Spiritual Resources Daily Devotions

Spirit of the Disciplines, Willard, 7

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

This Week: The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard Come back tomorrow for a selection from a new book! I n service we engage our goods and strength in the active promotion of the good of others and the causes of God in our world. Here we recall an important distinction. Not every act that may be done as a discipline need be done as a discipline. I will often be able to serve another simply as an act of love and righteousness, without regard to how it may enhance my abilities to follow Christ. There certainly is nothing wrong with that, and it may, incidentally, strengthen me spiritually as well. But I may also serve another to train myself from arrogance, possessiveness, envy, resentment, or covetousness. In that case, my service is undertaken as a discipline for the spiritual life. Such discipline is very useful for those Christians who find themselves-as most of us by necessity must-in the "lower" position in society, at work, and in the church. It alone can train us in habits of loving service to others and free us from resentment, enabling us in faith to enjoy our position and work because of its exhalted meaning before God. Paradoxically perhaps, service is the high road to freedom from bondage to other people. In it, as Paul realized, we cease to be "menpleasuers" and "eyeservants," for we are acting unto God in our lowliest deeds: "Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not with eyeservice, as menpleasuers, but in singlenses of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:22-24, RSV). Chapter 9: Some Main Disciplines for the Spiritual Life || Page 182 Copyright © 1991 Harper Collins Available in the Pavilion Topic: Spiritual Disciplines

Spirit of the Disciplines, Willard, 6

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Exhausted. Drained. Worn out. Many Americans use words like these to describe their current energy level. Most turn to caffeine and sugar to cope with daily fatigue, a strategy that may provide a short-term boost, but no long-term benefits. It's time to get the facts and become strategic about increasing your energy level with Dr. Oz's 7 Day Energy Surge.This is one in a three-part series found on www.doctoroz.com. Watch them, take action and feel the benefits!

Spirit of the Disciplines, Willard, 5

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

This Week: The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard Come back tomorrow for another selection from this devotional book! T he study of God in his Word and works opens the way for the disciplines of worship and celebration. In worship we engage ourselves with, dwell upon, and express the greatness, beauty, and goodness of God through thought and the use of words, rituals, and symbols. We do this alone as well as in union with God's people. To worship is to see God as worthy, to ascribe great worth to him. Here, for example, is worship: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for they pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11). And again: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing..Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever" (Revelation 5:12-13). As we worship in this manner, giving careful attention to the details of God's action and to his "worthiness," the good we adore enters our minds and hearts to increase our faith and strengthen us to be as he is. If in worship we are met by God himself, our thoughts and words turn to perception and experience of God, who is then really present to us in some degree of his greatness, beauty, and goodness. This will make for an immediate, dramatic change in our lives. Such a thing happened with Isaiah, who once at worship saw the Lord, "sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his trained filled the temple," surrounded by the seraphim crying to one another: "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Host; the whole earth is full of his glory" (6:1-3). It has happened to many others. Chapter 9: Some Main Disciplines for Spiritual Life || Pages 177-178 Copyright © 1991 Harper Collins Available in the Pavilion Topic: Spiritual Disciplines

Spirit of the Disciplines, Willard, 4

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

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Daniel Plan Director Dee Eastman leads a conversation with Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Mark Hyman, and special guest Steve Komanapalli, discussing keys to creating energy and vitality. Watch this 30-minute video and capture keys to what to eat, how you feel and what to do to enhance your energy and enjoy life!See all archived events

Spirit of the Disciplines, Willard, 3

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

This Week: The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard Come back tomorrow for another selection from this devotional book! T he message of Jesus himself and of the early disciples was not just one of the forgiveness of sins, but rather was one of newness of life-which of course involved forgiveness as well as his death for our sins. And yet that newness of life also involved much more beside. To be "saved" was to be "delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son," as Colossians 1:13 says. We who are saved are to have a different order of life from that of the unsaved. We are to live in a different "world." It is because this was the sort of salvation to be accomplished that the resurrection, not the death of Christ, was the central fact in the gospel of the early believers. As we've already suggested, the resurrection had the meaning it did to those early believers just because it proved that he new life that had already been present among them in the person of Jesus could not be quenched by killing the body. The resurrection was a cosmic event only because it validated the reality and the indestructivlity of what Jesus had preached and exemplified before his death-the enduring reality and openness of God's Kingdom. It meant that the Kingdom, with the communal form his disciples had come to know and hope in, would go on. The "gates of the grave" would not prevail against it, as Matthew 16:18 states. That, and the fact that Jesus was not dead after all-and that when we die, we won't stay dead-is what made the resurrection earthshaking, transforming good news. Chapter 3: Salvation Is a Life || Pages 36-37 Copyright © 1991 Harper Collins Available in the Pavilion Topic: Spiritual Disciplines

Spirit of the Disciplines, Willard, 2

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Join us every Thursday evening, starting tonight, in the Refinery for a buffet filled with food options that are Daniel Plan-friendly. Whether you are at the beginning of your healthy-eating journey or have jumped with both feet into the The Daniel Plan lifestyle, come experience a time of fellowship and fun while enjoying healthy food.There will be opportunities to share and hear encouraging testimonies while sampling various cultural cuisines that will not throw you off your diet.The cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children (10 and under). Children 2 and under eat for free. This buffet includes an all-you-can-eat dinner, infused purified water, and other healthy beverages. Bring your friends, family, and small group TONIGHT from 5-8p.m. to the Refinery for healthy food, fellowship, and community-building.

Spirit of the Disciplines, Willard, 1

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

This Week: The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard Come back tomorrow for another selection from this devotional book! A sking ourselves "What would Jesus do?" when suddenly in the face of an important situation simply is not an adequate discipline or preparation to enable one to live as he lived. It no doubt will do some good and is certainly better than nothing at all, but that act alone is not sufficient to see us boldly and confidently through a crisis, and we could easily find ourselves driven to despair over the powerless tension it will put us through. The secret of the easy yoke, then it, is to learn from Christ how to live our total lives, how to invest all our time and our energies of mind and body as he did. We must learn how to follow his preparations, the disciplines for life in God's rule that enabled him to receive his Father's constant and effective support while doing his will. We have to discover how to enter into his disciplines from where we stand today-and no doubt, how to extend and amplify them to suit our needy cases. This attitude, this action is our necessary preparation for taking the yoke of Christ. Do you believe that such a life is possible? I do. Emphatically. Chapter 1: The Secret of the Easy Yoke || Pages 9-10 Copyright © 1991 Harper Collins Available in the Pavilion Topic: Spiritual Disciplines

The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg - 7

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

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In this 7-minute video specifically made for The Daniel Plan and Saddleback Church, Dr. Daniel Amen shares his rules for being on The Daniel Plan. Ask yourself, are you really on the plan? Watch this and find out. He also shares the "secret sauce" to success and how The Daniel Plan can change the world. Read The Daniel Plan Simplified

The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg - 6

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

1. A church helps me CONNECT with others. Every one of us was made to be in a family.and not just any family - God's Family. In this family we do life with one another: laughing, praying, serving and growing spiritually together.��It is�the support and foundation of truth that we all desperately need (I Tim 3:15). Without this connection you'll find yourself collapsing when the quakes of life hit.2. A church helps me CULTIVATE spiritual maturity. God is far more interested in who we are, than in what we do.� He designed each us to grow up spiritually, not to be spiritual babies all of our life.� Your physically maturity is automatic, whether you want it to happen or not. �But your spiritual maturity depends on what you're committed to.what your focus is set on. �A church is there to help you cultivate the soil of your heart so that you can grow in what matters most.3. A church helps me CONTRIBUTE something back.Did you know that God didn't give you your gifts and abilities to benefit you? �He actually wants you to use them to serve others. (I Peter 4:10).� When you commit to a church you'll discover a place where you will use what God has given you to make an eternal impact - impact that really matters - impact that changes lives in your community and world.��4. A church helps me COMMUNICATE God's message.God gave each of us mission to be a part of and it doesn't just involve traveling to another country.� Your mission is to tell other people (everywhere) about how you have experienced the incredible goodness of God in your life - His Grace. (Acts 20:24)��If you have placed your faith in Jesus you scored the biggest gift that you can ever get... the forgiveness of your sins and an eternal relationship with God.� He wants you now�to be a testimony of His incredible love and grace. A church helps you make this mission a natural part of your life.� 5. A church helps me CENTER my life around GodOne day a guy asked Jesus what the most important thing in life is. Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind." God also tells us, "I don't want your sacrifices, I want your LOVE.� I don't want your offerings. I want you to KNOW Me" (Hosea 6:6). In other words, nothing is more important in life than LOVING and KNOWING God. A church helps you to have this type of relationship with Him.�Saddleback Orange is made up of�people that want to help you to CONNECT with others, CULTIVATE spiritual maturity, CONTRIBUTE something back, COMMUNICATE God's message, and CENTER your life on God.� If you would like to join this family, you're invited to attend CLASS 101. �You'll discover the beliefs, strategy and vision that serve as the foundation of this great church. CLICK HERE for upcoming dates.��---------- THINKTo you, what is the purpose of a "church"?Have you experienced these before in a church?Do you have beliefs about church that might be preventing you from experiencing these things?Which of the 5 do you find to be the most challenging?ACTIn order to�experience these benefits we must take steps and make commitments.� Why?� Because we become what we are committed to.��If you haven't attended CLASS 101, do that within the next 30 days.��If you've already attended 101, renew your commitment to your church�and focus on helping someone experience one of these�5 benefits.� **Share this post on Facebook and Twitter using the links on this page

The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg - 5

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

This Week: The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg Come back tomorrow for a new selection from this book! A traditional practice, to defeat hurry, is solitude. Jesus engaged in it frequently. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus went to the wilderness for an extended period of fasting and prayer. He also went into solitude when he heard of the death of John the Baptist, when he was going to choose his disciples, after he had been involved in healing a leper, and after his followers had engaged in ministry. This pattern continued into the final days of his life, when again he withdrew into the solitude of the garden of Gethsemane to pray. He ended his ministry, as he began it, with the practice of solitude. Jesus taught his followers to do the same. And as he said to them. "Come away to a deserted place," he says to us still. Wise followers of Christ's way have always understood the necessity and benefit of solitude. It is, to quote an old phrase, the "furnace of transformation." What makes solitude so important? Solitude is the one place where we can gain freedom from the forces of society that will otherwise relentlessly mold us..Solitude is the remedy for the busyness that charms. But what exactly is solitude? What do we do when we practice solitude? What should we bring along to that quiet place? The primary answer, of course, is "nothing." At its heart, solitude is primarily about not doing something. Just as fasting means to refrain from eating, so solitude means to refrain from society. When we go into solitude, we withdraw from conversation, from the presence of others, from noise, from the constant barrage of stimulation.In solitude we have no friends to talk with, no phone calls or meetings, no television sets, no music or books or newspapers to occupy and distract the mind. Neither accomplishments nor resumes nor possessions nor networks would define me-just me and my sinfulness, me and my desire or lack of desire for God. It is helpful to think about solitude in two categories. We need brief periods of solitude on a regular basis-preferable each day, even at intervals during the day. But we also need, at great intervals, extended periods of solitude-half a day, or a few days. We may want to begin a particular day by praying over the day's schedule-meetings to attend, tasks to perform, people we will be with-and placing it in God's hands. Through the day we could take five-minute breaks if that is possible, close the door to the office, and remind ourselves that one day the office and the building will be gone-but we still belong to God. At the end of the day it can be helpful to review the day with God: to go over the events that took place, to see what he might want to say to us through them, and to hand any anxieties or regrets over to him. For most, the best time to review a day is at bedtime, but if you are a confirmed morning person, you may want to do it when you first get up the next morning. A great benefit of this exercise is that we begin to learn from our days. I also need extended times alone. I try to withdraw for a day once a month or so, and sometime during the year I try to have a retreat for a couple of days. Retreat centers designed for such experiences are becoming more and more common, although any place where you can be undisturbed suffices. One of the great obstacles to extended solitude is that frequently it may feel like a waste of time. This may happen partly because we are conditioned to feel that our existence is justified only when we are doing something. But I believe this feeling comes also because our minds tend to wander. I used to think that if I devoted a large block of time to praying, I should be able to engage in solid, uninterrupted, focused prayer. But I can't..What I have come to realize, over time, is that brief times of focused prayer interspersed with these wanderings is all my mind is capable of at this point. One day I hope to do better. But for now, I find consolation in the words of Brother Lawrence: "For many years I was bothered by the thought that I was a failure at prayer. Then one day I realized I would always be a failure at prayer; and I've gotten along much better ever since." Chapter 5: An Unhurried Life || Pages 86-90 Copyright © 1997 Zondervan

The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg - 4

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the SSM Orange website and blog! My name is Rob Ham and I am the Student Pastor for Saddleback Student Ministries in Orange. I am so happy that you are taking the time to check us out. Our SSM team is super excited meet you and get to know you better. Our brand new SSM service will be starting up in just a few weeks on Sunday May 1st and you won't want to miss out! If you are a teenager in 7-12th grade then SSM will be the coolest place for you to be on a weekend and we need your help to get the word out to your friends. The easiest way for you to let your friends know about SSM is to click on the FACEBOOK SHARE button on this blog post. You will be able to share this website with your friends at school and invite them to opening weekend. There will be live music, FREE prizes, games, DJ's and more! If you have questions about Jesus, God, the Bible, Christianity or life in general than SSM is the place for you. See you all on May 1st!

The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg - 3

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

My name is Rob Ham and I am the Student Ministries Director here at Saddleback Orange. I am so excited that you are checking out Saddleback Orange! Our team can't wait to get the chance to meet you and get you plugged in to our community here at Saddleback Student Ministries. My biggest passion in life is definitely seeing students experience the life changing power of Jesus. I believe that once students come in contact with the real life Jesus their lives will never be the same! The student ministries at Saddleback Orange exists to help students be EXPOSED to EXPERIENCE and EXPRESS Christ, His Kingdom and the 5 purposes in their individual lives.�

The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg - 2

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg - 1

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Turkey Wrap - Mexican Style Submitted by Lynn Parker Fields via Facebook (Dairy-free) Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil � small red onion 1/3 red bell pepper � poblano pepper Ezekiel wrap Guacamole � cup ground turkey Cumin Coriander Veggies mixture Pico de Gallo Fresh Cilantro, chopped Preparation: First put olive oil into a hot pan and quickly add the small red onion, red bell pepper, the poblano pepper. Let that cook for a minute while stirring. Then heat Ezekiel wrap for a few seconds and spread homemade guacamole on it. Next add the browned ground turkey that has been seasoned with cumin and coriander. Then top it off with your veggies mixture and add pico de gallo and fresh chopped cilantro.

Prayer, Richard Foster - 7

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Back to the Bible! Back to simple faith in Jesus! Back to the New Testament!These seem like novel suggestions, but in his newest book, Revise Us Again: Living from a Renewed Christian Script, Frank Viola challenges us to revise again our understanding of Jesus and the Christian life. Do we have it all wrong? Not necessarily, but we do have a tendency, over time and with our traditions, to pin a lot of extra meaning to some rather simple themes in Scripture. Frank calls on us to stop speaking Christianese, stop complicating the gospel, and stop living according to legalism and tradition.Our relationship with God, our understanding of what God is up to, and the prominence of Jesus in the gospel we present can all be enhanced by asking God to Revise Us Again!Brandon Cox is a Pastor at Saddleback Church and Editor of Pastors.com

Prayer, Richard Foster - 6

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

There are no insignificant Pastors. Sometimes we get the impression that small churches somehow equal small leaders. Nothing could be further from the truth. But most Pastors, at one point or another certainly feel insignificant. And when those moments come, it's great when someone understands what we often cannot articulate.W. Mark Elliott has written an excellent book on this very subject. Confessions of an Insignificant Pastor reflects some of those sentiments Pastors wish they could share with their congregations, their spouses, and the world at large. With so many pastor-church relationships broken in our world, this book should be required reading for anyone who wishes to have a vocal influence within the local church. Before criticizing, understand his heart.One chapter title that caught our attention was "I'm Not Bill, Andy, Rick, or Ed." The leaders referenced would be Bill Hybels, Andy Stanley, Rick Warren, and Ed Young, and I believe each would echo back a resounding "Amen" to any Pastor who expresses this thought. Pastors carry enough pressure without adding impossible comparisons to the mix.Amazingly, and by His grace, God has called broken Pastors to lead broken people. This book is sort of a manual for understanding that brokenness. If you're a Pastor, buy it to hear how Mark identifies with you. And if you're a church member, buy it, read it, and pass it around your small group. Let no one else bring criticism before attempting to understand the heart of the shepherd.Pick up a copy of Confessions of an Insignificant Pastor on Amazon.Brandon Cox is a Pastor at Saddleback Church and Editor of Pastors.com.

Prayer, Richard Foster - 5

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Prayer, Richard Foster - 4

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Our church's name is Healing Place Church: A Healing Place for a Hurting World. That's a big statement to put on all of our signs.� So if we're going to say it, then we're going to have to deliver it. But we know that this is why we are here and it's what we are called to do. Whatever name your sign says, whatever your family name is, wherever you're from, if you're a follower of Christ, your mandate is to "love one another," to "love your neighbor as yourself," and to "preach good news to the poor," "bind up the brokenhearted," and "proclaim freedom for the captives."God has called his church (all believers throughout the world included) to be a healing place for a hurting world. It's the reason we started Healing Place Church, and my wife DeLynn and I have done our best never to sway from this call. This is the heartbeat of everything we do, and almost every lesson I teach resonates with it. We do not approach a need with the idea that this really should be someone else's job. If someone is hurting, then the church should be the first to offer help.When I was a kid, I got a pretty nasty burn on my leg. Over the large open wound, the doctor applied a bandage designed to adhere to the burned skin. The bandage was made of material that had a healing ointment in it, and as the burn healed and the skin began to grow, the bandage and the skin fused. It worked almost like a skin graft, and it was very effective in the process of healing.This is a picture of what the local church should be. We are not to be a band-aid that provides a small amount of healing and protection for the hurting people around us only to be taken off and once again made separate. The church and the community should be fused, working as a unit to bring about healing. Part of our strategy is to become a vital part of life in our region, not just to be a place for people to visit on weekends but truly to be a healing place for a hurting world. We want to be involved, to be part of the cure, and to be a resource for rehabilitation and restoration.Being a healing place for a hurting world is our mandate. And we've discovered nine other cultural definers of a "Servolution" as well: We are not looking for a badge. We don't need to be recognized, and we don't need an award. We do what we do because we love people and it is the right thing to do. We're all just people God loves, and we are walking together through this thing called life. There are no excuses. "The problem is too big." "We'll never be able to make a difference." "We don't have the money." "We don't have anything to offer." All of these statements are cop-outs. It is true that we cannot do everything. But we absolutely cannot let that thought keep us from doing what we can. All of us have gifts and talents to offer, and all of us are able to do something to meet the needs of the hurting around us if we are willing to let God use us. Give with no strings attached. We never want those we serve to feel like they owe us something. If we've left them with that feeling, then we have not done our job. We are determined to be like Jesus, who went about blessing and healing people freely. Be ridiculously generous. Ridiculous generosity is exactly what we received from God. He's the perfect example of extreme giving. Look at the incredible exchange God offered us: we get Christ, forgiveness, and an amazing life, and in return, he gets us. Obviously we have made out with the better end of this deal, but amazingly, God doesn't see it that way at all. In his unbelievable love, he wanted us badly enough that he gave his only Son to die on a cross for you and me. That's some pretty ridiculous generosity. My desire is for the church to see the world around it with those same eyes of unconditional love and grace and to reach out with the same level of generosity. Do justice intentionally. Social justice is a hot topic right now in our culture; it's becoming a cool thing to talk about in Hollywood and in the music world, and that's fine with me. But I'd really like to see the church lead the way in social justice efforts. We hold the key for true hope and eternal salvation, and we need to be that shining light in the dark world. We need to stay focused, stick to our game plan, and be intentional. We have to follow through and finish projects we start. It's only in being good stewards of our resources and of the opportunities given to us that we can make a long-term impact for justice. Help people become overcomers. We want to help people prosper in their souls - to move beyond a culture of blaming the world, having a victim mentality, and being addicted to handouts. We want to see them replace all of that with the abundant life Jesus gives. We want to build a sustaining ministry that builds people on the inside, one that convinces them that their environment doesn't have to defeat them and that by God's grace they can overcome. Increase your capacity. We never want to stop growing and increasing our capacity to serve, to love, and to be able to get our arms around the needs of our community. If we settle into the thinking that who we are today is all we will ever be, then we will never be able to increase our influence and our impact. New skills mean new and exciting ways to serve. New dreams mean new opportunities to make an impact in someone else's life. Build the local church. Everything we do points back to the local church, because the local church is where Christians are strengthened in their spirits, souls, and bodies. It is where we come together to energize each other through corporate praise and worship, the giving of our resources, and the teaching of the Word of God. It is a place where healing and restoration can take place, where strong families are built, and where God-relationships are built. Remember the poor. Psalm 41:1 says, "Blessed is he who considers the poor" (NKJV). This is our theme. It is a filter for all we do and how we do it. It permeates all that we say and how we say it. We regularly evaluate ourselves using this guideline: How are we doing at considering the poor? And what have I done lately to help the poor? These principles define our culture and keep us on course. By checking ourselves against them continually, we help ensure that the culture of servolution is being communicated - and lived out - by our staff, leaders, and volunteers. If you'll adapt these principles of servolution to your church, they can help you ignite a servolution in your community.Adapted with permission from Servolution: Starting a Church Revolution through Serving by Dino Rizzo (Zondervan 2009)From the Vault: This story was originally published in Pastor's Toolbox Issue #379.Dino Rizzo is the lead pastor of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A multi-site congregation founded by Rizzo and his wife, DeLynn, Healing Place now has over six thousand attendees in several countries. Dino also cofounded The Association of Related Churches, which has planted churches across the country, and Go Global Missions, a group designed to develop missionaries and connect missions organizations together.

Prayer, Richard Foster - 3

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

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Dr. Mark Hyman offers a 8-minute video discussing how to create energy by giving yourself a metabolic make-over. Feel fatigue? Watch this and learn about the role mitochondria plays in your energy production, and amaze your friends with the new terminology you can openly discuss.Click here for more from Dr. Hyman

Prayer, Richard Foster - 2

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

This Week: Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home by Richard Foster Come back tomorrow for another selection from this book! Coming to prayer is like coming home, Foster says. "Nothing feels more right, more like what we are created to be and to do. Yet at the same time we are confronted with great mysteries. Who hasn't struggled with the puzzle of unanswered prayer? Who hasn't wondered how a finite person can commune with the infinite creator of the universe? Who hasn't questioned whether prayer isn't merely psychological manipulation after all? We do our best, of course, to answer theses knotty questions but when all is said and done, there is a sense in which these mysteries remain unanswered and unanswerable . . . At such times we must learn to become comfortable with the mystery." This accessible and reliable guide shows us various forms of prayer that can move us inward into personal transformation, upward toward intimacy with God, and outward to minister to others. The Prayer of Relinquishment W e learn the Prayer of Relinquishment in the school of Gethsemane. Gaze in adoring wonder at the scene. This solitary figured etched against gnarled olive trees. The bloodlike sweat falling to the ground. The human longing: "Let this cup pass." The final relinquishment: "Not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:39-46). We do well to meditate often on this unparalleled expression of relinquishment. Here we have the incarnate son praying through his tears and not receiving what he asks. Jesus knew the burden of unanswered prayer. He really did want the cup to pass, and he asked that it would pass. "If you are willing" was his questioning, his wondering. The father's will was not yet absolutely clear to him. "Is there any other way?" "Can people be redeemed by some different means?" The answer-no! Andrew Murray writes, "For our sins, he suffered beneath the burden of that unanswered prayer." Here we have the complete laying down of human will. The battle cry for us is, "My will be done!" rather than, "Thy will be done." We have excellent reasons for the banner of self-will: "Better for me than them to be in control"; "Besides, I would use the power to such good ends." But in the school of Gethsemane, we learn to distrust whatever is of our own mind, thought, and will even though it is not directly sinful. Jesus shows us a more excellent way. The way of helplessness. The way of abandonment. The way relinquishment. "My will be done" is conquered by "not my will." Here we have the perfect flowing into the will of the Father. "Your will be done" was Jesus' consuming concern. To applaud the will of God, to do the will of God, even to fight for the will of God is not difficult . . . until it comes at cross-purposes with our will. Then the lines are drawn, the debate begins, and the self-deception takes over. But in the school of Gethsemane we learn that "my will, my way, my good" must yield to higher authority. We must not, however, get the notion that all of this comes to us effortlessly. That would not even be desirable. Struggle is an essential feature of the Prayer of Relinquishment. Did you notice that Jesus asked repeatedly for the cup to pass? Make no mistake about it: he could have avoided the cross if he had so chosen. He had a free will and a genuine choice, and he freely chose to submit his will to the will of the Father. It was no simple choice or quick fix. Jesus' prayer struggle - replete with bloody sweat - lasted long into the night. Relinquishment is no easy tasks. O Lord, how do I let go when I'm so unsure of things? I'm unsure of your will and I'm unsure of myself. That really isn't the problem at all, is it? The truth of the matter is, I hate the very idea of letting go. I really want to be in control. No, I need to be in control. That's it, isn't it? I'm afraid to give up control, afraid of what might happen. Heal my fear, Lord. How good of you to reveal my blind spots, even in the midst of my stumbling attempts to pray. Thank you! But now what do I do? How do I give up control? Jesus, please teach me your way of relinquishment. Amen. Chapter 5: The Prayer of Relinquishment || Pages 49-50 Copyright © 1992 HarperSanFrancisco Available in the Pavilion Topic: Prayer and Fasting