"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Phil 4:8
This morning as I prayed, I was reminded of "guard your heart for it's wellspring of life". So I prayed about how I may filter what may come into my mind and heart and what may come out. One of my answered prayer came into my head. Some of the promised prayers also followed. It encouraged me in praising the Lord, "Hallowed be His name". Then the couple of supplements came into my head as I prayed for them.
Speak to God through Adoration Confession Thanksgiving and Supplication (ACTS).
We often gets strangled with what's going on in our lives. We didn't keep our hearts fixed on Him. We tried to solve many problems on our own. We like to step over the bounds to solve things that we cannot solve. Leave it be- confess that you needed the help and surrender. Then God will lead you through.
"Go out in joy and be led forth in peace" -Isaiah 55:12
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Pentcostal Prayer
What is a Pentcostal Prayer? It is a full 10 days of prayer in the same room. To spread it out, it would consist a total of 240 hours of prayer at a specific location. I figured that it would be a total of 48 weeks of 5 days a week hourly prayer commitment.
I started this experiment right after the Bible Reading Marathon at the Captiol on May 2nd at 6-7AM. Somehow this became my routine to get up at around 5AM to get to the Gallaudet chapel for a 6AM prayer. It lasted for about 3 months (6-12 weeks) before I stopped. I recalled that I once got worn out for some reason that I didn't want to walk an half hour to pray.
For the past few weeks, I've been looking through my journal and blogs for any specific prayer answered through this experiment. I was disappointed that I didn't write a prayer journal, so I didn't know when I actually stopped to pray at the chapel- probably sometime in mid-July or August. But I knew what I had prayed about:
(1) I prayed for a new place to live and received it without searching- my landlord informed me of the place. Few hours later, I went to grocercy with a friend and I learned that she didn't find an available apartment so she thought of me when I also thought of her. So we settled to be a roommate.
(2) I prayed for a sublet or two and received two sublets without advertising. A friend called me an hour after I visited the house to inform me about his friend needing a place to stay in July and I roared with this friend. So I signed the lease.
(3) I prayed that the moving will work out without me as I go on a mission trip to Guatemala. A NCCer emailed me about whether I cancelled my trip because I set a farewell party on the day of our departure, which I read at chapel. I apologized and changed the date. But as I prayed, I felt compelled to cancel the trip to be present to move things. I love it when I learned that God wanted me to do the very thing I said no to. Especailly when God replaced it with something better! A month later I learned that I was immediately replaced by a lady who also emailed the leader that she felt compelled to participate this trip and God worked it out for her! Double prayer answered. We bonded.
(4) And more.
It was crazy when I thought about those things. I couldn't deny that those things came from praying at the chapel. I believe that more prayers will come answered this year from the 30-60 hours of prayer in 2011.
I decided to commit to 240 hours of prayer this year at the chapel. This time I will find a prayer partner as someone recommended, "Iron sharpens iron, as one man sharpens another (Prov 27:17)." I'm leading a small group of prayer on Mondays instead of praying alone, but I welcome the others to come on other days as well. I intend to stay in DC throughout the most of the year.
I started this experiment right after the Bible Reading Marathon at the Captiol on May 2nd at 6-7AM. Somehow this became my routine to get up at around 5AM to get to the Gallaudet chapel for a 6AM prayer. It lasted for about 3 months (6-12 weeks) before I stopped. I recalled that I once got worn out for some reason that I didn't want to walk an half hour to pray.
For the past few weeks, I've been looking through my journal and blogs for any specific prayer answered through this experiment. I was disappointed that I didn't write a prayer journal, so I didn't know when I actually stopped to pray at the chapel- probably sometime in mid-July or August. But I knew what I had prayed about:
(1) I prayed for a new place to live and received it without searching- my landlord informed me of the place. Few hours later, I went to grocercy with a friend and I learned that she didn't find an available apartment so she thought of me when I also thought of her. So we settled to be a roommate.
(2) I prayed for a sublet or two and received two sublets without advertising. A friend called me an hour after I visited the house to inform me about his friend needing a place to stay in July and I roared with this friend. So I signed the lease.
(3) I prayed that the moving will work out without me as I go on a mission trip to Guatemala. A NCCer emailed me about whether I cancelled my trip because I set a farewell party on the day of our departure, which I read at chapel. I apologized and changed the date. But as I prayed, I felt compelled to cancel the trip to be present to move things. I love it when I learned that God wanted me to do the very thing I said no to. Especailly when God replaced it with something better! A month later I learned that I was immediately replaced by a lady who also emailed the leader that she felt compelled to participate this trip and God worked it out for her! Double prayer answered. We bonded.
(4) And more.
It was crazy when I thought about those things. I couldn't deny that those things came from praying at the chapel. I believe that more prayers will come answered this year from the 30-60 hours of prayer in 2011.
I decided to commit to 240 hours of prayer this year at the chapel. This time I will find a prayer partner as someone recommended, "Iron sharpens iron, as one man sharpens another (Prov 27:17)." I'm leading a small group of prayer on Mondays instead of praying alone, but I welcome the others to come on other days as well. I intend to stay in DC throughout the most of the year.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Fasting for the Workers
In a parable, Jesus told of the Pharisee who prayed to himself, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess." That's nuts! Those Pharisees fasted twice a week, which is a total of 104 days out of 365. The narcissists.
If you read futher into the passage, you will see that Jesus had chosen this tax collector because he is humble. He beats his breast and cried, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" It's not about whether we should push ourself, but whether we do it right. It's all about loving God more than ourselves. It's all about loving the people more than ourselves.
Yet, I've learned that the humblest people in the Bible also prayed and fasted often. Jesus told the disciples to increase their faith by praying and fasting after they failed to cast out a demon. David humbled himself by fasting and mourning for his friend or his brother when they were sick. Early Christians, especially Paul, had fasted often to prepare the others for their work- to carry out a commission. I don't know how often they prayed and fasted, but I've also heard of different stories of the people who did.
John Nelson Hyde- "Praying Hyde"
If on any day four people were not converted, Hyde said at night there would be such a weight on his heart he could not eat or sleep until he had prayed through to victory. The number of new converts continually grew.
If you read futher into the passage, you will see that Jesus had chosen this tax collector because he is humble. He beats his breast and cried, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" It's not about whether we should push ourself, but whether we do it right. It's all about loving God more than ourselves. It's all about loving the people more than ourselves.
Yet, I've learned that the humblest people in the Bible also prayed and fasted often. Jesus told the disciples to increase their faith by praying and fasting after they failed to cast out a demon. David humbled himself by fasting and mourning for his friend or his brother when they were sick. Early Christians, especially Paul, had fasted often to prepare the others for their work- to carry out a commission. I don't know how often they prayed and fasted, but I've also heard of different stories of the people who did.
John Nelson Hyde- "Praying Hyde"
If on any day four people were not converted, Hyde said at night there would be such a weight on his heart he could not eat or sleep until he had prayed through to victory. The number of new converts continually grew.
Be Led Forth in Peace
"For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." -Isaiah 55:12
Yesterday Kim Potter shared this "seek the peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14) in her article. I felt that the Lord is telling me to be secure in peace by pursuing it fully. Just like how the Lord sent the angels to tell Lots and his family, "Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away."
Isaiah 55 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. In verse 8-9, it explains about how great God is and how His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. We had to (1) submit to His will to experience the best. In verse 10-11, it tells us about how God will bring down the rain and the snow to confirm that (2) His words shall not come empty, but it shall sprouts upon the earth. God is going to take care of the rest. Now God is telling us in verse 12 to (3) go out in joy and be led forth in peace.
Joyce Meyer said, "If you lose your peace, you lose your power."
The last verse basically tells us that (4) God will change everything into good- that is after we go out in joy and be led forth in peace.
Yesterday Kim Potter shared this "seek the peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14) in her article. I felt that the Lord is telling me to be secure in peace by pursuing it fully. Just like how the Lord sent the angels to tell Lots and his family, "Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away."
Isaiah 55 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. In verse 8-9, it explains about how great God is and how His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. We had to (1) submit to His will to experience the best. In verse 10-11, it tells us about how God will bring down the rain and the snow to confirm that (2) His words shall not come empty, but it shall sprouts upon the earth. God is going to take care of the rest. Now God is telling us in verse 12 to (3) go out in joy and be led forth in peace.
Joyce Meyer said, "If you lose your peace, you lose your power."
The last verse basically tells us that (4) God will change everything into good- that is after we go out in joy and be led forth in peace.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Lift Up Hands
Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:8, "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing."
I didn't understand how those several respectable people I knew had lifted up their hands in the church so often without offending anyone. I grew up in a home where my dad used to lift up his hands in order to act holy to stump us intentionally. He would then say something like, "Praise Lord, praise Lord!" It hurts so much that I grew up disliking the idea of lifting up my hands. I even observed that few Christians lift up their hands nearby the faces. Oh my, those persons seem to lose the desire to worship due to whoever stood between them with the hands in their faces. So much for insensitiveness and politeness.
I usually lifted up my hands when everyone else are doing it together- only on a few occassions. It just felt so right because everyone were comfortable with it. Well, that was what I thought. Until a few years ago, I was shocked to find myself lifting up my hands in private a bit often. I love worshipping God, yet I thought that I dislike what I am doing. I guess it is where God had healed my inner wounds. I would lock the door to be sure not to offend anyone unintentionally. After few years of worshipping in private and observing those respectable people lifting up their hands publically, I began to yearn to worship in public when it is proper as I do in private to bless Him.
Last night I attended NCC's Prayer and Praise- the kickoff for the 21 Day Prayer Challenge- which had turned to be one of the best nights in my life. After an hour or so of singing in the church, I finally lifted up my hands in an open space with such length of time . Yet when my hand felt the wind of the people passing me, I moved a bit to the left to give them the room without ceasing to praise Him. Then I realized that its a blessing to be able to bless the Lord yet offend no one. I believe that lifting up our hands is one of our way to love the Lord with all our strength. It felt great to my shoulders ache a bit from worshipping and they even felt uncomfortable in bed all night long.
It's not about whether we offended someone but whether we authentically blessed the Lord. A change in our perspective.
Psalm 134:2, "Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!"
I didn't understand how those several respectable people I knew had lifted up their hands in the church so often without offending anyone. I grew up in a home where my dad used to lift up his hands in order to act holy to stump us intentionally. He would then say something like, "Praise Lord, praise Lord!" It hurts so much that I grew up disliking the idea of lifting up my hands. I even observed that few Christians lift up their hands nearby the faces. Oh my, those persons seem to lose the desire to worship due to whoever stood between them with the hands in their faces. So much for insensitiveness and politeness.
I usually lifted up my hands when everyone else are doing it together- only on a few occassions. It just felt so right because everyone were comfortable with it. Well, that was what I thought. Until a few years ago, I was shocked to find myself lifting up my hands in private a bit often. I love worshipping God, yet I thought that I dislike what I am doing. I guess it is where God had healed my inner wounds. I would lock the door to be sure not to offend anyone unintentionally. After few years of worshipping in private and observing those respectable people lifting up their hands publically, I began to yearn to worship in public when it is proper as I do in private to bless Him.
Last night I attended NCC's Prayer and Praise- the kickoff for the 21 Day Prayer Challenge- which had turned to be one of the best nights in my life. After an hour or so of singing in the church, I finally lifted up my hands in an open space with such length of time . Yet when my hand felt the wind of the people passing me, I moved a bit to the left to give them the room without ceasing to praise Him. Then I realized that its a blessing to be able to bless the Lord yet offend no one. I believe that lifting up our hands is one of our way to love the Lord with all our strength. It felt great to my shoulders ache a bit from worshipping and they even felt uncomfortable in bed all night long.
It's not about whether we offended someone but whether we authentically blessed the Lord. A change in our perspective.
Psalm 134:2, "Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!"
Monday, January 9, 2012
Into the Jungle
"God, send me into the jungle" had been my prayer since I was nine. I attended Youth With A Mission children's education foundation school with my brother, who is two years older than I am, among 10-12 age group even though I'm one year younger. There was only one interpreter for two of us, so I skipped an age group! There I sat beside my brother to learn about an hero named Bruchko who went through the jungle. A seed of this story was being planted into my nine-years-old brian.
Forwarding six-and-ten years minus few days, I've been praying, "God, send me deeper into the jungle." Over the years, I've understood that God's not going to send me into a dangerous tribal place in Africa or something alike. For God had a thousand idea when I had one. Without a knowing prayer, I prayed metaphorically. And my prayer life has been evolving.
Paul wrote to a group of churches in Galatians, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me... the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Even to those who are culturally or personally different than us.
Far much more.
Forwarding six-and-ten years minus few days, I've been praying, "God, send me deeper into the jungle." Over the years, I've understood that God's not going to send me into a dangerous tribal place in Africa or something alike. For God had a thousand idea when I had one. Without a knowing prayer, I prayed metaphorically. And my prayer life has been evolving.
Paul wrote to a group of churches in Galatians, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me... the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Even to those who are culturally or personally different than us.
Far much more.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Is It the Will of God?
"There are so many today who are in Bible schools and seminaries who have a wrong motive for going to a Christian school. Many go as a last resort; it is the only place they can go. They think because the dean of the school accepts them, it is the will of God." -Like A Mighty Wind
This passage convicted me. Few months ago, I've applied for Bethel Seminary. When I learned that the application deadline was only two days away or so, I carnally thought that it must be God's leading. And so I completed everything in time and was mightly proud of myself with some compliments in my way. Time is in my hand. I rushed, holding prayer for later. I even ignorantly crossed a line. To me, everything was great!
Not So! After New Student Orientation, I came back home to find myself heavily lying on my bunk bed. Something was pressing me down. I felt choked. I am all toxicity. I had it, so I got up sometime after midnight to grab my basketball's warm-up jacket and pant to go out for a prayerwalk. Afterward I wearingly lied down on the cast away couch in front of my home to reread a passage on my phone device and pray some more. I half-concluded that it wasn't God's will. It was until a sister shared the same heaviness on the heart that I fully concluded.
Out of our sincere thoughts and feelings, we may deceive ourselves. For as the heavens are higher than the earth. So are His thoughts and feelings higher than our thoughts and feelings.
Some of us are called to the Bible school or seminary and some of us are not.
This passage convicted me. Few months ago, I've applied for Bethel Seminary. When I learned that the application deadline was only two days away or so, I carnally thought that it must be God's leading. And so I completed everything in time and was mightly proud of myself with some compliments in my way. Time is in my hand. I rushed, holding prayer for later. I even ignorantly crossed a line. To me, everything was great!
Not So! After New Student Orientation, I came back home to find myself heavily lying on my bunk bed. Something was pressing me down. I felt choked. I am all toxicity. I had it, so I got up sometime after midnight to grab my basketball's warm-up jacket and pant to go out for a prayerwalk. Afterward I wearingly lied down on the cast away couch in front of my home to reread a passage on my phone device and pray some more. I half-concluded that it wasn't God's will. It was until a sister shared the same heaviness on the heart that I fully concluded.
Out of our sincere thoughts and feelings, we may deceive ourselves. For as the heavens are higher than the earth. So are His thoughts and feelings higher than our thoughts and feelings.
Some of us are called to the Bible school or seminary and some of us are not.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Back to the Simplicity
Mel Tari received the message from the Lord, "You have one message for the people in America: that is the need to get back to the simplicity of the Word of God. Not only back to the Bible, but back to the simplicity of the Word."
This statement amazed me as I read Like A Mighty Wind to learn about how the revival occured in the island of Indonesia, which is just south of the two countries I had visited as a child, below Thailand and Philippines. There something strange took place when 200 people gathered together on September 26, 1965 to pray. Like in Acts 2, they spoke in different languages and the police saw that the church was on fire, so he sounded the fire bell. And as the revival goes on, some crazy people began to confess their sins. Even a wife received the word of knowledge and she scolded her husband for his sins, but the Spirit of God came upon him and he confessed. Someone had also ministered to this angry wife so that she also confessed her sins, probably of her scolding! It was hilarious!
It's easy for me to begin analyzing those situations to understand why the revival had occured in this country. "Back to the simplicity" tugged me to stop. It's not about how many books I've had read. It's not about what I've had done. But it's all about forgetting.
"But that night those Presbyterians started to forget the written order and the prayers in front of them and began to pray in the Spirit - at first one by one, and before I knew it, they all began to pray at the same time."
This statement amazed me as I read Like A Mighty Wind to learn about how the revival occured in the island of Indonesia, which is just south of the two countries I had visited as a child, below Thailand and Philippines. There something strange took place when 200 people gathered together on September 26, 1965 to pray. Like in Acts 2, they spoke in different languages and the police saw that the church was on fire, so he sounded the fire bell. And as the revival goes on, some crazy people began to confess their sins. Even a wife received the word of knowledge and she scolded her husband for his sins, but the Spirit of God came upon him and he confessed. Someone had also ministered to this angry wife so that she also confessed her sins, probably of her scolding! It was hilarious!
It's easy for me to begin analyzing those situations to understand why the revival had occured in this country. "Back to the simplicity" tugged me to stop. It's not about how many books I've had read. It's not about what I've had done. But it's all about forgetting.
"But that night those Presbyterians started to forget the written order and the prayers in front of them and began to pray in the Spirit - at first one by one, and before I knew it, they all began to pray at the same time."
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