I. Why Take This Class?
A. Course Description: "A practical course assisting the student in cultivating a vibrant personal relationship with God. Special attention is given to prayer, praise, worship, and music."
B. Goal: Every day a specific time of prayer for the cultivation of a real, dynamic RELATIONSHIP with Christ. Our objective is to develop a consistent and rewarding prayer life-style.
1. Consistency
a. Our goal is more than understanding the concept; our goal is to develop the practice of daily prayer.
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"The greatest thing anyone can do
for God and man is pray. It is not the only thing; but it is
the chief thing. The great people of the earth today are the
people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor
those who say they believe in prayer; nor yet those who can explain
about prayer; but I mean those people who take time to pray." S. D. Gordon. |
b. Hope MacDonald asks the question, "Have you ever stopped to wonder what the devil's favorite word might be?" It is TOMORROW.
"The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from prayer. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we prayer."
Samuel Chadwick2. Meaningful
a. To develop a real relationship with Christ, one where we really know Him.
b.Children of Israel knew his acts; Moses knew his WAYS.
C. Method
1. Receiving information and being motivated by the classes.
2. Following through with prayer development through the weekly project record. This is designed to help the student be accountable.
II. What Are Devotions?
If we don't know where we're going, we are bound to end up somewhere else! A. Definitions:
1. Devotion (noun): the act of devoting.
2. Devoting (verb):
a. to dedicate by a solemn act.
b. to give up wholly and purposefully.
c. to center one's ATTENTION or activities with ardent love and affection.
"Devotions" is not a thing; it is a way of life! 3. Devotional life -- a life-style dedicated toward centering one's love toward God which supersedes all other priorities.
B. Scriptural references.
Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways (Isaiah 58:2 NKJV).
In the Lord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain"? (Psalm 11:1 NKJV).
Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! (Psalm 31:23 NKJV).
I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications (Psalm 116:1 NKJV).
III. How Can We Reach The Goal?
A. Evaluate your present state. Scripture shows us that God demands us to open our hearts to say, "Where are you?" For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God (I Peter 4:17 NKJV). We need to examine our hearts honestly.
B. Prepare for battle. Know that SATAN is opposed to your effort to pray.
1. We need to prepare ourselves to fight great battles with the FLESH.
2. We need to develop a BITTERNESS against Satan.
3. We need to know that all battles are really spiritual. All the reasons that come up to keep us from praying are not natural--they are SPIRITUAL. It is not that we are not "spiritual enough" that we have battles. The more battle we experience, the stronger we become. Remember that the Lord will never allow us to be tempted or tested beyond that which we are able. God wants to teach us that "greater is he who is in us that he who is in the world."
C. Start with a full commitment.
D. Persevere at all costs--it will be worth it.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4 NKJV).
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