Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Action plan

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

John 5:6-14
Jesus saw an invalid lying there and learned that he had been in this condition a long time. He asked him, "Do you want to get well?"

"Sir," the invalid replied. "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred." Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked ...

Jesus slipped away into the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found the man at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."

We don't need to ask, "What would Jesus do?" We can see here what he did when it was time to heal. In this situation there are at least five steps he took:

1. He did some research about who needed what
2. He asked the man if he wanted to be healed
3. He listened to the man's answer and decided what to do
4. He commanded the man to act out of strength and healing
5. He slipped away into the crowd but later followed up with the man to encourage him and pray for him again if he needed to

The Vineyard, where we go to church, uses a five-step prayer model to train its prayer ministry participants:

1. Ask: listen to the person and the Spirit.
2. Filter: discern the cause.
3. Focus: choose the type of prayer.
4. Pray interactively: invite the Spirit, pray, interview ("what's happening?"). Keep your eyes open.
5. Wrap it up: give final encouragement and instructions.

Although the results of prayer are often mysteriously inconsistent, it's much easier to keep on praying when I have Jesus' example to follow, and when that example is broken down into workable parts.

That's what I need. KISS. Keep it simple, ...

You, Lord, are my refuge and my strength in every kind of trouble. I want to be still, and know that you are God. You are my fortress and my delight.

Devotions Archive

Action plan

Tuesday, March 24, 2009