Praying the Bible - Praying with Paul
Saturday May 30, 2009
Paul's pivotal life experience is referred to as the Calling of Paul or the Damascus Road Experience--the day Jesus confronted Paul. Luke recorded the original incident in Acts 9:"Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?"[Paul] said, "Who are...
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About The New Christians
Tony Jones is the author of many books, including The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier and The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life. He is a leader in the emergent church movement and a renowned expert on postmodern theology and the American church landscape.
Find out more about Tony, his books, and his speaking schedule at his website.
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I am at one of those defining moments of my life. I joined the USAF at the fresh age of eighteen for a myriad of half baked reasons. As time went on I began to try to follow this way of life that Jesus described as best I could. However it has become increasingly apparent to me that I cannot serve two masters. I swore an oath to serve and defend the empire. I find that the way of Jesus is deeply at odds with this vocation. My enlistment will be over 40 days from now. I am giving up my trained vocation and career that I have invested the last six years of my life. I am going back to school this fall. However I am very much living the question of what now. The question Paul puts forth here is one that is palpable for me right here, right now! I pray that I can live faithfully through this!
Sometimes I pray a similar prayer, but I always come away feeling as though Jesus has already answered the question - love your enemies, bless those who curse you, lend expecting nothing in return, judge not, take up your cross and follow me.
No matter my vocation, no matter the choices I make, this presents a lifelong challenge.
I'm enjoying this series, Tony. Thanks.
I feel God always wants to lead me in every area of my life. This prayer of Pauls is very important to everyone. I would you to pray for my daughter Roynea L. Epps she needs the lords help in her teenage life right now. My daughter is sixteen years old and seems angry all the time and doesn't talk to me I really need you all to pray Pails prayer for my daughter. Thank you!
Please prayn for my daughter Roynea L. Epps. She is sixteen and needs the lords help in her life right now. Thank you for Pauls prayer and Gods Love!
Sometimes one is full of anger because they are holding on to unforgiveness (towards themselves, God, someone or some situation in their life).
It's helpful to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal hurts in our lives and in the lives of others so that we can first realize these truths and chose to change as Paul did when he discovered that he was on the wrong side, he was pursecuting God's people, and then he changed what he was doing.
We all need to love, to forgive and to chose to live life congruently with integrity, and we will learn to love ourselves and others!
I heard Joe Stowell speak at ISI in Hartford CT last year and he said when he left Moody Institute, people were shocked and surprised. They asked him how he was going to move forward. They asked him who he was and he said without hesitation I am a follower of Jesus. People wrap themselves in butcher, baker and candlestick maker. Their job becomes who they are. Without it, they are lost. I know this feeling all to well. I forget to keep my focus on the only thing that really matters. He will do for us what we are so unwilling or unable to do for ourselves. If we focus our efforts on becoming the man or woman he wants us to be, things seem to fall into place. I am not saying that struggles and obstacles will not plant themselves in front of us, but I am saying that the purpose for our efforts will become ever so clear.
Shawn
I have been having a lot of trouble controlling my anger and I want to be set free and I don't know what to do. I have inventoried myself over and over again and yet I find nothing that I am holding to keep me so angry, please pray for me.
Dear Patsy Mcneal and Ms. Terry Herndon, I have prayed for you both. I hope you are experiencing the peace that comes without understanding. In Jesus's Name, Amen
What would you have me do next , Lord?
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