Tag: James 4:8

Continuing to Practice Prayer

We’ve come to the end of an amazing season of learning about prayer. As we close our Extraordinary Prayer books, my hope is that this won’t be the end of expanding and deepening our communication with the Lord. When we’re stretched spiritually like we have been in this study, we have the opportunity to change our rhythms and grow in maturity. But without intentionality, we’ll revert back to how we were previously.

There have been many times when God has inspired me, but it has only been by continuing to practice what I’ve learned that I’ve progressed in my walk with the Lord. For example, I began understanding the value of connecting with Jesus personally while serving at a Christian camp many years ago. Sitting on the roof of a houseboat as the sun sank low, I listened intently as a youth pastor read a chapter of My Heart, Christ’s Home—an allegory inspired by Jesus’ words, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23) 

In the story, the new believer invites Jesus to live in his home and makes plans to meet with Him every morning to read his Bible and pray.  The new Christian starts off with great intentions, but as the days go by, he sometimes rushes out before making time with the Lord. One day as he’s hurrying out the door, he glances into the living room and sees Jesus sitting expectantly in a chair by the fire with the Bible in His lap. Hanging his head, the believer enters the room and apologizes to Jesus when he realizes the Lord has continued to wait for him each morning. Jesus explains: 

“The trouble is that you have been thinking of the quiet time, of Bible study and prayer, as a means for your own spiritual growth. This is true, but you have forgotten that this time means something to me also. Remember, I love you. At a great cost I have redeemed you. I value your fellowship. Just to have you look up into my face warms my heart. Don’t neglect this hour, if only for my sake. Whether or not you want to be with me, remember I want to be with you. I really love you!”1

Those words pierced my heart as a young believer. It was the first time I understood that reading the Bible and praying weren’t just good things to do, but vital for cultivating a personal relationship with the Lord. I’d never considered His affection for me or that He eagerly anticipated our times together.

God invites us to draw near to Him and assures us of His presence, but He also wants our whole hearts. Session 1 of our study includes the words of Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” The word “seek” used here means to search out by any method, but especially through worship and prayer. The word “heart”characterizes our soul, mind, inclinations, conscience, moral character, and appetites.2 So, to seek God with all our hearts reflects an ongoing, focused pursuit of Him that is connected to all areas of our lives. It means surrendering to His will and His ways without holding anything back. Once we begin a relationship with Him, we’re meant to spend the rest of our lives striving to know Him more deeply.

Learning about God and growing with other believers is important, but it’s not the same as spending personal time with the Lord. Author and Bible teacher Lisa Harper explains: “Information about Jesus is a poor substitute for intimacy with Jesus. If you’ve filled in a million Bible study blanks and still don’t really believe that the Creator and Redeemer of the universe loves you, you’ll never impact the world around you with the abundant life made available to us in Christ. Spend time alone with the lover of your soul. Learn what it is to linger in the embrace of Jesus.”3

Throughout our study we’ve seen that God readily receives us when we move toward Him. The final session of Extraordinary Prayer reminds us: “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” (James 4:8a, NLT) So, let’s continue to draw near to Jesus and to grow in intimacy with Him. 

My hope is that this study will be a significant mile marker in your spiritual journey and that you’ll look back and see it as a turning point when your prayer life expanded and deepened. I encourage you to continue practicing what doesn’t come easily to you: praising God, confessing your sins, expressing gratitude, and making requests that expand God’s kingdom. Keep pressing on and using the Bible to inspire your prayers.

Chris Tomlin’s “Nobody Loves Me Like You” gives the perfect inspiration for being intentional about drawing near to Jesus daily. Click here to listen and let the words motivate you to make time for the One who loves you best.

If this study impacted you, would you consider sharing it with others? I’d love to see more people have the opportunity to discover the power of extraordinary prayer. Click here for ordering info.

1. Robert Boyd Munger, My Heart, Christ’s Home, Intervarsity Press, 1986.

2. The definitions for the Hebrew words are compiled from Strong’s Concordance. “Baquash” (seek) is Strong’s #H1245 “Lebab” (heart) is Strong’s #H3824.

3. Lisa Harper “Three Things That Impact Your Legacy”, IF:Lead 2021.

Come Near to God

Tugging on her father’s sleeve and looking up at him with pleading eyes, the little girl asked, “Can we have some Daddy-Daughter time now?” Smiling, he stood up without hesitation, excused himself, and left the circle of adults to tend to his girl. I always admired the close connection between this pair of family friends. The little daughter approached her loving father with boldness and confidence knowing he would gladly respond to her request. She knew when she needed him, and he gladly received her.

This is a beautiful picture of what God will do for each of us. He says in His Word: “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13, NIV)

Throughout the Bible we see examples of the Lord in the role of a parent to His people: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a, NIV) Paul tells believers we can cry out to God using the name “Abba Father.” (Romans 8:15) Author and pastor Tim Keller explains, “We need to know the original language here. ‘Abba’ was an Aramaic term which is best translated ‘Daddy’—a term of the greatest intimacy. A child does not always (or even often) address his father as ‘Father’; likely, he has a different term for him that shows his loving, trusting familiarity with his father, such as ‘Dad’ or ‘Papa’ or ‘Daddy.’ And this is how Christians can approach the all-powerful Creator of the universe, who sustains every atom in existence moment by moment!”1

Despite this amazing truth, not all of us approach the Lord with such confidence and enthusiasm. For some of us, prayer feels like a chore. For others, it’s become stale and boring because we’re in a rut using the same words and praying for the same things. Others of us resort to prayer only when we’re really desperate, and some of us shy away from praying altogether, not knowing what to say or how to say it.

Maybe you recognize yourself somewhere on this spectrum. Even if you don’t, I bet that, like me, you have room to expand and deepen your prayer life. If you’re ready to dive in and grow in your connection with the Lord, I’d be thrilled to have you join me for the next few months doing my new study Extraordinary Prayer. We’ll use the Bible as our guide and will explore the prayers of people who cried out to God with authenticity and confidence. 

Opening your book each day will be your chance to tug your Heavenly Father on the sleeve and tell Him you’re in need of some Daddy Time. It’s your opportunity to steal away from the chaos of our world and connect with the One who made you and knows you best. 

Scripture tells us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”  (James 4:8, NIV) Let’s learn more about how to do this together. Whether you’re participating in person at CPC Danville’s Focused Living or online through my blogs and teaching videos, I hope you’ll join me. In fact, why not grab a few friends and do it together? 

If you need a book, you can order one here. Each session includes group discussion questions. Teaching videos will be live streamed every Thursday morning starting on Sept. 9 and can be accessed any time after they’re recorded weekly on CPC Women’s Ministry YouTube channel. Click here to access teaching videos.

Let’s kick off the study by celebrating our loving Abba with Chris Tomlin’s “Good Good Father.”

  1. Tim Keller quoted from “3 Things You Can Learn from Tim Keller about Being a Child of God” on CrossWalk.com.

Marybeth McCullum, Extraordinary Prayer: Using God’s Word to Expand Your Prayer Life, 2020.

Rise to Rest

This week on IF:Danville at Home I had the opportunity to interview my friend, Tracey. She shared a simple practice called “Rise to Rest” that has transformed her relationship with God. Her goal is to rise early while her house is quiet so she can spend time resting in Jesus before doing anything else. This enables her to let Him guide her for the rest of the day. Like Tracey, I love to do this. Right now, my favorite spot is in a rocking chair on my front porch wrapped in a warm blanket as the sun comes up.

If you haven’t tried spending time alone with God (or haven’t done it in a while), it can feel a bit daunting to know how to begin. I hope this simple guide will help you to find a rhythm that works for you and will enable you to connect with Jesus consistently.

First, let’s start with a few Scriptures to encourage you. James 4:8 tells us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” And in Jeremiah 29:13, the Lord says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” So, trust that God is there waiting for you as you commit to rising to rest.

If you’re not a morning person, ask God to help you and let King David’s words encourage you: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3, NIV)  Or, let the example of Jesus inspire you: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35, NIV)

The Plan: Schedule time this week to rise to rest with Jesus. Plan ahead so you’ll be more likely to get up when your alarm goes off!

Prepare & Invite:  Before opening your Bible, take a moment to be still and prepare your heart to read God’s Word. Clear your mind and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Ask Him to give you a humble and responsive heart that will be transformed by Him.

Read & Observe: Slowly read the passage you choose two or three times. Observe the basic facts. 

  • What did it mean to the people of the day when it was written? 
  • What does it tell you about God? (His attributes, desires, promises, commands)
  • What do you learn about humankind or yourself? (Does something in your life need re-alignment with God?)

Meditate:  Focus on the parts that speak to you directly. Answer any of the following that apply:

  • What has connected to my heart or mind?
  • Why is God showing me this today?
  • How does God want me to respond?
  • What is one verse that stands out to me or that sums up the main point of this section?

Respond in Prayer: Talk to God about what He’s shown you through this text. 

  • Ask Him to reveal what He wants you to do.
  •  Wrestle with anything that challenges you or that seems too daunting to apply to your life. 
  • Confess anything that convicts you. 
  • Pray for anyone God brings to mind as you read this.
  • Ask Him to help you apply what you’ve learned.

Share: Tell a friend about your experience and how God spoke to you. Ask them to hold you accountable to continue the practice of rising to rest.

Not sure what to read? Try the Psalms or a book in the New Testament. The gospel of John is a great place to start. Or, use my list of favorites below:

  • Psalms 1, 5, 16, 18, 19,25, 27, 31, 32, 34, 51, 62, 63, 71, 73, 86, 91, 100, 103, 121, 138, 143
  • Matthew 5, 6 & 7 (The Sermon on the Mount)                     
  • Mark 4             
  • Luke 12
  • John 15
  • Acts 2 & 17
  • Romans 8 & 12                                                                                                                       
  • 1 Corinthians 13
  • 2 Corinthians 4
  • Galatians 5
  • Ephesians 2 & 6
  • Philippians 3 & 4
  • Colossians 1 & 3
  • 2 Timothy 1 & 2
  • Hebrews 12
  • 1 Peter 1
  • 2 Peter 1
  • 1 John 4

If you’d like to see my conversation with Tracey about rising to rest, click on the link below. It’s from Week 2 of IF:Danville at Home.

https://vimeopro.com/cpcdanville/marybethmccullum

Inspired by “What is a Quiet Time?” by Redeemer West Side Prayer Ministry. Oct. 2014.  

Don’t Float Adrift

Sitting in the driver’s seat, I waited as my husband backed the boat into the water. It was our first time out that spring and although a slight chill hung in the air, the brilliant sunshine heralded the approach of summer. Already envisioning the day of watersports that awaited, I turned the key in the ignition. I expected to hear the engine roar to life. Instead, I was met with silence. It didn’t take long to realize that the battery was dead. Before I had time to react, a light breeze pushed the boat away from shore and I found myself in a predicament: I had a dead engine and no paddle. 

My elation about the start of waterski season abruptly turned to panic. I’ve been remembering that unsettling feeling of floating aimlessly as I anticipate the end of my weekly Bible study. As much as I’m ready for a break in my busy schedule, I’ll miss the steadiness and predictability of meeting with others for study, prayer, encouragement, and fellowship. 

There’s something about having a workbook to complete and a group to meet with that helps me to stay grounded and in God’s Word regularly. If you’re like me, you may feel cast adrift when summer comes and you don’t have a set schedule or a group to hold you accountable.

Circling back to my story: on the day I was floating with a dead battery, my quick-thinking husband enlisted the help of another boat whose driver threw me a line and towed me to the dock. After hooking up the battery to a charger, the day was redeemed. So, if you’re feeling a bit forlorn about Bible study ending, think of this post as a line I’m throwing to lead you to a plan for recharging spiritually. There’s no reason for you to be floating adrift all summer.

Recently I’ve been energized by a shift in my routine that I’d love to share. My times with the Lord have been rich and have brought meaning and personal application from His Word without the need for a Bible study workbook. I’ve written this post to share what I’ve experienced so that it can be a resource you’ll revisit multiple times. I hope it equips you to study Scripture and find it accessible on your own. Maybe you’ll enjoy it so much you’ll want to keep doing it, whether you’re in a group study or not.

Start by committing to carve out a regular time to connect with God. Making it a daily goal will ensure it becomes a part of your schedule instead of a disruption to it. Ask Him to give you the time and desire for this—it’s a prayer He loves to answer. James 4:8 tells us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

Make a Plan: First, decide what you want to study. You may want to choose a book of the Bible to read through (probably best to start with the New Testament).  A few shorter books with great themes are James, Philippians, Ephesians and Colossians. Reading through the Psalms is also an excellent option. You might consider alternating what you read each day, going back and forth between the New Testament and Psalms. Studying Psalms will tell you a lot about God’s character and will often put words to things you may be feeling. The New Testament books will remind you of what it means to be a follower of Jesus and will show you how to continue growing in your faith. Another option is to read through the different chapters suggested at the end of this post. 

Prepare & Invite: Before opening your Bible, take a moment to be still and prepare your heart to read God’s Word. Clear your mind and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Ask Him to give you a humble and responsive heart that will be transformed by Him. (If you’re like me, you’ll be tempted to skip over the preparations to get to the part where you’re actually“doing” something, but don’t fall for it!)

Read/ Observe: Slowly read the portion of Scripture you’ve chosen two or three times. Observe the basic facts. What did it mean to the people of the day when it was written? (If you have a study Bible you’ll find the introduction at the beginning of the book you’ve chosen and the notes at the bottom of the pages to be very helpful for providing this context). 

  • What does it tell you about God? (His attributes, desires, promises, commands)
  • What do you learn about mankind or yourself? (Does something in your life need re-alignment with God?)

Meditate: Focus on the parts that speak to you directly. If the chapter is lengthy, break it up into chunks to be read over several days. You can pick just one portion to read and then continue with the rest on subsequent days. Answer any of the following that apply:

  • What has connected to my heart or mind?
  • What is the passage really saying? How can I say it in my own words?
  • What can I adore God for because of this? What sins can I confess? What can I thank Him for? What petitions does it lead me to make for myself or others?
  • Why is God showing me this today?
  • How does God want me to respond?
  • What is one verse that stands out to me or that sums up the main point of this section?

Respond in Prayer: Talk to God about what He’s shown you through this text. Ask Him to reveal what He wants you to do. Wrestle with anything that challenges you or seems too daunting to apply to your life. Confess anything that convicts you. Ask for help to apply what you’ve learned.

A Few Practical Suggestions: The most effective way to do this exercise is to use a journal to write your answers. Copy down the Scripture passage or key phrases from it. Underline things that stand out to you.  Then, spend time meditating on the passage and responding to it by writing your thoughts. Use the questions above to prompt dialogue with God. Remember, the point isn’t to check this off your “to do” list for the day, but to spend time enjoying the presence of God and letting Him speak to you through His Word and through the quiet moments you’re spending with Him.

If you have a friend or two from Bible study, consider inviting them to make a commitment to have daily quiet times over the summer too. You can meet periodically to share what you’re learning. In between times, you can text, call, or e-mail to encourage one another with what you’re experiencing as you draw near to God.

Having a consistent quiet time will be something that will enable you to continue growing for a lifetime no matter what season you’re in.  In fact, the freedom and flexibility of summer is a perfect opportunity to try something new and different that will allow you to continue moving forward in your walk with God instead of floating adrift.. 

Listen to Jamie Kimmett’s song “Prize Worth Fighting For” and let it motivate you to spend time with the Lord consistently this summer.

My “All Star” list of some favorite New Testament Scriptures to meditate on in your quiet time:

  • Matthew 5, 6 & 7 (The Sermon on the Mount)                     
  • Mark 4             
  • Luke 12
  • John 15
  • Acts 2 & 17
  • Romans 8 & 12                                                                                                                       
  • 1 Corinthians 13
  • 2 Corinthians 4
  • Galatians 5
  • Ephesians 2 & 6
  • Philippians 3 & 4
  • Colossians 1 & 3
  • 2 Timothy 1 & 2
  • Hebrews 12
  • 1 Peter 1
  • 2 Peter 1
  • 1 John 4

*Inpsired by “What is a Quiet Time?” by Redeemer West Side Prayer Ministry. Oct. 2014. To read the full article, click here.

God is With Us in Our Doubts

Are you so familiar with the Christmas story that you skip through the details without really thinking about them? Since we know how it unfolds, we don’t let the drama of the events really sink in. Take Joseph, for example. Here’s what Scripture tells us about him:

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”

Before reading what comes next, we need to pause. At this point in the story, it’s clear Mary had already told Joseph she was pregnant. Although she’d probably assured him her pregnancy was an act of God, it seems Joseph had his doubts. Being an honorable man, he decided to end their betrothal without drawing attention to Mary’s status as an unwed mother (which would have been incredibly shameful and punishable by death if he’d chosen to accuse her formally). We don’t always stop to consider the doubts and questions he must have wrestled with before making the painful decision to leave her.

While none of us can identify with Joseph’s unique situation, we can all relate to the idea of struggling with doubt.  Yet so often, we grapple with it silently because we worry what others would think of us if we did share. This is especially true when it comes to doubts about God or a life of faith.

There is nothing wrong with struggling with doubt. However, problems arise when we let it linger indefinitely–when we stop wrestling and allow it to take up permanent residence in our minds. This happens when we don’t press on to pursue answers. If we stop searching for clarity and peace, we acquiesce to being in a state of constant uncertainty.

Sometimes, we hide behind our doubts because it’s easier to stand on the outside and remain critical of things we don’t understand about faith. We feel smart being cynical and shy away from digging deeper and finding  answers to our difficult questions. Sometimes we even develop a sense of identity in being labeled as a skeptic.

I love the example set by one of my favorite doubters in the Bible. His story appears in Mark 9 when he asks Jesus to heal his son. He says, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”  Jesus responds: “If you can?  Everything is possible for him who believes.”  The man replies honestly: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22, NIV) Who can’t relate to that? We want to believe, yet doubt lurks in the background. It’s so much better to admit it and  to be honest before the Lord than to hide it or ignore it.

Contrary to what we may feel, doubt doesn’t need to be a hindrance to knowing God. In fact, when we pursue Him for answers, He delights in revealing Himself to us. The Bible assures us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8a, NIV)

If you’re in a season of doubting, press into God instead of turning away from Him. Seek the wisdom of someone who is further ahead of you on the journey. Let your hunger for answers lead you on a quest for truth. Some of the greatest thinkers in the Christian faith started out as skeptics and have written impactful books inspired by their journeys for answers. (C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel and Nabeel Qureshi are a few who come to mind).

If you know someone who is doubting, don’t be unsettled by their questions. Instead, offer yourself as a safe person to help them process their thoughts. It’s unlikely you’ll have all the answers, but you can commit to looking for them together. What’s most important is that you listen and share what you’ve learned on your faith journey. Be willing to engage in fearless conversations with them and don’t be upset or shocked when they share things that are contrary to what you believe. Giving a person time and space to explore doubts is one of the best ways to show God’s love. And don’t forget, God is with you as you walk with them. He will supply the wisdom and resources you need to help them. All you have to do is ask.

Let’s circle back to Joseph’s story for a moment. Before he let his doubts about Mary’s pregnancy determine his course, the Lord provided the reassurance he needed:

“But after [Joseph] had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).” (Matthew 1:18-23, NIV)

Joseph awoke from his dream with a sense of peace and purpose. He put his doubts aside, followed the angel’s directive, and took Mary as his wife. He rested in the knowledge that God was with him.

The angel’s declaration that the child growing in Mary’s womb was “God with us” was good news not just for Joseph, but for all of us. The truth of those words is so simple and yet so profound. God came to earth in the form of a human so that we could know Him and find constant companionship through His Holy Spirit. Don’t let your doubts or the skepticism of someone you care about be a hindrance to connecting with  God. Remember even in the midst of doubt, He is with us.

The song “A Strange Way to Save the World” sung from the perspective of Joseph gives an example of what it looks like to wrestle before God with honest questions. Listen and let it give you a fresh perspective on the Christmas story.

This post was inspired by a December sermon series at CPC Danville entitled “With Us.” Click here to watch the first sermon by Pastor Tyler Scott.

“With Us” banner on the header provided by CPC Danville.