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A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
![ThinkstockPhotos-472815698](/images/CU_Today_Images/ThinkstockPhotos-472815698.jpg)
Narrative tension makes a story. Imagine that Cinderella and the prince had met in childhood, immediately delighted in one another, enjoyed the full support of their family and friends, married quickly, with no wedding snafus of any kind and little need for pre-marital counseling, and lived happily ever after. While that might be an attractive narrative for the couple, it makes for pretty uninteresting reading. We, the reader, know that a good story must include a significant amount of conflict to make for a satisfactory resolution.
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
![Path of Light](/images/CU_Today_Images/ThinkstockPhotos-181609970.jpg)
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
-Psalm 15: 1, 2
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
![Prison-Prayer](/images/CU_Today_Images/Prison-Prayer.jpg)
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. - Acts 16:22-26
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. — Hebrews 4:14-16
Overcoming Pride and Anxiety
By Chris Matthews
From Yale Faith & Action
![Rooted](http://www.aintreadyyet.com/cu/email/graphics/rooted.jpg)
What motivates you everyday to do the things you do? Two common motivators for us tend to be pride and anxiety. In this lecture, we look at what God says should motivate us in all things and how to overcome pride and anxiety as our primary motivators...
Listen Now >
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
![Charitable Christians Talk](/images/CU_Today_Images/ThinkstockPhotos-83590742.jpg)
Those who seek God find themselves regularly and very naturally propelled into mission. At the foot of the cross we discover that we are not alone. If we linger long enough, the entire human race materializes before our eyes. We see many kneeling in reverence, pressing in close around us, with faces refashioned, renewed by tears of joy. Just beyond we can see others in various stages, from shame and pain to mild indifference or curiosity. Further out, we discern the outline of multitude of people, too numerous to count. In the shadow of the cross, conscious of and even covered by the sweat and blood of our Savior, we may also be surprised to find that we cannot turn away.
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
![ThinkstockPhotos-464220555](/images/CU_Today_Images/ThinkstockPhotos-464220555.jpg)
What do these two have in common? Neither will happen when Jesus returns.
All fear, and tears for that matter, will be wiped away in His presence. Can you imagine what this will actually feel like? And never again will we fast because we will have our Friend and King with us. We will party without any threat of fear.
![College Students in Argument](/images/CU_Today_Images/ThinkstockPhotos-479706391.jpg)
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
![ThinkstockPhotos-118365690](/images/CU_Today_Images/ThinkstockPhotos-118365690.jpg)
Led by the Spirit (God's presence, in line with His purposes)...into the wilderness (the place of emptiness, misery, loneliness, hardship, where God seems far from our experience)...to be tempted by the devil (exposed to dehumanizing evil). These are not realities we usually associate together. In the center of God's will, in the center of the storm, overwhelmed by the contrast between my experience and desires and God's (purported, but now called increasingly into question) will.
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
![ThinkstockPhotos-484794034](/images/CU_Today_Images/ThinkstockPhotos-484794034.jpg)
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
![ThinkstockPhotos-478165856](/images/CU_Today_Images/ThinkstockPhotos-478165856.jpg)
A glance at the final stanza reveals who is ultimately the Victor: “I will lie down and sleep peacefully, for you, Lord, make me safe and secure.” But how does David go from crying out in the middle of the night, like so many of us, to resting in God? What can you and I learn from Psalm 4 as we wrestle with anxieties and temptations through this fast?
1. David cries out to God:
When I call out, answer me,
O God who vindicates me!
Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place.
Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer!
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