ALTeR^_©  Your Life!

All my life I have been an athlete. While I excelled in my sport of choice, I was not what you would consider a "natural." In other words while some of my team mates were so talented that their success came easily, I had to work hard to rise to the top of my game. The pay off of victory was always sweet as I looked back on the hours of painful preparation.

The journey towards spiritual transformation is not different.  Becoming everything God intends for us to become requires effort on our part. Of course we know that Salvation is not earned but comes only by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) to those who trust in Christ alone for eternal life. However, scriptures also instruct us to "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). In other words, spiritual maturity and transformation does not happen automatically or accidentally.  If we are to enjoy spiritual abundance we must exercise the disciplines which will strengthen and deepen our walk with Christ.

What follows is simply one tool among many which provides simple handles by which you can begin exercising some spiritual disciplines which will, in turn, ALTeR^© your life toward spiritual transformation.  The methods that follow are not the only or perhaps even the best ways to develop your walk with Christ.  However, if you are looking for a way to get started, I highly recommend this format to get yourself going.  You may simply need something different to get you out of a “rut.”  Use it as a jump start to get you back on track.  Whatever the case might be, my prayer is that the following format will help you establish a few habits that will continue for many years to come.

Your Personal ALTeR^© Time

 ALTeR^© ( Abundant Life Training Routine)  is a format for an effective, systematic devotional time.  The suggested time-frame is one hour daily.  However, one hour may be too much for those who are just beginning.  It may be too short for veterans of the faith.  Regardless, the important thing is to simply start where you are comfortable and build from there.

Each daily session includes Worship, Prayer, Scripture, and Journaling. 

Flex and Stretch (Adoration)

In Psalm 22:3 the psalmist David wrote of God, But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.  A modern paraphrase renders this verse, God inhabits the praise of His people.

The picture in my mind is that God loves to make himself comfortable in places where people are praising Him.  In fact, he is so comfortable that he chooses to live there.  Do you want to experience God’s presence, then praise Him – tell Him how good he is.  It is no coincidence that the Lord’s Prayer begins with ”Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be your name.”

Each day as you enter your ALTeR^© Session, spend a few minutes in spiritual “warm-up.” Listen to some good praise music; read a psalm that is praise oriented; sing or read to Him the words of your favorite praise chorus; or just tell God in your own words how marvelous and wonderful He is.  According to Psalm 22:3, this discipline invites God to “make Himself comfortable” and establishes the proper atmosphere for your time with Him. 

The Training Session

Well-balanced physical training sessions include cardiovascular (heart) and strength (muscle) training.  In order for spiritual training sessions to be effective, there must also be a balance of prayer  and scripture reading.  After the Flex & Stretch warm up, you are ready to begin the heart of your time with God. 

PRAYER – (A.C.T.S. Guide)

The following prayer guide is not original with me but is something I have found helpful in organizing my daily prayer time:

A = Adoration (this was explained and is accomplished in the Flex & Stretch Time).

C = Confession – It is said that “confession is good for the soul.”  Not only is confession good for the soul, it is essential in approaching a holy God in prayer.  Consider the following scriptures:

John 9:31 -- "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.”

Psalm 34:15 – “The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.”

Psalm 66:18 – “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”

Proverbs 15:29 – “the LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”

James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

Matthew 5:23-24 -- "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”

Sin prevents access to God.  Think in terms of a parent/child relationship.  When a disobedient child comes to a parent with a request for some type of pleasure, a wise and discerning parent will not grant any favors until the disobedience has been dealt with.   You will get no further with God then an obedient and a pure heart.

Psalm 24:3-5

3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
       Who may stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
       who does not lift up his soul to an idol
       or swear by what is false.

5 He will receive blessing from the LORD
       and vindication from God his Savior.

Again, if there is any kind of sin on our life, the only prayer that God is interested in is one of confession and repentance. The good news is that according to 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

One word of caution is in order here.  One of Satan’s tricks is to get us to repeatedly go back to sins of which we have already confessed and sought God’s forgiveness.  Satan loves it when we focus on our past rather then the future.  Remember that whatever God has forgiven is forever gone whether it was last month or one hour ago.  One way I keep things in perspective is to pray the following prayer:

God, if I have been disobedient to you in any way

since the last time we met, please reveal it to me.

This keeps everything current and up to date for me.

T = Thanksgiving

After a time of adoration and seeking our hearts for any sin, enter a time of thanksgiving using the following guideline: 

Thank God for answering prayer;

Thank God for spiritual blessings (salvation, Holy Spirit, His presence, etc.):

          Thank God for relational blessings (family, friends, etc.);

          Thank God for material blessings.

          S = Supplication

This is the place where you pray for the needs in your life whether they are yours or others.  I have chosen a particular path that I am comfortable with.  You may adopt it for yourself or choose another way.  They key is to find a way of praying for needs that you are comfortable with and stick to it.

Monday         Prayers for family members and needs

Tuesday        Prayers for personal needs and areas in which God is dealing with me.

Wednesday   Prayers for our church.  This also my weekly fasting day.

Thursday      Prayers for people.  I use the church directory and work my way through a segment of the alphabet each week.

Friday            Praying Scripture – If God has spoken to me through certain scriptures I have read, I will use Fridays to pray them.  There are some powerful prayers in Paul’s writing that I have prayed many times.  Ephesians 1:15-18; Ephesians 3:14-19; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12.  Additionally I have prayed the words of Philippians 2:5-11 for myself man times. 

As an author and a preacher, I love it when I am quoted.  Anyone would.  God is no different.  He loves to hear his people pray back to Him the words that He gave us.  Not only that, when we pray God’s Word, we can rest assured we are praying properly and in the Spirit if our motives are right.

SCRIPTURE READING – S.O.A.P.

As we read God's words, we begin to see how God responds to things. Doing daily devotions re-patterns the way we think and transforms the spirit of the     mind. Then when we face similar situations as Jesus did, we begin to respond in the same way.

Recently I have begun using a Scripture reading format developed by Bishop Dick Wills of Honolulu.  The basic idea is to read from the Bible daily-- and not     just a little passage or two. The SOAP schedule presents the reader with at least 3 chapters every day.  I recommend it as an effective way to read God’s     Word.

Here's what you'll need:

    1. Your Bible

    2. A pen/pencil

    3. Your daily planner/Calendar

    4. A Bible reading plan (if you need one, there are many  available…or you can just put a bookmark in your Bible as you read along)

    5. A "SOAP Journal" (Can be any notebook, spiral bound or otherwise, with blank pages for writing... could even be done on the computer!).  Journaling is an excellent way to both record and process what God has spoken to us. It's also a useful tool to use at a later time, to reflect on and review some of the 'gems' that you have received.   Without writing them down, you may forget those blessings  and some very important lessons!

Here's how it works:

1. "S"  SCRIPTURE. Read whatever Scripture is already on your plan to read for that day.  However, it is important to have a PLAN.  This method would work even if you open your Bible and plunk your finger down on a verse, but in order to receive the "whole counsel" of God, you should methodically work through all of Scripture, so you don't just tend to the parts you like.  As you are reading through your Scripture, begin to underline or highlight verses that stick out, or really speak to you.  Use a Bible that you feel comfortable marking up and making notes in.  Don't worry about summarizing anything at this point.  Just let your spirit    be open to God speaking to you through His Word.  When you are finished reading your section of Scripture, skim back over it, and note the sections that you've underlined.  What stands out to you the most?  Where do you feel God really opened your eyes today?  Whittle that down to a phrase or a verse of Scripture.  Then in your Soap Journal, turn to a fresh page and write down today's date, and then under that    put an "S" and then write out the verse of Scripture, long hand... that is, write the very words from the Bible. Then make a note of the Biblical Reference (Isaiah 44:1, for example).

    2. "O"  OBSERVATION.  Write down an "O" and then     write things that you observed during your reading or     study of today's text.  This can be as extensive as you want it to be.  Perhaps you are accustomed to following cross-references in Scripture, or looking up historical information and the broader, situational context, or even just recognizing what's happening in the preceding and following chapters and verses (immediate context) of the current book of the Bible you're reading.  Whatever you observe that    helps "set the stage" for today's reading... write that down.  I find that this is the sort of thing that may be obvious to you while you are reading, but very often flees your memory when you look back at just a section or verse of Scripture out of it's original context.  Record those observations for 'safe keeping.'

    3. "A"  APPLICATION.  Now write an “A” and then write how God is speaking to you personally through this verse.  What is He saying that you need  to hear?  What isHe saying that challenges you, or perhaps that comforts and     encourages you?  This section in your journal, simply helps you apply the verses of Scripture to your life and your current situation. 

    4. "P"  PRAYER.  Finally, write down a “P” and the prayer(s) that emerge in your heart following your  devotional time.  By this point in your time with God, it is likely that you will realize that you need to make a change, to be strengthened, or just to be comforted and given hope.  Talk to God in this section.  Tell Him what's in your heart, and ask Him to give you what you need.  He longs to do this for you... He is waiting for you to come to Him.  This is the part of  your journal where you don't want to 'hold back.'  You cannot hide anything from God.  By not coming to Him on your knees in your journal/prayer you are only short-changing yourself of God's power to heal, strengthen, comfort or grow you.  Write it down.  Be "Real," honest and sincere with God.

If this seems a little overwhelming, take it slow and keep it simple. No matter how you decide to do your devotions, the important thing is to show up for your daily appointment, because God is always waiting for you!    

Winding Down

As an avid Racquetball player, I have become accustomed to a

post-game "wind down.” This is a time when good plays are recalled and celebrated and bad ones are laughed about and forgotten. Using the same idea in our time with God, take some time each day after study and prayer to evaluate. How did the lesson affect you? What do you think God was teaching you? What actions will you take as a result of this time? The time spent in God’s word should always translate into some practical application in life.

Playing Up

There is a saying when we talk about wanting to improve our game.  We call it “playing up.” It simply means playing someone who is better than you. Through that exercise we improve our own game.  There is great value it finding mature believers to whom we can be accountable, from whom we can receive encouragement, and against whom we can bounce ideas. This should be a spiritual mentor of sorts that as “been there and done that.”