Praycation 2012: DAY FOUR

“I am the Lord who heals you.”

Exodus 15: 26

A traumatic event incident forced us to journey beyond the boundaries of our comfort zone. It is still an open wound. It may have happened years ago but it feels just like it happened yesterday.

It can be a challenge to bring closure to issues and events that have damaged our mind, body or soul. We may find it difficult to turn the page, complete that chapter of our lives, start another or even closing the book altogether.

           

Many times the wound remains an open issue because it, he, she or they may be finished with it but we are not. We want a different ending, so we live with that hope that in spite of what has already transpired, another benediction can be pronounce. 

The wounds remain open forcing us to deal with it on a daily basis. Quick and easy Band-Aid systems are not working. We may not be ready to close the wound so we pick at the scab until it festers.  We remove the bandage too soon exposing the wound to more germs and possible infection from the same source that wounded it.

           

We may fail to bring closure to wounding experiences because others won’t leave it alone.  As far as you’re concerned it is over but they will keep talking about it, reminding you about what happened. It goes viral in your social network system until it reappears on your emotional radar screen.

Remember today that God is Jehovah-Rophi, the Lord who heals. God, the giver and sustainer of life can bring us into the place of complete wholeness where wounds begin to heal. God can heal the physical body but also removes the scar tissue and scabs that formed around our emotions when we can’t bring closure to past experiences.

Jehovah-Rophi can heal troubled minds, tired bodies and weary souls. God’s healing touch can heal the anger that depletes us, apathy that traps us into unproductive habits and forgive the sin that brings shame and regret.

      

“I am the Lord who heals you.”

Exodus 15: 26

Lord, heal us today so we can close the door on yesterday and open a new door to the future you have in mind for us! In Jesus name, Amen.

PRAYCATION 2012

A TRANSFORMED LIFE

Practice the steps to Praycation today: Silence, Solitude, Submission, Service and Selah. Details are found in the introduction on August 1^st in the archives. Join the journey today and invite others to pray with you!

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie

Praycation - Day Three

What do you do when you are confronted with dire circumstances? A season when you cannot move forward and retreat is not an option.  Many voices will speak and vie for your attention with their suggestions.

Despair will tell you to give up. Hopelessness will tell you it useless. Agony will speak words of discouragement. Arrogance will tell you that you’re better than that. Impatience will tell you to do something…do anything but do it now!

Moses and the recently emancipated Hebrews in the book of Exodus faced dire circumstances on the edge of the Red Sea. God responded with “Stand still” or “Stand firm.”

So, what do you do? Stand ready expecting to hear your marching orders from God.  Stand firm until God speaks. Stand still while God prepares the answer, the solution, the promotion, the breakthrough or the breakup. Do not get in the way while God is preparing your miracle.

“Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.”
Exodus 14: 13
Lord, help me to stand firm today waiting on my marching orders instead of forcing myself into action.

DAY THREE

Beloved this is Praycation 2012: A Transformed Life. Start using the steps to Praycation today. You can take 31 seconds or 31 minutes but you can make time to do it. The steps are Silence, Solitude, Submission, Service and Selah. Go to the Praycation introduction for more details in the archives on August 1, 2012.

If you are joining the journey, let me know in the comment section. When God answers your prayers, please share the good news with others. Me too! Invite others to join the journey with you. Subscribe...it's free.

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Praycation 2012 - Day Two

“By faith Abraham…obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
Hebrews 11: 8

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were able to see a thing from the beginning all the way to the end? Imagine if we could see our way through a new endeavor even before we got started. Seeing is not faith. Faith doesn’t always see the path, the process, procedure or the plan from the beginning. Faith is the substance of what we’re hoping for and the evidence of what we cannot see. Faith turns the key that unlocks the powerhouse of God.
Abraham obeyed God. He went even though he did not know where he was going. Many times we miss God because we wanted to see first after God told us to move, get up, make do, launch out into the deep, start, finish, initiate, complete, pull it together, stand still, or simply go. Obeying God gets us to the end faster than trying to see.
Let us pray:
Lord, empower us to move forward today, not knowing or seeing but trusting in you, in Jesus name, Amen.

PRAYCATION 2012: A TRANSFORMED LIFE
Beloved, remember the steps of this 4th annual session of Praycation:
Silence - Be still
Solitude – Get away
Submission – Give yourself to God
Service – Do what God says do
Selah – Stop and Listen to God using the daily Scripture and the Simple Sentence Prayer.

We have just begun our 31 day journey to a transformed life. You can spend 31 seconds or 31 minutes on the steps to Praycation. Take as much time as your can anytime during the day. Mornings work for me. Build as we journey through the month.

Let us know you are on the journey in the comment section. Share your prayer experiences in the comment section as well. Share Praycation in your social networks such as Facebook, Twitter or Digg.

For more explanation of the steps of Praycation 2012 go to the introduction posted on August 1st.
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PRAYCATION 2012 A TRANSFORMED LIFE

Beloved of the Lord, it is past time that we separate ourselves from the routines of everyday life to immerse ourselves into the presence of God.

Praycation is a stepping away …stepping away from the burden of always needing to have everything your way, stepping away from demanding the things that you want…so that you can step into the frontier of spiritual life. 

Praycation is a stepping away from all useless reflections of the past and stepping to a God who is waiting for us to pay attention and listen to the voice of God whether it comes as a clap of thunder or a still small voice.

Praycation is praying boldly life-changing life creating prayers. To pray is to change. God uses prayer to transform us. If we are unwilling to change, prayer may become a burden. Prayer brings us closer to the heart of God, helps us to see things Gods way, to desire the things God desires, to think God’s thought after God, to want what God wants for our lives.

Moses prayed believing that his prayer could change things even God’s mind. David chased after God’s heart leaving sleep with “Early I seek Thee” (Psalm 63:1). Esther gathered the women together to pray and fast before taking action to respond to a travesty. Jesus and his crew were so busy with ministry that they did not have time to eat. Jesus then suggested “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” (Mark 6: 31). The disciples had prayed all their lives and still asked Jesus, “Lord teach us to pray.”

Does any of this sound familiar? Our lives could stand some changing. Let us pray! We need to rekindle our desire for the heart of God. Let us pray! There is some challenge, a crises or travesty on the horizon that impacts community and country. Let us pray! Life is beyond busy and we need to find a deserted place and rest a while. Let us pray! We have prayed and still don’t know all there is to know about prayer. Let us pray!

Welcome to Praycation 2012: A Transitioned Life.

This year Praycation involves several elements:

Silence – Inviting the Presence of God

             Silence is the preparation to receive the gift of God’s presence. It is the absence of speech and the act of listening with the heart. Only when we learn to be truly silent are we able to speak a word that is needed when it is needed, writes Richard Foster.

Sit still. Breathe deeply. Exhale: Lord I need you. Inhale: Lord I receive you.

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46: 10

Solitude – Being alone with God

            Solitude liberates us from being afraid of being alone with God or ourselves. God is calling us to step aware from the ordinary, turn off the noise and everything with an on and off switch. Take advantage of the solitudes that are present everyday. The early morning solitude before the business of the day in bed, over a cup of tea or coffee, in a quiet place before the work of the day, or tiny snatches of time in rush hour traffic, or quiet places outside the home like a park, tree, patio, garage or a sanctuary.

“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

Submission – Putting Ourselves in the Hand of God

Let’s do something radical. In prayer let us be “yielded and still” before God alone. Let us yield our body, mind and soul to the Lord at the beginning of everyday. Lord whatever you want me to do, wherever you want me to go, whatever you want me to say in whatever way you desire. It is the first thing in the morning and last thing at night prayer.

Let’s submit ourselves to God’s word day and night to be fed, led, taught and transformed.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” John 14: 26

Service – Do what the Lord Commands

God will direct us in the days ahead from our tiny snatches of silence, solitude and submission to look beyond ourselves to others. No assignment by God is too small or too big; God is able to use us to be a blessing to those who are either closest to us or away on the other side of the world.

We go forward everyday having been formed and transformed in prayer and nurtured by the Holy Spirit to a new awareness of God’s presence. We go forward with new assurances, joy and peace as a follower of Jesus Christ. We go forward putting feet to our prayers.

Selah – Stop Here before Moving Forward

Selah is a word used in the Hebrew Bible, often in the Book of Psalms as a notation or direction to musicians or choir. It can mean stop and listen or those who have ears listen and those who have eyes see. It can also mean stop here before moving forward.

The Selah that is a part of Praycation 2012 are your daily simple sentence prayers. Sentence prayers have been apart of our lives forever. Every time you uttered “Lord help” or “O My God” that was a sentence prayer.

Our daily time together will include a Bible verse and a sentence prayer that you can utter all day long and reflect upon before submitting to sleep at night.

Your daily Praycation can take 31 seconds or 31 minutes everyday. I suggest that you start by taking small steps first. Work your way through each level of Praycation from Silence to Selah until it is as essential to your spiritual life as air, food and water is to you daily life.

Remember this is Praycation, a step away from the ordinary. Everyday, take time to be silent, inviting the presence of God; get away to a quiet place or solitude; place yourself into the hands of God or submission to lose your life for Christ’s sake (Mark 8:35); service, doing what the Lord commands and Selah, stopping to read God’s word and pray a simple sentence prayer.

Got it? Let the praying begin!

DAY ONE – AUGUST 1, 2012

“And there came a lion.” I Samuel 17: 34

When lions show up in our lives it can cause fear, anger and anxiety. The heart begins to pound and the adrenalin flows. The lion showed up in young Davis’s life and threatened to destroy his flock. What looked like a life threatening crises was God’s opportunity for success in disguise.

Let us pray:

Lord, open my eyes today to see your opportunities even if they are disguised as trials and temptations. In Jesus name, Amen.

           

Beginning Again!

BEGINNING AGAIN

Beloved of the Lord, it has been awhile since I’ve had the opportunity to share with you on a regular basis. I had to take a hiatus from our digital ministry to focus all of my attention on hosting the 49^th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Approximately 30,000 people came for ten days of worship, work and witness including our First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Michelle Obama! She gave a powerful speech to thunderous applause. Her words motivated and inspired the attendees.

Prior to the opening of the General Conference, we were also packing up our home and office in preparation of being assigned to a new Episcopal district. In our tradition, a bishop can only serve in a region for up to 8 years.

Supervisor Stan and I have been assigned to the 10^th Episcopal District, the great state of Texas and the home of Paul Quinn College. Our hands have been full in transitioning into Dallas, Texas. That is code for unpacking the boxes we just pack up in Tennessee. We have moved all our worldly goods into our new home and office prior to our first state conference, August 1-4 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Addison Texas, and the Super Summer Convocation.

Since 2009, close to 300,000 people have heard, read and watched messages on this site www.thisisyourwakeupcallonline.com and prayed with us on the Praycation blog at www.vashtimckenzie.blogspot.com. We are compelled to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and join in life changing and life creating prayer. Like David in Psalm 63:1, we desire to seek the Lord early, and like Jesus in Mark 1:35, we should to go to a place apart and pray. Prayer is essential to a life of faith just as oxygen is essential to breathing.

Thus, I’m back! Look for weekly audio and written devotions again on the wake up call site. Praycation, our summer journey into the heart of God begins on August 1, 2012. Make the commitment to engage in radical prayer in these radical times for a radical response.

It is not about turning God into a vending machine that spews out instant answers, prizes and surprises. Praycation is about drawing closer to the heartbeat of God, to begin to hear God’s voice, to desire the things God desires, to love the things God loves, to do the things God want us to do by developing the discipline of prayer that brings us into the deep levels of faith and do the highest service for God.

Pray with me now as we prepare to begin this 31-day journey. Texas, join the thousands that have prayed over the past few years. And to our friends around the world, join the journey for the first time, or again, and invite others to join with you. Just click on the subscribe icon on each site for messages and the Praycation discipline of prayer. It’s free!

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie

Episcopal Servant, 10^th Episcopal District AME Church

Shut Door Prayers

"Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door."

Matthew 6: 6

Merciful God, we have shut the door against the intrusions of the day. We who are weary from the challenges and changes of this uncertain season seek rest in your eternal chanagelessness. You are the same yesterday, today and forever more.

Speak now a word that dispels the clouds of doubt and fear. Speak a word that will sustain us in the mundane or monumental moments ahead. Speak a word that will strengthen our hands for the work before us, our hearts for any burdens to bare and renew our minds to make decisions that honor you.

In this shut door prayer, whisper your instructions so that we may emerge to do your will. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Beloved of God, Praycation: Life Creating Life Changing Prayer begins tomorrow August 1, 2012. For 31 days join us for the challenge to be in God's face for 31 days  seeking life changing revelations! Take a break from the ordinary and join the journey. You can do it whether you are on vacation, still on the job, praying for the one you have or the one you want! Just let me know in the comment section and be sure to invite others to join you! 

The Divine Encounter

Dear God,

I cannot begin this day without spending time in your presence. I cannot rush to be with you and then quickly move away. I cannot come to the prayer place and not be ready to encounter you. I command my spirit to receive what you will give to me. Amen

Dr. Jessica Ingram
Supervisor, 10th Episcopal District AMEC
Author, The Journey Within
Journeyministry@aol.com

Prayer Quote

"Is the Son of God praying in me, or am I dictating to Him?....Prayer is not simply getting things from God, that is a most initial form of prayer; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God. If the Son of God is formed in us by regeneration, He will press forward in front of our common sense and change our attitude towards the things about which we pray."

Oswald Chambers