“The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.” 1 Peter 4:7
Discipline. Now that’s a phrase I battle daily. American Heritage Dictionary describes discipline as a training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement or a systematic method to obtain obedience.
Being earnest, intense and serious in our prayer life is how we will handle these last days. No matter when you think the last days are; today is closer than yesterday. The world spins out of control. However; scripture gives us the solution for coping with this dizziness – to be earnest and disciplined in our prayers.
Are you serious about your prayer life? Are you training yourself to be obedient in your prayers? Do you have a daily prayer time?
If you had a hard time answering yes to those questions, then you need a systematic method to help you obtain this discipline. To further your prayer life: figure out a system that works for you, customize it to fit your needs, and then go into training. Disciplined and earnest training.
If you need help or suggestions, please contact Alene.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Earnest and Disciplined
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Along with others at Christ Point Church in Corpus Christi, TX, I am in a period of fasting. I resolve to consume only water and juice on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and longer if I can physically manage. I resolve to replace meals with prayer and scripture reading. Our pastor asked on Sunday for corporate, church-wide participation in fasting this week. I am also keeping a journal of the week, and this is what I have added today:
Monday night, Jan 5th
“Earnest and Disciplined”
The weekly devotional written by Alene Snodgrass is based on the verse found in 1 Peter 4: 7. Peter writes, “…be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.” The intent of this period of fasting is to seek the Lord and connect with Him; to hear His voice in His instruction or direction for me. To complete the period of fasting, whether it is 3 days or 5 days or 6 days or 7 days, I must be disciplined. I also must be earnest in seeking the Lord. I am not on a diet; this is not crash-course in weight loss. I am to replace food with the feast of His Holy Spirit. If I can be earnest and dine on God’s presence, and be disciplined in overcoming temptation, the goal of this period of fasting can be reached, and I can connect with the Lord as I hope to do. The Lord will decide what He has to say to me; I must decide to remain steadfast in this period of fasting, and I must decide that when God speaks to me, that I shall act on His command.
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To God be the glory.
Jonathan Ibarra
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