Prayer

Thoughts from Desiring God, John Piper

Prayer

• Delight in the Maker
• We sin when we do not delight in God
• To humble ourselves and put no airs of self-sufficiency and come to Him for provision
• We do not glorify God by providing His needs, but by praying that He would provide ours - and trusting Him to answer.
  
• To wait on God means to pause and consider our own inadaquacy in light of the Lord's sufficiency

Prayer results in

• Power to love
• Connectedness to God
• Admiting we can do nothing without Christ
• Turning away from ourselves to God
• Bearing fruit
• Having the Spirit

All this results in fullness of joy. The fullness of joy we seek is the joy of overflowing love to other people. No amount of getting can satisfy the soul until it overflows in giving.

Love is the overflow of joy in God that meets the needs of others.

John 15:24: "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will received, that your joy may be full."

Faith

Mark 6:1-6 (NIV) Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3 Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

Jesus could not do any miracles there b/c of their lack of faith. This holds more true for us than we would like to realize too. How much more could Jesus work in our lives if we had more faith.

In Mark 9:22-24, where the boy's father is asking to Jesus to drive a demon out of his son, the father says: But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

This probably reflects our sentiments: I do believe; help me to overcome my unbelief!

Contrast this to
Mark 5:33-34 (NIV) Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Seven Principles

Summary from The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, John Gottman

Knowing each other.
Admiration
Connect - Turn Towards each other
Making decisions together
Honor & Respect
Accepting Influence
Repair attempt
Shared goals/values

Watch out for defensiveness

What dreams do you have?