Reclaiming Our Christ-Centered Lutheran Devotional Heritage

Reclaiming Our Christ-Centered Lutheran Devotional Heritage 49th Biennial Convention of the Nebraska District Snow Mountain Ranch Granby, Colorado June 2-4, 2014

Reclaiming Our Christ-Centered Lutheran Devotional Heritage • Session 1: Drawing our devotional life from the gospel • Session 2: Growing in the gift of meditation on the Word • Session 3: Growing in the gift of Word-focused prayer • Session 4: Growing in the gift of testing

Satan’s Two Biggest Fears In Your Life Grace by Eric Enstrom

“Where do I get the words for my prayers?”Sisters & brothers acknowledge the challenge • “Variety of prayers. I can easily find myself in a ‘prayer rut,’ praying the same kind of prayers over and over.” • “I feel like I am praying for the same things every night. I know there is nothing wrong with this, but I do want to make sure I don't just fall into a routine and am not really thinking about what I'm saying.” • “‘Creative’ prayer in the sense that it is not merely the same thing everyday that becomes rote and mindless and eventually leads to praying ‘small.’” • “I don't necessarily feel like I am the best prayer. I hear other people pray and think... ‘Man, that was a great prayer. Wish I could be better that way.’ Just don't always feel like I pull together all the thoughts in the best way.” • “Focusing on my desires rather than God's will.”

“Here’s where I get the words for my prayers!”Sisters & brothers offering encouragement • “For me, prayer usually comes naturally after I read Scripture. As I meditate on what I have just read, I often find myself begging God for forgiveness or thanking and praising him from the bottom of my heart for his grace or for some blessing. I pray most fervently after reading God's Word.” • “God can understand what I need even if I can’t find the words to say.” • “Professor Hartwig once said in a chapel devotion that even the smallest sigh of frustration can be turned into a prayer right on the spot.” • “Understand that our imperfect prayers are perfected by Him.” • “Talk to God like I am talking to a friend, don' t have to you use fancy words, like ‘implore.’”

Stephen & Saul

“How can I stay focused while praying?”Sisters & brothers acknowledge the challenge • “My prayers tend to wander at times - they don't stay focused on things I originally wanted to talk to God about. As a consequence, sometimes I don't pray for the things that I wanted to, or needed to pray about.” • “Staying awake for it at night.” • “When I include my students in my prayers, sometimes my mind wanders recalling the days events.” • “Being so caught up in what needs to happen next that I am not aware of the guilt, anxieties, sorrows that I carry that can be cast over to the Lord.” • “Again, it's staying focused. I see easily start rambling in my prayers or I go from praying to simply thinking about different strategies or ways I'm going to handle situations.”

“Here’s how I stay focused while praying.”Sisters & brothers offering encouragement • “Write it down!” • “Journaling my prayers helps me to stay focused on praying for my family and members.” • “It also helps to physically write out my prayers word for word. They're much more focused and devotional/meaningful to me.” • “Talking out loud.” • “Imagining the person/thing I am praying for.” Many different ways we can stay focused: these are not requirements for anyone!

One Person’s Way to Connect Scripture and Intercessory Prayer

Session #3 Wrap Up • Take a moment to capture any “aha’s” from this session. • Closing discussion: • On the next two pages of your outline, you will find an excerpt from Johann Gerhard’s The Daily Exercise of Piety (written in 1629, translated by M. C. Harrison in 1992). While Gerhard was an outstanding teacher of Christian doctrine, his devotional writings were even better known. In this selection, Gerhard reminds us that Lutherans are not afraid to speak in glowing terms about God’s gift of prayer. • Spend five minutes reading Gerhard’s words. Use the two questions listed to ponder what you are reading. Then spend the next ten minutes discussing your answers with your group.

Reclaiming Our Christ-Centered Lutheran Devotional Heritage