Archive for August, 2018
How to Use Your iPad to Improve Your Prayer Life
Do you want to improve your prayer life? Most Christians do, but they do not know how.
While I have used various prayer plans since my collegiate days, the one I use in today’s technological world has helped improve my prayer life. Let me share with you how I do it.
Why I Use My iPad to Improve My Prayer Life
The iPad comes with an app called Notes, and I use it in my prayer life. If you have an iPhone, it will sync your lists, providing accessibility on either device no matter where you are. Android devices have a similar note-taking app.
Simplicity: The Notes app is very simple to use. Simplicity usually increases usability.
Change: It is simple to change a prayer list or the process you go through in prayer when you do it electronically. Flexibility will help you stay current.
Relevance: Being current in what is happening in your life or those you are praying for helps you to be relevant. With the Notes app, I can easily keep my prayer list current and relevant.
How I Use My iPad to Improve My Prayer Life
I will share with you a few practices I follow to improve my prayer life, but due to my own flexibility, what I share with you today may not be the same a week from now.
Please know that for me, nothing keeps me more focused, on task, and effective in prayer than a current, relevant prayer list. Not just a list relating to a process I may use, but a specific, current list of prayer needs. While this is not comprehensive, at least it lets you into some of my prayer life.
1. Preparing to Pray: In my early morning time with God, I begin with moments of praise for who God is and in moments of thanksgiving for what He has done in my life.
2. Evaluating My Life Spiritually: This time of personal evaluation always begins with confession of sin and acknowledging Jesus’ finished work on the cross for forgiveness of my sins. Knowing my complete insufficiency and dire weakness, I call upon the Holy Spirit to fill me and anoint me with His power needed for the day before me. I ask God to anoint me for living, preaching, teaching, leadership, decision making, vision, writing, relationships, and with His gladness.
3. Trusting God for His Protecting Armor to Cover Me and Each Member of My Family: I approach God daily, asking for His spiritual covering and armor upon my family, calling out the names of my family members, asking God to put His armor of protection upon each of us. I pray for protection as they travel in their own regions and beyond, as well as over the schools where each of them works or attends.
4. Asking God to Meet Specific Needs Relating to Each Member of Our Immediate Family: Yes, I talk to God daily about my wife, my two sons, our two daughters-in-law, and each of our seven grandchildren.
5. Believing God in Prayer Relating to My Staff Team and My Cross Church Family: Every day is a day of decision for me. Praying about my staff team and all things before our Cross Church Family is one my greatest blessings. This is one of my highest callings as a pastor.
6. Talking to God About America and My Present Responsibilities with the National Day of Prayer: Anyone who has followed me at all knows my love for and commitment to pray for America, especially for spiritual awakening. Our nation needs Jesus.
7. Interceding for Specific Persons and Their Needs: I have a running, ongoing, and ever-changing list of people who are walking through unique challenges in their life. I pray for these people specifically and daily.
8. Calling Out to God for the Gospel to be Advanced Across the World: I believe in the Great Commission and have committed the rest of my life to do everything I can so that each person in the world is told about Jesus Christ.
9. Specifically Praying About My Own Life Needs, Personal Ministry, and Future Opportunities: I want my life and my ministry to count. I want God to use me in any way He desires. As He extends me opportunities to lead, support, assist, or speak in the future, I pray through these.
Find Your Way to Pray Effectively
The most effective prayer plan is the one you will use..
Here is what I know: If you do not have a plan to pray, usually you will not pray consistently and effectively.
So, what is your prayer plan? If you do not have a plan that helps you stay current, on task, and specific, I suggest you consider creating one like this.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Resolving Conflict in an Explosive Culture
Conflict is unavoidable. Conflict happens between husbands and wives, parents and kids, brothers and sisters, Democrats and Republicans, employees and supervisors, CEOs and boards, pastors and leaders in the church, people on social media, and a myriad of other ways.
Sadly, conflict is just one click or thoughtless response away.
In this explosive culture in America, motives are challenged endlessly. Trust in relationships is not earned easily. Criticism of others is ruthless. Cynicism is applauded loudly. Leaders are under detailed scrutiny.
With as many conflicts as we endure, one might think people really are not that concerned with it, content to live with fractured relationships and just move on. I do not believe this is the case.
People Want Conflict Resolved, but do Not Know How
A few years ago, I read that eighty-five percent of people surveyed said they wanted to resolve conflict between themselves and others. The percentage may not be this high in America any longer, but I am certain people do not like to live in conflict.
So why do people not resolve conflict? Why do they let their anger simmer into a rage, privately or publicly? I believe this occurs because they just do not know the actions to take to see it resolved.
How to Resolve Conflict in an Explosive Culture
There is no easy way to resolve conflict, but there are some actions we can take to confront it and live through it.
Be Willing to Take Responsibility
We know that people do not want to live in conflict and want to see it resolved. What we see in the media indicates that no one wants to take responsibility for conflict. However, I believe most people live a life that we do not see on television, through social media, or on the Internet.
I believe people want to see their personal conflicts resolved and are at least willing to consider taking full or partial responsibility for it.
Let me encourage you to take responsibility for conflict. It may not be easy and you may have to swallow your pride. If you are honest with yourself, do you really want to continue feeling the way you feel while living in conflict when you could resolve it and live in personal freedom? I know the answer, and I think you do as well.
While the situation or the relationship may never be the same, take responsibility for the conflict. You have to live with yourself for the rest of your life. The situation or relationship may not be life-long, but the effects of unresolved conflict can follow you.
God commends harmony and we should stop minimizing it. Stop letting the politics of today poison you. Refuse to take on the anger that others feel. This is your life to live. Refuse to live your life in conflict. Be willing to take responsibility for it.
Choose to Forgive and Let it Go
When we bear grudges, our ability to lead others down the path of forgiveness is hindered. Do you want your children and grandchildren, your colleagues in business, your brothers and sisters in Christ, to walk in the lane of unforgiveness and bitterness? Do you want this to be your legacy?
We can learn, practice, and teach what the Scripture says about forgiveness. Our offenses against God are far greater than anyone’s offenses against us. Jesus Christ forgives us from all our offenses against God and we should forgive the offenses that others may have committed toward us. Let it go.
When we practice forgiveness, we can become conduits of reconciliation with and for others. Because unresolved conflict is so damaging, we as believers should be catalysts to help others.
Encourage others to take their next step and to be willing to take responsibility for conflict. Encourage them to set an appointment to deal with it, through a phone call if appropriate, or in person if needed. If things are difficult, appeal for a third person to help you resolve it.
Just resolve it. Forgive and let it go.
Resolve to Live as a Peacemaker
While America may applaud those who yell the loudest, you are not a television camera that follows the latest conflict somewhere. You are a person. You need to live as a peacemaker.
Jesus said, “The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9, HCSB). Living like a peacemaker exemplifies the gospel and the gospel life so much more than condemnatory or suspicious words, or a social media rant that fans the fire of conflict.
Resolve to live as a peacemaker. This is the gospel way.
Now Is The Time To Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
President, National Day of Prayer
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, President of the National Day of Prayer, and founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.