Where to draw a line of caution?

"Better yet is to use a thing in the manner for which it has been designed. My son may say, "But, Daddy, I like to ride my two-wheel bike by dangling my feet to the ground and pushing myself along. I would answer him, 'You can do that and enjoy yourself, but it works so much better if you use the pedal for their real purpose' (Boice pg. 270-271). As I think on scripture and the purpose it has both in my life and the life of others, I should not settle with anything less than Gods Word when it comes matters such as how I should worship. But even more so, how much more should it apply when it comes to matters such as what I sing about; Christ. This is not to discourage christian contemporary artist from writing worship music which can be sung in churches, but much like the child on the bike, there is a proper and improper way to use it. Thus, if our voices were created by God in order that we may proclaim truth both in speech and in song, why is it that much Psalm singing has dwindled over the years? Or for that matter, scripture singing in general? The issue seems all to important and thus should not be swept under the rug. If such a complacency has crept into the hearts of Christian men and women over the years in regards to corporately worshiping God through song with His own word, how much further will we take it 20, 30, 50 years down the road if it is not properly addressed?

"The Bible either has converting and sanctifying power or it does not. if faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17), then they key to creating and building faith in sinner and saints is Gods word. Psalm singing will build the kingdom of God. (Boice pg. 283"

Examining Oneself

Occasionally, we will hear questions like, “What do think of the sermon?” or “How do you like that preacher?” after hearing the Word of God preached.

“Oh, that men would just give this respect to all the things that they hear, never to cast them of until they have examined and tried whether they are so or not!” (Burroughs 176-177).

We tend not to hold off for a moment before reacting about the sermon we just heard. It is easy for us to have a spirit of criticism that isn’t really interested in trying to understand or giving respect to a sermon without examining it first. Burroughs reminds us, “whatever comes in the name of God to you (unless you know for certain it is not according to the written Word), you owe so much respect to it as to examine it at least, to try whether it is so or not.” (176).

It may be that we forget to examine ourselves. It may be that we forget to take the Word of God and what the Word of God says about us, and examine ourselves in light of it. As the Lord Himself has said, we will be judged by His words (John 12:48). Our reading reminds us that it is dangerous to sit under the ministry of God’s Word with a critical ear waiting to flag every fault and flaw in a sermon. “And certainly, my brethren, until we come to believe the Word, though we might sit under it for many years, it will do us little good, and we shall never sanctify the name of God by hearing it.” (178) We are to constantly watch our hearts when we come to worship.

What can be some helpful questions to ask when examining ourselves?

To prepare or not to prepare? That is the question.

I have heard many worship leaders begin their time of worship with a phrase similar to "As we begin worshiping..." or "Let us start our worship off...." I wonder how accurate that statement is? In give praise to God it is stated "Worship encompasses all of life. There's not an aspect of our humanists from which worship is not the requisite response" (287). In light of that, is there truly a beginning to worship other than that beginning which takes place at salvation? Is it appropriate to invite a congregation to begin worshiping?  Would it not be more accurate to say "As we continue to worship...."?  It is a sad reality that in a congregation there is the likelihood of many people not coming with a heart prepared to worship.  They have deceived themselves into thinking that worship takes place on a Sunday morning or Sunday evening for an hour or maybe a Wednesday or at some point during the week to meet as a group for prayer, but that as a body of believers, we don't understand that worship is on going  It was stated "Worship encompasses all of life." So I ask, how do you approach a congregation who is not ready to corporately worship, to share with one another the joy of worship?  Is it really the job of the worship leader to help prepare a congregants heart for worship or is it his job to lead that prepared heart in worship?

For Your Enjoyment

"When we come to the Word of God, we must not only hearken for the present. We must hear for the time to come."

Like storing acorns for the winter.

Like this:

http://wimp.com/woodpeckerfills/

Bloogers for October 30

WE (Weston)
JM (Josh)
MP (Muan)
JL (Jacob)

Gospel Worship Pagination and Trueman Essay for October 28 and 30

October 28

Blue GW
p. 174 "8. Another particular wherein the behavior of the soul for the sanctifying of God's name consists is this: the Word must be received with love and joy . . . through p. 191 "But when you hear, if the Word of God comes to your conscience, do not listen to the vain reasonings that are against it."

Yellow GW
p. 186 "8. The Word must be received with love and joy." through p. 205 "But when you hear, if the Word of God comes to your conscience, do not listen to the vain reasonings that are against it."

October 30

Blue GW
p. 192 "There are others who cannot tell how to shift off the Word, but it will come upon them when they are hearing it." . . . through p. 202 "Oh, how just it is with God to stop His ear from your crying and calling in the day of affliction."

Yellow GW
p. 205 "There are others who cannot tell how to shift off the Word, but it will come upon them when they are hearing it." through p. 216 "Oh, how just it is with God to stop His ear from your crying and calling in the day of affliction."

Trueman (FRIWMFTT)
"On Meeting Joe Frazier: The Missing Element of Modern Theology"

10:00 AM Glory

Certainly, The Weight of Glory presents concepts that are pointedly essential to the Christian faith.

Since corporate worship is also (at least, in a scriptural sense) markedly essential to the faith, might not Lewis also display any wisdom relevant to the 10:00 AM worship service?

Worshipers are "far too easily pleased" (1). We gather together, corporately, at a certain hour, every week to – well, there is where the problem lies. Truth be told, we are uncertain (or, at the very least, divided) concerning the exact function of the weekly assembly. We know well enough to preach the Word, read the Word, see the Word, sing the Word, but remain bemused as to why these actions must be collective. After all, must we do these things together?

In The Weight of Glory, Lewis considers the symbolic nature of scriptural imagery. The corporate assembling of the church, is, of course, both highly symbolic and scriptural. Now, for us, our first impression of the local gathering of dragged-in, worked-down, partied-out, slicked-back saints leaves much to be desired. However, Lewis would argue that, despite all appearances, the "load, or weight, or burden of my neighbour's glory should be laid daily on my back" (9). To the Christian, sitting in the pew between an elderly man who smells of mothballs and a gaggle of compulsively-texting, Hollister-sporting teenage girls, he would admonish, "Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbour is the holies object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbour he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat–the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden" (9).

Of course, we may easily continue to meet corporately every Sunday morning for reasons that are less than satisfactory. We may not fully appreciate the message, in all of its rich blessing, that is being presented to us through this tangible expression of Christ's radiant bride. But then, to be content with such half-measured appreciation would be scorning both the symbol and the reality of the proffered reward. Instead, if we desire to know and grasp the blessing offered us through corporate worship, we would seek by "continuing to obey and finding the first reward of our obedience in our increasing power to desire the ultimate reward" (2).

Truth Matters

This constant back and forth concerning hymns is really quite tiring. The issue is never addressed because the terms are never explained. With that in mind, I propose that we initially forsake the issue of hymnody and that we focus on Truth. Let us take a few moments and observe verities, if you will, of truth.

Truth is always discovered. No human can create truth. They can merely observe it or use it. Nothing has ever come to be true based on what a man has said. It was already true before. For example, gravity did not become true because of Isaac Newton. Rather it was observed and then became accepted as truth.

God is the only one who can create truth. God can speak and have truth come into existence. Jesus Himself was Truth and his word is, and always will be, True.

Truth is always relevant. Truth will never go out of style. It will never become “untrue” for lack of use. Therefore, to use terms such as conservative, traditional, or old just so that one can be free of truth is complete ignorance and according to Romans 1.18 leads to God’s wrath.

Although so much more can be said concerning Truth, these simple principles can help us in our quest to Praise God. A hymn is a song of praise to God. That’s it. If Truth is always discovered, God is always the creator, and is always relevant, our hymns to be truly glorifying to God must be true. Therefore, they must be based on scripture. And if the hymn is based on truth why do we doubt if it will be relevant? If society dealt with science the same way the church deals with music we would still be in the dark ages. Every ten years we would have to be rid of The Laws of Thermodynamics because they just aren’t our style. Even worse, imagine going shopping, you would never be able to figure out the bill because math never takes into account how I’m feeling today.

Why must we be so concerned with the date of Truth? If the hymn is historical, let us consider it joy that a brother has discovered that truth and shared it with us. And then let us go to the Word that is living and seek out more truths so that we may share it with those to come.

“If there has ever been an age so myopically transfixed by its own importance and significance and a people so quick to dismiss its spiritual heritage, the age is ours and the people are evangelical.” GPTG pg. 256

Is this a matter that the worship leader slowly teaches the congregation? Or do you think it's too late and that culture's hold too strong and it needs to be addressed in a more direct manor?

Bloggers for Wednesday, OCtober 23

Bloggers for this week:

Suz. H (for AB who blogged last week)
Rachel T.
Stephen M.
Andrew D.

Gospel Worship Pagination for Wednesday, October 23

No Gospel Worship reading for Monday, October, 21st. No quiz on Monday. Discussion of Lewis's, The Weight of Glory.  

Wednesday, October 23 

Blue GW
p. 157 "QUESTION. What should be the behavior of the soul in sanctifying God's name in the Word when it is come?" . . . through p. 174 "And that is another particular  of the sanctifying of the name of God in hearing the Word, there must be a humble submission to it."

Yellow GW
p. 168 "QUESTION. What should be the behavior of the soul in sanctifying God's name in the Word when it is come?" through p. 186"And that is another particular  of the sanctifying of the name of God in hearing the Word, there must be a humble submission to it."  

Correct Disposition of our Hearts

There are several negative consequences that may arise out of discussing and studying some foundational issues in corporate worship. Particularly the tendency for some of us to become stagnated or calculated in our methods, some of us may turn into quick polemics with slow hearts for genuine ministry, while some may desire to worship God genuinely but lose touch with those around us who (or whom, whichever one is correct) we are worshipping with.

In our Give Praise to God text, Duncan spends an entire chapter calling for churches to hear and pray the Word in order that a church may "build a foundation...on the words of Christ [to] endure like a rock and not be shaken (p.160)". Though we, sitting in class today, are not in a church building I believe that we have a responsibility to pray God's word, making requests to God for His people knowing that many of them do not worship in a way that we would consider pleasing to God.

I believe that in a class like this and on a campus like this we can so easily lose sight of the fact that our greatest defense against worship that displeases God is not (necessarily) Jeremiah Burroughs, Ligon Duncan, James Boice, or Doc Harris. It is the humble and honest prayer of righteous people to a God who indeed seeks that His name be glorified, asking that He would open minds and hearts to people who are not worshipping Him in the specific ways He requires.

Burroughs asserts that we ought to be the kind of people who "keep their hearts close with God in ways of holiness...at all times...fitted to...pray continually (p.72)". Notice he does NOT say that we need to be the kinds of people always fitted to argue or philosophize.

In John 17:17 as Christ is praying for the disciples He asks the Father to "sanctify them by truth, Thy word is truth" and it forces me to realize that God's word is what will change people's hearts about worship (among many, many other matters). Though truth can come from many places, it is especially important that we live, breathe, and pray God's word revealed through scripture.

Therefore, in our knowledge of God let us not be "puffed up" as Paul might say but let us lovingly guide our brothers and sisters towards the truth of God's worship through our lives, our speech, and our prayers. Let us be slow to walk into service bashing our least favorite worship leader or author and swift to encourage someone to discover why God demands worshipping in knowledge. Let us be quick to listen to others views or ideas on controversial matters and slow to speak our presuppositions (even when they seem true) into someone else.

Pray that the love of God be rooted in us, charity and brotherly love flow from us helping us govern our tongues. Pray that we may go about worshipping and performing our duties pleasantly and cheerfully as we sing songs, hymns, and spiritual songs that teach and admonish one another so that we may fellowship and worship in the bond of peace that unites us all.

What can the Bible do for you?

Sunday rolls around, and it's time for Christian therapy sessions. This week just hasn't been the best week of your life. So, maybe your pastor will talk about that one principle and that one thing you need to put happiness back into your life. Pushing past the introduction (i.e. the little prayers and the redundant three song tradition). You finally get to the meat of the Sunday service, the message. Halfway through the service, comes that very principle you were searching for, "be kind one to another". That's it! The Bible has come through once again! This is the one principle you need to make your life so much better and push you through till the next Sunday.

Maybe this is going to far, but maybe not! Jeremiah Burroughs brings to light a problem that is far too prevalent in 21st Century American Evangelicalism. He states, "You therefore must not only when you come to hear, think, I come to get something, I come to understand more than I did, and to hear such... and the like; but remember you come to tender up your Homage to God, to sit at Gods feet, and there to profess your subjection to Him: That is one end of your coming to hear Sermons" (Burroughs pg 164).

The Word of God and the Sermons that Christ preaches through His under-shepherds are not there primarily to further your knowledge of the Bible, shine light on a specific intellectual topic, or even to dispense the most suitable principle for the need-of-the-week (Burroughs 166). No, but "remember you come to tender up your Homage to God, to sit at Gods feet, and there to profess your subjection to Him" (164).

Hear Dat Word SON!!!

        Yo bro, homie, gee, doggs of Worship class. For class today we read in gospel worship of the ordinance of hearing the Word as worship. Now granted this ordinance is much more enjoyable when the Word "preached" is (to put it simply) good! How can we as new covenant believers who have the Spirit not want to hear a message preached deeply, under the unction of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God. This is something that seems to be somewhat foreign to us American believers, and even BBC students. Sure we get a lot preaching, some good, some merely moralistic and principled. But when was the last time we heard true spirit filled preaching!? When was the last time we heard somebody go wild when heralding the beauty of the person of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Gospel?
         I love the definition of preaching by Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones. He simply put it that preaching is "logic on fire". I love it. It would be bad to separate the two obviously. We don't want merely just biblical logic, that would be merely teaching; which has it place. And we don't want merely just "fire" because if we have just "fire" then we will get a really "cool" sounding message that might get our emotions going a bit, but the next day we will be unchanged and no more conformed to Christ's image than the day before. That is obviously useless. So I think when we talk about the ordinance of hearing God's Word it would presuppose that we are hearing true preaching.
         And as Jeremiah Burroughs put it on page (in my addition) 207 we should have an excited expectation to hear God's Word, and that we should have a desire for it. "When it comes to hear the Word, come with a longing desire after the Word. Come with an appetite for it" (pg 207). Jeremiah Burroughs then applies 1 Peter 2:2 to this assertion. "As Newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby." Babies "desire" milk in such a measure that they will die without it. This is the attitude we should have when going to heard God's Word preached. We should have such a desire that we would be empty, or even distraught without it. we should have an attitude as Christians to not be able to live without hearing the Word of our God preached, and preached from a preacher that has Christ in His heart rather than Christ merely in his head.

Hungry to Hear Christ Preach

I want to harmonize three statements that Burrough's makes (as if he did not intend to have all of the content of his sermons be in harmony with each other).

"It is not the speaking of a man you are going to attend, but you are now going to attend upon God and to hear the Word of the eternal God." (161, ¶1)

Do you want to sanctify God's name in the hearing of His Word? You must know what you are coming to hear. Prepare your hearts to receive truth that is not subject to change, although a sinner will be preaching.

"Let us go hear Christ preach, for as it concerns the ministers of God that they preach not themselves, but that Christ should preach in them, so it concerns you who hear not to come to hear this man or that man, but to come to hear Jesus Christ." (161, ¶2)

Except for a few select instances, most preaching that you sit under will contain a good amount of Scriptural truth, regardless of how it is ordered. These truths are from the Word of God and might be used by Jesus Christ despite the preacher to teach you something that will further conform you into his image. In fact, I would argue that in just about any context, if I was to prepare my heart in the right way and push through what confusion or dullness there may be in the preaching, I would be able to grow in my sanctification. I want to hear what Jesus has to say, not what a man has to say. He should be asking Jesus to use him.

"When you come to hear the Word, come with longing desires after the Word. Come with an appetite for it...as newborn babes." (167, ¶1)

I love the point Burrough's makes about the fact that babies don't wish to play with milk, rather they desire to be fed and nourished. We should be afraid of playing with the Word. We should hunger for the Word to nourish our souls.

The point I want to make is that Jesus Christ speaks to us through the preaching of the eternal Word of God in order to nourish our souls. This is what we should have a hungry desire for, and we should pray that God would grant us the opportunity to learn and grow as much as possible from the words of Scripture that are proclaimed through the voices of men.

After we "pray beforehand that God would open our eyes and our hearts and accompany His Word," what are ways in which we do or could prepare our hearts to hear Christ preach the Word of the eternal God?

The Theology Behind The Dispatch EP (Mars Hill Music)

http://marshill.com/2013/08/20/the-theology-behind-the-dispatch

Pagination for reading Lewis's The Weight of Glory

For Wednesday begin reading Lewis's The Weight of Glory (Stephen posted the site for the online copy on our blog) through page 5, "I turn next to the idea of glory" . . . which is where you'll start for next Monday's reading. Thanks man!

C.S. Lewis - The Weight of Glory

http://www.verber.com/mark/xian/weight-of-glory.pdf

Bloggers for October 16

EK
SH (AB in light of South America absence)
SL
MS (JL in light of South America absence)

How today's reading (pp. 136-147) works

How should one keep close to God in holy duties? (136)

So that one might:

Grow in godliness
Thrive in godliness
Find more comfort in the ways of godliness 
Find yourselves, as it were, in another world
Enjoy communion with God
Make your faces shine in your conversations if you will do it

And not go on in a:
Dull
Formal
Ordinary (way)

Three things that I would propound to you:

1. Learn to know God more with whom you have to do, and present those things that you have before you in your meditation. (136)

with care like the story of Valerius Maximus about the young nobleman who would not disturb Alexander in his service even though a hot coal fell upon his flesh and burned it (p. 137).

Argument from the lesser to the greater: "If heathens made such ado in sacrificing to their idol gods, that they would mind it so as that no disturbance must be made whatever they endured, what care should we have, then, or ourselves when we come to worship the high God." (p. 137)

2. Take heed that you do not come in your own strength (p. 137).
      
3. Do not satisfy yourself merely in the duty done, but consider, "Do I sanctify God's name in the duty."
dead
wandering
sluggish
dull heart (Isaiah 29:13)

In other words:
"If we do not sanctify God's name, God will sanctify His name in a way of justice (and that's not what we want. We don't want justice). If we do sanctify His name, then He will sanctify His name in a way of mercy towards us." (p. 138)

Question: How does God appear that He will not accept them? (p. 139)

1. By cursing those who worship Him in a formal way (Anglicanism in context, Isaiah 29:13).
2. Awakening their consciences, many times, upon their sick beds and death beds.

But then on the other side: "e will sanctify His name in a way of mercy for gracious and  sincere and upright hearts who make conscience of sanctifying God's name in duties (p. 142).

"Oh, that the Spirit of God would bring things into your remembrance!" (p. 144).

Second half of the book (p. 145) How to sanctify God's name in the worship of God particularly. "You must not rest barely in hearing, but take heed how you hear. (p. 146)

1. Hearing God's Word is a part of the worship of God.
2. I shall show you how we are to sanctify God's name in hearing His Word.
3. Why it is that God will be sanctified in this ordinance of His.
4. How God will sanctify Himself in those who do not sanctify His name in hearing the Word.
5. How God will sanctify His name in ways of mercy to those who are careful to sanctify His name in hearing His word.

How Gospel Worship by Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646) works

Burroughs is going to attempt to answer this question: "How should one sanctify God's name in the worship of God?" (p. 9)

Generally (chapters 1-7, which you finished today, approximately the first half of the book)

Specifically (chapters 8-14, which you began today in the particular acts of hearing the Word preached, in receiving the sacrament (ordinance of the Lord's Table), and in prayer.) 

Gospel Worship Pagination for Monday and Wednesday, October 14th and 16th

October 14

Blue GW
p. 136 "Try this for the time to come, and you will find more comfort in the ways of godliness" . . . through p. 147 "Fifth, how God will sanctify His name in ways of mercy to those who are careful to sanctify His name in hearing His Word."

Yellow GW
p. 146 "Do but try this for time to come, and you will find more comfort in the ways of godliness . . ." through p. 156 "Fifth, how God will sanctify His name in ways of mercy to those who are careful to sanctify His name in hearing His Word."

October 16

Blue GW
p. 147 "1. Hearing God's Word is a part of God's worship." . . . through p. 157 "You must not come to the hearing of the Word as to hear a speech or an oration, but come in such a preparation as this is--and so God will be glorified and you will profit."

Yellow GW
p. 157 "These are the five principle things that concern this argument, but we will only deal with the first here. Hearing God's Word is a part of God's worship. " through p. 168 "You must not come to hear the Word as to hear a speech or an oration, but come in such a preparation as this is, and so God will be glorified and you will be profited."

I'll hand out copies today of Lewis's, The Weight of Glory for Wednesday's reading.

Gospel Worship Pagination for Monday, October 7th, No Quiz, and Lewis

October 7

Blue GW
p. 125 Sermon 7 or Chapter 7 "Why God Will Be Sanctified in the Duties of His Worship" through p. 135 "So wicked and ungodly men, whether they worship or not, are in danger of perishing, but more or this when we come to show that God will be sanctified."

Yellow GW
p. 134 Sermon 7 or Chapter 7 "Why God Will Be Sanctified in the Duties of His Worship" through p. 145 "So wicked and ungodly men, whether they worship or not, are in danger of perishing, but more or this when we come to show that God will be sanctified."

I'll supply copies of Lewis's Essay on Church Music that we'll read in class together out loud. Don't need to read it. 

Let the blogs begin!

Hope you have great conversations..Have a great time! Doc

To Exercise the Soul

"Not only pray the prayers of Scripture, but let both your terminology and content reflect scripture's terminology and content" (Boice, pg. 162). Thus, it should only be a rational thing to know that what we learn of God, we also apply back to God through means of pray, whether it be public or private, song writing, messages from the pulpit. ect. . But is this simply enough, that we use the faculties of our brain, and the members to that which it uses, to bring Glory to the Lord? Burrouges seems to make a fine line between that which we exercise our souls to do (which may or may not include the body at times) and that which we exercise our souls to do. Thus there is a distinction which should be remembered as we go throughout the day in everything we do, say, and listen to. Is the soul truly being exercised for God's glory through the means in which God has given us to do so through Christ? "Bodily worship without soul worship is nothing; but soul worship may be accepted without bodily worship. Therefore it is the soul that God principally looks at in holy duties" (Burroughes, pg 121). And thus boroughs would challenge us to evaluate the type of attitude within the soul we place before God and further caution us to not exercise it in such a way that Scripture does not give us the privilege of doing.

Thoughts?

Intentional prayers

‘When we argue that one should prepare for prayer and study to lead in public prayer, we are not, of course, saying that the prayer should be read aloud from a manuscript. Free prayer, rich scriptural free prayer, is too valuable a commodity to be lost to the church. It is studied prayer , not read prayer that we are advocating here.’ (GPTG 164) I have, at times, wondered if I’m praying the way God wants me to pray. Our reading has helped me to understand that biblically saturated prayers give us a more accurate lens in the way we see Christ that also enriches our conversation with God. I’m also reminded that when we pray based on Scripture, we can also have confidence and comfort that God is hearing and answering because we know that we are praying according to His will.

            Duncan points out that there needs to be a certain measure of intentionality in our prayer. We often tend to think that there can’t be freedom in a ‘studied prayer.’ However, it is easy to lose touch with what God has assigned for us if we trust our own righteousness rather than Christ’s. With no sense of intentionality, our prayers can be disrupted and the focus of attention may quickly change.

We forget that there can be wonderful freedom and joy in rich scriptural free prayer; how it expresses our feelings and our understanding accurately and compellingly. We do not realize that we are doing what we love (or should love) according to His will (1 John 5:14-15).

Some helpful guidelines for prayer from our reading are:

“Plan so as to offer brief prayer.” (165) I understand that if we’ve got a lot of ground to cover then it will be longer, but we are praying about a particular situation, we do not need to beat it to death. ‘Careful planning will help avoid the ‘verbiage and repetition” (165).

It is silly to “preach to God instead of praying to him”(165). This forces the listeners to think about the intention of the one praying rather than having their focus on God. Our prayers must be understandable, and succinct. They must be appropriate for the situation and moment. More importantly, they need to be fill with scriptural truths allowing the congregation to give glory to God.

How can we help others to understand and not fall into the trap of believing that studied prayers are not genuine?

Is there anything to be afraid of?

"As you invoke the presence of God (pray), fill your praise with the language of Scripture." (pg. 166)

Wow! To pray Scripture brings such an element to prayer that is difficult to describe.  I remember during my early teenage years attending a conference where that very concepts was brought up.  We spent some time praying Scripture.  At the time it was strange to me but as I have grown, praying Scripture is something that I find very refreshing.  I have discovered how inadequate my words are until they are grounded in the truths of Scripture.

I find myself often asking why Scripture is left out of prayer.  Why not when we address God use the very words He has given us to describe Himself?  Why does there seem to be a fear to pray Scripture?