http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2010/4451_Praying_in_the_Closet_and_in_the_Spirit/
^I really enjoy reading John Piper's sermons. I don't really like listening to the sermon just because I can read faster than he talks, and to be frank, I just don't have the time to sit there for an hour and concentrate on his message just using my ears. I'd feel like I'm in a lecture class...
John Piper discusses the difference between praying in the closet and praying in the spirit, which essentially comes down to legalism vs. spontaneity/freedom.
This is what he describes as freedom:
"You can plan to pray in your wedding, and work out all the details down to how you will help her with her wedding dress, and hold each others’ hands, and yet, in that moment, feel an overwhelming, joyful, unfettered freedom of spirit—which means, you are doing just what you want to be doing and you are loving doing it. That’s what I mean by “freedom”—doing a good thing and loving doing it as you do it. "
On the other side, there is discipline:
"You think about them, and decide they are a good thing to do, and then you intentionally do them."
He says that neither are the opposites of each other. The opposite of discipline is not spontaneity. It all comes down to our faith. It doesn't matter who we are, what we do, the intent of our actions whether they may be spontaneous or intentional- because Jesus Christ gave his life for our sins. And if we truly believe that, then our faith will be shown through our works. Our discipline will be the result of our faith. Whether we are praying in the Spirit or praying in our closet, our faith is where the heart of the matter is.
What a good way to start off the first day back to school!
