J. I. Packer
The peace of God is first and foremost peace with God.
Memorize Scripture: Psalm 119:149-152
Hiding God’s Word In Our Hearts
The first half of this stanza contained a couple of instructions on prayer that the psalmist has learned while facing opposition in his life. This passage gives two more. You can see them in Psalm 119:149-152:
As mentioned when we looked at the first half of this strophe, the author of Psalm 119 has learned to rely upon God mainly due to a single factor: his prayer life. He has come to rely upon God for protection and provision, and knows that it is only through his ongoing conversations with God that this relationship can stay vibrant and healthy.
In the first half of the passage, the psalmist gave two ways that using God’s Word in his prayer life gave him the strength he needed to continue following God fully. First, he stated that we must pray earnestly. And second, that we must pray continually.
In the final verses of this stanza, we can see two more characteristics of our prayer life, and the need to use God’s Word within it.
The frightening thing is that, to enter hell, all one has to do is nothing.
Jared Wilson
DiscipleShift (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013)
I am in the mountains near Colorado Springs this week for CIY Wilderness, and one of the books I am reading is DiscipleShift, by Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington.
We are called to make disciples. Jesus made that very clear in the Great Commission, and elsewhere throughout the New Testament. But how do we become churches that produce disciples that produce more disciples?
Throughout history, the church has taken different approaches to disciple making, not all of them effective. And in an increasingly apathetic culture, how can we continue to fulfill this mandate? Perhaps it’s time for a shift in our thinking. Perhaps it’s time for a shift in our mindset. Or, as these two authors point out, perhaps it’s time for five key shifts in our approach to disciple making.
I’m really excited about reading this book where I can discuss it with so many other ministers. I am excited to see how God might impact my thinking in this area through this book in the context in which I’m reading it.
If you would like to read DiscipleShift, you can order a copy on Amazon.
Enjoy this photo of fog in the mountains at Bear Trap Ranch from a couple years ago. This is where I am this week.
When it is the Lord’s work in which we rejoice, we need not be afraid of being too glad.
C. H. Spurgeon
Wilderness
The Mountains Are Calling…
John Muir once said, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” They are… And I am going…
Almost every year in October, I go to the mountains outside of Colorado Springs for a ministry retreat hosted by Christ In Youth. It’s called Wilderness, and it is one of the foundational parts of my spiritual formation each year.
I missed Wilderness last year. We were just a few days away from moving from Cabool to Sedalia, Missouri, and the timing just wasn’t right. With this retreat being the first week of October each year, and our move scheduled for the last week of that month, it just wasn’t a possibility. And as much as it couldn’t be helped, I still regret the fact that I messed it.
But not this year. In just a couple of days, our youth minister and I will meet up with a couple of other guys from southeast Kansas and head for the Rocky Mountains, to Bear Trap Ranch.
It will be a great time of refreshing renewal, and one that is much needed.