Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Are you overscheduled and overstressed?
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your ability to say “No” to things that don’t belong in your schedule?
What steps will you take to improve that?

This week I’ll be sharing about reducing stress, something many people experience an especially big dose of during the Christmas season.

A few days ago, I received an email from John Miller, founder of QBQ! (Question Behind The Question) titled “QBQ! Boundaries: Saying No.” That title grabbed my attention when I first read it and has continued to grab my attention each time I’ve seen that email in my Inbox.

Like many of you, I struggle with saying “No!” or better yet “No thanks.” The problem with that is it leads to over committing, which results in my “yes” not always being “yes.” And that leads to disappointments and hurt relationships. It also leads to me neglecting simple important daily commitments to myself, such as eating breakfast and exercising.

Here is part of what John Miller shared in his email message:

Drawing boundaries and resisting the temptation to overdo are all about “taking care of me,” and contrary to popular opinion there’s nothing wrong with that. If more of us took care of ourselves, we just might have an abundance of joy, improved mental and physical health, and greater peace of mind during a season that is all about Peace On Earth.

(Disclaimer: So why isn’t this message titled “Saying YES!” and encouraging people to partake in celebratory activities like those listed above? Because that’s not where most of us require strength. The lesson needed for many is not YES but, “No, thanks. Not this time.”)

Sure, it’s fun to revel in the holidays and to give to others, but possibly the best gift I can give myself and those around me this season is the gift of saying NO.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, I confess that I have a problem saying “No” to things that You have not asked me to do or that simply do not fit into my schedule. Please forgive me. Help me to become much more disciplined with my daily and weekly routines and to prayerfully consider the cost of commitments before making them. Thank You Jesus. Amen.
 
Link of the Day
How To Say No to People Making Demands on Your Time – by Elizabeth Scott, M.S. (see below)

Blessings to learn to say no much more often!

———————————

Reference: [http://stress.about.com/od/settingboundaries/ht/say_no.htm]

How To Say No to People Making Demands on Your Time
By Elizabeth Scott, M.S., Updated: September 25, 2007 

Are you overscheduled and overstressed? With today’s busy schedules, you’re not alone. One way to pare down your schedule is to get good at saying no to new commitments. Whether you say “yes” instead of no out of guilt, inner conflict, or a misguided notion that you can “do it all,” learning to say no to more requests can be one of the biggest favors you can do yourself and those you love. It helps reduce stress levels and gives you time for what’s really important.

Time Required: Very little. And it will free up time for what’s important!

Here’s How:
Just say, “I’m sorry. I can’t do this right now.” Use a sympathetic, but firm tone. If pressured as to why, reply that it doesn’t fit with your schedule, and change the subject. Most reasonable people will accept this as an answer, so if someone keeps pressuring you, they’re being rude, and it’s OK to just repeat, “I’m sorry, but this just doesn’t fit with my schedule,” and change the subject, or even walk away if you have to.

If you’re uncomfortable being so firm, or are dealing with pushy people, it’s OK to say, “Let me think about it and get back to you.” This gives you a chance to review your schedule, as well as your feelings about saying “yes” to another commitment, do a cost-benefit analysis, and then get back to them with a yes or no. Most importantly, this tactic helps you avoid letting yourself be pressured into overscheduling your life and taking on too much stress.

If you would really like to do what they’re requesting, but don’t have the time (or are having trouble accepting that you don’t), it’s fine to say, “I can’t do this, but I can…” and mention a lesser commitment that you can make. This way you’ll still be partially involved, but it will be on your own terms.

Tips:
Be firm — not defensive or overly apologetic — and polite. This gives the signal that you are sympathetic, but will not easily change your mind if pressured.

If you decide to tell the person you’ll get back to them, be matter-of-fact and not too promising. If you lead people to believe you’ll likely say “yes” later, they’ll be more disappointed with a later “no.”

If asked for an explanation, remember that you really don’t owe anyone one. “It doesn’t fit with my schedule,” is perfectly acceptable.

Remember that there are only so many hours in the day. This means that whatever you choose to take on limits your ability to do other things. So even if you somehow can fit a new commitment into your schedule, if it’s not more important than what you would have to give up to do it (including time for relaxation and self care), you really don’t have the time in your schedule.

This article has more strategies for finding time if you’re too busy.

UNCOMMON Opportunity
To learn more about Today’s life changing webinar “Introduction to UNCOMMON Journaling for Destiny,” CLICK HERE. Testimony: What a blessing! Journaling and using The Journal is revolutionizing my life. – Dan Paulsen

Secular coaches call it ‘intuition”.  LLC coaches have learned that we are really helping clients Hear God for themselves in a coaching conversations and discovering the empowering joy of their own voice in the process.  We train coaches to “listen to what really matters” by serving clients to hear, engage, embrace, and activate God’s Destiny Directions for them. – Joseph Umidi

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your ability to consistently hear God’s voice?
What can you do to improve that?

In yesterday’s devotional titled “Changing Lives – Breaking Through,” we continued with our theme of Christ-enabled living, impossible living, heroic living. Yesterday’s key message: “When you change your thinking and your HABITS, you will change your life.” You were presented with an opportunity to participate in today’s life-changing webinar to change your thinking and habits.

Today at Noon EST, Jerry Graham and I are hosting an introductory webinar about our outstanding 5 week Journal 201 course titled “UNCOMMON Journaling for Destiny.” Rev. Matt Gregory and Dan Paulsen will be sharing their first hand testimonies of the impact of our prior course. Even if you are not available, you can receive a link to the recorded webinar simply by registering. CLICK HERE to learn more.

While preparing the PowerPoint presentation for today’s webinar, I was prompted to write down some of the new fruit I personally experienced from the Journal 201 course. Here is a partial list:
1) Began using The Journal myself
2) Got connected to Debra Thompson Roedl and the Wealth Alliance Group
3) Transformation Virginia was officially launched
4) Launched my own web store with products, courses, and memberships
5) Soul Purpose Church (my church) formally adopted “Coaching you to discover and fulfill your soul purpose” as its mission
6) Door opened for an alliance between Team Destiny and Lifeforming Leadership Coaching
7) I bought a brand new bicycle. My old one was more than 25 years old (literally an antique).

In my August 22 devotional, I mentioned that Joseph Umidi was my top new contact in 2006 and Debra Thompson Roedl has been my top new contact in 2008.
 
On August 19, Joseph sent the monthly Lifeforming Leadership Coaching e-newsletter promoting our webinar to his 1,500 or so contacts. In his message titled “Coaching with an ‘Ear To Hear’,” Joseph wrote:
 
“I am pleased to offer all of our coaches the unique combination of 2 keys to Hearing God for yourself that will translate into more effective “hearing” with your clients.  This is the unique combination of journaling and coaching to clarify what God is saying to you and giving you the ability to help your clients discover the same for them. Dr. Jerry Graham and Dr. Randy Peck have collaborated to design this life changing 5-week process for you that I highly recommend.”
 
Debra Roedl is regarded by some as the top internet marketing strategist in the world. When I met in person with her at the Marriott Crystal City (VA) on August 16 (the same day as The Call DC), she committed to promote our combo journaling and coaching courses. to her Wealth Alliance contacts around the world.

A few weeks ago I talked to Buddy Smith, Executive Assistant to the Chairman for the American Family Association. He told me he is willing to have Jerry and I interviewed about our combo coaching and journaling courses on Today’s Issues (American Family Radio). AFR has more than 1 million listeners nationwide.

Obviously God has His mantle of favor on the “UNCOMMON Journaling for Destiny” course. On behalf of all our Team Destiny teammates, we invite you to be blessed by registering for today’s webinar. Even if you aren’t available today, you will receive a link to our recorded webinar just for registering. Our target audience is people who are passionate to know God and make Him known. We are training champions for Christ. To register for today’s webinar, CLICK HERE.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, we praise You as an intimate God – as a God who speaks to us regularly. Thank You for training me to hear Your voice, which makes life flow so much easier. Bless each reader who chooses to register for today’s webinar to learn to hear Your voice. Thank You Jesus. You’re my all in all. Amen and hallelujah!

Link of the Day
Unthinkable: The Scott Rigsby Story

Blessings to develop an ear to hear God’s voice!

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. (Psalm 145:5)

What daily habit can I start to guarantee I will slow down and hear God?

To me, “busy” is a bad four letter word. Yesterday, I shared how the Holy Spirit led me to Track #11 of CD #2 of Bill Hybel’s book “Too Busy Not to Pray” and how I applied the 3 steps to reduce my rpm’s the next morning. The following in an excerpt from Track #11:

To have an authentic walk with Jesus Christ, time is required. Something good is going to have to give way. Some practical vehicle will have to be employed to get the rpm’s down from 10,000 to 5,000 to 500, where you can be at peace with God and be in a condition to hear what the Lord is saying. Nobody ever said the Christian walk is easy.

I want to offer you a practical, tested, guaranteed rpm-reduction approach that will help you slow your life down so that you can stop playing games and begin living an authentic Christian life. It’s a shree step program that really works… You can begin to learn to “be still and know” that God is God (Psalm 46:10)

STEP #1: The first step toward rpm reduction is called journaling. Journaling means keeping a journal, in this case a spiritual journal. It involves writing down your experiences, observations, and reflections looking behind the events of the day for their hidden meanings, recording ideas as they come to you.

In his book “Ordering Your Private World,” Gordon McDonald suggests journaling, but with a different twist. Go to a drugstore, he said, and buy a spiral notebook. Plan to write in this notebook every day, but restrict yourself to one page. Every day when you open to the next blank sheet of paper, write the same first word: Yesterday. Follow this with a paragragh or two recounting yesterday’s events, sort of a postgame analysis… According to McDonald, this exercise causes a tremendous step forward in spiritual development.

Most of us, the author said, live unexamined lives. We repeat the same errors day after day. We don’t learn much from the decisions we make, whether they are good or bad. We don’t know why we’re here or where we’re going. One benefit of journaling is to force us to examine our lives.

STEP #2: Write out your prayers. Some people tell me they don’t need to schedule regular time for prayer; they pray on the run. These people are kidding themselves. Just try building a marriage on the run… As with the journal, I limit my writing to one page… Once I write out the prayer, I put the notebook on the credenze and kneel down … I find I pray much more effectively on my knees. I read the prayer aloud, adding other comments or concerns as I go through it.

STEP #3: Listen to God. This step is so important … These moments in God’s presence are the ones that really matter… You can’t become an authentic Christian on a diet of constant activity, even if the activity is all church related… The archenemy of spiritual authenticity is busyness. It’s time to slow down, reflect, and listen.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, You are a God who usually speaks in quiet whispers. I love being in Your Holy of holies to hear You and to speak softly to You. Help me to daily apply the three steps above to reduce my rpm’s even further and may many others follow this example. Thank You Jesus for Your peace that passes all understanding. You are my Rock and my salvation. I praise You and Your holy name. Amen and Hallelujah!

Link of the Day
Ordering Your Private World – by Gordon McDonald

Blessings to apply these 3 simple steps each morning to slow your rpm’s way down!

“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.” (Revelations 3:3)

What can I do TODAY to prevent fires, rather than rushing around to put them out?

A recent letter I received from the Pentagon Federal Credit Union states, “No one ever plans to fail, but many fail to plan.” Because I have a heart to serve, I easily fall into the trap of allowing other people’s “emergencies” to pull me into the tyranny of the urgent. But it’s my desire to live most of my life in Quadrant 2, doing things that are important, but not urgent.

On Sunday August 26, I got up at 5:10 AM after 6 ½ hours of sleep. I went to our sunroom, knelt down, and prayed for a few minutes. I think I also sang a few songs to God, but I’m not sure because I was busy the evening before. Because of my recent devotionals about QBQ, I asked God the question, “What can I do TODAY to increase my finances?” It didn’t take Him long to go to work.

When I went to my office, I started iTunes intending to listen to a scheduled playlist for the 26th day of the month. However, I discovered I needed to create new playlists because last week I  upgraded my hard drive and operating system on my main computer. During the process of creating playlists, the Holy Spirit prompted me to load Psalms 74-150 into iTunes. While retrieving my NIV Bible on CD in our basement, I noticed the 2 CD set “Too Busy Not to Pray.” I was prompted to load those too into iTunes.

While listening to CD #2 of “Too Busy Not to Pray,” Track #11 jumped out at me. Bill Hybels talked about decreasing your RPM’s from 10,000 to 5,000 to 500 each morning. I felt strongly convicted and was driven to action. I listened to that track at least two more times that morning.

The next morning (August 27), I decided to apply the three principles (steps) of slowing down discussed on Track #11. My first step was to write (type) one full page in my spiritual journal starting with the word “Yesterday.” As I recounted the events and people from the day before, I became more and more aware of how God was at work in that day. My second step was to write (type) one page of personal prayers.

To see what I wrote in my spiritual journal on the morning of August 27, visit today’s Link of the Day.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, on December 29, 2006 You told me my theme verse in 2007 was to be”Be Still” (Psalm 46:10).  While preparing my devotional for January 1, 2007, You told me that was Your message for the entire world in 2007. Guide me to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from my life. Do likewise for my readers. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
Yesterday… – my journal entry for August 27  [see below]

Blessings to learn and apply simple principles to slow down your RPM’s from 10,000 to 500!

I then chose to sit next to John, a teenager whose life is being turned around by God. Because John respects me, I knew it would encourage him by being with him. I was encouraged to hear John singing. Within a matter of 5-10 minutes, the crowd grew to at least 60-70 people in the high school auditorium. I noticed an extremely high and positive energy level. Julia (my wife) arrived around 10:40 AM and sat on my left. She had run a 10 mile race earlier that morning in Bealeton.

Pastor Matt Gregory began his sermon by sharing that 90% of people who come to church do so because a family member or friend invites them. He then called forward all the people who were present at the very first SPC worship service in March 2005. Then he called forward people who had come to SPC because of being invited by someone already up front. (i.e. the second generation). Next he called forward third generation SPC attendees. By this time, almost no one remained in the audience. One could easily sense an atmosphere of fellowship and a breakdown in tension by having people get out of their seats. Then more humored followed. By this time, people had let down their barriers and were ready to hear from God. The title of Matt’s message was  “Borrowing and Lending Faith.” I think I’ll do a devotional about that later this week.

After the worship service, I immediately went to talk to Bud. The Holy Spirit had instructed me earlier that morning to give him a brochure inviting him to the 17th Annual International Institute on Nation Transformation in Argentina Sept 28 – Oct 5. I also gave Bud a Harvest Evangelism DVD titled “Marketplace Transformation.” Bud seemed quite interested in going to Argentina and told me he has a good pastor friend who might be up for that too.

Before leaving SPC, I talked to several other people and helped load carts into the SPC trailer. When Julia invited me to have lunch at China Jade in Culpeper with a few other families, I accepted the invitation, even though I had initially thought I’d skip lunch.

When Julia and I arrived at China Jade, we saw the Jarvis family and went to talk to them. Then we joined the Smith and Gregory families to eat. The conversations were authentic. I did a better job than usual listening.

When I got home, I immediately laid down for what turned out to be a 3 hour nap. I was exhausted.

——————-

Morning prayer page for Monday 08-27-07

LORD, yesterday morning I asked You the question, “What can I do TODAY to increase my finances?” It didn’t take you long to go to work. You led me back to the CD set “Too Busy Not to Pray” and then You imprinted the message from Track #11 of CD#2 on my heart. Thank You for doing that. Thank You that I had time to listen to that message several more times. Thank You that this morning I am applying the 3 principles to slow down my RPM’s from 10,000 to 500.

I’ve had a ton of excuses why I’ve let me prayer life slip. I’ve had a ton of excuses for why I’ve allowed people to get me in the fast lane that leads to nowhere. I’ve had a ton of excuses on why some words (prophecies) You’ve spoken to me haven’t come true. My own busyness has hurt my relationship with Caren, Robbie, and Julia. It has damaged their faith. Please forgive me. I know I need to assume personal responsibility for what is being manifested in my life and family. I need to stop blaming others, especially Julia, for holding me back. I need to be a man of action as well as prayer. I need to be an answer to my own prayers much more often. I need to be a good steward with my time. I spend too long talking to people on the phone. This wastes my time and their time. I haven’t been preparing adequately for my meetings with my clients.

This past Friday (August 24), I vented my anger to Julia in front of John and then Caren.

I’ve been asking You over and over to bless my finances and yet things just seem to get worse and worse. I’ve been telling You what I want to see happen instead of asking You what I need to do to be successful. I’ve allowed journaling and emails to draw me into the tyranny of the urgent.

Thank You LORD for yesterday!

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;” (John 16:13)

What are the obstacles to an effective prayer life?

1) LACK OF A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS – In John 3:3, Jesus told Nicodemus “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Only children of God can truthfully call God “Father.” There are major perks to being a child of the LORD of lords and King of kings.

2) BUSYNESS – John Ortberg is a teaching pastor and one of my favorite authors. In his book “The Life You’ve Always Wanted,” John shares the story about asking the wisest spiritual mentor he has ever known, “What must I do to be spiritually healthy?” After a long pause, the mentor answered “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” John then asked what else. After a longer pause, the mentor replied, “There is nothing else.”

Busyness is a great enemy of relationships. According to the Greatest Commandment, life is about relationships. Jesus was never in a hurry – not even one time. On October 2-17, 2006, I did a whole series of devotionals from the book and CD series titled “Too Busy Not to Pray.” See today’s link of the day to refer back to that excellent series of messages.

What are some examples of being too hurried? Impatience. Neglecting your family. Not having gaps in your daily schedule to allow God to move. Being late for scheduled appointments and meetings. Not listening to or helping someone in crisis when God places that person in your path. Speeding while driving.

3) SIN = Disobedience to the Word of God or to instructions from the Holy Spirit. The Bible says “The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16) Disobedience to God can be very subtle.

Let me share a personal and painful example of my failure to obey. On April 30, 2006, the Holy Spirit gave me a clear instruction that 2007 was to be a year of Sabbath rest. In obedience to the Holy Spirit, I stepped away from my bread-and-butter anesthesia job in December 2006. I started 2007 off well with a 21-day fast. However, soon after, I fell into the trap of allowing family members to pressure me into trying to be my own provider. Recently, I wrote down some of my biggest disappointments for 2007. After reflecting on those, it became clear to me that I had ignored God’s instruction to spend much more time interceding this year.

4) UNBELIEF – Faith (believing) is so important when you pray. The spirit of unbelief has a stronghold on the Body of Christ in America. The Bible says “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Do you expect miracles when you pray? I do. I have documented thousands of miracles I have personally experienced in the past seven years. Let me share one. A few years ago I was driving from Culpeper to Warrenton on Route 29N for an outdoor activity. The sky all around me was the darkest and blackest I had ever seen. So I said a prayer something like this, “God, it doesn’t matter what the weatherman says or the sky looks like. What matters is what You, the weather maker, can do. Please bless today’s weather for me.” Within a minute, the clouds parted. The sky became completely blue over me, while remaining dark black to my left and right. It never rained on me.

Prayer Power
Most gracious and merciful Father, thank You for Your patience with me. Thank You that You always give warnings when I stray off the path You have laid out for me. Thank You for the recent wake up calls to “be still.” You told me that was your message for the whole world on January 1, 2007. Please help my readers to apply that to their own lives. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
“Too Busy Not to Pray” – devotional series [October 2-17, 2006]

Blessings to remove obstacles keeping you from having an effective prayer life!

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” (Matthew 6:5)

How do you know if you’re too busy?
How do you breakout of a cycle of busyness?

One of the great pleasures of my life is being a dad. On July 2, I asked Robbie (my son) what he would say about me at my memorial service if I died and he had less than thirty seconds to share. After briefly reflecting, Robbie said “He loved Jesus. He hated busyness.” That’s a very accurate assessment from my perspective.  Then yesterday Robbie told me “Dad, you’re getting a lot better at saying “No.”

Jesus was never in a hurry – not once.  There are lots of small indicators to signal when I’m too busy. When I see enough of these occur in a short enough time period, I know it’s time to change what I’m doing. Getting alone with the LORD and being real with Him helps me sort things out. God multiplies everything we give Him with a cheerful heart; that includes our time. If I need more time, it’s time to spend more time alone with God.

My favorite thing to do is to pray, both by myself and with others. I’m thankful that God has worked out my schedule such that I read the Bible and pray for extended periods of time almost every day. I’m glad for my habit of journaling to bring clarity and to remember what God has done. I’m thankful that Robbie and Tim Smith Jr. are working for me this summer and that we recently started having a devotional time to get each work day off to a godly start.

What about you? What would your closest family members say about you if you died? Do you love Jesus? How much? Can others tell easily? How is the pace of your life? If you’re too busy, what steps can you take to change that?

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, so many people in America are on the fast train to nowhere. They are so busy that if You wanted to connect them with a key contact or open a big door for them, they wouldn’t even notice. That includes many or most of Your children. Teach each of us to trust in You more and to depend less on ourselves and the things of this world. Jesus, thank You for your standing invitation to all who are weary to come to You for rest. May we bless You Jesus with the pace of our lives. Amen.

Link of the Day
I’m Too Busy to Go to Church! [http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2617&collectionID=1276&contentID=44244&shortcutID=17125]

Blessings to find creative ways to eliminate hurry from your life!

“Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak. If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.” (Job 33:31-33)

The following is a direct quote from the opening sound track of the “Contemplative Prayer” section of the “Be still” DVD.

We live in a frenzied, chaotic world under the constant seize of busyness and noise. The weapons of mass distraction are everywhere. We are bombarded by millions of advertisements daily. The Christian community is not exempt. We were designed to experience fullness of joy. Yet many only experience fullness of schedule.

Where can we go to find rest and peace?

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). We get to know God better through prayer. Prayer is a relationship and two-way communication with God. Jesus came that we might have life and that we might have it more abundantly, but how can we experience abundance if we don’t learn to slow down. We need to stop and quiet ourselves to spend time in real relationship with God.

Contemplation is different than other types of Christian prayer. Contemplative prayer involves less telling God what we want to have happen in our lives and more listening for God’s call to us in our heart through Scripture. As we develop an inner attentiveness to God’s whisper, we begin to experience His presence more throughout the day.

Prayer Power
Father, Daddy, thank You for your peace that passes all understanding. Thank You for the gift of this sabbatical year to have the opportunity to develop daily and weekly habits to slow down even more to be still and to hear Your whisper. It’s my heart’s desire to listen to You, to know You better, and to obey You. Teach me what it really means to abide in You and let Your words abide in me (John 15:7). Thank You Jesus. I love You. You’re my all, my everything. Amen and Hallelujah!

Link of the Day
RENOVARE – Bringing the Church to the churches [www.renovare.org]
 
Blessings to find peace in God’s presence!

“BE STILL … and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10a)

What step(s) will you take in 2007 to practice solitude and silence?

Today begins day #1 of my sabbatical year – a year of rest. Each year since 2003, I have chosen a theme verse for the year. Until just two days ago, I was asking God to let me know His choice for a theme verse for 2007. After watching the “Be Still” DVD on December 30, I immediately knew my theme verse for 2007 is “Be still and know.” That is God’s message for the entire world!!!

The “Be Still” DVD came of me in a box with several other valuable goodies in mid December as a Christmas gift from my dear friend Burt Swardstrom. Burt serves as Director of Communications for Mastermedia International.

Here is what the DVD cover says:

“Be Still” is an extraordinary film that demonstrates how contemplative, or “listening” prayer can be a vital way to find peace in the midst of a frenzied, fast-paced, modern world. Featuring interviews with some of today’s most highly respected authors, pastors, and educators, “Be Still” examines the importance of silence and reflective prayer as a way to receive God’s guidance in everyday life.

“Be Still” also features a useful “how-to” section that shows how contemplative prayer can be used to return to a more simple life, and reaffirm that which is truly important.

Prayer Power
Father, Abba, Daddy, I’m still and I’m listening. Thank You for You. Thank You for opening my eyes of understanding to who Jesus really is and what He did for me. Bless me and those who read this message with habits to practice solitude and silence to be still and know that You are God. You will exalted in the whole earth. We bless You Jesus. Amen!

Link of the Day
http://www.bestillprayer.net

Blessings to BE STILL and know!

Your Daily Blessing News
The devotionals this week are dedicated to the “Be Still” theme.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! (Psalm 46:10)

Today is the 5th anniversary of 9-11. Today, people all over America will pause to remember the victims and honor the families of those who lost their lives in the horrible tragedies in New York City and at the Pentagon.

Nearly every day, I see people experiencing a different kind of 9-11 in their own personal lives – a sense of hopelessness and despair. We have “9-11 victims” of marriages breaking up, families crumbling, sexual immorality, neglected children, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc. I see people starving and drowning spiritually all around me. What is the root of the problem? Busyness!

What can you do to bless the people in your sphere of influence who are suffering terribly? Be still and know – know God! Make quiet time every day to read the Word of God. Drown out both the external and internal noise around you to know God and experience His presence. It’s the presence of God that will change you and your circumstances.

This past weekend (September 8-9), I attended the Transformation North Carolina conference in Durham NC. During this conference, the Holy Spirit kept saying “Be still and know!” Yesterday afternoon when my wife was driving us from NC to Williamsburg Virginia to visit our daughter, I called Jeff Bernstein, Founder of Gates of Zion. At the end of our conversation, Jeff said a wonderful prayer for me. He prayed that I would have a deeper hunger for the Word of God. That really sank in.

Do you make time every morning to be still to know and hear God?

Prayer Power
Abba, I praise You as a the God of patience. Forgive me for the many times I have allowed myself to get too busy. Forgive me for all the people I have hurt by being too busy to listen with compassion. Forgive me for the many times I have dishonored others, including my own parents and family members, by arriving late and failing to keep my word. Forgive me for my pride in trying to do too much in my own strength. Teach me to be still. Remind me daily that I’m a human “being,” not a human “doing.” Thank You for Your promise that blessed is the man whose “delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1:2). I love you Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
Hunger for the Word – by Calvin Miller [http://www.christian.com/ArticlesDetail.asp?id=2134]

Blessings for a deep hunger for the Word of God!

Your Daily Blessing News
This week’s topic will be “Hunger for the Word.” I had originally planned to discuss LIFE coaching, but the Holy Spirit used Jeff Bernstein’s prayer to change my topic for this week’s devotionals.

Other sites of interest: Bread for the World [www.bread.org]
 

“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.” (Leviticus 23:3)

How consistent are you at keeping the Sabbath holy each week?

Busyness is a great enemy of relationships. We must address the serious problem of busyness in our lives to experience a great awakening. The devil doesn’t have to get us to do anything bad to be at work in our lives. All he has to do is keep us busy.

My father told me that when we lived in Charlottesville Virginia in the early 1960′s, only one business was open on Sundays and that was an international one. Today, hundreds of businesses are open on Sundays and people scurry around shopping. Sports and children activities have invaded every day of the week. Families have little time of solitude together to communicate.

It is not easy to take a Sabbath. You’ve got to decide to do it. A regular Sabbath puts a brake on overwork. In order to practice Sabbath, you must learn one powerful word, “No”. That little word creates the hearth in which the fires of our calling can burn brightly.

Sabbath is … an attitude of the heart which recognizes the need for regular soul care within the rhythm of daily life… Sabbath is the gift of rest, reflection, and renewal – a time of preparation at the beginning of the week, not a restoration from exhaustion at the end of a long busy week. – David Steffenson, First Lutheran Church, Little Falls, Minnesota

Prayer Power
Father God, the Bible makes it clear that Your command to keep the Sabbath holy is an eternal command. Forgive me for the many times I have disobeyed You by failing to take a Sabbath rest. Bless me to experience the wholeness and joy that come from observing Your order for life by observing Sabbath time. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
Sabbath Keeping and Sabbatical Taking

Blessings to keep the Sabbath holy!