prayer

Recharge

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

” And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:35

My daughter and her husband recently purchased a used electric vehicle. She loves it. It allows them to travel around the neighborhood without filling up at the gas station. From their garage, they can plug the unit in each evening and the car recharges its battery overnight. The savings on the gas bill and the convenience of driving a high-tech car has its value in their eyes. Yet, to operate, it needs to be recharged on a regular basis.

My smart phone is a fantastic piece of technology. Today’s user takes for granted the power of the device. A tiny box that serves as a phone, camera, and computer. It allows one to speak with anyone in the world. It takes pictures better than any Polaroid camera I grew up with. And immediate connection into the internet brings the entire world into your hands. Yet it also needs to be recharged on a regular basis.

The male lion is a mighty strong animal. Many consider it the king of the jungle. Yet it rests or sleeps some 20 hours per day. All that strength requires time to recharge its muscles and body to operate on a regular basis.

The same is true for us humans.

We may not need 20 hours of rest each day, but we do need our sleep. Try going one or two days with only a few hours of sleep and see how you function. Most of us by the third day would be a danger to those around us. If driving a car, we would be arrested for “drunk driving.” Our decision-making would be chaotic. Our response time would be awkward and untimely. We would not be in a good condition.

When patients enter the hospital for a length of time, the danger of muscle atrophy sets in. Many a patient upon leaving the hospital has to enter physical therapy so they may learn to walk again. Lying in bed all day causes the muscles to weaken. They need to recharge the muscles in their legs.

There are other mental, social, and economic examples of the need to replenish one’s strength to face life. Yet, the most important one is the relationship with our heavenly Father. If we don’t have a regular routine to keep connected and recharge our spiritual focus, look out. Life will unexpectedly break us down.

Jesus understood this better than anyone. HIS habit was to rise early in the morning and spend quiet time in prayer with his Papa God. He knew where his strength and life came from. He practiced what he preached. He walked the talk.

We all need to recharge. Thinking we can operate at a half-tank only steals from others by us not giving our best in service to them. Love cares. Love cares for others and for the self. But most importantly, love wants to stay connected with the One who loves us the most. For the more we hang out and recharge with the Love Maker, the more love, joy and wisdom we have to share with others.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Turning Prayer into Action

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:9-13

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“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  Matthew 7:7

One business skill-set that has made the largest impact in my personal life is the development of a process. A process is the step-by-step procedure to follow towards a meaningful outcome. Though one tries to control the outcome, in most cases one learns it is the process one only can control. The outcome is usually dependent on many other considerations outside one’s influence. Thus, every important outcome is best governed through a process toward its end.

This holds true even in one’s personal life. Over time we develop meaningful goals to pursue which gives us purpose. Yet, if we don’t have a process to follow, then the goal is only a wish. A dream most likely never to happen.

As Christ-followers, we have been given a macro-goal in partnership with Jesus himself. A goal larger than ourselves. A vision bigger than any one of us. Yes Jesus is the initiator and CEO. But HE has given us a community of other believers within the Church to carry out HIS instructions. He has given us an outline to follow. A process for each of us to put in place with Jesus himself. The details though is a mutual discussion between you and HIM.

Our objectives are outline through the prayer example of Jesus found in the book of Matthew (6:9-13). We are to ask God for help to focus our actions toward seven important outcomes. Each outcome begs a personal reply: What is your process?

The first is to build a meaningful relationship with our Papa God. What is your process?

Followed by surrendering our kingdom under the auspices of God’s Kingdom. Again, what is your process?

Then to learn, develop, and exercise our personal will to be one with our Triune God. Again, what is your process?

Jesus knows the importance of physical necessities. Thus, HE reminds us to ask for our daily living requirements. Food, clothing, shelter are the basics of human survival. HE knows we need them. Again, what is your process?

HE also knows we have all incurred debts through life. He did not mean the financial type. But the spiritual sins of commission and omission that we all have committed. Repentance is the process of acknowledging our need for grace. To refocus our internal drive to a deeper relationship with God. So, how goes your process?

Then Jesus moves to the importance of forgiveness within relationships. The importance of maintaining a relationship is the ability to forgive others. Just as God has forgiven us. How is your process working?

Jesus also knows the struggles of temptation in the world. He instructs us to pray for deliverance from them. Which again begs the question, what is your current process to deal with temptation?

The seventh area Jesus pointed to was evil itself. Evil is real. Evil is anti-God. Evil will knock on your door more times than you want. So, Jesus instructs us to pray asking God to deliver us from it. What does your process against evil entail?

All seven of these objectives are key areas of a Christ-follower’s life. From a personal leadership perspective, each one requires a process to manage. Our focus is to control the process. The outcome is the work of the Holy Spirit in us. As we surrender to our Lord, HE will walk with us through the process.

HE even gave us further instructions on the development of our process. HE told us to ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK. We are first to ask God. We ask HIM to direct our steps. To bring people into our world to assist us. To flood us with HIS Grace as we make every effort to move through the process.

As we continue to ASK, we begin to SEEK HIS answer. We move forward. We look for HIS words, HIS touch, HIS Spirit along the way. When a door appears that may be the answer, we KNOCK. As we turn the knob, but the door remains close, we leave it alone and move on. We keep looking for another door. As we turn the knob on this one, the door slowly opens on its own. We do not have to force or manipulate anything. The door opens wide. We step through and like a champion surfer, we ride the wave to the end. Afterward, we look back and are amazed how everything fell into place.

God is a master worker. HE does good work. As you move through your process, your relationship with HIM grows deeper. Your trust in HIM becomes stronger. You learn the holy swagger walk. You experience the goodness of God.

Yes, we develop a process and follow through with our best effort. We will fall short most times. There we will see God’s grace in action. In the process, we learn how to govern ourselves and others. We also build a stronger relationship with Jesus, our Lord, Savior, and Teacher. The Holy Spirit becomes more active in your world. This all happens as you develop and execute a process of turning prayer into action.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message! Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Team Prayer

Dr. Mike 2014 , , ,

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,   Romans 15:30

Sainthood is a team event. When saints come together, they worship the great I AM God. They sing. They pray. They learn the Word of God together. As disciples of Jesus, they learn to follow HIM individually and collectively. Sainthood is not a sole adventure. But a community of people sharing life together.

One discipline done in private and together is prayer. As students of Jesus, we learn the importance of prayer. We start off in private prayer talking with our Maker. Over time we build up a relationship with an invisible God. As we grow in faith and trust, a personal relationship develops. Likewise, when we are together in community, relationships are being made. We share stories. We share food. We share time together building a community of believers who each have come to know their God.

As we come together, we also learn more from each other who God IS. When we pray together, we experience the heart and soul of a person in relationship with the same God we serve. As we worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we come to know more about HIM and ourselves in the process.

The apostle Paul relied on the support of his fellow saints to fulfill his calling in life. He would ask for their prayers on his behalf. His struggles and personal battles to preach the gospel would often overcome him. His solution was always to look for Jesus Christ to provide the strength to carry him through. He was not bashful to request help at times such as in Romans 15 when he believed his life may soon be over.

Yes, we are to pray in private. But we are also asking to pray whenever the occasion calls for it. That means when you are out in the public arena and eyes may be on you. That may mean during a football game when one of the players are severely injured. That may mean in the parking lot of a shopping mall. Or when someone is in desperation and needs help beyond your capacity to deliver. Especially when you are witnessing a live event in a public arena and unable to intervene in a violent situation.

Yes, our relationship with the living God is such we can pray either privately or corporately. Whoever is watching doesn’t change our intensity and intent. Why? Because our relationship with our heavenly Father is real. We know our heavenly Dad’s heart on the manner. We share in supporting HIS ways. And we know HE always hears us and acts on our requests. May not be when and how we expect. But we trust HE knows what is best for all involved in the situation and will see the best long-term solution is made.

So, when you have the time to share prayers with other members of God’s family on earth, take it. Let others come to know the God who walks with you. They and you will grow from the experience.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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