Scott Lane

40 Days of Prayer- Prepare

It’s an interesting line in one of my favorite songs. “Let every heart prepare Him room”. As we have “prepared” our house to reflect the Christmas season. It took time, attention, and effort. What would our home look like if we didn’t do anything? It would look the same as always. What about our hearts? What would our hearts be like if we never “prepared” for His rule and living presence (time, attention, effort)? Every day (especially during this season of the year) there are things (some good, some bad) that compete for our affection and attention. If we don’t continually make “space” and “priority” for Him, our hearts and lives will look and sound common and even distressed. Nothing different or distinctive will be heard or seen, only anxiety and despair. We must intentionally prepare “room” in our hearts for His strength, influence, and presence.

Day 21- Will you “prepare Him room” (today and moment by moment) by praying and asking Him to be active, alive, and above all the daily stuff that competes for your thoughts and attention.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The result will be a life that reflects God’s love, His Joy, and His strength. All the competing pressures, tensions, relationships, and responsibilities will then find their rightful place (a distant 2^nd).

Re: Verse reading – Luke 10:25-37 (day five)

40 Days of Prayer – Leverage and Influence

It’s one of my favorite moments in scripture. Jesus calls Levi (Matthew) to be a disciple. Levi immediately throws a party. Jesus is the guest of honor and wouldn’t you know, Levi somehow managed to get lots of his “tax collector and sinner” friends there. (Luke 5:27-30) How did he do that? Two keys… Leverage and Influence. Levi used Leverage and Influence to gather his friends, colleagues, and associates in a place where they would be in the presence of the Savior.

Day 15 – Will you pray for “Gospel Leverage and Influence” with your family, friends, and colleagues?

It’s hard work. It demands risk. It requires strategic timing. It is tense for sure. Seasons like the one we are currently in, can easily lend to conversations and experiences that are “eternal” in context. Will you look and listen for moments where you can begin or develop relationships for Gospel Leverage and Influence? It may come at the cost of safety, comfort, and time. (Sounds a lot like the Christmas Story to me). The battle takes place at precisely the point where believers must personally and willingly invest in lost friends (and family) and influence peers who desperately need Christ.

Re: Verse reading – Luke 7:1-17 (day five)

40 Days of Prayer- Practice Makes…

In Luke 11, the disciples ask Jesus to “teach them to pray”. I often wonder why. What was the real motivation for the question? What did they see? What did they hear? What did they observe? Was it His wisdom? Was it His patience? Was it His power? Was it His repetition? Was it the real and vibrant relationship with his Heavenly Father?

Day 8 – Will you ask God to help you be teachable and learn how to pray?
In the remaining 40 days, let’s ask God to make us people of prayer. Let’s train ourselves (practice) to be Godly in our praying. (1 Corinthians 9:25) What if our time in prayer each day caused us to change? What if others noticed Christ-like wisdom, patience, and strength in us? What if they noticed a real relationship with our Heavenly Father? “Practice doesn’t make perfect. It reduces the imperfection.”

Re: Verse reading–Luke 5:12-26.

He Has Promised

Re: Verse reading–2 Peter 1:1-12 (day five)
It’s a promise that I have had the privilege of sharing with many teenagers over the years. It’s a promise that prompts hope. It’s a promise that stirs courage. It’s a promise that encourages vision.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)
This semester 2 different teenagers on 2 different campuses in our city have had the vision/burden to start Bible Studies on their campus. May sound easy enough, but this requires courage (talking to administrators). It also demands hope. (Will students come? Will a faculty member sponsor and provide a classroom or meeting space?). It evidences vision. (Christian students growing in their faith. Lost students hearing the Gospel and being around a community of believers.) So, as you pray, study the scriptures, and worship (privately and corporately) are there ways God is leading you that spark courage, hope, and vision? Remember, as you move forward, He Has Promised!!

Really??!!

RE Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day five)
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

God inspires Peter to write about humility. Really??!! Peter?? He could apply to be the poster child for arrogance, impulsiveness, and stubbornness. Yet God does a work in his heart and life through Jesus that changes Peter forever. And 30 years later, Peter is willing to share the truth he has learned about humility. Do you suppose it is the alarm clock Peter hears most mornings (rooster crowing) that causes him frequently to remember and rejoice. Peter remembers how easily sin and pride can hijack the human heart. And he rejoices that God gives grace that restores and strengthens the human heart. Isn’t that how God works so many times in so many hearts? Really!!

Lessons from the Moon

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 2:11-3:9 (Day Five)
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Ever marvel at the beauty of the moon? (Its color, its texture, its shape) Ever wonder how helpless and un-noticed it would be if not for the sun? In an interesting way the moon “glorifies” the sun. Any notice of it from our vantage point is because of the sun. The moon does nothing to create its own light or energy for that matter. The only way the moon can be seen or recognized is when its “position” to the sun is such where we can see the effects of the sun on the moon. In verse 12 we are told that our lives can glorify God. How? I think it’s the same as with the moon. We must live our lives in obedience, sacrifice, and purity (in right “position” or relation to God). To be certain, it is a battle, struggle, and intense (see verse 11). It demands constant attention and determination. But the end result is a life that is beautiful and observable. To those that are watching, it will point them to a strong, holy, and loving God.

Who Am I??

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 1:1-12 (day five)
I Peter 1:1-2 “To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces …, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood”
Because of my ministry with teenagers, I know the answer to this question is HUGE. Identity formation is the major task of adolescence. Getting this right is crucial to SO many aspects of our lives. Mark Driscoll writes, “How you answer that question has far-reaching, belief-revealing, life-shaping, and identity-forming implications.” I believe we wrestle with this question and answer it everyday, even as adults. It seems fitting that Peter starts this letter by addressing the question. The answer (that ultimately and completely brings power and joy to the human heart) to “Who am I?” is found in the One who says He is the “I Am”.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 12:18-13:25 (day five)
Verse 25 “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.” The pattern of the Lord is that He communicates His promises, character, and purpose through our eyes and ears and into our hearts (Isaiah 6:9-10). It’s a big deal. “That which Jesus speaks concerns your soul, concerns your everlasting destiny; it is God’s wisdom; God’s way of mercy; God’s plan by which you may be saved.”- C.H. Spurgeon. I/we must “see to it” that we can hear. I/we must continually ask God to help us be: still, teachable, humble, and obedient. Moment by moment how do we answer God’s question of “Can You Hear Me Now?”

God>man

Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 11:1-2, 32-40; 12:1-3, 12-17 (day five)

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us”. When I read the scripture, I am frequently reminded about my own weakness and inability to navigate life without the risk and ample opportunities of sin, burdens, and selfishness to take their toll on me. Any reminder that would prompt me to re-direct my attention and recalibrate my priorities is SO helpful. So, I pause to pray. I ask God to examine my heart and mind (for burdens and sin vs.1). I ask God to help me have a disciplined and determined focus on The One who is writing my story (vs. 2); I ask God for energy and strength to press back against any discouragement or desire to slow down or quit on “my race” (vs. 3).

We

Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 10:19-39 (day five)
Verse 24 “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds”. “The bible knows nothing of solitary religion” – John Wesley One of the many insights I have gained from reading Hebrews in this series has been the writer’s frequent uses of the plural forms of pronouns. This letter is chocked full of prompts for community, accountability, and unity. In verse 24 “we” are instructed to take initiative and encourage healthy action and attitudes in the hearts and lives of our church family. Pretty bold!! What would motivate us to interact that way? Romans 2:2 claims God’s motive for challenge and conviction is kindness. What if we had that type of love and affection for our church family? I think others would take note. John 13:35