Tag Archives: Batterson

Regular Prayer

“When you pray to God regularly,
irregular things happen on a regular basis.”

Mark Batterson, “Draw the Circle”


Friends, this is where most of us mess up.

How many of us pray on a regular basis?

I know people who pray regularly. I know prayer warriors. I look up to them. They have incredible stories.

Find the prayer warriors around you. Ask them about their practice of prayer. Ask them to tell you their stories. Be amazed and encouraged by them.

And then go do the same!

I don’t know about you, but I learn best through repetition. While I don’t want to encourage prayer simply because you want to continue repeating a habit, I do want to encourage the forming of the habit of prayer. Not out of need to check an item off a list, but out of a deep desire to learn and come closer to God through daily conversation.

My point here is we need to develop the habit of setting aside time to have a conversation with the Father. He wants to hear from us, and he wants to speak to us. Developing the habit of daily speaking and listening will undoubtedly help us hear clearly the words he has for us.

Do you want to know exactly what God the Father saying to you? Develop the habit of conversing with him. The more you commit to the habit, the better you will understand the language he’s using.

 

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In a few weeks I’ll begin posting about some of the tools to use to learn the language of prayer and better develop the habit of prayer. I invite you to subscribe so you don’t miss out.



Acquiring a Prayer Language

I was (am) horrible at learning foreign languages. I tried German in high school, and Spanish in college. I passed, but I don’t know how. I think the Spanish prof in college was simply ready for me to be finished. You know, put me out of my misery.

Now I’m jumping back in! It is time to once again acquire a new language. This time though, I have a better chance of success. I have a deep down desire to learn this language to the best of my ability.

PRAYER LANGUAGE
Trying to acquire a prayer language can seem as daunting to some people (or more) as acquiring a language like Spanish, or German, or Mandarin.

It takes work.

It takes consistent study.

It certainly takes a desire to master the language.

In his book, “Draw the Circle – The 40 Day Prayer Challenge,” Mark Batterson states, “Acquiring a prayer language is as arduous as learning a foreign language.” (p.224)

Wow. You know what? He’s right. For someone like me, who struggled with languages, this statement could be daunting. It could be all it takes for me to stop trying.

But I won’t.

There is a much bigger benefit to learning this language. And the God of everything wants me to learn it! He wants me to struggle through the learning and the halting conversation. He wants me to spend the necessary time to learn the words. He wants me to spend the time needed to understand the words He is speaking to me. Nothing was ever said about it being easy.

The words, “Lord, teach us to pray,” were uttered by Jesus’ own disciples. If they needed instruction in how to learn the language, we certainly do as well.

The depth of our conversation and relationship can always grow deeper and closer. I believe our desire to grow closer to God is the most important factor in mastering this language.
As I journey forward, I hope you will join me in learning this language.
Be well.

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In a few weeks I’ll begin posting about some of the tools to use to learn the language of prayer and better develop the habit of prayer. I invite you to subscribe so you don’t miss out.

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I Was Listening This Time

I Was Listening This Time!

This time, when God spoke to me about my job, I was listening.

This is something different for me.

It didn’t take a shocking dismissal, and a boot to my rear, to understand what God wanted for me this time.

In 2013 when I was fired from my job, it was God firmly placing his boot on my rear and moving me swiftly out the door. I like this new approach much better.

I’m still a bit in shock at the speed this new opportunity arrived, but I’m not shocked that I was ready to hear him telling me what to do.

Why? This time I was praying.

I was in conversation with God about his plans for me. I had heeded my own words of encouragement. I had been listening for his words.

He spoke to me. He directed me to this opportunity.

-Do not despisethese small beginnings,for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.-

I’m thankful my relationship with God is a bit more conversational now than it has been in the past. I can’t say I listen to him as intently as I’d like, but improvement is certainly happening. It’s a day-to-day, week-to-week, kind of growth.

The closer relationship I have with God is evident to me through my prayer life. It is a more frequent conversation I’m having with him.

I had been talking with him for a few weeks about my income. The discussion was mostly along the lines of me asking for a big breakthrough with the voice acting I’ve been doing. Something was right around the corner. I could feel it. I also felt my writing was about to provide fruit through the freelance jobs I had been seeking. But he had a different plan.

Isn’t that like him? We ask for something, thinking about how it will come about, and he answers it in a different manner.

That’s what I get for listening.

And I’m grateful for it.

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A CHALLENGE FROM ME TO YOU

Do you want to learn more about listening to God? Do you want to have a better, more frequent, conversation with him?

Starting September 1, 2016, I’ll be leading a group through an online reading/discussion/study of Mark Batterson’s book “Draw The Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge”. This 40 day study is based on Mark’s incredible book, “The Circle Maker”.

I previously led this study during Lent in 2015. It was transforming for many people, including me. The group is forming on Facebook. This is your invite to join us. Here’s a link to the group: 40 Day Prayer Challenge Facebook Group

If you have ANY questions about it, please don’t hesitate to contact me by email, phone, Facebook Messenger, etc.

I’m excited to begin!

Email: rick@ricktheule.com

Draw the Circle