Amen is the Beginning of Discipleship

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12 NIV).

One of the more challenging scriptures for me has been from 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” The first time I read this I wondered how can I get anything done if I am constantly praying? As I grew and matured spiritually, I began to believe that it is indeed possible to pray nonstop. It’s possible because we can cultivate a spirit that is habitually devotional, keeping our hearts attuned to God. The Greek word for “without ceasing” in 1 Thessalonian 5:17 is “adialeiptos,” which doesn’t mean nonstop — but actually means constantly recurring. In other words, we can punctuate our moments with intervals of recurring prayer.

Part of learning to pray continually, or constantly recurring, is to stay open in prayer. Sometimes after we say amen, we check off prayer on our to-do list and shut down the

conversation. But God has invited us — called us — to pray without ceasing, to keep the conversation going all day, every day. Constant prayer becomes a lifestyle. The more you understand that God is love, the more you will be drawn to him in prayer.

Jesus did not pray constantly but he did live a prayerful life. He modelled for us how prayer can and should be used to connect us to the Father. Prayer is always the first step to anything. So, it follows that prayer is also the first step to discipleship.

One of the greatest evangelists of all time was the Apostle Paul. He was committed to preaching the good news and making disciples. He also understood that there is an essential link between prayer and discipleship. Paul told the Ephesians to pray for one another and asked them to pray for him. “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:18-19). Paul recognized the power of prayer and called upon that power to fulfill the Great Commission.

Prayer: Dear Good and gracious God, Thank you for the blessing of prayer. Help us, dear God, to live a life of constant prayer. A life that is lived in you, for you, and to glorify you. May all that we do help fulfill the Great Commission and may all of our activities begin with seeking your Face through prayer. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Who Is In Your Foxhole?

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24 NIV).

A few years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Coach Jeff Kisiah “Coach K” at an Iron Sharpens Iron men’s equipping conference. He spoke about the importance of foxhole friends and the strength of a threefold cord (Ecclesiastes 4:12). This man of God recently went on to Glory, but he left behind a legacy. The basis for the annual, national conference is Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another.”

Men tend to forge on alone when times are tough, but we all need friends in our foxholes to help us in tough times. For this to happen we need good relationships to develop good friends. Good relationships don’t happen by accident. They take cultivation, work, and a lot of time. That requires commitment.

If you have the honor of being married, I hope your wife is your best friend. In addition, men need other men in their lives. In the book Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, he writes, “Deep in his heart, every man longs for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.” Men are warriors at heart, and there is strength in numbers. Strong warriors that are seeking God’s face will have the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) to protect them in battle.

So, how do we form close relationships? Every important, close connection begins with a commitment. If you want to get beyond shallow, superficial relationships, you’ve got to be willing to stick with it. “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24 NIV). Close friends are like brothers. They are dependable in good times and bad. They build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Ephesians 6:18).

Likewise, how do we avoid the trap of having acquaintances and not close friends? Did you know that your socializing can keep you from having deep relationships? You can be so busy networking, contacting, and making acquaintances that you never invest the time and energy and effort it takes to cultivate the deep, satisfying intimacy of a good friend or a good spouse.

It’s not wrong to have a lot of acquaintances, but they can keep you so busy that you don’t develop any vital, close relationships. You don’t need a lot of friends to make it in this world, but you do need a few good ones. Focus on quality, not quantity. Your acquaintances—your hundreds of Facebook “friends” and Instagram followers—aren’t necessarily going to be there when you need them. But the friends you are truly connected and committed to will be there and stick closer than a brother. Your close friends will always be in your foxhole. Rest in peace Coach K.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the blessing of having Godly men in our lives. Please use them to speak truth to us and may be always be receptive to the truth. Amen.

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Priorities

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

We men have numerous options on how we can spend our time. As Americans we live in a free country. Many of us have hobbies such as golf, fishing, gardening, etc. These are great activities for our badly needed sabbath.

However, hobbies can become obsessions and dominate our time. Wherever you invest the most time, money, and thought is your priority. You alone have the power to set your priorities. Either you choose your priorities, or the world will choose for you. We all have a finite number of hours in each day and a finite number of days on this earth, but we don’t all use our time wisely. I continue to struggle with this.

I have seen men that spend all their free time consumed with a hobby. They are nourishing their hobby with time, money, and thought. The hobby becomes a false god and the family suffers. I wonder what kind of world we would have if men nourished their relationships with God and their family more than anything else – work, hobbies, etc.

An authentic priority gives meaning to life. As fathers, our priority should be to love God, love your wife, and love your children. In fact, our first priority is to God, then to your wife, and then to your children. A man that loves God with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength and with all his mind (Luke 10:27), will surely love his wife as Christ loved His church (Ephesians 5:25). Also, a Godly man will want to work with his wife to raise their children in the training and instruction of God (Ephesians 6:4).

In order to truly determine your current priorities, take out a sheet of paper and make three columns. One column will represent money, another will represent thoughts, and another will represent time. Then list your favorite five items or activities in each column. Then, look at each column and decide which of the five is the most important to you and circle it. Now, you have identified your true priorities. If you are satisfied with what you see, then that is good. If not, it is time to rethink your priorities.

Matthew 6:19-21 teaches us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” A Godly man’s heart is in heaven, and his greatest desire is to see that his wife and children’s hearts are next to his.

Prayer: Dear God: We thank you for the blessing of children. Help us to raise our children to understand that you are their Father and all glory and honor belongs to you. Amen.

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Lessons From Gideon

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive” (Judges 6:15-16 NIV).

I love the story of Gideon as told in Judges chapters 6-8. Below are a few of the many lessons that we can learn from this Holy Scripture.

1. You Shall Have no Other Gods but Me

The Israelites were worshipping the false god Baal, and for seven years the Israelites were under the control of the Midianites. God spoke to His people in Judges 6:10, “I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.” God is expressing His jealousy. What He is jealous of belongs to Him; worship and service belong to Him alone, and are to be given to Him alone. The Israelites had broken the first two of the Ten Commandments that were given two Moses in Exodus 34.

2. God is Slow to Anger

An angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon to let him know that the Lord is with him. Gideon has his doubts that God is with him and tells the angel “the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian” (Judges 6:13). Gideon also does not believe in the power of God by telling the angel, “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (Judges 6:15). Later in Judges 6 the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and were prepared to fight the Israelites. Gideon asks God on three separate occasions to give him a sign that He is still with him and will help Him defeat the enemy. God obliges each time. Gideon was experiencing the blessing described by the Psalmist in Psalm 145:8, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”

3. The Battle is the Lord’s

Perhaps the most remarkable part of the story is told in Judges 7. God told Gideon that he had too many men for battle. God knew that if the Israelites had overwhelming numbers and defeated Midian they would claim victory by their own actions and not the Hand of God. God told Gideon to send away anyone who trembles with fear and twenty-two thousand men left and ten thousand remained. There were still too many men so God had Gideon to separate the men based on how they drink water – lap the water with their tongues or with cupped hands

“The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home (Judges 7:7).” The army that was left was not a special unit. It was a group that was outnumbered 450 to 1. We are best able to tap into God’s strength when we can acknowledge our own weakness. The Apostle Paul knew this and stated “for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). The young shepherd boy David, later to become King, defeated the giant Goliath of the Philistine army and then stated, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands (1 Samuel 17:47).”

4. Trust God at ALL times

It is our nature to claim credit for our victories and blame our defeats on others or God. God is actively working in the lives of those that have completely given their lives over to Him and trust Him completely. The Bible is full of such stories, and these stories continue today with clergy and laity alike. A true relationship with God is based on faith. Hebrews 11:1 teaches us about faith. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Prayer: Dear God: Thank you for the story of Gideon. May we learn all of the lessons from this story that you intend for us to learn. Amen.

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In Search of Wisdom

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10 NIV).

If you are reading this, you are older today than you were yesterday. However, just because we are older does not necessarily make us wiser. Not everyone grows wise with age, but everyone does grow old with age. It is important to note that we should all show respect to our elders, regardless of their level of wisdom.

However, I think society tends to confuse wisdom with age. However, a person can be old and not necessarily be very wise. Education is fine and knowledge is great. However, a person that has understanding of a subject has mastered the topic and is on the path to wisdom. To understand something goes far beyond education and knowledge. A person with understanding can use their education and knowledge to figure out (understand) any new situation or problem

I have always been attracted to older men just like a moth to a light at night. They have experiences, stories, and knowledge. I believe that I can learn something from everyone that I meet, even if they are unable to speak or heart. These people in particular can teach one of the greatest lessons of all – gratitude.

Yes, I enjoy spending time with older men and hearing stories of the good old days. I particularly enjoy spending time with older men that have wisdom to share. Wisdom isn’t about knowing how to operate the latest piece of technology or keeping up with popular culture. Those with wisdom discern truth and justice in a world filled with many, many false voices.

The discernment of truth begins by loving God and gaining wisdom through His word, Holy Scripture. Proverbs 2:1-6 gives us insight into wisdom. “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. For the LORD grants wisdom! From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Knowledge of the Bible will provide you the wisdom to make proper decisions. We tend to make poor decisions when we are hungry or tired. We are told in Matthew 4:2 that Jesus had fasted 40 days after His baptism and was hungry. It was in this condition that the Spirit delivered Him to Satan. The first words that Jesus spoke to the enemy was “It is written…” (Matthew 4:4) and then He proceeded to quote Scripture. Jesus is showing great wisdom in the face of great temptation because He has a complete understanding of Scripture.

Prayer: Dear God, Renew in us a clean spirit that seeks to gain true wisdom that only comes from you. Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light to unto our path. We love you and need you. Amen.

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What Can Grasshoppers and Mustard Seeds Teach Us About Fear?

What Can Grasshoppers and Mustard Seeds
Teach Us About Fear?

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV).

Fear is our natural response to physical or emotional danger. Fear can be healthy to help us avoid dangerous situations. We often fear situations that are not as serious as we perceive, which can trigger an extreme, and often unnecessary, fight-flight-or-freeze response. As a result, we may find ourselves avoiding challenges that could benefit them in the long run or hanging back during social interactions for no good reason.

When I think about the root cause of so many mistakes and spiritual pitfalls in my life, the source seems to be fear. Fear will cause us to buckle and settle for less than God’s best. It’ll cause us to disobey after diluting our trust in Him, and even when do stay strong, it’ll rob us of our peace and joy. The enemy wants to keep us fearful and not faithful.

Numbers 13 tells us that twelve spies went into the Promised Land to scout it out before the Hebrew nation was to enter and claim what God promised them. Joshua and Caleb came back ready to invade. The other 10 spies were terrified of the so called “giants” in the land. They later confessed, “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them (Numbers 13:33).”

Why did the “giants” view the ten spies as little “grasshoppers”? Because the spies viewed themselves as little “grasshoppers.” Instead of trusting God, believing His promise, and moving out with courage, fear paralyzed them. If we see ourselves as grasshoppers, we will always see giants and deny ourselves the blessings that God has placed before us.

The cure for fear is faith. Matthew 17 teaches about a man that brought his sick son to Jesus to heal. The man stated that he had previously brought his son to the disciples, but they could not heal him. Jesus rebuked the demon, and the boy was immediately healed. The disciples asked Jesus why they could not drive the demon out. “He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20-21).

The faith of a mustard seed is enough for us to move mountains and certainly to conquer any real or imaginary giant. Faith and confidence are important in our spiritual and secular life. If a potential customer or client senses that you possess a “grasshopper mentality” they will pick up on it. “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7. Think of yourself as a child of God, and He loves you more than words can describe.

Prayer: Dear God: Please help us to strengthen our faith in you. We rebuke fear from the enemy in your name. Be with us, lead us, and guide us. Amen.

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Amen is the Beginning of Discipleship

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Who Is In Your Foxhole?

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Priorities

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Lessons From Gideon

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In Search of Wisdom

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What Can Grasshoppers and Mustard Seeds Teach Us About Fear?

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What Can Grasshoppers and Mustard Seeds
Teach Us About Fear?