Tagged: christian growth

Tools for your Quiet Time #13 – I.O.U.S. Prayer Method

This is post #13 in a series of posts “Tools for Your Quiet Time.”  You can find the earlier posts here: #1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 - #6 – #7 – #8 – #9, – #10, – #11 – #12

I. O.U.S. Prayer Method

I first heard of this method in a series of lectures given by Pastor John Piper on the topic “Fight for Joy.” Since that time I have discovered that he covers this method of prayer in one of his books.1 The idea is very simple: pray scripture back to God. Piper says that he uses this method himself, almost every day of his life. I can see why… it is very helpful in pointing your heart toward the things of God. The letters in the acronym stand for the first word in 4 different passages from the Psalms. If you will take the time right now to look up these 4 examples, you will notice that the verses surrounding them lend themselves to this kind of use as well. Here’s the outline of I.O.U.S….

I. – Incline – Psalm 119:36 – “Psa 119:36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! “ Use this example from the life of David to ask God for the inclination to desire His word. He delights to answer this kind of prayer!

O. – Open – Psalm 119:18 – “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Ask the Lord to open your eyes, that you can see the amazing truths that lay within the pages of His word.

U. – Unite – Psalm 86:11 – “unite my heart to fear your name.” We must face the reality that we have divided hearts. We rush after too many things, forgetting that what we really need is a heart that is united in pursuit of God. Ask the Lord to unite your heart to fear Him.

S. – Satisfy – Psalm 90:14 – “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Ask the Lord to satisfy you with Himself, with His love, with the things of God.

1Piper, John – “When I Don’t Desire God,” © 2004, Desiring God Foundation, Published by Crossway Books

Prophecies of Hope – Advent 2010 Sermon Audio

You can find “Prophecies of Hope” – Sermon Audio from Sermon #1 of our 2010 Advent Celebration below.

Sermon Audio – Celebrate Recovery Step 6, part 1

You can find audio to download here or play it below…

A prayer from the Puritans – REGENERATION

This one touched me especially powerfully today – so I had to share it.  Read it slowly with a heart of humility…

O God of the highest heaven,
Occupy the throne of my heart,
take full possession and reign supreme,
lay low every rebel lust,
let no vile passion resist thy holy war;
manifest thy mighty power, and make me thine for ever.
Thou art worthy to be praised with my every breath,
loved with my every faculty of soul,
served with my every act of life.
Thou hast loved me, espoused me, received me,
purchased, washed, favoured, clothed,
adorned me, when I was worthless, vile, soiled, polluted.
I was dead in iniquities,
having no eyes to see thee,
no ears to hear thee,
no taste to relish thy joys,
no intelligence to know thee;
But thy Spirit has quickened me,
has brought me into a new world as a new creature,
has given me spiritual perception,
has opened to me thy Word as light, guide, solace, joy.
Thy presence is to me a treasure of unending peace;
No provocation can part me from thy sympathy,
for thou hast drawn me with cords of love,
and dost forgive me daily, hourly.
O help me then to walk worthy of thy love,
of my hopes, and my vocation.
Keep me, for I cannot keep myself;
Protect me that no evil befall me;
Let me lay aside every sin admired of many;
Help me to walk by thy side, lean on thy arm,
hold converse with thee,
That henceforth I may be salt of the earth and a blessing to all.