Week 30 Day 2

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 30 Day 2

Introduction…There is a new reality show on TV called “Undercover Boss”. It centers around a different CEO each week going to work somewhere within their company without the other employees knowing the true identity of the person with whom they are working. It is enlightening to the boss to see what their employees go through and some CEO’s are actually fired or told they will never make it in the business. It is quite interesting and revealing of the workplace. Jesus, our life CEO wants to be in us and go with us through our day and be with us throughout our lives. This is the heart of God, for our lives to be intertwined, interdependent and connected at the heart. Listen and feel the heart beat of God through Jesus’ prayer. It’s about us. He wants to with us forever.

Read John 17:20-26 “It is not only for these that I pray, but also for those who are going to believe in their word of testimony to me. And my prayer is that they may all be one, even as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so that they may be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory which you gave me that they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me, so that their unity with us and with each other may stand consummated and complete. I pray for this that the world may realize that you sent me and that you loved them as you loved me. Father, it is my will that those whom you have given me should be with me where I am going that they may see my glory which you gave me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world did not know you, but I knew you and these realized that you sent me. I have told them what you are like and I will go on telling them that the love with which you loved me, may be in them and that I may be in them.”

Bible Study

• In this prayer Jesus prays for those believers that are afar off in time to come to Him. He is thinking of us and sees us in His prayer to the Father. Jesus still is the Great Intercessor.
• The unity Jesus is praying for is that the Body of Christ, the Church would be one, united in love as the family of God, all based upon our loving Savior and God.
• Like Jesus, our glory in life is taking up our cross, obeying the will of the Father, and living our lives connected to and dependent upon God and His direction.
• There is a chorus/song that goes, “In my life Lord, be glorified, be glorified. In my life Lord, be glorified, today.” We glorify Him by going with God throughout the day, trusting and obeying Him.
• 2 Timothy 2:11-12 tells us, “if we have died with him, we shall also live with him. If we endure, we shall also reign with him.”
• 1 Corinthians 13:12 explains that here in this world, while we live, we see dimly in a mirror, but when we see Christ and are with Him for eternity, we shall see Him face to face. We shall behold Him!

Application

• Come to God with an open heart ready to receive His blessings. He knows our needs before we utter them to Him in prayer. He is our Great Provider who sees our need before we do and begins the provision.
• Your life may be draining you and depleting your strength. Come to God and let Him fill you with His Presence and perspective.
• You in Him and Him in you. What a picture of seamless love and dependence that pleases God and has us living in His abundant peace.
• Practice living knowing Jesus is in you and with you throughout the day.
• This life on earth is a warm up for eternity with God.

Tags: Take 10

Week 30 Day 3

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 30 Day 3

Introduction…When the last supper, the Passover was finished and when Jesus’ beautiful heartfelt prayer of John 17 to the Father was over, He and the disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane. There Jesus is betrayed, goes on trial and then to the Cross. His last words of prayer were for His disciples and us, the Church of Jesus Christ to come.

Read John 18:1-11 “When Jesus had said these things he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley to a place where there was a garden into which he and his disciples entered, and Judas, his betrayer, knew the place for Jesus often met his disciples there. So Judas took a company of soldiers, together with officers from the chief priests and Pharisees and went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus knew the things which were going to happen to him, so he came out and said, ‘who are you looking for?’ They answered, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am he.’ And Judas, his betrayer, stood there with them. When he said to them, ‘I am he,’ they stepped back and fell on the ground. So Jesus again asked them, ‘who are you looking for?’ They said, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus said, ‘I told you that I am he. If it si I for whom you are looking, let these go, so that the word which Scripture said may be fulfilled, I have lost none of those whom you gave me.’ Now Simon Peter had a sword and he drew it and he struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, ‘put your sword in its sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which my Father gave me?”

Bible Study

• The Bible teaches us to pray, be in communion with God, without ceasing. See 1 Thessalonians 5:17. But there are also significant times when decisions are being made and we face important situations, when we must go to the Father in prayer.
• Jesus just prayed a beautiful prayer of intercession for himself, his disciples and for those who were yet to come to Christ in saving faith. But now the time had come for His arrest, trial and crucifixion. Jesus prays, asks for the prayers of His disciples and beseeches the Father about the situation He faces.
• Like Jesus, when we are anxious about a situation, bathe it in prayer. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6
• Showing some awareness of Jesus’ supernatural abilities and power, should He decide to use it…soldiers (at least 240 Temple police and Roman soldiers) came to arrest Jesus. And they fell to the ground at just the sound of His voice.
• Instead of hiding, leaving, or running away from the soldiers who came for Him, Jesus steps out bravely and boldly and asks them who they seek.
• The spirit, courage, authority and loving protection of us that Jesus displayed shows He knew His purpose on earth and was ready to give His life, lay it down, like a lamb to slaughter for us. See the prophecy related to Christ in Isaiah 53:6-7.

Application

• When we realize Jesus could have called thousands of angels, or smitten the soldiers with blindness, or struck them down…it makes us realize that no one was able to overpower and kill Jesus.
• It was not the work of the Jews or the Romans. It was your sin and mine that Jesus died to forgive

• Jesus willingly for us and obediently to the Father laid down His life that you and I might live!
• Now all I can say is, “Thank you Lord for saving me!” “I love you Lord!” “I surrender all to Jesus!”
• Live today with that grateful awareness…

Tags: Take 10

Week 29 Day 5

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 29 Day 5

Introduction…The entire 17^th chapter of the John is Christ’s high priestly intercessory prayer. The words in this chapter was Jesus’ prayer to the Father. We are able to look deeply into the heart of the Son of God as the prayer is personal (see verses 1-5) and intercessory for His disciples (see verses 6-19) then and for believers yet to come (see verses 20-26). Remember…when we see Jesus, we see what God is like. (see John 14:9).

Read John 17:6-8 “I have shown forth your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours and you gave them to me and they have kept your word. Now they realize that everything you gave me comes from you because I gave them the words you gave to me and they received them, and they truly know that I came forth from you and they believe you sent me.”

Bible Study

• Jesus’ work was all about representing, showing, manifesting the name of God…exemplifying God and showing us His expressed image. See Hebrews 1:3
  • Showing forth His name means the whole character of God is revealed.
  • Psalms 9:10 says, “Those who know your name put their trust in you.”
  • Psalms 20:7 says, “Some boast of chariots, and some of horses, but we boast of the name of the Lord our God.” We know who we believe in!
  • Isaiah 52:6 says, “My people will know my name.” We are God’s people.
• Jesus’ work was breaking down the barriers and walls that separated man from God.
  • Jewish people of Jesus’ day would not even pronounce the sacred name of God, Yahweh, because to them He was feared and sacred.
  • Jesus came to teach us about God’s nature and His name is to be mentioned on everyone’s lips in love and respect for our mighty God.
  • Ephesians 2:14-18 tells of the amazing work of Jesus for us, “For He is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us…we both have access by Spirit unto the Father.”
  • Jesus is the only mediator needed between God and man. Hebrews 8:6, 9:15 and 12:24 tells us Jesus is the mediator of a better and new covenant.
• Discipleship is based upon the realization that Jesus came from God. Following Jesus is following after God. We are God Seekers. John 10:27 “my sheep hear my voice and follow me.”
• Discipleship is based upon obedience to whom we are following…Jesus. Jesus submitted and obeyed the Father and we must take up our cross and follow Him, submit ourselves to Him, obey Him. Philippians 1:21 says it right, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
• Discipleship is God destined for us. Linked vitally with our Creator God and following hard after Him is our purpose driven life. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says, “For I know my plans for you, thoughts of peace… and give you an expected end.”

Application

• Do you fear God to the extent you do not communicate with Him?
• Did the relationship with your Father cause you to distrust your heavenly Father?
• Do you know God? Are you open and intimate with Him?
• Jesus showed us the amazing love and grace of God our Father. Jesus was the express image of God. He loves us and gave Himself for us.
• The work Jesus did on the Cross, opens up the relationship, links us to God through Jesus and brings us so close to God. Do you know Him? Love Him?

“He is our Peace”

He is our peace, He has broken down every wall

He is our peace, He is our peace

So cast your cares on Him, He cares for you

He is our peace, He is our peace.

Tags: Take 10

Week 24 Day 1

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 24 Day 1

Introduction…It is astonishing to some that Jesus, the Son of God, could weep as He was wrung with emotion and anguish of the human heart. Jesus had heard about Lazarus’ illness, yet He was led of the Spirit to delay His going to Bethany to intervene, and then a few days later knew that Lazarus had died. Jesus was prepared for what He would face. He knew the miracle He would do, however, the scene of human suffering so moved Jesus to mourning and weeping. When Jesus saw the pain and suffering death caused, He was gripped with emotion and grief. What does this tell us about God?

Read John 11: 28-35 “When Martha had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister. Without letting the rest of the people know, she said to her: ‘The Teacher has arrived and is calling for you.’ When she heard this, she rose quickly and began to go to him. Jesus had not yet come into the village, but he was still in the place where Martha met him. So when the Jews, who were in the house with Mary and who were condoling with her, saw her rise quickly and go out, they followed her, for they thought that she was going back to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came to where Jesus was, when she saw him, she knelt at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit so that an involuntary groan burst from him, and he trembled with deep emotion. Jesus said to them: ‘Where have you laid him?’ ‘Lord,’ they said to him: ‘Come and see.’ Jesus wept. So the Jews said: ‘Look how he loved him!”

Bible Study

• When Jesus finally arrived at Bethany, He found faith amidst the grief. Both Mary and Martha, called for Jesus, waited for Him and so wanted Jesus to come and
  • They had faith that Jesus could heal Lazarus, but would He?.
• Even with their hope differed after Lazarus’ death, they loved, served and had faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
  • What good thing would Jesus do for them? Would He grieve with them?
• “Jesus wept.” The shortest Scripture verse in the Bible, but what a revealing statement about Jesus, the Son of God and what a powerful truth about the nature of God.
  • Does God Almighty understand my human pain, or feel my hurt, or care about my problems?
  • Lamentations 3:22, 32 tells us, “It is because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness…yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.”
  • Matthew 9:36 tells us Jesus, when He saw the people, “was moved with compassion.”
  • Matthew 20:34 says Jesus “had compassion on them and touched them”
• Do we know the heart of God, His great love and are we grasping His mercy and compassion for us?
• As evidenced by Jesus’ reactions we can fully see that God is effected by our sorrow, sickness, grief, hurt and pain.
• Hebrews 4:14-16 sums up Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, the human nature of Jesus and the supernatural nature of God, where it says, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.”

Application

• What is your prayer? Not what are you praying? Not your praying for food or in a Bible Study…but what is your heart’s desire? What is your God inspired prayer?
• God cares about you. God is able to help.

Tags: Take 10

Week 24 Day 2

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 24 Day 2

Introduction…Sometimes we see ourselves as rather good people and then there are times when we see the other side of ourselves. The side that is not so good. The Bible says that the heart of man is desperately wicked. It is exhausting to hear commentary on the news or sports that spends its time, “Monday morning quarterbacking.” Talking about what could have or should have been done in yesterday’s game or a decision that was made. Looking at today’s Bible Study shows once again human nature to question, to ask what if and look at what could have been done…we even see the audacity of some to criticize God. Can the clay say to the Potter, don’t make me a bowl, make me a vase? Or the created ask the Creator, why did you make like this?

Read John 11:37-44 “Some of them said: ‘Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind have so acted that Lazarus would not have died?’ Again a groan was wrung from Jesus’s inner being. He went to the tomb. It was a cave and a stone had been laid upon it. Jesus said: ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to Him: ‘Lord, by this time the stench of death is on him for he has been in the tomb for 4 days.’ Jesus said to her: ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’ So they took the stone away. Jesus lifted up his eyes and said: ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me. But I said this for the sake of the crowd which is standing round, because I want them to believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice: ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The man who had been dead came out, bound hand and foot in grave clothes and with his face encircled with a napkin. Jesus said to them: ‘Set him free from his wrappings and let him go!”

Bible Study

• This account of Lazarus coming back to life, so proves and establishes Jesus as the only Son of God, Messiah, is so amazing and reassuring still today.
• We serve the Creator, Living God, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who sent to this world, Jesus, our Savior. He is the Resurrection and the Life!
• Miracles are a sign from God so that we might believe, they bring glory to God, but require those who experience the miracles to have ongoing faith in God.
  • 1 Kings 18:37 tells us how Elijah prayed, “Answer me, O Lord, that this people may know that you are God.”
  • Jesus prayed to the Father thanking Him for hearing and answering with the intent of establishing belief in God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
  • Jesus tells a Parable in Luke 16:19-31 about life in the hereafter as it relates to heaven with God and hell without God. After death, it will be too late to decide on Jesus as Savior, but Jesus’ strong comment is… though someone were to come back from the dead…some people will not believe in Jesus, will not declare Him, Lord, resulting in not have a saving belief in Jesus as Savior and therefore be lost and separated from God.
• In Jesus’ short time ministering on earth, we read in God’s Word, on several occasions the accounts of raising the dead.
  • Jairus’ daughter. See Matthew 9:18-26
  • The widow’s son at Nain. See Luke 7:11-16
  • In Lazarus’ resurrection, he had been dead 4 days!
  • If we die before Jesus returns, we too shall be raised from the dead and so be with the Lord forever.

Application

• Do we pray with the understanding and assurance that God is love, He hears us when we pray, He will answer us according to His good and perfect will?
• Our role is to have faith and pray.
• When God answers…we will thank and glorify Him.

Tags: Take 10

Week 8 Day 3

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 8 Day 3

Introduction…Church life is real community since we are members of one body, Jesus Christ, the True Church. Also we are a part of the body of Christ locally, here at Elevate. One thing has been made clear about the Church, the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12. We have different gifts, ministries and we ourselves come from different places in life. Overarching the differences is the fact that we operate as one, we need each other and there are no spare parts. All working and sharing together we make up the Body.

Read James 5:13-15 “Is any among you in trouble? Let him pray. Is any in good spirits? Let him sing a hymn. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church; and let them anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and pray over him and the believing prayer will restore to health the ailing person, and the Lord will enable him to rise from his bed; and even if he has committed sin, he will receive forgiveness.”

Bible Study

• The Bible teaches in Matthew 5:45 that ‘the rain falls on the just and unjust alike.” Meaning trouble (rain) comes to all of us. Christians don’t have a rain check, but we do have an ability to pray and God, our Father, hears and answers prayer.
• So when problems come our way, don’t be anxious or overwhelmed, pray and God will be there with us and for us. See Philippians 4:6
• Some of us in the church are going through trouble, while at the same time others are in good spirits and things are going well for them. The church activity appropriate for these times are singing, praising and thanking God.
  • Psalms 100: 1-2 says, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord…Come before His presence with singing and into His courts with praise.”
  • This is why joy, singing and worship is a vital part of church and Christian life. See I Corinthians 14:15,26; Colossians 3:16)
  • Ephesians 5:18-19 teaches us, “don’t be drunk with wine in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart unto the Lord.”
• If and when we are sick, call for the church leadership and anointing with oil and prayer are the right thing to do.
  • There is a gift of Healing that some members of the body of Christ possess. That is the supernatural ability to pray for the sick and they are healed.
  • All of us do not have the same gift, or the gift of Healing but in spite of this we are encouraged to pray for each other, that we might be healed.
  • The element of oil and the activity of anointing are methods God uses to instruct the Church, how it should be the hand of God reaching out to the needy. God is the Healer. We in obedience and in faith follow His leading.
  • One of the names of God is ‘Jehovah Rophe’. God my Healer. “Sun of righteousness rise with healing in your wings.” Malachi 4:2 God heals today.

Application

• Healing is for us and for the Church. Healing was paid for and provided by Jesus bearing stripes at His Crucifixion, where it says “and by His stripes we are healed”. Read the amazing Word written 800 years before, prophesying Christ, the Messiah, would come and die for our sin and sicknesses. See Isaiah 53.

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

Week 8 Day 4

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 8 Day 4

Introduction…the healing God offers is for the whole person…the body, mind and spirit. When Jesus healed people, further showing His Deity, he often said as well, “your sins are forgiven.” See Mark 2:5. He even clarified that healing sickness and sin forgiveness go hand and hand as a body and spirit both need His saving/healing touch. In Luke 5:23-24, Jesus said, “which is easier to say, thy sins be forgiven or rise up and walk, that you might know the Son of Man has authority upon earth…”

Read James 5: 16-18 “Confess your faults to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a good person, when it is set to work, is very powerful. Elijah was a man with the same emotions as ourselves, and he prayed earnestly that it should not rain, and for 3 years and 6 months no rain fell upon the earth. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth put forth her fruit.”

Bible Study

• Sin causes a barrier between us and God. Confessing our sin before God removes our sin and puts us in right relationship and continued fellowship with Him.
• Sin causes a barrier between us and others. Admitting our wrong doing, humbly asking forgiveness from another provides and promotes healing of the relationship.
• When we pray and come to God, these barriers must be removed. When confessed, God forgives and remembers them against us never again. But there still may be work to do with others, our wives, our children and friends whom we may have offended.
• Remember the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5:21-26 taken from the Message Bible, which clearly shows us God’s order of things…first reconciliation with others and then bring your gifts to God.
  • “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, do not murder. I am telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot’ and you might just find yourself hauled into court.
  • “Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.”
  • “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.”
  • “ Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him…”
• Prayer is powerful. Be right with others and God and the prayer becomes powerful moving the hand of God. See 1Kings 17 and 18 regarding Elijah

Application

• The Apostle Peter encourages us if we are married that our prayers are hindered when we are in unresolved conflict with our mate. Once again confirming the truth that we have to get it right with others before we get it right with God.
• See I Peter, chapter 3…especially verse 7.

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10

August 3, 2009 – Prayer, Part 4

Finally, after a month of talking about prayer we get to the Lord’s Prayer to look at it. Not as a prayer we are supposed to memorize and receipt over and over again because remember what Jesus says right before this in Matt. 6 don’t babble over and over the same words thinking that is going to get God’s attention – he was saying think about what you are saying. It’s a dialog a conversation remember!

The outline Jesus gives us makes sure of 2 things first before we get to our list of needs and wants. First, we focus on how big of a God we really are talking to and that He invites us into this dialog with Him by allowing us to call Him Father. And second, we make sure that our will is aligned with His will, His plans, His desires for us. Both gets our perspective right first when it comes to prayer. We usually jump right to the third part when we pray – our list of needs and wants, but remember what Jesus said right before the Lord’s prayer in Matt. 6:7 – our Father in Heaven already knows what we need of Him even before we ask it so don’t spend too much time on your list. Rather focus on how big He is – make sure your will is aligned with His and then your list will be what it needs to be and in the proper perspective.

The perspective Jesus teaches us to have when it comes to our list is, “God I am totally dependent upon you for what I truly need for the day, I am dependent upon you for my salvation, and I am dependent upon you for my protection.” That is what Jesus was saying in the last part of the Lord’s Prayer.

Finally, in this series, we talked about persistence in prayer. That God is not bothered by our persistence in prayer and you know what, sometimes He’s even moved by it. Your persistence in prayer on an important matter shows God that you know it can only be done by His might. By continuing to ask, seek and knock you are saying you are dependent upon Him and you are submitted to His will on the matter. Luke 11:9 says this. Persistent prayer sometimes He’ll move answer because of it, and sometimes He’ll move us but He will always do something.

Don’t stop praying,

Jonathan

Tags: Jonathan Spuler

July 27, 2009 – Prayer, Part 3

The mobile phone commercial that has coined the phrase “can you hear me now” is a marketing person’s dream. That every time someone says that line they think of that commercial (whichever company its for but that’s a whole other conversation). I think that phrase can sometimes fit the way we think about prayer. God can you hear me now?…but I think God, in prayer, is saying the same thing back to us. Prayer is our way of talking to God but God is speaking too – do we ever shut up long enough in prayer to hear Him?

In John 10:4-5 Jesus said that His sheep will hear His voice and the voice of a stranger they will not follow. I love what that verse is saying – when we are following we will hear His voice but maybe more importantly what this verse is saying is that He is speaking!

Doesn’t that fit into what we have been saying these last few weeks? That God has invited us into an intimate dialog with Him through prayer. The picture we see in Revelation 3:20 (in that verse it talks about hearing His voice again – I love it!).

Listening for God to speak in your prayer LIFE also is in line with what we talked about last week in getting intentional about a time and a place for prayer – getting away from distractions. Getting intentional also is deliberate prayer versus on the go prayer. Sitting and listening compared to “Lord, help me get a parking spot,” “be with me in this presentation,” “please help me find my car keys” prayers throughout the day. If all your prayer life consists of is a list of on the go prayers that is ok but God heart longs for more. He wants intimate conversation.

Get intentional, alone and away from distractions – yes. Get raw, real, honest and bold in prayer – yes. But now, what the Bible is saying is shut up and listen. God is speaking – He wants to share His will for your life, give you comfort, direction, insight and wisdom.

This week lets pray but lets also listen – God is speaking,

Listen up,

Jonathan

Tags: Jonathan Spuler

July 20, 2009 – Prayer, Part 2

In prayer getting real, raw, authentic and bold in what we say to God is not wrong or irreverent. If God invites us into an intimate relationship with Him where He wants an open dialog – us including Him in our lives 24/7 and allowing Him to speak to us – He won’t be intimidated by our honesty in prayer. You can only have that level of intimacy in your prayer LIFE if you believe that God the Creator wants that kind of interaction with His creation – He does…He is longing for it.

David, a man after God’s own heart – the Bible says, is a great example of honesty in prayer. Look at the Psalms and you can see honest and raw prayers up to God. “Where are you,” “You are blessing my enemies, why” “I am scared you can’t hear me or won’t deliver me” would be some paraphrased examples. In those honest prayers to God you will also see a level of understanding about who God is and what he wants to do in our lives that is revealed to David in his being real with God. God being a deliverer, a strong tower, a place of refuge, etc. David was real and raw but experienced intimacy with God – beautiful.

This week as we continue to reshape our prayer life don’t feel shy about getting real with God in prayer. There is a time for reverence because God is holy and just but he has invited us into an intimate walk with Him where He is not far away but as close as our breath. You can’t be that close or want to be that close without desiring to see it all – the good, the bad and the ugly.

Get real, get raw, get bold,

Jonathan

Tags: Jonathan Spuler