Keeping a Prayer Journal, Poythress on Being Active, and Making Time for Spiritual Disciplines
AN IDEA FROM ME
I am currently taking my son Jakob through the Bar Yeshua process—a rite-of-passage preparing him to become a man. What follows is one of the 66 challenges he will complete—namely, keeping a prayer journal. I think it’s a good practice and want to commend it to you as well.
Challenge: Begin the Practice of Keeping a Prayer Journal.
God is always answering prayers and meeting our needs, but we might not always notice—or remember! A prayer journal helps you keep track of how the Lord is answering your prayers. It is a blessing to be able to look back on the prayer requests you have had, and to recall how the Lord has provided for you throughout your life.
Some relevant verses:
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).
“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
“Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever” (Psalm 111:2–5).
—Source: The Bar Yeshua Handbook. The PrayerMate app can serve as an excellent prayer journal. Get it here: https://www.prayermate.net.
View a PDF of my Bar Yeshua Handbook for free, here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kyBuBuXe0gVqt58Icajs1frDdSSsDbV_/view?usp=sharing
A QUOTE FROM SOMEBODY ELSE
The Bible has instructions and insights that affect every area of life... Our conduct is not the basis for our salvation, but is influenced by our salvation. The Bible indicates that God brings salvation to those who trust in Jesus. This salvation is a gift of God’s grace, not something that we earn or deserve on the basis of achievement. We do not try to transform ourselves in order to be saved. Rather, God saves us by reaching out to us in our state of sin and alienation from him. But then any person who is saved is also transformed by the power of God.
A Christian believer is not supposed to just lie still, relax, and enjoy the salvation already given to him. He is to be active in serving the Lord, like an athlete or a farmer working hard (1 Cor. 9:24–26; 2 Tim. 2:5–6). Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
To put it another way, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19–20). A person who truly trusts in Christ has given up every other loyalty in order to be loyal to Christ alone.
— Source: Vern Poythress, Foreword to Apologetics: A Justification of Christian Belief. Read the article here: https://frame-poythress.org/foreword-to-apologetics-a-justification-of-christian-belief/.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
We all want to have a closer walk with the Lord, but it often seems like there isn’t enough time in the day. What is one practical step you could start doing this week to make more time for spiritual disciplines (Scripture, prayer, fasting, etc.)?
Respond to this email in the next seven days, and I will write you back.