In a recent sermon, my pastor related part of his journey to where he is today. He talked about how he and his wife were serving in a previous ministry and embarking on exactly what they had been dreaming of. Then, they lost the ministry and many of their friends and found themselves sinking lower and lower. With each passing month, they found what they had thought of as rock bottom. They were really questioning God, questioning the things that they had been through. They poured themselves out until they were really just empty, crying out to God to move on their behalf. I can’t tell you the entire story, but I can tell you that God has moved greatly on their behalf and called and is currently using them beyond their wildest dreams.

Believing that God has Something More

  Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”

I began to think of my own journey and the journey of many of those close to me. We find ourselves called to something by God, really unsure of how that will play out. At least for me, the calling that God has for me has long been something mysterious. It has had moments of clarity, but really God just told me to go and I did. Here we are several years later and God is beginning to move on my behalf (for his own glory, of course!). But the thought that I had while listening to this sermon was if in fact I actually believe that God has something more, not only for my life in general, but specifically for my ministry. Between you and I — I don’t think this is always the case. I don’t think I always have the faith to stand in this truth.

Believing That God Has Something More -- Even More Than More! (HT abhi_ryan on FlickrCC)

The good news — God is smarter than I am. God gives me glimpses of the ‘more’ that He is going to do eventually. Most often, I think that God doesn’t give me the whole picture because either my mind would be totally blown or I would wimp out and walk away. For now, I’m walking in confidence that even if I don’t believe God is wanting to do something mighty in me and through me, He will still have his way.

What about you? Do you have faith issues? Where can you see God moving and asking you to move in turn?

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
And forgive us our debts, 
as we also have forgiven our debtors. 
And lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from the evil one.’ -Matthew 6:9-13

How often have you found yourself really not knowing how to pray? Prayer is, at it's heart, conversation with God. Undoubtedly, our approach to prayer should not be flippant, but rather in the serious nature of which God deserves. Throughout Scripture, we find many examples of God's people entering into conversation with him. I've found that having Jesus teach me how to pray has been greatly beneficial to my daily walk with God. 

Teach Me How to Pray, Jesus. Help me develop this man's posture! (HT chrisyarzab on FlickrCC)

Having Jesus Teach Me How To Pray

Many years ago, I found myself at somewhat of a crossroads in my life. I'd spent many years going to college for a few different specialities, wandering across the country in search of 'meaning', and bascially found myself at a loss. It was then that I got out of some the books that I used during College. I found a book on prayer. I read through it in about a day. What I really kept coming back to was Jesus' prayer found above in Matthew 6:9-13. It really is simple, isn't it? What Jesus really is saying is, "God, You're holy and awesome, may you kingdom and will be done in my life. God, just give me what I need to survive today. Forgive me, please and help me forgive those who need it from me. Lastly, help me not to sin and get me away from Satan."

How, When, and Why to Pray

Prayer really knows no time or place. If you're read much about prayer in Scripture, you have undoubtedly read about people praying in all kinds of places including battle, in the streets, on dousetops, in prison, in the stomach of a big fish, in the wilderness, and on the Cross. Personally, I spend about an hour a day in my car commuting and I find this to be an excellent time to pray. I'm all alone, as Jesus instructs in Matthew 6. No one else really knows what I'm doing or probably think I'm on bluetooth with my homies or something. Additionally, I've created a conversational approach to Prayer. Why? It really helps me stay connected to God. I just keep an ongoing dialogue and thereby keeping the lines of communication open. Why should we pray? Really there are endless reasons to pray. I'd venture to say that if it is important to you, it is worthy of prayer. That is not to say that whatever you say or ask will be answered in the way that you'd like.  

So, are you still asking, "Teach me how to pray"? 

Follow Jesus' model of praising God for who he is and what he has done and will do, asking God to provide for your needs, asking for forgiveness and ability to forgive others and protecting you from temptation and Satan. Pretty simple. Then, develop your own style, but these elements are really important in prayer. 

How do you pray? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

If you're looking for a great resource, I'd recomend Richard Foster's Book Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home (aff. link). This really is one of the most seminal works on Prayer. Foster is a master of Spritual Disciplines is no exception. 

I am Who He Says I Am (HT ramsd on FlickrCC)

And so are you.

Maybe it is just me, but I get caught up in listening to a number of other sources that want to tell me who I am. Maybe it is the kid on the playground from my youth making fun of me. Maybe it is the relative that told my mom that I would be dead or imprisioned by the time I was 18. Sometimes it is my own voice telling me that I've failed again and God cannot use me because of that. Other times it is the voice of "the world" telling me that I need to be more focused on the career ladder. This is really not an all inclusive list, but just a small sampling of the voices that try to speak into my life. What about for you? What sources are you listening to that really have no business speaking into your life? 

I am who HE says I am. So are you. I am a child of God. So are you. I am a branch of the true vine. So are you. I am a friend of Jesus. So are you. I have been justified and redeemed, just like you. I have been crucified with Christ so that sin no longer reigns in me. So have you. I have wisdom, righteousness, santification, and redemption in Christ Jesus. So do you. The Holy Spirit makes his dwelling inside of me and you. I am a new creation in Christ. You are, too. I am the righteousness of God through Christ. You are as well. I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God. So are you. I am God's workmanship to do good works and so are you. Because of God's mercy and love, I've been made ALIVE with Christ. My friend: you have too! I used to be darkness, but now I am light in Christ. You are too. I am a citizen of heaven. Christian, you are also. The peace of God guards my heart and mind, and your's, too. I have been made complete in Chirst. You are, too. I have been chosen of God and am Holy and beloved. So are you. Christ is my life, and I will be revealed with Him in glory. So too, are you. 

If you're ever in a place where the outside voices try to beat you down and speak deception into your life, think upon all the truths here. YOU ARE WHO HE SAYS YOU ARE! I am who HE says I am. 

Types of Biblical Fasting

As previously discussed, Biblical fasting is really removing obstacles in order to humble ourselves before God. Typically, Biblical fasting involves abstaining from food for a period of time. There are a few types of food related fasts: 

• Fasting from all food/drink (with the exception of water) for a 24 hour period. Pretty obviously here, you abstain from 
  

  Biblical Fasting typically involves no food of any kind. This guy has it right!

  food/drink for one full day. This can also be extended to last for any period of time that you would like. 
• Partaking in a Daniel Fast. In Daniel 10, we read of a fast that includes eating no 'choice foods', no meat, and no wine. Basically, a Daniel Fast includes eating only fruits, vegetables, and grains…that is things that are grown from seed, as is commonly believed to be the original language of the Bible. 
• Fasting from certain foods. People may choose to do this because of a certain affliction from those foods. Maybe you eat too much chocolate and it has serious effect on your life and walk with God. Be a good idea to embark upon a fast for purposes of realigning yourself with God. This is the principle behind Lent. 

In addition to food related fasts, you may choose to fast from television, media, news, books, internet, social media, or a host of other items. Basically, anything that detracts from your walk with God can be fasted from. 

Have you tried any type of Biblical fasting mentioned here? How about any fasts that I have missed? Love to have your voice. 

1. Pay cash for college. Seriously, it sounds really crazy, especially with the rising cost of college tuition, but you don’t want to be like me and paying off your college tuition long after you’ve graduated.

2. Don’t fret over declaring a major. Basically, the first two years of any education are general in nature and it doesn’t really matter what you’re going to eventually study.

3. Value all relationships equally. There is a great temptation to place a great emphasis on a significant other during collegiate years. I’m guilty and chances are most people are. Chances are fairly good that whomever that is will not be your lifelong partner, so don’t treat them that way. Don’t forsake same-sex friendships for romantic flings.

4. Have a budget. There are plenty of opportunities to spend all kinds of cash that you have worked hard for. There is also ample opportunity to spend money that you don’t have provided by shiny little pieces of plastic. DO NOT DO IT! Cash is king, baby!

5. Seek out people who are where you think you want to be in life. If you want to be a marine biologist, get to know some. If you want to be a pastor, get to know some. If you want to be a garbage collector, get to know some. These folks can give you invaluable advice on choosing your direction in college and even outside of college. In all honesty, if I had college to do over again, I would have studied something totally different. I value a good, Biblical education, but I think that pretty much everyone can benefit from that. In addition, I have always felt prepared to do little outside of Ministry related careers. Having education in something more practical in the world would have opened some doors for me.

6. Study. You know those classes that you pay for and spend time in? Yeah, they give you homework that you’re supposed to do. DO IT! If you’re like me, you’re a fairly bright and capable student, but get bored fairly easily. Guess what? Life is boring sometimes. Do the stinking math problems!

7. Work. Remember when I said that you should pay cash for college and your fun time? Where do you think that cash is going to come from? My wife worked her way through college. Guess who’s student loans we are paying off? Not hers! Additionally, your job can teach you invaluable skills that you’ll use after college. Business administration, meeting deadlines, communication skills, marketing skills, and countless other valuable skills can be learned even in the most menial tasks.

8. Listen to your parents. Yeah, them. They love you and really do want what is best for you. Additionally, they are way smarter than you. This it the point in your relationship where you either become best friends for life or simply tolerate each other. God tells us to honor our parents…I’m voting on the former!

9. Drive a beater. So you’re going to a very expensive private Christian University and all the cool kids have sweet rides. Guess what? Either they will be paying for them for a long time or their parents already did. Drive what you can buy with cash. No financing, no lease…Cash!

10. Have fun. Yes, these are some of the best years of your life. You’ll make friends that will last for life. You’ll have significant relationships that will deeply impact how you interact with your future spouse. You’ll develop habits that will last into your adult years….Just have some fun!

What about you? What would you add to this list?

Bad Food Smorgasbord

In a previous post, I talked a bit about Biblical Fasting, which covered basic definitions and what biblical fasting really is. This post is really a nuts and bolts, no nonsense approach on how to fast for spiritual purposes.

First, I think fasting is one of those things that cannot be approached lightly. After all, the real goal of fasting is humbling yourself before God in order to reconnect with him and his purposes. If we approach fasting with a wrong attitude, it doesn't accomplish this goal. So, we must first enter into a period of fasting with a humble heart and mind. Awhile back, I thought about fasting for a day and thought that I would do it the next day. The next day came, I woke up and just wasn't feeling it. My heart and mind were not in the right place. So, I didn't do it, instead I did it the day after that, after spending the first day getting my heart and mind in the right place. Is this always a good thing? Maybe not, but I can tell you that the goals of fasting would not have been met if I had done it on the first day.

Second, fasting must be approached and entered into with a great deal of communication with God. If our goal is humility and one-ness with God, then we must have good dialogue. During the fast, it is important to regularly, if not constantly, to talk with God. Tell him what you're thinking and feeling. Tell him your worries. Tell him how much you love him. Tell him how thankful you are for him. Tell him how mad at him you are. It is okay, he can take it.

Finally, carry on your life as normal. This one is tough sometimes. Part of our human nature is to tell others about what is going on with us. We want to tell people that we are doing this great thing for God. We're tempted to let the world in our little secret with God. In Matthew 6:16-18, we find Jesus addressing this issue. He gives us warning to not look like those who alter their appearance so that everyone may see, but to go about our business as usual, keeping your fasting between you and God.

Biblical fasting can seen as something that only super spiritual people do and seem sort of mysterious. It is my hope and prayer that you'll engage in some sort of fasting, wether it is an all day, all week, or simply a modified fast. There is rich blessing in abstaining from food to commune with God.

At the core, Biblical fasting is about humbling ourselves, submitting ourselves, and admitting that we are 

Biblical Fasting is Not About Food! The Cheeseburger is not the enemy! (HT stephen-oung on FlickrCC)

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you. – Deuteronomy 8:2-5

We find in Matthew 4:4 Jesus quoting this passage.  In this passage, Jesus had been led into the wilderness by the Spirit of God, to be tempted by Satan. Here, we find Satan telling Jesus to command stones to turn into bread. Jesus, having been fasting for forty days, was undoubtedly hungry! In fact, the Bible goes so far as to tell us so in Matthew 4:1. If you’ve ever gone extended periods of time without any sort of food, you know what that is like! For most of us in the Western World, we rarely go a day without eating something. In fact, many of the most popular diets have us consuming some sort of meal every three to four hours. This alone tells me that our priorities have become out of alignment.

Again, we join Jesus for a private moment with His Disciples. This instance seems to me to be sort of like a side conversation in a larger story. Sort of like a sideline discussion at the Super Bowl; a coach talking with his players. Join the discussion here in John 4:

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” – John 4:31-35

Biblical Fasting: It is not just about food

Central to our discussion on fasting is the idea of food and sustenance. Here, Jesus gives the Disciples (and us) an important lesson on what priority food should really be. Jesus had just had one of the most important discussions in the entirety of the Gospels, breeching enemy lines by speaking with a Samaritan, much less a woman. And the Disciples are worried that Jesus hasn’t had any bread. The Samaritan Woman went back to her town, telling everyone about the Man she met at the well and then all those people believed in Jesus as the Savior. Enter the Disciples, asking Jesus about food. The response Jesus gave seems fitting here: “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” They do appear to be pretty clueless at this moment. It is as if Jesus is saying, “Look up! Look at all the people! If you can’t see that these people are more important than some bread and water, then you have missed the boat! Engage in the harvest of people, join God in his mission and you’ll never hunger!” 

So then, how should we practice Biblical fasting? Fasting really is pretty easy. Stop eating. Give up food for a period of time so that you can remember who really sustains you. Submit yourself to God, humbly asking to simply see his face. Kneel before the foot of the Cross, bringing your life in submission to the meaning and mission of the Cross, bathing in the blood of Jesus.

Probably a more important question is why we should practice biblical fasting. We should fast primarily because we have become separated from God. By that I mean that our hearts, minds, attitudes, ambitions, and entitlements have become misaligned with God’s purposes. We need to join Jesus in his feast, to do the will of Him who sent us and finish His work. We need to enter into Biblical fasting with the mindset of not what we can petition God for, but to humble ourselves and remind ourselves of what our purposes are. Fasting, at its simplest form, really is abstaining from food for a period of time, engaging in prayer, and feasting on communion with God.

While it has seemingly little to do with fasting, one of the most poignant reminders of why we do basically everything in the Christian life is found in Matthew 6:33:

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Basically, before we do anything at all, fasting or otherwise, we need to first and foremost seek His Kingdom and Righteousness. We tend to read this passage and focus on the second half of the verse. We are so focused on getting to the goal, to receiving the prize, that we really forget the how. Seek first his kingdom and righteousness. Really, we should stop there. Our entire reason for living, doing, breathing is really found in this section. We are to seek first, foremost, primarily, only, his kingdom and righteousness…the rest is up to him. He will sustain us; he will provide for us, he will make sure we aren’t hungry. Now, to be clear, it may not be feasts of lobster tail and filet mignon, but we will not die of starvation! We may not live in a mansion, but we will have shelter. We may not have a Mercedes Benz in the driveway that carries us to work, but we still have two feet. This verse is one of the most perverted in all of Scripture. We get it twisted by thinking that if we cling to God, do the things that he says, and basically “be good people”, that God will give us some earthly riches. Not always true!

To bring this all together let me give you the “Tony’s Notes” on Fasting. Fasting is abstaining from food in order to humble ourselves before God. We fast because we quickly forget that nothing but the hand of God can sustain us. We fast in order to remind ourselves of this and reaffirm to God our commitments to him alone. I’m not trying to oversimplify fasting into a sentence, but simply trying to convey that fasting is not as complicated as we have made it out to be.

On a side note: There are many different ways to fast with different reasons for each. Over the course of the next few days, I’ll be discussing different aspects of fasting, both from a spiritual and physical standpoint. If there is something in particular that you would like to discuss, please feel free to reach out and let me know!

To See my related posts on Biblical Fasting, see these related posts:

Types of Biblical Fasting

A Spiritual Fasting How To

In the big picture of life, there are few questions that beg to be answered as much as “What is God’s will for my life?” Additionally, it can be very overwhelming answering God's call on your life. I’ve had countless discussions with people over the past decade on this very topic. In Christian circles, especially those in Christian Colleges and ministry related fields, the topic of God’s will is often mulled over.

In our efforts of answering God's call for our lives, we often miss the hand of God working at guiding our search. Personally, I’ve struggled over the years to really discern God’s call in my life. At times, I have had my vision, motivation, and direction misguided by various endeavors. Other times, I’ve been laser focused on answering God’s call on my life.

So, how do you really answer God’s call on your life? How do you even know what God’s call on your life is? What I’ve discovered is that the process of figuring this out is intensely personal, but it cannot be figured out on your own. Left to our own devices, we get comfortable just living the lives that we have. We need some stimulus to force us to think outside of ourselves. For me, I spent a lot of time reading books, listening to podcasts, sending hounding emails, annoying my wife, and much time on my knees in prayer. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been there. You’ve arrived at some conclusion as to God’s call, and then made a choice to either step out in faith and follow or sit or wallow. Frankly, I’ve chosen to wallow far more than I’ve chosen to follow.

Really, it isn’t that hard to answer God’s call. All we have to do is just that. Answer. God talks, we listen and do. Pretty easy, right? The Bible is filled with stories of people on both sides of the coin; those who listened and those who didn’t. Reading Hebrews 11 is like reading a roll call for people who heard from God and did what he said. From Abel to the pioneers of the New Testament Church, God had some pretty crazy ideas! Taking on crazy missions from building boats in the desert to hand delivering the Gospel to unbelieving nations, these faith filled people took God at his word and moved. For you and I, that is all we need to do, too. We need to have the faith (being certain of that which we do not see – Hebrews 1) to follow God wherever he calls.

Tips for answering God’s call on your life:

• Surrender yourself in prayer
• Think about the recurring themes in your life. Where have you missed God speaking?
• Where do your greatest passions/desires intersect with the world’s greatest need?
• What do you just love to do?
• Talk to those who know you best.

What is your struggle? Do you have any ideas about what God is calling you to do? Do you need help answering God’s call? Maybe it is as simple as deciding to follow him…I don’t know, but I do know that answering God’s call has been the most freeing experience of my life. Won’t you join me?

“We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Consequences give us the pain that motivates us to change.” — Henry Cloud

The Pain of Staying the Same

The above quote is one that I’ve heard attributed to many sources, but I really like how Dr. Cloud sums it up. This weekend, my pastor (on twitter @RLPASTORJ), mentioned a quote like this in his sermon and it really got me thinking. You see, I’ve battled a lot of things in the past 7 years having to do with my life, vocation, calling, jobs, work, ministry…call it all what you will but I’ve faced a lot of different choices/issues. I’ve tried various things that didn’t work out or didn’t work out as I had planned. I’ve wavered between doing many different things with myself. I’ve blown a whole lot of good things and not gone after some not as good things. I’m at a place where from the outside, people who don’t really understand my heart/calling would say I’m on a really solid career path with a bright future. I’m glad God has provided me a position where I can do a little good, make a decent living, and also have a good deal of fun. Outside of work, I’m doing various things that run alongside the gifts and talents I have been blessed with. I’ve got an incredible family; A wife that is straight out of Proverbs, a daughter that is so stinking awesome, and extended family who love us and we love so much. By all appearances, we’re living the dream, baby! And to be honest, a lot of the time we are.

We Change When the Pain of Staying the Same Becomes Greater than the Pain of Change

So, what does this really have to do with the quote that I started out with? Basically, I’m leading the same life I lead before we moved to Orlando. It is nearly the same, just without 6 months of really cold! Good job, good church, great family..same stuff, different town! Now, I like to learn, sometimes I just learn a little bit slow…And I’m basically at a point that the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing.

Abandoning Dreams Because of Pain of Staying the Same is Medicated

You see, I think that many people that abandon their dreams simply settle because of the pain factor. I can see how it happens. You work your way up the corporate ladder, get that white picket fence (and maybe a house behind it), two cars in the driveway, and 2.5 kids in the bedrooms behind your front door. I’ve been in that home, and while there are struggles and challenges, it is really nice. It is a mostly painless life that is very easy to become comfortable with. I’ve tried. I really have. But for me, the pain of staying the same is greater than the changes that I need to make. It is happening, regardless if I really want it to. And you know what? Totally stoked! The pain that I’ll have to endure in the coming months is nothing compared to the pain of staying the same.

You feel me? Where are you at?

For the old school crew, we know this joker as Lord Vader, the baddest dude in the galaxy. Folks under 25 know this guy as someone completely different. A little guy named Anakin Skywalker who raced some serious pod, was a prodigy Jedi, and pretty smooth with the ladies.

How does one go from having the world by the proverbial horns to becoming arguably the most villainy-villain around? A choice. You know, THAT choice. Most of us have been there, our world crashing in around us while faced with two paths diverging. Which way to go? Left, we become the Dark Sith Lord. Right, we become the Jedi Master and save the universe. Obviously, the young Anakin chose to become the Dark Sith Lord, maybe with good reason. He lost his mother to rebel kidnappers. He loved a girl that he couldn’t really have, to top it off said girl was with child. Throw in some career possibilities and it is pretty easy to see how young Anakin cracked and chose the path of least resistance.

The man Vader learned from some of the best on how to cause mayhem. He was very good. You don’t become the leader of the not-so-free universe without being good at being bad.

Do you know how Vader’s story ends? Essentially, his mentor Palpatine is ticked at Luke (Vader’s son, if you didn’t know) because Luke refuses to take over command from Vader. Palpatine gets rather upset and unleashes a torrent of lightning upon Luke. Crying out, suffering an excruciating electrocution…Eventually Vader just can’t take it anymore and steps in for his son. That was Vader’s Second Chance, his chance at redemption. You know the beautiful thing? He took it. He extended himself the opportunity to prove that he was never beyond second chances.

I don’t know about you, but I have Vader moments myself. Actually, I’m going through some serious Anakin/Vader choices now. Not that I’m choosing between becoming a Sith Lord and a Jedi, but the principle is the same. A question comes to mind. Can you go back to being Anakin after being Vader for so long? I tend to believe in the redemptive work of God to restore and/or make new. Looking forward to being a Jedi again…How about you?