Prayer coach.pdf

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“ Prayer Coach x , u ufu I f .”

—D. A. Carson, R Pf f N ,

E D S

“T u ff . . . . I .”

—Bill Hybels, S P, W C Cu Cu

Au f oo Busy Not to Pray

“Te w coach always bings t min the men wh le me thughut my caee. Tey

pssesse a cmbinatin f encuagement, challenge, humility, paise, instuctin, an

x . M uf u u f

, ju f f f.”

—Mike Singletary, H f F C B L A HC f S F 49

“Ou f u u

u L S. L f Prayer Coach.”

—Jennie Finch-Daigle, USA 2004 O G M, Sf P

“G u. P K f .T f G. I j f

. S u x u u qu

ff. T f Prayer Coach u

u uqu f f Ju f.”

—Bill McCartney, Fu, P K

F H F C f U f C Buff

“W I f f J, prayer . I’ fu -

f f fu .”

Lee Strobel Au f Te Case for the Real Jesus



“A u f u . F f u , ‘L, u ,’ J u j fi f G.”

—Joe Stowell, P, C U F P, M B Iu

“J , u, u u, u f— j. Prayer Coach x , j , --u f ff .”

—Dann Spader, Fu, Sf M P, G Yu I

“T fi , N u . H u

, f f.”

—Clive Calver, F P,W Rf S P, Wu H Cu Cu

“With an hnest, pesnal appach, Nicem allies peple t paye. Yu will fin the fi ‘ ’ u, ff f. W f C u u .”

—om White, Exu D, V f M

“W f u f u . W ; . N’ u ’ . H u 12 22 f 20 , I u u f u u. Yu , ’ u’

f u u !”—imothy Downey, A Pf f Yu M,

M B Iu

“Eveyby pays even unbelieves An eveyby stuggles with paye even saints





Prayer Coach: For All Who Want to Get Off the Bench and onto the Praying Field

Copyright © 2008 James L. Nicodem

Published by Crossway Books

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval sys-

tem, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording,or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA

copyright law.

Holy Spirit Take Control by Rory Noland. © 1984 Rory Noland, administered by Willow Creek

Association. Used with Permission.

Design and typesetting by Lakeside Design PlusCover design by Jessica Dennis

Cover photo: iStock

First printing 2008

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture references are from Te Holy Bible: New International Version®. Copyright © 1973,

1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

All rights reserved.

Te “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States

Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires

the permission of International Bible Society.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.



f I :

M D,

M P P C Cu Cu.

G’ f u

f .





Contents

F 9

Iu: M Yu C 11

Part 1: The Busters

1. O: F P, P F 17

2. M O: C Yu H M N, L? 28

Part 2: The Basics

3 P: G Ru 43



C O N T E N T S

11. C: D’ L T L H u I 178

12. L: P Qu 19513. Au P: B Yu B’ ( S’)

K 212

14. S: D f Su 230

Ax: A Z L f B N, ,

Au f G F, S, H

S 247

N 252

Su Ix 255



Foreword

f u -

u f . I f

as fa back as I can emembe, thanks t my mthe, fathe,

an Ruhama Baptist Chuch. G has always answee my

, . I’ z u f the n’s have been sme f the wisest things that “neve hap-

” .

P u f u



F O R E W O R D

? S I u x I “D

G” “ Ju’ , A!”Tat’s enugh abut me; nw n t this bk. Rea Prayer

Coach. I u -

ship with u almighty G. D. Nicem has many intiguing

u . R I u

will incease. I knw his peple’s payes have been instumental

in the gwth an quality f Chist Cmmunity Chuch. G is

fu!

—C B B,

H F C, F S U S,W C Mj C F H



Introduction

Meet Your Coach

magine this. Yu ecie t take up glf as a hbby. (Tis may

really stetch yu imaginatin if yu hate glf.) But evey

time yu g ut t play yu en up iscuage by yu pe-

fmance. Yu slice yu ives. Yu tp yu faiway in

shts. An yu fu-putt mst geens. (If yu aen’t familia withglf ling, tust me—this is all ba!)

When yu escibe yu fustatins t a fien, he hans yu





Introduction

t pay. Passion—a g case can be mae fm Sciptue that G

’ u u ’ ff f.Once these basics ae une yu belt, yu’ll be able t cnsie

u f ( 3). Yu f

CHA u f G: Cf,

Hn, Ask, Tank. Tis is me than a cliché summay f balance

. I’ u , u f. Yu’ confess

the ts ut; honor G with paye that’s me pfun than

, “I u f u ”; ask f u

— qu u

G; thank G u, (I’ u u ju ).

F, u’ x u f fi

f u . T fi ( 4) u

spiitually lst fiens, yu kis (if yu’e a paent), the Chis-

flu u—, , S

(althugh I’ll have t stetch the use f the w “beneficiay” t

u ).

T u

eve ea. It’s nt meant t be the kin f bk that yu ea thugh

u . T u u fu

ju f x u . N,

yu’ll want t tun t the tips in Prayer Coach again an again. I









Obstacles

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail

stppe by the hme f a fien ecently. He’s a elatively new

believe wh’s been cming t u chuch f nly a sht

time. At the en f u visit, I vlunteee t pay abut sme

f the things we’ been talking abut—the uncetainty f his

jb, his gwing elatinship with G, his cncen f his teenageaughte. When I finishe, he lke at me smewhat wistfully an

sai, “Sme ay I’ like t be able t that.”



T H E B U S T E R S

. I , ,

ju .An that’s the pblem. Mst Chist fllwes n’t it. Often

I f , I u,

“Hw many f yu ae satisfie with the amunt f paying yu ?”

I . W .

We n’t nee anthe pep talk n the imptance f paye. We

’ . W ju ’ !

Why nt? Let me begin with sme paye bustes, bstacles,

that keep us fm paying. Tese ablcks ae cmmn t all f us

u f ff u .T u I . If u fi

anything supe eep in these pages it pbably gt thee by accient.

I have ea many pfun bks ve the yeas n the tpic f

. Ufu, f I ’

. T f , , u u .

Tat’s what Jesus’ example pmpte the isciples t want

f . I f Lu 11 : “O

Ju . W fi, f

, ‘L, u , ju J u isciples.’” Tee is a sense f ugency t this equest. Bible schlas

u . A



Obstacles

Please nte, as well, that this is nt, stictly speaking, a hw-t

equest. Te isciples ae nt asking f a lessn n paye tech-qu (.., “L, u how ”). T

. I’ I L, “

S--.” A I f u ? N, I

ju . S,

u . each us to pray! If this is the cy f yu heat, if yu wish yu paye me

u , f u’ u

f ju , u

G’ .

No Plan

Stp an think f a mment abut smething yu meant

—u ’ u . M ’ u

that shul have been change thee thusan miles ag. O the

imptant phne call that shul have been etune last week.

O u’ u f u

?

Why haven’t yu ne these things yet? Chances ae petty

g that yu pblem is as simple as nt having a plan f get-

j Yu ’ ffi u u “ ”



T H E B U S T E R S

I fu f ff . E

mning I’ think, I’ve got to readjust all those vents. But the jb . W? Bu ’ . I

’ D- ff.

Te things we get ne ae typically the things that we scheule

. N , . T ju u

pactice f paye. D we have a set time an place f this spii-

tual iscipline? (Tis is nt t suggest that we shuln’t be pay-

u uu . Bu f u

f f

.)Ju . H

fi F. I

u Lu

11, because Jesus is fequently fun paying in this Gspel. In

f, f Lu “T G f P.” H’ qu u:

3:21: W z, Ju -

z . A praying , . . . .

5:15–16: Y u ,

f f -



Obstacles

22:39, 41, 44: Ju u uu Mu f O,

f . . . . H u ’ , prayed , . . . A

u, prayed ,

f f u.

Paye was utinely n Jesus’ agena. It was smething he . A f u

u u u. W u

? T’ : .

S “.” If u j fif u f

u , u u ?

Hw abut setting yu alam clck a quate f an hu ealie

an using that time t pay (afte yu’ve shave ha a cup f

cffee ne whateve it takes t wake yu up)? O maybe yu

u .

If u u f f u,

u’ fif u u f .

S u f

f .

What time wks best f yu? As basic as this ecisin suns,I believe it’s s citical that I wul encuage yu t stp ea-

ing f a mment an lck in a aily paye time. Actually put it



T H E B U S T E R S

No Praise

I like t think f paise as the spice f my payes. Withut

paise my paying becmes blan. Tee is a sameness abut it,

u .

I EN u

. I — . T u u

u x. (I

gave new meaning t the l taunt, “up yu nse with a ubbe hse.”)

T u x. Bu

flux.Te ct gave me fu steps f cecting the situatin. Fist,

. “I ,” I

. Nx, u f

I . “I ,” I .

(M f ju !)

Ti, he instucte me t eat my inne ealie s that my

f f I . “I ,” I u .

Finally, he aske me t stay away fm spicy fs. “I can’t that!” I

bjecte. N way am I ging t give up Mexican, Inian, Szechwan,

T f. S j.

A f fl u . N

u u u



Obstacles

ffiu f u G? I

u u u.T fu f G’ u

u mins (he is hly, gacius, faithful, pweful), but afte we have

xu u.

S u f ,

“L, I u f u !” T’ , ’ ? that with yu spuse if yu’e maie: “Hney, I paise yu f

wh yu ae.” Yu’ll pbably get a stange lk in espnse, a

“W’ that u ?”

If we want t paise G f wh he is we must expan u

knwlege f the attibutes an titles by which he ges in Sciptue.Ove the yeas I have gaually cmpile a list f almst 250 f these

esciptins. Tis A t Z list inclues attibutes such as patient, wise,

angy, just, aiant, geneus, exalte, sveeign, unchanging, zeal-

u, u. T f K R, S,

S, W, S, L W, Rfi F, B,

Rfu, W, S, M S. T

u u u .

T , I u

u f u f

G’ u ( Ax) . Bu f

leave this paye buste let me ffe ne final w f explanatin as t

u f u





Obstacles

. R u u qu f “

u I f?” I f .I’ fu

, u f f fu

u f I’ u. I’

believe’s am. Tee ae six pieces t this ptective suit that Paul

E 6:13–17.H u “ f u” “ f

ighteusness” “the helmet f salvatin”? Te wite f the l

, “S u, S u f Ju” qu-

.1 “Pu ,” u u, “

u .” G . P E 6 .My kis an I mae a pactice f ing this n the sht ive t

schl each mning. (My tw lest ae nw ut f the hme—an

I u .) U ju

gauate, my yungest an I began many f u ays with this

. I’

f the six pieces f am an get us state. He might select the

gspel shes an begin with: “L, I’m putting n the gspel shes.

H . L u -

u Ju f .”

Ten it was my tun. Pehaps I’ chse the belt f tuth. I’ pay

smething like: “We want t be hnest men tay, L. Chaacteize

u u H u



T H E B U S T E R S

f u. If I m’, I x G f ,

, fu. W f u f paye chai, I have aleay begun t extl G with heatfelt aa-

. M .

T fu f S ( u, fu

in Gal. 5:22–23) pvie anthe patten. Knwing these nine taits

by heat (lve, jy, peace, patience, kinness, gness, faithful-, , f-)

u fu . “W I

nee mst tay, L? Gentleness? Okay, take away my inclinatin

. D’ fi .

R f u — .”

Pattens help us vecme the bstacle f inetia an begin

t pay. I’ll cve seveal me f these in chapte 3. Yu’ll lean

u f “ ,” “ f f,” “u ,”

.T qu I u. I f Ju.

W’ ’ qu f

Luke 11: “L, teach us t pay.” His espnse in the veses that fllw

has cme t be knwn as “Te L’s Paye.” Mst believes ae famil-

. If , “Ou F, W

,” u, “H T .”

Unftunately what was intene t be a mel paye has



Obstacles

Onto the Praying Field

1. O f 1 10, u u u f?

Ex u . W f

u f ff?

2. Lu 11:1 Ju’ . W u u Ju’

qu?

3. W f f ?

A ?

D u f ? If ,

f u f u? W u u

u f f

u?

4. If G , u ffiu

?

F x, “A” f f ,

u u G. T

f





More Obstacles

T u u fl f I -

u u G. I sins have ffene him, I mach int his pesence with my latest

f qu. D’ u G f

f f I f f?

T u u fu u.

No Purity

Sin isupts u elatinship with G. An G is nt incline

u u f f u . T I u : “Su f

Lord , u . Bu u

iniquities have sepaate yu fm yu G; yu sins have hien

f f u, ” (I. 59:1–2).

Isaiah’s eaes wee in the habit f cmplaining that paye wasu. W G f qu?

Isaiah explaine that the pblem was nt that G was ha f

heaing. He was intentinally efusing t listen t thei payes

u f uf .

Hw ften ae u payes thwate (which iscuages us fm

fu ) u f u -u ? W

: “If f u ffu ju



T H E B U S T E R S

H S, ,

, u.Pu fi ’ u,

I u.

H S, .1

Afte paying these ws . . . I wait. I have extene an invita- H S, I f . I qu-

ness that ensues, he impesses upn me thse ffenses that have

isplease an gieve G. Tis, in tun, gives me the pptunity

f G’ f .

O f I’ u is that G an I ae ften n iffeent pages when it cmes t

ientifying thse sins that ae mst enangeing my fellwship with

him. While I am keenly awae f (an fustate by) cetain habitual

tansgessins, the Hly Spiit fequently bings t my attentin

I z.A : G , u M,

ne f his pet peeves (my expessin, nt G’s) is peple b-

f ff x

( M. 3:7–12). W u u u

unfaithfulness in giving wul be such a seius ffense t G?

Su u u ?

I knw a past f a lage chuch wh eally takes this Malachi



More Obstacles

u G

we can cnfess these sins, be fgiven an cleanse f them, an G’ u .

I 6 I u . W’

f ju— ’

fu u u fu.

No Peace

O f f B P’ x-

htatin t maie men: “Husbans, in the same way be cnsie- u u ,

u f u f f f,

u ” (1 P. 3:7). I

I f u u f Su, , fl

f u ff f !W I Su, B , I

might as well nt bthe paying until I have ecncile with he. Tis

f . I u

u z f z

. W I G ?T , f x, I’

u f u Su f u Su



T H E B U S T E R S

But nne f these ivesins wks. G pesses his pint

elentlessly. An I am sbely emine that I have but tw p-tins: ecncile with Sue ffeit G’s inteventin in my life an

ministy. Realizing that it is useless t kick against a bick wall, I

. (T u f f f

thusan peple, withut the L’s blessing, teifies me.) I call

Su f. A I u .I G u’ u u . Bu -

u f 1 P 3:7. If I uu

, I . G

.

T u u u. G f u -

fl u. Ju u, “If u f-

f u f u

has smething against yu, leave yu gift thee in fnt f the

alta. Fist g an be ecncile t yu bthe; then cme anff u f” (M. 5:23–24). N u u u

squabbles with paents, fiens, cwkes, clients, teaches, bsses,

.

W ’ G ’ -

. T’ G u . u f J’ , f

f (J 3:9 11; J u



More Obstacles

u u

u . (Y, -tin just can’t be bkee, in spite f u best effts t make peace.

On thse ccasins we can take slace in the fact that G equies

, “If , f u,

” [R. 12:18].)

Dn’t allw uneslve cnflict with thes becme an bstacle ff .

No Passion

It’s insightful t stuy the payes that ae ece in the

Bible. Mst f them ae make by a significant intensity. Jacb

liteally westle with G f an entie night (Gen. 32:22–32).

Hannah paye with such geat emtin at the place f wship that

E, , u u (1 S. 1:9–16)! Jusweat ps f bl as he paye in the gaen f Gethsemane

(Lu 22:39–44). A u u f

, “ ”

(A 4:31).

By way f cntast, it seems as if we pay smewhat casu-. T u

vicemail message n a fien’s phne Even u pstue is ften



T H E B U S T E R S

—— . (S . 5 f

uj.)Fist, we nee t pay attentin t u pstue. N slumping

in u chais sitting with u legs csse as we appach u

awesme G. It is fa me apppiate t lean fwa n the

ege f u seats, t kneel, t stan with ams aise, t

f fl. O “ u.” H fi,

when we’e cnfessing sin expessing u ttal epenence upn

G, t be pstate befe him. If yu’ve neve eaten ug, I’ highly

.

I have als fun it helpful t pace as I pay. I am me attentive

an enegize as I walk the ive whee we live cve the hallways

( u) f u u f f u u

. W I f u.

A secn paye intensifie is t a passin t u tne f vice. Tis may feel cntive at fist, but if it is ne ut f a sincee

. I f f

Au A

ag. He was stetche ut, tennis acket extene, by paallel

t the gun, eaching f a ball. Te captin ea: “If yu’ll actu, u’ u.”

I have fun this t be tue in many aeas f life. When I



More Obstacles

f z f f, AIDS, -

, u ?Casual paying is s ut f place in situatins like these. If

’ ,

fi . N u.

No Persistence

“Ten Jesus tl his isciples a paable t shw them that they

shul always pay an nt give up.” S begins Luke 18. A sty

u f. T ju f ju

. T ju ’ u

fu .

U, ,

says, “she wn’t eventually wea me ut with he cming!” (Luke18:5). Jesus then applies this paable t paye. He pints ut, by

way f cntast, that G is nthing like the eluctant juge. He

f u .

T u u u

.S f G f u. T u

’ u D’ G



T H E B U S T E R S

! I f G

f .I f u u -

u j: “0–f–9!” U

he was efeing t, I aske him t epeat himself. “0–f–9,” he

sai again. “I paye f nine fiens evey ay—nt just the ec-

fi. I f C E. A f ! N ?”

I cul feel his pain. Nt because I’m a paticulaly empathetic

pesn (I’m nt). But because I have ften been in his shes. In fact,

smetimes I’ve wnee if ne way G keeps me humble is by

having my invitatins t u uteach events egulaly tune wn.I . I’ f “”

u f .

I shae this infmatin with my 0–f–9 buy. “S what

u ?” . “I ,” I . I f, I

x, I’ u u C Esevice. Te fifth name n my list was a fien wh ha tune wn

u- I’ u

. I ’ I f f f.

Bu I .

Guess wh shwe up f the Chistmas Eve sevice? Yup,u fi . A f! I f, f

late I eceive an invitatin fm him f a Satuay bunch at



More Obstacles

. P, J, J u Mu f

fiu f (Lu 9:28). T ’ -qu, “ u ” (Lu 11:1),

team having bseve Jesus at paye. Tey wee even with him in the

gaen f Gethsemane—althugh his appeal that they, t, pay was

f (Lu 22:39–46).

I am nt suggesting that Jesus smehw neee the cama-aeie f thes as encuagement t pay. He wul’ve cave

u F u -

f u. S, I f u

f fi f

f fiens. Even Luke’s bsevatin, n ne ccasin, that Jesus was“ ” “ ” (Lu

9:18). W u , Lu? B!

N u u . W ( -

j) fi . I ’

f (u x ) (u fi) u

(u u B ). If ’

that we’ like t make a pactice f ing, we shul fin thes

u.

L ff u f u u f. T u u, u -

u T fi



T H E B U S T E R S

A B u u -

f qu. H f u umeetings whee s much time was spent iscussing what t pay

abut that the paying itself gt cut sht? Te nly way t keep

this fm happening is t epeately ask gup membes t escibe

qu f

f u .Bible stuy gups can be a geat cntext in which t fin

paye patnes. If yu want t take it t the next level I wul

u . T

u ( , )

f u f . Su u . A fi

an essential chaacte tait t lk f in this patne. Get-tgethes

n’t have t take a lt f time (thity minutes will ) an may

take place befe afte a Sunay sevice if yu bth atten the

u.If u , I ’ u u u

make paye a egula habit with yu spuse. I have fun that

f u . F , f

fu , u , -

ingly bvius when they pay tgethe. In aitin, wmen seem x u

ff ff



More Obstacles

u f . Dffiu ,

, x , fu , x-f—’ uuu f

u.

I have fun it quite natual t suggest at the cnclusin f

u , “Wu u f I f u

abut this issue?” In all the times that I’ve aske f this pemissin,I’ u . (A I’ -

pene in a late chapte—thee was a happy ening t the incient.)

C u u I

u f . W , ,

(.., I’

G), z

f .

A -u f u

f . I I u

. !


1. W u G u u f

S S



T H E B U S T E R S

3. D u ? D

u’ .

O Cu u —

u — u ? W

u u j ?

W uu u u ? T

, ,

u f f G. W fu? W ?

L fu u u should . C f u

— f f f (

).

4. D G u f f f .

I u u

f? W G u f

?

5. If u’ , u u (..



THE BASICS





Patterns

Get into a Rut

mae thee lunch appintments with thee iffeent peple

last week. Nthing unusual abut that. But what may stike

u I u f u f

f (1:00 .. u )

at the same estauant (Califnia Pizza Kitchen). In fact, I even (u ju

Gz x u CPK)

T H E B A S I C S



T H E B A S I C S

xu , I’ f

I u u. H f u fi fu.

The Believer’s Armor

Nt lng ag I was attening a natinal cnfeence f pasts

when the event’s ganize, a fien f mine, aske me if I wul

x . I’ f

u u

fi. W , u , G “” x ? T’ u

f ’ . W

f u f ?

T f ( . 1) I u

aily basis. S I’m quite familia with the half zen pieces f am Pu (E. 6:13–17). A I

u f u, f u,

n, I cul feel my wn enthusiasm munting. It in’t hut that

the auience inclue a g numbe f Hispanic an Afican-

Ameican pasts wh spue me n by punctuating my payewith thei intejectins f “Yes, L!” an “Tank yu, Jesus!” (What

f I’ u f

Patter ns



Patter ns

f u f u u. T’

I’ u — I u— .

T x f E 6. E

f : /u; /u;

/; /f; /; /W f G.

B u u f .

L’ f u. W R

u u - u

. G

has given us a belt t wea. Ou belt is tuth. If we want t avi u f u f, u ,

u G u , f-f-

f uu u f u .

Te beastplate, the next piece f am, was intene t cve

a slie’s mst vital gans. Withut his beastplate in place he was . If u u u

u u f C. T u,

f u, fl f C’ -

. S f u G

u S— , , , ffu,fu, .

A ’ Pu’ T

T H E B A S I C S



u . I f uu f

. A u x-u u . T ’ f. N ju

f, u fi G. W u f G

us an ptimistic spiit when the aws f iscuagement, citi-

, , , u.

A helmet, f cuse, cvee a slie’s hea. A believe’s—, u, u— .

W u f ? W, -

pene t us as a esult f being save? Te Hly Spiit has taken

up esience in u lives. Ou sins have been fgiven. We have

z f . T uinheitance awaiting us in heaven. We pay n the helmet f salvatin

G fi u . W G,

f example, t give us a geate peccupatin with the thught

f u F ( u f ) u uu

thughts: wying abut buying a new lawnmwe, nticingthe g-lking gil wh just walke by, lamenting the aise

’ , ffi.

F, fu qu u .

T ff f . I

the enemy. Ou sw is G’s W. Jesus shwe us hw t use itwhen he tune the tables n Satan’s temptatins in the wileness.

Ju Su qu (N

Patter ns



numbe, a fienly guy picke up the phne. He nt nly ffee me

u , u u u— u!

A

that I’m a past. “Tee’s smething I’ve always wante t ask a

,” f u

. U-, I u. H qu has stumpe Bible schlas f centuies. But he supise me as he

u. “I ’ u u. O

I’ u u u, ‘W ’ ju

f u G ?’ D u

x?” . I ’.

“Nthing. Abslutely nthing. It gets eal quiet. Nby knws

what t say. Hw can I teach the guys in my gup t ffe up payes

f ?” G qu. I u

A Z f G’ u ( .

1). I x f x u f

wh G is, by inceasing his paye vcabulay with ws that

Su u G.

Of cuse, just knwing the attibutes n this list will nt neces-

G . I u x . O ’ fi

u , “L, I u f

T H E B A S I C S



I fi C, f

f u, u . I : “zz”

( u ?) . . . “C” ( u’

fin the best eep ish) . . . “Cubs” (Chicag’s favite team) . . .

“” ( I x?) . . . “” ( f f -

) . . . “” . . . “” . . . “” . . . “” . . . “ ” . . . “u” . . . “” . . . “” . . . “A E”

. . . “” . . . “” . . . “.”

W G

u? E u fi -

. Bu f u ju

t this attibute, u gal is t ty t think f as many assciate

ws ( expessins phases) as pssible. Let me give a few

x. W’ u

f . H

I u :

Faithful: . . . . . .

I call . . . keeps his pmises . . . s unlike my up-an-wn, ht-

- . . . . . . . . .

G emnstates in a fesh way each ay, even thugh I’ve ntxu u ’ ( L. 3:22–23).

Familiar with suffering: C u . . . u’

Patter ns



Firstborn among many brothers: se fm the ea . . . ti-

umphe ve sin an eath . . . guaantees my esuectin . . ., u f , u

-—u f . . . u

u .

Fortress: f . . . -

. . . f u . . . f . . . u f ’ .

Each mning I chse thee fu attibutes titles f

G like these an pay them back t him by vicing eveything

f u. I’

.

The Fruit of the Spirit

J G O f Fu S-

inay (Califnia) an the past pesient f an Anglican seminay in

Englan. He has witten a wnefully insightful an heat-waming

u ’ f f f u-

f . W u ,Glingay tells f a fien’s cani emaks. His fien sai that

the fuit f G’s Spiit was evient in Glingay’s life—with the

T H E B A S I C S



G’ . N I : I

tw thee ccasins. But that wul have gtten me nwheewithut G’s giving. An pehaps that is tue f anyne, with

j f fu u . If

G’ f u,

G u.”1

W ’ G, , u fu f Su . T ; j; ; ;

; ; ffu; ; f- (G.

5:22–23). N fu . (S u N

G u Pu u u

“fuit” t escibe these nine chaacteistics. But this cllectiveu u u u f

u.) I u B, ju ,

u I z . If u

use it as a patten f paye it wul be a g iea t wite the

fu --fi- u u .

I ’ uu u . I ju

fuit that seems mst neeful in my life at the mment an ask

G u . S I I’

f. S I u u I’ f u u . “L’ fu

f S ” I’ u “I’ u

Patter ns



pesently call f it: inteuptins t my ay’s agena; vely-cautius

( -) ; I x- u; —

u .

Yu . C fu u . P L

f fu. A u

fu u— fi.

Body Parts

Au I f u f , I much me fun with it when I intuce it t a gup f peple—be-

cause I insist that it be accmpanie by by mtins (always a chal-

u). “‘B ’ !” I’ u, f x,

Su u .

Tis will be fllwe by the eclaatin: “L, we give yuu .” A , u u u

I u. “Ou u f fu u

— u ,

u, . Bu ff u u

u u .”“A, L, u u f.” N,

uffl u f “T f u

T H E B A S I C S



G, “ u quz f

u.”“A, L, u u .” W u

’ P f A. Ou -

esent u esies an affectins. What have we been wngfully

? W u G u f?

D yu see hw this “by pats” patten f paye wks?Afte each pat is mentine an ientifie by sme mtin, we

f . F, f

u f u . S, ff G

u .

If this suns at all familia, it is because it’s nthing me than f Pu’ u u: “D ff

f u , u f , u ff

u G, u f

f; ff f u u f -

u” (R. 6:13). A ju fi

, Pu u (. 19).

T u u . A

u’ ju f u

, , f’huse. Yu stat with a by pat f yu chice. (I always began

u

Patter ns



A Few Friends

D u f u u ?

Wu’ u u Pu?

Pu f f. H :

• R (R. 1:9–10): “G . . . I u .”

• E (E. 1:15–16): “E I u

u f . . . I f u,

u .”

• P (P. 1:4): “I f f u,I j.”

• C (C. 1:9): “S u

u, f u.”

• T (1 T. 1:2–3): “W

G f f u, u u . Wu f u G F u

.”

• (2 . 1:3): “I G . . . I

u .”

I am s gateful f a mm an a a an a mthe-in-law wh

f Pu f f Bu ’ u

T H E B A S I C S



Unftunately, my tenency in the past has been t pay nly f

family an fiens if thee was an ugent nee in thei lives—if j, z, u

, f fi . I

qu u f .

S I z I u u -

f . T qu hit-an-miss. (An, t be hnest, it was me “miss” than “hit.”)

T fi I — I u

u— f f I u I

u . I fu, ,

f f : x f ( I’ ), C ( u u ),

f, , C.

M 100 ! N u I f

thse peple evey ay. (I knw that sme wul-be intecesss

settle f paying a ne-line, “Bless S-an-s,” f each pesn . I’ qu. Bu ’ . R

qu fi .) I

— I u— u f

f .

Have yu eve ne this? Eve ceate a massive paye list an f f ? If u , u’

pbably iscvee as I i that this appach wks well at

Patter ns



I f Su). I

P- u ’ I f -u . S I f fi x ,

I . O I’ u

.

A I f . Bu

I ’ f u . I ’ myself pay f twice as many peple the next ay. I just pick up

I f ff u , P-

nte as I g. It may take me a few weeks t cve eveyne I’ve

etemine t pay f, but thee’s a steay thughness t this

f f.One f my favite times t pay f thes is n my ealy

j. I’ qu x f A

t Z list as I’m stetching my muscles (the le I get, the lnge

u), I’ u x

. O u f f

ae while washing ishes, unning eans, walking the g,

.

T’ xu f u I

qu u. I f ff ( I ), I’ L

u. Ju . A





T H E B A S I C S



Spiitual blessings ae my next categy. I thank G f (in n

paticula e): the fgiveness f sins, the inwelling Hly Spiit,the cunsel f his W, an etenal hme in heaven, the life-missin

f C’ , f G’ .

Te peple in my life—elatinal blessings—fllw. I thank G

f my wife f thity yeas. I cul spen my entie “thank-yu” paye

Su ( u f — if she’s within easht). I thank G f my thee kis (t balance

u I’ ’ u

ut). I thank G f my c-wkes, the guys in my small gup,

u ( fu f

keeps cnfiences). If yu’e in sales, thank G f yu custmes.Ae yu a ct? Tank G f yu patients (but stp sht f

f u u).

O fi f : . A f 9 -

vte t tials, s I wn’t say much me at this pint. Tanking

G f u . A f G’s peace (Phil. 4:6–7) an jy (James 1:2–3) we expeience in u

. S . G f ,

thugh evey haship yu’e cuently facing, an fin smething

G f u.

Persecuted Brothers and Sisters

Patter ns

S ’ b h f h l k h ’



S : He’s your brother, too. Pray for him like he’s a

member of your family—because he is.Imagine that yu bthe siste ha been in ne f the

9/11. Wu’ u

ff ? W f

n that ay was hible—just think f hw much wse it wul’ve

f u f .A C f, u

u u— —u f

faith. Tey have lst thei jbs, thei kis have been enie schling,

they have little t eat, they have been scially haasse an physically

u, — u Ju ’ f . M u f

C u u u

! M f u f.

I cnfess that it has taken me fa t lng t becme cncene

abut these “elatives” f mine. But ve the past cuple f yeas G

has been expaning my heat f pesecute bthes an sistes

j f . G u H 13:3

fi : “R

f u f ,

f u u uff.”

I ha hea ministies in lcal jails an state penitentiaies



Patter ns

Y ’ j



Yu ’ u , ju

f . Ex. u u f j — u’ f

u Gz CPK.


1. L x f Pu E

6:13–17. W f u? (F

x, belt of truth I’

; I u’ ; Iu f .)

________ f u:

f __________:

________ f ________ :

f __________:

_________ f :

f S _________ f ______:

T H E B A S I C S

u u G T ff



u u G. T ff

G .

:

G:

4. W f u u ? H u f?

M f f f

f . P f f

.

Ex f :

C :

F:

W :T C:

5. H u “-u”

C f. G f f u,

x u u G f fi .

6 V V f M W



Promptings

Pray When the Spirit Says Pray

w that we have leane sme fmulaic ways t pay,

we ae eay t iscve hw t espn t the me

spntaneus pmptings f the Hly Spiit when it cmes

.Ou fi , u

imptant tasks Te battey that uns my basement sump pump

T H E B A S I C S

When We’re Anxious



When We re Anxious

M - f Su P 4:6–7:

“D nt be anxius abut anything, but in eveything, by paye

an petitin, with thanksgiving, pesent yu equests t G. An

f G, u, u

u u C Ju.” W’ fu u x, u f I ju

fi: x.

Wheneve we fin uselves wying abut smething a little

alam shul g ff in u mins. “ime t pay! ime t pay! ime

!” T . I’ I Ifin myself fetting an suenly ealize that I haven’t paye abut

. (“A u’ !” .)

A f H f

my chuch, we wee etuning hme via a stpve in Miami. In

Miami we wee suppse t claim u luggage, g thugh custms,echeck all bags an hustle t the gate f u next epatue. Wh-

eve ha mae u esevatins ha faile t take all f this int

accunt because we ha vey little time between flights t get evey-

. A , fi f u ju

. W’ M u.While I was waiting f my suitcase t appea n the cnvey

I u f x A u I u

Promptings

u G I f u



u G. I f u

x f u M— —u fu x

u u . Bu I

quickly ae that it sue wul be nice t get hme n time, having

ju u ff f 10 - u.

I ffi u -nunce t the cw: “If yu’e heae t Chicag, n’t wy

u u fl. I’ u.”

C? I ’ . I -fi -

bes f my team. My nly eget was that I han’t annunce t

I u f . (W !)

Wheneve I peach n Philippians 4:6–7 smene is bun

t cme up t me aftewa an ask: “Hw big es my anxiety

f I u ?” I

behin a questin like that. We assume that G is awfully busy an pefes nt t be bthee with u cncens unless they’e

fi u u , ? Bu x

cetainly esn’t encuage that st f thinking. Tis Sciptue

plainly teaches that if smething is big enugh t wy abut, it’s big

u u. (N anything everything f . 6.)W u xu u? P u . A, f u’

’ u u’ z

T H E B A S I C S

W C u , “N M D,”



W C u , N M D,

all immeiately cncene. My paents-in-law ae in thei mi-

flx ’ u . W

u f . C f

state they wee t pass thugh. Check. Cntact thei Flia neigh-

bs t see what time they’ left f Ohi. Check. Get in tuch

f fi u f f. C.

When we went t be that night we still ha n iea whee

Mm an Da wee. An we’ ne eveything we cul have ne

. A f . W -

. A left . W left ?(N: W uu . M

“qu” .) L ,

we went t be eanestly paying (finally!) an gt up the next mn-

Su’ ju fi. B ffi

them wn the pevius ay s they’ ecie t check int a htel.(N, ’ .)

If u u, ’ u

u. I. D’ . Ax f

the Hly Spiit t pay. Ae yu wie abut the taffic that’s keep-

u f ? P. (G f u I u f u

paying ) Ae yu wie abut finances? Pay Ae yu wie

Promptings

fu ’ fiu u. S



. H. D u f

it? Ten pay. I ea a efinitin f paye sme time ag that I

: Prayer is helplessness plus faith. Y!

Althugh we’ll be etuning t Philippians 4:6–7 in a late

, f x I

nw as it elates t anxiety. Tee is a tw-w phase in these u ,

u u fl . T I’ f

with thanksgiving.

I qu u’ fi

paying f smething than yu wee befe yu began. Leave u f u x- -

u -. E u? Yu

ecie t talk t G abut sme cncen an as yu i s—giving

u , f u—u

an bigge. Yu ween’t elieve when yu sai “amen.” Yu wee u.

L’ u u ’ —

sn as yu ealize that this stange nise was making yu anxius

u u . G ! Yu u : “L, I

’ ’ u u. Bu u .P

j” S f

T H E B A S I C S

u . “I ’



f f , L. Bu f

. T, , f 100,000 I’ u f

this ca. An thank yu f an hnest mechanic an the pptunity

u u .” (I’ u.) M u

.

When We’re Joyful

W u u’ ? O

u I , J. W’been best fiens f ve thity yeas, in spite f the fact that we live

a thusan miles apat an ae ftunate if we see each the nce a

. Bu f I’ I ,

J f . A I’ .

Ju J u x u u f Su . I

f u -

, ju , x

up each week. I was ecstatic t hea hw G ha been gwing

Jhn’s ministy. I felt pivilege that I was the ne he was calling .

Of u I J f u ’

Promptings

u mments f celebatin with him? Cnsie tw pithy exhta-



p y

tins that Paul puts sie by sie: “Be jyful always; pay cntinually”

(1 T. 5:16–17). I Pu u j

? T .

Occasins f jy ae the Hly Spiit’s pmptings t pay. G

esies that we shae u g news with him. When yu clse a big

u’ f , f uf “Y, G!” f u u u .

W u f ,

u , “L’ G u j -

.” W u u

u, ’ ju feel . S x O .

Seveal times a week it’s been my pactice t hea ut the

f u fi . Bf I fi I

u x j G. J f

. J , u. J f u -

fu u . I, I u

am nw waiting t fin ut just hw much unning I can etun

. Bu G f f f

u I x—

smething I eseve. N, evey un has been a gift. My habit f

T H E B A S I C S

ban stats jamming, an all the peple sing a sng f jy t the



L ( Exu 15).

Nehemiah finishes the aunting task f ebuiling a wall

aun vulneable Jeusalem. G’s enemies, wh have ne evey-

j, f

G’s peple ae cazy with jy. What they with thei jy?

T x Su: G. “A f f Ju, L . . . u Ju

jyfully the eicatin with sngs f thanksgiving an with the

music f cymbals, haps an lyes” (Neh. 12:27). A blwut w-

f.

Te apstle Pete has the pptunity t explain the g f C Cu, G u, z

cnvete. Ten Pete ties t explain t the suspicius Jewish lea-

f u ’ f u

G. T x . E . W

u u? Su

“ G, , ‘S , G

G u f’” (A 11:18).

Te patten is bvius. When G’s peple have smething

t celebate they ae quick t cmmunicate thei jy t him. Let

f j u . P u

u— f ’ .



T H E B A S I C S

Nw ecall the fact that Jesus neve yiele t temptatin.



N. T u “” ju u. Bu Ju

“.” D u u H u J-

u “uff ”? T (H. 2:18)

ges n t explain that this is why “he is able t help thse wh

.” F f u z u

stuggle because he beeze thugh simila stuggles himself, Jesus

u x ’ f— f .

Te wite f Hebews nw aws an applicatin fm this

u: “L u f fi,

fi u u

f ” (H. 4:16). u u ! W?Bu Ju u u , u u-

cessfully fught—an wn—simila battles, an because he has

x u

.

Let me ffe ne the g easn t pay when tempte.E fufi G

wants t satisfy in a g an whlesme way. Listen t what James

. F, fi u

f u u : “E ,

, ” (J 1:14). Nx, Jtells us nt t be fle by this pcess: “Dn’t be eceive, my ea

” ( 16) I f? A

Promptings

D u’ u



f B. I f, u N

D f ff D f

t allw G t meet his esies. Han’t G pven t Davi,

, G f f? N

f G f u: “I u

I, I u f f Su. I u’ u u, u ’ u . I

gave yu the huse f Isael an Juah. An if all this ha been

, I u u . W u

f Lord ?” (2 S.

12:7–9).“I u u !” W . G

f u —

cntay. Tis is why we must pay when tempte. Nt just f

Ju- u, u f

f f u.An while we’e at it, let me thw in ne me item t inclue

in u temptatin-pmpte paye. Pay f smeby else wh

may be uneging a simila temptatin. Tis is a bit f wism that

I u f B T A Journey to Victorious Praying.1

Tashe suggests that we ask G t give us a “paye buen”

when we’e tempte. Tis is a eep cncen t intecee f anthe

T H E B A S I C S

When We’re Concerned



Te cncens being efee t, at this pint, ae nt the vaiety

f x f

( f f P. 4:6–7). I

f . C

t u attentin in casual ( nt-s-casual) cnvesatin. We mustu f f

ju uu u.

T u z .

N u. R . Bu u f f-

ting t pay f thse t whm we mae that simple pmise, “I’ll be f u.” T u fi f u

f , “T u f f —G

has eally tune things aun.” We smile an say, “Oh, it was

.” A was . u ,

f u.Fiens f mine wh ae int antiquing (shpping f funitue

’ , u, u) , “T u qu

u .” W’ that u ? W, f u

fi f f u

but yu ecie t lk aun a bit lnge—it pbably wn’t be

u u. Yu u u. Yu u

Promptings

Bu ’ f I’ u .

O t t i i ti th t t



Ou pesent tpic is paye pmptings, thse spntaneus uges t

ju — f , , u

f ju u u. Ou f u

E 6:18: “A S

f qu. W ,

an always keep n paying f all the saints.” Yu can’t miss the “’” “” . Pu u u

f f . O, ’ ,

f .

W f fi u f

ing quite a bit f aguing lately, n’t just ffe him the latestC . Vu f . W u

neighb whispes t yu that she’s heae t the ct tmw

u f uu u , ’ ju , “I

u u .” Off f . W -

u u ’ ,’ ju u “ ” . P

qu: “Wu u f I f u? I’ fu

G f f . L f u.”

Ninety-nine pecent f the times that I ffe t pay f peple

(which I’m ing me an me these ays), they give me the

. C u ! I u

T H E B A S I C S

“N, thank yu!” was he immeiate espnse. “Paye esn’t

f I ’ f



f . u, I f

G u u.” W uff

that? Especially when it takes place in a busy aut shp with custm-

? T ffi fi f

t efen the chaacte f G t cect Shey’s pespective

f. I ju u qu, “I’ ,” I f.

Late that aftenn my cell phne ang an the calle I.D.

inicate the call came fm the epai shp. I assume a mechanic

. Bu

S z. S f u

f ff f . T f my sty? Even when peple tun wn u ppsal t pay f

, u G . D

they sense the genuine cncen that’s behin u, “Wul yu min

f I f u?”

Me an me I’m iscveing that thee’s haly a phne u’ fi f j .

S it’s nt unusual f me t cnclue ne f these intechanges with:

“H, f u, u u. . . .” I

u-

u u. (M’ u. W . W u.) A I . If ’

f f “A” f

Promptings

Please unestan. I n’t this because I’m a past. I

it because I’m a pay e I’m excite abut the pptunities that



it because I m a pay-e. I m excite abut the pptunities that

talking with thes gives me t pay f them. I’m egulaly chal-

u f - u u

each week t the same thing. “Dn’t leave hee tay,” I’ll say,

“withut paying f smeby.” An thee’s nthing that wams

, uu u

lbby, a guy with his am aun a buy’s shule, bth heas

, .

When We’re Angry

Ask any unbelieve unacquainte with the Bible t summaize

the basic pinciples that Jesus taught an “lve yu enemies” is sue

. E

C f u . A f u f do . T’ u ’ u Ju’ :

u , u , ’

u . W Ju’ .

Bu x,

Jesus will nt settle f a passive espnse. He expects us t takeactin. What actin? Let’s ea it f uselves: “Lve yu enemies,

u u u f

T H E B A S I C S

f-. T “fix” u

qu T



— qu. T

n a platfm that yu ppse. Te business cmpetit wh we

u u.

I u jufi N Y Y

baseball team (es anyby utsie f New Yk City like thse

u?). Su, u fi enemies “ u u ,” f. A

u

- u ff u .

I f ’ . A-

ew ha a stating psitin n the vasity team f a cuple f yeas u . I I’ j

ju, u I’ A gooooood!

He was a efene n a team that set ecs f its efense. He gave

100 fi. H f u ’

. A ’ . W, f , I f f . What’s not to like? I .

Ten ne ay it came t a bil in the lcke m afte a

. T fu . T

glum as they stippe ff sweat-sake jeseys an tsse scce

. A f

ju f f . B! H

Promptings

f , . I A u

G f u



G f u.

S f , A -

gize (st f) t him. An Anew amitte t the cach that

kicking the ball twa the bin ha nt been the smatest way t

put it away. My paye was answee beyn expectatin. (An

I in’t en up in jail f a felny against the cach.) When we’e

S

u .

P fi- ’

xu,

jfu,

,

,

.


1. W ( f) H

S’ ? H u

?

2 W u x ? W

T H E B A S I C S

5. W f u ( “E”

“”)? W? W u u f ?



)? W? W u u f ?

D .

6. I z H S’ ,

u u

u

xu:

jfu:

:

(f ):

( ):

D u u

u f .



PassionSay It Like You Mean It

am eeply inebte t Bill Gtha f cystallizing my thughts

n the imptance f paying with passin thugh Te Power

of Crying Out.1 L u ,

. Su I u u .T I u (, I

u ) u

T H E B A S I C S

f, u

f u.



Ou u f G. P 18

pictue f G’s espnse t a passinately paye paye. “In my

,” u, “I Lord; I

G f help. Fm his temple he hea my vice; my cy came

f , ” (P. 18:6). K D ’ ju . H

L.

W x, P 18,

I

Su “W Ou” (

“T L R T S”) u. I

! Ou u ju u u (

u ) I :

T qu,

fu f u ;

u .

S f ;

u fi f u,

u z u f .

H ;

Passion

H ,

f u .



T f x

fu f u -

u, O Lord,

f f u .

H f f ;

u f .

H u f fu ,

f f, f . (P. 18:7–17)

Nw that’s an answe t paye! Wul yu like t see G

u f f fl? A’

u’ -u . D’ f u

G n this spectacula seach an escue missin. Davi ha fille

his lungs with ai an then let lse with a lu cy t the L.

Tat’s exactly what Heaven ha been waiting t hea. “I’m n my

!” G .

A fi. A -

ate. A passinate paye is epenent. An these ae chaacteistics

G fl u u.

T H E B A S I C S

u. T f . W f

u u ? O



simple, plastic, san-fille evice. Optin tw was a me attactive,

u . Bu f f

. A - f . W’ .

As I began t give u infmatin t the saleswman wh

was waiting n us, I hea Sue mumble smething abut ptin ne f u. W I u

u , Su u: “A ’

f .” S f ,

u u . “M ’

cming up eal sn. I’ lve the ight ensemble n u pati.” When I f u ,

f fi u u: “I u !”

Why in’t she just say s the fist time? In all seiusness,

the me vlume Sue use, the me efinite an unambiguus

he appeal became. Similaly, u payes gain claity as we cy u L. W x ’

u u . T G f u:

uuu .

Jesus nce aske a guy, pint-blank, t stp beating aun the

u ju . A f - , B,

Passion

tin!” In what sense, then, was it astute? In the sense that it expse

u’ - u .



Jesus wante t hea, in n uncetain tems: “I want t get well.”

T u . R, u u

u f Ju

. Bu u x f f. A

Ju u u qu.Pehaps u payes lack efinitin because u heats lack

f. If f fi u

fm G then we wn’t be let wn when he esn’t elive. I have

a feeling that a lt f “yu-will-be-ne” paying falls int this

. If u x u u u G , ’ fi. Bu f, I u,

u G ( u) ff

the hk if he esn’t seem t answe us. “It must nt have been

G’ ,” .

W u G , , ’putting it all n the line. We’e taking a step f faith. We’e eclaing

u fi G’ x ’ f

. T ’ f u.

On anthe ccasin, Jesus encuntee a by wh was tyan-

z . T fi . T ’



Passion

A Desperate Prayer



A passinate paye is a espeate paye. Sheman Jacksn f u. H

ece, nt t lng ag, in the Dallas Morning News.2 Hee’s

what I emembe f it. Shem was n his way t chuch with his

seven-yea-l aughte, Alexa, when he ecie t stp f gas.

A u , , f ju-

. H .

Af S’ , u u u u,

shve it int Shem’s ibs, an aske f all his mney. Shem

uff . Bu f u

aun an lke int the back seat, he saw a stack f Gien

B x Ax. A u f

B. S

f .

“Yu u !” u u S -

. I u. T’ S

u G. H u u ( u silently

). T . I,

S u u

.On the etun tip Shem felt a gwing cnfience. He e-

clae “My Jesus is stnge than yu gun!” an explaine the



Passion

f, u, ff

.

S I f



S I u- u f -

f ’ . Bu

I . I u C Su qu

attling aun in the back f my min: “It ain’t payin’ if it ain’t

fevent” ( smething like that). I wnee: How much praying

around our church is really, really fervent? Really desperate? Really

enthusiastic-zealous-intense-earnest-passionate? I’m nt sue. I can

vuch f the time we spen paying but nt f the temperature

f .

W u u? I u ? A f qu I u

1, I u u : “W

u u G f u

neee t make a citical ecisin? When was the last time yu

u f u uf fa t lng? When was the last time yu intecee with a

f z f f-

, AIDS, , u ? W

u f u f f u

?”Wu f I u x f

T H E B A S I C S

O what abut the eluctant pphet, Jnah? Te guy wh

u f fi? T u

t l i t f ! “F i i th fi h [S i t



espeately paying man ut f me! “Fm insie the fish [Sciptue

ecs] Jnah paye t the Lord his G.” What? He just prayed ?

I J u? K : “H : ‘I

my istess I calle t the Lord, an he answee me. Fm the

epths f the gave I calle f help, an yu listene t my cy’”

(J 2:1–2). T’ “’” “.” T

f .

L’ f P’ qu S f G. A

Ju’ , P f fi

the wate twa the Savi. But then he saw the win an the waves(which meant he’ taken his eyes ff the L) an he began t sink.

Nt much time f extene paye when yu’e busy wning.

Bu ’ . D qu .

“P cried out, ‘ L, !’” (M. 14:30). A Ju . Im-

mediately, Su .O f. W J f -

, ’ Ej u u. u

u! Ej u f A Jz—

Ol estament Bnnie an Clye, ntius f thei mueus

ways. An Elijah’s jb, as G’s pphet, was t get in thei faces — f I— f

Passion

Despeate payes invite G t shw up. As yu pay, yu

u f fu , “I

”? Y ’



”? Yu ’ u .

A Dependent Prayer

Te passin with which we pay cmmunicates u epen-

u G. A B G u , “T ‘ u’

u f u

significant f G. An the esult f ‘cying ut’ is a wneful

emnstatin f G’s supenatual pwe t achieve all that is

.”4 T u.

Tis bings t min Jesus’ familia line fm his “I am the Vine,

yu ae the banches” speech (Jhn 15): “Apat fm me,” Jesus

state emphatically, “yu can nthing” (v. 5). Say it ut lu a few

: “I f fi f Ju.”

G . S — u .

P x f

. f Ju u

f , : “If u

u, u , u” (. 7). W

u u Ju u

f P Ju

T H E B A S I C S

lage whse behavi was becming me an me theatening.

C S u f u

u



u.

I ju fi C

u f I . A

a schlaship ffe fm it. Eveything seeme t be falling int

u f u . S u , f

. (R qu

I uu.)

A A f u,

f f u f

t apply again f a visa. In the ws, she ha ne sht—an nly ne sht—at an appeal. As he fiens, we i what any e-ble

A u u u. W

might have sme pull in getting Abby a visa. We slicite lettes

f efeence f he fm the cllege pesient an fm the U.S.

C f u ( C).Yet, in spite f the heavyweights Abby ha in he cne, thee

. M f-

I u f u.

Sme min fficial eviewing Abby’s appeal, they emine us,

cul ismiss he VIP lettes with a wave f his han. We all felt , u.

Passion

G G . T .

G lves being the G-t Guy (n ieveence intene) wh,

alne can get the jb ne “Call upn me in the ay f tuble ”



alne, can get the jb ne. Call upn me in the ay f tuble, G says thugh the psalmist, “I will elive yu, an yu will

” (P. 50:15). I’ f G u

u uff. H’ u f . H’

.

M ’ , u I fl

f f f

. (W’ u ,

efinitely not a G thing.) Sue may be fixing inne when she hans

me a ja f spaghetti sauce an says: “Hney, wul yu pen this? I

u’ .” N . I j - , flx

u f (’

), . Off . “I u,”

. A I f, “Yu u .”

O, I . Bu u : G

hne by payes f epenence. He lves t hea us acknwlege

. W u ’ f

’ : “I u u u, u f u

, .” W f

G u?

O . B G u u f

wh left his tuck iling while he an int a cnvenience ste t

T H E B A S I C S

S f —u f . L

ju “” fl

wee immeiately etune t him An in the meantime (this is



wee immeiately etune t him. An in the meantime (this is ) f u u

f u’ . N

f !5

S G u -ff! Bu f

-

. S, u u . G fi

u , uf, u. R -

ume f yu vice until it eaches a “call” “cy” level. ell G

f ’ u “ B.” T

!


1. W G f f u f

u qu? W u f

? H u u ?

2. W u qu ? M

qu fi fi

u f f

Passion

H u u u ? (O,

f u u f u

?)



?)

F u

u u u. P

u u— f, u . (C u!)

Puu u .

4. F u u uf

u f— f u

? P u .

I u u

G?





THE BUILDINGBLOCKS





Confess

Pull Sin up by the Roots

eveal yeas ag my chuch cmplete a multimillin-lla

auitium that gave us the technlgical ability t clealy

u G’ u u f —

best in sun, lighting, an meia. Well . . . almst. “Clealy

u” f , fi.

Ou u ’ qu u

T H E B U I L D I N G B L O C K S

cnfessin, f thanksgiving, an S f supplicatin. Balance

paying equies that we give equal time an attentin t each f

.



Au ACS fu f u

yeas, I’ve ften felt that this acnym cul be impve upn. F

, supplication ? L’

. Nx, I ju

’ adoration u I’ f

f G. Bu f I

launching my paye with confession, this wul change the acnym

CAS. A , I ju ’ .

F, ACS, , . Lme suggest a new acnym that es: CHA. When it’s time t

(.., ) G, I

fu ( f ).

Cf. H (f adoration). A ( supplication ).

T.Tis chapte an the next thee ae evte t spelling ut,

, f

. W’ confess. A ’ ju

because CHA begins with a C . It’s because we want t ensue a

f G.C f f

Confess

. A u f .

N u .

If yu think that I am exaggeating the extent t which un-



y gg gf u u G,

Su

: “Su f Lord ,

u . Bu u qu u f

u G; u f f u, ” (I. 59:1–2). T u : “If

I , L u ”

(P. 66:18).

I u u u, f , f

G u f u

cnfessing u sin. An the best place t g in Sciptue t lean

ff P 51. T K

D f ff B.

I have an easy time lcating Psalm 51 in my Bible. When I lk

at the gl eging aun the pages, thee’s a ak line that uns

f . T u f

been ubbe ff an eplace with smuges. Tat’s because I’ve

tune t this paticula chapte f G’s W again an again an

again. Abut as ften as I’ve neee t sme thugh cnfessing

f sin. King Davi has been my ment in this ega. His psalm

u fi f f



Confess

anthe f his psalms: “Wh can iscen his es? Fgive my

hien faults” (Ps. 19:12). We’e just nt vey astute at etecting

u wn sins. Tey emain hien t us. An that ceates a big A f



. Au u uf,

u ff u . Ou u

G f .

T I f

u f f, , H S’ .One f the fist things I pay each mning is that G’s Spiit wul

u fi f —

—. A I f .

Smetimes this pcess just takes place ally. But a cuple

f I u in han. Othewise my al evaluatins have a tenency t be-

ufi. K f

. A u u. Bu

’ j . M u

ju u . S u

u f ( “ ” ,

I ).

A egula stem-t-sten cleaning f u heats is a simila

necessity. Tis esn’t seem t happen—at least, nt in my life—un-

I . S f ju. I’

u u I ju


jb f cnfessing sin ally n my nn-junaling ays. It’s much

like my expeience with public speaking. Because I’ve pactice

f f f fu u f I ff



, I u ff u

xu.

H’ fu f ju u

cnsistency. I neve fill up me than ne sie f a page. Neve.

E f I , I f f u u u . W? Bu I ’

bun ut n this spiitual iscipline. An that happens wheneve

I keep aising the ba f what I expect fm myself. If I junal

thee pages wth f stuff tay, then I’ll feel like I shul fill at

x u. A I’ f f I f. (A ?)

Eu, I’ u I ’ u , I’ qu

ju .

S I stick with a ne-page summay f my pevius thee ays.

P. M j

my life uing that time. I’m just tying t ientify thse “hien

fu” x f. I ’, f x,

I D Qu—u I I

u f f f u. I ’

wite wn that I talke ve the backya fence with my neighb—

unless I nee t cnfess that I squelche the Hly Spiit’s pmpting




u / u.

P.

Su u? I’ . G uf -untebk an begin tay Dn’t take an hu pe enty yu’ll



ntebk an begin tay. Dn t take an hu pe enty yu ll

quickly give it up. Cncentate n cmpleting each eview in twenty

u. (I’ u u. F f

. Bu u u

u.)

The Results

Afte Nathan expse Davi’s sin, he spelle ut the epecus-sins f that sin (see 2 Sam. 12:10–14). It wasn’t a petty pictue.

Te G wh ha given Davi s much ha been ishne. G’s

enemies nw ha easn t glat. Vilent militay ppsitin, as well

u D’ f, u x.

A B u .Ouch! I nce hea an Afican-Ameican peache escibe

the esults f sin with these clful ws (an with a caence

): “S u u ’ . I

u u . A u

me than yu intene t pay.” I’m sue that Davi wul agee

Confess

u . Af f f u

f , I , f, .

I I f .M



M .

When my mm aive n the scene—calle by a neighb

wh ha witnesse my acbatics—I immeiately state apl-

gizing f the tn pants. I was sue that I was in big tuble f

u . Bu f— f

tth that I’ bken ff. Tat tth tune ut t be a fa me

expensive, time-cnsuming, an painful epecussin f the bike

. I u, I ’ -

z .

Of ’ u u f u , ’

peccupie with tn pants than with bken teeth. But Davi cuts

f ff f ff

B. I f ff L. “A

yu, yu nly, have I sinne an ne what is evil in yu sight” (P. 51:4).

We ae tempte t bject t this assessment f the amages n

D’ . H G “” ’

? Af , xu x B, -

spie t kill Uiah (he husban), he has betaye the peple whm , f u,


T’ “” u. T’ ff

G G u.

D U S f . S fi f u C S L H’



fi f u C. S. L. H -

mn f sme statue wh cespns extensively with his nephew,

W, u C. O

f S’

, uu :

Yu ; u,

u , u xu u

. Bu ,

x u f E [G]. I

u-

u ff f L u

N.2

Ou — f — ff

G u u . T

u f . F x,

u I I ju-

naling. “Lustful leeing at a petty gil,” I sai, is smething that Iu f . O, u I u f ju u

Confess

My intent is t emnstate hw imptant it is f yu t

f u ff G. C

u fu . Yu x f u u



. Yu x f u u

u , fi, , , ff.

Bu ’ f G. Cf u f

.

The Roots

A f I . S

. I , , - f u. I’ z

u u u f f . (A

u ?) A I u f u

fm sme new aea f capet. I state buying spay bttles f capet

u. T f ( ?) f f .

Afte a while these esiual shaws mae u capets lk

-- u f ’ . T’

when we bught in the ps, the guys with the steam cleane. Tei

qu u u u


P. 4:4). T : “D u u

, f” (E. 4:26–27). D

yu fllw the sequence that’s implie hee? Deep-seate ange f f u . A



u .

z 666, quz u

.

I ’ u u, u I fu fi

f. A . A the sins will get cnfesse, because they’e me bvius, while the

u. A f : I’

u u ff .

I u fl f , I’ -

u . W Su ’ I ,“Nthing,” because I n’t want t talk abut it. Instea, I g int the

f , u V, fl u f

u z ju I’ .

Te next ay I’m feeling guilty abut the pevius night’s meia

cntaminatin. S I cnfess t the L the lust that was stimulate I V. Bu I , f-

sin, the eal culpit in this scenai. I might fail t ientify an

u f xu u. S

?

Hee’s a secn example f a sin behin the sin. I can quite

z u f A

Confess

u f f ’ . I’ u

stuff that I shuln’t have t wait f telemaketes cts

.S, these ays when I cnfess my impatience t G, I als



S, these ays when I cnfess my impatience t G, I als

u ’ . Forgive my grandiosity, I .

T . T f . T

f .

A u fu u f ( f ju-

), L u

that yu cnfess. What was behin yu sacastic ett? What was

behin yu flitatin at the watecle? What was behin yu

G’ W? W u ?

S I’ ju, I’ j I

t cnfess (in ce, f cuse) an immeiately afte it I’ll wite,

“L?” Tis emins me t ask the L, when I’m paying thugh

f ju, u fi .

A f I , I f G’ .

The Request

S f f B f mile f Psalm 51. Afte Davi has eviewe his life, acknwlege



Confess

ful and just. N u I u’

fgiveness. G fgives sins because—the fist tw ws that

—’ loving and gracious. R? W Jchse faithful and just ve my cmb (the than the fact that



’ S- I’ )? Bu J x u

u, , f G’ f.

T G f u , fi f , u

he is faithful. Faithful t what? Faithful t his pmises (see Heb.10:23). If G says that he’s ging t smething—he es it!

A f G ’ f

f . T J G’ :

“I will fgive thei wickeness an will emembe thei sins n

” (J. 31:34). If G ’ f I f , u’ ffu. Fu f u, ’ G f .

Bu G’ f f

just ? Pu qu R 3:21–26.

T f C fu f

u sin upn the css. Teefe, it wul be unjust f G t fu f f u u u f

S. E f u -

pealing t Chist’s bl (“Cleanse me with hyssp”) that puchase

u f. A u G just, u f u (“

I ”).Faithful and just f u N I u


me, an I will be white than snw.” When we equest G t this

f u, u ’ ! I.

I fu ! D’ u u u ? D u



’ u f P 51 1 J 1:9?

A u I , I’

G f

forgives and purifies .

W ? N u f

Ju.

W ? N u

f Ju.O, u fl, .

N fu I . N u f Ju.3

O:

Ju .

A I .S f .

H .4

R I f ’ -

ship with Chist. What’s me, he esn’t see his nee f ne. Iecie t tell him why I nee Chist “I n’t knw what I’

Confess

fi, I u ; u u u

ffeings. Te sacifices f G ae a bken spiit; a bken an

cntite heat, O G, yu will nt espise” (Ps. 51:16–17). G u f f f .



I’ ? W u’ u broken

? W uu u ’

. B u.

A . B u u ’ fu .

B , ’ ?

Nt always. When I playe baseball as a by, I ha t c-

casinally beak in a new mitt. Remembe, yu ex-Little Leagu-

, ff u fi u fm the ste? Tey ween’t much use in that cnitin. Tey

u’ u fl u.

I’ u , u ,

u . A f u

u f, , u. B.

When we cnfess sin n a egula basis, we keep uselves in a

f — f . Ou

f f C. Ou u

espnsive t G’s leaings. G can use us. On the cntay, f


I

W, D.C., f . W f

f ’ ? ube me. We ace fm builings t mnuments t museums. My



f f u u

qu. Bu I ’ u . I

u f D.C.’ u . S

u f u u f .

Alng the way, my wife an kis ccasinally suggeste

u. I u f

( x —I

u x). A , I

f j, A u:

“Quick! Fm a giant X!” We ha n iea what he was talking

abut until he explaine that these wee the instuctins he’ been

given in gae schl t avi being abucte int a stange’s. S u . M f—

exceptin f me—immeiately assume the X psitin, a sign

fu . T

thught they wee hilaius. I bake at them t quit scewing

u .Unbken peple n’t emnstate a whle lt f gace twa

Confess


1. P ju . u f (, f u’ u ,

) A H S



u -u ). A H S

u fi u f

. T u -fu u,

j , , u f f .

2. u u u f u

( )— , u

V, u xu, -. W u u f

x?

Pu:

Mu:

3. S f H S u

f . I () ,

fi, G? W

? H?



Honor

Enter His Courts with Praise

ack in 1788, when u cunty electe Gege Wash-

ingtn, ne f the fist items n Cngess’ agena was

. T

an tie f kings pte f a simple “Gege” “M.

Washingtn.” Othes, wh wee cncene f the ignity f the

ffi u “H H P f U S




W I u u f f

K f K? I’ -

te f tempeament. I’m an excitable guy wh can becme quite . M f

f If u f x



f . If u , f x,

C Cu, u -

ute. Yu wn’t be able t shut them up as they tell yu abut the

W F, f Cu -ff ’69, -

f u .

I’ z? I C ’ -

z B ( ), u ff

f f ’ . O D J f u . O f

f u. O I f z W

. O ’ .

Whee is that same exubeant jy when we begin t talk t

G u G? W ’ ff f ju u u ? Bu ’ u. Ou

f j

x f f u G.

Te g news is that we can get the hunge back. Let me

x I’ f . S A-u Every Man’s Battle x f u

Honor

sual stimulatin f the wmen. Tey’e nibbling away at images f

g-lking c-wkes, mels in lingeie as, actesses in mv-

ies, pn stas n the Intenet, cheeleaes at spts events, bikini-cla gils at the beach, an flitatius fiens. Nibbling, nibbling,

ibbli g T h th g h f “i ” i th ’



nibbling. Ten, when they g hme f inne —supise—they e

u f .

T’ u , ? W’ u

pblem? Simple. Stp the snacking. Stave yu eyes, husbans, (.., ). A u’ z

u u f u f u

hme. Steve Atebun has lettes fm guys wh put this avice

u qu xu-

.

By nw yu’e pbably wneing what in the wl this anal-

. S . I’

cming fm as fa ut in left fiel as yu may think. My cntentin

u f G, u f

enteing his pesence, because we snack n junk-f jy all ay

. W’ uffi u x

u u fi.

Like what? Like tickets t a big game, inne at a geat

estauant, a 50-pecent-ff sale at Gap, a new sfa f theliving m, a cell phne that acts as a blene (why nt, they


A f u’ , ’ u

. If fu f ,

cmpetitins, shpping tips t the mall, mvies with multimillin-lla special effects, sleepves at fiens’ hmes, ballet ecitals, an

x u G? C



, x u G? C

B f ? C u’

u u u Su ? C u

? C f C? A u u f u uff

f G-f f?

W’ u f G. O

be n genuine glaness an jy when we cme befe him in paye.

H ju x, f-

less spiitual iscipline. Te key t a este appetite f G is

u ’ f u-

. T f f- f,

f u u f G-u.

The Humility

One f my favite cntempay wship bans is . . . Ops! I

Honor

T f ju

G G f . Exu ? G ’

f . O f u . P uwhat we bing t the table. It’s abut G an what he bings t

S f



. S f

f G .

Tis pint is unesce as Psalm 100 cntinues: “Knw that

Lord G. I u, ; peple, the sheep f his pastue” (v. 3). G is u ceat, u wne,

u shephe. He is nt epenent upn us f anything—least f all,

f u . L’ u. M u

f u G, .

I ecently ea a bigaphy f Jhn Aams, patit an secn

U.S. . Du Ru W, A,

Ben Fanklin an Tmas Jeffesn, seve as an ambassa t

F. I , , J Qu A,

F f u. J Q. fqu

x f u.

On ne ccasin, he witnesse the baptism f King Luis XVI’s

infant in Nte Dame Catheal. Eveyne pai hmage t the king

f f u. Bu

eache the alta, he ppe t his knees. An f the next half hu a massive chi sang sngs f wship t G. J. Q. wte t his



Honor

paise. He wnee if G neee u wship in e t feel

u f.

Bu L’ unestan that G’s eman f paise is f u wn g. Lewis

fi f u .



“Amiatin is the cect, aequate apppiate espnse t

. . . f u, ,

, .”Lewis then elates this insight t the tpic f paise: “I ha

neve ntice that all enjyment spntaneusly veflws int

paise. . . . I ha nt ntice hw the humblest, an at the same

u , ,

, fi . I j u x u

j.”3

Ou paise f G enables us t take full pleasue in him.

M u f G u u f ,

I sai a mment ag, an act f gveling. It’s an expessin f elight u j f G.

The “Hello”

I f N H


knw wh the calle is. I smile at my telephne an sacastically

, “H u, .”

D we this with G? D we bp int his pesence with ulatest list f equests, failing t ffe even a simple, “Hell”? Let’s

u f “” u u,



u f u u,

t Psalm 100: “Ente his gates with thanksgiving an his cuts with

; ” (. 4).

T f initiates a call n yu vice-activate cell phne. Smeby ecently

tie t shw me hw this wks, using his wn new ty. “Suppse I

S--,” . “A I . . .”

. O u , ’ f

u . H u .

S . F, u. P

activate u cnnectin with G. Tis is hw u cnvesatins

.

W f G’

u , ju u. A -

cutesy f geat magnitue because we ae ealing with yalty.

E u f N

King Ataxexes? King A was the ule f Pesia, the supepwe

f . A N ( ’ u— ’ f

Honor

If u f , u

me shul we pay attentin t the way in which we ente the pes-

ence f u heavenly King? It is easie, hweve, t n in ageement u . I

G’ u —u



x u ? O asking

f ’ honoring ?

My wife an I sme f u best paying tgethe as we u u . T

f . S u

(I u, Su “ ”) f

iectin, css a pictuesque wen bige, then etun alng the

the bank t whee we began. We it f the execise. We it f u f u u. W f u

u . Bu f f u

u .

An mst f what we pay abut has t with u kis.

Tey’e nw yung aults, the tw lest ae maie. I use tthink that u ays f paenting wul be ve when we eache

. B, I ! T f ju -

ten bigge! An s u espnsibility t pay f them has incease

expnentially. It is s tempting, when we stat wn that ive path,

ju f u . T’ u W fi fu f


I f -

G’ u. I f . I fiu

yu’e a lt like me—I neve catch n t anything until the thi. B, I’ u

I u.



f P 100: “F Lord

is g an his lve enues feve; his faithfulness cntinues

thugh all geneatins” (v. 5). Can yu spt the thee attibutesf G u? H

G’ , , ffu.

W u G u

Su. T u f .

W f G uf P 100? H f Lord.

(Wheneve this title appeas in small caps it’s a tanslatin f the He-

bew “Yahweh.” An “Yahweh” is the “I AM” hanle—same t—by

G f M. T f

u G f , Lord.)

I P 100 G G ( u,

but wth sme pneing), as Ceat an Owne (bth implie in

: “I u, ”), S (

’ “ f u”), K ( “u”

“ ”).If u G u u

Honor

Af u u, u u f x-

u u fi D. Az f -

. A ’ u f f . T x , u u ’

. E fi f -



. T , f , f . B

u u Az

them abut peseveing at bsevatin. An they wee making me u fi.

Te unftunate tuth is that mst f us ae nt vey bsevant

u f G. W’ f f

attibutes an titles f his—which we use ve an ve again in u

. Bu ’ u u G , f u. W, f

x, I “ ” (I.

8:14)? u G f!

What es it mean, that G is “zealus” (Ezek. 39:25), “my

” (P. 118:14), “ ” (M 6:3), “” (H.5:8), “ ” (Du. 32:11), “” (I. 53:3)? C u

squeeze sme tuth ut f each f these that can be paye back

G?

We’ve gt t tain uselves t be me bsevant. It’s my

they that guys ae weake at this activity, in geneal, than wmen.W ju ’ Su I u u


. S G f fu, ,

O u u. A G u

u u u.A . F u

can cut up, an save pages f yu best hymns t put in yu junal.



O stick tw thee pages f them at a time insie the cve f

u B u u . A u I

u (, I I juf ut n biblical guns), the l hymns give me s much me f

f u f G .

A thi an final tl is the A t Z list that I’ve inclue as

x . H u

f G I’ fi Su. S f

f f x. M f fi

membe f the inity. But this list makes a geat junal cmpanin

f u u G.

Bf u , ’ u

what yu’ve leane? ake thse thee attibutes f G that ae

f P 100— goodness, love, faith-

fulness— u . L’ fi .

Gness. What yu knw abut the gness f G fm

Su? I G ?W fu f B

Honor

Sciptue. Paul exhts us t “Hate what is evil; cling t what is

” (R. 12:9).

S L’ fl f f, . “G u Lord ,”

. Bu ’ . H u -

“



G “u . H u u

” (P. 25:8–9). A’ u ,

, G’ ? P G f u f .

Bu ’ . T’ G’ . G

f f. Ju u S Mu

(Matt. 7:11). King Davi escibes G as the One “wh satisfies

u ” (P. 103:5). W u f f G? P f

f . u , , fu

(P. 34:8).

Yu’ ju u. If u ,

u u x G f uqu f . Ju :“Tee is nly One wh is g” (Matt. 19:17). Yu cul thank him

f binging yu the message f salvatin, his g news (Rm.

10:15). Yu u z f fu

S u u (G. 5:22). Yu u

u S (J 10:11) f f u.Believe it nt yu still have nt cvee eveything that


f u uj u

G’ ?

2. W u f u “” u

u f G? H

f f ( )



u u f f (.. ) u

u f G u?

3. I u u u u

f G ?

4. C. S. L G need u

—u G. W ?W u f u -?

5. fu u f G f A Z

x. C u uf

. G f (f u) G. C u u

u ( f z ).

6. D u u . E

f G— — f .



Ask

Value the Relationship over the Request

--, J, u

f u’ . W

n the phne an aske if we cul get tgethe an talk, I ha

f f u R.

I was heae t my sn’s scce game that aftenn. S, Iu J: “W ’ u A’


’ . A ’ I

. H u I u

. I . I with all my paent fiens. I even ha t pcess a tagey—while we

wee watching the game, a hse ban acss the fiel caught n fie

f



f .

Finally, at the cnclusin f the game, Jamesn an I wee

walking back t the ca when it awne n me that I ha neveanswee his big equest. (Ha I fgtten was I just messin’

? W you ?) S, I u

u: “I u u qu u

me just befe the game.” Ten I pause. (Definitely messin’ with

.) “T ‘.’”I ’ f J u u

.

A lt f peple fin the asking pat f paye—the A f CHA—

t be equally fustating. Oftentimes, it seems as if G esn’t

answe u payes—at least, nt in a timely fashin. Maybe we

ff f ( J )

t the fact that G is tempaily peccupie with the stuff.

U uff.

G’s gt a univese (nt just a scce game) t watch ve,’ f ( ju f f)

Ask

Prioritize the Relationship

A fi , J 15:7 f Ju u f . Bu

u. T

’ ’ f f u



f f u

’ u fi f f .

If , then Ju u f . W’ ? “If u

my ws emain in yu, . . .” Tee ae actually tw pats t this

.

(1) We’ve gt t emain in Jesus. Hw we that? Centuies

ag, ne wite escibe it as “pacticing the pesence f G.” Wekeep a unning ialgue ging with Jesus thughut the cuse

f the ay. We make cmmuning with Jesus u tp piity. We

fu u u u u f-

.

(2) Jesus’ ws have t emain in us. We must becme peplef G’s Bk. We must faithfully ea an stuy an igest an

B.

D Ju u ? H’ —if

( u u f ) ’

u. T f - Ju u


— f f. Hu u

, f —u

.”1

Ju —

things that we ask f in paye. S, Jesus puts a cnitin n e-

spning t pa es A cnitin that m es s in the iectin



spning t u payes. A cnitin that mves us in the iectin

f . W u

u u.If Jesus in’t put this cnitin n answeing us, we might

. W u ? G

Ju, u f , u , u u

pefee selectin. O maybe a bette analgy wul be—since

u— Ju -u f f-f u. Ju :

“What wul yu like?” An we espn: “I’ll take a uble pm-

tin at wk, a happy maiage, an a cttage n a lake. N, let’s

supesize that lake cttage an make it an cean cn.” Nw, all we

u u u .

Is that what paying lks like in u lives? Maybe u equests

ae me legit than an cean cn. But is u expectatin the

same—that Jesus shul give us whateve (within easn) we ask

f? Ju ’ f ! H’ u until we stat t value u relationship me than u requests, until

Ask

Even thugh pstate cance is nt as lethal as sme the types

f , I u u u

xu u : “Ttustees nee sme infmatin fm yu.” (Te tustees ae the

fi ff f u u.) W

? “T ’ u



? T u

plan, in case smething shul eve happen t yu. Yu knw, if

u u die .”Gtta lve thse tustees! (An I sinceely .) Tey in’t

u u ju .

An they ween’t the nly nes wh wee attling my cage. I als

just “happene” t be eaing a bk n paye, Te Papa Prayer

by Lay Cabb, an this simple yet pfun bk was shaking u.2

D. Cabb’s basic thesis is the pint that I’ve been iving hme

fm Jhn 15:7: when we pay, G wants us t put a geate piity

u relationship u requests. I f, C

f u of G from G, u u u

— f ’ f.

Ww! I knew that Cabb was ight. Nw, that in’t mean—as

I f f —I u’

f f . I ! Bu I ju f f


fiu G I u.” G u

in paye, fiens. An he likes it when we accept fm his han

u .

Present the Requests



Present the Requests

L J 15:7. W Ju u , we have met his cnitin—piitize the elatinship—f paye?

“Ask whateve yu wish.” Ask! Dn’t just think abut pesenting

qu G. D .

I u J

in his New estament epistle: “Yu nt have, because yu ntask G” (James 4:2). Hw many times have we blame G f

u , u ’

?

W f? W fu u -

. W u u f u V , Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? R

? If u, , u qu u

can’t answe, yu’e allwe t call smeby n the utsie. But yu

u f u u

u f . A ’ , ’ .P ’ ! Yu ’ u f

Ask

Shugging his shules, the guy ffee: “Well, I’ve neve

been able t figue ut wmen. Can yu make it s I unestan my

f?” T qu : “Wu u fu ?”

Ju ’ u ju . H u “

u ” T f u u



u . T, f u, u

paye cnitin. Tat we ae emaining in him an his w is

u. T , , f u u

G.

If u z ,

u qu. A G . A

- ?Back in chapte 5, we cnsiee the imptance f paying

u u u fi u

what we esie fm G. Let me eiteate that pinciple hee. When

u qu G, u fi

. (A, f u, —

R. 8:26—: “W u

f, u S f f u

x.”)

M’ G f

f , , u f J.


N f Ju. H ju f

t fame thei equest with actual ws. I’m emine f the times

when my kis wee yunge an they’ appach thei mthe with qu, , f x —u

’ u u. Su u : “U

u .” T’ Ju f



J

guys t . use thei ws. ask him, specifically, f the

.D’ u ju u Ju u

’ u . “Yu

,” J u, “u u

G” (J 4:2).

Smetimes u failue t pay specifically is just plain lazinessn u pat. It takes t much enegy. Othe times we pay in vague

u ’ u— u f u -

u qu. S, G u :

“P, L, u éué ff

j.” O “P, L, u f .” O “P, L, I .”

Nthing wng with ne-lines—as lng as they’e just the

x, . B fi.

At u chuch we’ve ecently been asking G f a new mile

schl past. I n’t knw hw thes ae paying f this nee,but I can tell yu that when I aise this equest t G I ll ut

Ask

F u u f u

pint? Exactly what yu kis nee? D they nee sme psitive-

influence fiens, help in unestaning chemisty, a stnge u u, f ? T

f u . B fi.

Ae yu a salespesn wh heas ff t wk paying a quickie:



y p p y g q

“L, ”? W’ -

line? Unpack it in paye. D yu nee me leas, geate cnfi-ence when yu clse, me tech suppt, a geate sense that

u’ C— u , f

u ? T f u. B fi.

W u fi, u u qu

t G, yu’ll iscve that yu ne-minute payes gw int five-u -u . O, u u

f a paye-walk an fin yuself talking t G f a half-hu

— u u’ uf .

An thse extene cnvesatins (hee’s the bnus) will cntibute

twa yu highest paye gal f evelping yu elatinship G.

Pz . P qu.

Presume the Results


want him, the less thse the things ae ging t matte t yu.

Yu’ fi uf u Ju.

“Okay,” yu say. “I’m with yu when it cmes t asking fa silve Mecees, an executive psitin, a pm ate, a Cubs’

. Bu f I’ G f ?

T’ qu -



C, ?”

N, ’ . Bu : If u u’ C— ’

the primary intent f yu paye—G may nt always give yu

the secondary esults that yu’e lking f. In the hypthetical

case f yu a’s cance, his healing wul be categize as a

secondary u.S G ’ u u f:

f , , u ,

the cmplete emval f a cetain temptatin, acceptance

int the cllege f u chice, a g fien t hang ut with,

. A G ’ u u f, n many ccasins, is because that wuln’t be the best way

f u . A ’ primary u

G . R? E u f secondary

.

S, es this lea us t stp paying abut eveything thethan a me intimate elatinship with Chist? (Afte all eveything

Ask

H . If G ’ u “” ,

in ne f thee ways: n, slw, gw. All thee answes ae f

u ( , ). N,, —, x fu.

G “” u u qu f . A

G f f (J 1:17), ’



f u.

G says “slw” when u timing is wng. Tee may be nth-ing wng with the equest, but G wants us t wait f his answe.

H u , u , .

I . Su

I f “u” ( ’ u ).

We lve t g cycling tgethe alng a beautiful tail that unsbesie u lcal ive. But we culn’t that unless thee was a

way t bing the kis alng. S we paye f a “bugge.” An we

seache the newspape f a use, iscunte mel—since we

’ f . N. I L, -

, I u u qu . S .Au f f “u,” ,

fi u .

A f f f.

If the equest is wng, G will say, “n.” If the timing is

, G , “.” (A f , “u” u ) If u G


W u Ju? H

u u

?

W u u f G’ W

? If u ’ , u



.

2. D ffiu u u

G .

I , , u f G

u u u ? G u

u .

3. W u

u u G ?P u .

4. C u f :

G “” u qu— u z u f ?



Thank

Practice “Tank-You” Terapy

ave yu eve ha t g thugh physical theapy f any

? S I fi f f ff

. I’ f u,

stetching with my bush t each a place I’ misse, when uu I u


’ !” (: fi f

). T f u.

A u fi, u f . A ,

X- . S

X-, I qu x-



. I u ’ — I . T

u u. O u u f f fi , , f fi

. M fi f ff -

.

Afte my finge heale, all that hawae ha t be taken ut in

peatin numbe thee. Tis pemitte me t stat theapy. Ah, the j f ! I f ,

f ju, P.. u fu

an gueling. But they ha als insiste that I give it my 100 pecent

best efft. “Yu nly this ne time,” they ha wane, “an if yu

n’t it ight, yu’ll neve get the full use f yu finge back.”

S f f —

u f ff u — .

S I wke ha thughut my weeks f physical theapy.

A, u I ’ u fi , I

fi. T , f

Thank

, u , , ——

.

- u

(. 4) u . W ’ xu

spiit, we ught t talk t G abut it (Phil. 4:6–7). But pay always

“with thanksgiving,” Paul stesses. We tk a clse, but elatively

f



f, .

N, I’ u P 4:6–7 . Tis, as I’ve aleay affime, ne f my favite texts in all f Sciptue.

It’s well wth cmmitting t memy an egulaly meitating n.

An since we have smewhat cvee -paying in geneal, I wul

like t fcus u pesent iscussin n the passage’s specific cntext

u G: .Life’s ifficulties can twist an efm u spiits. “Tank-yu

theapy” (Y) is hw we pevent that fm happening. It’s hw we

f u u. I fi

u x u f f

f . (C u D B .)1

Te apstle Paul pmises us that if we will pactice Y,

then “the peace f G—which tanscens all unestaning—will

gua yu heats an yu mins in Chist Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). A

, guard . A x u Pu’ guard u f R


Be Fearful of Nothing

W ! B , “D xu

abut anything” (Phil. 4:6). Isn’t this akin t that l challenge: “Dn’t

u f x u”? W’

thing that ne is nw able t think abut? A pink elephant! (Okay yu



thing that ne is nw able t think abut? A pink elephant! (Okay, yu

u . Ju f u fl ,

u, u u. D u

u u f u .)

Yu . Bu I’ u u . Pu’

. N u

.

I can emembe, as a chil, thse times when I neee t make

. W’ f C

F f ,

wul be eay t bust befe we cleae Illinis. But my a,intent n eaching Gegia by nightfall, wul ett: “Just n’t

u !” O, f . N I

u f u. R? W!

I “D xu u ” ?

In spite f eveything I’ve just sai, yes! Hw I knw that? BecauseG’ W u u G’ W

Thank

fi , “M u f ffu ” (

x x ).

We ae willing t cncee that sme f u feas ae ill fune

. I f, ’ , f ju u u

u fif u uf, u -

, u u

Cu f



. Cu f

f . W u u u uf .

Bu fi u f f u

u u, u j f ju u

cnsie ptentially tagic, acute anxiety seems t be entiely calle

f. In fact, we tell uselves, nly smene ut f tuch with eality u .

E u u I -

teate t wite, my peaceful epse has been inteupte thee times

, ’

cicumstances. A fien’s mthe-in-law has been seveely epessean may be suicial. A mile-age single mm has been epeately

theatene by he ebellius teenage sn. A yung cuple’s baby

has ha a spike feve f almst a week, esulting in a uptue

u. D f? I x jufi-

? Wu Pu f f ?


H u u f u qu-

P L? W’ u

ccupying this teity? Nthing but bl, sweat, an teas t lk

f . Yu ? A j ?

Listen t what the L epeately says t Jshua n this cca-

— ju : “B uu, u u

; B uu; H I



; B uu; H I

cmmane yu? Be stng an cuageus. D nt be teifie; nt be iscuage, f the Lord yu G will be with yu wheeve

u ; O uu!” (J. 1: 6–7, 9, 18).

W , L. D’ u Ju

. N ,

x ffiu u, .G calls us t fealess, anxiety-fee living. Even when we fin

a cnm in u teenage’s jeans pcket. Even when the sump pump

u u u. E ’ u f

’ u ué. E ’

u. E u u .

G’s W es nt say, “D nt be anxius—unless the

u .” W ffu f . W

xu ’ f u juf :

“I’ ju .” H u u ne? Sme peple ty t blame thei anxieties n thei tempea

Thank

ence in his life. An he must have been smewhat self-cnscius

abut the age thing, since Paul ha t encuage him nt t let

anyne lk wn n him because he was yung (1 im. 4:12). An

ff, , Pu

G f u f

(2 . 1:7).

N



N, u u, u

f u ’ - . T

u, f u G C

High Noon. T ’ ! u

f u u ,

f Pu u f u (1 . 5:23).

N ! N u x-

. Pu ju u f f

u f . “B ffu f .” H

sensitive tempeament esn’t legitimize wying. G says, “Stp

!” A x u ?

Be Prayerful about Everything


G . W stop

start .

Hw we stp wying? By eplacing it with paying! It’s

P 4:6. Pu u fu f-

feent ws—in ne vese—t escibe the cue-all f anxiety:

prayer, petition, thanksgiving, requests.

A x f qufi f



A x f qufi f

paye? If it’s big enugh t wy abut, it’s big enugh t pay

u. W ’ u ff G u ff

u u u 104 , ’

, u . T u

f x, G .

A f u , ff f x I’ u f-

eight hus—nt because they wee huge, but because they just

were. I u u -

tential staff hie f a psitin we’ve ha a ha time filling. I paye

u f ’ f. I I u u u .

I u u f . I u

f f x u. I

f the wism t balance my t-busy scheule. If anything nagge

, f.Paying seems t a cuple f things t my feas Fist it

Thank

spt these things in my life, I can vey ften tace them back t ts

f x. A I .

L’ I ju ff f

I’ . N uu f —u ,

I’m embaasse t amit, have ccasinally passe thugh my

lips. My stana espnse t such an utbust is almst always

the immeiate paye: “Whee in the wl i that cme fm,



the immeiate paye: Whee in the wl i that cme fm,

L?” Tat’s a sincee equest n my pat. An I expect G t

. H f fi f

sme anxiety that has been subcnsciusly gnawing away at me.

N I u that .

Te secn thing that paying es t my feas is take my

fu ff (f ’ fi) G. Paye is a G-wa activity. At the isk f insulting yu

, u u

G . A G u, u u

u .

H u f f ? M

u f . I’ R fu,

u u. T I’ A

u fif f ,

u . I’ u .W ’ u ff f


Satuay night—when thee ae me unks n the a than at any

the time f the week. An that a light izzle is making the iving

u. A ffi f u

f . W u “,” ’

f f G u u u .

Why nt? Because yu have left the mst imptant ingeient

u f u . Yu with thanksgiving.



g g

Be Thankful for Anything

I H

anthe family ve f inne. Te as wee ut with the kis tick-- , Su

f f . S ,

u f f. Bu

u

f , , .Ru , Su u ’ f ff

. I f , . A -

teuptin. She etune t the ecipe an it calle f salt. Dbell

. . . . . . . . . .

A , fu uu f f Ou u ’

Thank

We must begin t pactice “thank-yu theapy.” It esn’t cme

u u. Bu u ,

u u z. T f G

u u .

I’ qufi f G

u . T fi u creative. I

easy t cme up with things t thank G f when we ae in a



y p g

ffu u. T u . G

u for u u— u

u. G u in

u tubles, which equies that we envisin all the g that cul

.

Let me give yu an example f what I’m suggesting. A vey pesnal example. As the seni leae f a faily lage chuch, I have

a cnstant cncen f the financial esuces t sustain u ministy.

W u f

thee campuses, pay the salaies f u wneful staff, suppt u

intenatinal patnes aun the wl, ceate uteach venues fshaing the g news f Chist, an meet the physical nees f the

u. If (

) ff, I f .

I ’ u fi u .

If I pay abut this matte withut aing the apppiatethanksgiving my agitatin just inceases But hw es a past


D u creative ? I qu

f u u

G f f u. Bu

. D’ f — u f

z. T .

Tis bings me t the secn qualifie f the pactice f “thank-

u ”— deliberate. M uf Y



yu ae pesenting a tubling equest t G. Eventually it will

becme habitual. Yu’ll autmatically a thanksgiving t yu

x- . Bu , f

. Yu f u’ z u f-

u fu f -u’. D . Bu

G (P. 4:6). A u .Tank G f the stength he’s making available t yu in yu

, f f W (u u

f f

[R. 8:28]), f ’ u, f

u, f u ucnflict, f the s he’s pening t shae the g news f Chist,

f u S— J — u G

f’ f.

What bit f tuble yu nee t pay abut, ight nw, with

thanksgiving ? B creative deliberate u f paise G even thugh: yu psitin at wk is being phase ut

Thank


1. A u ? W -

u u ? H u

juf u ?

W f u xu? I



u u

u— u —u u u

fuu uf?

2. W u P 4:6–7 3 x 5

u u u z.

3. H “ ” u u x

u f -?

W’ ff G “”

ffiu u G “f” ffiu

u?

4. If u (

uf). N u

f z G f “” f





THE

BENEFICIARIES





Unbelievers

Open a Door, Your Mouth, and a Heart

f I u

xu ’ V. M f

Sesame Street. u x!

I u

wee use t teach basic cncepts. Like the time that the lessnevlve aun the lette B Fu Muppets in a ck ban lking

T H E B E N E F I C I A R I E S

Back in chapte 8 we leane that this is als an imptant

builing blck in paye. It’s the A f u aily CHA with G.

A, u , f (A)

u u (Cf, H, T).

Ou actual pactice f paye might be epesente by the acnym:

CHAAAAA. We ae usually nt timi abut asking G f mney

, f , f



f u, f u fl, f u .

Because s much f u asking tens t evlve aun u wn

pesnal nees, I’ like t fcus, in the next few chaptes, n paying

f . T B f intercession, u u

u “f ” (1 . 2:1). W u f u intercession, u

f intercede u . T fi :

“t act as a meiat; t ask n smeby’s behalf; t intevene.”

T’ f . W

f A G.L’ u f

G’s heat. Te apstle Paul will be u le mel as we lean

f u. T fi f

u u u :

unbelievers. Nte the example that Paul sets f us in this vese:

Unbelievers

If yu’e nt satisfie with yu answes t these questins,

it shul be bvius that smething nees t change in yu life.

Jesus sai that thse wh fllw him wul becme “fishes f men”

(M. 4:19). If u ’ ,

z f .

I u u fi —

the help f ynamite! He’ light a stick f N, thw it in the wate,

an scp up the stunne fish that ee bl n t the suface When



an scp up the stunne fish that wee blwn t the suface. When

the lcal game waen hea f this activity, he went unecve

“fi” f u j . Ou

the wate, the suspect tk ut a stick f ynamite an lit it. Te

game waen immeiately pulle ut his bage an shute, “Yu’e

une aest!” But the calm eply, as the fuse bune wn, was,

“D u u fi?”

Mst Chist fllwes wul athe talk abut fishing f

u . A ’ ffiu u .

Ou peple fishing ften meets with little success. Paul explains

that s few spiitually lst peple espn t the gspel becauseSatan has bline thei eyes—they cannt see the tuth abut Chist

(2 C. 4:4). Only ivine inteventin can change this cnitin.

T’ ’ .

S u f f -

sin calle the “thee-pen paye” (It cmes fm Rn Hutchcaft’sbk Called to Greatness) 2 We pay f pen doors pptunities


u f . A I fl I

u f

f Z. I , I B

u u u I’ f.

T ’ Su R 10. A I fl

fi , I f -

paye. Paul prayed for the salvation of others, I wte in my junal.

So should I T’ Oh no It would be just like God



So should I . T . Oh, no. It would be just like God

to seat me next to a spiritual seeker on my flight. But I want to sleep.

My body craves sleep. If I ask God for an open door, he’s liable to give

me one—and that means good-bye to my nap.

I smehw esiste the uge t clse my Bible an junal

u ’ x f. I, I G (

u f u) , f u f

u C , I u —

f f z.

W I I I

, x u. H u u

u u .

Geat! But he was faily affable, an it in’t take me lng t fin ut

A f C

R. H u u S.

A , I u f-. Hexplaine t me that he ha ivie his life int fu quaants an

Unbelievers

Ju. I x , f fi,

u. H u u f —

f u.

N, ’ C f

f fl. Bu x - ’

f. I’ u f C .

H’ u f u u f! I

?



?

Pu f C f f

I’ . “A f u, , G

pen a f u message, s that we may pclaim the mystey f

C, f I ” (C. 4:3). Pu u

f . F u u C.

As I’ve mae a pactice f paying this paye, I’ve ntice that

f G . T fi

u. A I’ I’

f , f I’ - , u

u . S u u I

uff u .

T I

mechanic. Glen has been epaiing my vehicles f yeas, s we

uu I . H f fi (u

which I knw nthing). Ice fishing, eep-sea fishing, fly fishing—G u I f ’ fi



Unbelievers

f . W u I,

pesnally, am eaching? While sme membes f my chuch pb-

I (f

, I’ ), u fu-

as an evangelist. All ay lng I’m hanging ut with fellw Chist

fllwes (my staff), planning chuch sevices an esigning chuch

pgams. I’m envius f the guy wh gets t spen nine t five



uu u “” .S, pen s that mateialize fm my aily envinment

f f . T’ I’ f

ieas abut whee I might evelp pesnal elatinships with

u . W

the vasity scce team, my bleache-bum fienships with the f u . Bu

, I’ f

f.

I ’ u: I regularly ask God to lead me

into planned contacts with others that will give me opportunities totalk with them about Christ. Su I j R Cu? Vu-

L Lu ( f I ’

)? T ? S u? (T

I , -- C!) S u f

? (A f u , u I ’


u f C.

I f, , .

“I u u. I u ’

f- ’ . I u

u I .” B , B

u. N ju u u

u. Bu u

, “I u . . . I u . . . I u. . . .” I



,

—, , !

Bill wul pbably tell yu that I’ve exaggeate this sty f

u. Bu I’ u I ’ x. H

. K f Pu u

. W u , I

Pu f f C

. “P f , I u,

I f

f , f I . P I

f, I u” (E. 6:19–20).

Di I eally ea that? Di Paul eally ask f the ight ws an

f f f C? A

qu f f ? Yu! Pu

f u—f u .

Open s wn’t us any g unless we pen u muths ttake full avantage f them When pptunities aise t talk abut

Unbelievers

F , u . (A I ’ ju u

paye is the theme f this bk an I’m tying, at this pint, t

f .) Qu

G that a f cnvesatin has pene an ask him t nw

u u u C.

Pay like yu unestan that if G esn’t intevene, things aen’t

.

N ’ u f. If u G



hea yu paye f an pen muth an that he will make yu

aticulate an bl, say something ! Vluntee sme infmatin

u uf u . M -

u u u, , u

gt ut f yu Bible eaing that ay. What cul be me natual?

I emembe when it awne n me that, as an avi eae, I was

always telling peple abut a Gisham nvel I’ just finishe a

R R Sports Illustrated u.

W , ju u, u I

B?

S f u -

tual cnvesatin has been t say, “I’ll be paying abut that f yu,”

when smene shaes a pesnal haship with me. (As I nte

, I f u f -

’ fi . Bu f u u ff

u fi I’


stuents f seveal ecaes. He’s iscvee that the best way t

, ’ uu, qu.

He’s witten Questioning Evangelism t help the est f us lean this

. I ’ R’ u.3

But we mustn’t stp paying. Paying as we p efeences

u u . P u

ffe t pay f thes. Paying as we ask g questins. Open

my mouth, Lord. Open my mouth. Open my mouth. Ae yu able



y p y p y y

u? (M f I ’ f u

I’ V. Mu f .) W u

tw things at nce in evangelistic encuntes. We must keep

talking t G, even as we’e talking t thes. Open my mouth,

Lord, .

What’s next? What yu say nce yu initiate a spiitual

? Yu : Your His .

Your sty ecunts the juney f yu elatinship with Chist.

T’ uu “f” u f f f C, “-

f-” u (.., u u f

the Savi), an an “afte” esciptin f the tansfmatin (i.e.,

f , , , )

u.

If u f C ,

f -f- u . Bu

’ E f W C

Unbelievers

f, f f G. (I

-u ,

such as the Four Spiritual Laws bklet.4 Tese tls ae nt, as

u , —u u f.)

I u u

the gspel with thes. Tis gives me the pptunity t aw a

u , u f D-,



whateve else is available. (My glf p fien n the aiplane actually

ff f u

f my awing!) Tis gives peple a visual ai, as well as smething

f .

T f: ff (u , G

the the); a geat canyn (the sin that sepaates us fm a hly

G); aws that each fm u cliff t G’s—but which fall

( u );

that biges the tw cliffs (Jesus’ sacificial eath). I have the pesn

I’ fiu

iagam (t inicate whee he she is nw, spiitually speaking—t

f f f , ,

f ).

Ju your , His qu

. W I u , I

B fu u I’


I . Bu f C f

qu—qu .

Rick Waen’s Te Purpose Driven Life is anthe ne f my

favite giveaways.6 (Te bk has sme weaknesses, but it’s nt,

u .) I f -

u. A fi x

gspel within its pages. Recently, I have als been buying Chuck



Clsn’s Te Good Life in bulk, as gifts f spiitually seeking fiens.7

Cu f . T

.

If my spiitual cnvesatin has ccue with a pesn whm

I met in passing an may neve see again, I always ask f a business

ca pesnal aess. Tis allws me t sen a bk tw,

alng with an “I enjye meeting yu” nte. Smetimes I neve hea

f . (N -u f $19.95

I spent n the bk.) But ccasinally I get etun lettes that let

f .

A I I’ u . I !

I G u L S’, R W’, Cu

C’ u.

Open Heart

Unbelievers

u u u. Bu u . A

’ , f u u u G’ .

A .

When I was a by, my a wul measue my height by stan-

u --fu u . T

f , u u

by the spt t which I’ gwn. But I ecall that in juni high it

f I u’ f u. I u



f , f

fi f . (N, --u ,

I culn’t even clea fu feet, eleven inches.) I wul measue

myself almst evey week against that basement stu—but I always

f (u ). A u f u .

G’ . E u u

it, it says: “Npe! sht.” “All have sinne,” Paul pints ut a

f R, “ f f f G”

(R. 3:23). W ’ u u. A ’ f. Bu C u u f -

’ u f G. C f

f u f,

by ising again t ffe us his ighteusness as a gift. A gift that’s

f.


I , , F. Su

an I wee staying in a fien’s cnminium n the gulf she

beach. One ay as I was swimming in the cn’s pl, I stuck

u u u. I’ u fi uf ,

I f ’ u. (F u ’

fi, I u u u —uu I’

fi.)



W ff. I . S I

f u. I f u I

this cuple live abut thity minutes away fm me back hme—in

the vey cmmunity whee u chuch ha just state an exten-

u. T u u

new ministy in thei neighbh, abut its gwth fm 150

700 fi , u

being change. An as I talke, an they plitely listene, I kept

f .

But they shut wn the cnvesatin at that pint. Tey let

me knw that they wee eligius, thank yu, an nt inteeste

in anything beyn thei ban f “chuchianity.” An pen ,

f u u, u f .

W’ z ’ u , , f

G’ .

S G ’ ’

Unbelievers

u u : “I u ?” I

s afai f scaing him ff that I quickly mumble smething abut

it alluing t spiitual pinciples but that it was mstly abut leae-

New York imes’ - . “O,”

. “I u f I

ju ju .”

What a ebuke! Te Spiit spanke me g with thse ws.

I’ u f ff u .



But G was a cuple f steps ahea f me in my neighb’s life.

G . Bf I’ f

ne. S when yu get t this thi step in the thee-pen paye,

G f , ’ u f ’ u

u. Yu qufi .I A Passionate Life, M B W K

kin f a espnsive iniviual a “pesn f peace.”8 Tis esignatin

cmes fm the accunt f Jesus sening ut seventy-tw fllwes

u . A u ,

f “ f ”— u - . If ’ fi

f u ( Lu 10).

Been an Kallesta see this as a pinciple t be applie t

u ff . W , , f G

u f . A u fi . O



1. H () u u

—G’ f — C? I

u f ?

2. D u u

? If (



u u ? If (.. u u f C z f u

), u u fi “” “-

fi”?

3. M f fi C u

f. Nx ,

f u

f u

.

4. L u u

. S f u

u . W u u

u u ?

Unbelievers

7. P u (f–

–f) u u u.

F C f u

f.

P f u ( ) u

C. W ?

8 F f



8. F u f u u u f ( f ’ ju f f uff u

).



Children

Don’t Let Tem Leave Home without It

u . M . I’

cllect human-inteest illustatins f u semns. I fin

f fqu ’ -

tauants, n aiplanes, at ballgames. Te men’s lcke m at

u I u .

One f the favite tpics f cnvesatin in this venue is kis Das

Children

sl in the schl’s chesta cncet. Even if the by ha istin-

guishe himself accingly, his fathe wul pbably keep it t

f ’ . T u

be impesse with the fact that he may be aising the next Y-YM. (T - ’ f ’

f !)

D, , u ’ . N

—u f

thei chances f getting int the cllege f chice (which is ften



thei chances f getting int the cllege f chice (which is ften ’ ).

A f ? B-

u, , f u

j. “G,” I’ f , j

. M , u f u. I

( )

L V u f

pke playe at a casin! Nw, that’s smething t put in the family’s

C .

T fu f - u fi

nice gils, an aughtes fining nice bys t settle wn with.

“Nice” inclues (juging fm the cnvesatins): attactive, gainfully

, , u u

f .

I’m nt making this stuff up Tese ae the eams that fathes


f x I’ ju . T’ u

f f , I’

f .

Tis is what Jesus has ne—an is ing—f me. Jhn 17ecs a lengthy paye that Jesus paye f his immeiate is-

ciples, as well as f thse wh wul becme his fllwes ve

. Au f x f Ju’ S

n the Munt as “Te L’s Paye” (Matt. 6:9–13), many have

u x f J 17



u x f J 17 - f .

W J 17, f -

tensely lving paent wul want t pay f his he chilen.

A I u f

f. W’ fi f Ju’ ; -

, , f ,

, .

Priority Prayer

J’ G f (. 12–19) -

f Ju’ “” (.., ). S

fu “ -

u ” T f u

Children

away fm him, as ece by the the gspel wites (Matt. 26:39;

M 14:36; Lu 22:42). Bu f f

f ( f

J 17) ju z .Jesus’ example teaches us that inteceing f thes must

f u, u . C

xu f f u

have t many the imptant things t atten t? Tee’s shwing

up at the jb paying the bills keeping up with husehl ches an



up at the jb, paying the bills, keeping up with husehl ches anepais, taxiing kis aun, an gabbing a little bit f R&R in fnt

f V. W u fi —

qu—f ?

If u’ S C’ - Seven Habits

of Highly Effective People, u f fu-qu f f /u, /-u,

nn-imptant/ugent, an nn-imptant/nn-ugent activities.1

(I’ fu u.)

At ne en f the spectum ae thse activities that ae im-

ptant/ugent. If it’s Apil 14, f example, an yu haven’t pai

u x , u quf /

ugent. We have a tenency t get these sts f things ne. At

x -/-

u— ’ . N f ’

u R?


f . Bu f u f

u chilen, we ae enying them the blessings an ptectin that

G pvies nly when he is aske f such. (Remembe James

4:2: “Yu , u u G.”)Rany avis, ne f my favite cunty singes, escibes sme

f fi f ’ “W M

P.”2 T G f . Bu u

, . P f u has .

Me imptant than helping them with thei hmewk Me



Me imptant than helping them with thei hmewk. Meimptant than cheeing them n fm the sielines f a scce

game. Me imptant than shpping with them f a new pai

f jeans. Paying f u chilen has t becme a piity. An

---. If u u,

make time f it. (It may be a g iea, at this pint, t g backt ch. 1 an eea the sectin n the paye buste f “n plan.”

T , , u’

f u .)

Prototype Prayer

E Sff f D. H.

E u, F, fu C-

tian cicles as the funes f L’Abi Fellwship L’Abi was begun in

Children

E u C,

with the China Inlan Missin (iecte by D. Hste). F fu

u , u u u

pay, by name, f his entie team, thei families, an the peple . W fu , E u

x-f f f u j . D.

H — , u

. W z , G,

was his mentin f he wn name in paye Tis cnvince he



was his mentin f he wn name in paye. Tis cnvince he u G— f

.3

Ju’ J 17 u : “Af

Jesus sai this, he lke twa heaven an paye.” Afte Jesus

what ? T f J 16 u Ju juwane his isciples that they wul have tuble in this wl. Ten

u f

F. T , Ju , u

. H f .

Yu might ecall that the nly time—eve—Jesus’ isciples

aske him t teach them smething was the ccasin when they

expesse an inteest in leaning t pay (Luke 11:1). What ha

u u ? T ju J-

u . T ju

Ju


When I was gwing up, my family always fllwe up the

f f f B -

. T u u ,

f u u . Au u extempaneus payes, they sune petty canne ve time.

A f I f f

we wul utinely eel ff in the same ws, at ec spee, with

, f f .

W u u



W u uthe family table, I ntice that thei payes ha this same tenency

. I I fi u

w good . Tey wee beating this ajective t eath when they

. “L, , [u’

been well ] in schl, an make g fiens, an thank yu f . . . .” G f! W I u’ , I

u . “N good u .

Yu’ u .” T u -

mee paying f a time. One wul think I’ taken away the whle

. Bu u f u.

H’ I , f u u,

ufu

. R u u

came t thei mins (which ene up being the same l, same

) I’ A I’ u f

Children

I still assigne the maj tpic itself. An I cntinue t that,

f , u’

t pay abut imptant stuff that they might nt think t bing

u: f u , u u, , ,

B. Bu f u

, I’ u fi

u f .

I , , u



, , . Eu, f ju

tpics that I ha bught up, I aske f vluntees. “Wh wants

f G’ u? W f

E’ SA ?” A . I’ f

tpics (althugh still pesnally mentining the “biggies” that I’ u ). “W f?”

Once the maj tpics have been ivvie up, an the paticulas

f u, ’ . W ’ ’

’ u, ’ f

to G, in front of .

T’ ’ . T u

f fi .

It’s u jb, as paents, t teach u kis hw t pay. Tey lean

u ,

f If ’ ju “”


f: u, u G, Ju

C, u ” (. 3).

What is femst in Jesus’ min as he pays f thes? Eternal

life. H G G’ . Wught t be the pime cncen f mms an as as we pay f u

? T u f C.

Is this at the tp f u paye lists? If u payes f u

chilen wee mnite an we wee given a mnthly listing f

f , u



, ? M u

u: f , f u ,

get g gaes, bey bette at hme, be kept fm ham, an avi

sexual activity. Geat. Sme imptant items n that list. (Paents f

- .)But hw ften we pay f u chilen t knw G?

Hw ften we pay that they wul fully suene thei lives

C, x f ?

D ju u u ’

C , u ’ u’ u

? Ou ’ f

gante. We shul pay abut this matte as if thei etenal estiny

—u !

H u f D ? I

f u I’ f I

Children

. Bu f , f u ju

whee thei mm ha been spening he Satuay aftenns all

. S’ fi f

. Sfi, f .Nt supisingly, evey ne f almage’s siblings eventually

f C. I . T I’

u I u f

f . W x f f . Bu

wuln’t it be inspiing (maybe “shcking”) t hea abut sme



p g ( y g )as wh wee egulaly getting tgethe t pay that thei sns an

u u G f-f ?

A ’ f u

Chist. Te personal faith paye expesses a lnging f much me

. C disciples, decisions. S, u f u f G’

W, f u , f f , f

, f f f . T u f

u L.

I’ll neve fget the night that I tucke my lest aughte,

E, u u .

S u fi . “W’ ?” I

. H u u. “I ’ ,”

, “ u C.” I fu u

f f


in the wl, . . . Hly Fathe, ptect them by the pwe f yu

. . . . W I , I

f u . . . . M u

u f u u f ”(. 11, 12, 15).

H fu f

. W f f u -

, L u. T ,

u u f f. E



f ’ ’ !

Emily, my “I n’t want t be a casual Chistian” aughte,

ives with a lea ft. As a teenage, she was smewhat caeful

u u u (

f ) z. Bu ju “u .” W,

u

itch. When we gt the call, she quickly infme us that she wasn’t

u ’ .

We ace t the scene an saw “mthe ship” nse wn ina vey steep gully. It tk tw tw tucks, pulling fm iffeent

angles, t get the ca ut. By that time, thee wee a numbe f

emegency vehicles n the scene. We’ ne a petty g jb f

tying up taffic. Nt a few f thse mtists wee attening u

u u “ ”

Children

am f the wl” [v. 14]) an Satan (“ptect them fm the evil ne”

[. 15]). H f “E Ax” ( ,

Satan, an—nt efee t hee—the flesh) that ae cnstantly

C f.Wh will ptect u kis fm these teacheus enemies?

O G . W ’ . W’ f f

u chilen? Asie fm paents (an maybe an ccasinal ganma

yuth past), I n’t knw f anyne wh’s paying spiitual

u u u. M , ’



u j. W’ .

We all knw that Satan is a fmiable fe. But s is the wl.

I u u u, , u, -

ies, an clthing styles. It is elentless. An beyn that thee is

— fl. T fu u , fi, , u, .

H f u ? W u

payes f ptectin inclue? Let me give yu sme suggestins

u . F ff, I’ u

sin; that they’ fin it istasteful. Pvebs 8:13 says that “t fea Lord .” I

because f an intenal evulsin f the sin that they ae cncealing.

W D u B, f:

“M u . . . .

stength was sappe as in the heat f summe” (Ps 32:3 4) I’ve


u f u. I

u .

Ti, I’ve paye, an still pay, that my tw aughtes an

ne sn wul have quick-t-epent heats. Listen t what KingDavi ha t say n this sce: “Ten I acknwlege my sin t

yu an i nt cve up my iniquity. I sai, ‘I will cnfess my

Lord’— u f u f .

Tf u u

fu” (P. 32:5–6).D f f



D f x f

u G not fu? I

that questin is “yes.” Nt because G is hiing fm us, but because

u .

I’ u — I . I G f

evey hash w that escapes thei lips, f evey lustful etu

I, f f u, f fi .

I . S I , ,

thei heats—an that they will cy ut t G: “Ceate in me a pue, O G” (P. 51:10).

Futh, I’ve paye f my chilen what Jesus taught me t

pay f myself egaing temptatin: “Lea us nt int tempta-

tin, but elive us fm the evil ne” (Matt. 6:13). Tis paye

’ x f I

Children

People Prayer

Te final segment f Jesus’ Jhn 17 paye is a plea that his

fllwes wul expeience elatinal neness: He pays “that allf , F, ju u I u.

. . . I u ,

. . . . M u u

u u

” (. 20–23). I f J ’



f Ju’ .

H fif

lean fm the Savi’s example. As we pay f u chilen we

u f . T u

f . T fi . A u

flu u f.

I’ve fun it helpful t bing t min the vaius categies

f elatinships that my kis ae engage in as I pay f them. I

begin with thei elatinship with me. Yeah, that’s pbably a bitself-seving. But my chilen will “enjy lng life n the eath” if

—’ qu f u

( E. 6:2–3).

Ten I pay f thei elatinships with authity figues.

Tey’e neve ging t lean t submit t G if they efuse t


T I , f u, f ’ f. I G

give them Chist-fllwing buies wh will fan int flame thei

f L. P u u

f . Af Pu u “flthe evil esies f yuth,” he unesce the imptance f hanging

ut with the ight fiens, by aing, “an pusue ighteusness,

f, , L u f

u ” (2 . 2:22).

Recently, Sue an I an int a Chistian cuple whse aughte,



A, f f u u, R, u

schl. As we caught up n family news with this mm an a,

Su : “A R u u

high schl, in’t they?” Tat bsevatin bught back memies

f f

f C f u -

. W ’ . A

.

Of cuse, we als wante u kis t have fiens wh neeeJesus. Tat was cetainly an avantage—a isky ne—f being in the

u . W E, R, A u

fluers, fluees. W u

u . W

wul be bl in talking abut Chist an in inviting fiens t

Children

xu f f,

u u C.

Su I u fi f

u u u . Bu, G’gace, we lgge a lt f hus f intecessin. Te best paying, I’m

u Su u , .

I’ u f u

u . If M-

D’ B



f , F P f

u . O u, , u qu f

u . W’ u u f ( )

u chilen have benefite in ways that they will neve knw. If

’ f , u?


If u’ , u f

u u u.

1. W f u f u ?

H fqu u uu f


3. A u u u u

C f f ? If , u

u uf u f ? W

u u ?

4. R f u ’

f , fi

. P u f f u .



5. R f u ,

f u ’ .

6. H u u u u u u f u ?



Leaders

Protect the Quarterback

eveal yeas ag I expeience ne f my life’s mst uncm-

f . I ’ f

u I. T fif

thusan guys thee, incluing a sizable gup fm my

wn chuch. Tis weeken ally culminate in a sessin that was

. S u

fl


But this staium ally was an entiely iffeent matte. Nt nly

u u fl,

f

by swinging a twel ve his hea (like at a spting event?) an f u. I fi.

Te secn easn that this paise fest mae me uncmft-

u I f ffi ’ u

fi . B fif u

u . F ,I might have been a lusy past, ttally uneseving f thei



I might have been a lusy past, ttally uneseving f thei

. F , I

t the cnfeence—an hee they wee sceaming thei lungs

u f .

By way f cntast, I ecently gt a ca fm a man in uchuch. It was nly tw lines lng (pbably an epistle f him).

T fi : “Yu .” I u-

, . I fu

expessin f appeciatin that I thumb tacke that ca t the

bulletin ba ve my esk. I n’t min being the ecipient f genuine paise. But I n’t want t be gup-hugge by peple I

’ .

Inically, as I nevusly shifte fm ne ft t the the

fl f u, I ,

I u u

Leader s

vatins, but by stating up paye ministies that wul specifically

u . A f u

f . H u u f

u . H u u u u , , u 40 u

f I .

At fist, my avesin t being the cente f attentin almst

qu f

u chuch as a whle. Nt nly we have sces f pgams thateseve paye we als have hunes f staff an vluntee leaes



eseve paye, we als have hunes f staff an vluntee leaes

u fi f f. Bu I -

f , G

u I u .

N, I n’t want t be the sle beneficiay f paye at Chist

Cmmunity Chuch. I encuage u cngegatin t pay f all

u . O , I u

u ’ ff fi f . T

fu f f-. Ju , , f u: “I’ , ’ , ’

, O L, ’ f . N ,

, u ’ , O L, ’ f .”

Tee ae unique emans that a seni past faces in lea-

ing a chuch In this chapte I wul like t cnvince yu that


God’s Word Commands It

E , ju f N D f P, -mine f Paul’s exhtatin: “I uge, then, fist f all, that equests,

, f —f

u, fu qu

” (1 . 2:1–2). W Pu -

lenges Chist fllwes t pay, he singles ut ne gup in paticula u : L!



Paul specifically aws attentin, within this gup, t civil

u— ( , -

te, nt-s-benevlent ictat). Tis passage is ttte ut n

N D f P. I espnsibility t pay f u senats, gvens, mays, plice

f, ffi.

Bu Pu’ “ u” u u u

. Iu f u u. C

Pu f f u chuch leaes. Paul intimates that leaes ae the peple wh set the

f u . W , ,

an cunties, spiitual leaes influence chuches an Chistian

z. A, , .

T B fqu z u

Leader s

fl, , , .

A I u f , “T

!”

Easten cultue calls f the hning f leaes. We cullean smething fm them. I’m nt suggesting that the chuch’s

u “H Cf ”

f . Bu f u

espnsibility this leae has t set the tne f the chuch, ne

fi u u f u



f u .

Pray for your pastor to be honored, affirmed, encouraged, and

respected.

A Quarterback Takes Unusual Hits

A ecent aticle in Sports Illustrated escibe what makes

a cetain quateback s phenmenal. Tis guy is knwn f his

(..,

) u f

. H , , —u ju -

.

H th si s th t h ’s f t it t l g th


Bu I u u f . I

u u f .

He ges afte quatebacks. Pete wte that, “yu enemy the evil

pwls aun like a aing lin [ a menacing linebacke] lkingf u” (1 P. 5:8). P f fi

expeience. He ha been evastatingly sacke the night he’ enie

Ju, .

Inteestingly, Jesus ha a zen isciples whm he’ been

menting. Tese men (minus Juas, f cuse) wee estine t u’ fu . Bu P u



qu f u. A S . W

P u f .

W P ? N. W ? P.

R ? Ju P L Su ,“Satan has aske t sift yu as wheat.” What an minus wan-

ing! Ftunately, Jesus quickly ae: “But I have paye f yu,

S, u f f” (Lu 22:31–32). Ju

f P!

Pray for your pastor to be protected from the focused attacksof Satan.

People Are Shaken When a Leader Falls

Leader s

u . H

C f ’ f

ministy? Hw many unbelieves wee cnfime in thei suspicin

“ C ”?F , I’ f u f -

, I f u, ,

likely epecussins f a mal fall. What wul happen if I slept

, I f u u,

I W — I fu u?T u f C Cu Cu u -



usly amage. We wul efinitely make the healines f Chicag’s

uu . Hu f fu C

u u u f . M u

f I’ C u j . F ff u u

a mess t clean up—in the mist f thei pain. Te many men whm

I’ u f f I’ u

u u. A f—I ’

.It’s a teible thing wheneve any Chist fllwe takes a mal

spill. But when a Chistian leae falls, the epecussins ae exta-

. T fu u! Ju f

Isael’s kings. When they wee gly men (a aity), the peple wee

l B t h th b h i k l th h l ti



Leader s

I ’ u . I

fu ff. Bu -

f u. T . I ’ j

with smene wh is upset because he gt left ut f a ecisin, because she feels he salay package is inaequate. I n’t like

x u u “ u,” u

campaign is aising mney f a yuth facility, why we wn’t may

f ’ . I f

u .H 13:17 u C f -



u u u “

j, u.” L u f

fl u. Bu u

“u u,” u u x .

Pray for your pastor to be given wisdom, patience, perseverance,

and grace in facing people problems. And pray that those he leads

will be loyal, understanding, and supportive.

A Poor Family Relationship Disqualifies a Leader

T Pu qu: “If

h t hi f il h h t k f G ’


But I’ve gt t be ecncile with Sue befe I can get any wk

ne. Te natue f what I f a living emans it. Tis eally bugs

. If I , I u u u

u I Su. Bu , I ’ , make a big ministy ecisin, give wise feeback t a staff

I’ ff f. G ’ .

T u f . If I’

, f I’ j , I u’

tying t spiitually lea thes. Tis esn’t mean that I am espn- f u x . N,

h ill i h k h h i i f b



they will smetimes chse t take anthe path—in spite f my best

ff. T “ f”

ba chices. But it is my uty t eveything pssible t lea my kis

C, u G’ W, u f , ’ fi.

I picke up a new bk t ea last night. It’s ne that my

aughte Rachel an he husban, Jamesn, gave me f Fathe’s

D. T u. B! A I ,

I R f . I u f. I : “T u f

us—always willing t put thes fist, willing t cnfess when yu’ve

f , .”

I’ u I’ fu u R’ . A I

’t it h l ti t b lf

Leader s

O , u

aun the cicle. Te last pesn t eceive it then states it ut

u. I’ z— uu qu fu—

sentence can becme as it’s tansmitte fm ne pesn t anthe.“Te cws ae unning ut f gass an the fame esn’t knw

what t fee them” becmes “Te cas ae unning t fast—the

.”

P ( C ) f

G, ’ with thse they lea. If they n’t hea G accuately, they gable

f



, f .

Tat’s why James wans aspiing spiitual cmmunicats: “Nt

many f yu shul pesume t be teaches, my bthes, because yu

ju ” (J 3:1).T u u - u. G

u public speaking lightly—an neithe shul we. Ou pepaatin

u u . N u , u f

eveyne whm we can pssibly ecuit t the task. Te sty f D.

Wu C .Chapman was a faily yung man when he became, at the

f u, f u

in Philaelphia. Afte ne f his fist semns, an elely gentle-

— f u—


W u ,

fu f G. S

f f, I u f

fm being the cnuit that I nee t be. Let me list them hee s that u f u ( f -

u, u F G ).

Sin can pevent me fm heaing G speak as I pepae a

. W’ , f z

is peventing me fm heaing G speak. Fllw? If thee is uncn-f f, I u u u f u

t g th t t ll bli i t th f t th t th ght



a semn tgethe, ttally blivius t the fact that my thughts ae

G. S x u

f G’ u u .

Bu . T ’ u

quz u. W fqu A

6 u f u

u G’ W ( . 2–4). N u f ff

, , u, u can take the place f these tw piities. If we ae t busy t spen

fi G’ W, u.

Telgical laziness is anthe temptatin that pasts sme-

times succumb t. We ae s cncene abut being cultually elevant,

k iti t hi i th fti f

Leader s

. I f u f u I’

. u !

Finally, if I am nt fille with the Hly Spiit, my peaching

. W ’ :“Af , .

A fi H S f

G ” (A 4:31).

An s we have cme full cicle, emine again that paye is

the key t a leae’s success—in this case, t his he effectiveness u f G’ W.



Pray for your pastor’s teaching ministry—an ability to hear

God’s voice, time in the study, theological accuracy, the personal

application of truth, and the filling of God’s Spirit.

Spiritual Readiness Requires Consistent Discipline

My bthe-in-law, Jhn, is a tumpet playe. A seius tumpet

. H P.D. u, u u,

u f f .

I ’ u C J

f f . Af ,

I “W ’ J ?” I


pesnal iscipline. Paul challenge Past imthy t be pepae

j, “ u f ” (2 . 4:2).

Oh, t be a maj league baseball playe wh has the winte ff

( u j u)!P ff. I I . I u

u , u,

n the bike path, when I’m picking up a DVD at Blckbuste. Often a

simple “hell” evlves int a lengthie cnvesatin in which peple

f u .I can’t say n these spntaneus ccasins, “Yu knw, I’m nt

G ju If u’



G ju . If u

at the chuch ffice, I’ll have ha my mning quiet time by then

fu G.” N! T ’ u . I

in season and out of season.E I , I’ u

lcatin five hus away fm hme. (I’ tell yu whee, but then

I’ u.) Bu I uu u,

mning, f eaing G’s W, an spening sme time in paye,

f .Nt just because I lve G (which is my pime mtivatin). But

because I’ve gt t stay in shape spiitually. An I’ve gt t be eay f

whateve cmes my way tay. An that cul inclue an emegency

f u; u f u

(“ ” ’ )

Leader s

u . H

“ fuu.”1 T u

fi f .

An it als suns a lt like what the apstle Paul was -ing thughut his New estament epistles. As Paul challenge

u C’ , u

C’ , fuu. H

. T j f . (I’ f

, “u ” . Bu King James eneing f Pvebs 28:18 is misleaing—the vese

’ u I ’ u S N I V-



u , I u . S N I V-

f u .)

Te seni past shul be the biggest cheeleae f the

chuch’s missin. He shul live it, talk abut it, sleep n it, enthuse .

In Sam Waltn’s bigaphy, I was amuse t lean that the

Wal-Mat fune’s family gt iitate n vacatin when thei

.

He wul un insie, ame with a spial ntebk an pen, an j u

W-M .2

I u I u f . I’

cnstantly thinking abut the chuch. Hw cul we a bette jb

f hi i G f hi S i f i l i


5:00 .. f . I A

-1700, u u

fntie. His bthe, Chuck (kay, Chales), wte sme f the mst

. I u’ u. Yu ?

Pasts lve the chuch. Tey ae passinate abut the chuch’s

. T x ju

.

Pray that your pastor would be zealous for the church and compelling in promoting its mission.

N u f u — !



N u f u !


1. C C f f

. O f u u . T

f f

u u. H f, fi :

D 1: T u , ffi, u,

.

D 2 T f f

Leader s

D 6: T u u

.

Day 7: Tat they wul be zealus f the chuch an cmpelling

.

2. C ’ f

3 x 5 , u

u f .

3. D f u

f / f I



f / f u . I

u u!



Ac cou nt ab il it y Partne rs

f ff f u

cmmitment nt t watch R-ate mvies. But nby ha sai

u no .

My flesh (NIV: sinful natue) immeiately seize upn thislphle an I picke up a vie that lke like it might have sme

. I . I ’ . (L

, u ’ u u,

was not an X-ate mvie. But thee was enugh nuity in it t have

R , .) T uqu f u. N ?

Ftunately, I instantly knew “nw what.” I ha ecently begun



y y y g

u . O u

penly with each the was sexual temptatin. He was bun t ask

x: “H u u f yu eyes any unwhlesme images?” (Tis questin cmes iectly

f P. 101:2–3: “I u . I

f .”) I

punch. Instea f waiting t be aske, I calle him n the phne

f I’ .I n’t emembe all the etails f u cnvesatin, but I knw

u, f u f G’ f,

he gently state that I wul have t tell bth my wife an u eles

u . I . T f

f A


u . T f u -

fu ff.”

N, we n’t nee a pfessinal piest. But we nee sme-

ne wh will listen wisely t u cnfessin. An pay f us. Tis iswhat a g accuntability patne can . I am ging t make a case,

, f f uu u-

C f. T

u ju . Bu

f . Yu u j fi f u , ju u fi f .

Te gal f this elatinship is t help each the stay n G’s



g y

— u u . W

must stp neglecting this espnsibility with the Cain-like bjectin:

“A I ’ [ ’] ?” (G. 4:9). Y, f f, I . A u.

Pu u u, “B, f u , u

u [ f, ju G ]

u . Bu uf, u

. C ’ u” (G. 6:1–2). H -ste a fien wh has wanee int sin? Tugh pen an hnest

u. G f, f . A .

We can fin numeus examples f accuntability patnes,

f , Su. I , N’

f f T h k h l f


ing a issevice t the gspel, which welcmes eveyne int

G’s family n the basis f simple faith in Chist. Paul ha n

esevatins abut taking Pete t task n this sce, like a g

u u.D u N u f? O Pu? S

will speak the tuth t yu when yu may least want t hea it?

S u u G’ u’

wanee fm it? D yu have an accuntability patne wh is

f u, , u f u?

P fqu I uj: “H



I f ?” R . I’

u f. T uff.

The Parameters of an Accountability Partnership

I fu u . T

limits t what an accuntability patneship can f us. We nee u x.

ake my cell phne. What it es best is allw me t make an

. (O, I fu,

.) Bu f u f u

’ ( ’ k ) h h


f. H

f .

1. T ocsH u V Monk ? I’ u S

Fancisc plice etective wh’s gt OCD (bsessive-cmpulsive

ise). Because the seies ais n cable V, an we n’t have

cable V, we ha neve seen it. Until we iscvee that pevi-

u DVD u . N, ’.

Mnk is billiant at a cime scene. But he’s unbeaably annying



eveywhee else. He’s a pefectinist, a neatnick, an a phbiahlic.

Tee’s haly a thing he esn’t fea. Ftunately, f Mnk, he’s

u . W . S-f-u-

uff.

Tis is nt what ne es with an accuntability patne.

Accuntability is iffeent fm theapy. Accuntability assumes

. . . u . . . . T ’ - u; .

Accuntability patnes n’t fcus n ises; they fcus n

.

T —fu, x— u-


Investment with family: A u u f?

H u fl u ? H

u qu u ? W -

u u ?

Balance with work and other priorities: A u ?

H u u ? H u -

? W u f x ? A u

u ?

W fu . A

uj T u



uj. T u

f u . If f, ’

, .

2. T ruth

Au (I ’ I

) f u

. E u u. Bu

.

I I

C Cu Cu, I ff

u f u u. R u. I,


been ____-____ing me? Te inclinatin t cve up is s stng that

x (f f

past, n less) t aw ut an hnest espnse. An I have fequently

ha men hang thei heas in shame afte my n-hls-bae, eathy qu , , ’ .

Deman the tuth fm yu AP. An eman it fm

uf.

3. T To (Ista of For )I u

f f . H’ , I -



: Mu for ,

instea f to peple. Let me explain the iffeence, using the Nathan/

Davi cnfntatin as an illustatin. Nathan (a g manage)in’t take it n himself t fix Davi by ffeing all sts f emeies

f ’ u uu . H ju

D, x

u f.

D yu see the iffeence between thse tw appaches?

N ’ f for D’

(

). T u f f


f , uj : “’ -

u , ’ u.”

Accuntability patneships wk best as ne-n-ne elatin-

. T ju ’ u f , , u . A u

’ ,

.

W’ , f u u (-

munity gup, life gup, iscipleship gup, whateve yu call it), Iwn’t necessaily feel a pesnal espnsibility t fllw up with yu.

Af , u u u



sai. Suely ne f them will check back with yu. Pbably smene

wh’s clse t yu than I am. O s I easn. But I n’t easn that

way with my AP. When he ivulges things t me, I wite them wn.I u f u .

A u f AP I u

t u twsme. We ha g intentins. Tis Chistian bthe

, u f j u

f. I f u -

nciliatin with his wife an chuch, an his eventual estatin t

. A f G’ . Bu

u f f , u


It just felt like when Sue an I have ha cmpany stay t

u u— u

u . S I u u . fi

AP. I fu u , f u. A, u ? H u AP, M ( AP) I

u .

The Particulars of an Accountability Partnership

Nw that yu unestan sme basic bunaies that must

f fl



f u flu,

yu ae eay t get state. Hee ae a few simple steps t keep

u . (F u. I’ f u.)

1. Pck

Chse a patne. Tis pesn es nt have t be a g

f u’ f .A I AP

u u— . T

u u , , f

ften gets in the way f the accuntability. Instea f spening time


suning ba. Smetimes he cnsles me, smetimes he kicks

u. A I I’ f .

L u f qu f AP. F

f, u fi. Yu ’ u u u AP—

eveyby knws abut them. Tat happene t me nce. Nt with

M, G. I .

G , f , f

I f. I ’ , u uI . I f I J. T x

my schl fiens geete me with the chant: “Jimmy an Jill, sittin’

” Yu f I u’



, ------. Yu f . I u

G. I f I

f f . AP -.Secn, lk f smene wh is at the elatively same stage f

Chistian expeience as yu ae. If ne f yu is significantly futhe

C ,

f

u .Ti, fin an AP wh’s available. Yu n’t want t have t

keep canceling an esetting appintments because f cnflicts

u.

Fu, . I


smene in yu small gup. (If yu’e nt cuently in a gup,

j .) Yu -

iviual t sme extent. An yu’e bth pusuing spiitual gwth.

A u u?I’ll wan yu ahea f time that asking smene t be yu AP

u. Yu j-

. Yu “ u”

f . R ? (M u’ .)

I aske Sue ut the fall semeste f u feshman yea at cllege, f I

than a fienship. Unftunately, she wasn’t lking f smene

xu S ju



, xu . S ju

f buies. Ouch! (Tank gness she eventually change he

.)Yu f fi f u fi

f u . D’

up. An n’t scae the fish away by tying t set the hk t sn.

(I can’t believe I’m using a fishing analgy. I neve fish. Neve.) Gab

a cup f cffee a few times tgethe. Just t talk. (I’m back n familiagun with cffee. I cffee.) Dn’t ppse an accuntability

u u’ u u

.


x f u . O , f u f

u , u u

u . Yu u f ’

u fi u -. L u.

R, I u u f

the electic pene. Nthing happene. Nt a g way t

. I u u u

the mt. It tk me abut ten secns t ealize that I ha n iea I f. Fu, , I

that pve t be helpful. I saw an 800 numbe f the manufactue.

Wh I ll f h i l i h fi i I k



When I calle f technical assistance, the fist questin I was aske

: “W’ u ?” A

ju : “I ’ !”Te technician culn’t help me base upn such a ba syn-

psis f my pblem. He neee etails. S he walke me thugh a

step-by-step iagnsis f the malfunctining equipment. We even-

u u u.

If AP I u f , u

ecaps f u lives ten t be much t geneal t each the

. L’ , f x, Su I u-

. Bu x I AP —-

—. W , “H Su?” I


Let me suggest that, if a set meeting time esn’t wk f

yu—because yu tavel yu’e cnstantly switching shifts—yu

u AP u u u u

f u very next zu. S- - .

Whee shul yu meet? Chse a place that affs yu sme

. M I u, I’ u

M. H’ ffi f u f

j . W u u u u estauant. But we change lcatins f seveal easns: eating

u u , u

u ( u Su) uf



u ( u Su) uf

F u f

, f ju ’ u u.

Hee’s ne final tip if yu’ve gt yuself a geat AP but the

f u ju ’ f -

. Au u u,

thee an hu befe the weekly sevice f yu accuntability appintment. O if yu’e in the same small gup (as peviusly

ecmmene), gab a cup f cffee tgethe aftewas. (Just watch

u f —’

f .)


u u . N -

u . Bu f u’ u u f

with yu AP, evey the week, yu’ bette make evey minute

f u.S, as abupt as it may feel, pen biefly in paye an then ne

f yu stat sclling thugh hw yu’ve been ing with ega t

the accuntability tpics. Dn’t skip any f them. But n’t spen s

u f .

W f j u uf? D u ? If u AP’ u u, u

ty t keep the cnvesatin mving s that yu can get t the

cncens? N Tat’s when yu thw the clck ut the winw



cncens? N. Tat s when yu thw the clck ut the winw.

I f, u AP f

’ u u f any uf u .

M u u u

u f u . B f u -

tent accuntability, which yu’ll miss ut n if yu meetings ae

fqu u. K f f u f u .

4. Prob

I u j u




, u . Bu I ’

Su u u I

.

Tat’s when I was stuck by a nvel iea. One f my fiens

u C . W u

at the gym tgethe. I cul tell him abut my wnging. He

f f , ? H’ x

t say t me. S that’s what I i. I went an spille the beans t

F J. A u ? N u. H that my sin was unestanable given my cicumstances. An he

u u f . T .

I was s unewhelme by that expeience. I’ wante my



y p y

f fi fu f ,

in paye seeking G’s fgiveness, an t give me sme cunsel ast hw t avi a simila tansgessin in the futue. Instea, he gave

“ ” . N .

I’ f AP -

. M fqu , f

AP, . T AP : “I u, . I u

f.” N . N f u fu.

N u .

What these guys eally want fm an AP? Tey want an


the ws, vacate yu cuent health club.” Tat’s nt a vebatim

qu f I u—u ’ .

Mak an I have given each the pemissin t pescibe what-

x f u f u f . I I

an inecent vie. Mak’s pesciptin n that ccasin equie that

I ivulge what I’ ne t bth Sue an u chuch’s eles. Gulp! Tat

was bitte meicine t swallw. But it was bette, in the lng un, than

if Mak ha just listene, assue me f G’s fgiveness, an let the . H u u .

Ove the yeas, we have cunsele each the t sme ha

z u u u



. z. u u. u

with a willing spiit. lse weight. wnla espnsibility

. fi PC. W’ -. W’ f f.

6. Pray

T u . Bu I’

. Bu ’ uuu f u -

.

If u fqu u , “W, ’ u

u f , u f

,” u u u . E ,


u u ? If u

AP, u u u u qu f ?

2. L fu f f u u

u, qu u u

u u .

3. W u u ufu AP?

H u u u

?

4. W u u f AP? B



u . R u

u f AP . S f uj .

5. W () () u u f u

u AP?

6. O u AP, /

u u.

7. F u u u?

Satan



Dress for Success

ne f my favite musicals (it’s a faily sht list) is Fid-dler on the Roof. I’ f , J

Ru f

twentieth centuy. evya lves t talk t G abut the

f— f fi

Satan

pfits (benefits) in a g way fm smeby else’s actin. But

qu , “ .” S, I’

u f S

en f u payes. Tey will efinitely impact him. An, in that

, f fi.

Please n’t ague with me thelgically linguistically n

this pint. Yu n’t have t agee that “beneficiay” is the best label

S u . Ju

u. T u f f u .

T E 6, I’ -

eay mentine a cuple f times. Te believe’s six-piece am is



u . H u u u

suit yet? (Tis is ne f the pattens that I ecmmene back inch. 3.) If yu haven’t felt cmpelle t this, it may be that yu

nee a fulle explanatin f the ange that yu’e in. A ange

that makes the weaing f ne’s am an abslute must . Let me

summaize Paul’s cunsel in Ephesians 6:10–20 in the fm f thee

.

Don’t Be Naïve!


Sinning has been u natual inclinatin f yeas. It’s becme

. W u . Ou -

pensity is t isbey G. If G’s W says, “D this” “Dn’t

,” u fl : “N! I’ ju I .” M

f u C f’ f

fu u.

Nw, the g news is that nce we suene u lives t

C, S u u -

cme the tyanny f u flesh. We can ebuff thse intenal impulsest sin. In the ws f an l hymn, Jesus “beaks the pwe f

cancelle sin, he sets the pisne fee.”3 Ou sins wee cancelle

ju —f, — u



C u. Bu

u . H f ufl.

Ou u . T B u

x f flu u

pmpt us t leave G’s path f ighteusness. Te wl can cn-

f u f f u, , ’ x-tatins, avetising, schl textbks. Te wl pmtes

u, , G’.

Smetimes u flesh an the wl jin fces—like in tag-team

westling—t ppse us. F example, my sinful natue lves t

Satan

emy thee is even me angeus—an luks aun evey cne.

Pu fi “ ” (. 11), u u

u u . T

evil is G’s achenemy. If we can believe in an unseen G, it

u ffiu . B

uu .

C. S. Lewis was a ie-ha atheist, teaching at bth Cambige

Oxf u. W -

f u f C f, x

newfun cnvictins in witing. Te Chnicles f Nania, a seies

f ’ u C A,

Lewis t eaes. But his Screwtape Letters, anthe wk f fictin,

f



f .

Lewis ceate an imaginay cespnence between a seni-level emn, Scewtape, an his bumbling nephew, Wmw. He

mixe geat fun with biblical insight. But he mae it abslutely clea

that evil avesaies actually exist. Demns ae f eal! An ne

f u ’. A S

tells Wmw: “Te fact that ‘evils’ ae peminantly cmicfiu u. If f u-

f u x [.., ’] ,

u u f , u

’ (’ x 4


f accmplices: “Ou stuggle is nt against flesh an bl, but

against the ules, against the authities, against the pwes f this

ak wl an against the spiitual fces f evil in the heavenly

” (E. 6:12). S u

fu f . Bu

B, f, u u f u

u f .

Pu’ , u fu f ,

be simply t unesce his waning that we face a feasme enemy.

Only a fl wul take the evil an cmpany lightly. Tey ae a

temenus fce f evil. Peple wh g thugh thei ay withut

u f u u ï.

Wh t i i b li l t i li ? Wh t



What is u iablical enemy up t in u lives? What es

he hpe t accmplish? Well, if yu ae a Chist fllwe, he has — u u

sin an eath an hell. But that es nt mean that he has cncee

the veall wa. Fm this pint n, his gal is t ive a wege

u u S. H u

u ff C.

T u f

u. H u ( u

flesh an the wl), s as t un the wk f G’s Spiit wh

Satan

Pu u, , C f f-

ficult—it’s impssible! Tee is n way that we can live it in u wn

. W G’ .

C u f : “I

that the eyes f yu heat may be enlightene in e that yu may

. . . f u ” (E.

1:18–19); “I u f u

u u S u ” (E. 3:16);

“N u

, u” (E.

3:20). We get the message! But, just in case we’ve misse it, Paul

u : “F, L

” (E 6 10)



(E. 6:10).

Fiens, we mustn’t think f a single minute that we can hanle u . W f

f G.

Ou naïveté in this ega emins me f a funny sty that

my fien Eic has tl me abut his cllege baseball ays. Eic

f . T u u the team t cve all the psitins. One ay thei scheule ha

u u

f . T

shwe up with thee squas f twenty playes each. All f them


u, x f u f

’ u . S E— u—

. W u f ,

f . W u , . “Yu f ?” u.

Fu, E’ f

playes i. Tey westle him t the gun an then agge him

away. “Tse guys save my life,” Eic cnclue his sty with a big

f. F u f , .Paul esn’t want any f us t be s aft as t think that we can

take n the evil—alng with ules, authities, pwes f this ak

wl, an spiitual fces f evil in the heavenly ealms—in u wn



, p y

. W ’ ff ï u u ,

u u . O , u our coming crisis.

When Ephesians 6:13 instucts us t put n the full am

f G, u u “

f evil cmes.” What is this “ay f evil” that Paul efes t hee?

B u Pu , , . T f ’

u ju S

us with extainay fce. He’ll make his temptatins exta tempt-

ing, his iscuagements exta iscuaging. He’ll catch us when

Satan

Don’t Be Naked

Remembe the chilen’s fable abut the empe with n

clthes? Once upn a time thee was a vey egtistical king wh

aske his pesnal tail t ceate a new utfit f him. Te king

f u . T

me than a little bit flustee by this equest. He knew that he’

u f ,

f u . Bu f

.

Te mning f the big paae, he ha nthing t shw the

. N. T’ u : Why not show the

king nothing—and tell him that it was something? S f



king nothing—and tell him that it was something? S f

the king that he ha esigne a magnificent suit f invisible clthes.

He appeale t the king’s vanity, stating that these wee the nly

invisible clthes in the whle ealm. An the king, wh was a sucke

f fl, u . H u ufi

u C S f . H u

—u u- ! (H u . Bu

f .)

What es this fable have t with Ephesians 6? Maybe

yu’ve aleay guesse. I’ like t make the bsevatin that we


f u . u G. I’ f

his ivine attibutes. Sciptue even calls him “the G f tuth”

(Isa. 65:16). An Jesus, G’s Sn, ientifies himself as “the way an

u f” (J 14:6).

G wants u lives t be make by tuthfulness. Cnvesely,

he hates eceit f any kin. Cmmanment nine n G’s list f tp

ten mal impeatives phibits lying (Ex. 20:16). When the wite f

Pvebs tells us that thee ae seven things that the L abslutely

, f : “ u”

“ f u u ” (P. 6:16–19).

L z. W u f -

esty even if we haven’t tl a huge whppe. Tee’s the little lie

u u f u T x u



u u f u. T x u .

T fl u u. T .

Have yu eve shwn up late f wk, annuncing: “Te taffic was

teible!” Maybe the taffic was teible—but the eal easn f yu

f u ’

. Yu f-u .

We n’t even have t pen u muths t pactice ishnesty.T u f f f

I . S

u

u u u u. S

Satan

5:22–23: “lve, jy, peace, patience, kinness, gness, faithfulness,

f-.”

L u G

u x . I u f fu-

f C’ u f

f . T u u uff

efill the cankcase fm a hse that’s cnnecte t an unlimite

u f Qu S’ 10W–40. T I !

In the same way, when my life is lacking in lve, let’s say, I ju G f C’ ,

u fl. I x

away fm such a paye with a fesh cmpassin f eveyne I

f I



u— f u. I,

x I u f ( ju - u), u , u ,

ffi . I f u, u. W

-f-C fu?

T f : G f C’

u u f Jff Lu uf . I, f f

challenge. If I pay f Chist’s lve, he sens me smene wh’s

ffiu . If I f C’ ffu, u

u qu. If I f


T u u x. Pu qu u

feet be “fitte with the eainess that cmes fm the gspel f

” (E. 6:15). T f

with G—fgiveness an ecnciliatin—has been mae pssible

thugh Chist’s sacifice upn the css (see Rm. 5:1 an Cl.

1:20). Once we have paye n u gspel shes, we ae eay t

. W u ,

f, u u u S.

L A M A, Going Publicwith the Gospel , u C f-

u f . “H

this pssible?” the auths ask inceulusly. “Tese peple ae living

f f J T



f f Ju. T

f- f . . . . If f,

u fu

u u ,

C.”5

Tse ae stng ws! If it’s been a vey, vey lng time(f ) u x x

G, u u ? M

u u u u

lack f pptunities, blness, aticulateness, heatfelt esie.

Satan

H ? T u

time t eview the thee-pen paye (see ch. 10). We must pay

f (u u u ),

u ( j C ),

( ).

Nw we ae eay t pick up the shiel f faith, u futh piece

f am. Te faith that Paul is efeing t hee is nt saving faith. It’s

nt the initial faith that we place in Chist when we ask him t fgive

u u f. T f Pu

fi G. S u

u fl u (E. 6:16).

What ae these flaming aws that can set us ablaze if we’e nt

ptecte by u shiel f faith? Difficult cicumstances. Seemingly



p y g y

unanswee payes. Unfai citicism. Physical fatigue illness.

Lneliness. Geneic iscuagement. Relatinal cnflicts. Tese

f u f- . T

int questin G’s cncen f us. Des he eally cae? Is he paying

’ u ?

W u f fl fu xu u f f. O u u fi

’ u u, G u . W f

, , , j, ,

, f, . Of u,


gifts—supenatual abilities. We gaine access t G in paye.

T . A f f u -

, “.”

S, u f ? W,

what es a helmet ptect? A pesn’s hea, ight? His he min,

u, u. W I f , I

G u f u

fu u .

W I u? H I -u ’ ff ,

f fu, ,

with my sn’s misbehavi, with my vacatin plans, with

f ?



f ?

Nt all f these musings ae ba. Sme ae quite necessay.But they ae nt the thughts that G wants t minate my min.

Paul wte t the Clssians: “Since, then, yu have been aise with

C, . . . S u , ”

(C. 3:1–2). T’ ju f ( I u ),

“Pu f .”An, pactically speaking, the way that I this is by elib-

eately eciting sme f thse blessings that ae assciate with

my salvatin. I pay (ight ut lu): “L, yu’ve fgiven my

sins—putting them as fa fm me as the east is fm the west. I

Satan

yu enemy int the next time zne if yu wee lucky enugh t

.

Bu, , R ’

athe sht. An he in’t swing it like Bbby Bns swings a

baseball bat. He cntlle it exteusly in clse, han-t-han

cmbat. Te key t this sw’s effectiveness was the skill f the

u .

f f S -

fu f G’ W. (S 2 . 2:15.) D u

Su ? I DVD f C

cnfeence ecently—the biggest cnfeence f its type in the cun-

, u . ,

f f



t make Bible eaing a egula habit. Why wul I be ismaye u ? Bu f

f leaders. Su’ B f

f?

G’s W is the nly ffensive weapn in a Chist fllwe’s

. W ’ x u f ’ - f u . T —f

st f a systematic scheule. Tat means memizing key ptins

f it. Tat means keeping a junal in which we wite wn pesnal

f . T


PRAYING f . PRAY f . . . . PRAY

I [ ] f, I u.

Pu fi . A, f ’

u , f u

all always 18. Fu ! Pu u-

u , ’ x u f . T

u .

An Satan knws it. Remembe, “Satan tembles, when he

C ”? T

fi f u . H

u f . H , u ,

f u f



. H’ : “S u the cale f a sleeping Chistian.” Ou enemy inuces napping

u .

R Ju ju u f u-

fix? H f f u -

uts: the gaen f Gethsemane. He explaine t them that they u fi u fl. H

t pay, else. Ten he mve ff f sme pivacy an state

f.

W ? D ? N, .

Satan

All f Pete’s buies als pefme like lses. Which bings

f f : “Yu z, u .” N,

u u f zz f

yu n’t gab it ight away. But, with espect t the isciples, it

meant that napping instea f paying esulte in them being ttally

f. You snooze, you lose.

Tis is seius business. A wise Pete late wte that u

iablical enemy “pwls aun like a aing lin lking f

u” (1 P. 5:8). P u -

itin. If we want t expeience spiitual victies we must wake

u . ! G u

. Su u. P u

u .



I u J J, u f

Left Behind 6 . J 150 , f

bigaphies f famus peple. Seveal yeas ag, he helpe Billy

Gaham cmpile his memis. Duing that pcess, he aske the

, “W’ f u u?” G

: B u .

J f fu f -

. “I Su ,” u,

“but that’s just figuative language. Nby can actually do that.” D.

G qu : “I’ . I’


2. I u fl f? W

flu f ( u, , ’

x, , .) u u ?

3. H S ff u u? (R

f f .) If u

S, u u u?

4. D u “ f ”—

u f. H u u

f ?

5. Cfu u x

f E 6 N



f u E 6. N

— .

6. A u u , u ?

A u f ff?

W u fu f

u?

W u u ?

AppendixA to Z List of Biblical Names, Titles,

and Attributes of God the Father,



Son, and Holy Spirit

A

(D. 3:17; M. 9:28; R.16:25; 2 C. 9:8; E. 3:20;2 . 1:12; H. 7:25)

u ffu(Ex. 34:6)

B

(Lu 2:16) f (I. 11:10)u (P. 27:4; I. 33:17)B, (R. 21:6)B f L (I. 4:2)



Append ix

H S (P. 51:11; J 14:26) (P. 84:3–4; 90:1) (P. 71:5) f (2 S. 22:3; P.

18:2)

u, (I. 54:5; J. 3:14; H.2:16; 2 C. 11:2)

I

I Am (Ex. 3:14; J 8:58)

Iu, G u (M. 1:23)

(1 . 1:17), (Ez. 44:28)

, ( J 16:20; I. 53:12;

R. 8:26)

(1 . 1:17)

L f f Ju (R. 5:5)

(J 7:38)

uff (J. 15:5)

L (Lu 2:11)

L, M H (P. 7:17)

L f L (R. 19:16) (1 J 4:8)

(J 3:16)

M

fi (I. 28:29)

Mj G (2 P. 1:17)j , (Ex. 15:6,

11)

Mj (H. 1:3)

M f ( J. 10:16)

M f (P. 146:6)



J

Ju (Ex. 34:14)

Ju (M. 1:21)

Ju f (P. 94:2; 2 C.

5:10; 2 .4:8)

ju (Du. 32:4)

jufi (R. 3:26)

K

(P. 121:7; f. J 10:29)

- (R. 1:18)

, (I. 54:8; Lu 6:35;

E. 2:7)

(A 2:22)

M f S (I. 53:3)

(J 6:49–50)

M (Lu 5:5; 2 . 2:21)

(1 . 2:5)

fu (H. 2:17)

M (J 1:41)

M G (I. 9:6)M S (2 P. 1:19; R. 22:16)

N

(P. 2: 9–10)

Nz (M. 2:23)

A P P E N D I X

u (J. 50:7) (2 P. 3:9; R. 9:22), u (E. 2:14)f (H. 12:2) (Lu 4:23)

, (P. 119:57), (Ez. 44:28) (I. 64:8; R. 9:21) f G (1 C. 1:24) f I (P. 22:3) f (H. 5:6)

P S (A 5:31)P f P (I. 9:6), F f (A 1:4)P, (J 7:40)ufi (M. 3:3)

Q

S

fi (E. 5:2)

, (Ex. 15:2; P. 27:1)

u (I. 8:14)

S (J 4:42; A 13:23; 1 .

4:9) (Nu. 24:17)

(E. 1:13)

(P. 119:176; Lu 15:4; 19:10)

, (I. 53:11; A 4:27)

(P. 121:5)

(P. 31:20; 61:4; 91:1)S O f u u

(1 P. 2:25)

S f (J 10:11;

H. 13:20)

f (P. 3:3)



Q

qu (P. 23:2; Z. 3:17)

R

R (J 3:2)R (J 20:16) f G’ (H. 1:3)

f (1 . 2:6) (R. 14:15) f u (1 P. 3:15)R, (J 19:25; P. 19:14)fi (M. 3:3)fu (P. 46:1)fu f (P. 9:9; I.

S f G (J 1:49; 1 J 4:9)

S f M (M. 12:40; 24:27)

, (P. 118:14)

L (H. 3:19; Lu 2:29)

(M. 13:3)

S f

(H. 10:29)

(R. 1:4)f (R. 8:2)

u (J 14:17; 15:26)

u (I.

11:2)

f (J. 2:13)

Append ix

(I. 8:14)

u (2 C. 4:7; C. 2:3)

u, (J 14:6)

U

u (J 1:17)uqu f G (J 3:16)

V

(P. 45:4; 1 C. 15:54)

(P. 24:5)

V, (J 15:5) f L (P. 29:3)

W

(Ex. 15:3)

, fl (I. 8:6)

(J 16:19; I.

55:4; R. 3:14)

Wfu (I. 9:6)

W f G (R. 19:13)

W f Lf (1 J 1:1) (H. 3:3; R. 5:12)

X

x (Ex. 15:1; J 36:22; I. 6:1)

YY. I Am (Exu 3)

Z

zu (Ez. 39:25)

Z ’ K (P 2 6 9 11)



, (J 14:6) f G (1 C. 1:30)

Z’ K (P. 2:6; 9:11)

Notes



Chatr 1: Obstacls: Fal to Pla, Pla to Fal

1. G Duffi J., “S u, S u, f Ju,” 1858. Mu G J.

W, 1837.

Chatr 2: Mor Obstacls: Ca You Har M Now, Lor?1. R N, “H S C” (S. B, IL: E D

Mu, 1984).

Chatr 3: Pattrs: Gt to a Rut

1. J G, Walk On: Life, Loss, rust, and Other Realities, . .





Scripture Index



Gss4:9—214

32:22–32—33

Eous

2:23–24—89

12:22—112

15—70

20:16—238

Lvtcus

10:1–3—48

2 Samul12:5—102

12:7—102

12:7–9—73

12:10–14—106

1 Kgs

17—9018—90

2 Kgs

19:15–16—119

Nhmah

51:4—10751:6—109, 227

51:7–8—111

51:10—111, 190

51:12—119

51:16–17—115

66:18—101

95:3—12495:6–7—124

100—130

100:1–2—119

100:3—123

100:4—22, 118, 126

100:5—128

53:3—12959:1–2—29, 101

65:16—238

Jrmah

31:34—113

Lamtatos3:22–23—48

Ezkl

28:11–19—233

39:25—129

S C R I P T U R E I N D E X

19:17—131

20:29–32—139

26:36–46—244

26:39—181

Mark

6:3—129

9:22—85

9:23—85

9:24—85

14:36—181

Luk3:21—20

5:15–16—20

6:12–13—20

6:27–28—77

9:18—20, 37

9:28—37

17—180–81, 183,

185

17:3—186

17:9–19—187

17:11—188

17:12—18817:14—189

17:15—188–89

17:20–23—191

19:29–30—112

Acts

4:31—33, 2076:2–4—206

11:18—70

Romas

1:9–10—53

3:21–26—113

Ehsas

1:15–16—53

1:18–19—235

3:16—235

3:20—235

4:26–27—1106:2–3—191

6:10—234–35

6:10–20—231

6:11—233, 236

6:12—234

6:13—236

6:13–17—25, 44, 616:14–17—237

6:15—240

6:16—241

6:17—242

6:18—75, 244

6:18–20—243

4:12—151

5:23—151

2 mothy

1:3—53

1:7—1512:15—206, 243

2:22—192

3:15–17—234

4:2—208

Hbrws

2:18—48, 71–724:15—70

4:16—72

5:8—129

10:23—113

13:3—59

13:17—203



9:28–29—2010—175

11—18, 20, 26

11:1—27, 37, 183

18:5—35

22:31–32—200

22:39—21

22:39–44—3322:39–46—37

22:41—21

22:42—181

22:44—21

Joh

3:23—1735:1—240

6:13—52, 151

6:19—52

8:26—139

8:28—156

8:29—234

10—164

10:1—162, 172

10:4—172

10:15—131

12:9—131

12:18—33

6:19–20—168

Phlas

1:4—53

2:12–13—239

4:6—152, 154, 156

4:6–7—58, 64–65,

67, 74, 147–48,157

Colossas

1:9—53

1:20—240

3:1–2—242

Jams

1:2–3—58

1:5–7—86

1:14—72

1:16—72

1:17—72, 143

3:1—2053:9–11—32

4:2—138, 140, 182

5:13—69

5:16—213

5:17–18—90

“Prayer Coach teaches excellent theology, but it is the most useful practical help I know to

those wanting to develop the discipline of prayer.”D. A. CARSON, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“This book had a singular effect on me. It made me want to pray more.”

BILL HYBELS, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church, author of Too Busy Not to Pray

“May this book challenge you to take your prayer life to new heights, just as men did for meand the game of football.”

MIKE SINGLETARY, Hall of Fame Chicago Bears linebacker; Assistant Head Coach,San Francisco 49ers

“Our prayer life should be coached at the highest level to have the ultimate relationship with

our Lord and Savior. Look no farther than Prayer Coach .”

JENNIE FINCH-DAIGLE, USA 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, softball pitcher

“Scores of insights that Prayer Coach uncovers promise to sustain a desire for more of

Jesus in my life.”

BILL MCCARTNEY, Founder, Promise Keepers, former head football coach, University of Colorado



“Jim has distilled his lifetime of insights and practices into this accessible and practical book.”

LEE STROBEL, author of The Case for the Real Jesus

“A masterful job of making prayer accessible while retaining its mysterious majesty.”

SANDY RIOS, talk show host, WYLL Radio, FOX News Contributor

“One of the most inspiring books I have ever read! It takes your prayer life from T-ball to thebig leagues.”

MATT DALLY, bassist/vocalist for Superchick

“James Nicodem offers practical suggestions that come straight from his personal experience

as a follower of Christ and a pastor.”



Date post:	03-Apr-2018
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