Lent - Week 6

Lent – God’s Grace in God’s Time

Study Materials: 

A Clearing Season, Reflections for Lent, by Sarah Parsons **
Wondrous Encounters, Scripture for Lent, by Richard Rohr ****
Give Up Something Bad for Lent, James W. Moore ****
Unpacking Forgiveness, Chris Brauns **
Sifted, Pursuing Growth Through Trials, Challenges and Disappointments, Wayne Cordeiro (with Francis Chan and Larry Osborne) ****
Hearing God, Developing a Conversational Relationship with God, Dallas Willard ***
Lord, Teach Us to Pray, Andrew Murray *
How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Finds from a Leading Neuroscientist, Andrew Newberg MD, Mark Robert Waldman **
http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersverses/a/basicstoprayer.htm  ***
John Wesley – Sermon 26  ***
The Lazarus Life, Spiritual Transformation for Ordinary People, Stephen W. Smith  ****

John 11 tells the story of the death of Lazarus.  You might recall Jesus’ friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus were siblings. The sisters had sent word to Jesus.

  

Lord, the one you love is sick. – John 11:3 (NIV)

Later, we read

...he stinketh… - John 11:39 (KJV)

I love this phrase in the King James Version, and it has stuck with me since the first time I read it in Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis. Bell mentioned that he wrote the phrase on the wall of his office, and that he was having a hard time getting it out of his head. He says “this phrase continues to swirl around in my mind and my heart. Where is there death in my life? Where am I dying because of decisions I’ve made? Where do I stinketh?” Every future reading of John 11 has had new meaning for me, as I ask the same questions… Where do I stinketh?

This week, I have had the privilege of reading Stephen Smith’s The Lazarus Life, and the phrase from John 11:39 continues to swirl in my head. It has been joined by a question that Christians ask daily. Namely, why doesn’t God show up and fix my problems?

Quite often we end up feeling like Mary in John 11:32.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Why did Lazarus die? Why wasn’t Jesus there? Why do people suffer every day? Why doesn’t God show up and fix my problems? The reason is simple. God gave us a great gift, and unfortunately, that gift keeps on giving. The gift was Free Will.  We chose it in the garden, and we keep it to this day.

But God does hear our prayers. Sometimes he comes in our hour of need. Other times, God shows up in His own time. This is the case in the story of Lazarus. I have recopied the NIV version below, interspersed with my own commentary.

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” – John 11:1-3

This is the first we hear of Lazarus. He is not a king. He is not Moses. He is just a man, and Jesus loves him. We know so little of Jesus’ life, and yet it must have been a life rich with love, for it is through Jesus that we are taught to Love.

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” – John 11:4-7

The first time I really read this, I couldn’t stop focusing on the fact that Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus, “so when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.” WHAT??? That’s not part of my training, or my mind set. But then, I’m part of a generation that lives with phrases like “Come on, I want my latte now!” “What is taking them so long to cook that steak? Did they have to kill the cow?” “Geez, it took 10 seconds for this webpage to load.”

Why didn’t Jesus come right away? Why didn’t he just fix things? He healed so many people immediately. We have all read of Jesus’ healings in the Bible. There are healings of the blind in Mark 8:22-26, Mark 10:46-52, Matthew 9:27-31 and John 9:1-12. There are healings of Lepers in Matthew 8:1-4 and Luke 17-11-19. The list goes on and on, including paralytics, a bleeding woman, the mother of Peter’s wife, a man with dropsy (abnormal swelling of the body), a man with a withered hand, a deaf mute, a centurion’s servant, etc. Jesus loved people, and he healed anyone who believed. We see passages like the one below repeatedly.

“Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” – Luke 18-42

And, of course the disciples were constant witnesses to Jesus’ healings and witnesses to his love. He is their savior (and ours), and they don’t want to lose a good thing. As we read further in the passage, we see this.

“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” – John 11:8

Are they concerned for Jesus’ safety or their own? Do they believe Jesus is the son of God?

Of course, Jesus is not concerned.

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”  - John 11:9-11

I love that Jesus refers to Lazarus as “our friend.” Lazarus gets friend billing in the Bible before the disciples. No doubt Jesus had many friends. Jesus is OUR friend too!

His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”  – John 11:12-16

Jesus definitely had a way with words, and quite often the disciples were confused. We also see here that Jesus is aware that his disciples still do not fully believe. That seems amazing, given all that they have seen, but perhaps it isn’t given our own doubts and unbelief…

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. – John 11:17-19

Notice, there was a crowd. There were many witnesses to what was about to take place, and this very event was pivotal in Jesus’ life and God’s plan. (Read further in John.)

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. – John 11:20

Do you get the impression that Mary was a little upset with Jesus? Not much changes in 2000 years. Mary wasn’t the first or last person to be upset when Jesus didn’t do what she wanted or needed. But Martha, although upset, was steadfast in her faith.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” – John 11:21-22

That’s powerful! Read that as many times as you have a chance. God will give Jesus whatever he asks! Jesus does the will of His Father, and His Father grants His Son’s wishes because they are the will of His Father. Our relationship with God is circular in the same nature.

This passage immediately takes me back to John 5:30, where Jesus says “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” That phrase puts me to shame, and makes me realize how much I miss the mark on a daily basis…

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”  - John 11:23-27

Notice the question Jesus asks Martha. He is asking all of us. “Do you believe?” This is the fundamental question in your life. This question cuts to the essence of our being. This question is the reason for life, and the only path to living it more abundantly. Praise God!

After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.  – John 11:28-29

So, perhaps Mary really wasn’t upset with Jesus, but only didn’t know he was there. Perhaps… But I doubt it. Still, when Jesus calls, we answer quickly, just as Mary answered.

Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” – John 11:30-32

Notice the greeting. Jesus is our “Lord,” and Mary’s statements echo those of Martha, and ours to this day. “If you had been here…” But, truly, Jesus is always with us.

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. – John 11:33-35

The last sentence is every student’s favorite. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible! But there is power in all three verses. Our sadness moves Jesus. Jesus does care for us. Jesus was doing the will of the Father, but even in that stead, we was moved by the sadness of the people.

Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. – John 11:36-38

Notice the selfish comments in the midst of the truth. Jesus loved Lazarus, and yet we ask “Why didn’t he just fix this?”

“Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” – John 11:36-39

The NIV says “there is a bad odor,” but I still like the KJV – “he stinketh.” I bet he did “stinketh,” as does the death in our own lives. Lazarus had been dead four days. I can’t tell you how many parts of me have died, stunk, and been resurrected by God. I still stink. Our life is Lazarus’ life. We die repeatedly, and Jesus comes to save us.

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” – John 11:40-44

Notice that the last portion involves others. Jesus invites us to take part in the resurrection, not just our own resurrection, but the resurrection of others. Are you still wearing your grave clothes? What parts of you “stinketh?” Believe! Your savior will come rescue you from your tomb, and you friends will be there to help you take off your grave clothes and set you free.

Lent - Week 5

Finding God’s Love In Our Hearts

Study Materials:

A Clearing Season, Reflections for Lent, by Sarah Parsons
Wondrous Encounters, Scripture for Lent, by Richard Rohr
Give Up Something Bad for Lent, James W. Moore
Unpacking Forgiveness, Chris Brauns
Sifted, Pursuing Growth Through Trials, Challenges and Disappointments, Wayne Cordeiro (with Francis Chan and Larry Osborne)
Hearing God, Developing a Conversational Relationship with God, Dallas Willard
Lord, Teach Us to Pray, Andrew Murray
How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Finds from a Leading Neuroscientist, Andrew Newberg MD, Mark Robert Waldman
http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersverses/a/basicstoprayer.htm
John Wesley – Sermon 26

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.   “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people. – Jeremiah 31:33

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:35-40

That’s it then. God has put love in our minds and written it on our hearts.  His commandments of love are not simply laws that He expects us to live by.  They are the only mechanism through which we can find true happiness and fulfillment in life. Our love of God and others completes a great circle. We see this in Matthew’s gospel.

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ – Matthew 25:34-40

Of course, it is not only Christians who can love. Love is God’s great gift to everyone, and He has given everyone a seemingly unlimited capacity to love, and an unlimited desire to be loved.  Everyone who has lived knows this. Thousands of songs and poems have been written about love, and few of them can be classified as gospel.  There are truly beautiful lyrics that have spoken to our hearts, some of which have healed us and others that have buried us in sadness. Ann Murray sang “You Needed Me”, a song so beautifully written by Randy Goodrum about unconditional and undeserved love. 

I cried a tear, you wiped it dry
I was confused, you cleared my mind
I sold my soul, you bought it back for me
And held me up and gave me dignity
Somehow you needed me

You held my hand when it was cold
When I was lost you took me home
You gave me hope when I was at the end
And turned my lies back into truth again
You even called me "friend"

You gave me strength to stand alone again
To face the world out on my own again
You put me high upon a pedestal
So high that I could almost see eternity
You needed me, you needed me

John Denver wrote “Annie’s Song” for his wife, and forever lay to shame every note that you will ever write your spouse.

You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again

Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you
Come love me again

God’s great gift of love is at its best when we are giving it. Love truly is the gift that keeps on giving. My office is situated outside a hub of several offices, and it lends itself to my innocently overhearing a few conversations. Recently, I overheard a conversation at work between two women. One was describing how her husband bought her flowers for Valentine’s Day, and the other woman said that sounded so lovely. But the first woman didn’t think so, and went on to say that the love in her marriage seemed stale. Then I heard the other woman ask a wonderful question. She said “When was the last time you told your husband how much you love him, and how much better your life is with him than without him?” The first woman said she couldn’t even remember, and wasn’t sure if she felt that way anymore. The second woman challenged her to go through the motions, and see if planting this seed in her marriage might make a difference in their relationship.

This exchange reminded me of something my grandmother said once. She said “Jeff, love is a choice.” I couldn’t see it at the time, but now I realize the power of that statement. We reap what we sow, and when we sow love, we reap love. Incidentally, I overheard those same two women talking a few weeks later, and it sounded like a remarkable change had taken place in the first woman’s marriage.

But unfortunately, not all of the love in our hearts is of God. Some of it has been corrupted by the world. Don Henley noted it well in “The Heart of the Matter”, where he asked

“What are these voices outside love’s open door, that make us throw off our contentment and beg for something more.”

It is exactly these voices that have corrupted God’s great gift to us. People’s lives have been ruined by this corruption of love. Wars have been fought and millions of people have been killed in the name of this love. This love is possessive, selfish and self-serving. This love finds its way into lust and greed. It is sad that like every great gift from God, although love has been put in our minds and written on our hearts, it has been corrupted by our capacity to sin.

The Bible points to this so well. If you have only seen Protestant versions of the Bible, then you might have missed the great story in Daniel 13 (which is included in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles). In the story, a beautiful Hebrew wife named Susanna is wrongly accused of adultery by two Elders, and their story is bound in their own lustful desires for her.  Daniel comes to the woman’s rescue, insisting that the men be cross examined separately, and eventually their lie is exposed.  Lust is a corrupted form of love that plants further corruption in our lives.

We see a similar story in the John's gospel, and we are left to wonder whether the accusations in this instance are warranted or fabricated. Thankfully, Jesus makes it clear that the woman’s sin or lack thereof is NOT OUR CONCERN.

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” – John 8:2-11

Again, I return to the statement in the previous paragraph. Jesus makes it clear that the woman’s sin or lack thereof is NOT OUR CONCERN! Our concern is loving God, and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

The Bible also speaks to the corruption of love that takes the form of greed.

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” – Mark 10:17-25

Take care when reading this story. Jesus is not saying that there is sin in being rich. Jesus simply recognized that this particular man’s stumbling block was love of money, and Jesus makes a wonderful point that many people do not appreciate near enough. Notice how Jesus subtly steps past the second commandment when he lists the commandments to the young man. Jesus knows our shortcomings. He knows our weaknesses. The young man was worshiping money, and this is a problem that can rear its head in any person’s life. I challenge you to look up the list of the past lottery winners and learn what has become of their lives. Money truly can become the root of all evil. An abundance of money can open doors of temptation to sin that were previously closed.

When I think of this, I am reminded of a something a friend said to me once. He said, “Whenever I meet someone who says they have never been a slave to a particular form of sin, I wonder if they have ever been placed in that sin’s path.” I am also reminded of the multitude of young people who wish for great beauty, completely unaware of the added troubles it can bring to their lives through temptation that they would otherwise not experience.

God never intended for love to take these forms. Our love is meant to be unconditional. Paul said it best in his letter to the Corinthians.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13

I challenge you in this Lenten Season to once again find the love of God that has been put in our minds and written on our hearts. Plant love, and you will sow a great reward. Love unconditionally, expecting nothing in return, and God will give you his love in abundance.

Lent – Week 4

Looking for New Growth in Our Lives; Let's Prayer!

Study Materials: 

 

A Clearing Season, Reflections for Lent, by Sarah Parsons

Wondrous Encounters, Scripture for Lent, by Richard Rohr

Give Up Something Bad for Lent, James W. Moore

Unpacking Forgiveness, Chris Brauns

­Sifted, Pursuing Growth Through Trials, Challenges and Disappointments, Wayne Cordeiro (with Francis Chan and Larry Osborne)

Hearing God, Developing a Conversational Relationship with God, Dallas Willard

Lord, Teach Us to Pray, Andrew Murray

How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Finds from a Leading Neuroscientist, Andrew Newberg MD, Mark Robert Waldman

http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersverses/a/basicstoprayer.htm

Important Admission: I have freely mixed NIV and KJV below, and the latter portion of this lesson was taken from 
http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersverses/a/basicstoprayer.htm .

God's gives birth to something new in us as we submit to God in spiritual rebirth.

 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

– Isaiah 43:18-19

We grow in the spirit as we submit to God through prayer.

Prayer draws us closer to God, and part of prayer is listening to God.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. - Revelation 3:22

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” - 1 Kings 19:11-13

For most of us, the "small voice" is a voice in our heart; inaudible, yet clear, and new beginnings come from God’s patient walk with us

Lora’s story …

Listening to God takes us on a walk. God slowly talks us down.  He knows we need baby steps. He takes us on slow walks so that he can eventually take us on a run. God is so gentle, and so good.

"I wish He'd just come down here and talk to us." – Lora
I believe he is ALWAYS talking to us. We just need to listen.

The Bible tells us God wants to have a relationship with us.

 …there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory. 44 “So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God. - Exodus 29:43-46

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. - Exodus 33:11

But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. - Isaiah 41:8

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. - John 15:11-15

I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'These are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' " - Zechariah 13:9

But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!  - John 15:7

And God's presence in our lives gives us strength.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. ³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. ⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. - Psalm 23

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. - Psalm 118:6-7

God's power is made perfect through our weakness and submission.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. ⁸ For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. ⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. - 2 Cor. 12:7-9

How do we pray?

The Bible has a lot to say about this. Much of what follows is taken from  

http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersverses/a/basicstoprayer.htm

Origins of Prayer

Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord. - Genesis 4:26

Is there a proper prayer posture?

When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. - 1 Kings 8:54

… And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped. - Exodus 4:31

On your faces before God - 2 Chronicles 20:18; Also see Matthew 26:39.

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven - 1 Kings 8:22

Pray with your eyes open or closed, silently or out loud. – Just Pray

What if I don't have eloquent words?

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. - Matthew 6:7

Keep it simple!

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.  God is in heaven and you are on earth,  so let your words be few.- Ecclesiastes 5:2

God taught us to pray.

"Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!" - Matthew 26:41

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. ² He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. ³ And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ ⁴ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” ⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸ I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” - Luke 18:1-8

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. - Ephesians 6:18

The spirit will guide us in prayer.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. - Romans 8:26-27

Requirements for prayer.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. - Mark 11:24

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. - James 5:16

And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him. - 1 John 3:22

Will my prayers always be answered?

No - There are many reasons, including disobedience, secret sin, indifference, neglect of mercy, despising the law, stubbornness, doubt, self-indulgence (name-it-claim-it).

Pray in accord with God’s divine will.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. - 1 John 5:14

God wants us to pray together with other believers.

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  - Matthew 18:19

And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. - Luke 1:10

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.  - Acts 1:14

God also wants us to pray alone and in secret.\

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  - Matthew 6:6

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  - Mark 1:35

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.  - Luke 5:15-16

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. - Luke 6:12

Put on the full armor of God, and live in constant prayer!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. - Ephesians 6:10-18

“Never stop praying.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Jesus’ Instruction to Us – the Lord’s Prayer

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. - Matthew 6:5-15