will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me …   (Habakkuk 2:1)
 

A good conversationalist knows the importance of asking good questions and then shutting up to listen to the response. Conversation is, by definition, a two-way street.  Too often, my conversations with God – that is, my prayers – are more of a monologue than a dialogue. I barrage Him with statements and requests and then jump to In Jesus' Name, Amen. In my small group recently, we had a silent prayer time devoted entirely to asking God questions and then listening. Here are some of the questions we used as a starting point:

What do You want me to remember about You today, Lord?
What about me pleases You?  Displeases You?
Am I deceiving myself about something?  What … and how?
How can I serve you today, this week, this year, in this season of life?
What am I doing in my own strength or wisdom?

I invite you to improve your conversations with the Lord by asking Him questions and then waiting and listening.

Here are suggestions for prayer this week:

1.  Pastor Dave’s sermon from Zephaniah yesterday provides more excellent questions to ask the Lord. I trust that the Holy Spirit led him to focus on, and apply, just three phrases instead of teaching the whole passage verse-by-verse, as he normally does. Take time to seriously ask God for honest answers to these questions: What choices am I making to blend in with the surrounding culture? What are my motivations in doing so? What evil pre-salvation practices am I still engaged in? Am I complacent? Am I satisfied with justification – my ticket to heaven – but not interested in the hard work of sanctification?  

2.  Lent, the 40-day period (not counting Sundays) before Easter, begins this Wednesday. Many Christians give up something or take on something as a spiritual discipline during Lent. Ask the Lord how He would like to use Lent in your life this year.
 
3.  Gene Clark, who was diagnosed with dementia last year, died a week ago. Pray for his wife, Wanda, as she mourns his loss. The funeral service will be held at Riverside National Cemetery on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 12:45 p.m.

4.  Jack Brucks is hospitalized in the ICU as doctors adjust medications to regulate his heartbeat. Pray that Jack’s body will respond well to the medication changes.  Mita Phillipps requests prayer for her father, James, who has cancer and will start treatment this month. Pray for healing and for strength, as he does not have much energy even before treatment begins. James is a believer.

5.  Lift up the Starry Night Dance this Saturday. May this event strengthen the relationships between the fathers and daughters who attend.

6.  A little girl submitted a prayer request last week. Her father left his wife and family some time ago and filed for divorce. She asks that we pray “for my dad to come home.”  Pray with weeping for this little girl and other children like her.

7.  John Estrada called the church office recently to request prayer. He and his family attended Calvary in years past. John is in a care home in Santa Ana but would like to move to northern Orange County to be closer to family. If you remember John and would like to reach out to him with a phone call, contact the church office for his number.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert, Prayer Chair
Calvary Community Church of Brea