Paul really cares about people is because he really cares about the Truth.

I’m looking forward to getting to know Paul better over the course of the 13 weeks, aren’t you?

Something New

Re:Verse passage – 1 John 5:14-15 (day six)

Have you considered that John’s encouraging words were intended to change their prayer life? His letter was not an intellectual exercise but was meant to give them confidence and change the rhythms of their lives.

We have been in a series on prayer for 13 weeks. Has it been an intellectual exercise, or has there been real change in your own prayer life?

It has changed mine.

Posture

Re:Verse passage – Daniel 9:1-23 (day six)

So, I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes. Daniel 9:3

I have always appreciated Daniel’s prayer posture. In chapter six, he opens his window towards Jerusalem and prays on his knees. He wore “rough burlap” in this account and sprinkled himself with ashes. Every posture reflected the longings and condition of his heart-grief, penitence, and hope of restoration.

In my reflection, I wonder what my posture communicates about my heart’s condition. How would a more thoughtful posture affect how I pray? Should I consider having a special place like Daniel (his room, with his window open towards Jerusalem), or be more mindful about what I am wearing? These are things Daniel clearly considered. Should I?

What is your posture when you pray?

Summary

Re:Verse passage – Luke 11:1-4 (day six)

The Lord’s Prayer serves as Jesus’ summary of God’s kingdom movement, a proactive beckoning for the Father to advance his mission through his life. I imagine his praying took this shape from an early age, longing for his Father’s Kingdom to come.

But now this prayer was not only his but also belonged to his disciples. And now also to us.

Jesus meant it when he said, “Pray this way.” Will his prayer serve as a summary of your life? Will we pray like Jesus? Let’s.

My Burden is Light

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 1:1-11 (day six)

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Mathew 11:28

The news of Jerusalem burdened Nehemiah. The thought of the people there and the hardships they faced consumed him. His response was immediate and prolonged, and all the while, he prayed.

Prayer is not informing God of what he already knows; it is not issuing God maintenance requests. Prayer is actively entrusting God with the burdens we carry. Prayer is rest

God Moves

Re:Verse passage – Mark 11:22-25 (day six)

When Peter marveled at the withered fig tree, Jesus responded with, “Have faith in God.” His response was intended to affirm that God moves and acts in the world.

Generally, we tend to live day to day as if we are in a closed system, like an ant farm. If we are honest, even when we pray, we don’t often think God will actually intervene. When we tell others, “my thoughts and prayers are with you,” we believe the words themselves may provide comfort, but we rarely believe God will act.

Jesus is telling Peter, “God still acts in the world.” Whether seen or unseen God is the mover of mountains, if he so wills.

That’s the kind of God we pray to. Believe it.

Vision

Re:Verse passage – John 17:20-26 (day six)

The High Priestly prayer in John 17 is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in the Bible and is glorious. His heart is heavy and full as he thinks about what is ahead, along with a deep affection for the men entrusted in his care. It is here that Jesus prays. With the cross ahead of him, he first prays for glory. He then prays for his disciples as they carry his story in a hostile world. Lastly, with a much longer gaze, he prays for his church.

It shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus would cast a vision for his church before she was even born. His very incarnation embodied a vision of what humanity should be. It only makes sense as he ignited a movement of the new creation that he would look beyond the twelve to his church, the fruit of their faithful witness.

And Jesus’ vision for us is glorious; that we would share in his new creation glory with such clarity and unity that the world can’t help but see him.

Now that’s vision.

Fearless

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 3:14-21 (day six)

So please don’t lose heart…Ephesians 3:13

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. 1 John 4:18

To know and experience the love of God is to live and love without fear. Fear, or losing heart, leads to self-preservation. Love leads to freely giving of ourselves to others. Fear dehumanizes. Love restores our humanity. Fear leads to trusting our instincts. Love leads to trusting Jesus.

That is how Paul was praying. The only way they could not lose heart was to know and experience the love of Jesus more deeply, and it is there, and only there that they can know the fullness of God (all that he purposed them to be).