Spiritual Challenge of the Week: Prayer Journalling

Anyone can do this:  Prayer journalling.

Don't make excuses, start this today.

Get yourself a small notebook and carry it with you.  Listen to God.  Listen to people.  Write it down.  Pray for people until you get an answer.  Highlight the request once it has been answered.  God may give you insight into your prayer life, things he wants you to do, or ways to pray- jot those down too.  Keep praying for anything you have written down until there is an answer no matter how long it takes.  Follow up with people if possible to get updates (it may cause you to change what you are praying for).  Prayer changes things, often the thing that changes is you.  Miracles are happening all around us and we are too busy to notice or recognize them for what they are- God's hand at work- not luck, not coincidence not fate.  Look to see how God answers prayer- sometimes not as you would have asked or imagined.  A couple of weeks of this and you will find yourself looking for opportunities to pray for others, you will feel more in tune with God and looking forward to prayer times.  Be consistent- that is the key.

God is speaking.  Are we listening?

Blessings!!

Jeff

Aliens

Do you fit in too well?

“If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you." (John 15:18-19)

As a friend use to say, "This world's got nothing for me."

If you think I am strange, good! I should seem like an alien:

"Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives." (1 Peter 2:11-12 The Message)

Ablutions

In our house we have a hygiene routine that we refer to as ablutions, a term we picked up from the esteemed Dr. Sheldon Cooper.  You might think it is merely doing your business in the bathroom each morning and night, but for us it has a spiritual component and a ritual that is both centering and consecrating.

Ablutions (a ceremonial act of washing parts of the body or sacred containers)

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body," (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

As we work through our cleaning routine we meditate on these things:

Hands:  Consecrate my hands to serve, give and be clean and pure in motive

Shower:  Cleanse me from all unrighteousness, create in me a clean heart

Shave/ Facial care:  Remove any fleshly growth or blemish- sculpt me

Ears: Guard my hearing from deception, lies of Satan, or gossip

Hair: Fill me with your Holy Spirit, let it cover my mind

Junk:  Purify my sexual being

Face/ eyes:  Protect me from temptation, greed, envy, and lust for things of this world

Teeth/mouth: Filter my words with love, fill me with praise, acceptance and encouragement

Feet:  Guide my steps, keep me from wandering, show me the way to walk a different path

Nose: Let my life be a fragrant offering (deodorant, mouthwash and cologne)

Morning prayer:  Thank you for this day, Lord.  I welcome you in to my every activity today, have your way, guide me, teach me and prompt me.

At night:  Thank you Lord, for this day.  Show me where you were at work today and help me learn and consider where I failed or missed opportunities as a learning experience.  Forgive me for my sins and show me where I need to be forgiving people before my head hits the pillow.