God is NOT an ATM, Prayer is More Thank Asking

We had the honor of have Stevie Borne shared a powerful reminder to us before the holidays that God is not just an ATM and gave us 3 good pointers on how we can communicate with God.

1. Pray the names of God. Exodus 17
     God, Lord LORD
     El Shadai- praying to God whre nothing is impossible
     Yaweh-You are a banner over me
     Adoni- God is with us!

2. Using Scripture as a meditative form Isaiah 21:1-4

A Message concerning the desert at the sea:

As tempests drive through the Negev Desert,
coming out of the desert, that terror-filled place,
A hard vision is given me:
The betrayer betrayed, the plunderer plundered.
Attack, Elam!
Lay siege, Media!
Persians, attack!
Attack, Babylon!
I’ll put an end to
all the moaning and groaning.
Because of this news I’m doubled up in pain,
writhing in pain like a woman having a baby,
Baffled by what I hear,
undone by what I see.
Absolutely stunned,
horror-stricken,
I had hoped for a relaxed evening,
but it has turned into a nightmare.

Meaning: what did this scripture mean to you?
Word/Phrase: find a word or phrase that stuck out to you...why?
Response: After reading this passage what do you want to tell God?
Rest in God's presence: read the passage again and then sit in silence listening to God.

3. Listening prayer
   find a quiet place and as you are praying listen to what God is telling you. It just might a little snippet of something.

Questions to reflect on:
How does it feel to spend time just being silent before God?
What is your biggest challenge when it comes to goingdeeper in your prayer life?
What is one thing you want to do differently in your prayer life?