How's Your Prayer Life?
Are you praying on a regular basis? Are you meeting Him and sharing your heart? Whether you are or you aren't, we all need help when it comes to a consistent and meaningful prayer life.
Prayer is one of the most important things a Christian can do. It is a time we are communicating with God, and while there is deep theological meaning in prayer, it doesn’t have to be something that is complicated or difficult. It’s something anyone can do anywhere at any time.
Lent
What is Lent and Why do we Observe it?
Lent is 40 days long - ending on the Saturday before Easter. You may wonder how Lent can be 40 days if Ash Wednesday is 46 days before Easter. That is because the Lenten fast does not include Sundays, which are considered feast days (a celebration of the resurrection)—so the six Sundays before Easter are omitted from the 40-day observance of fasting. The word “lent” comes from an old-English word that means “lengthen,” and refers to the days that are growing longer as the seasons change from winter to spring.
Lent is a season when we remember not only the 40 days of Jesus’s fasting and temptation in the wilderness before His ministry, but also we look towards His suffering and death on the cross for our sins. We anticipate His resurrection, but this is a season of penitence: of confession, repentance, of turning away from our sins and seeking to live more closely in fellowship with the Lord.
Lent is a season that Christians from a wide variety of faith traditions observe and practice – including Methodists - and have done so for centuries. We begin with a service on Ash Wednesday, which is both solemn and joyful: we look inward as we confess our sins, and outward towards the One who forgives and gives us a new beginning. It includes Maundy Thursday (“maundy” comes from the Latin “mandamus” meaning commandment, and refers to Jesus’s words at the Last Supper: “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 13:34) and Good Friday, where we remember Jesus’ death by crucifixion.
Lent is a holy time, and is meant to be a time of prayer, reflection, extra giving to the poor, and other spiritual disciplines. When entered into and lived out with a proper perspective, it can be life-changing.
Lenten Practices:
To Give Up To Add/Gain
Music/Podcasts in the car Quiet time for reflection and prayer
Complaining/negative speech Positive speech
Phone scrolling Reading books
All phones at meals Interaction with people
Holding a grudge Forgiveness (if possible, tell the person or write a letter)
Television/screens Quiet, reading, board games, family time
Fast food/junk food Real food
Pop/Coffee/Alcohol Water
Clutter/Extra clothes/Stuff Freedom from Stuff (suggestion: plan to give your extra
things to the Asbury Garage Sale!)
Extra sleep Time with the Lord
Frivolous Spending Give extra to Asbury Missions; New Covenant Food
Bank; Embrace of Wichita
Foul Language Praising God; Gratitude
Prayer Guide
- Sunday March 12th: This is the Third Sunday of Lent. To find out more, visit: www.asburychurch.org/prayer. A prayer for today: Loving God, so many times I turn away from you, yet You always welcome me back. Your mercy and love give me confidence to approach Your throne of grace time and time again, so that You can form a new heart within me. Your powerful compassion for my weaknesses leads me to ask for mercy without fear, and await with great hope the Easter joy You promise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
- Monday March 13th: Prayerfully Read/listen to Luke 8:40-42, and 43-50 from Jairus’ perspective. Have you ever had a loved one who was “life-or-death” ill (or know of a family who was in this situation)? What did you (or the family) do? What were the emotions? Even if you aren’t personally familiar with such a situation, what can you imagine about such a situation for the family?
- Tuesday March 14th: Prayerfully Read/listen to Mark 5:25-28. Have you (or know someone who has) ever had a chronic condition? How many doctors, specialists, diets etc have you (or this person) dealt with over the years? Are you/they “better?” How is this working for you/them? Why is v.28 so amazing, given this woman’s situation?
- Wednesday March 15th: FASTING DAY! Pray and fast as you are able (in whatever way is appropriate for you). Prayerfully Read/listen to Psalm 13. This is a psalm of lament (there are many such psalms). How does the first verse fit with the idea of “desperation?” When have you had times in your life when you were desperate, and felt as though God wasn’t listening to your prayers? What did you do?
- Thursday March 16th: Prayerfully Read/listen to the conclusion of Jairus’ story in Luke 8:49-56. Imagine being Jairus, and Jesus is standing next to you saying, “Believe,” but you have been told your daughter is dead. How would you have felt between the time you had heard the messenger from your home, and before your daughter was raised back to life again?
- Friday March 17th: Prayerfully Read/listen to the conclusion of the woman’s story in Mark 5:29-34. How do you articulate this interweaving between Jesus’ power and our faith to accomplish healing?
- Saturday March 18th: Take time to look over all the passages of Scripture we have studied and prayed over this week, as well as the things you have learned. Be still, and listen to what the Lord would tell you, personally, today.
- Sunday March 19th: This is the 4th Sunday of Lent. To find out more, visit: www.asburychurch.org/prayer. Today’s prayer: Lord God, we rush around so much day by day. Thank You for this Sabbath day, where we can take time to slow down and be with You. We are grateful that You see all – you see the pain, the hurt, the true heart, the hopes and desires, and the potential in each one. You are the Lord of all time and all seasons. Yet no matter how much things change, You are the unchanging One; the Eternal. Thank You for seeing me, today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
- Monday March 20th: Using a dictionary and thesaurus, look up the meaning and synonyms for the word “contrite/contrition.” Write these out. If you could only pick two, which two would you choose as the best to convey the idea of “contrition,” and why did you choose those words?
- Tuesday March 21st: Prayerfully Read/listen to Psalm 51 (If you are not familiar with why King David wrote this psalm, read the backstory in 2 Sam 11-12:13). When have you had to pray like this? How did God respond to you? See also 1 John 1:9.
- Wednesday March 22nd: FASTING DAY! Pray and fast as you are able (in whatever way is appropriate for you, keeping in mind a Biblical Fast is fasting from some/all foods). Prayerfully Read/listen to Psalm 32, especially noting v.3-4. What does King David note about physical problems relating to unconfessed sin? What can you discern about his physical problems after confession? What physical concerns have you experienced due to unconfessed sin? How did confession make a difference for you?
- Thursday March 23rd: Prayerfully Read/listen to Mark 1:15. In this verse, Jesus describes the environment from Heaven’s perspective, then tells people to do two things. How are these interrelated? Is it possible that these are things we must do frequently? If so, how can you know you are doing them frequently?
- Friday March 24th: Prayerfully Read/listen to Matthew 6:12-14 with Matthew 18:21-35. How are these passages linked with the concept of contrition? How are you personally able to keep unforgiveness out of your heart, your thoughts and your emotions on a regular basis?
- Saturday March 25th: Take time to look over all the passages of Scripture we have studied and prayed over this week, as well as the things you have learned. Be still, and listen to what the Lord would tell you, personally, today.
