Dangerous Prayers - The End

It's been a good OBS.  

Perfect timing.  Short chapters.  Poignant examples.  Pertinent messages.

I slacked off in the last week with my reading, but I did finish today.  At first I was thinking that I had also slacked off in the message that the author and the leaders of Proverbs 31 were sending to me, but I don't think that is true anymore.

Why?

Because those last chapters hit me hard---once again.

The focus on the final two weeks of the study was Send Me.

I am not planning nor would I want to go far away on a mission trip.  But I can see myself being 'sent' to help others come to Christ, such as in our family.  Setting a good example for the kids, for instance. 

Also there needs to be a shift in focus in my prayers.  Instead of praying for things for me, I need to focus on praying for others or for bigger, all-encompassing things.  This pandemic is a good example.

Praying for the wisdom of our elected officials and the knowledge of the authorities relied upon for advice - that it be guided by God, that it be accepted as it is and not distorted by others for their own agendas.

Praying for those around us to be considerate of others, respect the opinions of others, and not show anger or bully those whose opinions are different

Praying that everyone practice safety in their own personal regimens as well as those when dealing with other people

Praying that people come together as families, enjoy their unstructured time, and adapt to a slower paced lifestyle

Too often my prayers have been focused on keeping Gary and me, as well as the girls and their families, healthy and safe from the virus.  While that is important, it is also very self-centered.  God is Almighty. He is in control over EVERYTHING and everyone.  He has the power to  work wonders in this world situation.  Why am I not praying for that?

Some of the high points in the reading of the final chapters:

• Rather than ask God to serve us, what if we told God we are available to serve him?
• Surrender your own plans and preferences and go where he tells, when he tells you, how he tells you, to meet who he tells you, and to do what he tells you. (interesting---using the wh- questions!)
• God's call prompts you to live beyond yourself, to not just be about your own comfort but to completely surrender to his bidding.  To do.  To serve.  To build.  To love.  To fight.  To pray.  To give.  To lead.
• If you are going to ask God to use you, then a genuine encounter with him goes a long way in trusting him.
• God is too mighty to disrespect.  He is too holy to treat casually.   He is too good to speak to with ungrateful familiarity.  He is too majestic to casually take him for granted. 
• Be is awe of his grandeur and glory.
• God is not playing hide and seek. He wants you to know him and delights in showing himself to you. 
• It starts with experiencing God's presence.
• To truly get to a point of submission and availability to God, and to be fully aware of his presence, we are wise to recognize and understand our sinfulness.
• When we see how good God is, we become acutely aware of how good we are not.  His holiness reveals our sinfulness.
• Giving your life to Jesus begins with  an awareness of your need for salvation from sin.
• Your life is not your own  You belong to God.  You are his servant.  His ambassador.  His representative on earth.
• When you submit your life to Christ, your spirit comes to life.  You are born anew and your spirit is connected to God's Spirit.
• There is a battle between your flesh and your spirit.
• What you feed grows.  What you starve dies.
•  Over time your spiritual side grows stronger.  And your selfish side starts to die.
• When God uses you, you will want more. More fulfillment.  More joy you find in sacrifices.  More blessings that come from obedience. 
• Instead of existing passively, start living aggressively, watching for opportunities to exhibit faith.
• Take the focus off yourself and notice the needs of others.  Listen with your heart and not just your ears.  Read between the lines and look for a way to serve.
•  Small acts of faith teach us to depend on God.  They draw us close to him.  They build our trust.
• Lord, I give you my eyes...my ears...my mouth...my heart...my hands...the steps of my feet...my whole body.
• How do you think your life might change if you prayed daily a daring, faith-filled prayer of whole-life devotion to the one who gave it all for you?
• The content of our prayers tells us more about us and our relationship with God than most people might imagine.  What we pray for reflects what we believe about God.  If most of our prayers are for ourselves or what matters to us, then the content of our prayers communicates that we believe, deep down, that God exists primarily for us.
• It's time to pray with courage, to risk, to open yourself up to a different path to a better destination.
• When you pray dangerously, your life simply can't remain the same.