An outline of the chapel service led by Chaplain Dale Cooper on January 10, 2005

Prayer: A Response to God's Presence

 Intro

1. Not all topics are equal in importance

• This one is not flashy, but most important. Among the central truths I long to transmit to next generation
• It can transform your attitude and approach to life

2. Two major points:

a. Prayer: 2-way conversation
b. In the conv., God longs to say:
- "I am strong: I hold you
- "I am loving: I love you"

3. Clips from videos

4. Read Scripture: Ps 62.1-2, 11; II Peter. 1.1-5
Thomas a Kempis: "Seek a convenient time to attend to thyself, and reflect often upon the benefits of God to thee"

I. Prayer: Two-way Conversation

A. Begins with God's loving, longing speech to us

B. My learning this: Gethsemane

C. Not easy to be attentive:
-Threats: noises, hurry, crowds
-the people in II Peter

D. Hence, slowness is vital: I Peter 4.7

E. Requires Deliberate Exercise (Ascesis)
1. Hence, Psalmist's speech to himself (62.1)
2. Hence, II Peter 1.5: "Make every effort."

F. A Method: Five P's (Passage, Place, Posture, Presence, Passage)

G. For example: Psalm 139 daily

II. What God Longs to Say. Two Truths:

A. "I am strong: I hold you."

B. "I am loving: I care about you"
-Essentially: "Jesus Loves Me"

III. Develop the Practice: Carve out time and place

A. A counterpoise to tendency to:
1. fail to acknowledge life's good events as gift
2. fail to be aware of God's presence amid difficult circumstances

B. For, at heart, we all want to know we matter to a God; that we can sing: "He Leadeth Me."

C. If you do, God promises:
1. We'll hear him saying: "I am Your God; you, my beloved child!"
2. We, in response say: "Be it done to me, Lord, according to what you have spoken."

Go to notes from Prof. David Crump's chapel message, "Persistent Prayer."