His Person (1 of 6)
Series: Bent into Shape
Joey Rodgers
Matthew 6:9
Have you ever seen someone lose it? You know... get so absolutely bent out of shape they can hardly see straight. The phrase bent out of shape is an idiom for getting so angry you lose all sense of decorum/restraint. When I think of someone losing it this badly, I'm reminded of a hilarious scene from the show Malchom in the Middle!
If that's bent out of shape, then what does it mean to be bent into shape? Over the next few weeks, I want us to consider what it means to be molded/formed into person God has called us to be. In the Sermon on the Mount, we learn from Jesus that getting bent into shape begins w/ prayer. And in just some 56 words, Jesus taught us to pray. (Recite LP)
So what exactly is prayer? The simple answer is prayer is talking/listening w/ God. It's personal communication and conversation w/ the Creator. But in all honesty, such a simple answer (while correct) can often be misleading.
As we get started, let's begin by talking about what prayer isn't. Prayer isn't projecting your wishes/whims/will on God expecting Him to yield His sovereignty to your desires. It's not asking God to alter His plans to satisfy your plans or expecting Him to do things He is unwilling or incapable of doing.
Prayer is far too important/necessary to be predicated on what we think, want, and desire - and yet this is our struggle. We get upset/frustrated w/ God when He doesn't do as we want or think He should. We're appalled and even hostile when He doesn't attend to what's important to us.
My heart broke when a Newnan teen died of complications from the flu. On the news the grieving dad said:
I believed in God until this and that's honest. I woke up and prayed every AM - and now I'd like to have gloves and meet Him to pop Him in the mouth. There's no way you take a child who's willing to give anything to anybody. You don't take children like that. If there's a God, where is He?
...
Series: Bent into Shape
Joey Rodgers
Matthew 6:9
Have you ever seen someone lose it? You know... get so absolutely bent out of shape they can hardly see straight. The phrase bent out of shape is an idiom for getting so angry you lose all sense of decorum/restraint. When I think of someone losing it this badly, I'm reminded of a hilarious scene from the show Malchom in the Middle!
If that's bent out of shape, then what does it mean to be bent into shape? Over the next few weeks, I want us to consider what it means to be molded/formed into person God has called us to be. In the Sermon on the Mount, we learn from Jesus that getting bent into shape begins w/ prayer. And in just some 56 words, Jesus taught us to pray. (Recite LP)
So what exactly is prayer? The simple answer is prayer is talking/listening w/ God. It's personal communication and conversation w/ the Creator. But in all honesty, such a simple answer (while correct) can often be misleading.
As we get started, let's begin by talking about what prayer isn't. Prayer isn't projecting your wishes/whims/will on God expecting Him to yield His sovereignty to your desires. It's not asking God to alter His plans to satisfy your plans or expecting Him to do things He is unwilling or incapable of doing.
Prayer is far too important/necessary to be predicated on what we think, want, and desire - and yet this is our struggle. We get upset/frustrated w/ God when He doesn't do as we want or think He should. We're appalled and even hostile when He doesn't attend to what's important to us.
My heart broke when a Newnan teen died of complications from the flu. On the news the grieving dad said:
I believed in God until this and that's honest. I woke up and prayed every AM - and now I'd like to have gloves and meet Him to pop Him in the mouth. There's no way you take a child who's willing to give anything to anybody. You don't take children like that. If there's a God, where is He?
...
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