CHOOSE: A DANIEL-TYPE PRAYER

Frustrations were the "order of the day" yesterday, though I certainly didn't order it.
OOPS, I still had a choice in my response to all the snafus.
As Anne Graham Lotz reminds us in The Daniel Prayer, (p. 245) :
IF prayer is...

• one of the supreme boys of your life,
• the throbbing heartbeat of your relationship with God,
• the nearest will be this side of Heaven,
• our compass that helps keep us on the right path

....then why is it so hard?
Because prayer is a battle---a fight.

That's why, when I struggled yesterday to be clear minded and self-controlling, (1 Peter 4:7),
I used God's Word from Daniel 9:1-23.
I Chose a Daniel-type prayer.

CHOOSE: NATIONAL FOCUS FOR PRAYER

National Day of Prayer 2017! 

The focus across the nation has been on Daniel's prayer (Daniel 9:1-23) especially from Daniel 9:19.

Lord, listen. Lord forgive! Lord, hear and act!   

Yet, as try to type this entry....here's what keeps happening over and over. Imagine that!!!

I choose to keep praying for our nation....and to keep trying to post!

Evening Prayer "veloci-TEA"

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. (Psalm 4:8, NLT)

Speedy conviction. That was the "veloci-TEA" of the realization that my evening prayers probably set the stage for my morning prayers and I ought to give that time more attention. A new prayer direction. Certainly the compiler of the Psalms, this "hymnal of the Jewish people" knew that. Interestingly enough, the evening prayers are mentioned in both Psalm 3 and Psalm 4 prior to the mentioning of the morning prayers in Psalm 5.

Scripture before sleeping may prompt prayers. God's word, in and of itself can be a prayer. "To the Lord I cry....I lie down and sleep....and will not fear" (Psalm 3:4-6) and David concludes  in 4:8, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. 

"It's David's confidence in God that enables him to lay himself down calmly and tranquilly to sleep, whatever dangers threaten him. He seeks his couch, and at once (יחדּו) slumber visits him. No anxious thoughts keep him tossing on his bed for hours." (http://biblehub.com/psalms/4-8.htm) Confidence in God comes from knowing Him through His word.

Anne Graham Lotz's, endorsed Daily Light for Every Day, includes morning and evening prayers. Equal scripture content for both. The "Graham/Lotz families read this "little" collection each day. It keeps them all on the same page. 

Last night I read the 5/16 entry from Daily Light and prayed those "very" appropriate verses for a decision a dear friend would be making on that "very" day. Grateful for the "velodi-TEA of conviction that had me speedily changing my direction of evening prayers. 

Meditating to Hear from God

11/12/12 I so-o-o agree with a recent post of Cole Huffman about what makes a great Bible teacher. In describing a great teacher, Cole says, “When I think of John Hannah (DTS prof) in particular, I’m drawn to want more of God — the best thing that can be said of any teacher. Listening to him pray before each class was a clinic in how to step into Heaven.”

This weekend I heard great Bible teaching from Anne Graham Lotz---she even went to preaching! Her daddy, Billy Graham, describes her as the BEST teacher in the family. Her goal for the weekend was for each participant to discover an intensely personal relationship with the God who is wholeheartedly pursuing more of you.

Friday night’s session, “My Heart’s Cry for MORE of HIS Voice in My Ear,” was taken from John 10:1-10

1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech,but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

As you meditate on this ask yourself: 

• Who are the sheep? 
• Who are the thieves and robbers? 
• Who is the Shepherd? 
• What is the sheep pen? 
• Who is the gatekeeper/watchman? 
• What is the door? 
• What is a full life and who gives it?

We, as His sheep, want to “hear” from God. How will we know when the voice is authentic? What do we do once we hear?

My Jottings that stood out: 

• An authentic voice is Biblical, personal and powerful. 
• When I hear His voice, I need to heed His voice. 
• LISTEN for God’s voice with your eyes on the page of your Bible. 
• It is from Him that I have life in abunDANCE! 
• A life of abunDANCE is both life-saving & life changing because it comes from my Good Shepherd.

By Cole's definition, Anne Graham Lotz (for me) is a great teacher because I’m drawn to want more of God when I sit under hear instructions from God's Word.

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

"In pursuit...."

11/8/12  Walking out the door to join dear friend and prayer buddy, JoLynn (& later w/ Wynellen ) as we begin our long awaited trip to "The Cove." (Billy Graham Training Institue in Asheville, North Carolina) We are attending an Anne Graham Lotz seminar to "discover an intensely personal relationship with the God who is wholeheartedly pursuing more of you."

Isn't that comforting---when we're in pursuit of more of Him, we realize He is whole (not 1/2) heartedly pursuing us. 

Will be in pursuit of "hot spots" while there in order to share all that God shows me----or not, it will depend on His leading. I might just spend lots of time with Him "lifting up mine eyes unto the hills." All who know me know I am a mountain girl and I love those mountains of North Carolina!

Would appreciate "in pursuit " prayers from all my readers.

Musing Scripture Interrogatively

10/29/12 Sometimes I gain insight as I muse scripture interrogatively. That might sound like a mouthful, but it usually means that I follow the BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) line of questioning as I ponder a passage of scripture. In 2004, at “The Cove” (Billy Graham Leadership Training Center) Anne Graham Lotz taught me to ask these questions when meditating on scripture.

• What does it say? (Facts listed is the way I see this first step.)
• What does it mean? (A comprehensive, in context, going deeper approach.)
• What does it mean to me? (Sort of a how can I apply it to my life approach. A James 1:22-25 reminder to be a “doer” of the word.)

The hearts of the people 
cry out to the Lord.
You walls of Daughter Zion, let your tears flow like a river day and night; give yourself no relief, your eyes no rest. Arise, cry out in the night,
as the watches of the night begin; 
pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. 
Lift up your hands to him 
for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger 
at every street corner. (Lamentations 2:18-19)

This passage was a hard one for me. From previous verses, I know that beautiful Jerusalem had seen great destruction. Destruction in every area of their lives---physical, mental and spiritual. The prophet Jeremiah was crying out to them. I can only imagine his frustration and drained emotions as he wept for †he Jews. But God had brought this destruction upon them because of their unfaithfulness as a nation.

I sensed pain as I read this and wondered about the starvation and hunger at every street corner. From the context it seems as if it was mainly physical hunger. But could there have been a spiritual starvation present as well?

Though difficult for me to understand, I knew immediately that I could apply this passage to my life by calling out to God. Prayer for my own town and my own nation, where many are starving both physically and spiritually, was my answer. But more than that, I can pick up that envelope off my kitchen table, the one for the Union Mission at 383 Poplar, and send in a donation toward meals for the homeless.

I was encouraged to read in verse 20, that Jeremiah called out to God once again. So there’s another example to follow---perseverance in prayer.

Continue to ask God questions about this “hard” passage throughout the week. He’ll show you the answers He has---answers just for you.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW!

1/17/12 That's it----that's just what I want. His voice of direction. If I can't hear it, then I'd like to see it---something I can't miss! (My quote from yesterday's blog.)

Mail left on my kitchen table yesterday afternoon. A 2012 program booklet from the Billy Graham Training Center. (The Cove)
Can you hear me now, Dotsy?

My answer---As if on auto-pilot, I turned to Anne Graham Lotz seminar for next November.
I registered. Wouldn't you?

When reading the description, I stood amazed----actually, I had to sit down. "If we want to hear more of His voice....."

Could it be any clearer? Could it be any louder?

I think I can hear Him now.