Ryan's Ramblings

Daily...

"I find that it takes me only twenty-four hours to lose my fear of God."  --Michael Slaughter

No, I am not going to ramble on about the importance of daily devotions.  Some say they are a must in the morning.  Some say they are more effective and unhurried in the evening.  Some say that a regular devotional practice is a legalistic imposition of the church.  Some have allowed their morning habit to become an idol in their lives.  Some consider daily devotions a treasured privilege.

The issues are not the What? Where? When? or How?

What is important is the Who? and the Why?

Who and Why.

All issues aside...it is all about a "daily" relationship.

Teach Us to Number Our Days--Book Review

This is a book review that I posted on Amazon.com of David Roper's book:  Teach Us to Number Our Days.

All of David Roper’s books are excellent, but I believe this to be one of his best.  In “Teach Us to Number Our Days,” he clearly communicates the Word of God and the words of the Spirit using both his immense Biblical knowledge and his personal, experiential wisdom.  The rich, concise writings in the book are filled with Biblical references, poems, personal narratives and lasting practical application.

The tenor of this book tends to speak to those that are in their advanced years.  However, I am entering the “mid-life” era of life and I found this book to be an extremely rich resource for my spiritual journey.  There are things in this book that I needed to hear so that the “number of my days,” honor God and are fruit bearing for the Lord.

I read this book as I would a devotional reader—one chapter a day.  The content of each chapter was so rich I found myself reflecting and meditating upon its precepts throughout the day.  This book served as a significant instrument in my personal journey of spiritual formation in Christ.

Personally, I think that David Roper’s books will stand the test of time and take their place in the genre of significant and classic Christian writing.  This most recent book, “Teach Us to Number Our Days,” is definitely a God established work of his hands.

No Disparity

On August 4 I wrote about my need to get out of the hubbub of life and into a life of prayer.  This morning I was reminded by A.W. Tozer that I have a responsibility in prayer--not only to do it, but also to live into it with no disparity.

"To pray effectively it is required of us that there be no unblessed areas in our lives, no parts of the mind or soul that are not inhabited by the Spirit, no impure desires allowed to live within us, no disparity between our prayers and our conduct."  --A.W. Tozer

Poor In Spirit

Here is what I am wrestling with these days...today, tomorrow and the next day and the next....

Poor In Spirit by Richard Rohr

To be “poor in spirit” means to live without a need for your own rightness, or any sense of moral superiority to anyone else. It’s a free inner emptiness, with no outer need for advancing your own reputation or any opinionated one-upmanship. If you’re actually poor in spirit it won’t be long before you’re poor in other ways too. You won’t waste the rest of your life trying to get rich because you’ll know better on the inside. Inner poverty precedes and lays the foundation for a simple, non-consuming lifestyle.

Out of the Hubbub

I don't know about you, but more often than not I find myself lacking the resources and abilities to address the "hubbub" of life that swirls around me.  I just don't always think right, feel right or do right.

Yeah, "nobody is perfect," but I know that I can do better.

I want to do better because I am God's and He deserves better from me.  In other words, I want my life to give glory to God in every way.

I am thankful that God doesn't leave me on my own when it comes to the issue of tackling myself and my interactions with the world around me.  Numerous times throughout the Bible God implores His people to "call upon the Lord,"--to pray.

Our strength for living--the right way-comes only from the Lord.

This morning I was reminded to pray more honestly and challenged to pray more regularly as I read the following comments from Joel Miller on his blog, www.joelmiller.com.  Here are some of his thoughts that I found instructive:

The Psalmist talks about being in constant prayer: "Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and [God] hears my voice" (Psalm 55:17).  Then there's Daniel.  Daniel, exiled in Babylon, became a ruler over several dozen regional governors, and excelled in his performance because, as it says, "an excellent spirit was in him" (Daniel 6:3).  It also says that Daniel "got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God" (6:10).  One complains, the other thanks.  Both take themselves out of the hubbub of the day and put themselves into the presence of God.

It is time for me to step out of the hubbub and into His presence.  I needed the reminder.  Maybe you do too.

Getting Wisdom and Knowledge

Listen...

    Treasure...

        Tune...

            Concentrate...

Cry out for...

    Ask for...

        Search for...

            Seek...

Then...

Proverbs 2:1-5 (NLT)

My child, listen to what I say,
    and treasure my commands.

Tune your ears to wisdom,
    and concentrate on understanding.

Cry out for insight,
    and ask for understanding.

Search for them as you would for silver;
    seek them like hidden treasures.

Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
    and you will gain knowledge of God.