The Flog – The Fabry Log

We had some great calls yesterday talking about the “how” of prayer and bible study. Everything from the “five finger” prayer principle to the ACTS approach (see below) to prayer journals. If you didn’t hear it, go to chrisfabrylive.org and click on yesterday’s program to hear.

One of the themes of the hour was how much we get out of WRITING DOWN our prayers. When you write things down, you have a record of what was going on in your life, your head, your heart. Some surprising things will come out when you’re just “in the zone” with God. You’re not trying to impress anyone. You’re not trying to be anything but real, which is something God values. Plus, later on when you go back, you can see how God answered your prayers. So I highly recommend this daily journaling. So if you haven’t begun that practice yet, I urge you to do it. Even if you’re one of those people who feels like it’s just not your thing to write stuff down, go ahead and do it.

Here’s part of an email that came after the program about prayer. I wonder if you can identify with it:

For two years I commuted before sun up forty minutes. It became a very holy time for me. I never turned on the radio or did anything but be with the Lord, and drive, of course. I used the acronym ACTS to structure this time: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication - a plan I had heard of many times. The darkness helped me stay focused and forty minutes was always the perfect amount of time. Also, I was led to pray for each semi-trucker parked along the way at exits, probably catching a little sleep. Often I thought that I might be the only person who ever prayed for the safety, salvation, and life of some of those truckers.

I truly missed this time on weekends, school holidays, and in the summer, It always felt so right to get back to the routine, and so easy to have scheduled prayer time. I still miss it, since my life is now rearranged. It is the best memory of those two difficult years.

If you don’t have a regular time of prayer, schedule it. Show up. See what God does. And like we’ve been talking about on the program, begin the discipline of “listening” to God. Not just talking to him, but listening to him. Listening by reading scripture, being quiet before him, and asking him to speak.

We have ten days left in this time of prayer and “fixing our eyes on Jesus.” Let's make these the best ten days!

Read Philippians 2:1-11 again slowly. Listen to what God is telling you through this passage.

What changes do you want God to make in your life?

Do others see the humility, service to others, and love exhibited by Jesus?

Ask God to show you how to express that love to someone today.

And then, listen.