Elements City Church
Summer @ Elements - wk1: Practice of Prayer
As we follow after Jesus - we are invited into some practices and habits we see in his life. We examined some of these earlier this year with our UNHURRIED series. This summer we're diving into more. We invite you to experiment with us and grow in these practices - see which ones God might be nudging you to make more prominent in your life. How might He be wanting to use these to do more work within you as He grows you and shapes you to be more like Jesus.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Thanks for joining us tonight...
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to you! If you're new, we'd love to have you fill out our connection card.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbPractice of Prayer
According to reliable Gallup research, more Americans will pray in a given week than will exercise, drive a car, have sex, or go to work. In an increasing post-Christian America, nearly half the population still admits praying daily, a number that dwarfs the nation’s church attendance.
According to reliable Gallup research, more Americans will pray in a given week than will exercise, drive a car, have sex, or go to work. In an increasing post-Christian America, nearly half the population still admits praying daily, a number that dwarfs the nation’s church attendance.
Quote:
In prayer we experience God’s divine welcome and joy. We experience being known and seen. God is fully present and invites us to be fully present with him. He tells us to set aside our false versions of ourselves. Just be yourself and be loved. -John Starke
Prayer is the practice of engaging in our relational connection with our Creator, Our Savior and the Spirit. To deepen any relationship connection - it’s takes focus, intentionality and time.
You know this to be true.
In prayer we experience God’s divine welcome and joy. We experience being known and seen. God is fully present and invites us to be fully present with him. He tells us to set aside our false versions of ourselves. Just be yourself and be loved. -John Starke
Prayer is the practice of engaging in our relational connection with our Creator, Our Savior and the Spirit. To deepen any relationship connection - it’s takes focus, intentionality and time.
You know this to be true.
Jesus is saying: pray for an audience of one. Jesus says things go sideways when your motive is the praise of others.
And as you pray - remember: God already knows what you need before you ask...
THIS reality changes how we engage in prayer completely. We come to align, connect with and receive from our Good Heavenly Father. NOT to inform him and get him caught up to speed on all things us - he already knows…
And as you pray - remember: God already knows what you need before you ask...
THIS reality changes how we engage in prayer completely. We come to align, connect with and receive from our Good Heavenly Father. NOT to inform him and get him caught up to speed on all things us - he already knows…
Jesus invites us to seek out an internal monastery within ourselves.
Martin Laird said it best: “The only monastery we all need to enter is the one Jesus opened up - as he disclosed the inner depths of his own identity and purpose: ‘I and the Father are one’ (John 10:30).”
Martin Laird said it best: “The only monastery we all need to enter is the one Jesus opened up - as he disclosed the inner depths of his own identity and purpose: ‘I and the Father are one’ (John 10:30).”
Jesus commands us to go there and pray. But that will require some stillness at times. It requires we create sacred space and quiet and we PAUSE in order to commune.
Martin Laird contends that pursuing habits of stillness in life is not in opposition to an active life but rather to a reactive life.
Stillness is necessary in the era of constant commotion…
"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."- Luke 5:16
Friends: The fruits of cultivating stillness are a greater awareness of God and self and an increased clarity about life.
Martin Laird contends that pursuing habits of stillness in life is not in opposition to an active life but rather to a reactive life.
Stillness is necessary in the era of constant commotion…
"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."- Luke 5:16
Friends: The fruits of cultivating stillness are a greater awareness of God and self and an increased clarity about life.
Contemplative Prayer Practice Tips: *book: Being With God, AJ Sherrill
-get still
-set a timer and increase over time
-focus your thoughts on small Scripture and take some deep breaths
*Ps 46:10 *Psalm 23:1-3 *Come Lord Jesus
-listen for God's promptings and presence - redirect when distracted back to Scriptural phrase...
-Remember: God is eternally available.
*here’s the truth we know: FORMATION COMES THROUGH REPETITION
This formation in prayer is slow work.
Contemplative prayer is about entering into your connection/relationship with God - being present with Him.
Contemplative prayer helps us train our brains not to overreact, as much of society is accustomed to doing. In this form of prayer, we practice each day what it means to go slow, take time, and pray through life circumstances, before — just reacting.
-get still
-set a timer and increase over time
-focus your thoughts on small Scripture and take some deep breaths
*Ps 46:10 *Psalm 23:1-3 *Come Lord Jesus
-listen for God's promptings and presence - redirect when distracted back to Scriptural phrase...
-Remember: God is eternally available.
*here’s the truth we know: FORMATION COMES THROUGH REPETITION
This formation in prayer is slow work.
Contemplative prayer is about entering into your connection/relationship with God - being present with Him.
Contemplative prayer helps us train our brains not to overreact, as much of society is accustomed to doing. In this form of prayer, we practice each day what it means to go slow, take time, and pray through life circumstances, before — just reacting.
Jesus hasn’t revealed a God we can perfectly understand, but he has revealed a God we can perfectly trust.
Trust is the certainty that the listening God hears and cares. He is near. He already knows what we need… THE INVITATION IS TO PRAY
Trust is the certainty that the listening God hears and cares. He is near. He already knows what we need… THE INVITATION IS TO PRAY
“Who one believes God to be is most accurately revealed not in any credo but in the way one speaks to God when no one else is listening.”
--Nancy Mairs
--Nancy Mairs
The practice of prayer is learning to set aside dedicated time to intentionally be with God, in order to know him more deeply, become like him more naturally and partner with him in the world.
Thomas Merton wrote, “If you want a life of prayer, the way to get it is by praying.”
Thomas Merton wrote, “If you want a life of prayer, the way to get it is by praying.”
3 Minute moment to pray - focusing on Philippians 4:5-7
"...The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 4:5–7
What if you made it a practice to engage in prayer - more than just bringing a laundry list of requests to God, but to practice being still in order to lean into your relationship with Him. Start with just 3 minutes.
Be Still and KNOW... (Psalm 46:10)
"...The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 4:5–7
What if you made it a practice to engage in prayer - more than just bringing a laundry list of requests to God, but to practice being still in order to lean into your relationship with Him. Start with just 3 minutes.
Be Still and KNOW... (Psalm 46:10)
Thanks for partnering with us...
Thank you for enabling us to be the Church in our city! Your gifts help fuel the mission of Elements City Church, as well as our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis. You can give online at the link below or through the Elements app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveThanks for worshipping with us tonight! We invite you back next week as we continue our Summer @ Elements series looking at some practices and rhythms of following Jesus.
Join us this summer on-site or online every Sunday @ 5pm.
*Also this summer -- WEEKLY DEVO's -- we've got weekly devotions on our YouTube channel every Wednesday. So tune in, hit pause, lean in and grow your faith for a few minutes during the week.
Join us this summer on-site or online every Sunday @ 5pm.
*Also this summer -- WEEKLY DEVO's -- we've got weekly devotions on our YouTube channel every Wednesday. So tune in, hit pause, lean in and grow your faith for a few minutes during the week.