My favorite part of this book is Chapter 27. It puts legs on all of the "theory" he's been teaching. I suggest you read it and, if you have no other methodical way of keeping prayer requests, that you consider his 3x5 card method.
As Chris said, Chapter 28 is a must read, as you can see how his prayer, his methodical, patient prayer, is worked out in the life of Bob.
Throughout the process of this praying, God changes our hearts, as well. If prayer is aligning ourselves with the will of the Father, then we cannot help but be changed. We may start of "complaining" to God, but we end up humbled and are made less judgmental of others' faults. We become thankful to God and merciful to others.
"If Satan's basic game plan is pride, seeking to draw us into his life of arrogance, then God's basic game plan is humility, drawing us into the life of His Son."
Pray without ceasing. Pray with humility. Pray with hope.
James 5 (selected verses)
"Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts...Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door....Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy....Confess your faults to one another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Chapter 28 - Prayer Work
It's spring break here in NE Atlanta ~ always a busy time with kids, so there might not be as much time to read the book this week. Chapter 27 is a good, practical chapter about how to use prayer cards.
But, Chapter 28 is a MUST READ!!! It is a tiny gem of a chapter, containing just 4 pages but capturing much of the essence of the entire prayer journey we've been learning about all these weeks.
Through a story about his obnoxious (my word) friend Bob, Mr. Miller describes how we truly partner with Christ through prayer AND hard work to reach others for Him. Here's just a snippet from toward the end of the chapter...
"...Finally, when nothing is working, we might pray. But by that time we've concluded that (the situation) is hopeless and God is powerless. We decide that prayer doesn't work. But what really doesn't work is us. For starters, we only prayed after we'd mucked up the situation. Then, by praying at the end, we didn't allow any time for God to weave His story. Secretly we want Him to answer our prayer by doing a magic trick on the other person's soul. Our 'prayer doesn't work' often means "you (God) didn't do my will, in my way, in my time."
Now, please, please, go and read the "back-story" to this snippet and see if you are as convicted by the chapter as I was!
But, Chapter 28 is a MUST READ!!! It is a tiny gem of a chapter, containing just 4 pages but capturing much of the essence of the entire prayer journey we've been learning about all these weeks.
Through a story about his obnoxious (my word) friend Bob, Mr. Miller describes how we truly partner with Christ through prayer AND hard work to reach others for Him. Here's just a snippet from toward the end of the chapter...
"...Finally, when nothing is working, we might pray. But by that time we've concluded that (the situation) is hopeless and God is powerless. We decide that prayer doesn't work. But what really doesn't work is us. For starters, we only prayed after we'd mucked up the situation. Then, by praying at the end, we didn't allow any time for God to weave His story. Secretly we want Him to answer our prayer by doing a magic trick on the other person's soul. Our 'prayer doesn't work' often means "you (God) didn't do my will, in my way, in my time."
Now, please, please, go and read the "back-story" to this snippet and see if you are as convicted by the chapter as I was!
Chapter 26 ~ Using Prayer Tools
In Chapter 26, Miller points out the importance of writing prayers down. He poses the question, "Do you use a calendar?" I would venture to say that we all use calendars, whether electronic or written. Then he asks, "Do you regularly use a written prayer system?" If we think it's so important to write down the events of our daily life, then we ought to consider it more important to write down our prayer/requests. He points out that most of those who don't write their prayers down don't take prayer seriously! He uses the example of Paul in Scripture of one who took prayer very seriously. "It is clear from the love that pours out of Paul in letters such as 1 Thessalonians, that Paul has been praying for them."
Miller acknowledges that having a prayer life is not easy at all. It takes persistence and focus when it doesn't feel natural to us. Writing our thoughts and requests down helps us to focus. In the next two chapters, he will help us look at two practical prayer tools: prayer journals and prayer cards.
Miller reminds us that we are to guard against our prayers becoming rote, "desensitizing us to God as a person." So many times we can become too focused on a list or prayer system (ACTS) that "we can become wooden or mindless as we pray."
What tools/systems do you use when you pray? I would love for you to share some of your methods.
Miller acknowledges that having a prayer life is not easy at all. It takes persistence and focus when it doesn't feel natural to us. Writing our thoughts and requests down helps us to focus. In the next two chapters, he will help us look at two practical prayer tools: prayer journals and prayer cards.
Miller reminds us that we are to guard against our prayers becoming rote, "desensitizing us to God as a person." So many times we can become too focused on a list or prayer system (ACTS) that "we can become wooden or mindless as we pray."
What tools/systems do you use when you pray? I would love for you to share some of your methods.
Chapter 25 ~ Living in Gospel Stories
Hind sight's 20/20. So many times when we are in the midst of a trial, circumstance, or just "life", we are unable to acknowledge that God is in total control, that He has a purpose for us, and that we are a part of His story.
Miller does an excellent job of sharing a personal story with us in this chapter. He then allows us in on his thought process when he comes to realize that this little trial that he's in is really one of God's stories...a gospel story. One that is "seldom realized".
He takes us on an adventure when he and his autistic daughter, Kim, fly to Florida on a business trip. By doing this, he is trying to give his wife a break, some rest. A lot goes wrong on their trip, mostly because Kim cannot handle the unpredictability and the rush, and she whines and attracts attention to the two of them the whole time. He says at this point, "As I sat there on the plane, frazzled, with Kim melting down next to me, I thought, This was a mistake. I will never do this again. What I didn't realize was that the kingdom had come."
"Later as I reflected on the weekend and on the ways of God, I realized that I was in the middle of one of God's stories. On Saturday, I spoke in front of a crowd who listened to my every word and respected me. When you speak, no matter how hard you try, you are at the center. Even if you are talking about Jesus and how he loves people, as I was, it's tempting to take credit for your speaking.
"However, on Friday I was in front of three different crowds (at the bust stop, in the security line, and on the plane), helpless and embarrassed. I looked inadequate, I felt inadequate, and I was inadequate. God was reminding me of what I am really like. he was preparing my heart on Friday, so I'd not be confused by people's praise on Saturday. I wanted success; he wanted authenticity.
"The Father was taking me on the same downward journey he took his Son. Paul invited the Philippian church to join Jesus, 'who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men' (Philippians 2:6-7). The downward journey is a gospel story."
This story, and many others that Miller has presented in this book, are helpful in remembering each day that it's not about me, it's about loving his people, loving Him, and bringing Him glory.
He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30.
Miller does an excellent job of sharing a personal story with us in this chapter. He then allows us in on his thought process when he comes to realize that this little trial that he's in is really one of God's stories...a gospel story. One that is "seldom realized".
He takes us on an adventure when he and his autistic daughter, Kim, fly to Florida on a business trip. By doing this, he is trying to give his wife a break, some rest. A lot goes wrong on their trip, mostly because Kim cannot handle the unpredictability and the rush, and she whines and attracts attention to the two of them the whole time. He says at this point, "As I sat there on the plane, frazzled, with Kim melting down next to me, I thought, This was a mistake. I will never do this again. What I didn't realize was that the kingdom had come."
"Later as I reflected on the weekend and on the ways of God, I realized that I was in the middle of one of God's stories. On Saturday, I spoke in front of a crowd who listened to my every word and respected me. When you speak, no matter how hard you try, you are at the center. Even if you are talking about Jesus and how he loves people, as I was, it's tempting to take credit for your speaking.
"However, on Friday I was in front of three different crowds (at the bust stop, in the security line, and on the plane), helpless and embarrassed. I looked inadequate, I felt inadequate, and I was inadequate. God was reminding me of what I am really like. he was preparing my heart on Friday, so I'd not be confused by people's praise on Saturday. I wanted success; he wanted authenticity.
"The Father was taking me on the same downward journey he took his Son. Paul invited the Philippian church to join Jesus, 'who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men' (Philippians 2:6-7). The downward journey is a gospel story."
This story, and many others that Miller has presented in this book, are helpful in remembering each day that it's not about me, it's about loving his people, loving Him, and bringing Him glory.
He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30.
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