The PowerBreak Podcast

Program 174 – SHOW NOTES

THE Q&A FORMAT

1. OPEN with Tease

(Bob) “This is the PowerBreak Podcast, number 174 titled:

How Long Is Long Enough?

Pause for 5 seconds

– I’m Bob Brubaker along with JT as we hope you will stay tuned as we seek to give you a little power in this break to help you succeed in the race of life.”

2. (JT) This is the – PowerBreak Podcast – with a focus on the spiritual, the mental, and the physical aspects – all to help you succeed in the race of life. For show notes from today’s podcast go to bobbrubaker.com and follow the link for the PowerBreak podcast.

3. Welcome – Bob and JT – chit chat about life, walk with God, training, etc.

BB&JT: Plea and thank you for ratings and review & for spreading the word via social media and word of mouth…

    BB –  We are talking today about … “How Long Is Long Enough?” … So JT – Have you ever been tempted to judge your prayer life by the length of your prayers – or should I say by keeping score of your prayer life by the clock?

JT answers and discussion

4. Bob – POINT: Let’s face it whenever we hear of some great Christian leader spending hours in prayer or even as we look at some of the admonitions to pray in the NT we get a feeling of remorse when we consider how little we pray, especially when we put a clock on our efforts and feel like we are coming up short. Isn’t that taking our eyes off the real prize?

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) — 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

JT ------ OK THEN LET’S  TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THAT as we bring up… WHAT’S NEW –  as we open Bob’s recent blog from bobbrubaker.com …

Bob, tell us what you wrote in your blog,

How Long Is Long Enough?

5. Presentation and discussion of Bob’s published article,

• Bob and JT discuss highlights of the PowerBreak blog

How Long Is Long Enough?

Bob concludes with “The PowerBreak blog is found at bobbrubaker.com”             ((((:03 PAUSE))))

6. JT – What’s happening Bob? Any news we need to know about this week?

7. Bob – God’s Powerline Of Prayer –… & Sermon link on the website.

(((:03 PAUSE)))

8. JT – This is the PowerBreak Podcast, I’m JT along with Bob Brubaker and this is the  –– time for some questions and answers. Feel free to submit your questions by EMAIL TO JT@bobbrubaker.com and we’ll get to the answer on an upcoming PowerBreak. Podcast…

9. JT – Question ONE - FROM THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF LIFE….

What makes us “keep score” as to the length of our prayer life and how do we overcome it?

10. Bob

As I mentioned in the blog that our “default mode” in life is to feel like we can and should try to earn God’s acceptance and favor  - and it creeps into our prayer life in judging ourselves by an unrealistic standard that is probably a misinterpretation of scripture, especially in the motivation to pray or in the length that we are in prayer.

Stop the madness…. And look at what God says about prayer…. And how we as God’s children are invited to pray, encouraged to pray, helped to pray, and rewarded in prayer…

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) — 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Romans 8:15–16 (ESV) — 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Romans 8:26–27 (ESV) — 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Hebrews 4:15–16 (ESV) — 15 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. 16 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.

John 15:5–8 (ESV) — 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Nothing is said about the length of prayer and the real object of prayer is fellowship and communion with God as we pray as the Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are active in our praying and in answers given to our prayer.

BOTTOM LINE: It’s not about us… it’s about God, His will, and His glory… Sensing the need to pray is God’s appointed means to draw us to pray even when we don’t feel like it.

11. JT – Question Two… “FROM THE MENTAL ASPECT”

How do we mentally keep the right attitude about prayer?

12. Bob

Like anything else … the more we are in the word of God the more our minds are transformed from the selfish mode --- it’s all about me to the selfless mode --- it’s all about God so the more we are in tune to His word the more dependent we will be and the more dependent we are the more we trust Him for all things so our time in prayer is not about a certain amount of time or certain words --- it’s about communing with Him. Mentally it’s getting our thoughts right and that comes from being in the word of God and submitting our ways to what He says in His word

13. (JT) Third Question …. Turning to the physical aspect of life….

Which is better – back to back days with shorter workouts or a one day long workout?

Bob: Seriously, that is what the study proclaims… let’s look at it..

It depends what you want to accomplish.

Two shorter workouts will mean you can work harder, have a better recovery, and will be more apt to push it harder.

One longer workout will mean you can fill the goal of a long workout (if that is your goal). It will also give you an opportunity to experiment with setting nutrition and hydration standards for those long workouts  along with setting a standard for recovery from long workouts.

So both seem to have a place depending on what you want to accomplish…

What say you JT?

BB & JT discuss ---

Bob’s final comment – It takes discipline ….

Point: DISCIPLINE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE --- in all aspects of life

Closing statement Bob…. “check out today’s show notes at bobbrubaker.com and click on the PowerBreak podcast – today’s show is 174.

14. JT – Submit your questions by EMAIL to JT@bobbrubaker.com and listen for OUR answer on an upcoming PowerBreak Podcast

(((:03 pause)))

15. (((commercial by Bob))) --- Power Of Time Management

(((pause for music transition)))

16. (JT) Thank you for joining us for the PowerBreak Podcast. Please subscribe and leave a review where-ever you have downloaded the podcast. Check out the show notes, news, Bob’s weekly blog, and other cool things at bobbrubabaker.com and listen next time for the – “powerbreak podcast.