Author: Rick Henderson

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

As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us. vs 13

Do you quote scripture in your prayers? This is a common theme in prayers we read through out the Bible, but isn’t that counter intuitive? Doesn’t God already know His Words and how They apply to the situation? Yes, but maybe the scripture has less to do with changing God’s will and more to do with influencing the prayer’s heart. When we use scripture in our prayer, it is a way for us to show God and ourselves that we know and believe His promises. We reassure ourselves that God has answered this prayer in the past, and He is capable of doing it again. When we use scripture in our prayers, it is a sign that our heart is beating more in rhythm with God’s. If you want that, if you want your heart in rhythm with God’s, you need to love His Word and make it a part of your rhythm. Naturally, His Words will become your words.

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

“When you pray, say: ‘Father.'” 

This seems normal for us who have grown up in the church and in praying homes, but for the disciples, this phrase was mind boggling. The religious leaders who taught the prayers never used the word Father to address God. Why? From their perspective, Father was too intimate of a name to refer to the Holy God. Yet, that is exactly why Jesus wants the disciples to use this phrase. The Father wants an intimate relationship with his children.

Megan did a great job walking us through how “Hallowed” changes our mindset as we pray. Father, does the same thing while adding some paradox. Do you feel the tension of the intimacy of the term Father with the reverence of the term Hallowed? You should, because the Creator of the universe, the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God wants to have personal one-on-one time with you! He wants your dirt. He wants your pain. He sees and knows the real you, and still wants to talk to you. He is Holy. He is Father. He is The Holy Dad!

How does this change the way you think about the beginning of your prayers to Him?

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

“and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down” vs 3

The wall is the life support for the city. A broken wall means that the city is vulnerable to its enemies with no defense and no protection. Can you imagine going through your day with the expectation of being attacked at anytime? Can you imagine trying to sleep at night knowing that if you were attacked, there is nothing you could do to protect your friends and family? This is what broke Nehemiah.

Does it break you? Walls are just as important to spiritual warfare as they are to physical. When we allow our spiritual walls to be remain in shambles, we leave ourselves susceptible to attack. With no defense or protection, the enemy can infiltrate our homes and take over our lives. These walls are both personal and corporate. Nehemiah showed us that when each person took care of their part of the wall, the city was fortified faster and stronger. When we each do our part, we strengthen the Church. So where do we start? How do we rebuild the broken and weak places in our spiritual lives? We start like Nehemiah. We start in prayer.

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

In college I met a girl who had recently converted from Islam to Christianity. She was reading scriptures fervently. However, she took a very literal approach to Jesus’ command that we will do greater things than He.  To test this out, she went to a nearby lake and attempted to walk on water. After failing, she reported back to her mentor. Chuckling to himself, while not wanting to discourage her passion, he simply asked, “Well, did you take a towel?” She responded, “Yes!” He laughed, “Well that’s why it didn’t work!”

God makes it very clear that we have the power and authority to ask that a mountain be moved and He will move it… as long as we believe He can. However, I think a lot of us, like the girl and her towel, prepare ourselves in case God doesn’t move the mountain. We pray, but we do not expect. We bring our proverbial towels to the prayer anticipating we will get wet instead of fully believing God can and will work a miracle. God wants us to come to Him with anything and everything, with no restraints so that He can show us that He is still in the business of working miracles.

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

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word.” John 17:20

Jesus was praying for YOU. These were Jesus’ last free minutes on this earth. In less than twelve hours, He would be on the cross, and He spent this time praying for you. Before you read on any further, go back and read  all of John 17 with you and the cross in mind.

Isn’t that amazing?  As you read over those words, they penetrate your soul. The selflessness. The care. The love. Have you ever heard anyone pray for you like that? These are prayers you would hope to hear from a parent, spouse, or very dear friend. Doesn’t it feel good to be so loved? It also challenges you: do your prayers show this type of love? Are your prayers for those you love this selfless? Do you reciprocate that same love in your prayers to Him?

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

“to Him be the glory in the church” Ephesians 3:21a

After a beautiful dialogue on how and what happens in us when we pray, Paul concludes this section with an even more beautiful doxology. The focus of the dialogue was on the “inner man” so one might think that this doxology would follow suit. Yet, the calling is actually for us to give Him glory together in the church. Prayer and worship can be immensely personal, but the external expression of what happens internally is magnified on the corporate level.

John Piper says it like this, “The inner essence of worship is to know God truly and then respond from the heart to that knowledge by valuing God, treasuring God, prizing God, enjoying God, being satisfied with God above all earthly things.”

Sunday morning is our “in the church” moment, but is not the only time we worship in the week. Sunday morning is an opportunity for us to respond together in joyful adoration to the God in Whom we have found complete satisfaction. Though our personal prayers and journeys may be different, we can all lift our eyes and voices together as one to say, “God is good. To Him be the glory!”

Re:Verse passage – Luke 18:1-8 (day seven)

Now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? Luke 18:7

You are precious to God. He hears your prayers. Even when you feel like a broken record, repeating the same prayer time and time again, God is working. How do we find this assurance when we can not see the prayer being answered? The assurance is in our salvation. You have been chosen by Him before the beginning of time. You are His child. Unlike the judge who begrudgingly provided justice for the widow whom he had no personal connection with, God will provide justice for His children whom He has a vested interest in. He chose you! Continue to ask. Continue to seek. Continue to knock, and rest assured, your Father will open the door when the time is right.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 11:5-13 (day seven)

Two weeks ago I preached in Logos and referenced the synoptic parallel of our passage out of Matthew 7. I had referenced a young man from camp that  I had advised to pray to God persistently to feel the presence of the Lord. God answered that prayer! “Persistent praying pays off!” I said.

Afterwards, I was approached by a woman who had said she begged God for years to give her peace and to feel His presence, but it never came. Why does God sometimes not answer our prayers of persistence even when they are pure and patient?

Our persistence doesn’t change God; it changes us. God uses our persistence to mold us, shape us and tune our hearts with His. Sometimes the persistence doesn’t pay off in the way we might expect, but the persistence will always achieve the purpose it was set out for: to perfect the pray-er.

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:26-27 (day seven)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good. Romans 8:28a

Have you realized how closely connected these passages are? I have typically separated these verses in my mind as two separate acts, but that is not the case. The Holy Spirit is interceding in your prayer life to help get your prayers into God’s good plan.

Has God ever answered your prayer in a completely different way than you originally prayed for? In those moments the Holy Spirit shows you how God’s good plan working in and through your prayers. Could it be that the “we do not know how to pray as we should” statement could also be in reference to when our prayers are not in line with the will of God? Even then, the Holy Spirit intercedes and molds those prayers so that all things work for our good within His plan.

Re:Verse passage – Acts 2:42-47 (day seven)

Last week I asked you to pray for camp. Your prayers were felt! We had an awesome week, but as I read this week’s passage every day, it felt like I was reading about Impact Camp. I had a first hand look into the New Testament church. For those who have been to Impact Camp before, does reading this scripture give you a mental image from camp? Even for those who grew up in other churches, does that bring you back to moments of joy from your camp experiences? Maybe it was Glorieta, Alto Frio, or a beach camp where you felt the Spirit moving in a mighty way. Something interesting happens when you bring hundreds of teenagers together to worship King Jesus. The power. The emotion. The energy. The presence of the Holy Spirit is visibly evident and active. Camp is a picture of the New Testament church, which I would also say, is a little taste of Heaven here on earth.

And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:47

Just like the New Testament church, the Lord added to our number this week. We will tell their stories soon and we will fill the baptistry with students! Praise Jesus!