Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2021

CHAPEL NOTES A PRACTICE OF PRAYER – A PRAYER JOURNAL WHEN THE CHURCH PRAYS The following is an excerpt from an August 29, 2012, chapel presentation by Bob Rohm. Listen to his full message at cedarville.edu/RohmAug12 . The following is an excerpt from a November 16, 2016, chapel presentation by Chad Keck. Listen to his full message at cedarville.edu/KeckNov16 . For years I struggled in my prayer life. I knew I should be spending time in prayer. I just didn't seem to be able to get a handle on it. Number one, I was so distracted while I was praying. A minute and a half into prayer, and some sound got me thinking about something else. Secondly, I struggled at times to remember substantive prayer requests. There should be more than just insignificant things I could take to God. Thirdly, my prayers were “me” centered. I wasn't remembering or paying attention to substance and things to talk to God about. Fourthly, I wasn' t sensing answers to prayer, so why pray? Is this just some religious activity? It's not going higher than the ceiling. Lastly, I was so inconsistent. I'd say, “OK, I'm going to spend time in prayer.” And three days later, I’m not praying as I ought. I put together a prayer journal. It's something practical that works. You need some lined paper with holes punched in it or a spiral notebook. Divide the page into four vertical columns — a narrow column, wide, narrow, wide. The first column is the date. The second is a request, the third is the date, and the fourth is the answer to prayer. I also have a page where I list family members. A journal helps me remember specific requests and keep focused during my time in prayer. It also reminds me of answered prayer and reasons for praising God. Bob Rohm ’68 is the former Vice President for Christian Ministries at Cedarville University. He is currently serving as Interim Care Pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville. In Acts 12:1–5, Peter is in prison, but earnest prayer was made to God by the church. Let me give you four things that will help us as we learn to pray. The first one: Prayer should be directed to God. We are talking to the Creator of the heavens and the earth. We ought to come to God with a reverence about who He is, that He is able, and that He is the Lord. We've got to redirect our thinking away fromman-centered activity to God-focused prayer. There is an intimacy there, but there is also a holiness. Second, prayer is often corporate. Peter was in prison, but earnest prayer was made by the church, not by individuals. I'm not belittling individual prayer. But if you're not gathering as the body in prayer, you're missing out on what God intended. It's one way the church stands firm in one spirit and with one mind, striving side by side for the faith. Third, prayer is persistent. Peter finds them in prayer. Many were gathered together and were praying all night because they knew it was up to God to do something. They were praying. Persistent prayer. Fourth, prayer is specific. Scripture tells us to lay all our needs and requests before Him. But there was something on their heart that they wanted to see God do. And God did it. So pray. Chad Keck is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Kettering in Dayton, Ohio. He is also an Adjunct Instructor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Cedarville University. A journal . . . reminds me of answered prayer and reasons for praising God. It's one way the church stands firm in one spirit and with one mind, striving side by side for the faith. One of God's means of growth to His people is the privilege of direct, personal interaction with Him. We pray these chapel messages will encourage, challenge, and inspire your daily fellowship with the Father. 28 | Cedarville Magazine