Celebration of Discipline:: Prayer Results

It's the last Tuesday of the month of March...

Time for the results of my Celebration of Discipline Prayer Action Plan...

Boy, that was a mouthful...

I feel like I did a lot better on the "Flash Prayers..." 

When I did get out of the house...usually at the grocery store...I said a quick prayer for the people I passed. 

Mostly, I found myself saying "Flash Prayers" for people as I thought of them throughout the day. Either a post on Facebook or Twitter...thinking of a friend who is starting a new job...someone who I knew wasn't feeling well...anyone who came to mind, I would say a quick prayer for them...even sometimes not knowing what exactly to pray. I still prayed.

I didn't intentionally bless my children as I held them every single day like I wanted to. (But I am so thankful that I do get to hold all 3 of my babies at some point every day!!!) This is something I definitely want to get better at. 

I want to speak a blessing over them...outloud...every day.

Bella goes to school 2 days a week...and for most of the month, I was able to hug her and bless her as she started her day...whether at home before Lee took her, or before I left her in the classroom with her teacher. 


I do enjoy holding my babies so much...and often at night when tucking them in bed, I find myself praying a blessing over them...over their futures...over their future mates...

But I would love to get into a habit of just randomly blessing them when I have the chance...praying for them as I watch them play...any time of the day...and just holding them and speaking life over them...because I know the days of snuggling will never be the same as they are now!

So, I do want to keep working on this area of prayer in my life. My babies are so precious to me...I pray for them daily, but I don't feel like it is enough...I want them to experience an abundantly blessed life!!!!

Next week I will be back to share my action plan for the next chapter on fasting. And although I am still breastfeeding a baby and may not be able to do a food fast, there are many other things in my life that I can fast!!! I'll let you know next Tuesday about that!!

Celebration of Discipline: Prayer Action Plan

In this chapter on prayer, Richard Foster said, "Real prayer is life changing and life creating (page 33)." 

I want my life to be changed. And I believe prayer is a wonderful way to change it. And I know that as much as I believe in the power of prayer, I don't believe enough because I often do not pray like I believe it. 

Foster says that we must learn to pray. Prayer is a constantly developing discipline in my life. Learning and growing...a consistent, healthy prayer life doesn't happen overnight. 

I actually have 2 actions that I'm going to go for...and they are simple enough that I don't feel I am over extending myself. 

1. "Flash prayers" - this was developed by Frank Laubach. Foster says, "Flashing hard and straight prayers at people is a great thrill and can bring interesting results." I will say a quick prayer for people as I see them...whether I know them or not. It may be as simple as "Lord, let Your joy rise up in them now." But I will be praying for them!!

2. Blessing my children. 
I pray for my children daily...even multiple times throughout the day. Sometimes out loud, other times quietly...but I don't take them in my arms every day and bless them. 
So, every morning, as we start our days, I will take my children in my arms and speak a blessing over them out loud. 

How can you grow in the area of prayer in your life? 

Celebration of Discipline:: Meditation Results

I was supposed to write this blog post on Tuesday. That was the goal. But the past 2 weeks haven't gone like I thought they would.

But here it is now...the response to my action plan for meditation.

This was probably the hardest discipline for me to practice!!

With 3 small kids, I found it hard to make time for myself to plan a time to meditate on the Word of God in my chair like I wanted to.

I actually found that the best thinking and alone time I have is in the shower. And that doesn't always happen every day...yes, you may think it's gross that I don't take a shower every day...but I am just being honest.

But it was still hard to meditate even then because my mind was racing with a million things at once!!

I know that there are health benefits to meditation. And I know that I would greatly benefit from having 5 minutes to focus on the Lord...but making that time happen without interruption is quite difficult. By the end of the day I am totally drained. Totally.

So, a few ways that I know I can make this practice better in my life is this:

1. Stay off my iPhone at a certain time.

It has become an extension of my body at times. I'm constantly checking facebook, twitter, my email...playing games...if I would say that I couldn't have it with me for a certain time period when my kids are playing, I may be able to accomplish some quiet time and meditation.

2. Be proactive about my day.

Most of my day seems reactive to my kids. I sit down to read, and I suddenly smell that I need to change a dirty diaper. Or I get interrupted to fill a juice cup. Or to read a book to them...the list goes on and on...

But if I can be intentional...I can do this. And I know that there will be a time when I will have plenty of time for meditation but wish that I had the small interruptions all day long!!!

Now, I will read the chapter of Celebration of Discipline on Prayer. I will write my action plan on Tuesday!!! It's not too late for you join with me on this journey!!!!!

Celebration of Discipline: Meditation Action Plan

The connotation for meditation for me (the picture that comes to mind when I think about that word) is more of an eastern religion picture. Someone sitting cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed, and even possibly humming softly.

And what's crazy is that there is a kids' movie that portrayed that form of meditation, and every once in a while, Bella will sit on the floor, cross-legged with her eyes closed, humming. No lie. It shocked me the first time she did it...and I'm being very careful of what I tell her about doing that...I want her to worship Jesus...and I'm not saying that this is not a way that glorifies Him...but it is not commonly done to glorify Jesus... Raising these kids is a whole different ballgame for me!!

Richard Foster addresses Christian meditation in this chapter of Celebration of Discipline. He says, "Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God's voice and obey his word." (pg. 17)

I want to hear God's voice. I can remember specific times in my life when I was desperate to hear from Him...and in those moments, I found myself being extra quiet so I could hear what He was speaking to me....and through me as well.

Now more than ever, my life is quite chaotic. My kids are awesome...they are pretty well behaved...but to find a quiet moment in this house...I cannot go to the bathroom without an interruption! And as much as I would love to wake up early, I'm not a morning person. At all. Mornings are so difficult for me. And I usually am woken up by a kid...and then by the time they go to bed at night, I'm so exhausted...

I find it difficult to make time for God. It's hard to read, pray, or think about anything holy without a constant interruption...either being asked something or having to break up a fight over a toy...

And honestly, God has given me a lot of grace for this season of life. I know that my kids will be in school before I know it...they won't need me as much as they need me now...and I want to enjoy every moment that I can!

So, God is graciously allowing me to grow with Him in the moments that I do have with Him.

Foster says, "We learn to meditate by meditating." (pg. 26)

It will not happen gloriously and regularly over night.

So here is my action plan:

I will spend 5 minutes 3 days a week meditating on how "the written Word becomes a living word addressed to you." (pg. 29)

I will do this by reading a parable or a few verses and "allow it to take root in you...Seek to live the experience...and to apply all our senses to our task." (pg. 29)

I will use my imagination to glorify God. I will imagine myself in the crowd when the woman was healed by touching the hem of Jesus' clothes...I will read Scripture and picture myself there or the Lord speaking it to me in person.

Foster encourages to find one place to practice meditation instead of constantly hunting for one. My ideal place to meditate would be in my favorite chair as I look out at the mountains...as you can see, we have a beautiful view!! I will try my hardest to make this work...and at the end of the month I'll let you know how it goes!!

In order to remember this, I will have a sticky note on the mirror in my bathroom with the 5 minutes/3 days a week. I may even give myself a gold star after completion :)

How can you incorporate Christian meditation into your life?

Celebration of Discipline Challenge

The beginning of the year is a great time to begin working on self-improvement.

Sure, this can be done any time of the year, but in January, there is just a sense of a fresh start. A new beginning. An opportunity to do something within the 365 days that you didn't do for the last 365 days.

I've seen a lot of challenges, and I've decided to do one of my own.

One of my favorite, life-changing books is Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. It's a phenomenal book...and honestly, it's not best to read this one all in one sitting...just going from cover to cover.

This is a book that should be contemplated...and practiced.

The Diversity Project for Chi Alpha Missionaries in Training in Louisiana does this study every year for the interns. I had the privilege of teaching it for a few years...and now I am taking this study on for myself again.

The book focuses on 12 spiritual disciplines...it is not an exhaustive list or the only spiritual disciplines to work on, but these are the 12 that Richard Foster chose...4 are inward disciplines: meditation, prayer, fasting, study; 4 are outward disciplines: simplicity, solitude, submission, service; and the last 4 are corporate disciplines: confession, worship, guidance, celebration.

So, this challenge will go from February 2013 to February 2014.

I will read one chapter, and then on the first Tuesday of the month I will write an "action plan" of what I plan to do to incorporate that discipline into my life. And then on the last Tuesday of the month I will write how I feel like I did.

I cannot emphasize this enough...this was a life-changing experience for both Lee & me...and I am believing for great things again!!

Now, this doesn't mean that I will give up on or only focus on this one discipline within the month...but I'm going to be extra intentional about it.

Doing this is a step that I'm taking to accomplish the goal of growing in my relationship with God.

I would love for you to take this challenge with me! You can buy the book from amazon by clicking here. It's also available on the kindle.

I'm also available to holding each other accountable through email or Facebook!! We are stronger when we grow together!!

This is a great spiritual investment...and by next year, I know I will be closer to God. That is my goal!!

Please let me know if you are interested in being a part of this challenge by leaving a comment!! Of if you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you!

Let's grow together in 2013!!