Deepening Our Relationship with God Through Prayer

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing the Shepherd's Voice

Description: Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, knows His sheep intimately, and they recognize His voice. This relationship is built on time spent together, trust, and mutual recognition. Just as sheep sort themselves by their shepherd's voice, we must become so familiar with God's voice that we can discern it amidst the world's noise. This familiarity comes from a deep, personal relationship with Him, cultivated through consistent prayer and reflection. In a world filled with distractions and competing voices, it is crucial to develop the ability to hear and recognize God's voice clearly. [04:39]

John 10:27-28 (ESV): "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."

Reflection: Think about the different voices and distractions in your life. How can you create more space to hear and recognize God's voice today?

Day 2: Prayer as a Tool for Improvement

Description: Inspired by Dr. Deming's principles, we can view prayer as a means to improve our lives. Our struggles—anxiety, lack of purpose, stress—are reasons for improvement. God invites us into a conversation about these issues, offering His guidance and peace. By approaching prayer as a tool for quality improvement, we can address the areas in our lives that need transformation. This perspective encourages us to bring our daily struggles to God, trusting that He will provide the wisdom and peace we need to navigate them. [08:37]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you feel anxious or stressed. How can you bring this concern to God in prayer today, seeking His guidance and peace?

Day 3: Measuring Our Relationship with God

Description: The depth of our relationship with God can be gauged by the frequency and quality of our conversations with Him. Just as in any relationship, the more we communicate, the closer we become. This closeness brings about a family resemblance, characterized by love for God and others. By regularly engaging in meaningful conversations with God, we cultivate a deeper connection with Him, which in turn shapes our character and actions. This transformation is evident in our increased capacity to love and serve others, reflecting God's love in our daily lives. [10:44]

James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: Reflect on the frequency and quality of your conversations with God. What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him this week?

Day 4: Obedience and Fulfillment

Description: Obedience to God, though sometimes contrary to our own plans, leads to a more fulfilling and loving life. Personal anecdotes illustrate how God's guidance can stretch our capacity for love and bring about unexpected blessings. By trusting and obeying God's direction, we align ourselves with His perfect plan, which ultimately leads to greater fulfillment and joy. This obedience requires faith and a willingness to surrender our own desires, trusting that God's ways are higher and better than our own. [15:08]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you struggled to obey God's guidance. How can you trust and surrender to His plan, believing that it will lead to greater fulfillment?

Day 5: Practical Steps to Improve Prayer Life

Description: Improving our prayer life involves setting aside focused time, maintaining proximity to God, and building a deep relationship with Him. Listening to the Holy Spirit requires intentionality, closeness, and understanding. God is passionate about us and desires an ongoing, vibrant conversation. By prioritizing prayer and creating intentional space for it in our daily routines, we can cultivate a deeper connection with God. This intentionality helps us to be more attuned to the Holy Spirit's guidance and to experience the fullness of God's presence in our lives. [18:54]

Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take to set aside focused time for prayer each day? How can you create an environment that fosters a deeper connection with God?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to honor Kurt Hostetler for his incredible service to our church. Kurt stepped in during a time of need and has been a pillar of support, leading multiple teams and initiatives. As he and his wife embark on a new journey, we prayed for God's blessings upon them. This moment of gratitude set the stage for our deeper exploration into the essence of our relationship with God, focusing on the importance of prayer and conversation with our Creator.

We delved into John 10, where Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him. This intimate relationship is built on time spent together, trust, and recognition of His voice. Just as sheep sort themselves by recognizing their shepherd's voice, we too must become so familiar with God's voice that we can discern it amidst the noise of the world.

We examined the concept of prayer through the lens of quality improvement, inspired by Dr. Deming's principles. The current state of our lives often reflects a need for improvement, driven by common struggles such as anxiety, lack of purpose, and stress. God invites us into a conversation about these very issues, offering His guidance and peace.

Our relationship with God can be measured by the depth and frequency of our conversations with Him. Just as in any relationship, the more we communicate, the closer we become. This closeness brings about a family resemblance, characterized by love for God and others. We shared a story of a mission trip to Korea, highlighting how the love of God transcends cultural differences and creates a sense of belonging.

The best way to live our lives is through obedience to God, which protects us and aligns us with His perfect plan. Personal anecdotes illustrated how God's guidance, though sometimes contrary to our own plans, leads to a more fulfilling and loving life.

Finally, we discussed practical countermeasures to improve our prayer life: setting aside focused time, maintaining proximity to God, and building a deep relationship with Him. Listening to the Holy Spirit requires intentionality, closeness, and understanding. God is passionate about us and desires an ongoing, vibrant conversation. As we partake in communion, we are reminded of the intimate relationship Jesus offers, symbolized by His body and blood.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Intimacy with the Good Shepherd: Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, knows His sheep intimately, and they recognize His voice. This relationship is built on time spent together, trust, and mutual recognition. Just as sheep sort themselves by their shepherd's voice, we must become so familiar with God's voice that we can discern it amidst the world's noise. [04:39]
2. Prayer as Quality Improvement: Inspired by Dr. Deming's principles, we can view prayer as a means to improve our lives. Our struggles—anxiety, lack of purpose, stress—are reasons for improvement. God invites us into a conversation about these issues, offering His guidance and peace. [08:37]
3. Measuring Our Relationship with God: The depth of our relationship with God can be gauged by the frequency and quality of our conversations with Him. Just as in any relationship, the more we communicate, the closer we become. This closeness brings about a family resemblance, characterized by love for God and others. [10:44]
4. Obedience and Fulfillment: Obedience to God, though sometimes contrary to our own plans, leads to a more fulfilling and loving life. Personal anecdotes illustrate how God's guidance can stretch our capacity for love and bring about unexpected blessings. [15:08]
5. Practical Steps to Improve Prayer Life: Improving our prayer life involves setting aside focused time, maintaining proximity to God, and building a deep relationship with Him. Listening to the Holy Spirit requires intentionality, closeness, and understanding. God is passionate about us and desires an ongoing, vibrant conversation. [18:54]
### [18:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:59] - Honoring Kurt Hostetler
[01:51] - Kurt's New Journey
[02:41] - Prayer for Kurt and Tracy
[03:36] - Importance of Alpha Program
[04:39] - The Good Shepherd
[05:30] - Sheep Recognize the Shepherd's Voice
[07:00] - Quality Improvement and Prayer
[08:37] - Common Struggles and God's Invitation
[09:56] - Measuring Our Relationship with God
[10:44] - Family Resemblance in God's Family
[12:07] - Mission Trip to Korea
[13:37] - Obedience and Fulfillment
[15:08] - Personal Journey to Ministry
[17:02] - Love and Community
[18:54] - Practical Steps to Improve Prayer Life
[20:36] - Listening Requires Proximity
[22:15] - Relationship and Understanding
[23:38] - Communication Barriers
[25:28] - Passionate Relationship with God
[27:28] - Abide in God's Love
[28:45] - Challenge for Focused Prayer Time
[30:19] - Jesus' Concern for Our Lives
[30:52] - Communion and Intimacy with Jesus
[32:29] - Symbols of Jesus' Sacrifice
[44:07] - Closing and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Jesus mean when He says, "I am the good shepherd" in John 10:14? How does this relate to His relationship with His followers? [04:39]
According to the sermon, how do sheep recognize their shepherd's voice, and why is this significant for our relationship with God? [05:30]
What are some common struggles mentioned in the sermon that indicate a need for improvement in our lives? [08:37]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between the frequency of our conversations with God and the depth of our relationship with Him? [10:44]

Interpretation Questions

In John 10:14-15, Jesus describes an intimate relationship between the shepherd and the sheep. How does this analogy help us understand the importance of recognizing God's voice in our lives? [05:30]
The sermon mentions Dr. Deming's principles of quality improvement. How can viewing prayer as a means of quality improvement help us address our struggles such as anxiety and lack of purpose? [08:37]
The sermon discusses the concept of "family resemblance" in God's family. What does this mean, and how can our conversations with God reflect this resemblance? [10:44]
How does obedience to God, even when it contradicts our own plans, lead to a more fulfilling life according to the sermon? [15:08]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own prayer life. How often do you set aside focused time for prayer? What steps can you take to improve this aspect of your relationship with God? [18:54]
Think about a time when you felt anxious or lacked purpose. How did you handle it? How might engaging in more frequent and intentional conversations with God change your approach to these struggles? [08:37]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's voice amidst the noise of the world. What practical steps can you take to become more familiar with God's voice? [05:30]
Consider the idea of "family resemblance" in God's family. In what ways can you demonstrate love for God and others in your daily life? [10:44]
The sermon shared a story about a mission trip to Korea and the sense of belonging it created. Have you experienced a similar sense of belonging in your faith community? How can you foster this sense of belonging for others? [12:07]
Reflect on a time when you felt God's guidance was contrary to your own plans. How did you respond? What did you learn from that experience about obedience and fulfillment? [15:08]
The sermon challenges us to spend focused time in prayer both in the morning and at night. How can you incorporate this practice into your daily routine? What might be the benefits of doing so? [28:45]

Sermon Clips

1. "The interesting thing about that is one of the reasons the sheep knows voice is they've spent so much time with the shepherd and they have found protection and safety and care in the presence of the shepherd and so when when the shepherd calls out his voice all the rest of the sheep stay there but the sheep short sort themselves out i can't say that the sheep sort themselves out i didn't mean for that to be tongue-tied but they they do that by the sound of their shepherd's voice." [05:30] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Those things that you and i struggle with and that our neighbors struggle with are the reason for improvement those are the reasons that we should embrace what god has planned for us because god looks into these questions and he hears what we're saying and he says this i've been wanting to talk to you about those things i have a plan for you and a purpose when you're not close to me and when you're not close to the body of god when you're not close to the body of christ your life will be more stressful and so he's longing to embrace you and i." [09:17] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Your analysis should be this your pattern of conversation with god matches the depth of your relationship so if you want to take the polls on your relationship with god you're going to look at your prayer life you're going to look at the conversation that you have with god it would be the same that you do with anybody else in your life how close is your relationship with this person well how often do you talk with them how often do you interact with them how much do you truly and deeply know who they are." [10:44] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The family resemblance is that there becomes a love for others first a love for god for the family of god and for others and that's the family resistance the dna that that becomes a part of who we are was talking with a friend on friday and he had just gotten back from a mission trip in korea and he just he said they had a just a great time and one of the things that was fascinating all over again and and in one of the worship services they were in was actually bilingual with english and korean and they were going back and forth in the service and he was just overwhelmed with the spirit of god that settled in there and how the culture was so different and things were so different and yet there was a family resemblance the family resemblance was a family resemblance to god was on full display the love they had for god the love they had for one another." [12:07] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God doesn't intend for our conversations to be a duty. His intention is that we approach it as He does, with passion to the point of obsession. Have you ever thought about that? That God might be obsessed with you, loves you so. I've said it this way before. Maybe you've heard it this way before. If God has a refrigerator, your picture is magnated to it. He's just so wild about you and who you are. He loves you. And He's obsessed with talking with you. And my question to you is this. Do you talk to Him out of duty, or are you obsessed out of a passion for who He is with talking with Him? It's a whole different thing. It's not about some sort of religion. It's about a relationship." [25:28] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "So what's the solution to the current situation? of anxiety and fear for living and defeat in our daily lives? The solution is what Jesus said in John 10. Abide in my love. Stay close to me, Jesus says. Keep my commands because that will protect you. This will protect the most important part of you, the eternal part, the part that will live with me forever. And will lead to your best life." [27:28] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "So here's the challenge. The challenge is this same as it has been the last couple of weeks. script as a minimum 15 minutes in the morning 15 minutes at night. Are focused on prayer, closet, set aside time. Start with Aldora got for who he is in his love for you. I didn't list and keep a notepad. There one in case. there's something that you are certain he is saying to you, you can write it down and document it for your own life. But also in case other distractions come into mind and you can write them down and dismiss them and stay in the listening mode. Do this as duty like religion? No, do this as a passionate relationship, as a conversation that you cannot wait for, as getting back into the presence of somebody that you love and that loves you. Deeply and dearly. I can assure you it will have a drastic impact on your life if you're not doing that currently." [28:45] (77 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "You want to be like Jesus? You'll pray. You'll be in conversation. Jesus is still in conversation constantly, as we spoke about last week, with the Father about you. So you could say he is praying as well. And he invites us into that conversation with the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ to be a meaningful part of that conversation. But Jesus loves you. He cares about you. He's concerned about your life. He is concerned about what life is like in the walls of your home. In the walls of your household. And he invites you into conversation and says, you know what? I have countermeasures for that. If you're living in defeat, I have victory. If you're living in stress, that's because you're not living in the design that I have for you. We could reduce that stress by simply being in conversation with me." [30:19] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "It's interesting that Jesus, in the last few moments of his life, the last 24 hours, gathered with his disciples, and he gathered them close around the table. And it was around that table that he implemented the sacrament and the experience that we're about to partake in. And it's in that moment where there was this focused and intentional listening on the part of his disciples. There was this close proximity to Jesus as they gathered around the table. And then there was this close relational communication that Jesus poured out. The sacrament. The same communication that Jesus has for you and I to partake in this morning." [31:39] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Remember, these elements, the bread and the cup, are part of this close and intimate relationship that Jesus has with us. He says, I want you to be so close. I want you to experience me. Here's a symbol of my body. Here's a symbol of my blood. The bread that was, is the symbol of my flesh that was broken for you. To remove all those barriers and filters that were in the way, all that sin, all that darkness that was in between you and your creator so that you could be in relationship. My blood that was poured out for you so that it will cleanse you. From the sin, from the darkness, from the brokenness that is in you, and we can be in relationship. We can talk, we can spend time together." [32:29] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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