Essential Connection to Christ’s Passion

Week Three

Day 1 - Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door:  Matthew 7:7-12

Day 2 - Prayer Watch:  Matthew 26:36-41

Day 3 - At Your Disposal:  Matthew 26:47-56

Day 4 - Keep At It!:  Luke 18:1-8

Day 5 - Anywhere, Anytime:  Ephesians 6:18-20

Day 6 - Staying Effective:  James 5:13-20

Day 7 - Oh, Happy Day!:  John 16:22-24

 

Day 1 - Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door:  Matthew 7:7-12

Have you ever knocked on a door without knowing who or what was behind it? Have you ever been a bit stressed because you were afraid of who or what might be on the other side of a door? Would you be more willing to knock on your principal’s office door if you knew that you were going to be recognized for an outstanding achievement rather than get in trouble for doing something wrong?

So, what’s my point in all these questions about closed doors? Simply this. . . . at times, we tend to view God like something scary behind a closed door. We avoid “knocking” on His door because, even though we know He might do something good for us, we are afraid He is waiting to punish us for something we have done wrong—even if we cannot remember what it is.

One thing is certain: Avoiding God is not His idea. He wants us to come to Him. He wants us to knock. Will He ever show us stuff we’ve done wrong. Sure, He will; but not to rub it in our faces. He wants to give us His best, and He wants us to be our best. He even said He will give us what we need if we just ask because, as our Heavenly Father, He loves us.

All we have to do is knock.

·          Real Choices - For the next week or two, keep a list of the things for which you pray. Place your requests into one of the following categories: for myself, for others, or for the kingdom of God.

Are you willing to spend more time praying for others and for God’s kingdom than for yourself?

·          Pray - God, remind me to ask You to supply all of my needs.

 

Day 2 - Prayer Watch:  Matthew 26:36-41

Question: What do vaccines, lookout posts, and preseason training camp have

in common?

Answer: They are designed to prevent unwanted disasters. A vaccine is used to prevent illness or disease. A lookout post is set up to spot the enemy before the enemy spots you. Preseason training helps athletes get in shape for competition and prepares a team to work together for a winning season.

Have you ever thought of prayer as a means of preventing another kind of unwanted disaster? Jesus did.

In today’s passage, Jesus warned His disciples to watch and pray in order to overcome temptation. He knew prayer could keep them from falling. In fact, He believed in prayer so much that He modeled it for the world to see. During His greatest times of despair and temptation, Jesus prayed.

If He used it successfully, you can too!

·          Pray - God, help me recognize how watching out for temptation and praying to overcome it are effective tools You have given me as Your disciple.

 

Day 3 - At Your Disposal:  Matthew 26:47-56

How many books do you have: 10, 25, 50? Many people do not realize it, but they have thousands of books at their disposal. All they have to do is call their local library and ask for information on a subject such as who invented daylight saving time or how many public and private schools are in your state. Every day, librarians research questions fielded by people who are unable to come to the library to look up information themselves. It’s simply a matter of knowing what is at your disposal.

Prayer involves the same situation. It is the key to surviving every situation because, through prayer, we have all of God’s benefits at our disposal. Sometimes, we just don’t realize it.

Jesus kept in constant communication with His Father through prayer. When you pray, God’s resources are at your disposal. Praying releases the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s perfect will in your life.

Pray - God, remind me to ask You for Your resources instead of depending on my own.

 

Day 4 - Keep At It!:  Luke 18:1-8

Standing in fifth place behind two Chinese and two Canadian divers after two rounds in the women’s 10-meter platform diving competition, Laura Wilkinson might have just given up her dreams for a medal at the 2000 Olympics. Commentators, however, argued that she still had a chance to move up and perhaps claim a bronze medal if she hit her final dives. Although her first dive was her highest score for an individual dive, Laura did not give up. Although the favorite diver had two scores higher than her best, she kept on.

By the time the fifth and final round was completed, Laura found herself in what had seemed like a quite unlikely place—the Olympic medal stand. But she wasn’t there to get a bronze medal. She was there to collect gold! None of her individual dives were considered the best of the competition; but, added together, the total of her five dives put her over the top. When she was down, Laura had kept on trying, and she made every dive count.

You may not think you have the best sounding prayers or the most impressive prayer list. But Jesus said to always pray and to not give up. Keep praying until God answers your prayer. He is not looking for flamboyance, but for faithfulness.

Make every prayer count!

·          Real Choices - Are there things you do not feel comfortable asking God for? Is there anything you really need that you do not want to ask for from your loving Heavenly Father? Are you willing to get rid of that “clutter?”

·          Pray - God, show me the times I have not believed You. Help me learn to believe that everything You say is true.

 

Day 5 - Anywhere, Anytime:  Ephesians 6:18-20

Circle the times and places you need to pray:

·        When you accidentally float away from your space ship

·        When you need the courage to tell your parents that you accidentally left the water running in the bathtub when you left on vacation

·        During final exams

·       When everyone laughs at your jokes

·        When you are relaxing

Prayer is like breathing. When you breathe, you breathe in and you breathe out. When you pray, you talk to God and you listen to Him. You breathe when you are exhausted, frightened, playing, or relaxing. If you ever stop breathing, it won’t be long until you’re dead.

Likewise, you need to pray when you are tempted, persecuted, or resting. And, if you go without praying, you’ll start to spiritually wither.

Except for emergency CPR, you can’t breathe for someone else. However, you can and should always pray for others. Just as others have prayed for you, you can talk to God about family, friends, enemies, neighbors, teachers, and so forth.

God never put any restrictions on prayer. Not for time. Not for place. Not for length. Not for subject. He wants to cover everything. And if He didn’t establish any limits, we probably shouldn’t either. Got a problem or question? Bring it to Him today!

·          Real Choices - Are you an “Only In Case of Emergency” prayer? Are you ready to develop the habit of consistently praying to God? Get up earlier tomorrow and begin your day by talking to God, reading His Word and talking some more. Do not wait until the end of the day to ask God to be a part of it.

·          Pray - God, keep Yourself in my thoughts so I will remember to be in constant communication with You.

 

Day 6 - Staying Effective:  James 5:13-20

Question: How can you tell if a trumpet player has practiced, a rechargeable battery is charged, an athlete is in shape, or a Christian is walking faithfully with God?

Answer: Power and effectiveness. Listen to the trumpet player who hasn’t practiced. You’ll wish you hadn’t. Try using a dead battery. Not very effective, is it? Watch an athlete competing when he or she is out of shape. It’s a sad, sad sight.

And the Christian with a faithful walk? Well, Christians also have a standard of power and effectiveness that can be observed. It’s called prayer.

Some people treat prayer as if it is a vending machine: If you want something, just pray and God automatically gives you what you want. If it doesn’t work, it must be the vending machine’s problem and not the one doing the asking. But it doesn’t work like that. A person’s spiritual condition is an essential element in prayer. A righteous person’s prayer has power and effectiveness. That’s because a righteous person prays for things that will bring honor and glory to God.

When your life is lived according to God’s plan, the results of your prayers will give proof of your relationship with Him. There are some people I definitely want praying for me because I know they have the ear of God. You probably know that kind of person.

Well, according to today’s passage, you can be that kind of person.

·          Real Choices - If you had to rate your prayer life as either powerful/effective or weak/insignificant, which would it be? What do you need to do to start following a new path of obedience to God and living in His Spirit?

·          Pray - God, I pray that You will guide me, one step at a time, to live a holy and righteous life that will produce Your power and effectiveness.

 

Day 7 - Oh, Happy Day!:  John 16:22-24

Cathy and I met on March 12, 1971, during our first year of college, and we were engaged before the start of our sophomore year. Although we used the time to complete our degrees, the next two years and nine months were dominated with waiting for that special day that always seemed so far away. However, the day finally arrived. On May 26, 1974, we were married.

Now, that was a happy day!

Jesus’ disciples were filled with grief as they heard Jesus speak of His upcoming death. However, Jesus told them that they would see Him again and that it would be a day of great joy. Until then (and even after He went to heaven), they would be able to ask their Heavenly Father for anything in Jesus’ name, and they would receive it. This would make their joy complete.

You’ve probably experienced both happiness and sadness in your life; and you know more is yet to come. But a relationship with Jesus brings something deeper than either of those emotions. It produces lasting joy.

Until you see Him face-to-face, Jesus wants you to ask God the Father to meet all your needs in His name. He wants your joy to be complete!

·          Real Choices - Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Have you received His gift of eternal life? The inside front cover of this magazine can help you understand how to have that joyful relationship. Your pastor, youth leader, or Sunday School teacher also can help.

·          Pray - God, give me the wisdom to keep my eyes on You so I can live in the joy of your salvation. Remind me to ask You for my needs so my joy will be complete.