Say It Out Loud

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."—Matthew 26:39

There are fundamentals of everything; fundamentals of sports, fundamentals of construction, fundamentals of leadership, and fundamentals of being a man of God. Prayer is one of the fundamental activities that men need to build into the daily rhythm of life. And Jesus, the great teacher, was always teaching his followers the importance of these fundamentals. Even more, he showed them the importance by doing them himself and letting others see him doing it. And I think most men miss an essential and small detail that Jesus teaches here by example. It frequently happens in the gospels. In this situation, Matthew watches as Jesus falls to the ground with his face in the dirt but notice the often unnoticed detail—Matthew hears Jesus praying. Why? Well, maybe because Jesus is praying out loud.

DO THIS: Stop praying in your head. Start praying with your mouth out loud. Discover the focus and attention needed to contrive complete thoughts and ideas, and every once in awhile, let your wife, children, and friends catch you doing it. It's not about the show; it about the influence of fundamental obedience.

PRAY THIS OUT LOUD: God...