Tag: Prayer

Keep the Fire Burning

by Dale, posted in Christian Camping, Christian Living, Prayer, Renewal, Uncategorized


The recent cool temps have beckoned us to enjoy our backyard fire pit.  Last Saturday night, we had 16 folks gathered around the fire sharing testimonies and singing under the stars accompanied by two guitarists. Monday night, our daughter and son-in-law joined us for some family conversation and ice cream around the fire.  After they departed, my wife and I roasted marshmallows and talked for a while.

There’s something about a fire that draws you into some good fellowship.  There’s something about a fire that also creates some good practical spiritual applications for life.  Early on in the evening, the fire was full and burning bright.  To keep it that way, I had to keep adding logs to stoke the fire, and I had to pay attention lest it die out.


As I write this post, our fire pit has no life in it due to letting the fire go out and the cold temps settle in overnight on the remaining ashes and burnt wood.  No one is sitting around the fire.  No one is attracted to its glow, nor warmed by its flames, nor sustained by the food cooked over its embers.  But, when the cools temps roll around this evening, that beckoning call will return.


How careful we must be to keep our hearts burning for the Lord (Luke 24:32;Romans 12:11).  Just as I have to keep an eye on the fire to maintain its blaze, may I tell you that the best way to keep your spiritual heart on fire is through intimate prayer.  That includes your daily time of sitting at Jesus’ feet with your Bible and your eyes wide open listening and praying the Scriptures (Luke 10:38-42). Also that includes conversing with Him throughout your day (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).  Combined, that’s keeping your eye on the fire, the Lord Jesus Christ.  All of genuine, authentic life comes from Him and abiding in Him (Psalm 16:11; John 1:1-4; 11:25; 14:6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1-4; John 15:1-17).  As you pray, your heart will be warmed, your countenance will be changed, your life will be sustained, and you’ll find yourself wanting to be close to fire as you dwell in this cold, dark, sin-filled world.

Are you cold?  Stoke the fire. Get closer to the fire. Keep your eye on the fire. Oswald Chambers said, “Prayer is the vital breath of the Christian; not the thing that makes him alive, but the evidence that he is alive.”

That Went By Fast!

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting, Prayer, Uncategorized

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Last Friday night, our church hosted a simulcast of CryOut16, an event that will forever be hallmark in our church’s history. If you are not familiar with this event, the press release below will bring you up to speed.

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Revive Our Hearts is hosting a large-scale simulcast prayer event on Friday, September 23 from 6-9 pm CT/PT, 7-10 pm ET/MT to gather thousands of women to pray for God’s mercy and supernatural intervention in our world, our nation, our churches, our cities, and our homes. While the world around us wrestles with wavering hope in political parties, portfolios, safety, stability, or the advancement of the right social cause—we are crying out to the only One who gives hope and peace. Cry Out! is an opportunity for you to actually do something together that will make a difference. Thousands strong. Crying out to the King of Kings to do in us and in our nation what no man-made effort can accomplish. “I’m asking the Lord to place a deeper hunger for prayer in the hearts of thousands of women for such a time as this,” Wolgemuth says. “These are dark days for sure. But this is not a time to despair. These days present an opportunity for the Lord to display His power in amazing ways. That’s why we need to seek His face and to ask Him to show His power by reviving the church and drawing the hearts of lost sinners to Himself.” This three-hour prayer meeting will focus on five areas of prayer emphasis: personal, families, churches, our nation, and the world. Each segment will be led by a different keynote speaker and will include Scripture reading, a short devotional message, corporate interactive prayer, and worship.  (cryout16.com)

Prior to Friday, some ladies wondered if they could last three hours in a prayer meeting.  Some of their family and friends declared doubt as well.  But every lady who stayed until the very end said, “That went by fast!”

Why do we question the ability to spend three hours in the presence of our loving, holy, just, righteous, omnipotent, omniscient, grace-giving God?  May I offer a few suggestions from Psalm 63:1-8?  Feel free to add others in the comment section below.

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

  1. Our relationship with the Lord is not top priority (63:1)
  2. We do not seek the Lord early in time (63:1). Our schedules which reflect our decisions have pushed God right out of our lives.  “Lord, I only need you when I am in trouble.”  Therefore, we are uncomfortable spending 30 minutes or more in His presence because what we do is more important than Who we know.
  3. We are not earnestly seeking, thirsting, and longing for our God (63:1). Praying with your eyes and your Bible wide open, praying Scripture, will help you seek after the Lord!
  4. We are content to dwell in this dry and thirsty land in our own human power achieving human results that leave us empty and frustrated (63:1). The place of refreshment in this dry and thirsty land is in your prayer closet.
  5. Our eyes are not trained to see God, His character and His works, but we are well able to identify what the world is doing. We must train our eyes spiritually on our knees (63:2)
  6. Since our life is not given to prayer and meditation upon Him, praise does not come frequently, nor does the uplifted hand (63:3-6). Praise in prayer is an awesome expression of devotion and love before the Father!  Taking time to meditate on Him leads to heart worship and praise . . . and greater faith.

So, what is keeping you from knowing your Heavenly Father in prayer?  If you participated in the CryOut16 prayer event, has your week started off in His presence hungering for more of Who He is?  Have you found yourself saying again, “That went by fast!”

Let these words from Psalm 34 permeate your heart:

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.

Crazy Busy

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Prayer, Rest, Sabbatical, Uncategorized

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Rest. Quiet. Relaxed. Tranquil. Unhurried. These are terms that you do not hear much in these days in which we live.  But, quite often you sure hear the following:

  • Life has just been crazy busy!
  • I didn’t have time . . . .
  • I just can’t keep up.
  • Hurry up! We’ve got to grab a burger for supper so we can get to your sister’s cheerleading practice and then take you to your soccer game and get home in time for youto get your homework finished.
  • If I just had more hours in the day!
  • It has been crazy busy around here today at work! (The new buzz word.)
  • Your Dad won’t be home until Friday. He’s got a busy week out on the west coast.

I love the quote from Tim Challies in his review of the book, Crazy Busy.  He says, “Busyness is a funny thing. We have a love/hate relationship with it, so that when we are not boasting in it we are apologizing for it, and when we are not overwhelmed by it we are wanting more of it. We hate what busyness does to us, how it keeps us from friends and families and how it skews our priorities. On the other hand, we love that it validates us, as if the fact that we are busy someone proves our significance.”

Having just completed a 31-day sabbatical, the term crazy busy, when heard, shouts out to me like a frustrated football coach on the sidelines!  Hence, I have a few observations.

  1. We all have the same amount of time every day. So that does away with, “I wish I had more time.”  If we were given more time, we would still need more time.
  2. What we do with our time, which is a gift from the Lord, is a personal, daily, throughout the day, decision.
  3. God designed our bodies to have a sabbath, a time of rest (Genesis 1-2).
  4. We are commanded to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16), and this is every day of our existence.
  5. The Lord invites the weary and worn-out to come to Him for rest (Matthew 11:28-30).

So, where do we begin in dealing with this critical issue of life?  How do we move away from being crazy busy!  At the start of everything, we need to take Genesis 1:1 to heart, In the beginning, God . . . .  At every beginning, all day long, we must begin with God.  Therefore, I would suggest that you understand that each day must begin with God, the Giver of life, breath, mental capabilities, time, strength . . . everything!  You must begin your day sitting at the feet of Jesus, Who is life (John 14:6).  And then, though out your day, as Brother Andrew said, “Practice the presence of God” by consciously thinking on Him and praying for wisdom at the many “beginnings” of your day.  Listen closely.  The Holy Spirit will bring Scripture to mind and speak in the still small voice.  Sometimes, He doesn’t need to say anything because you already know the answer.  Just obey and rest in Him.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed (Mark 1:35).

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

That doesn’t sound like crazy busy, does it?

Sabbatical Journey #4 – Away

by Dale, posted in 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting, Christian Living, Family, Prayer, Renewal, Sabbatical, Uncategorized, Worship

Well, summer is over.  What did you do for your vacation with family or just your spouse or with some friends?  Disney?  The beach?  The mountains? Did you take any day trips?  How about a recreational excursion?  What planning went into your time away?   What was the result of your vacation?  Any take-aways?

Vacations can be a huge refreshment that can leave many wonderful memories, provide a break from your daily routine, and give some much needed rest. Interesting enough, sometimes when you return home, you need another week to just recoup from your vacation (Lol).

Question:  When was the last time you took a spiritual vacation?  No, I do not mean running away or taking a vacation from the Lord, but a planned set of days and location where you and/or family go to grow your relationship with Jesus Christ?  Have you ever taken such a trip?

This sabbatical was so extremely helpful spiritually.  My wife and I spent most of our mornings at home, on the front or back porch, reading, praying, studying, journaling, and listening.  Some days I would travel to the lake, or a secluded mountain top, or a quiet stream and spend my time letting God teach me and whittle away at my heart.

Perhaps you could spend one day a quarter at a place like Fairhaven Ministries, Roan Mountain, TN, and give that whole day to just meeting with the Lord.  Pack your lunch, take your books, and go hide away with the Lord. You, too, could find that lake, stream, mountain top or other secluded area.

Another great opportunity would be to attend Family Camp at a place like The Wilds in Brevard, NC.  There you would have time to get alone with the Lord; time for just you and your spouse to study and pray together; and opportunities to meet together as a family.  The preaching services, music, and workshops would draw you and your whole family closer to the Lord.  And a side note, I promise you would not spend as much on this vacation as you would for the same amount time, motel, and meals as you would at Disney.  And, your whole family will come home stronger in their walk with Christ than if they had spent a week at Disney. (By the way, I’m not hatin’ on Disney. Just sayin’. . .)

So, when you plan for your vacations and get-aways for the months ahead, how about planning some time to get alone with the Lord?  You will never regret it.

Mark 1:35 – And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Luke 6:12 – In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.

Living in the Atmosphere of Prayer

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Prayer, Uncategorized

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When are we going to get it? (When am I going to grasp it?)  When are we are going to realize that in our individual lives, marriages, families, work, and ministries, we are totally missing out on the greatness, power, and work of God if do not become people who breathe and live in the atmosphere of prayer; of throughout the day seeking God’s face (Psalm 27:8)?  Take a moment and let the following truths sink deep into your heart.  Also, please do not let any familiarity with these passages dull its powerful work in your heart!

And he told them a parable to the effect that men ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1).

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. . . . I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling (1 Timothy 2:1-4, 8).

Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7).

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith (Matthew 21:22).

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:24).

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it (John 14:13-14).

Now, put into a sentence what these passages said to you about prayer as you read through them.  Are you living in that blessed atmosphere of prayer?  Can you relate to the following link?  War Room Lukewarm Coffee Scene

May the words of J. Lovell Murray spur us on to a greater life of living a life of prayer communion with our Heavenly Father through the blood of Jesus Christ!

“Our sufficiency is of God.  Difficulties melt in His presence.  In Him are those mighty, overcoming energies, which accomplish the possible and the impossible with equal readiness. . . . The real resources are with Him for the evangelizing and the redeeming of the world.  But He has not been able to do ‘many mighty works’ in the non-Christian lands because of our unbelief as a Church.  We have not possessed our possessions.  God has been waiting to be honored by the faith of a generation that would call upon Him for really large outpourings of His power.”  (Deep Fire, p. 175)

“Prayer opens up the floodgates for God to come down and be involved in our everyday lives.” (Priscilla Shirer)

Friday’s Findings

by Dale, posted in Prayer

What have I found?  Well, I found yesterday that God answered so many wonderful pleas and requests in prayer!  Big and little requests.  Quick and longtime requested. Am I surprised?  No.  God hears our cries (Psalms 18:6; 116:1-6) and answers our prayers (Matthew 7:7).  God likes to surprise us, too (Jeremiah 33:3)!!  Oh what rejoicing filled our hearts throughout the day as my wife and I saw God at work in His grace and mercy in response to our heart cries early yesterday morning!

Followers of Christ, you and I must see our desperateness every day!  There is not a moment we do not need God!  Run to Him today; trust Him; rest in Him; meditate upon Him; and most of all, pour out your heart to Him sometime today!

When you find His answers, rejoice, be grateful, sing, share, and keep going to the Throne!  There you find grace (Hebrews 4:14-16).  There you find what makes every answer to prayer so glorious—you find Christ, your Redeemer, Advocate, and Friend!  What a find!!

“Nothing is well done without prayer for the simple reason that it leaves God out of the account.” ― E.M. Bounds, Weapon of Prayer

Give a listen: There Must Be a Greater Yes

This-n-That: Living in These Last Days

by Dale, posted in Faith, God's Word, Heaven, Hope, Prayer, Sin, The Gospel

Tuesday, I spent the better part of the day in the midst of the Tennessee Legislature.  As I met with our state senator and representatives, I left with an encouraged, but burdened heart.  These elected officials work in the midst of outright temptation of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). At times, I could sense the oppression just lurking around the corner.  Yet, that is the world we live in. How should we live in these days of apostasy, debauchery, and decline?  Jude 20-21 gives us a clear remedy:

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

  1. Build

Your most holy faith is the body of absolute truth found only in the plenary, inerrant, inspired Word of God.  All the enemies of Truth will tempt you to turn away from the Truth, to doubt the Truth and to become cynical of the Truth.  Just as tall superstructures are built upon a solid foundation, we as believers must build an edification superstructure of truth that will stand the temptations of Satan, the world, and the flesh.  This is a daily construction need until God calls us Home.

  1. Pray

What a great need this is—praying in the Holy Spirit!!  Just as building is present tense, so is this verb praying.  If we are to accomplish God’s work, God’s way, and in God’s power at home, church, school, government, and work, we must habitually pray according to the Scriptures as the Spirit prompts us (Romans 8:26-27; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 6:18).   There, we will find wisdom and direction in the face of this declension.

  1. Love

What does it mean to stay in the love of God when I know God loves me eternally and unconditionally (1 John 4:7-19)?  You keep yourself in the love of God by walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:9-10).   When you walk in His love, you will not be distracted by evil.  Love combats the cold onslaught of Satan and apostasy and keeps your heart warm, tender, and zealous for God, His people and the Truth (2 Corinthians 5:14)!

  1. Look

Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life reminds us to keep looking ahead, to keep our attention fixed on the soon return of Christ!  Mercy is me not getting what I deserve as a sinner (Romans 3:23), which is hell, because Christ is my substitute on the cross, the payment for my sins (1 John 2:1-2).  Therefore, I am not saved by my good works (Ephesians 2:8-9) but by Christ’s perfect work.  Therefore, I am secure in Christ and can look to eternity with great assurance (Ephesians 1-2).

So, in the midst of these last days of bad news, corrupt government, lawlessness, fear, pain, sorrow, apostasy and world upheaval, live out Jude 20-21.  You will exchange your burdened heart for an encouraged one.  Build, pray, love and look!

 

Additional study:  How is eternity in hell a fair punishment for sin?

Marriage Matters: At the Altar

by Dale, posted in Marriage, Men, Prayer

While scrolling through my Facebook page yesterday, this beautiful picture brought back an extremely special memory.  Two years ago, my wife and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary at Whitestone Inn, Kingston, TN (Whitestoneinn). While strolling along through the property, we walked into this beautiful, pristine chapel. After surveying the building, I took Denise by the hand and we knelt at the altar.  I will never forget the tears, the joy, the offering of thanks, the reminiscing, the closeness to each other and our God, and the uninterrupted time at the Throne of Grace.

Men, why do we need to pray with our wives? 

1.  Leadership

We need to take the lead in prayer. Most wives are waiting for you to do so.  Even if she has been born again longer than you, she wants you to take the lead.  She loves to hear you pray.  She loves to hear you call out her name in prayer.  The issue is not you “getting all the prayer words right.”  The issue is Jesus Christ, Who makes our feeble prayers powerful and perfect before the Throne because He is our Righteous Advocate (1 John 2:1-2).

Men always ought to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1)

2.  Intimacy

The greatest intimacy you will know is when you are bowing before the Throne of Grace acknowledging your need personally and for your marriage. Men, we must not be afraid to get honest with God in the presence of our wives.  They will respect you more for your transparency and dependence upon Almighty God as you seek His face for guidance, answers, and wisdom.

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; for I am poor and needy. (Psalm 86:1)

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

3.  Understanding 

Praying with your wife enables you to dwell with them in an understanding way, and it honors your wife, your sister in Christ. When you start praying with your wife and listening to her pray, then will cease the sad statement heard by men the world over, “I will never understand my wife!”

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)

Men, you don’t have to find a chapel altar, although it would certainly be special.  If your wife is seated, you kneel at the chair, take her by the hands, and pray for and with her.  When you go to bed, take her by the hand and lead in prayer before you drift off to sleep.  When the call for prayer is heard from the pulpit, take her by the hand and go to the altar and pray with her.  If you are on a date, stop by a creek on that hike and have prayer together or in the coffee shop or in the car.  That prayer altar can be anywhere . . . because God is there.  Marriage matters at the altar.

A Very Special Moment

by Dale, posted in Prayer

There are many special moments that have occurred in my life for which I am so grateful.  Some of those include the opportunity to meet and have prayer with Governor Mike Huckabee; hearing President-elect Ronald Reagan speak; chatting briefly with quarterback Cam Newton, getting a picture and sharing a gospel tract with him;  meeting Don Drysdale, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher from the 50’s and 60’s, in JFK Airport and engaging in a gospel conversation; being around such great servants of God as Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., pianist Rudy Atwood, Doc Hay, Rock Royer, Dr. J.B. Williams, and the list could on and on.

Tuesday evening was another very special moment.  Joel, a church member, is in ICU due to complications from major surgery.  Needing to provide a meal for his wife, Ethel, Denise and I and a dear friend, Dawn, went out to a local restaurant.  Upon returning from supper, I parked the car to let Ethel depart to her car so she could go home to catch up on a few things.  Before opening the door, she stopped and said, “Could I lead us in prayer?”  We had already had several prayer gatherings during the day with the goal of encouraging Ethel and asking for God’s healing on her husband.  But at that moment, it was the hurting, needy one who desired to “take us to the Throne of Grace.”  What a moment it was as we bowed, and she poured out her heart to the Lord!  As I sat there in the driver’s seat, I felt like taking off my shoes!!  I was in the midst of three passionate, believing prayer warriors.  These are ladies who know how the heart of God through prayer; who pray in genuine faith; who have seen our awesome God answer in big ways!! And, we were all there in my car in the presence of God the Father through the blood of Jesus Christ!!!!  Aww, all those special moments mentioned in the first paragraph are good in their own right, but this was one very special moment!!

These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers (Acts 1:14).

And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying (Acts 12:12).

To the People in the Pew: Impossible Prayer

by Dale, posted in Prayer

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Last night we began “Impossible Prayer Meeting” that will be a part of each Sunday night’s service.  Cards were distributed for our folks to write down four situations/needs that seem impossible to them.  Then we gathered into small groups for prayer.  Each one shared their card with another person in the group, and those “impossible” requests were brought before the Lord.  How exciting it will be to see how God answers the cries of His people.  Our goal is not to look so much at His hand to see what He does as it will be to seek His face; then we won’t miss His hand!  Times of rejoicing, worship and praise are ahead!!

When Christ ascended into heaven all He left behind was a prayer meeting. The early Church didn’t have a prayer meeting; the early Church was the prayer meeting. In fact, in the early Church every Christian was a prayer-meeting Christian. (Armin Gesswein)

The simple fact is, we are too vague and, as a consequence, too indifferent in our prayers and prayer meetings. We do not seem like people asking for what they want, and waiting for what they ask. This is what destroys our prayer meetings, rendering them pithless, pointless, powerless; turning them into teaching or talking meetings, rather than deep-toned, earnest prayer meetings. (CHM)