Let Your Mind Dwell...

Phil 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your forbearing {spirit} be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

What a great outline for your prayers. Start with rejoicing, then ask, then give thanks. Finally you will arrive at a place where you have peace. Then your mind will end on the good things. Sounds hard to beat.

Why don't you try this outline today when you pray for GodBlogCon. Verse 8 is a great place to end up!

Listening

Prov 19:20-21
20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. 21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but the counsel of the LORD, it will stand.

Who sets your agenda when you pray? Do you have a prayer list that you work yur way through and then move on? Do you take time to listen to God?

Prayer is about communication -- God is not JUST a preist in a confessional, JUST Santa Claus in a department store, or JUST a 'superstar' upon whom to lavish praise. HE IS LORD! We should listen more than we talk. We should learn more than we tell.

Let God tell you about GodBlogCon today. Let God tell you about your life today.

Clear Communications

Psalm 32
1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent about my sin my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin to Thee, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; and Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. Selah.
6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not reach him.
7 Thou art my hiding place; Thou dost preserve me from trouble; Thou dost surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, {otherwise} they will not come near to you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked; but he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones, and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

Nothing stands in the way of effective prayer than unconfessed sin. Sin is a barrier between us and God. When we talk to God, the first thing we should do is lay our sins before him. He will take them away. Then we may approach him without fear, and talk to Him without interference.

Before you ask God's help today for the planners and organizers of GodBlogCon, lay before the Throne of Grace your sins. Watch them disappear, then step up to the throne and commune with the Almighty.

Composed and Quieted

Ps 131
1 O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me.
2 Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forever.

Are you like "a weaned child resting against his mother" when you pray? Doesn't that sound like a great place to be? For you devotional today. please include the planning for GodBlogCon in your petitions. As you do so, try and find this place on God's broad and strong breast.

Boast in the Lord

Psalm 20
1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!
2 May He send you help from the sanctuary, and support you from Zion!
3 May He remember all your meal offerings, and find your burnt offering acceptable! Selah.
4 May He grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your counsel!
5 We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven, with the saving strength of His right hand.
7 Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.
8 They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stood upright.
9 Save, O LORD; may the King answer us in the day we call.

When GodBlogCon happens, and if it is a success (and it will be!) it will not be because of the hard work -- it will be because of God. "...but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God."

Thank God today for all the hard work of all the people that are planning GodBlogCon. Thank Him for their energy and efforts. Thank God that He can use them as His tools. When you get to GBC, thank them for letting God use them.

But boast to God of His blessing and His lovingkindness. Pray that GodBlogCon will be one giant boast of the glory of God.

God Hears!

Ps 142:1-7
1 I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD; I make supplication with my voice to the LORD.
2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou didst know my path. In the way where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see; for there is no one who regards me; there is no escape for me; no one cares for my soul.
5 I cried out to Thee, O LORD; I said, "Thou art my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.
6 "Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
7 "Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to Thy name; the righteous will surround me, for Thou wilt deal bountifully with me."

God hears us! No one else may, but God "knows our path." Pray when you are alone -- pray when you do not believe that He hears, because He really does. He is our refuge. He is our portion.

He will make GodBlogCon what it should be, and He will lead you as you should be. Rely upon Him, and pray to Him.

The Importance of Prayer

Prayer matters. It is pretty hard to maintain a relationship with God without talking to him. I was reminded of that when I read this story about a women who recovered the ability to speak after 20 years in severe neurological distress. Note the quote from her father

"I am astonished how primal communication is. It is a key element of humanity," Jim Scantlin said, blinking back tears.

Why not have God blinking back tears right now? PRAY!

Location, Location

The organizing site has announced this morning that GodBlogCon is narrowed down to two possible locations. The leading candidate still has a few logistical wrinkles to work out before they can confirm. The back-up is Irvine Prebyterian Church, which is confirmed if choice #1 falls through.

Praise God for these answers to prayer. Ask Him to guide the remaining few decisions.

him...Him...HIM!

Ps 100 (NAS)
1 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing.
3 Know that the LORD himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations.

This Psalm is a crescendo, can you feel it? It is a crescendo calling on God. As you read through it, Lord, God, Him, keeps hammering you until only thoughts of the the Almighty are left in your heart and mind. I think that is a great way to pray, in a fashion where the cares of the world slowly strip away and you are left only in harmony with God.

As you lift up GodBlogCon today, slowly let your thoughts of it crescendo into thoughts of the Lord Jesus. In your mind, transform the conference from a group of people into the body of Christ. Ask God to make it so.