Journey Through the School of Groaning: A Prayer Devotional

By Richard Jones

WARNING! This is a propaganda book. I realize the word propaganda is not a word that is politically correct today. But in its original usage, it was a word coined by Pope Urban VIII. He formed the College of Propaganda in the 17th century in order to spread the Christian faith. In this sense, I AM striving for propaganda. Much of what I write in this book is meant to cause you to embrace prayer as a friend as well as a vital tool of your faith. Prayer is not boring; it is an adventure.

I begin with the confession that there is probably nothing else in my spiritual life or disciplines I have struggled with more than prayer. I have read thousands of books on the subject (yes, an exaggeration), and I have been reluctant to add yet another literary work to the chaos of differing opinions, theological studies, and sure-fire methodologies that will guarantee a successful prayer life. Right! And yet, as I pondered the direction of this volume, it dawned on me that my personal journey has had little to do with theology or methodology. It hasn't even had much to do with verbiage. But it had and has everything to do with my honestly and openness before God and with what's happening in my heart at the time I'm praying. And it has everything to do with the words of Jesus--"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Our Lord wants us to pray. Always and about everything. During times of joy as well as sorrow. He wants us to talk to Him...not about Him. I've asked myself the question often lately--"Do I pray out of thoughtfulness or habit? What can I do to get my heart involved as well as my mouth?" I continue to struggle. May these writings help you in your struggle. May you enjoy your journey through the school of groaning in the days and months to come. God bless you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9781467027250

Richard Jones

Richard Jones is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, a past president of the British Entomological Society and author of several books on insects, wildlife and gardening. He also contributes articles on insects and the environment to several high-profile newspapers and magazines (including the Guardian, BBC Wildlife and Gardener's World Magazine), and appears regularly on radio and television.

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Forward—1

Forward—2

DISCLAIMER

Introduction

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge some special individuals who have been especially encouraging during the course of bringing this work to completion. Special thanks to Donna Hale (teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Laporte, IN) for her hours of proofing and counsel regarding my manuscript. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by many encouraging and wonderful people who serve with me at Victory Christian Academy in Valparaiso, Indiana. You have welcomed me and made me feel right at home in my second career. And I am so thankful for my bride, Helen, of 45 years and her ongoing support of my writing projects.

Richard Jones

July, 2011

Dedication

I dedicate this book to the man from whom I have received my training in integrity, morality, and work ethic. He has been my spiritual role-model for many, many years. He celebrated his 90th birthday this year—Warren E. Jones. I love you, Dad!!

Forward—1

Though I’ve only known the author a short time, he has made a significant imprint upon my life. I have the benefit of being a student of Rick Jones at Victory Christian Academy. He is a captivating speaker and teacher of God’s Word, always knowing where to use his wisdom. As a seasoned believer, Mr. Jones pours everything he has into us students and teaches us the principles found in 1 Timothy 4:12—Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. He raises the bar by using his life as an example of what a Christ-follower looks like. Though a retired pastor who’s served in the ministry for decades, he is not afraid to grow and be challenged. Taking a job as a full-time high school social studies teacher is an example of that. Mr. Jones always greets his noisy, hyper-active teenage students with a gentle smile and a warm, Good morning. No matter which way the day twists and turns, he is consistently kind. This book is a piece of Mr. Jones’ heart through which so many have been touched and changed, including me, and my walk with Christ is stronger because of him.

Kody D. Sisler

Junior, Victory Christian Academy

Forward—2

As a pastor it is imperative to have Godly men around you. I believe that a pastor who doesn’t have, or refuses to have Godly men close to him is setting themselves up for ministerial pitfalls and personal difficulty. Unfortunately not all pastors have access to men like this to help them, but I am blessed, because I do. I met Pastor Rick Jones over a year ago, and what a blessing he has been to me. I had heard of this man many times as he was the pastor of a very large and successful church in our area. Many of us pastors in the area admired him and longed to pick his brain and hear his ideas, but that would never happen… . or would it? I remember the first time I saw him in attendance at our church there was a mixture of emotions. I felt anxiety, stress, and fear. I also felt honor to have him with us. I wondered what he would be like? How would he treat me? What would he think? Yes I understand as a pastor of a church I am not supposed to worry about these things, but I’m only human. From the first time I spoke with Rick, he has always been a kind and gentle spirit. He has always shown me respect. Rick has always been encouraging and supportive, and he has always been real. I have the privilege of meeting every week with pastor Roger Ash, my associate, and pastor Rick Jones. I look forward to our time together. It’s a time of encouragement, support, and accountability. We study God’s word together and learn with one another, although I probably learn the most from our time together. Rick Jones is a pastor. He loves people. He loves the body of Christ. He loves to teach. Rick is a mentor to so many people, it would be hard to fathom how many lives Rick has impacted and continues to impact through his ministry. Rick Jones is my friend. I am so grateful that God has allowed us to cross paths. He is a man of character, integrity and great knowledge. But what I appreciate most about Rick is that he is a man who loves the Lord. I am excited to see what the Lord has in store as we pastor and minister together to this body of believers, the church, Rick and I dearly love.

Jeff Zigler

Lead Pastor

LaPorte First Church of God, LaPorte, Indiana

DISCLAIMER

WARNING! This is a propaganda book. I realize that this is a word that is not politically correct today. But in its original usage, it was a word coined by Pope Urban VIII. He formed the College of Propaganda in the 17th century in order to spread the Christian faith. In this sense, I AM striving for propaganda. Much of what I write in this book is meant to cause you to embrace prayer as I do. Prayer is not boring; it is an adventure. May you enjoy your journey through the school of groaning in the days and months to come. God bless you. RWJones

Introduction

". . . True prayer is measured by weight, not by length. A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length."

C. H. Spurgeon

In my first book, Seasons of a Pastor, I basically set up a series of comparisons and contrasts that threaded through each chapter. One section I wished I would have included is a chapter on prayer. But upon further reflection, I realized that one chapter really wouldn’t do the job. Even before Seasons was back from the printer, I began laying the groundwork for this book.

I begin with the confession that there is probably nothing else in my spiritual life or disciplines I have struggled with more than prayer. I have read thousands of books on the subject (yes, an exaggeration). And I have been reluctant to add yet another literary work to the chaos of differing opinions, theological studies, and sure-fire methodologies that will guarantee a successful prayer life. Right! And yet, as I pondered the direction of this volume, it dawned on me that my personal journey has had little to do with theology or methodology. It hasn’t even had much to do with verbiage. But it had and has everything to do with my honesty and openness before God and with what’s happening in my heart at the time I’m praying. And it has everything to do with the words of Jesus—Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

Last year I read Lion and Lamb: The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus by Brennan Manning. He wrote, God’s love is based on nothing, and the fact that it is based on nothing makes us secure. Were it based on anything we do, and that anything were to collapse, then God’s love would crumble as well. But with the God of Jesus no such thing can possibly happen. People who realize this can live freely and to the fullest. If that were not true, then my prayer life would have collapsed a long time ago. Life is hard. It can be painful and confusing. But as a child of God I KNOW that God is faithful in His love, even when I am not! That is what my prayer life is all about. I have prayed just about everyday for the last 60 + years, and yet I still say before God, Lord, teach me to pray! My discipline (probably not accurate to call it that) has evolved from the Now I lay me down to sleep prayer to the Deal or No Deal school of prayer to the Grocery List type of praying and finally to the company of the groaning" pray-ers.

For a great period of my life I had the idea that prayer was words and phrases and lists and a task to be completed each day. I know that there have been times that I conveyed that same concept to the people I pastored. For that, I humbly apologize. Prayer is not an exercise routine God has assigned to us; it is our communication link to Him. Our Lord wants us to pray. Always, and about everything. During times of joy as well as sorrow. He wants us to talk to Him… not about Him. I’ve asked myself the question often lately—Do I pray out of thoughtfulness or habit? What can I do to get my heart involved as well as my mouth?

As with Seasons, I have relied much upon my personal journals. As I have looked back upon this record of my life’s journey, I have continued to glean thoughts and insights and perhaps occasional trivia in my writing. The sections of this volume will be short. There is a brief reading for each day of the year. I have included prayers—some are my own, and others are prayers that have lifted my spirit as well as taught me. These prayers will be in bold print. As I embark upon this phase of my journey I desire to reflect upon the words of a song written by Melody Green—

"Make my life a prayer to You

I wanna do what You want me to

No empty words and no white lies

No token prayers, no compromise"

God bless you as you continue your personal journey through the school of groaning.

Before I break the bread of life, Lord, break me! Wash from my heart and lips the iniquity there. I want to preach, yea, hemorrhage under the divine anointing. God, strip me of all pride, all cleverness, all showmanship . . . . Let Christ be exalted, the Cross be central, and the Plea be with passion. May my own eyes never be dry. Just now, Lord, take me out of myself, usurp anything I’ve planned to say when it’s in the way of Your message. Here I am, Lord. I’m Your vessel! Amen.

(Taped in the fly-leaf of my preaching Bible)

January

". . . but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit,

even we ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit,

the redemption of our body."

(Romans 8:23… King James Version)

1 – Prayer Goals

2 – Nudge Me This Year, Lord

3 – Pastoral Praying

4 – Prayer Agendas

5 – Happy Birthday to Me

6 – Too Busy

7 – God’s Heart

8 – A Matter of Trust

9 – WWJD

10 – Change Who?

11 – Kid Answers

12 – Quid Pro Quo

13 – Understanding?

14 – Life is Grace

15 – A Simple Prayer

16 – My Plans

17 – Kid Praying

18 – Freshness

19 – Journal Ramblings

20 – Psalm 51

21 – Bragging Prayer

22 – Groaning

23 – Weapons

24 – I’m to Blame!

25 – Climbing

26 – Stuck or Unstuck

27 – Listening

28 – Praying Through

29 – New Breed of Pastors

30 – Prayer Motive

31 – An Old, Old Prayer

Prayer Goals             January 1

Every December I begin to list a series of prayer goals that I would like to accomplish (or keep on accomplishing) in the year ahead. I then try to have this list narrowed down (5 to 8 of them) by January 1. I pray through these goals daily. I try not to make it a grocery list but rather a guide for me as I wait upon the Lord. Andrew Murray says, In all things there should be a waiting upon God, to receive what He would supply, to see what he would do, and to allow Him to be Almighty God in our lives. The deep root of all scriptural truth is absolute dependence upon God. Psalm 130:5 says, I wait for the LORD, my soul waits and in His word I put my hope. My prayer goals this year (2011) are as follows:

• More of YOU… Less of me

• To be CONSTANT in my love for my wife this day

• Love others around me as I love myself

• Keep on being a kid

• Continue to cultivate EXCELLENCE as a classroom teacher

• Be obedient today—Lord, what would YOU have me do today?

Lord, mature me in each of these goals as I daily receive what YOU supply and what YOU do in my life . . . Through these goals may I allow YOU to be Almighty God!!

Nudge Me This Year, Lord             January 2

I think I need a little stimulation and invigorating nudge from You, Lord as I begin this New Year. I’ve been reading Peter’s letters in the New Testament. I find there a list for me to emulate that includes things like being a diligent person, being known for uncompromising moral excellence, and guarding against extremes, making sure my godliness is free of hypocrisy, treating others graciously, and allowing my love in Christ to flow out to others. I think I appreciate a list like this much more than the self-help fluff I come across so often. I desire to take seriously my walk with You this year, Lord. Two things are certain if I understand the promises of scripture correctly.

1. I won’t be the same person I was last year.

2. I certainly won’t get bored!!

Keep nudging me, Lord, in the way You would have me to go this year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRIS

Pastoral Praying             January 3

I’ve already confessed that I have struggled in my prayer life for most of my life. Some have wondered why the church is so powerless today (I mean, when you compare it to the Book of Acts). I have one idea why that may be so. There are studies that say most pastors pray far less than we might think, like less than five minutes a day. Wow! An old-timer once said, If you ever see a turtle on a fence-post, you KNOW he had help getting there. The power of the pastoral ministry lies in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing happens without the intervention of His presence and the power of His will working through me as a pastor. Whatever successes I have had in pastoral ministry is because I had a LOT of help getting there—and, a lot of groaning before the Lord. How much time do YOU spend praying for your pastor on a daily basis?

Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. (Psalm 39:4)

Prayer Agendas             January 4

Sometimes I have to stop myself in the midst of my morning quiet time. All of a sudden it dawns on me that I have no idea what I’m saying as I prattle on before the Lord. I have asked the question numerous times, Jones, what the heck are you saying? Do I really desire the things I am praying to come to pass? Lord, what would you have me to do today? May I be obedient to You! Really? Do I have a clue as to what that might mean for my day? More of You, Lord; less of me! Oh yeah! We’ll see! May the love of Christ be seen in me throughout this day! Do I know what that might involve? Do I realize what kind of testing might come my way? Lord, teach me to pray. And then God responds, OK, pray this—‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ Do I even know what that means? Yet I can pray it so easily and so glibly. Ho-hum, Lord… Your will be done! Right!!

Discipline my will, Lord, that in hours of stress I may honestly seek after those things for which I have prayed in hours of peace.

Happy Birthday to Me             January 5

So I begin another year on this planet today. 66 years old… who would have thought? I’m now on Medicare and collecting Social Security! I realize 66 is not very old compared to all the people I see on Willard Scott’s weather forecast on the Today show. The Shorter Catechism states an answer to the question, What is man’s chief end? The answer being, man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. That is a progressive process. God alone must be my stability and the source of everything in my life; that’s the way the Christian life is lived—whether it be for 25, 50, 65, or 100 years on this planet.

Father, may I live that truth—to glorify You and enjoy You forever—Not by my head or the number of years of my life, but by the obedience of my heart.

Too Busy             January 6

A number of years ago, Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church outside of Chicago (and where my oldest daughter and her family attend) wrote a book entitled, Too Busy Not to Pray." It was one of those few books that touched my heart concerning the subject of prayer. I strongly recommend it to anyone who has struggled with their prayer life as I have through the years. I have often thought about the many times that the busyness of my life has robbed me of precious moments with God. The killer of God-led ministry through-out my years of service has always been busyness. I can’t help but wonder how many holy moments I’ve missed because I let all the stuff I had to get done keep me from that moment. Years ago, Corrie ten Boom wrote, Beware the barrenness of a busy life! Amen. It is when I take the time to be quiet before the Lord that I begin to discover the fullness of my life.

In the name of Jesus, who was never in a hurry, I pray, O Father that You will slow me down, for I know that I live too fast.

God’s Heart             January 7

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2) This was the first passage of scripture I memorized as an adult. It was during this exercise in the 1970s that I began to realize that God wants my body (Romans 12:1-2—O be careful little hands what you do—Remember that song as a child?), and God wants my will, and God wants my mind. I was deeply convicted the reason I struggled so often with my prayer life was because the many things and activities and habits that I entertained break the heart of God. I’ve had to relearn that lesson again and again. Priorities are a matter of the heart! We struggle with prayer because it is not our priority.

Let’s see, Lord, just what is it that You want? What is the will of God? How many times have people asked me that question? It’s great to do the work of God; but the greatest work is to do Your will. What do you want? YOU WANT ME . . . all of me!!

A Matter of Trust             January 8

Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) I was recently studying Proverbs 3 in the context of stewardship, my personal finances and giving to the Lord. As I meditated upon verses 1-10, I realized that this is to be a pattern for every area of my life, not just my money. It’s all about TRUST. It’s a wonderful thing to have a God big enough to believe in… And I do!! Trust in Him is the most important factor in my daily walk with the Lord. If God owns me (and He does), then everything I have belongs to Him. If everything I have belongs to God (and it does), then I need to honor Him with all that I have!

May I daily lay aside my own understanding (or lack of it) and trust in You with all of my heart.

WWJD             January 9

Remember the WWJD craze in the church some years ago? (What Would Jesus Do?) In my prayer time not too long ago I was thinking about the world in which we are living. And I was convicted that sometimes I get so stuck in the past that I can’t see what God is doing today! The gospel never changes, but the way we communicate it is always changing. The world as I knew it as I was growing up in the church no longer exists. That may be the bad news; but the good news is that there’s a whole new world out there. And what we need to realize about this new world is that it is constantly moving. We’ve