Discipleship

RISKY  PRAYER

“Search me O 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

Context?

Righteous anger flares up: Verses 21-22

Then his conscience is pricked!

Am I fully submitted to God?  David prayed:

“Search me O God. Test me.  Bring all that’s not of you into the light.  Expose it.  Remove it. I want to be fully devoted to You”

If you and I are serious about wanting to be Christ’s disciples and to make a difference, then we need to pray that prayer. What holds us back?

Because we know where the Holy Spirit’s laser beam would go.

SEARCH ME

David said “Know my heart”  What’s deep in your heart?

Our heart follows our treasure.  Matthew 6: 21 What are you treasuring?

Our words reveal our heart. “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” Matthew 12: 34

What are you treasuring?

Think of the things you’ve said over the last week.

What needs to be repented of?

What has your mind drifted towards?

What needs to be surrendered?

STRETCH  ME

Acts 4.  Christians were starting to be persecuted.

They prayed  “Lord make us bolder.  Increase our courage. Stretching.”

And God did.  And the Church grew.

Stretch me prayers are very practical!

Stretch my patience

Stretch my compassion

Stretch my faith

Stretch my love

It’s not easy!

Most of God’s heroes struggled with the Stretch me prayer. 

Moses.  If he hadn’t been stretched he would have regretted it all his life.  And so will you and I.

The Stretch me prayer is to have a bigger heart, a deeper faith, a greater boldness for God, standing for Him and His Truth when everyone else is caving in.

LEAD ME

Safer than Search me and Stretch me surely?  No!  Think of how God led people.  Your life is really important. 

You only have from this day until your last day to be on the adventure God has in mind for you.

He leads in small ways and bigger ways

He won’t force you

Need to heed.  Proverbs 3: 5-6  James 4: 13- 16

Every day we need to say:

“Lord please guide me today.  I only have from here to the end. Search me.  Stretch me.  Lead me.”