Activated Disciple Series Part 5: Prayer and Study

If Jesus asked you to follow him today, would tomorrow be any different than yesterday? Jeff discusses some the disciplines of a disciple and reveals their importance in the life of a follower of Christ.

Snippet from the Show
If you want to know what Jesus prayed about, look at what he did.

Announcements

“Pop-Up” Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Jeff & Emily Cavins, June 1-12, 2022
Go to: https://www.jeffcavins.com/pop-up-pilgrimage-to-the-holy-land-june-1-12-2022/
or call: Select International at 800-842-4842

Pilgrimage in the Steps of St. Paul to Greece and Turkey – October 11-23, 2022
Go to: https://www.jeffcavins.com/pilgrimage-in-the-steps-of-st-paul-to-greece-and-turkey/

The Activated Disciple 40-Day Challenge

Are you looking for real change this Lent? Are you looking for a structured program to guide you through Lent? Jeff Cavins invites you on a powerful journey to become an activated disciple this Lent. Starting February 25th, Jeff will be guiding you in The Activated Disciple 40-day Challenge through weekly podcast episodes throughout Lent.

As Catholics, we often find ourselves going through the motions. We believe our faith but struggle to put it into practice; we are not the activated disciples we are called to be. An activated disciple is someone who strives every moment of every day to imitate Jesus, someone who desires such a close relationship with God that every area of his or her life is transformed. The Activated Disciple 40-Day Challenge will help you become more like Christ as you cultivate the eight characteristics that are the most important in the life of a disciple:

• Love
• Forgiveness
• Humility
• Patience
• Selflessness
• Kindness
• Attentiveness
• Contrition

As you reorient your life toward Jesus, you will notice the profound transformation a close relationship with him brings. The Activated Disciple 40-Day Challenge will help you take your faith to the next level. In addition to the study, Jeff will guide listeners through The Activated Disciple journey in a series of podcast episodes from February 25th to April 29th. In these episodes Jeff will teach you:

• Biblical foundations of Discipleship
• Daily Disciplines of a Disciple
• How to Developing your Saint Possy
• How to Win Souls

To prepare for this life-changing Lenten journey, purchase your study set of The Activated Disciple

Use the code ADLENT to get 15% off your purchase

Disciplines of a Disciple

As a disciple, there are particular disciplines that must be a part of our lives. If we choose to follow Christ, our lives must change. We cannot continue as we have been. Two of those disciplines are prayer and study.

Prayer

The Catechism tells us what the relationship was between Jesus’ time of prayer and his public life. “His words and works are the visible manifestation of his prayer in secret” (CCC 2602). Two important factors in prayer are picking a time and place for your prayer. Know when you are going to pray and where you are going to pray. Praying in the morning may be the best time to pray:

1. You’re the freshest and it will impact the rest of your day.
2. You give the Lord the first fruits.
3. You can always be flexible at the beginning of the day.

Bible Study

Another discipline of a disciple is studying the Bible, the Word of God. Start by doing these three things:

1. Pick a Bible
2. Choose a notebook and pen
3. Decide on your content: Gospel of the Day, book of the Bible

Blending Prayer and Bible Study - Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina is an ancient form of prayer that is done with Scripture. There are four simple steps to this form of prayer:

1. Lectio
2. Meditatio
3. Oratio
4. Contemplatio

First, you begin by reading the passage you have selected (Lectio). After reading through the passage either silently or aloud, take some time to meditate on the passage (Meditatio). Think about what God might be trying to say to you through the Scripture. It could be a word, phrase, or the entire passage. Next, it is time to talk to God (Oratio). Ask him questions. Listen for his response. Finally, rest in the Lord (Contemplatio). Just be with him.

Meditation Questions

1. One of the keys to having a consistent, fruitful relationship with the Lord is to have a
   daily routine. If you have a daily routine already, how would you explain your routine to
   someone who was curious? If you don’t have a daily routine of meeting with the Lord,
   what would you imagine it looking like?
   
2. What are two things in your life that you need to isolate and perfect? Think in terms of
   holiness, relationships, or your daily routine.
   
3. Sometimes people submit question for a speaker or panel while attending a conference.
   If Jesus was the speaker at a conference, what two questions would you submit to him
   regarding your life right now? (Hint: you can do that in prayer!)

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