Creed III: Let Go of Whatever Was, and Walk Into What Is.
Team, get your tickets now for Creed III, coming March 3rd to a theater and IMAX near you.
About
After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian – a fighter who has nothing to lose.
Creed III is the third installment in the successful franchise and is Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut.
Directed by: Michael B. Jordan
Screenplay by: Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin
Story by: Ryan Coogler and Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin
Produced by: Irwin Winkler, p.g.a., Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Ryan Coogler, p.g.a., Michael B. Jordan, p.g.a., Elizabeth Raposo, p.g.a., Jonathan Glickman, Sylvester Stallone
Executive Producers: Sev Ohanian, Zinzi Coogler, Nicolas Stern, Adam Rosenberg
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Mila Davis-Kent, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad
Local leaders weigh in on the Muslim-majority nation’s new penal code and whether governments should legislate morality.
Last week, Indonesia’s parliament approved a new penal code that received backlash from the United Nations and human rights groups inside and outside the Southeast Asian nation.
The new code, which replaces a colonial-era code enacted while the archipelago was under Dutch rule, includes the criminalization of cohabitation and sex outside marriage, bans insulting the president, and keeps in place blasphemy laws that have been used at times against religious minorities, including Christians. The law will go into effect after a transitional period of three years.
Home to the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia places a high value on religious harmony—known officially as Pancasila—among its 277 million citizens, and its constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Christians, who make up about 10 percent of the population, have mostly kept quiet on the new code.
CT asked five Indonesian Christians for their thoughts on the new criminal code’s article on cohabitation and extramarital sex, as well as other articles on blasphemy and criticizing the president. They explained how enforcement matters and why many Christians share the same stance on morality but disagree with the government’s attempts to legislate it.
Ihan Martoyo, director of the Center for Research and Community Development, Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) in Tangerang:
Many reports in Western media found the Indonesian new criminal law controversial, especially the point related to sex outside marriage. But only a few explained that the offense regarding extramarital sex is in fact a complaint offense (delik aduan), which does not apply unless a close family member—a spouse, a parent, or a child—reports the offense …
In life we learn about God and hear His wisdom in so many simple ways. The Bible says that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are childlike (Mark 10:14). Initially, we may think this only refers to a child’s innocence, but I believe there’s more to it.
If we pay attention to the interaction our children have with the world and other people, we can get a better understanding of what the scripture is telling us.
What Are 4 Big Lessons We Can Learn from our Little People?
1. Keep your sense of wonder.
Have you noticed that when you take your kids anywhere, the route from your car to the destination is never a straight shot? Kids like to jump over puddles, run up curbs, grab sticks along the way, everything is an adventure.
How wonderful it must be to see the world this way. We grab their hand and warn them about cars and tell them to be careful. We try to be patient. But, they explore without the worry of possible danger or harm.
How many of us have anxiety that hinders us from trying new things? How many of us find a false sense of comfort from complacency? Somewhere in our development, we learn fear and we forget that our Father will protect and guide us.
Kids ask so many questions and they have such a pure sense of curiosity – unlike many of us who live according to our assumptions and experiences in life. My therapist told me that we all, to some degree, have cognitive distortions. These distortions affect the way we think, act, and process information. We need to remember that we don’t know everything. The Bible says in James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach.”
2. Be present.
I don’t know about you, Team, but I have to constantly remind myself to stay present in the moment – but kids do this effortlessly. They don’t overthink what’s going to happen next week or next year. We are always planning and scheduling and organizing, trying to get everything done. There isn’t anything wrong with preparation, but we need to balance this with the understanding that life is more fulfilling when we’re present.
I remember once, I took my daughter out on a Saturday morning for breakfast and an arcade/game place. We had a busy day, but it was a lot of fun. When we got home, she asked “Okay mommy, what’s next?” I was so frustrated! I felt as if she was being ungrateful and that she didn’t appreciate the great time we’d already had for the day. God revealed to me that it wasn’t that she was being ungrateful at all but that she lives in the moment. When you’re in the moment you’re not thinking about what you’ve already done. How productive could we be every day if we stay present?
3. Forgive quickly.
Adults often have trouble letting things go. We tend to let moments of hurt and pain haunt us forever. It’s okay to learn from your experiences but not to the point of being bitter or jaded.
When my daughter does or says something wrong, it can be frustrating. I think it’s because I know she has been taught better so, I discipline her, but I don’t like to. Afterward, I am left asking myself why she would do something like that, and I even feel guilty at times for having to punish her. While I am in my own world stewing, my daughter bounces in the room asking for a snack or some random question, just as happy as she can be. It amazes me that she’s able to let go so easily.
The Bible says do not let the sun go down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26). It’s not always easy, but I figured out a trick that helps. I was really upset with someone one day and I had good reason. I repeated this scripture to myself and I thought about all the things that God has forgiven me for. I promise that within an instant, my heart softened, and I wasn’t even thinking about the problem anymore.
Try thinking about how God has forgiven you the next time you’re having trouble forgiving someone else.
4. Be honest.
People often joke about the blunt honesty of children, but I think our relationships would improve if we would adopt this trait. Honesty opens the door for genuine and authentic communication, and potentially shorten the learning curve. Too many of us mistake honesty with disrespect or offense, but when done gently, can lead to growth and accountability.
There was a time when my daughter was with her grandmother, who spoils her to no end. Well, this day in particular, my daughter kept asking for cookies and juice. All day long she was snacking until she ended up sick and threw up. Her grandmother came into the bathroom where my poor baby was huddled around the toilet and said well that’s because you had too many snacks. Without hesitation, my daughter looked up at her and said, “well you’re the grownup!”
Even at six years old, she knew that she should not have had autonomy. Her grandmother was supposed to protect her from bad decisions made in youthful ignorance. This was eye-opening for my daughter’s grandmother and when she told me the story, she had to face the fact that my daughter was right. There was a revelation that giving the kids what they want all the time has consequences and she felt really bad about it.
So, What’s the Play Call?
Mark 10:15 says, “Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a child will not enter it.” We have a lot to learn from our little ones, pay attention.
Matthew 18:3 says, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will not enter the kingdom of God.”
Remember to never lose your sense of wonder, stay present, forgive quickly, and be honest.
DEVOTION: Exclusively in Movie Theaters on November 23, 2022!
Just in time for Thanksgiving 2022, Devotion, an aerial war epic based on the bestselling book of the same name, tells the inspirational true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots who helped turn the tide in the most brutal battle in the Korean War: Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), the first Black aviator in Navy history and his fellow fighter pilot and friend, Tom Hudner (Glen Powell).
Directed by JD Dillard, viewers will see why their heroic sacrifices and enduring friendship would ultimately make them the Navy’s most celebrated wingmen.
The mark of any fine-tuned team is the delegation of tasks, and those tasks are performed in excellence.
As co-laborers together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9), our ultimate goal is to glorify God – to see His glory increased on the earth. We all work together towards a glorious harvest of testimonies that honor God and point others to Christ.
Harvest is a process. Some of us are assigned in situations as planters on the front end; others, perhaps closer to actual visible growth, are assigned as waterers.
Let me take a moment to encourage all the Planters out there… listen:
You may not SEE the seeds grow, but your waterer has your back!
And, if you, Waterer, feel like you’re still watering dirt, never fear! It is God who seals the deal and gives the increase!
I’ll Plant, You Water… You Plant, I’ll Water
Every day, God gives us all the opportunity to plant a seed – to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
How many of you have talked, and shared, and witnessed to friends and loved ones, but don’t yet see any signs of a single bud from your labor? You have prayed and cried, but still waiting for the bloom to manifest?
As I was thinking about the seeds, for example, that I’ve planted in my children, I randomly felt a prayer in my spirit, “Lord, please bless those who will come behind me and water the seeds I’ve planted.”
God Bless the Waterers
Have you ever thought about blessing God for your waterers? There are teammates who perhaps you’ve never met before that God is positioning right now to confirm a word or a prayer that you’ve offered for someone else!
This is why it’s vitally important for us to love and pray for one another. We are not fighting the good fight of faith alone just because God is with us – but because we’ve got each other!
God Bless the Planters
What an awesome opportunity we’re given as waterers to be good stewards over our teammates’ labor! It’s a mark of trust and maturity when God can assign you the task to water the good works of another to the next level.
Thank God for planters who have checked the soil, and dug deep enough for the seed to take root under adequate cover. It makes the job of the waterer easier when seed actually has a fighting chance to grow.
Who wants to kill a seed because of overwatering, or using polluted water? I believe God’s waterers have actually spent time with God as planters to even know how best to water the harvest.
Trust God’s Timing for Increase
We’re all excited about the harvest. No one labors without the expectation of results!
With every planter and waterer doing their part, our final act of labor is to give thanks for the increase we don’t see YET – knowing God is faithful to give the increase in DUE SEASON.
So, What’s the Play Call?
Be one! Let’s work together in whatever capacity God has assigned us (Romans 12:5, John 17:21). I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine. We are one body.
Pastor Hezekiah Walker was on to something when he sang, “I pray for you, you pray for me, I love you, I need you to survive.”
The harvest comes when we labor together with God! Let’s appreciate the work of every hardworking teammate.
Chuck Colson–linked ministry has long served Ukrainian inmates but is pushed to the limit by wartime realities—and gospel requirements.
Vyacheslav Kogut was so angry he could spit.
The Russian invasion once again drew him out of his normal ministry as executive director of Prison Fellowship Ukraine (PFU) and into relief work. The military counterattack had just liberated another village on the eastern front, where several civilians had been shot.
The source of his ire, however, was his summons back to prison.
“We have Russian prisoners of war who need clothing,” informed the warden.
“I’ll bring them skirts and dresses,” Kogut shot back, grumbling.
Internally seething at having to leave his injured compatriots, he then remembered his Bible: If your enemy is hungry, feed him—as well as, I needed clothes, and you clothed me.
He went into the storehouse that collected goods for displaced Ukrainians and took the best of its donated items. Security guards at the prison were amazed at the quality. And in addition to the regular food and supplies they offer to Russian POWs in ongoing weekly visits, his team now adds candy and sweets.
“It is a way to show many people, besides these prisoners, that God is love,” said Kogut. “And when they go back to Russia, they can never again return with guns and hatred.”
Affiliated with the international network of the Chuck Colson–founded ministry, PFU began work in Ukraine in 2002. The nation is home to a prison population of 48,000 in 85 still-surviving jails, and Kogut says his team ministers in all of them.
It was not always so. Despite its ecumenical approach from the beginning, PFU’s evangelical orientation worried some prison officials. But consistent ministry to inmates and guards alike won favor, as did the scope of entertainment options presented.
As much as we hear the phrases “live in the moment” or “live for today”, we cannot escape the human inclination to strongly desire something good or better for down the road. We often think about what we want the future to look like in many areas of our lives — that improvement, that joy, that good thing that would put a smile on our faces.
This is hope. That good thing is not here in the present right now, but we have a strong feeling of expectation and desire for it to be. It hasn’t happened, but we want it to happen. We can’t see it and we haven’t experienced it yet, but we’re looking for it with great anticipation to make it a present reality.
Hoping For Hope
With all of this anticipation and expectation, we set our gaze towards the hope of finding hope. Isn’t it interesting that hope is both a verb and a noun to itself? We hope that things get better in the near future; it is our hope that things will get better soon.
But truth be told, hope is seldom realized quickly. The notion of “fast hope” is an oxymoron because the time span between hoping for hope and the realization of what we’ve hoped for is typically longer than we’d hoped. Our hope can easily grow weary and fatigued, producing the very opposite of hope. Hopelessness.
Where Does Your Hope Reside?
Hopelessness is a key indicator that hope is not happy with its present living conditions. Where have you placed your hope? Have you ever placed your hope in someone and they let you down? Did you ever over-estimate the effectiveness of your skills, talents, knowledge and come out empty-handed? Were you ever disappointed that a situation or opportunity didn’t pan out to be as great as you anticipated?
We have all moved our hope into very strange and inadequate places that have frustrated and transformed our hope into hopelessness. We set our intentions and hoped for the best in the worst places, and now we feel angry and discouraged.
We’re hopeless.
But, that’s not necessarily a bad thing…
Your Hope is Not Homeless. Put Your Hope in God.
It’s okay to be hopeless, ie. to put “less hope” in people, ourselves, and the things of this world. Feeling hopeless does not leave your hope homeless. There’s a beautiful, safe, and stable place for your hope in God and His will. When we place our full and complete hope in Him, here are some of the benefits we’ll automatically reap:
A Trusted Source. While you may be tempted to put your hope in people and situations, know that all other ground is sinking sand. People can talk a good game, sell you on their titles, personality, network, accolades, but your hope is only safe with God in whom it is impossible for Him to lie (Hebrews 6:18).
Happiness. There’s a blessedness, a restful happiness that comes with placing our hope in God. Hope requires help, and there’s no present or future help greater than the help that comes from God (Psalm 146:5).
The Antidote for Discouragement. Feelings of discouragement, depression, and a “cast down soul” are a poison to our spirits. This is not the hope of a Father who sent His Son that we may have an abundant life! When we put our hope in God, knowing who HE truly is, it lifts our soul from those dark places of hopelessness and creates a “healthy countenance” that others can see (Psalm 43:5).
Abundance of Joy and Peace. Our hope in God is fruitful and powerful because He is the God of hope. That’s right, hope has a God – a creator with nothing but GOOD plans to prosper us and bring us to an expected future of abounding joy and peace (Romans 15:3, Jeremiah 29:11).
So, What’s the Play Call?
Remember, teammates, it’s okay to be hopeless. The less hope we misplace in ourselves and others, the more hope we’ll have to place in God and watch Him faithfully perform and provide every good thing we need for our present and our future.
I remember when I had a serious situation that I was praying about; it was a complicated medical diagnosis.
The doctor’s report shook my family to the core. Once we received the news, I immediately knew I needed to pull myself together and stand up fully in my role as mother and intercede on behalf of my son.
“God, you have to heal my child!”, I cried. I’m sure at some point I even begged.
I wish I could say that my first response to the situation was that of ‘Mrs. Super Faith’, but to be honest, that day I couldn’t even find my cape.
I was terrified because the diagnosis appeared to be enormous. It was beyond the scope of my life experience. The situation looked hopeless, and my initial prayers were desperate. There were tears and emotion on display, but there was no sign of my faith.
For a while, I had forgotten who I was. Fear had frayed my Faith cape.
I prayed on the situation for months, and while I could see small improvements, I needed to witness a major shift in the situation. My family needed a boost in their spirits. They needed to see that prayer works.
It’s already done.
I had to get into God’s Word. As I read the scriptures, I recognized that instead of pleading with God for the healing, I had to recognize that, by faith, He had already performed what I was desperately asking Him to do.
The work was done when Jesus died on the cross. The Word says, “With his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) Please note the phrase ‘are healed’. This means that the healing took place in the past.
The healing was and is already done!
Even though I had read this scripture countless times before, the Holy Spirit set something on fire inside my heart.
From Fear to Faith
I had to adjust my internal dialogue and move from fear to faith. Instead of telling myself that the situation was impossible, I began to say:
“Today, I choose to live in faith and not in fear. Lord, I choose to believe your Word that says children are a gift from you, and I thank you for the gift you have given me in my son. Thank you, Lord, that all things are working together for good, and that you are building a testimony in him through this situation. I have trained him up in the way that he should go, and I thank you, Lord, that he will not depart from it when he is old.”
Rather than focus on the symptoms, I choose to focus on your promise of complete healing and restoration, in the name of Jesus. Instead of focusing on the diagnosis, I choose to keep my eyes on you, almighty God.”
Having Done All to Stand, Stand Up!
That day was the turning point. I decided to change my posture in prayer.
I literally got up off my knees, wiped my eyes, and stood up! I had to physically move from begging and pleading to standing up tall and speaking the Word of God out loud over my situation. As I began to pray over my son, I felt the strength of the Lord rise up within me.
“I declare and decree that I will no longer pray prayers of desperation, but I will boldly stand on God’s promises and confess his Word. Lord, I fully expect you to manifest your healing power in the life of my son in the name of Jesus.”
That day, I found my cape and put it back on!
So, What’s the Play Call?
Instead of collapsing under the weight of life’s pressures, I’d like to encourage you to make the choice to trust in the Lord. Yes, trusting God is a choice. Choose God, choose life!
May I also encourage you to get into God’s word? Dig in and discover what God has already promised you.
This situation taught me that what I pray is just as important as how I pray. The word of the Lord says that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). The words you speak can bring whatever you choose. Be encouraged to speak life over yourself and your own situations.
Don’t be afraid to move from a place of desperation to a position of victory! [Tweet this]
Most of our pulpits today are filled with men of God, so it’s an understandable fact that the church hears more references to the scripture fragment, “The husband is the head of the wife…” than we do all the other references to the husband’s duties.
If you are a man aspiring to be a godly husband, or if you’re already married – can we talk? Have you searched, read, and accepted the requirements, expectations, and consequences specifically for husbands throughout the Bible? Dear men, please don’t say you stopped at the first comma in Ephesians 5:23 KJV, or that you stopped reading at Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands…”
Let’s talk about it, brothers. Women are thoroughly reminded of their “wives” verses. This short article won’t be an exhaustive guide of husbandly duties, but I hope it sheds light, sparks renewed commitment and takes an equally deep dive into the husband’s headship and responsibilities to his wife in the construct of marriage God’s way.
The Beauty and Power of “As” in Godly Marriage Guidance
When we read various Bible verses on the prescription and design of marriage, husbands and wives are blessed with illustrative guides on how marriage looks to God through this tiny word, “as”.
As a lover of words, I first became enthralled with the word “as” in the Bible while reading Mark 12:31, “…Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself...” Though it is the smallest word in this phrase, it carries just about the same weight as the word “love.” How? If we miss the “as”, we can easily miss “love.”
And, that same little adverb we see in Mark 12:31 also appears throughout the marriage verses.
The Meaning of “As”
According to Webster, “as” means, “to the same degree or amount.” You may find in a Bible dictionary that “as” means, “in the same manner as, after the fashion of.”
Why are these definitions important? Since this article is for our dear brothers – Men, the words that follow the word “as” give guidance into how, or the way to be a husband.
Sidebar: How many times in the Bible did people face consequences thinking they were doing the “right” thing, but they were doing the right thing in the wrong way or at the wrong time (Numbers 20:11, Acts 5:9). How matters, teammates.
So, before rushing to the husband’s perks and benefits of headship, brothers, have you mastered your “as”?
Jesus Exemplifies the Husband’s Path to Headship
During this past Resurrection celebration, I was so struck by a certain aspect of Jesus and His journey that I hadn’t focused on before. Before Christ became the King of kings and Lord of lords, He served and sacrificed; there would be no resurrection without sacrificial giving and denying Himself.
Isn’t it amazing how society tells us that in order to reign or “be a king”, the man has to rule with an iron fist, instill fear in his wife and kids, walk in his own grandeur like a king? But the truth of the matter is, if we’re following the example of Jesus Christ, the true path to kingship, being head of all, or being a leader is not arrogance or superiority, but service.
Sidebar: Dear brothers, have you put on enough humility and grace to begin the first steps to headship in marriage?
As Christ Loved the Church: 7 Character Traits of a Godly Husband
So, let’s dive into the character of Christ, which is the guide and benchmark for men who are in pursuit to be God-fearing husbands. Signs of a godly husband include:
1. He has healthy self-love (Ephesians 5:28-29).
Husbands love, honor, and respect themselves, first. They practice understanding, compassion, and forgiveness for themselves. This is how they know how to “love their wives as their own bodies”. These men are able to take the same love and respect they have shown themselves and pass it on to their rib, the wife.
2. He is a sacrificial giver to his wife (Ephesians 5:25).
There are givers, and then there are sacrificial givers. Givers may give when it’s easy or convenient, but sacrificial givers give when it costs them everything. Sacrificial service happens without any real obligation to pay. For example, Jesus sacrificed His life for sins that weren’t even His. Godly husbands are willing and prepared to “give themselves for their wives”, even when they’re innocent and obligation-free.
3. He desires to please his wife (1 Corinthians 7:33).
Our patriarchal society leads many to believe that wives bear the exclusive duty of helping, serving, and pleasing the husband. On the contrary, the Bible tells us that “husbands care for the things of this world, how he may please his wife.” Yes, God’s view of marriage includes husbands who endeavor and pursue making their wives happy.
4. He empathizes with his wife (Hebrews 4:15).
Dear brothers, can you deeply feel your wife? Does her pain, frustrations, heartache invoke compassion in your heart? Just like we have a high-priest, a Savior who can feel and empathize with us, so does a husband who loves his wife in the same manner that Christ loves the church.
5. He does the right thing, even if his wife does not or has not (Romans 5:8).
In this verse, we see the timing and current conditions around Jesus’ sacrificial love and service. Husbands who follow Christ’s example do not require the wife to earn his sacrifice, e.g., “I’ll do X, when she’s worthy of it?” Aren’t we all glad that Christ loved the church soo much that He didn’t wait until we “got it right” or became “worthy enough” to deserve His love and sacrifice? While we were yet sinners, Jesus sacrificed His life for our sins.
6. He doesn’t hinder his prayers by dishonoring his wife (1 Peter 3:7).
Dear brothers, this is a tough one for you; please don’t take this lightly. Here we see that husbands can actually hinder their personal prayers by dishonoring their wives. Those men who pursue marriage God’s way honor their wives as equal recipients of the grace of God, though they are stronger than the wife. These men understand that love and honor for their wives are directly tied to their “ask what ye will”.
7. He is honored to present back to God the wife he was given to love (Ephesians 5:27-28).
Christ loved the church and gave himself for her in order to present her in a better state – without spot, wrinkle, or blemish – than when He found her. Husbands who exercise biblical headship can do the same. Dear brothers, can you be proud to present your wife back to yourhead, who is God Almighty? Godly husbands can present to God how they made their wives’ lives better, with the love of Christ they’ve given her. Brother, can/will your wife be presented better than before you said your vows?
So, What’s the Play Call?
Brothers in Christ, don’t become intoxicated by the mindsets and perceptions that have infiltrated God’s vision of marriage. There is love, work, service, AND submission to be given from both husbands and wives (Ephesians 5:21).
Marriage God’s way offers equal opportunity to honor each other, with many provisions for husbands to take to heart as Christ loved the church.
In the end, if husbands and wives are both following the guidance of God’s way to do marriage, it’s a win-win for the marriage, family, communities, and the world. Let’s put the “as” to intentional work and commitment, dear brothers… and dear sisters.
Want to Hear More About Husbands and Christ’s Love for the Church?
Listen to this teaching on the subject by Coach David A. Burrus, the Attitude of a Leading Man.
One of the shortest “play calls” in the Bible often seems to be one of the most difficult to execute – even if it’s only 3 words long.
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
How do we find time to pray – like all the time, without interruption? God, who is all-knowing, must understand that we’re busy, right? We have to work, take care of kids and loved ones, we have to eat and sleep. Yet, somehow praying is something that could be as natural to us as breathing?
Well, yes, it can!
Don’t worry. When God says it’s not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit – He means it (Zechariah 4:6). We don’t have to rely on alarms or elaborate prayer schedules in order to pray without ceasing. God has literally given us full, unwavering support through His Spirit.
Build your prayer stamina and consistency with these 5 tips!
Pray Without Ceasing, AND Without Being Trapped in Your Prayer Closet
1. Sing a Prayer.
The Word of God encourages us to sing and make melodies in our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19). Did you know you can write songs or curate a playlist with lyrics that are prayers to God?
Ever have a tune get “stuck” in your head – your mind is singing it, but you really didn’t realize it? Well, give your heart and subconscious mind room to welcome a prayer song there, and let your spirit sing that infectious tune all day long.
2. Acknowledge God by inviting Him to speak to you.
In a 24-hour period, we have many choices presented to us and we make many decisions. As we acknowledge God in ALL of our ways (Proverbs 3:6), invite Him to have a conversation with you and actually take time to listen to what He says.
“What’s the answer, God?” “How should I handle this situation?” “I messed up that conversation, how can I do better and make it right?” Consultation with Abba Father is an act of prayer. It’s not so much about checking off the specifics on our prayer list, but an opportunity to hear and learn from the Father. The Holy Spirit’s class is always in session, guiding us into all truth. And remember, listening is just as important in prayer as speaking.
3. Bless others continually.
As you go about your day passing strangers and interacting with people you know, bless them. You don’t have to do so audibly or let them know “I’m praying for you RIGHT NOW…”, just speak to God in your heart on their behalf.
No money to give the homeless as you drive by – say a prayer for them: “Lord, keep him safe tonight.” See an ambulance or fire truck going by – “Jesus, help whoever’s in need to hold on until help arrives.” Watching a sad news report, the drive-thru lady looks stressed, see a “missing dog” poster – God gives us countless opportunities to pray and bless others, we just have to seize the moment.
4. Keep it short and sweet with 10-second prayers.
Do you think that “pray without ceasing” requires your prayers to be lengthy and “thorough”? Have you been told that any prayer to God, for that matter, requires a specific prayer format – an intro of praise and thanksgiving, 60-second preamble, repentance for every sin, the core ask, a closing hymn, more thanksgiving…? Teammates, don’t believe the lie.
Two of the shortest, ANSWERED prayers in the Bible took less than 10 seconds to utter.
In Matthew 14:30, when Peter began to sink as he saw the boisterous waves around him, he simply prayed, “Lord, save me.” Did you know the next three words in verse 31 begin with, “And immediately Jesus“! So, a 3-word prayer got the immediate attention of Jesus? Yes, it did! Need another example?
Ask Moses about his prayer for Miriam, when her skin turned white after speaking against Moses because he married an Ethiopian (Cushite) woman (Numbers 12:1). Standing in the midst of the congregation, Moses did not lay hands on Miriam, call for corporate prayer, nor did he make a prayer speech before the people; he simply prayed, “God, please heal her.” (Numbers 12:13)
So, don’t miss your opportunity to pray without ceasing because you think the prayer has to be long and you’re pressed for time. Make good use of those 10-seconds! God still answers prayer – even when we get right to the point.
5. Just moan, sigh, mumble, or grunt.
Now, you may be thinking, “Those are just sounds of frustration, Kim, that’s not praying.” But, remember when I said we have the full support of the Holy Spirit at our disposal? Here’s how.
Even when we don’t know what to say, we can’t find the words, or the words we know come out all jumbled, the Spirit of God works as an Intercessor on our behalf (Romans 8:26). When we’re too weak to utter a word and only moans, mumbles, and groans come out, the Holy Spirit helps us and prays for us when we can’t pray for ourselves. His prayers are drenched in the will of God, for the Spirit can only pray what is true, being the Spirit of Truth.
So, What’s the Play Call?
Keep a prayer in your heart. And, whether you’re praying for yourself or others, in an hour-long prayer or just 10-seconds, whether you’re using words, silence, moans, or music – always go boldly before the throne of grace and find mercy and grace to help you in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
As you pray without ceasing, Teammates, cease from coming to God with eloquent and reserved speech. Lay aside all ambiguity and circular talk that we use with each other, and let your heart speak openly, in transparent petition before the Father.
I pray you always know how much God loves you, and how He can’t wait to hear and answer your call – no matter how it reaches Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Team, get your tickets now for Creed III, coming March 3rd to a theater and IMAX near you.
Every day, God gives us all the opportunity to plant a seed – to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
With all of this anticipation and expectation, we set our gaze towards the hope of finding hope. Isn’t it interesting that hope is both a verb and a noun to itself? We hope that things get better in the near future; it is our hope that things will get better soon.
It’s okay to be hopeless, ie. to put “less hope” in people, ourselves, and the things of this world. Feeling hopeless does not leave your hope homeless. There’s a beautiful, safe, and stable place for your hope in God and His will. When we place our full and complete hope in Him, here are some of the benefits we’ll automatically reap:
I had to get into God’s Word. As I read the scriptures, I recognized that instead of pleading with God for the healing, I had to recognize that, by faith, He had already performed what I was desperately asking Him to do.
When we read various Bible verses on the prescription and design of marriage, husbands 
During this past Resurrection celebration, I was so struck by a certain aspect of Jesus and His journey that I hadn’t focused on before. Before Christ became the King of kings and Lord of lords, He served and sacrificed; there would be no resurrection without sacrificial giving and denying Himself.
One of the shortest “play calls” in the Bible often seems to be one of the most difficult to execute – even if it’s only 3 words long.
