Resources
“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Luke 5:16
Abiding Practices
What if we were to make the practice of seeking the face of God the primary pursuit of our lives? What might we experience? What if the good news of Jesus doesn’t just extend to eternal life in heaven, but giving us good news for how to be citizens of a new Kingdom here on earth? Below are some simple teachings on how to slow down, rest with God, enjoy His presence and recover the love and passion we were designed for.
“The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy, I come that they might have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10
intimacy with God and the practice of solitude
We often feel far from God and stuck in a lifeless faith. How do we draw near to God and recover childlike wonder? Below are 3 podcasts that share practical next-steps to have a thriving relationship with God.
Rule of Life
“Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
-Ephesians 5:15-17
Living by your deepest convictions: creating a “Rule of Life”
Our lives rarely match the deepest desires of our hearts. Constant demands from live, from others, and from our own disordered desires keeps us from living present with God and with others. Learn this ancient practice called a “Rule of Life” to help create a path towards living the life God designed to live. Below the podcast are several tools to help on your journey to creating a “Rule of Life.”
Rule of Life Worksheet
“And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.".
- Genesis 2:3
Practicing rest through the Sabbath
Sabbath is a consistent rhythm in which God calls us to be with Him. St. Augustine once said “you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” The truth is resting and delighting in God takes time and focus and the gift of Sabbath helps us to remember that nothing can satisfy our souls except being with God. God knows our weakness and helps us, but giving us this tremendous gift to cease our work, and rest.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
-Psalm 19:1-3
Practicing Intimacy with God Through Silence
Our world is filled with so much noise that the voice of the Lord is being drowned out by triviality. We have all but lost the ability to be quiet, and often silence is seen as a dread to avoid instead of a gift to delight in. Come learn this practice of Silence to recapture the ability to “tune into the frequency” of God’s voice, so that we might fall more in love with our God and King.
“It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters."
-Edmund Burke
Practicing the discipline of Fasting
In a culture of unbridled lust for more, we worship our desires. When we worship our desires, we become enslaved to our passions. Fasting provides training to say yes to our deepest desires instead of our strongest desires. The practice of fasting has been used through the ages to deepen our relationship with God, and hear from Him. Come learn about this widely misunderstood practice and discover this incredible gift from our Heavenly Father.
Practicing A Prayer of examine
A prayer of examen is an ancient practice that has helped many followers of Jesus slowcdown and notice where the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives. In this prayer, we give God a few moments to search our hearts. As we do, we begin to see our true selves more clearly and offer ourselves more fully to God.
“"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
-Psalm 139:23-24
This is a simple guided prayer that helps you pay attention to your soul so that you can receive God’s peace, love, and strength. If followed as written, it can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes—but there is plenty of freedom and flexibility.
Practicing the presence of god in the Everyday
If we pre-categorize the “holy spaces” where God is, we will also pre-categorize the spaces where He isn’t. And when interruptions come, we will see them as threats instead of invitations. The interruption is not the enemy stealing God from you. It may be the love of God disguised.
“The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer.”
-Brother Lawrence: Pracicing the Presence of God
What if it is God coming to you? If we fail to see this, we will view our children, traffic, coworkers—anyone in our way—as obstacles to joy rather than vehicles of grace.
Other Suggested Resources
There are many wonderful resources to aide you on your journey to the Heart of the Father. Below are a few suggestions that have been very helpful to us.
The Celebration of Discipline: by Richard Foster
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: by John Mark Comer
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: by Peter Scazzero
The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
The Ragamuffin Gospel: by Brennan Manning
Practicing the way: www.practicingtheway.org