The Practical Disciple » focus
Powerful Prayer though Visualizing
A number of years ago, I listened to a tape series about prayer by Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline. One lesson that stood out to me and made a marked difference in my prayer life was his recommendation to visualize prayer. There are at least four beneficial shifts you will experience if you strive to visualize your prayers. First, specificity. When you take time to vividly imagine what your prayer would look like answered and lift that image with all its details upto God you tend to be far more specific in what you pray. For example, I had an extremely unruly Sunday School class of Junior High kids once. (Okay, may be more than just once) I was about to give up on the class and it was … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized, focus, meditation, prayer
A Word to You of Limited Freezer Space
Yesterday, I posted an article on saving time and money through freezer cooking. That may seem like a strange post for The Practical Disciple. It’s not like cooking ranks up there with prayer and scripture reading, but good stewardship of time and money does. I am also posting these freezer posts because I find that there is a distinct need to help people with the raw chaotic order of their lives in order to attend to spiritual necessities like spiritual disciplines. All that said, here is a word to those of you yesterday who may have felt a bit left out because 1) you don’t have freezer or 2) You are single or have a small household and casserole cooking just isn’t very realistic. TO THOSE WITH SMALL FREEZERS 1) Bulk shop … Read entire article »
Filed under: focus, simplicity/sustainable living, time
More on Fatigue
I had a “well duh!” moment the other day. This whole business of fatigue effecting people’s ability to focus has brought sharply into view my lack of what I would call ‘body holiness’. In short, honoring God through taking good care of the physical being he has given us. We are but stewards of even our bodies. My “well duh” moment was the realization of how much body holiness must actually matter to God. One the premiere commandments, the Sabbath, is God’s way of helping us maintain a healthy rhythm of work and rest. Similarly, much of the early law was totally dietary and intended for our physical, mental, and spiritual being. If God takes time to instruct us so much around these … Read entire article »
Focus, Fatigue and Prayer
Nearly a year ago I made my first post on this site and noted that two issues repeatedly are voiced by people regarding prayer: finding the time and being able to focus. Those two issues have been difficult hurdles for me during my Lenten journey. On those days when I have allowed the demands of life to shove my hour of prayer literally to the eleven hour, I have found myself torn between sleep and prayer. At times, I found myself nodding while speaking prayers out loud. I wonder if this is the experience the disciples had in the garden of Gethsemane moments before Jesus fateful arrest. His words to them come to me, “Couldn’t you just sit with me one hour?” Apparently … Read entire article »
Prayer problems
When I survey people about what is the hardest thing about prayer two core issues repeatedly come up: Finding the time, staying focused. There are a couple of ways to tackle finding the time. First off, let’s own the reality that we find time for what’s important to us. If you aren’t finding time recognize to some degree it is a priority problem. Face it if you are to busy to pray…you are probably to busy. So, hey you may have to get rid of something. But before doing that try linking prayer to something that is already a routine for you. Link it to a meal, a commute, or something as simple as walking to and from your car whenever you … Read entire article »
Receive New Posts by Email or RSS Feed
Recent Comments
- Diagnosing Clutter | The Practical Disciple on Living in the Rhythm
"[...] Living in the Rhthym [...]…" - Diagnosing Clutter | The Practical Disciple on Tips on Restoring Margin
"[...] Tips on restoring margin [...]…" - Diagnosing Clutter | The Practical Disciple on How do I take a mundane chore and dedicate it to Christ?
"[...] to one that is more Christ-focused around mundane chores like getting orga…" - admin on Praying Scripture using Lectio Divina
"I wrote a brief post about lectio divina last August. If you would like to read…" - New downloads on the Resource page | The Practical Disciple on Resources
"[...] Resources [...]…"