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3 Prayers to Pray Every Morning - Live the Crucified Life

Hey guys,

This morning, I shared with you an age-old concept called “The Crucified Life.”  A.W. Tozer wrote a great book by the same name if you want to tunnel down on this a little bit more. 

But, during the message in the second service, I felt that, as a teaching aid, I should make available those prayers that we can pray to live out – and make “practical” the message.  So below, I recapped the practical steps I gave everyone, in how we can live out the “Crucified Life”

“The Crucified Life”

Three Things That Need To Die, Everyday

1. Crucify self.

Many of us have given our hearts to the Lord, but we forget how to “walk this thing out.”  So, what happens is, the rest of our Christian life is the process of trying to reclaim the things that we gave to God on that day we received Him as our Savior. 

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I encouraged us to give ourselves to God everyday.   (not in a “salvation sense”) … but letting “things” die, because, when self dies … something gets freed.

 

Here is a prayer you can pray each day:

• “God, today I give You my life.  Self is gonna want to take control, but YOU call the shots.”

 

2. Crucify my flesh.  (flesh “biblical term” = SINFUL NATURE)

Even after you are a Christian, there is a part of you that still wants bad things.  Like I said this morning, it is never a lot of things, usually just a few things that keep popping up. 

Isolate those areas of weakness (know what they are) and pray a prayer like this:

•  “God, I have a tendency to blow it  //  Push too hard  //  run too fast  //  to take things too personal.  So I am going t need you to help me to crucify that sinful nature when it rears its ugly head.”

Galatians 5:24 – “Those who belong to Christ Jesus (that’s you) have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.”  This verse means = We should ISOLATE what those are and DEAL with those areas in advance.

Colossians 3:5 – “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature.” 

 

3. Crucify the world.

WORLD = is defined as “the appetite and pleasure of the world around us”

I have said this before, but I think we are all WAY TOO CONNECTED to the world.  Maybe, we can pray a prayer like this:

• “God, remind me what it is that keeps me so connected to the world?  What are those areas, and remind me to let go and trust You.”

 

Here’s the challenge:

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 - Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Here is the quote I referenced by Jim Elliot. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

May we live the “Crucified Life” and realize that:

To find life, I must lose it.

You Don't Have To Go Here To Do This

This past weekend, we launched One Year Bible Reading Plan.  Check out our video. 

But listen, I gotta be honest with you, I didn't know how many people would sign-up.  But I just felt strongly, this is what we needed to do and I was hopeful and committed myself.   

This morning, when I checked my emails, I was so encouraged by all the people that not only signed up, but were sharing what versions they were using and how excited everyone was.  We had hoped that this would become a "support group" (kinda) where we could ask questions about difficult passages, encourage one another during the "I'm too busy" seasons of our life.  Well, I am so pumped because this opportunity has all the possibilities of doing this and more! 

Steps for you to join AT ANYTIME:

1. SIGN-UP!   You don't have to attend Victory to do this either. 
2. Having Trouble?  email Joe and ask him how you can join the ONE YEAR BIBLE READING Plan with Victory Church.  (Joe is on staff at Victory and is really smart.)
3. Grab your Bible (hardcopy, CD, electronic version for your smartphone/ipad/computer, etc.
4. Start reading.
5. Join the conversation.  Encourage someone. 

 

Helping Your Child Cope With Tragedy

Gotta be honest with you, I am still a little raw over the events that transpired this past week in Connecticut.  Being a pastor of a church with the average age of 32, this will no doubt effect a ton of them.  We have a lot of parents with small kids.  The tragic incident in Connecticut has caused fear in all of us.  Imagine the fear in the innocent mind of a child. How does a parent or teacher address this fear?  Ron Edmondson shared some helpful insights, and I thought you might like these suggesstions as well:

Here are 7 suggestions:

Don’t assume – Don’t assume just because your child doesn’t mention what happened that they don’t know or care. Fear is a normal reaction, especially for a child. Watch for unusual behavior. Be aware of mood changes or extreme sadness. Make sure they know it’s okay to talk about it and that there is no shame or disappointment from you when they are fearful. Maybe tell them of a time you were afraid…even a recent time.

Limit exposure – You’re curious, so the television may be on news stations. What are they covering right now? Remember they process information different from how you do. They may not appear to be watching, but they probably are more than you think. Fill their minds with things to encourage them not perpetuate the fear. This is a time to turn off the television and simply play with your kids. They’ll get no better assurance.

Ask questions – You may think they are afraid of one thing, but it is something completely different. Many times children, especially young children, are simply confused or have misinformation. You can better address the fear if you know its roots.

Assure them – Let them know they are safe. Don’t lie to them, but remember the chances of the same thing happening to them is rare…very rare. Remind them you’d do anything to protect them. You may need to help them process for weeks to come. Don’t rush them to “get over it”. Pray for and with them often.

Live normal – As much as possible, live a normal weekly schedule. Their routine is part of their “security blanket.” Don’t allow their fear to cripple them or the family for long. In spite of our fears, we have to move forward.

Be calm – Especially during this stressful time, don’t let your children see you in panic. Watch what you say in front of them. Parents shouldn’t fight in front of kids anytime, but especially during a time of uncertainty like this. Renew your faith. They get their faith through you.

Give them Scripture – They need something they can cling to as permanent and dependable. What better place than the Word that will never fade? Recite Psalm 56:3 to them. If they are old enough, write it down somewhere they can see it often. Memorize some verses of strength and share with them often.

Pray with your child - Pray for the families of those effected by this tragedy, but also pray with your kids for the families.  It will help your child feel like they are doing something to help.  Prayer is a POWERFUL WEAPON.

What Inspires Me?

I think to be successful at anything, there has to be within you a drive.  Do you know what I mean?  A push, something that keeps you going, even when you are tired, weary, discouraged, hit it a wall, etc. etc. etc.    Don’t get me wrong, I get inspired when I see great athletes making incredible “youtube” worthy plays, hearing inspirational stories from famous people, but I’m talking about something that goes deeper then that.  Something that reaches to the grass roots of who we are.

What inspires me is everyday, ordinary people helping others.

I was inspired as I drove home from church this weekend and passed a convoy of electricians that drove in from Kentucky to help us Pennsylvanians in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.  That inspires me.

I get inspired by simple cards / texts / FB messages about people’s lives that have been changed by Christ.  About this time last year, I met with a woman who’s marriage of 20+ years was a wreck.  Anything but life-giving.  An all too common marriage that we pastors hear about being faithful in church attendance, but a selfish, no love, “going through the motions” marriage.   This weekend, I received a card from her thanking our church for the difference people and Christ have made in their marriage.  “I never imagined love and marriage could be like this.”  She hugged me after the first service with tears of joyful thankfulness  … her husband all smiles - right behind her.  That inspires me.

This morning, my wife and I snuck into the office a little early to get a little jump on the week.  Pam walked back to me with a card and two simple gifts that were left on her desk after this weekend services.  The card read, “We love this church.  It has changed us in ways we never dreamed of and we’re sure things will only get better.”  I know their story, Pam got teary-eyed … stories like that inspire me.

 

What inspires you?  It may not be in the priceless, the elaborate or large things, though they are great too.  But, it may be in the simple things … like everyday, ordinary people who are taking their NEXT STEP and just doing the next right thing.

Hurricane Sandy

As Hurricane Sandy heads toward the eastcoast, join me in praying that the storm does not cause the damgae that some of the forecast mdels are predictiing.

Being that this may hit us close to home and we may be in the path, stay tuned for methods and ways that we at Victory Church and the greater Christian community can reach out to offer help and aid.