GUILT! 
Here it is, the subject that can cause you to mercilessly wallow in self-pity: PRAYER, DEVOTIONS, BIBLE READING, TIME WITH GOD.  How do I go about talking about this without hypocrisy and false piety?

CONFESSION:  This is the biggest struggle of my life because I have never lived up to my expectations in this area.  The reasoning goes like this:

* If God is the greatest being and the most powerful being
then prayer is the greatest thing I could ever do.
*  But if I were honest, which is tough to do, I don’t see him, I
can’t touch him, I am not sure he really is answering and
I am not that stimulated when I pray.
*  So, I often feel like I must do work that looks like I am
working. Because hard work accomplishes tasks and
praying is just sending words to the air. . .

  OR IS IT?

Ask yourself honestly, how is your prayer life? 

Do you feel like you spend adequate time with God?

Are you and God intimate? 

MINDSETS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR WALK:

To destroy guilt and drive a proper motivation for meeting with God, I believe there are a couple essential attitudes we must adopt as we approach the prayer closet:

(1) FREEDOM:  we are not condemned because we fail to meet with God!  Do you believe that?  Romans 8:1      –       Romans 8:34    –    I  John 1:7-9

(2) BLESSING:  we choose how much grace we want to receive.  Do you want the blessing of God on your life? If yes – – Pray.   Do you want to know him more? If yes – – Read his Word.  Do you want to find a joy that is not contrived or dependent on circumstances? If yes – – Fight for Intimacy with God!

(3) ACQUIRED DELIGHT:  do you like coffee? Did you always like coffee? How does a person learn to like coffee? You must keep drinking it, and alot of it! Growing in Grace is acquired the same way, through habit.  But the goal is delight not perfection, acquisition or position  –  it is delight.  Many people come to God to get things or to be better disciples than others.  But we must learn to come to God for him and him alone:

–  Psalm 42:1   –   __________________________
–  Psalm 63:1-2  –  _________________________
–  Psalm 73:25-26  –  _______________________

*  Are these Psalms true of your life? 

*  Which of these statements seem foreign to you? 

HOW?  HOW DO YOU APPROACH THESE HABITS?
“Relationship” is not a formula, it just is.  Simply put, you must learn to nurture your delight in God in your own way.  Sure there are helps and ideas and guidelines, but my walk with God is unique; because our relationship is unique.  Look to your own family, does everyone relate the same with your dad?  Everyone’s relationship is different.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

· Journaling:  I have found that writing down prayers and wrestling through scripture on paper focuses me in ways that mere talking never does. It forces me to focus my thoughts and sharpen my language. I find much of modern prayer is loaded with cliche’s – – rarely do you write out cliche’s when you are forced to put down thoughts.

· Walking:  When I go to the woods and walk with Jesus I can open up.  Often times I yell my frustrations, I sing songs of praise, I read the Psalms out loud in a British accent, I argue and even ponder single thoughts or verses. I think the disciples during Jesus day loved to talk with him while they walked.

· Memorization:  I find that a verse of power, when memorized, changes me and my outlook. When you chew on truth, it gets into you. That is what meditation does. (ie. Galatians 2:20 has changed my life).

· Fasting:  This is serious business with God.  If I need to pray about an issue of serious concern I fast. I forfeit food and drink for a day (You still need water), and when I have hunger pangs, I turn to God in prayer. Just as I need food to physically survive, fasting shows how I need God to spiritually survive.

· Reading:  Good writers are like good friends – – they challenge you in ways that you can’t arrive at on your own. I also heard that reading great authors is like getting wisdom from some of the smartest men and women who ever lived. You can have a discussion with them in your very own living room. Read, read, read!

To me, devotional life must be a delight, not a chore, not a work, not an accomplishment.  It is finding an avenue that helps you fall in love with the God who is there. 

Look back on your walk with God, what are the tools that have helped you feel closest to him? Why not get back to them starting in 2017?

GENERAL IDEAS:

(1) Devotional Studies:  These are designed studies by Christian authors who force you to grapple with a text.  To begin, a great devotional that is still sold today at most Christian bookstores is “Experiencing God.”  Also, try reading “With” by Skye Jethani – – this is an amazing devotional book.

(2) Prayer Partner:  Is there someone, or a group of someones that will meet with you regularly to pray? Our church just started a monthly prayer meeting on Saturday nights called “The Gathering.” It is so refreshing, I still can’t understand why people don’t come? Makes me sad.

(3) Memory Program:  The Navigators have a wonderful scripture memory program that regularly forces you to digest scripture. Try it out!

(4) Retreats:  Go to a place for a few days to just get away and meet with God. Try being silent for a whole day. It might just change your life?

THE MOUNTAIN & the LODGE

Many of you who have been faithfully reading this are probably faithful church attendees as well. You have been going to church for years…Sunday church attendance has been a very important part of your life.  Because of that fact, many of you have been involved in a number of ministries, classes, outreaches and church programs throughout the years.   You have seen great things happen in your life and the lives of others.

You see, whether you know it or not you most likely are in the lodge stage of your Christian life.  I am not talking about your age, I am talking about your position in life. Let me explain…

Imagine you are going hiking in the majestic Rocky Mountains around Denver, CO.  On your trip you bring a back-pack, climbing/camping gear, hiking stick and trail mix that will last you for months.  After the first couple of weeks, you have traversed the foothills, made some daring climbs up steep mountain faces, fought off an angry black bear, viewed some wonderful morning vistas,  and even crossed some huge chasms in the rock by steel cable.  Wow, what an adventure…at points, you didn’t think you could make it, but through skill and perseverance you steadily make it up and down the magnificent range.

Then one day, after climbing a very severe cliff of rock you reach the top of a mountain bluff.  Straight ahead is a quaint log cabin.  The sign says, “Welcome, all weary travelers.  Make yourself at home.”  As you take off the heavy gear and turn on the lights you are amazed by the general warmth of the place:  Soft couches, stocked cupboard and fridge, soft downy bed, and a roaring fireplace.  You notice on the mantel there are trophies and plaques commemorating your hard work at the climb.  As you sit there you notice that there is a door that is barely open with a cold draft of icy air pouring through, you go to close it and as you look out the back the giant mountain is waiting for you!!

Most of us don’t want to get up off the couch and head back out into the cold. We like to look at our trophies, consider ourselves to have arrived, pat ourselves on the back and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” But wait – – isn’t that God’s property? Don’t steal it from him.

The truth is: Christianity is never meant to be a place we arrive, it is a journey to continue. Having a strong devotional life makes walking with Jesus as exciting as climbing a mountain: New views, wonderful trails, and exhilaration at each new turn. Don’t forfeit joy by sitting on a couch.

Don’t ever be satisfied!