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We can’t even get the cable company to answer us, yet God will?  The doctor’s too busy, but God isn’t?  We have our doubts about prayer!

Jesus raised people from the dead.  But a “How to Vacate the Cemetery” seminar? His followers never called for one. But they did want Him to do this– “Lord, teach us to pray.” Might their interest have something to do with the jaw-dropping promise Jesus attached to prayer? “Ask and it will be given to you.” When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray He gave them a prayer.

Could you use the same?  Father, You are good.  I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Before amen—comes the power of a simple prayer. Punctuate your day with it!

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When I pray, I think of a thousand things I need to do. I forget the one thing I set out to do: pray. Can you relate?

But wouldn’t we all like to pray… More? Better? Deeper? Stronger? With more fire, faith, or fervency? Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. We want to pray, but when? We want to pray, but why? We have our doubts about prayer, our checkered history of unmet expectations, unanswered questions. We aren’t the first. The sign-up for Prayer 101 contains familiar names: John, James, Andrew, and Peter. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance.

Here’s my challenge for you: every day for four weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.

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Some people excel in prayer. They are the SEAL Team Six of intercession. They’d rather pray than sleep. Why is it I sleep when I pray? It’s not that we don’t pray at all; we all pray some. Surveys indicate one in five unbelievers prays daily. Just in case, perhaps?

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he gave them a prayer. A quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Could you use the same? “Father, You are good. I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Here’s my challenge for you: every day for 4 weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.

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I’m a recovering prayer wimp. For years my prayers seemed to zig, then zag, then zig again. Maybe you can relate. Perhaps your prayer life could use a tune up, a reboot? If that sounds overwhelming, I’m inviting you to a simpler plan. Four minutes, plus four weeks, equals forever change! Every day for four weeks, pray for four minutes, focusing on these core elements of prayer:

Father, You are good.

I need help.

They need help.

Thank you.

It’s that simple. Really! Talking with God doesn’t have to be complicated or complex. The power isn’t in the words we pray, but in the One who hears them. Here’s my challenge for you: every day for four weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.

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Jesus was accused of much, but of being a grump, sourpuss, or self-centered jerk?  No. People didn’t groan when he appeared. They didn’t duck for cover when he entered the room.  He called them by name. He listened to their stories. He answered their questions. He visited their sick relatives and helped their sick friends. He fished with fishermen and ate lunch with the little guy and spoke words of resounding affirmation. He went to enough parties that he was criticized for hanging out with rowdy people and questionable crowds.

People were drawn to Jesus! Thousands came to hear him. Hundreds chose to follow him. They shut down their businesses and walked away from careers to be with him. His purpose statement read, “I came to give life with joy and abundance” (John 10:10 The Voice). Jesus was happy and wants us to be the same.

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The Christian race is demanding, grueling, and sometimes agonizing.  It takes a massive effort to finish strong. But many don’t. They may come to church and warm a pew, but their hearts aren’t in the race.

Jesus is the classic example of one who endured, in spite of temptation, accusations, and shame. The devil tempted Jesus nonstop for forty days. Jesus’ own family called him a lunatic. And, on the cross, he bore the collective shame of all humanity. How did he endure?  By focusing on “the joy that God put before him”—that was the prize of heaven. And what he saw gave him strength to finish—and finish strong.

Someday we will be seated, and Christ will christen the meal with these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And in that moment, the race will have been worth it.

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In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories of something lost and something found. A lost sheep. A lost coin. And a lost son.  At the end of each story, Jesus describes a celebration. The point is clear. Jesus is happiest when the lost are found.

Jesus rejoices because he knows what awaits the saved. In Heaven, you will at long last, have a heart just like his. Guiltless. Fearless. Tirelessly worshiping. Flawlessly discerning. Jesus also rejoices that we are saved from hell.  He says there’s only one sound there, and that is the “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Every person you meet has been given an invitation to dinner.  When one says yes, celebrate!  When one hesitates, urge him to get ready. You don’t want anyone to miss the party.

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Jesus said, “Your eyes are windows into your body.  If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.  If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar.”

In Gethsemane, Jesus faced betrayal on all levels.  The disciples ran away.  The people rejected him.  And God didn’t answer his anguished appeal to avoid “the cup of suffering.” So, what did Christ do? He found enough good in the face of Judas to call him friend, and he can help us do the same with those who hurt us.  He found purpose in the pain, seeing it as a necessary part of God’s greater plan.

Wouldn’t you love to have a hope-filled heart?  God never promises to remove us from our struggles.  He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them.

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Proverbs 4:23 advises, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Think of your heart as a greenhouse and consider your thoughts as seed. We must be selective about the seeds we allow to come into the greenhouse. To have a pure heart, we must submit all our thoughts to the authority of Christ. You see, your mind is the doorway to your heart. The Holy Spirit stands with you on the threshold, helping you manage and filter the thoughts that try to enter. If Jesus agrees with the thought, then let it in. If not, kick it out.

How do you know if Jesus agrees or disagrees? You open your Bible. Armed with the opinion of Christ and the sword of the Spirit, guard the doorway of your heart. The more selective you are about seeds, the more delighted you will be with the crop.

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In Acts 1:8 Jesus says, “You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world” (MSG).  We are God’s witnesses.

And we are to speak truthfully.  God loves the truth and God hates deceit. But Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things” (NIV).  How do we explain our dishonesty?  Well, for one thing, we don’t like the truth because the truth isn’t fun.  The wages of deceit is death.  Not death of the body, perhaps, but death of a marriage, a conscience, a career, or faith. But perhaps the most tragic death that occurs from deceit is our witness.

Examine your heart.  Do you tell the truth…always? If not, start today.  Be just like Jesus.  Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

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Jesus’ heart was so focused that his last words were “It is finished.” God wants us to have focused hearts like Jesus. Here are four simple questions to help us stay on course:

• Am I fitting into God’s Plan? His plan is to save his children, and we are to tell others about the God who loves them.
• What are my longings? Our assignment is found at the intersection of God’s plan and our pleasures. You are created to serve God in a unique way.
• What are my abilities? Identify your strengths and major in them.
• Am I serving God now? As a young boy, Jesus sensed the call of God, but he went home and learned the family business. Do the same. Go home, love your family, be a good employee, and get your life on course.

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A vibrant, shining face is the mark of one who has stood in God’s presence. After speaking to God, Moses had to cover his face with a veil. But not only does God change the face of those who worship; he changes those who watch us worship.

Paul told the Corinthian church to worship in such a way that if an unbeliever entered, “he would find…the secrets of his heart revealed; and…would fall down on his face and worship God…” (1 Corinthians 14:25 NKJV)

Seekers may not understand all that happens in a house of worship. They may not understand the meaning of a song or the significance of communion. But they know joy when they see it.  And when they see your face changed, they may want to see God’s face. People, including your family, are watching. Believe me. They are watching.

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Do you prepare for church worship?  We’re sadly casual when it comes to meeting God. Suppose you were invited to a Sunday morning breakfast at the White House?  How would you spend Saturday night?  Would you think about your questions and requests?  Should we prepare any less for an encounter with the Holy God?

Come to worship prepared to worship.  Pray and read the Word of God before you come, and come expecting God to speak. Then you’ll discover the purpose of worship—to change the face of the worshiper.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “Our faces, then, are not covered.  We all show The Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like Him” (EXB).  God wipes away our tears, softens our furrowed brows and touches our cheeks. He changes our faces as we worship.

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How do I detect God’s unseen hand on my shoulder and his inaudible voice in my ear?

Give God your waking thoughts. Before you face the day, face the Father. Psalm 5:3 (NCV) says, “Every morning, I tell you what I need, and I wait for your answer.”

Give God your waiting thoughts. Spend time with him in silence.

Give God your whispering thoughts. During your lifetime, you will spend six months at stoplights, eight months opening junk mail. Give these moments to God. Simple phrases, such as “Thank you, Father,” can turn a commute into a pilgrimage.

Give God your waning thoughts. Conclude the day as you began it: talking to God. If you fall asleep as you pray, don’t worry. What better place to doze off than in the arms of your Father.

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2 Corinthians 6:1 says we are “God’s fellow workers.”  Rather than report to God, we work with God.  We are always in the presence of God.  There is never a nonsacred moment!

Is it possible to live—minute by minute—in the presence of God? Jesus enjoyed unbroken communion with God, and God wants that same abiding intimacy with you and me.  He wants to be as close to us as a branch is to a vine.  You know it’s impossible to tell where one starts and the other ends. What good news!  We are NEVER away from God!  And He is NEVER away from us!

As we search the Bible, we realize that unbroken communion with God is the intent and not the exception.  Within the reach of every Christian is the unending presence of God.

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I believe we can learn to listen to God if we are equipped with the right tools. The first tool is a regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and in a corner of your world, and claim it for God. Take enough time to say what you want and for God to say what he wants.

The second tool is an open Bible. Pray first, asking God to help you understand it. Study the Bible a little at a time. Read until a verse “hits” you. Then meditate on it and write it down.

The third tool is a listening heart. We know we’re listening when what we read in the Bible is what others see in our lives. If you want to be just like Jesus, spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day, and then apply it.

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Some of us have tried to have a daily quiet time with God and have not been successful. And all of us are busy. So we let others tell us what God is saying. Isn’t that why we pay preachers? Isn’t that why we read Christian books? If that is your approach, your spiritual experiences are second-hand. Do you do that with other parts of your life—vacation, romance, eating? I don’t think so. There are certain things no one can do for you.

When God asks for your attention, he doesn’t want you to send a substitute. He invites you to vacation in his splendor. He invites you to feel the touch of his hand. He invites you to feast at his table.  He wants to spend time with you. And with a little training, your time with God can be the highlight of your day.

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“Let he who has ears to hear, use them.” Eight times in the Gospels and eight times in the book of Revelation we are reminded that it’s not enough just to have ears—it’s necessary to use them.

Jesus spent regular time with God, praying and listening. Luke 5:16 (NIV) tells us, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” If Jesus, the Son of God, the sinless Savior of humankind, thought it worthwhile to clear his calendar to pray, wouldn’t we be wise to do the same? Jesus also spent regular time in God’s Word. Three times in the wilderness temptation he used the Word of God to repel the attack of Satan.

If we are to be just like Jesus, then we need to imitate his habits of prayer and Bible reading.

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People longed for the compassionate touch of Jesus. Each one who came was touched, and each one touched was changed.But none was touched or changed more than the unnamed leper described in the first four verses of Matthew chapter 8. “He bowed before Jesus and said, ‘Lord, you can heal me if you will.’ And Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, ‘I will. Be healed!’ And immediately the man was healed from his disease.”

In New Testament times, leprosy was the most dreaded disease. In Scripture, the leper is symbolic of the ultimate outcast. A person doesn’t have to have leprosy to feel quarantined. The divorced, handicapped, unemployed, depressed, and terminally ill know this feeling. Jesus touched the untouchables of the world. Will you do the same?

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Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.”

Because Jesus has forgiven us, we can forgive others. Because he lives in us, you and I can do the same. Oh, I could never do that, you object. The hurt is so deep. Just seeing the person makes me cringe. Perhaps that’s the problem: you’re seeing too much of the wrong person. Try shifting your glance away from the one who hurt you and setting your eyes on the One who has saved you.

Please understand. Relationships don’t thrive because the guilty are punished but because the innocent are merciful. Are there any relationships in your world thirsty for mercy? Is there anyone who needs to be assured of your grace? Jesus made sure his disciples had no reason to doubt his love. Why don’t you do the same?

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