Jen's Thoughts

"Camel Knees" Christianity

I watched the service from back home online, and Bro.Messer was talking about prayer. James, leader of the church at Jerusalem, half-brother of Jesus, and author of James, had another name "Camel Knees." He knelt in prayer so often that his knees had become hard and calloused like a camel's.

As Pastor preached, he touched on the fact that this is not how we pray today. We're so wealthy we can pray on pillows. We pray while we fall asleep. But do we fervently pray for anything?

Prayer is always an area in need of improvement in my life. It's so easy to let the day overwhelm me before I take anything to God. I often cite Lewis, but he said to push all those cares aside and focus on God first thing in the morning. Remember He's there and in control. It's like coming in out of the wind. I do have a prayer list, I just need to remember to look at it!

My Dad taught me the ACTS prayer acrostic : Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Before immediately asking God for something, I must praise Him first . "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..." is where this comes from. Prayer should really be about Him, not about me. I was challenged in chapel once to pray for five minutes without asking for anything and just praise God in that prayer. It's a really refreshing experience. You praise Him for who He is, what He's done, all He's given you...it's fulfilling, and as a nice by product, you feel better.

Rand Hummel (Wilds) came to chapel here the past two days, and it was awesome. He broke down a verse in Proverbs as an example of how we need to meditate on the Word. It talked about being bound by sin. A thread wrapped around your wrists several times is hard to break. It spoke of the wicked. I know when I read verses about the wicked I kind of skip it, "oh, I'm saved, I'm righteous, that verse doesn't apply to me!" But that verse does apply to me. The old man is still able to get the best of me. I am still able to respond in the flesh. I can be sinful and blind myself to it. I spent some time that afternoon in prayer confessing, and it was planned by God. Rand's message, my confession, the Biblical confrontation some of us had to have later that evening. All three events were orchestrated by God...how amazing is that? How big is your God? I need to be aware of my sin, confess it, and restore fellowship. As to the confrontation, pray for the situation, and for my influence with a party involved. Pray for wisdom for all involved. (None of these people you know, I promise.)

Ok, wow. This is getting long, and I only got through the first two steps of the prayer acrostic. But we all know how to give thanks and ask God for things/intercede for others, but if I hear a chapel message about either one of those anytime soon, this post will have a second part.

James 5:16 ...the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much...

posted by Jen @ 6:45 PM