40 Days of Discipline

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40 Days of Discipline: Day 21 – Prayer & Fasting

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:44)

Jesus was certainly passionate about praying and fasting, and seeing that kind of passion in present day saints is encouraging.  Just this week, I was inspired by the story one of our commentators (ToniHD) told about praying one night from 10:00 p.m. until daybreak without recognizing it. So that the rest of us wouldn’t feel too intimidated she did go on to say it only happened once :-). Having found inspiration in Toni’s story I thought I would wrap up our discussion of challenges to Prayer and Fasting with another inspiring story.  I have again selected an excerpt from the book entitled “The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected” by Nik Ripken.  The author tells of sharing stories one night with believers in the underground church in China. He told them about the oppressive circumstances some Muslim-background believers had to live under.  The excerpt below recounts what happened the next morning:

“At 6:00 the next morning I was awakened by screaming and shouting outside in the compound.  My first thought was that the security police had come……. I spotted my friend David across the way and I rushed over to him.  I demanded to know: ‘what in the world is going on?’  He told me to be quiet and listen. ‘ You know I don’t know a word of Chinese,’ I told him.  ‘What do you mean “just listen”’?

Again he insisted, ‘Just be quiet, Nik!’  Before I could protest again, he took me by the arm and began to walk me among these people who were crying and screaming.  Because I was now silent, I actually began to hear and recognize the names of the two Muslim countries that I had told them about the night before.  The names of those two countries were being repeated again and again in passionate anguished prayer.

When David stopped and turned to look at me, there were tears streaming down his face. He said, ‘They were so moved by what you shared last night about believers who were truly persecuted, that they have vowed before God that they will get up an hour earlier every morning to pray for those Muslim-background believers”.

 

Today’s Question:

When have you been driven to exhibit this kind of passion in prayer and possibly also fasting?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 20 – Fasting

16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)

 

Thanks to those who shared verses of encouragement on prayer yesterday!  We are halfway through our journey and the comments we have received so far have made this a very rich experience.

Today we switch our focus to Fasting, and Libby has a question from Serena.  Remember, Libby is not expected to be an expert.  Rather, Libby simply shares from personal and practical experiences.   So, please feel free to chime in even if you have questions yourself.  Also, even if you don’t have the time to share, think about how you have addressed the challenge in your life or how you would address it in the life of a loved one.

Please review the Bible passage above and Serena’s challenge below and share your thoughts.

Dear Libby,

I have very little experience with fasting.  I hear so many views on this subject that sometimes the topic gets murky.  The one thing I have heard with consistency is that health considerations should be taken into account before attempting a food fast.  However, beyond that consistent message I hear a lot of theoretical debates.  I have decided that I want to go beyond the debates and see what I can learn from the practical experiences of other believers.  So, I am specifically looking for feedback on how fasting has helped you or other believers you know.

Anxious to learn,

Serena

 

Today’s Question:

What thoughts would you like to share with Serena?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 19 – Prayer

 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

 

Yesterday was truly a special day of sharing about the challenges of faith and confidence in prayer.  I want to sincerely thank those who shared their thoughts in such powerful words.  Having read the comments, I felt led to depart from the Dear Libby format today to focus on words of encouragement from the Bible.   Tomorrow we will return to Libby and discuss the Discipline of Fasting.

I was so struck by the words of encouragement in the comments yesterday and the references to Bible verses that I would like to continue on that theme for one more day.  Let’s do what the verse above from 1 Thessalonians admonishes us to do, with particular focus on prayer.

 

Request:

Please think about a verse or passage of scripture that encourages you to remain faithful in prayer to God even when you feel discouraged.  It doesn’t matter if you can’t remember the verse exactly or the reference, just share what you remember.


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 18 – Prayer

 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

 

What an awesome set of comments we had again yesterday!   Today Patrick has a question for Libby.  Remember, Libby is not expected to be an expert.  Rather, Libby simply shares from personal and practical experiences.   So, please feel free to chime in even if you have questions yourself.   Also, even if you don’t have the time to share, think about how you have addressed the challenge in your life or how you would address it in the life of a loved one.

Please review the Bible passage above and Patrick’s challenge below and share your thoughts.

 

Dear Libby,

I read the letter from Carla to you yesterday and saw where she defined herself as an “event prayer”.   Well that had me thinking about myself and I ended up defining myself as a “disenchanted prayer”.   I know that God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we want Him to, and intellectually, I know that God is not a genie in a bottle.   However, I have a hard time dealing with outcomes that are different from what I pray earnestly for.  For example, when I prayed for a positive outcome for a family member and my family member experienced a bad outcome instead, my faith was shaken

I need to find my way to praying with confidence. What advice can you give?

 

Seeking confidence,

Patrick

 

Today’s Question:

What thoughts would you like to share with Patrick?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 17 – Prayer

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2)

 

Today we resume our letters to Libby but we will switch our focus to the Discipline of Prayer.   As a reminder, you will play the part of Libby and share your thoughts on the challenges people are having.  I need to make one important clarification though; Libby is not expected to be an expert.  Rather, Libby simply shares from personal and practical experiences.   So, please feel free to chime in even if you have questions yourself.  Also, even if you don’t have the time to share, think about how you have addressed the challenge in your life or how you would address it in the life of a loved one.

Please review the Bible passage above and Carla’s challenge below and share your thoughts.

Dear Libby,

I genuinely have a very strong intent to be a habitual prayer, but intent and reality are miles apart for me.  I think if I were to define myself in the matter of praying I would call myself an “event prayer”.   I am more inclined to pray because of events rather than as a normal course.   Consistent with this definition, I have to confess that I don’t really spend quality time praying.  Most times I feel a lot like the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane who kept sleeping instead of praying.   In fact, one of the fastest ways for me to fall asleep at night is to start praying.

I need some practical advice on how I can move closer to my intent.

Determined,

Carla

 

Today’s Question:

What thoughts would you like to share with Carla?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 16 – Review

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

 

This was a great week of iron sharpening iron as we shared questions and answers on challenges to practising the Disciplines of Bible Study and Spiritual Warfare. Today is dedicated to reviewing what you have learned this week.  If you have missed any of the days, you can catch up.  Also, if you have missed any of the great comments you can go back and review them.  Most importantly, think about how you can apply what you have learned.

 

Today’s Question:

Are there any changes you would like to make based on our discussions this week?  Please consider sharing what you would like to change so we can pray with you.


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 15 – Bible Study & Spiritual Warfare

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)

 

It has been really uplifting to see the comments some of you have shared in response the letters to Libby. We’ll take a break from letters to Libby today to reflect on a true story about Bible Study and Spiritual Warfare. The story is from a book entitled “The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected” by Nik Ripken. The author tells the story of Dmitri, a believer in the Former Soviet Union who was imprisoned for his faith. The following excerpt from Dmitri’s story speaks of passion for the Bible in the face of significant persecution:

“His persecutors continued to discourage and silence him. Dmitri remained faithful. He was overwhelmed one day by a special gift from God’s hand. In the prison yard, he found a whole sheet of paper. ‘And God,’ Dmitri said, ‘had laid a pencil beside it!’

Dmitri went on, ‘I rushed back to my jail cell and I wrote every Scripture reference, every Bible verse, every story, and every song I could recall.’

‘I knew that it was probably foolish,’ Dmitri told me, ‘but I couldn’t help myself. I filled both sides of the paper with as much of the Bible as I could. I reached up and stuck the entire sheet of paper on that wet concrete pillar. Then I stood and looked at it: to me it seemed like the greatest offering I could give Jesus from my prison cell. Of course, my jailor saw it. I was beaten and punished. I was threatened with execution.’”

Dmitri’s story reminds me that the kind of passion for the Bible that we see in Biblical characters like David is still evident in believers of our age, even in the face of clear Spiritual Warfare.

Today’s Question:

What inspiration do you take from Dmitri’s story?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 14 – Spiritual Warfare

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

 

Your comments made our first day of considering challenges to Spiritual Warfare a true blessing.  We will stay with Spiritual Warfare, and Percy has a question.  As a reminder, you are being asked to play the part of Libby and share your thoughts on the challenges people are having.  Please share your thoughts and check the comments throughout the day to see what others are saying to Percy.

 

Dear Libby,

I need your practical advice.  As a believer I know that Satan and his negative forces cannot destroy me.  Despite this knowledge though, when I think about spiritual warfare I almost always take a defensive posture (i.e., I mostly think about fighting off spiritual challenges).  My observation of Jesus is that he lived his life on offense as well and I want to be more like Him.  Do you have any suggestions on the keys to not only playing on defense but also on offense where spiritual warfare is concerned?

 

In Search of Offense,

Percy

 

Today’s Question:

What thoughts would you like to share with Percy?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 13 – Spiritual Warfare

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

 

What a blessing to see the practical advice provided over the last two days as we considered challenges to Bible Study.  We now switch our attention to the Discipline of Spiritual Warfare, and Carolina has a question.  As a reminder, you are being asked to play the part of Libby and share your thoughts on the challenges people are having.  Please share your thoughts and check the comments throughout the day to see what others are saying to Sarah.

 

Dear Libby,

I actually feel a bit awkward writing to you about the topic of Spiritual Warfare.  I know that evil exists and I know the Bible says a lot about evil powers, but talk of spiritual warfare evokes childish thoughts of boogie men and monsters in my closet.  I certainly wouldn’t be comfortable discussing this topic with my work colleagues.  What I am trying to say Libby is that of all the Disciplines this is probably the one that I keep most on the “low down”.  I don’t want to get all weird about spiritual warfare but I also don’t want to be naïve about my adversary.  Libby, how do you relate to spiritual warfare?  

Uncomfortable,

Carolina

 

Today’s Question:

What thoughts would you like to share with Carolina?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 12 – Bible Study

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Colossians 3:16)

 

I hope you had the opportunity to reflect on Sam’s challenge with Bible Study yesterday.  Sincere thanks to those who shared their thoughts. As a reminder, you are being asked to play the part of Libby and share your thoughts on the challenges people encounter whey they try to practise the Spiritual Disciplines.  Today we have a letter from Sarah related to Bible Study.  Please share your thoughts and check the comments throughout the day to see what others are saying to Sarah.

 

Dear Libby,

I occasionally find the time for Bible study but while I benefit from increased knowledge, I am not good with application.  I heard someone quoting a verse that said I should not just be a hearer of the word but a doer.  Do you have any practical advice on how I can make my Bible Study more about application and not just knowledge?  I don’t want to relate to the Bible as just a book with good stories and sayings.  How can I increase its impact on my daily life?

In search of more than theory,

Sarah

 

Today’s Question:

What thoughts would you like to share with Sarah?