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Posts Tagged ‘prayer’

Prayer is essential

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

Well, I guess my rabbi told me!

Of course, it’s something I needed to hear, something my wife’s been telling me for a while, and certainly it is an absolute necessity. It’s time for me to get serious about seeking the L-RD if I’m serious about becoming a messianic rabbi.

Truth is, while I’m great at study time, my prayer life just isn’t what it needs to be; and if the L-RD isn’t with me, becoming a messianic rabbi would be pointless. No one should enter ministry without first making sure of the L-RD’s call, and having that call confirmed, re-confirmed and triple-confirmed, at least.

Without Adonai at the center of it, I’d be better off selling time-shares at Hilton Head rentals than I’d be pursuing a messianic ministry. And I’m no salesman.

Tags: Hilton Head rentals, prayer
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Pray constently?

Sunday, April 20th, 2008

The New Covenant writings advise us to pray constantly. That’s a high calling, especially considering most pastors and rabbis spend less than a couple hours per week in prayer.

Prayer is nothing more than communicating with Adonai, so why is it so hard to acheive? While I wouldn’t wager the cash value of any term insurance on the idea, I think it’s probably for the very same reason the Israelites asked Moshe to be their mediator between Adonai and them, rather than speaking directly to G-d themselves.

Although G-d wants to speak to us directly, and Yeshua provides a way for us to do so, it is our own shame and human frailty that makes us hesitant to seek Him out and meet Him regularly, as He wants us to.

Holiness is a high calling, and few of us live up to it, even when we have the power of the Ruach haKodesh. Although we can never live up to Adonai’s perfect standard and therefore need messiah Yeshua, the truth is we can live well above the minimum standard set forth in the Torah. Therefore, we should have no fear of G-d, and ought to be more eager in approaching him in prayer to talk out the events of the day.

Tags: Adonai, messiah Yeshua, prayer, term insurance
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Progress and prayer

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

Sometime today, if preliminary testing goes well, my mom will be getting her pacemaker put in. As much as I’d like to drive down to Rochester, walk up to the reception desk, and be directed to the nearest waiting room to see her through this, it’s not quite possible; both my wife and I are currently out of work and have been for almost a week.

But prayer is effective. I found out today that I’m in line for a job that could start as early as next Tuesday, if all goes well. The offer isn’t formally made just yet, though. And my wife received a call about a job offer today, too, so she may be back to work as well, laying our rent concerns to rest.

Adonai never gives us more than we can handle; but he knows a lot better than we do where those limits are.

Tags: pacemaker, prayer, reception desk
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A prayer for safe travel

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

Whether one is planning to stay with relatives, escape to condo hotels in a tropical destination, whether road-trippin’ it or flying, here’s a brief prayer for all of us on the road this long weekend.

Blessed are you, Adonai our G-d,
King of the Universe
May you lead us through the dark valleys
May you guide is safely through the camps of our enemies
May you be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path
May you lead us beside still waters and restore our souls
Thank you, Adonai our G-d,
The G-d of Abraham, Issac and Jacob,
The L-rd G-d of Israel.
Worthy are you to receive blessing, honor, glory and power,
Thank you for Yeshua, our salvation and messiah,
Amen.

Tags: condo hotels, prayer, safe travel, Thanksgiving
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Praying deeply

Friday, February 2nd, 2007

Rabbi Stan has been hitting prayer as a theme hard for the past several weeks. His main point is that people don’t often really pray to G-d… they pray at him. In other words, they treat G-d like the person from whom they get their professional business cards, rather than someone they are in relationship with. As someone you make requests, even demands of, without really listening to beyond that immediate need.

What does that mean?

How many folks who pray, stop when they run out of things to say or ask for? I’d wager that’s most of us.

The more important skill is allowing haShem time to respond back. Now, rarely is it a burning bush or a disembodied voice… you have to go to Torah for that. But G-d does respond, when we take the time to listen.

It’s a message that has challenged me. One I need to take to heart if I’m serious about pursuing these advanced studies classes with ordination as a possible goal. Stan’s idea is a good one… pray for at least an hour a day, and if you use 45 minutes of that time praising haShem and laying out your cares and concerns, is it asking too much to be quiet for the last 15 minutes or so and let G-d get a word in edgewise, with a response?

Tags: prayer, professional business cards, Torah
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