Dale Cresap's blog

Have you ever heard of a devil’s advocate? This is a commonly understood term even if the person in this position is not making direct, conscious, and deliberate support for the accuser of the brethren. Someone who seems to oppose everything you say just on principle would seem to fit the description. You don’t have to support things you don’t agree with, but is your first impulse to look for ways you can concur, or ways you can oppose? My word says to agree with your adversary quickly, implying even those who criticize you. I’m not saying you should apply this to the devil, but make this your preference with everyone else.

Do you see yourself as working for your employer with clearly defined lines of authority, or do you see yourself working for me, or both? The Bible speaks of servants and masters, but in your world of commerce, the terms employer and employee are used, but the principles are the same. You are inherently free in your spirit, but you still need to earn a living. Does it seem burdensome to you to answer to me as well as to your manager? You can see this in a more positive light. Those who work as unto me will have access to my favor and resources and assistance in everything they do.

Have you ever been in conversation with someone and had them give an unexpectedly strong reaction to a statement you thought was innocent and not provocative? Have you ever wondered, where did that come from? Everyone has had to deal with some past experiences that were painful. You may not find any redemptive purposes in some of the things you have encountered. Even so it is not helpful for you to live in reaction against your past. That compounds the damage and proves that you haven’t gotten over it. Look harder for redemptive purpose in your suffering. Even if you can’t find it you can still let it go.

Did you know that birds living in a city will learn to mimic the sounds of the city? This shouldn’t come as a surprise, although you know that birds in their natural habitat will sing their own unique songs. Do you think the same principle applies to humans? Again you can accept the fact that people are influenced by the culture they are immersed in. This influence can be good or bad, but it does lead you away from the expression of your unique self. Are you aware of the influences you are subject to? This isn’t automatic; in fact it is quite rare. Awareness of this type takes intentional effort. What song would you sing in your natural habitat?

My critics questioned my credentials by saying that no prophet had ever come from Nazareth. This is a classic fallacy based on faulty reasoning, and you should avoid this type of reasoning if you are serious about knowing the truth, which they were not. But it fails on multiple levels, because I was not even from Nazareth. As you know, I was born in Bethlehem rather than Nazareth, and would have been happy to tell them that since I was standing right there if they were interested, but they were not. What question would you ask of me? You accept it by faith that I am with you so go ahead and ask.

My word tells you to pray without ceasing. It also says to be still and know that I am God. Do you see these principles as being in conflict? You might see it this way if your prayers consist of you doing all the talking, but there is a larger perspective from which to view prayer. Do you think it can consist of silence in my presence, yet with full attentiveness, awareness, and engagement? This may not conform to your usual understanding of an activity, but it does mine, and it pleases me for you to sit at my feet and be with me. if you are willing to walk this path you may find it more transformative than other approaches to prayer, and be changed from one degree of glory to another.

My disciples argued among themselves as to which of them was the greatest. They were embarrassed when I asked what they talked about, and I used the occasion to teach them that my followers were not to be as the gentiles who loved to exercise authority, but rather to become servants of all. But even the gentiles do not argue among themselves about who is the most spiritual, because they don’t care about that, but Christians do care. Have you ever been in a group of believers arguing about this? It has to be done with subtlety because of the passage of scripture above, but you can excuse yourself, acknowledging the spirituality of others without suggesting yours is superior.

Are your prayers specific or general? Are your prayers specific enough that you would know when they are answered? Would you expect vague or ambiguous answers to vague or ambiguous prayers? Yet do highly specific prayers leave enough room for me to act according to my own will? Prayer should not be an abstraction, and at the same time it should not be like placing an order for merchandise on-line. I’m prepared to extend extreme grace to your prayers but if you want them to be fervent and effectual and avail much there is no substitute for walking with me and being conformed and aligned with me to know my will.

Pilate asked, what truth was, but this appeared to be a rhetorical question, since the truth stood before him and he couldn’t see it. Do you see the truth clearly? Would you know if you had internal biases and preconceived ideas that influenced you? Have you heard your fellow believers ask the question, what would Jesus do? This is a good approach in that it is an effort to step outside of your own perspective and consider one that is higher. Have you ever wondered what I would do and been uncertain even though I have revealed myself in my word? Go ahead and ask me. I’m right here.

Do you believe when you pray? Do you believe after you pray? Have you ever been surprised when I answered your prayers? Do you think that prayer is like dialing a combination lock and you must have it exactly right to get results? The exact words do not matter as much as you may think, but what you say afterward may matter more than you think. For what you say afterward is an expression of whether you take your own prayer seriously and expect something to happen as a result. Let your prayers be words of life, faith and hope. Then continue to speak words of life, faith and hope with expectation. Could this be prayer without ceasing?