Prayer Power For Today

Praying for Missionaries: for Spiritual Renewal!

2010-10-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

Pray for Spiritual renewal

Pray for Spiritual Renewal!

".so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company" Romans 15:32 (NASB - Emphasis added).

Pray that the missionaries seek the Holy Spirit and be encouraged by Him.
Pray that they have the discipline to study the Word of God, to pray faithfully so that God will reward him publicly.
Pray that they will have good Christian fellowship with other believers.

"I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me" Romans 15:30 (NIV).

Prayer is so Important to Mission Work!

The Apostle Paul was a missionary and a man of prayer. He prayed for those who did not know Christ. He prayed for the believers and for the new churches established through his ministry. He also asked other believers to pray for him. "I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me" Romans 15:30 (NIV).

The Apostle Paul also knew that prayer bears fruit:

"He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many" 2 Corinthians 1:10, 11 (NIV).

In his epistle, Paul gave specific prayer requests for the believers to pray. As a prayer "partner" of missionaries, you also will be a part of the impact that the Lord makes around the world.

The Apostle Paul understood the greatest need of missionaries.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now" Philippians 1:3-5 (NIV).
Thank you for praying

Praying for Missionaries: For Protect\ion, Harmony Among Beleivers,and God's Direction

2010-10-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Pray for protection ¨... pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith" 2 Thessalonians 3:2 (NIV).

Pray that God will protect them from those who seek to do them harm.
Pray that God will change the hearts of those who oppose the Word of God and those who bring it.

Pray that there will be harmony and acceptance among the believers

"Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints;" Romans 15:30,31 (NIV).

Cooperation and support are essential for the progress of the missionary work.

Pray that the ministry and the attitude of the missionaries are acceptable and that their colleagues and other believers support them.

Pray for God's direction and help while they travel

"...so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company" Romans 15:32 (NIV).

Missionaries travel frequently and their mode of transportation varies greatly. Many times traveling produces tension. Pray for things that are needed when they travel: protection, favorable travel conditions, visas and permission, etc.

Praying for Missionaries: That the Word of God is Proclaimed

2010-10-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

Pray for Missionaries: Pray that the Word God is proclaimed without obstacles

"Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you" 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (NIV).

In order for the Word of God to flow freely, the obstacles have to be removed. The enemy is trying to hinder the work of God and has to be resisted.. In the same way that Aaron and Hur supported the arms of Moses in the battle against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:12) you can support the tired arms of the missionaries with your prayers. We are reminded that our fight is against the spiritual forces of evil that attack in any area. (Ephesians 6:10-18).

The Word of God, when proclaimed, is the avenue to personal transformation and miracles. It is the power of the Gospel that breaks the chains that bind.

Praying for Missionairies: Open Doors and Courage to Witness

2010-10-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

Seven ways to pray according to the Apostle Paul.

1. Pray for open doors

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds..." Colossians 4:2,3

We cannot take for granted that there are open doors everywhere. Many missionaries work in countries with restricted access or in areas that are resistant to the Gospel, where, even though there are open doors, there are closed hearts.

Pray that God will guide the missionaries as they cross barriers and find hearts ready to receive the Word of God.
Pray that God opens doors for ministry, partnership and friendship.
Pray that those serving would be guided by the Holy Spirit and be able to recognize opportunities.

2. Pray for courage to witness

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should"
Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV).

Why do we have to pray for courage for our missionaries?
They need courage to:

Minister effectively in other cultures and languages
Defeat the power of the enemy's opposition
Conquer fear of failure and shame.

Praying for Healing -- the Insights of James 5th Chapter

2010-10-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Is your heart heavy over a sick friend or family member? Do you wish there were something you could do to help? You can take your friend or family member to the Lord in prayer. Here is a Bible verse and a prayer to help you ask God for healing.

"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

James

(NIV)

Dear Lord,

You know my friend/family member so much better than I do. You know his/her sickness and the burden he carries. You also know his heart. Lord, I ask you to be with my friend now, working in his life. Let your will be done in my friend's life. If there is a sin that needs to be confessed and forgiven, Lord, please help him to see his need and confess. Lord, I pray for my friend because your Word says I should pray for his healing. I believe you hear this earnest prayer from my heart and that it is powerful because of your promise.

I have faith in you to heal my friend, but I also trust in the plan you have for his life. Lord, I don't always understand your ways, and why my friend has to suffer, but I trust you. I ask that you look with mercy and grace toward my friend. Nourish his spirit and soul in this time of suffering and comfort him with your presence. Let my friend know you are there with him through this difficulty. And may you be glorified in his life and also in mine.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Pray for Christians in Other Countries Who Are Under Attack -- And Thank God for Your Freedom

2010-09-20T07:06:00.000-07:00

Pray for Christians in Other Countries That Are Under Attack, Such as This Woman

---Christian woman forced into slavery in Pakistan

Ejaz Masih, his children, and other family members organized a sit-in, demanding that police intervene.
Photo from AsiaNews

A group of Muslims recently abducted Sana, a Christian mother of two, in Fatehpuh Kasur, Pakistan. Ejaz Masih, Sana's husband who works as a labourer, took out a loan in order to provide medical treatment for his ill father. When his Muslim landlord heard about the loan, he demanded that Ejaz repay it within two weeks, saying, "We'll come and take your wife and children to work for us as slaves. You have no choice [but pay].... You are lowlife and will always be our slave. We Muslims are superior to any other religion." A few days later, on September 3, a group of armed Muslims confronted the family, throwing Ejaz to the ground, abducting his wife and beating his father. When his mother called for help, neighbours came out but no one tried to stop the kidnappers. His brother contacted police but they refused to register the complaint. (Source: AsiaNews) Pray for Sana's release. Pray for wisdom and comfort for her family. Ask God to help them to respond in a Christ-like manner to this injustice. Pray that Christians in Pakistan will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48).
For more on the trials facing Christians in Pakistan, go to the Pakistan Country Report
Information sent tor us by Voice of the Martyrs Christian organziation.

Thoughts About Praying for Healing -- Praise God for His Healing Touch!

2010-09-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

Pray for wisdom when you pray for someone's healing. Pray for guidance of the Holy Spirit. Enrich your prayers with Scripture when you pray for the sick. Pray according to the promises of God. Also remember that not all promises are relevant or valid in every case. Remember to saturate your prayer with Praise and Worship when praying for a sick person. It gives Glory to God's work and faith to your own heart.

The principles of spiritual warfare, our authority in Christ and His victory over the evil one, are of utmost importance when there is the possibility of a demonic onslaught. We must bind the evil one in the Name of the Lord Jesus, break and resist his works.

Testify to what the Lord has done. It gives others confidence to pray and it strengthens their faith in God's ability to heal. Testimonies like these often contribute to the conversion of others and the returning of those who have backslidden.

Make a note when you pray for someone who is ill and write down the answers. You will be astonished when you see how many people that you have prayed for were healed.
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All Christians may pray for the sick. Mark 16:17-18 says: "And these signs will accompany those who believe... they will place their hands on sick people and they will get well." Go with boldness to the Lord when praying for sick people.

The time has come for James 5:13-15 to become normal practice in the church of the Lord again. "Is anyone of you in trouble? He should pray. Is any one happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of The Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned he will be forgiven."

• God uses different "methods" to heal people:
o God heals through the laying on of hands
o God heals through the anointing with oil and faithful prayer
o God sometimes heals people at communion
o God heals people in answer to intercession for them
o God uses doctors and medication to heal people.

• Remember when you pray for someone or for yourself that healing does not always occur overnight or immediately. It can sometimes take days or weeks before someone is completely healed.

• In Exodus 15:26 The Lord call Himself Jahweh-Ropheka, it means: The Lord who heals you. It is God's Name, it is who He is, what He can do and what He wants to do. When you pray for the sick, pray to God who calls Himself Jahweh-Roph

Praying for Others is a Blessed Task

2010-08-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

Think of the many times you have been asked or moved to pray for someone, or to pray for peace throughout the world. Or to pray for those who are dying. Or to pray for the ones who have no helper. Or to pray for those who are alone. Or to pray for the weak and hungry. Or to pray for our country, or the countries of the world. Or, how often have you been in a struggle with life yourself, and felt like you needed the prayers of others to see you through? Prayer for ourselves and others can become an overwhelming task. Not because we lack the compassion or even motivation, but because there are simply so many needs.

Sometimes we see the storms gathering in our own or others’ lives, and are keenly aware of the pain, suffering, sadness, grief, and worry that seem to overshadow the joy of life. At such times of darkness, our natural response is prayer. We ask the Holy One to intervene and halt the storm, part the clouds, and let the light shine through. Yet, because the needs are so great, we feel helpless to pray for all those who have asked for our prayers, much less all those who are in need of prayer, and we wonder if others will offer their prayers for us.

But still we must find the strength and time to pray -- for others and for ourselves. And also to listen to God in our hearts.

When we pray for others, the God of love takes our offering and blesses our love. The God of love hears our heart and blesses those we love. The God of love lifts the needs from our heart and takes them into the heart of heaven. And we, we stand amazed, at the miracles that unfold.

A Process for Praying for Others

1. Sit quietly and center yourself in the present moment.
2. Slowly say the name of the person you are praying for.
3. As you read imagine the name floating into your heart.
4. Bring your awareness to being in the presence of God.
5. Open your heart and ask God to bless the one who you are praying for and help them in their lives.

6. Thank God for the time you’ve spent together and for listening and answering you in your prayers.

We Are Called to Intercessory Prayer -- Steadfastly Praying for Others

2010-08-23T09:19:00.000-07:00

The Bible has many cases of people standing up for others before God.

The most striking example is Abraham. He took the initiative to step forward before God on behalf of his neighbors in Sodom and its area. He cared enough to do it, even though he knew how thoroughly wicked Sodom was, and knew how furious God was about it (which explains why he was so careful in speaking to God about it). Moses also stepped in when God was angry, standing in the gap in the most literal sense : offering his own life for that of his nation. (Thankfully, God didn't take him up on the offer.)

It was part of the role of a prophet not just to speak what God speaks, but to speak with God for the people of Israel. A fine example is the exchange between the prophet Habakkuk and God, where the prophet asks for God to act against injustice, but God replies about a coming doom. Isaiah prayed with King Hezekiah to save the nation from defeat and destruction at the hands of Assyria, and the armies were suddenly turned back (see Isaiah ch. 36-39).

The master builder Nehemiah prayed to God to bring about the rebuilding of Jerusalem and of his people. As they took their concerns to God, the key motivation behind these giants of faith was compassion. They loved the people, the culture, the faith with a love like God's love, and it burned in them so much that they dared to take on God on their behalf. Unlike the gods of the lore of most other lands, this God did not zap them with lightning or turn them into half-beasts. God listened to their cries -- not by ignoring the wrongdoings which got the divine wrath kindled in the first place, but by saving at least some of the people and bringing them back to where they belonged.

The New Testament has its cases of intercessory prayer. Jesus was the prime example of an intercessor. He interceded in prayer for God to bless and protect His followers. At the cross, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Indeed, His whole life, His whole reason for being born, was to be a living intercession, a giving of His life to span the rift caused by our rebellion against God.

Others followed Jesus' example. Stephen's last words were an intercession on behalf of those who were killing him. Paul prayed constantly for the struggling young church, for character, behavior, witness, and wisdom. It is Paul's regular intercession for the church and its people which sets the usual pattern for our own intercessory prayers. And Epaphras was the 'prayer wrestler' for the church in Colossae.

Even at its earliest, the young church was praying for people : for safe travel, praying that people might know Christ through other peoples' witness, praying for healing and health, for rescue, for wisdom, for childbirth, for spiritual growth, for marriages -- asking God to bring benefit or blessing to people other than themselves. The others were not always beloved; they prayed for their political leaders, some of whom were out to kill them. But they knew their God was merciful and was intimately involved with what was going on in the world. And they knew they were called by God to share in that involvement.

Pray for Our Sunday School Teachers -- They are Following in the Footsteps of Jesus!

2010-08-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

Pray for our Sunday School teachers. They are following in the footsteps fo Jesus. JESUS Was a Teacher, and Jesus Guides Our Teachers! They are the backbone of any church family!

Jesus Christ Our Lord referred to Himself as "Teacher" and He was given that title by other people more than any other designation. (“Rabbi”)This is no doubt due to the fact that while He was here bodily on earth, Jesus spent more of His time teaching than He did in any other activity.

In fact, His teaching was a CENTRAL part of His ministry! In other words, when Jesus taught He wasn't just biding time. He wasn't just treading water until the time came for Him to go to the cross. No-He was fulfilling one of the main purposes of His life. You see, Jesus didn't just come to DIE FOR us. He also came to TEACH us how to LIVE.

The gospel writers were very clear in stating this. For example, our text from Matthew 7 tells us how Jesus began His earthly ministry in the synagogue when it says, "...the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one Who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law."

So teaching the Word is a blessed event, following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus.You see, since His followers learned Jesus could be trusted as a TEACHER, after the cross and the resurrection they decided to put their trust in Him as their SAVIOR. Jesus' teaching ministry is central to what He came to do. It was central then and it is central now. And that means that when we teach the Bible in Sunday School each week we are following in our Master's footsteps. We are carrying on His teaching ministry for Him in this time,.

Plus, we are obeying Jesus' command! Do you remember the words of His Great Commission to us? In Matthew 28 it records Jesus' own words when He said, "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit AND TEACHING THEM to obey everything I have commanded you." Then, Jesus went on to say what? "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

And this final phrase should remind us that, when someone accepts the call to teach a Sunday School class Jesus is literally with them-that when a teacher asks Jesus to guide and empower him or her to obey His command and teach His word-He does! And when that happens in essence Jesus CONTINUES to teach, as He indwells that person through His Holy Spirit. He teaches through our teachers! He works to change the world through our Sunday School.

Mustard Seed Faith and Prayer

2010-08-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

Jesus taught, "…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20).

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him."

God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will. His answers are not always yes, but are always in our best interest. When our desires line up with His will, we will come to understand that in time. When we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully!

Wesley on Prayer: An Act of Devotion and Love

2010-08-08T21:53:00.000-07:00

John Wesley on Prayer

"God's command to "pray without ceasing" is founded on the necessity we have of his grace to preserve the life of God in the soul, which can no more subsist one moment without it, than the body can without air. "

On Pleasing God: "We have no other object than his love, and the desire of pleasing Him."

"All that a Christian does, even in eating and sleeping, is prayer, when it is done in simplicity, according to the order of God, without either adding to or diminishing from it by his own choice."

"In souls filled with love, the desire to please God is a continual prayer. "

"As the furious hate which the devil bears us is termed the roaring of a lion, so our vehement love may be termed crying after God."

"God only requires of his adult children, that their hearts be truly purified, and that they offer him continually the wishes and vows that naturally spring from perfect love. For these desires, being the genuine fruits of love, are the most perfect prayers that can spring from it."

From A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, as believed and taught by the Reverend Mr. John Wesley, from the year 1725, to the year 1777.

E. M. Bounds on the Power of Prayer

2010-08-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

The great author and Methodist clergyman E. M. Bounds wrote wonderfully of the power of prayer.
Edward McKendree Bounds (1835-1913), Methodist minister and devotional writer, born in Shelby County, Missouri. Studied law and was admitted to the bar at twenty-one years. After practicing law for three years, began preaching for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. At the time of his pastorate at Brunswick, Misouri, war was declared, and he was made a prisonar of war for refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government. After release he served as chaplain of the Fifth Missouri regiment [for the Confederate Army] until the close of the war, when captured and held as prisoner at Nashville, Tennessee. After the war ended, Bounds served as pastor of churches in Tennessee, Alabama, and St. Louis, Missouri.... Spent the last seventeen years of his life with his family in Washington, Georgia, writing his 'Spiritual Life Books.'"

Here is some of the wisdom that God gave E. M. Bounds that I pass on to you.

"We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of the man or sink the man in the plan or organization. God's plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than of anything else. Men are God's method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. "There was a man sent from God whose name was John." The dispensation that heralded and prepared the way for Christ was bound up in that man John. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given."

"The world's salvation comes out of that cradled Son. When Paul appeals to the personal character of the men who rooted the gospel in the world, he solves the mystery of their success. The glory and efficiency of the gospel is staked on the men who proclaim it. When God declares that "the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him," he declares the necessity of men and his dependence on them as a channel through which to exert his power upon the world. This vital, urgent truth is one that this age of machinery is apt to forget. The forgetting of it is as baneful on the work of God as would be the striking of the sun from his sphere. Darkness, confusion, and death would ensue.

"What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use -- men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men -- men of prayer."

These words are just as true today as when the faithful minister first wrote them. And when he says men, I will add women, for God works through both genders in mighty ways when we surrender to His will and pray from the heart. The most powerful position is when we are on our knees iu prayer. Amen. Amen!

Eight Important Things for You to Pray About

2010-07-27T20:58:00.000-07:00

8 Things to Pray For , in Jesus' Name!

1. Pray for the harvest. of souls for the Lord!

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." (Matt 9:37-38)

2. Pray for national and local leaders of government.

"I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." (1 Tim 2:1-2)

3. Pray that God will open doors for ministry of the Word.

"Praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word , so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ..." (Col 4:3)

4. Pray for those who have mistreated you, or others you know. Forgive them.

"Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Lk 6:28)

"So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." (Matt 18:35)

5. Pray against evil and temptation.

"Pray that you may not enter into temptation." (Lk 22:40)

6. Pray that you and loved ones and others may do no evil.

"Now we pray to God that you do no wrong..." (2 Cor 13:7)

7. Pray that your love, and others' love may abound toward all people.

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment..." (Phil 1:9)

8. Pray that your adn othrers' whole spirit, mind and body be preserved blameless.

"Now may the God of peace sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess 5:23)

Praying for Our Missionaries -- Your Prayers Can Help Them!

2010-07-17T18:21:00.000-07:00

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; with all praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds..." Colossians 4:2, 3 (NiV).

Pray for our missionaries in other countries. Pray for the missionaries of the Presbyterian Church, USA and those of other Christian churches. What they do is so important. Pray for the spreading of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
We cannot take for granted that there are open doors everywhere. Many missionaries work in countries with restricted access or in areas that are resistant to the Gospel, where, even though there are open doors, there are closed hearts.

Pray that God will guide the missionaries as they cross barriers and find hearts ready to receive the Word of God. Pray that God opens doors for ministry, partnership and friendship. Pray that those serving would be guided by the Holy Spirit and be able to recognize opportunities.

Pray for courage to witness

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should" Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV).

Why do we have to pray for courage for our missionaries? They need courage to:

Minister effectively in other cultures and languages
Defeat the power of the enemy's opposition
Conquer fear of failure and shame.

Pray that the Word God is proclaimed without obstacles

"Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you" 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (NIV).

In order for the Word of God to flow freely, the obstacles have to be removed. The enemy is trying to hinder the work of God and has to be resisted. In the same way that Aaron and Hur supported the arms of Moses in the battle against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:12) you can support the tired arms of the missionaries with your prayers. We are reminded that our fight is against the spiritual forces of evil that attack in any area. (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Pray for protection

¨... pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith" 2 Thessalonians 3:2 (NIV).

Pray that God will protect them from those who seek to do them harm. Pray that God will change the hearts of those who oppose the Word of God and those who bring it.

Pray that there will be harmony and acceptance among the believers

"Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints;" Romans 15:30, 31 (NIV).

Cooperation and support are essential for the progress of the missionary work. Pray that the ministry and the attitude of the missionaries are acceptable and that their colleagues and other believers support them.

THESE PRAYERS ARE IMPORTANT FOR MISSIONARIES OVERSEAS AND FOR OUR CONGREGATIONS HERE, AS WE DO MISSION RIGHT IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. LOCAL MISSION NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS, TOO>

MARRIAGE IS UNDER ATTACK! PRAY FOR MARRIAGE AND MARRIAGES!

2010-07-11T21:23:00.000-07:00

MARRIAGE AND MARRIAGES ARE UNDER ATTACK -- PRAY FOR MARRIAGE!

PRAY FOR YOUR OWN MARRIAGE! (Prov. 31:10-12, Col. 3:16-19)Your marriage is an exclusive life-long relationship with your spouse. God created marriage to be the most satisfying human relationship. God intends for you and your spouse to be of one accord, spiritually, physically and emotionally. Pray for yourspouse. Pray for God to protect your marriage. Pray that God will give you love, patience, kindness, forgiveness and gracefor your spouse. Ask God to give you “eyes to see” life as your spouse sees it.

PRAY FOR THE INSTITUION OF MARRIAGE! (Gen. 2:24, Heb. 13:4) Pray that marriage between a man and a woman remains strong and protected by law. Pray for those who make laws to value marriage. Ask God to bring a renewal of marriage today. Pray that couples who may be on the verge of divorce will reconsider their decision. Pray for those who are fighting to preserve HOLY Matrimony. Pray that those forces which seek to redefine marriage would be stopped.

PRAY FOR THE MARRIAGES OF CURRENT AND FUTURE CHILDREN AND RELATIVES. (Ex. 15:2, Prov. 19:14) Your children will use the example of your marriage as a basis for their future marriage. Pray that your children and relatives will seek to have Christian marriages and spouses. Pray that God will bring godly spouses into their lives and that they would seek to serve and honor Him with their marriages.

PRAY FOR THE MARRIAGES OF YOUR CHURCH FAMILY! Pray for the marriages of pastors and faith community leaders and staff. (Ps. 9:10, Heb. 3:1-6) Pray for your pastor’s marriage that it remains strong and committed. Pray that God gives your pastor and his spouse quality time with each other, renewing their commitment to each other. Also pray that God protects the marriages of other community leaders of faith. Ask God to give them favor, blessing and protection. Pray for the marriages of other leaders within the church and of other couples within the church family. Pray for the marriages of elders, deacons, trustees and Sunday School teachers. Pray for the marriages of everyone in the pews on any given Sunday. Pray a hedge of protection for all the marriages in the church.

PRAY THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WILL VALUE MARRIAGE! (Gal. 5:22-25, Ps. 37:28)
Pray that young people today will value marriage. Pray for those currently engaged to stand in purity and that they would receive excellent premarital counseling and training. Pray that they will pursue sexual abstinence prior to marriage. And pray that God will be in the center of their relationships.

PRAY FOR OTHER MARRIAGES IN YOUR COMMUNITY (Jer. 30:17, Josh. 24:15)
Pray for the marriages in your neighborhood and that your neighbors would to turn to God and live more fruitful lives. Pray that your neighbors and fellow citizens will value marriage in your city and state. Pray that God will raise up countless committed citizens to promote and defend marriage all across our nation.

I ASKED GOD

2010-06-14T06:14:00.000-07:00

Shared by email with me by a friend -- we are not sure who is the author, but it is powerful!

"I Asked God"

I asked God to take away my habit. God said, "No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up."

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, "No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary."

I asked God to grant me patience. God said, "No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned."

I asked God to give me happiness. God said, "No. I give you blessings; happiness is up to you."

I asked God to spare me pain. God said, "No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me."

I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, "No. You must grow on your own! But I will prune you to make you fruitful."

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, "No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things."

I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me. God said, "Ahhh, finally you have the idea."

This day is yours; don't throw it away. "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world." May God bless you.

His Faithful Love Enduies Forever!

2010-06-12T11:04:00.000-07:00

Enduring love

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 NLT

The unforgettable responsive reading

It was midnight on Thursday, February 8, A.D. 356, and Athanasius, a leader in the early Christian church and passionate defender of the deity of Jesus Christ, was leading a worship service. Suddenly loud shouts and clashing armor could be heard outside the church. Soldiers had come to arrest him.

But Athanasius said, "I didn't think it right, at such a time, to leave my people," so he continued the service. He asked a deacon to read Psalm 136 and then requested the congregation to respond with the refrain, "His faithful love endures forever," which they did twenty-six times over the din of the soldiers outside.

Just as the final verse was completed, the soldiers rushed into the church, brandishing their swords and spears and crowding forward up the nave toward Anthanasius. The people yelled for Athanasius to run, but he refused to go until he had given a benediction. Then some of his assistants gathered tightly around him, and, as he recounts it, "I passed through the crowd of people unseen and escaped, giving thanks to God that I had not betrayed my people, but had seen to their safety before I thought of my own."

Athanasius was portraying to his people God's love, which endures forever. He was willing to lay down his life for his flock—just as Jesus had laid down his life for his flock a few centuries earlier.

Since God's "faithful love endures forever," why is there ever any need to worry?

adapted from The One Year® Book of Psalms with devotionals by William J. Petersen and Randy Petersen (Tyndale) entry for November 8

Trust in the Lord With All Your Heart!

2010-05-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Acknowledge God in all you do and He will guide you in all things. Acknowledge God in all you do and He will guide you in all things.

Prov 3:5 (KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov 3:6 (KJV) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Prov 3:5 (MSG) Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Prov 3:6 (MSG) Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.

Throughout Proverbs one sees the reward of trusting in (lit. "clinging to," with the idea of setting one's hope and confidence upon) the Lord as opposed to the futility of resting in one's own wisdom and seeking one's own way. God designed His creation to have a dependency upon Him. Even the ordinary decisions of a day need the counsel of God, who instructs His creation to consult Him about even the most minute details, whether in the spiritual or secular realm. God promises to communicate in return. The Fall itself was precipitated when man sought to live independently of God, and this human independence
continues at the heart of sinful rebellion today.

Self-sufficiency and self-dependence have been the ruin of mankind ever since the fall of Adam. The grand sin of the human race is their continual endeavor to live independently of God, i. e., to ignore God in the things they do. Entire trust in God is the only logical position for Christians to take.

God has all knowledge and all power, and foresees and prepares against all the troubles that come upon man. For anyone to rely on his own understanding is foolish indeed. It is also folly to alternate between trust in self and trust in God. If we are faithful to read God's Word, study it, meditate on it, and obey it, God will guide us when we have decisions to make.

The Holy Spirit teaches us (John 14:26; 16:13-14) and directs us when we pray and seek the Lord's will. The Holy Spirit uses truth, not ignorance; so the more facts we have, the better. We should use our common sense but not lean on it (Prov. 3:5-6), for we walk by faith and not by sight (2Co5:7). If we sincerely move in the wrong direction, the Lord will show us (Acts 16:6-10; Phil. 3:15), so we need not fear. It i good for believers to read the Word and pray together as theyseek the mind of the Lord.

Empower Your Prayers With Hymns Like "CHRIST AROSE!"

2010-04-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

Up from the Grave He Arose!

God released Jesus from the horrors of death and raised him back to life again, for death could not keep him in its grip. Acts 2:24 NLT

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior! Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Death cannot keep his prey, Jesus my Savior! He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior! Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o're His foes; He arose a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign, He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Christ Arose Robert Lowry (1826-1899)

It's hard to match this hymn for sheer drama. The first stanza begins dismally, then strikes a note of hope, and then the chorus explodes with joy. The music itself comes rising up from the depths and celebrates on high.

Robert Lowry wrote both the words and music to this hymn in 1874. At the time, he was professor of literature at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania and pastor of a nearby church. He had written other hymn tunes and texts as he practiced his passion for poetry and song. "Sometimes the music comes and the words follow," he explained once. "I watch my moods, and when anything strikes me, whether words or music, no matter where I am, at home, on the street, I jot it down. My brain is sort of a spinning machine, for there is music running through it all the time."

What a great way to pray -- sing a great hymn and let it empower your prayers!

Saying the Jesus Prayer and Other Sentence Prayers

2010-03-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

Prayer is not Optional! It is Required for the Christian. We need our longer times of prayer, but sentence prayers have an important place in our prayer lives.

Recenlty, at a workshop, we were told about the power of simple sentence prayrs. There is a classical form of prayer called the Jesus Prayer that dates back to at least the sixth century, A.D. It is "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

The actual words of our short prayers can vary. We might say the classic version of the Jesus Prayer, or we might say, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." We may say, "Lord Jesus, have mercy." Or, we might say a Psalm verse, or a Bible quote, or some other prayer.

Monks of old said, "Lord, make haste to help me. Lord, make speed to save me," all day long. I often say "God help me!" or "Lord, help me!" Or "Jesus, Praise You and Thank You!" as sentence prayers.

The history of the Jesus Prayer goes back, as far as we know, to the early sixth century, with Diadochos, who taught that repetition of the prayer leads to inner stillness. Even earlier John Cassian recommended this type of prayer. In the fourth century Egypt, in Nitria, short "arrow" prayers (aimed at a target quickly) were practiced.

Abba Macarius of Egypt said there is no need to waste time with words. It is enough to hold out your hands and say, "Lord, according to your desire and your wisdom, have mercy." If pressed in the struggle, say, "Lord, save me!" or say, "Lord." He knows what is best for us, and will have mercy upon us.

An Adventure in Prayer: A Challenge to Pray Faithfully

2010-03-04T14:35:00.000-08:00

Presbyterian theologian Ben Johnson invited us to experiment with prayer in his grat little book, "An Adventure in Prayer." Johnson claimed that in 30 days "you will become aware of God at a depth you've never known before." He relates how the experiment changed him - from dull living to a transformed person with new insight and feeling. He began by praying according to a pattern outlined by Dr. Robin Wainwright, professor of evangelism at Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. This pattern praying for a few minutes morning and night in a quiet place. He didn't repeat a specific prayer, line for line, but used a prayer pattern - steps around which to weave his own thoughts and feelings as an offering to God.

Johnson discussed the benefits he gradually perceived from as he stayed faithful to this pattern of prayer. His attitude about life improved and he found himself expectant and observantly looking for God's work in his life. His awareness of God's presence increased, both during prayer time and in daily life. Johnson found that he listened compassionately to others and "strange providences of God began occurring in which [God] made me aware of persons he sent my way, persons for whom he wanted me to pray and to share a word of hope ..and there were those 'sychronistic events' usually labeled as 'coincidence,'.. but are seen as answers to prayer by the eyes of faith."

Ben Johnson goes on to discuss "the God whom we meet" - the God whom he encountered face to face during his prayer experiment. This God is a God who IS, who comes to us, who peruses us, loves us unconditionally, who wills and accomplishes his purposes for the world. Johnson announces that the longer he continued his prayer experiment, the stronger his desire to share the blessings of prayer and of knowing God with others. "The God whom you meet will so fill your life with meaning and joy, you will feel compelled to share with others what you know of His love."

Johnson challenges us to take some moments each morning and evening for prayer. Don't treat it as "just another thing you need to add to your busy life." Think of it as time set aside for meeting your beloved and basking in His presence. It is an act of joyful worship, not of duty or obligation. Here is a brief synopsis of the pattern.

Each Morning (for at least 15 minutes)

Be Still Breathe deeply and sit quietly. Calm your mind. Read a Bible verse and run it through your mind a few times. Concentrate on God's presence with you.

Adoration Praise God for who he is, the qualities that make him God.

Thanksgiving Express gratitude for how God has been at work in your days, for the things that he has blessed you with, both great and small.

Dedication Review the vows you have made to God in the past and rededicate your self to his service. Dedicate your day to him.

Guidance "Envision your day before God" and ask for his wisdom in dealing with the challenges that lie ahead.

Intercession Mention people around you for which you are concerned. Bring the needs of others before God.

Petition What do you deeply desire? What burdens your heart? Speak to God about it.

Act of Trust Release your worries over things you have limited control and trust God to deal with it. Let go and let God.

Listen
Wait in silence before God. Listen for his small quiet voice inside of you. Let your soul savor the peace.

Throughout the day, carry a verse or short passage from the Bible with you to reflect upon.

Every Evening (at least 5 minutes)

Be Still Breathe deeply and sit quietly. Calm your mind. Concentrate on God's presence with you.

Review the Day Where has God been active in your day? Thank God and petition God about the things of your day.

Confession Where do you feel you have failed to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor and yourself? Did you notice sin in your life that needs to be admitted before God?

Commitment Release all your concerns before God and listen to his words of grace and mercy to you. Recommit yourself to following more closely to his footsteps in front of you.

31 Days and Ways to Pray for the Children and Youth

2010-02-26T12:48:00.000-08:00

Let us pray for our children and youth will develop strong Christian morals and the fruits of the Spirit had prompted her to develop a unique prayer list, that included reminders to pray for her children's salvation and growth in grace, as well as other concerns (such as that they would "be leaders, not followers").

Here is a simple practice that has revolutionized the way we can pray for my children. Each day of the month, in addition to my prayers for their safety and for the concerns of that day, I also pray for a specific character trait, virtue, or fruit of the Spirit to be planted and nurtured in our children, through parents and church adults efforts, through the influence of others, and throug hthe children;s own actions and decisions. At the end of each month, we begin praying through the list again, combining traits when the month is shorter than thirty-one days.

Following is the list I have developed, complete with brief suggestions for prayer from Scripture. Feel free to duplicate it--or improve upon it--to help you pray specifically and purposefully for your children to experience and evidence: Read the Scriptures and let them fuel your prayers.

1st Salvation "Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory" (Isaiah 45:8, 2 Timothy 2:10).

2nd Growth in grace "I pray that they may 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ'" (2 Peter 3:18).

3rd Love "Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to 'live a life of love,' through the Spirit who dwells in them" (Ephesians 5:2, Galatians 5:22).

4th Honesty and integrity " May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection" (Psalm 25:21).

5th Self-control " Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be 'alert and self-controlled' in all they do" (1 Thessalonians 5:6)

6th A love for God's Word " May my children grow to find your Word 'more precious than gold, than much pure gold; [and] sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb'" (Psalm 19:10).
7th Justice " God, help my children to love justice as you do and to 'act justly' in all they do" (Psalm 11:7, Micah 6:8).

8th Mercy " May my children always 'be merciful, as [their] Father is merciful'" (Luke 6:36).

9th Respect (for self, others, authority) " Father, grant that my children may 'show proper respect to everyone,' as your Word commands" (1 Peter 2:17a).

10th Strong, Biblical self-esteem " Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are 'God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus'" (Ephesians 2:10).

11th Faithfulness "' Let love and faithfulness never leave [my children],' but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts" (Proverbs 3:3).

12th Courage "May my children always 'Be strong and courageous' in their character and in their actions" (Deuteronomy 31:6).

13th Purity "'Create in [them] a pure heart, O God,' and let their purity of heart be shown in their actions" (Psalm 51:10).

14th Kindness "Lord, may my children 'always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else'" (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

15th Generosity "Grant that my children may 'be generous and willing to share [and so] lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age'" (1 Timothy 6:18-19).

16th Peace, peaceability "Father, let my children 'make every effort to do what leads to peace'" (Romans 14:19).

17th Joy " May my children be filled 'with the joy given by the Holy Spirit'" (1 Thessalonians 1:6).

18th Perseverance " Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to 'run with perseverance the race marked out for [them]'" (Hebrews 12:1).

19th Humility " God, please cultivate in my children the ability to 'show true humility toward all'" (Titus 3:2).

20th Compassion " Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion" (Colossians 3:12).

21st Responsibility " Grant that my children may learn responsibility, 'for each one should carry his own load'" (Galatians 6:5).

22nd Contentment " Father, teach my children 'the secret of being content in any and every situation. . . . through him who gives [them] strength'" (Philippians 4:12-13).

23rd Faith " I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them" (Luke 17:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-40).

24th A servant heart " God, please help my children develop servant hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, 'as to the Lord, and not to men'" (Ephesians 6:7).

25th Hope " May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

26th The willingness and ability to work hard " Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work hard at everything they do, 'as working for the Lord, not for men'" (Colossians 3:23).

27th A passion for God " Lord, please instill in my children a soul that "followeth hard after thee," a heart that clings passionately to you (Psalm 63:8).

28th Self-discipline " Father, I pray that my children may develop self-discipline, that they may acquire 'a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair'" (Proverbs 1:3).

29th Prayerfulness " Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to 'pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Ephesians 6:18).

30th Gratitude " Help my children to live lives that are always 'overflowing with thankfulness,' 'always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'" (Colossians 2:7, Ephesians 5:20).

31st A heart for missions " Lord, please help my children to develop a heart for missions, a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvelous deeds among all peoples" (Psalm 96:3).

An additional benefit to my prayer program; as you pray for the children each night, the Lord will bring mind the subject you prayed for that morning, and you would repeat your request in the children's hearing. Before long, they began to echo your praying, and pour out their own hearts in prayer for the very virtues and qualities you desired to see in them. By God's grace it will influence how we all live!

Praise Honors God! Praise is the Voice of Faith!

2010-02-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

Praise - Honors God! Praise - Undergirds faith!
Praise - Brings deliverance! Praise - Is the voice of faith!
Praise - Is the language of heaven! Praise - Sets the stage for God to move!
Praise - Releases the angels to minister! Praise - Fuels joy, which is your strength!
Praise - Knocks down walls of resistance! Praise - Stills the enemy and the avenger!
Praise - Dispels darkness and depression! Praise - Must precede, not follow blessings!
Praise - Gives God the legal right to help you! Praise - Brings the presence of God onto the scene!
Praise - Is a sure sign of acceptance of the Word of God!
Praise - Is the highway that faith moves its blessings down!Praise - Is calling those things that be not as though they were!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, In everything give thanks; For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thess 5:16-18 NKJV

In the above verse, take note that it says "in" everything give thanks - it did not say "for" everything give thanks. In the midst of the trial, in the midst of the attack, when you feel as if the enemy is in your face with all of hell itself, right there, at that moment do not give in to the pressure of the devil, instead turn the tables on him and put the pressure back on the devil where it belongs and lift your hands to the Lord and begin to just love on God and praise and worship Him. (It'll just give the devil fits!)

Praying For Others is a Great and Good Thing

2010-02-08T10:56:00.000-08:00

Praying for Others is Something We are Called Upon to Do!

In John 16:6-24, Christ prays for his disciples—that God would protect them from the evil one as they went out into the world to spread the Word— and for those who would hear their message and come to believe that God had sent his son to save the world. Christ prayed for others and so should we.

We are commanded to pray for others:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" —Matthew 5:43-45a.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should" —Colossians 4:2-4.

"I urge, then first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. … I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing" —1 Timothy 2:1-4, 8.

We are also given examples of praying for others by the Apostle Paul::

"Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends his greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" —Colossians 4:12.

"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe" —Ephesians 1:16-19a.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through out all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" —Ephesians 3:14-21

Let Us All Pray for the People of Haiti

2010-02-07T19:23:00.000-08:00

WE PRAY FOR HAITI

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As the eyes of the world turn to Haiti, let us join our hearts in prayer:
God of compassion
Please watch over the people of Haiti,
And weave out of these terrible happenings
wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been affected by tragedy
With a sense of your present love,
And hold them in faith.
Though they are lost in grief,
May they find you and be comforted;
Guide us as a church
To find ways of providing assistance
that heals wounds and provides hope
Help us to remember that when one of your children suffer
We all suffer

Through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives
and rules this world with you. Amen.

(Adapted from Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church, USA)

More Declaring Prayers

2010-02-03T01:50:00.000-08:00

Declaring prayer is taking the spiritual truths of God's Word and prayerfully declaring them into your life. It is taking spiritual reality and bringing it into this plane with a declaration prayer. Some call these declaring prayers "faith confessions" or "Godlly or Biblical affirmations." Whatever you call them. these are power tools for the Christian, scripture quoted as affirmations that when you speak out loud in Jesus' name, you command your body, your finances and even the demons to do what God's Word in the Bible says.

Let the truth of the Word sink deep into your heart, which changes YOU at the deepest level and gives you peace and faith to overcome! As God's ambassador, declare His truth (from His Word) into this world!

These true statements of God's power are based on actual Scripture promises, and because of that we know we are doing God's will when we claim these as reality in our lives. In this way these things are manifested into our world by God's power, which is in His Word, and the Holy Spirit watches over and backs up the Word of God.

Here are some declaring prayers. Look up the Scripture and meditate upon it as you pray. End each prayer with "IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!"

Thank You God for your Love! Your word says that you love me so much that You gave Your only Son for me. Therefore, I declare that I believe in Jesus, therefore I will not perish. I have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Thank You Father that Your Word states that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Therefore, I declare I can do all things through the Anointed One and His Anointing which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

Thank You God that I am yours through Jesus Christ, therefore, I declare that the Lord delivers me out of all my afflictions. (Psalm 34:19)

Thank You God that I am a child of the Living God and an inheritor of Abraham's promise through Jesus Christ, therefore I declare that I am blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out. (Deut. 28:6)

Thank You God that Jesus bore my sins in His Body on the tree; therefore I am dead to sin and alive unto God and I declare that by His stripes I am healed and made whole (I Peter 2:24; Rom. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:21)

Thank You Father that Jesus bore my sicknesses and carried my pain. Therefore I give no place to sickness or pain. I declare that God sent His Word and healed me. (Psalm 103:20)

Thank You Father that You have given me abundant life. I declare that I receive that life through Your Word and it flows to every organ of my body bringing healing and health. (John 10:10, John 6:63)

Thank You God that by Jesus stripes I am healed and I declare that the life of I Peter 2:24 is a reality in my flesh, restoring every cell of my body.

Thank you Lord for your provision, and I declare that my God supplies all my needs according to His riches in Glory. (Phil. 4:19)

Pray for the Children

2010-02-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

Every child that is born is a miracle. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3). This does not, however, mean that our children are free from sin and immune to Satan. Remember that while God has a perfect plan for our children’s lives, Satan has a plan for them too. Satan’s plan is to destroy them.

In order to stop Satan and deter his plan, we must pray for our children, teach them about God and ensure that they ask Jesus Christ into their hearts. This is the only way to save them in this life and eternally. Never underestimate what your belief in Jesus and the power of prayer can do in your children’s lives. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you ." (John 15:7).

The Bible also tells us “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Remember that Jesus gave us authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). This means that through the prayers we say on our, or other’s, children’s behalf, we can save them from the enemy. As a praying parent, grandparent, guardian or Christian, we can make a huge difference in how a child’s life will turn out.

Prayer is an opportunity to talk freely to God. It is your opportunity to tell him all of your fears, concerns and worries that you have for your children. Pray for your children’s present and their future’s. Pray for their protection and their health. Pray that they will become Godly people and continue to grow in His Word. Pray that God helps you to teach your children through the mistakes of your past, and your families, so that your children may not repeat them. Pray you will be surrounded by Godly people, or that you will find the right school for them, or that they will have a strong sense of self. Every single detail of your child’s life is important to God. Nothing is too small or too big for God – he wants to hear it all. God is your Father, your best friend and your confidant. He wants you to come to Him, believe in Him and trust in Him.

Pray for your children (or grandchildren or neices or nephews or church school kids you know) each and every day. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in the specific things your children may need that you may not know. Then allow peace to move into your mind and soul. God’s Word tells us “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22). God is telling us that he wants us to lean on him. He wants us to be able to feel relief and a sense of freedom from our worries knowing that we have turned them over to Him. His Word tells us to cast “all your care upon Him” (1 Peter 5:7).

Watch and wait for answered prayer. Remember that God works in many different ways. A prayer may be answered immediately, or take a great deal of time. Some prayers may not be answered for reasons that we cannot understand. But, we must always recognize and trust that God does what is best for us.

We must also remember that our own lives, and the paths we choose to take, will affect our children. “The righteous man or woman walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him". (Proverbs 20:7).

Praying for God's Favor: May His Favor Surround You!

2010-01-25T00:49:00.000-08:00

Favor with God is important to the success of God's people in the Bible. Remember the story of Joseph in Genesis forty, and the favor God showed him, and Mary, the mother of Jesus in Luke one and two, who was "highlyfavored." Remember the favor bestowed upon two children:

And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the LORD, and also with men. (1 Samuel 2:26)

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)

The psalmist said that the favor of God was the difference between life and death. "For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. LORD, by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled." (Psalm 30:5-7) I

In other psalms we find that the favor of God is the same as his mercy and, importantly, God's salvation of man. "I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word." (Psalm 119:58) "Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation." (Psalm 106:4) So it is important, even vital, that we find the favor of God.

One of the things Solomon emphasized in his treatise on growing up that makes up much of the book of Proverbs is finding wisdom. Chapter 8 is all about wisdom, and concludes with the relationship to finding wisdom and finding God's favor. "For whoso findeth me [wisdom] findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD." (Proverbs 8:35-36)

Further, Solomon says we find God's grace by following his mercy and truth. "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man." (Proverbs 3:3-4)

Here we see that God can give us favor with others. When we concentrate on pleasing God, HE will give us favor with others when we need it most. We can even ASK God to give us favor with others. When we do that, we're not being selfish or prideful, but scriptural. Nehemiah was a devoted servant of the Lord. He was called by God to rebuild the city walls of Jerusalem during the reign of King Artaxerxes. As cupbearer to the king, he asked the Lord to give him favor with the ruler so that he could complete his God-given assignment. "Give Your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." (Nehemiah 1:11)

Here, we learn an important Bible principle--that God will grant us favor with others when it will help us carry out His will and plan. We can also pray for favor when we take a stand for the Lord. In the first chapter of the Book of Daniel, the young prophet "resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine," and he needed the cooperation of the chief official in order to carry out his commitment. Daniel 1:9 says, "Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel." When receiving favor will glorify God, we shouldn't hesitate to pray for it.

The Bible teaches us that we can pray for God's favor, which can be a powerful weapon against the enemy's attacks. Psalm 89:17 NLT says, "Our power is based on Your favor." And Psalm 5:12 says, "Surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield." We are God's children; His chosen; His elect. And He is committed to protecting and providing for His own. When we concentrate on pleasing God, we can depend on Him to change people's hearts for our benefit. Proverbs 16:7 says, "When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him."

If God is willing and able to change the hearts of our enemies, surely we can expect Him to give us favor in the sight of our teachers, employers, neighbors and others we come in contact with. But we mustn't assume that this favor is automatic. Often, we will have to ask God for it, expecting Him to act on our behalf. If a relative or friend or parishioner needs help in situations, I have asked the Lord to give them favor, and He has always been faithful. I have also asked God to grant my family favor in the sight of our bosses and coworkers. And I have seen my family acquire jobs, often with salaries well above what we expected. When you pray for favor, people will bless you, and they won't even know why. But don't just take my word for it. Begin today to pray for favor, and discover for yourself that "the Lord bestows favor and honor" upon His people! (Psalm 84:11)

Please pray for favor for me as I do the work God has called on me to do in the churches and the greater church, and at the university, and in all the things God is leading me to do. I will be praying God's favor will rest upon you also. Praise the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, help me to always concentrate on pleasing You, and teach me how to pray for favor for myself and my friends and loved ones to have favor with others, especially when we need it most. Reveal to me how praying for favor can open doors that appear to be closed. Thank You that blessing me with favor will bring You glory! IN JESUS NAME AMEN.

Testify to the Lord's Goodness! Praise the Lord with Public Witness!

2010-01-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

Part of our prayer life comes in praising God for Who He Is and What He Has Done. One way is by giving testimony to His mighty deeds. Public witness is an important part of the Christian's life. The remarkable Psalm 9 shows us an example of that. This is a Psalm written by David and set to music as praise and thanksgiving for God's justice and judgments upon David's enemies. In verse 1 of Psalm 9, David said, "I will show forth all Thy marvelous works." The 'show forth' means to declare, to tell of, to speak of, and that's what David is doing in this Psalm, declaring what God has done for him to his people, the nation of Israel.

David privately praised The Lord for what He had done, and David also publicly declared what The Lord had done. Verse 14 of Psalm 9 says: 'That I may show forth all Thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion'. That's a reference to the city gates of Jerusalem, the most public area of the city, the place where everyone came in and went out. David wanted the words of this Psalm to be sang in the temple and taken to the streets, so all would hear how great God is.

As Christians, we are to 'show forth', to declare what God has done for us. Verse 11 of Psalm 9 tells us that we are to sing praises to the Lord.....declare among the people His doings.

Psalm 40 verse 5 tells us 'Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered'. The Lord's wonderful works and good thoughts towards us are more than we can even number!

We are to speak of this, to declare this, to others. Privately thanking and praising The Lord is very wonderful and must be done as a part of your prayer life. But public witness must also be done. Praise the Lord!

What Does the Lord Require of You? Read Micah 6:8!

2010-01-20T05:07:00.000-08:00

One of the keys to a strong prayer life is obeying God. Showing God respect in obedience is a door to the supernatural.

Sometimes you may wonder if obeying God is worth it. Reemember that God is just and does bless those who obey him. If you don't reap the benefits of obedience in this life, you will in the next.

The Pharisees in Jesus' day obeyed the law, but for all the wrong reasons. Jesus warned in Matthew 5:20 that God looks at people's hearts. He wants obedience that flows out of love for him.

Jesus said: "But I warn you—unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!"

When the religious leaders commanded Peter and the apostles to stop preaching the gospel, their priorities were put to the test. Their answer, recorded in Acts 5:29, teaches us that obedience to God must come first, even if it requires personal sacrifice.

But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human authority."

God has not hidden the secret of obedience—he has made his expectations clear. Micah 6:8 summarized the way people can please God.

"No, O people, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. "

May we do just that in our lives -- To do justice (what is right), to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.

God Will Rescue Us -- In the Here and Now and in the Great Day to Come!

2010-01-02T11:40:00.000-08:00

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

God has a plan for us, a plan for this church, a plan for you, a plan for your family, and for their lives. His plan brings hope, a reason for our lives in the here and now, and a plan for our salvation as well. He has that same plan of salvation for us. Jesus has already died for our sins, and been raised to new and eternal life, so we can see the outlines of this plan with greater detail than some who went before us, but it is the same plan. His plan is to bring all that believe to eternal life and glory.

He also has a plan for your life here and now. I cannot preach about it in any detail because each of us may have entirely different plans, as far as this world is concerned. But the plan is for us to live our lives as His believing children. We are showing the world what true faith is, and who God is, and what He has done for us and what it means to us and to life in this world.

When people see the reflection of God in us and in our lives, they will come seeking the difference, and then we can also share with them the meaning of Christ for their lives in eternity. But they need to see and hear Christ in your life in the here and now. The here and now is so important and impressive to us who know about the gift of eternal life.

Imagine how central here and now is for those who do not know and cannot believe in the hereafter God has revealed. They need to see Christ in you. They need to see the faith, the hope, the confidence in God for this life and for everlasting life. Sometimes we show that by how we set our priorities. Sometimes it can be seen in how we face adversities.

Occasionally, people see our Lord reflected in how we handle the good times of life, too. It shows in humility and good cheer borne of the forgiveness of sins and the knowledge of the love of God. The words we use and the way we judge or do not judge others tells a lot about our faith and hope - or the lack of it.

A big part of the plans of God include your prayers. "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you." His plans include you talking to Him, seeking Him in times of trouble and need, pouring out your heart to Him, and finding that He is there, listening, answering. The best part of His plan is that you find Him, you know Him, and you talk with Him.

Of course, that searching with all your heart can only be done by believers, so your faith and salvation are central to His good plans for you. God promises us that we will call and He will listen. Of course, in the Old Testament prayer was attached to sacrifices and priests in the temple. But today, praise God, we don't have to go to the temple because we are the temple.

The Holy Ghost dwells in us. Our prayers aren't connected to physical sacrifices because the Pascal Lamb has been sacrificed - Jesus. So when we pray, our prayers are connected to Jesus, because we know that God loves us and will answer our prayers because of what Jesus did - and because of what Jesus said, in our Gospel today. We have those promises. What we don't have is someone telling us what the answer is. God want us to take that for granted: "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you."

Just as God rescued the Hebrew people from Babylon and returned them to Jerusalem -- and helped them in their lives, He helps us in our lives and He is planning that great rescue to come, that final day when God comes and takes us all home to the place from which were sent into exile. That place is His glory. We were exiled in sin, and the world corrupted for our sakes all around us. The good plans of God are to end that exile and end the influence of sin, and bring us home to perfection and glory.

It won't seem like a return for us, because we have never personally known the perfection of sinlessness. But it will be a return to what God originally intended, and to a life of full communion with Him. It will be glorious. 'I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope'. And on that day, we will all recognize that the full plans of God for us are - on that day we will be more inclined to say 'were' - marvelously good plans! Heaven awaits us, and we will see Him in all of His glory and we will surely REJOICE!

Do Not Worry -- Be Happy and Pray! Take It to the Lord in Prayer!

2010-01-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

What a Friend We Have in Jesus -- take it to the Lord in Prayer! When you have a problem, don't gripe or complain -- instead, pray! If a person is doing something that seems wrong, don't gossip about them, pray for them! Pray -- and let the God of All Power be involved in your life. He is a gentleman and He wants your permission to help you -- and He wants your obedience in serving Him! He desires your praises and your worship! So take the holy hint and DO IT!

God's help through the power of prayer is available for all kinds of requests and issues. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

If you need an example of a prayer, read Matthew 6:9-13. These verses are known as the Lord's prayer. The Lord's prayer is not a prayer we are only supposed to memorize and recite to God. It is also an example of how to pray and the things that should go into a prayer - worship, trust in God, requests, confession, protection, etc. While it is always good to pray the Lord's Prayer from your heart to the Lord, another good way to pray is to pray for these kinds of things, but speak to God using your own words.

The Word of God is full of accounts describing the power of prayer in various situations. The power of prayer has overcome enemies (Psalm 6:9-10), conquered death (2 Kings 4:3-36), brought healing (James 5:14-15), and defeated demons (Mark 9:29). God, through prayer, opens eyes, changes hearts, heals wounds, and grants wisdom (James 1:5). The power of prayer should never be underestimated because it draws on the glory and might of the infinitely powerful God of the universe!

As Jeremiah 32:17 proclaims: "'Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You!"

Prayer Power -- the Power is God's When You Let Him Use You in Prayer!

2010-01-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

As we go into the new year, God is calling upon us to press in deeper to Him in prayer. We are to be prayer warriors for Him, fighting evil and brokeness with prayer, not bullets or knives.

Power Of Prayer - How do I tap into it?

The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." No matter the person praying, the passion behind the prayer, or the purpose of the prayer - God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will. His answers are not always yes, but are always in our best interest. When our desires line up with His will, we will come to understand that in time. When we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully!

The power of prayer should not be underestimated. James 5:16-18 declares, "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." God most definitely listens to prayers, answers prayers, and moves in response to prayers.

Jesus taught, "…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20). 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The Bible urges us, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

Reading the Bible builds up faith. Hearing Bible-based sermons builds up faith. Hearing Bible-based songs builds up faith. Praying itself builds up faith. Grow strong in the Lord. Let the Spirit build up your faith. Let new wave of Prayer Power begin in 2010!

God's Great Love and Wisdom Are Revealed in His Holy Book!

2009-12-28T16:02:00.000-08:00

Source of joy and peace

"Open my eyes to the wonderful truths in your law. I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your laws. Lord, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me. Then I will have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word. Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for my only hope is in your laws. I will keep on obeying your lay forever and forever.

May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. I know, O Lord, that your decisions are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your law is my delight. +Those who love your law have great peace and do not stumble."
Psalm 119:18, 30, 41-44, 74-77, 165 NLT

Knowing the person behind the book

To own a Bible—to know we have it if we need it—brings a certain measure of peace. When we actually read and begin to understand it we are better able to receive peace of mind and heart. And when we apply what God's Word teaches, our lifestyle actually becomes a fertile place where peace can grow. But when we truly grow to love this wisdom given to us by its loving author, we have actually come to put our trust in the person behind the book. The writer of Psalm 119 grew to love God's law because it revealed who God was. We can rest assured when we follow the principles that issue from God's great love and wisdom.

from the TouchPoint Bible with commentaries by Ron Beers and Gilbert Beers (Tyndale) p 535

A Merry Heart is Good Medicine -- Christian Jokes to Brigthen Your Day

2009-12-17T06:42:00.000-08:00

Christian One Liners

Don't let your worries get the best of you; Remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers..

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

People are funny; they want the front of the bus, middle of the road, and back of the church.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever.

Quit griping about your church; If it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

If a church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

We're called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

God Himself doesn't propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Peace starts with a smile.

I don't know why some people change churches; What difference does it make which one you stay home from?

A lot of church members singing 'Standing on the Promises' are just sitting on the premises.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch 'em - He'll clean 'em.

Stop, Drop, and Roll won't work in Hell.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

God doesn't call the qualified, HE qualifies the called.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

God loves everyone, but probably prefers 'fruits of the spirit' over 'religious nuts!'

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

He who angers you, controls you!

If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats!

Prayer: Don't give God instructions, just report for duty!

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

We don't change the message, the message changes us.

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Pleading the Blood of Jesus in Prayer

2009-12-17T06:36:00.000-08:00

Pleading the Blood of Jesus

When we talk about “pleading” the blood of Jesus, we are not talking about “begging.” “Pleading the blood” should not be considered a desperation exercise; God has not called us to come begging before Him. maybe you have heard people pray the words, “Father God, we come under the blood of Jesus.” Or, “Lord, we cover this matter with the blood of Jesus.”

As many of our great hymns proclaim, we believe in the power of the Blood, because we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that the Cross was the instrument of global redemption which broke the power of hell.

Pleading the blood of Jesus is not the superstitious application of a magic formula of words. Rather, a spiritual dynamic is being applied. The power of the blood of Jesus Christ is greater than both the energy of our own humanity and that of our Adversary. The power that saves is also the power that releases, delivers, and neutralizes the enterprises of hell and the weaknesses of the flesh. The appropriation of the power of the Blood in tough situations is intended for every believer in Christ to know, to understand, and to employ.

Dr. Jack hayford writes that there is an abiding presence of power in the blood of Jesus—all the time, in every situation in which we apply it. Pleading the blood of Jesus is a heaven-given resource that grants us a license to stand in dominion over the works of hell. We can use it in the same sense that an attorney stands before the court and makes a “plea” on legal grounds, based upon a body of evidence.

According to Dr. Hayford, when you and I come before the court of heaven—and in every circumstance we face in life—we have the legal right, through the blood of Jesus Christ, to enter a plea and to lay claim to the evidence (His slain body, His shed blood at the Cross) which is proven to neutralize the power of sin, the power of affliction, the power of death, and the power of hell. It is to that I make my plea when I plead the blood of Jesus, whether I face demonic, physical, or personal attack, condemnation or the temptation to sin.

There is no circumstance in life to which the blood of Jesus isn’t key to God’s releasing, protecting, resolving power, whether it’s removing the potential of confusion, overcoming the impact of rebellion, breaking the torment of fear, or the shame of the past. When we “plead the blood,” we are to do so in the understanding sense, with the firepower of the supernatural, and on the basis of the body of evidence that. Tough the blood of Jesus Christ, all hell has been broken in its power, all sin neutralized, the power of death overwhelmed, and every human need paid for once and for all.

When you pray, utilize the power of the Blood of Christ. Pray, "I plead the Blood of Jesus over _______ (insert person or problem) and I ask the Holy Spirit to apply the power of the Blood of Jesus in Jesus' Name." It is a scripture-based way to pray and wage spritual warfare. For more on the POWER IN THE BLOOD

See my web-blog of Pastor's meditations Word and Spirit at http://www.burtchurch.blogspot.com/

The Miraculous Blood of Jesus

2009-12-17T06:08:00.000-08:00

One of the great offensive prayers that we can pray is to "plead the Blood of Jesus" over people and situations. To enter a plea is a legal term, and God is a legal God. When we enter a plea of the Blood of Jesus in Jesus' name, we are calling on the highest power in the universe in our hehalf.

THE PASSOVER in the Old Testament Scriptures is the focal point of understanding the power of the blood. All sacrifice that proceeds after that in the Mosaic system is founded on this principle: through the blood of sacrifice, there is deliverance, protection, and a God-provided future. This mighty forecasting picture was fulfilled in the Person of Jesus. I recently heard a fine teaching by Dr. Jack Hayford (who wrote the classic chorus "Majesty") that explained pleading the blood very well. I include some of his thoughts here.

Jesus had not even begun his ministry when, appearing before the waters of baptism, John the Baptist announced of Him: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Everyone present understood the implication of his words, but it was difficult for them to come to terms with the idea that the Messiah, who is the King, is also the sacrifice, who is the Lamb. John was raising a signal not only to that day but also to all history.

When we deal with the subject of the blood, we are not dealing with some gory residue of ancient human superstition. When we talk about the blood of Christ, we are dealing with that which the Scriptures refer to as precious for its transcendent value to address human sin, need, failure, and bondage. Its value is related to the inestimable price of human liberty from the bondage of spiritual torment. The blood of Jesus is the central economic factor in all human order. Jack Hayford writes: So central is it that the Bible says Christ’s blood will the theme of our praise forever."

Pray for the Children and Youth -- Remember Proverbs 22:6

2009-12-17T06:04:00.000-08:00

Please pray for our youth. It is a complex world they live in, and they need to be clothed in our prayers. Sometimes I feel that our youth grow up too fast, that they are thrown into the mix so quickly that they miss some of the joys I experienced in my high school years. Their schedules are full of activity, but is there room or time for careful reflection and gentle personal growth of a deeper nature?

In an "it's all about me" world, is there any true focus on thinking beyond oneself, in helping others, and in intentionally living the Christian life.. In a world filled with so much greed and self-centeredness, the church cries out for a balance in life. The Bible gives us a path, the Jesus Way, but the world competes savagely for their attention. They need our nurture, our direction, and our prayers.

Proverbs 22:6 is just as true now as when it was written "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Youth are children, especially until they are 18 and in many ways until they are 21, and sometimes beyond that arbitrary age.

Training is NOT letting children and youth have their own way all of the time. It involves guidance and leadership by the adults in their lives, and definitely by those who are their parents and by others caring adults who are in the churches they are affiliated with in their young lives. So we must pray fervently for them. It is our Christian duty to pray for them individually each day.

Ways to Meditate Upon the Lord!

2009-12-17T06:01:00.000-08:00

Meditating Upon the Lord is a remarkable prayer tool. Here are some fun ways to meditate upon Him!

1. PRAISE JESUS FROM A TO Z. For example, "Jesus, You are amazing ... Jesus, You are beautiful...." This will challenge you to think deeply about who Jesus is and why you love and serve Him. As you praise Jesus using each letter of the alphabet, spend time meditating on each word you use to describe Him. Thinking deeply about Him is more important than racing through each letter of the alphabet as fast as you can.

2. WRITE OUT YOUR PRAYERS TO JESUS. You might write them in a journal, or purchase special stationery for these precious letters, as you might do if you were sending a letter to someone you have fallen deeply in love with. At the end of the letter, sign your name, just as you would a normal letter. Something powerful and deeply intimate happens when you record your thoughts and prayers in a letter to Jesus.

3. MAKE A LIST of the hurts and needs in your life. As you come to a verse that shows how God can meet that need, write it down next to that need. Like the letters mentioned above, you can do this in your journal, or separately. You might even create a journal that records only your needs and relevant Scriptures. As you do this, you create your own book of God's promises!

4. REREAD YOUR NOTES OF THE YOUR PASTOR's SERMON from the previous week. Remember and apply truth. Find a verse in the text that has helped you grow, and write a note giving thanks for the sermon and insight on the passage.

5. READ YOUR FAVORITE HYMN. Spend some time meditating about each of the hymn's verses and its overall message. Find the passage in the Bible that the hymn was based upon, and think about how the hymn describes and reflects that truth. Spend some time researching how and why the hymn was composed. What were the circumstances? You can Google the hymn or look in a book about hymns. Think about how the hymn reflects the author's response to God during his or her circumstances.

God Wants a Personal Relationship With You

2009-12-17T05:57:00.000-08:00

There is a lot we can learn from the life of Moses in Exodus. He had a deep Personal Relationship With God, and we should desire that for ourselves and for our loved ones, and everyone in our church families.

The Bible shows us that the #1 thing God wants to do with each one of us is to establish an intimate personal relationship. Moses definitely accomplished this with God the Father! The Bible may have given Moses two of the finest and highest compliments that any human could ever hope to receive from God Himself.

Here are the two verses giving Moses these two incredible compliments direct from the Lord Himself:

"So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." (Exodus 33:11)

"But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." (Deuteronomy 34:10)

The second verse is one of the last verses that are at the end of this man’s story. It is a very fitting statement and compliment in which to end his story in God. These verses are obviously referring to Moses’ face-to-face encounters with God in the burning bush and on top of Mount Sinai when he received the 10 commandments from God the Father.

However, the thing to really grab a hold of is that even though God initiated making this kind of direct contact with Moses, Moses entered in and was not afraid to meet God face to face and one on one! The Bible says that when God first manifested His presence on top of Mount Sinai, all of the other Israelites were scared to death of God.

They told Moses that he should go up there and talk with God for them lest they should die from coming into direct contact with the Lord. Here are the exact words out of Scripture of the fear that they had with their own God:

Then they said to Moses, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." (Exodus 20:19)

Their fear of God is the exact same fear that many Christians still have today. They know that the Bible tells them that God wants to establish this individual personal relationship with each one of us, but they are to afraid to approach God to establish this kind of intimate personal relationship with Him.

There are many different reasons why people are afraid to establish a personal relationship with the Lord. But suffice to say, this is what God really wants, and if you would be willing enter in without any fear like Moses did, this will then be the beginning of a new and adventurous life with the Lord. Your relationship with God is the foundation of your prayer life.

Repentance is Important to the Christian Prayer Life

2009-12-17T05:53:00.000-08:00

YOU ARE FORGIVEN -- BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST! Repent and be Forgiven by God!

REPENTANCE is an important part of a healthy prayer life. When you honestly repent of your sins, God forgives you and takes your sins as far from you "as the East is from the West"-Pslam 103).

Nothing you have done is beyond God's ability to forgive you. The devil wants you to wallow in guilt and run from God and the other ones you who love you. God wants to forgive you and truly set you free to love and be loved, to focus on the ones God has given you to love most fully in your family and your church family. God's forgiveness is a wonderful thing! But sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself. Pray that God might help you with forgiving yourself.

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (1 Peter 3:18). "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

God's Forgiveness is a Wonderful Thing - He Paid the Price Himself

God hates sin, but He loves the sinner. The price for God's forgiveness is high, but He paid the price Himself. By Christ's loving act of grace, believers are eternally freed from the penalty and guilt of sin. Once we're covered by the Blood of Christ, God doesn't keep a record of our sins. Our forgiveness is total and complete.

"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, who sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord doesn't count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit" (Psalm 32:1-2).

"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more" (Isaiah 43:25).

"It is possible for the Lord to look at us without seeing our sins because when he forgave us, he removed our sins as far as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12).

So turn from you sin -- do not embrace it anymore. Cease and desist. And ask God to forgive you. Truly repent and be forgiven.

A believer receives God's forgiveness when he repents of sin and places his faith in Jesus Christ for salvation -- all of his sins are forgiven forever. That includes past, present and future, big or small. Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins, and once they are forgiven, they are all forgiven (Colossians 1:14; Acts 10:43). However, when we stumble, we are called to confess our sins - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Yes, Christians do sin (1 John 1:8) - but the Christian life is not to be identified by a life of sin. Believers are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). We have the Holy Spirit in us producing good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). A Christian life should be a changed life. A person who claims to be a believer yet continually lives a life that says otherwise should question the genuineness of his faith. Christians are forgiven no matter how many times they sin, but at the same time, Christians should live a progressively more holy life as they grow closer to Christ.

Christians continue to sin after they are saved - we will not be free from sin until we die or Jesus comes back. However, becoming a Christian results in a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17). A person will go from producing the acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) to producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). This change does not happen instantly, but it does happen over time. Paul tells us, "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Prayer Helps the Pray-er in More Ways Than We Can See

2009-12-17T05:47:00.000-08:00

PRAYER CHANGES SITUATIONS -- AND IT CHANGES US!

Prayer is vital to the spiritual life of Christians. Many profess to be Christian and never pray. Others say their prayers go unanswered.

Christians pray. Prayer is talking to God. Do you know how to talk to God?

God is your Father. As His child, you must speak, talk—pray—to Him. This is far more important than you may realize.

Christ taught, “Pray after this manner.” What manner did He—and the Bible—teach?

The Bible is filled with accounts of answered prayers.

Moses pleaded with God to change His mind and not destroy rebellious, carnal-minded Israel (Num. 14:11-19). Hannah, who was barren, implored God to give her a child of her own (I Sam. 1:5-11). David beseeched God to forgive him for committing horrendous sins (Psa. 51). And before He was taken to be crucified, Jesus asked God to protect His disciples (John 17:6-11).

God answered their prayers. He will also answer yours.

But there are conditions. You must approach God HIS way, not your own. You need to know how to pray—when—how often—where—and what to pray for. The answers are in God’s Word.

Let's look at some of the conditions to answered prayer we find in the Bible. Other conditions will be covered or expanded upon later. But first notice we are to Ask in faith: You must believe—have faith. The apostle Paul wrote, “But without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Heb. 11:6).

Why? Because “he who comes to God must BELIEVE that He is”—that God exists—“and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (same verse). If you want God to answer your prayers, you must first believe that He exists and that He will hear you. That takes faith.

Christ said, “And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive” (Matt. 21:22).

The apostle James added, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James. 1:6-7).

But what is faith? Here is the Bible’s definition: “…faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Faith is your PROOF that God will deliver His promises—it is your GUARANTEE that You can depend on HIM, that in His Way He will come through for you.

God cannot lie (Heb. 6:18). He fulfills His promises. And He promises that if you faithfully turn to Him, He will turn to you (Zech. 1:3)—God will answer your prayers. Perhaps not the way we see it, or in the time we see it, adn sometimes He says NO for our own good, but He hears and answers the fervent prayers of righteous people (James 5:14-16).

We also see the need to Be diligent: When most people pray (to be healed, find a job, etc.), they ask God once, maybe twice, and then give up. But prauter is a continuing conversation with God, and being in God's presence in prayer can lift your own faith. So if something remains on your heart, you may continue to ask the Father until he shows you another way.

Be ebcouraged that our Lord Jesus Christ said, “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” (Matt. 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13).

Let God know that you are serious about your request. Keep in mind that He seldom answers prayers in the way or time frame most people expect. God does things His way, according to His timetable. If a matter is important to you, do not pray about it just once. It is okay to come to God again and again, not in a nagging way, but with sincere, heartfelt petitions. Be diligent. Sometimes praying helps the pray-er in more ways than we can see.

Fill Yourself Up With the Word!

2009-12-17T05:42:00.000-08:00

Fill yourself with the Word

How can a person stay pure to God? By obeying your Word and following its rules.
Psalm 119:9 NLT

"Let the Bible fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet."
Bible Teacher Henrietta Mears

A drunk meets a cop

Dawson Troter, founder of the Christian group Navigators, was student body president, basketball team captain, and class valedictorian when he was in high school. But then life fizzled out. He gambled, drank to excess, and caroused. He was staggering through the streets one night when a policeman stopped him, took his car keys, and asked, "Son, do you like this kind of life?" "Sir, I hate it," replied Trotman. Instead of arresting him for drunkenness, the policeman urged Dawson to change his life.

That encounter was a turning point. Dawson attended a church gathering were he was challenged to memorize ten Bible verses stressing salvation. Trotman memorized the verses, then memorized another ten the next week. Several weeks later, as he pondered the meaning of what he had learned, he quietly prayed, "Oh God, whatever it means to receive Jesus, I want to do it right now."

Trotman never got away from the power of the Word. As his knowledge of the Bible grew, he realized that a combination of prayer, worship, service, and the study of Scripture produced spiritual growth.

Dawson used every technique he knew to ensure that he'd do things God's way. He programmed God's Word into himself so that he could retrieve it at crucial points along the way. He recited God's Word aloud, reinforcing his learning. He studied and reflected on God's Word. All this transformed his character and kept him on the right path.

So fill yourself up with God's Word. It will transform you from the inside out!

The Day the Sun Stood Still -- Radically Tursting God

2009-12-17T05:36:00.000-08:00

"So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies." Joshua 10:13a (NLT)

Do you need more time in your day? Has there ever been a day when you needed just a little more light to accomplish your task? If you need time, ask God for it. Time is in His hands.

In this verse we find Joshua in need for a little more time in his day. Joshua and the Israelite armies are in battle against five combined Amorite armies to conquer the land allotted to them after crossing the Jordan. Joshua and his men are tired. The warring for the land has been intense. As the leader, Joshua decides to travel all night for a surprise attack. We find Joshua asking God to hold the sun and moon still.

It might be that God is calling you to radically trust Him with your time and get up early each morning to spend time in prayer and in His Word. You might wonder, “How can I do this?” You can ask God to help you by adjusting your time to walk in obedience to Him as well as take care of all my other responsibilities.

Our problem is not that we don’t want to know God better through prayer and His Word. The problem is in believing we can manage our time better than He can. But we need to trust God for the little details of day-to-day living so we can tithe the first fruits of our days to God. I often pray in closing meetings that God will multiply time given to him back to those gathered around the table.

Do you believe God has a plan for you today? You can call on God like Joshua to “let the sun and moon stand still” so that you can accomplish what He has ordained for you to accomplish. Desire to be at peace with His timing; and not just be caught up in frantic activity to complete your checklists. God is the great I AM, and the Creator of time. Will you trust Him to hold your time in His nailed-scarred hands?

Every Great Work of the Church Begins With Prayer -- Change Our Hearts, O God

2009-12-17T05:34:00.000-08:00

It is ttue thatEvery great work in the Church begins with someone on their knees. We must Tap into the power of God through prayer. It is also true that Prayer changes the pray-er. One of the most important and valuable ways that God answers our prayers is by changing our hearts.

The hymn (chorus) Change My Heart, O God contains these words: “Change my heart. O God, make it ever true. Change my heart, O God, may I be like You. You are the Potter, I am the clay; mold me and make me, this is what I pray. Change my heart, O God, make it ever true. Change my heart, O God, may I be like You.”

Here we see truth based on scripture, and a spiritual insight that directs my thoughts to God. Language has great power in our lives to shape and inform our reality. Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45 remind us of Jesus’ teaching that out of the abundance of the heart come the words that we speak. Our meditation and prayers in both word and song shape our thoughts and shape the way we believe and speak and act. James 5:16 reminds us that the prayer of the righteous has great power in its effects.

One of the most powerful effects of the prayer of faith is to change us as we pray to be more like Jesus.

Moving from Believing to Knowing -- Getting to That Place of Knowledge Where We Act Upon His Word as Ultimate Fact!

2009-12-16T20:01:00.000-08:00

Knowing God and God's Ways -- Getting to that Place of Knowledge Where We Act on His Word as Ultimate Fact

As we grow as Christians we move from believing, which is the first, primary step, to knowing, which is accepting what we believe as fact and acting on it appropriately. Many people believe that there is a God. They believe that God has a plan for their life. They believe that all things work together for the good of those who love him, but these very same people have not yet grown to the place where they accept these beliefs as a fact and act on them.

There is a major difference between knowing and believing. The Bible tells us that we must believe that God is and that He is the rewarded of those who perform his will. On many other occasions, the Bible talks about believing in order to be saved. Belief is so important. "Lord, help my unbelief," is an important prayer, But we must take our faith beyond belief to knowing. Knowledge of God and God's promises will bring you a new freedom in faith, a new adventure in living, as you receive the blessings God has stored up for you since Jesus purchased them on the cross 2000 years ago.

Friendship is an example that helps us understand. We all have friends and people we trust. For most of us, we believe they are our friends in the good times. But if and when something happens, that is when we find out who our friends truly are. Another example is credit score. We can believe that we have a good score or a bad score, but until we run the report we will not truly know. There is a difference between knowing something with certainty and simply believing. When you get that certainty, tour actions become automatic. That is how God wants us to be with the things of God.

When we get to that knowing area, our prayers are more effective. Knowing makes the difference when you lose your job and you ask God why did He let this happen, instead of where are you taking me. Knowing is what makes the difference when you are faced with a difficult situation and you ask God "why did you let this happen to me," instead you ask, "Okay Lord, what am I supposed to learn from this?"

Knowing God is essential to Christian growth. Too much of Christianity is based on belief in God rather than knowing God. Some of you may say this is just semantics. It is not. Consider people who have lost their faith. Is that even possible? Can anyone truly lose their faith? I don’t believe so. How can anyone lose faith in something they know to be true? You can’t. People lose faith in things they simply believe in. The reason many people lose faith and leave the church is because they simply believed in God and somewhere down the road, they were persuaded otherwise.

Some will say all you have to do is believe; no one can know. That is not true. God never intended for us to know him by testing him in a lab. We know God because he will reveal himself to us. Scripture clearly tells us that we are supposed to know. After Jesus reappeared to prove to Thomas that He has risen, he said, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). The night before Jesus was arrested He explicitly told the disciples how we who will not see Him will know that God is who he says he is. He said, “The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:17-19).

In order for us to preserve the church, we must teach people to know God and go beyond simply believing. We must know that he loves us and of his plans for our lives. This knowing should not be based on an intellectual knowing but on the indwelling Holy Spirit, which Jesus left as our comforter. God did not call us to have an abstract belief concerning him, he called us to know him.

Psalm 46:10: Be Still and Know He is God -- Have Some Quiet Times with Him!

2009-12-16T19:58:00.000-08:00

Here are a few ways to spend some quality quiet times with God:

HAVE A QUIET TIME WITH ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN or grandchildren. This would probably include reading a passage from the Bible out loud. You can give children a powerful peek into your relationship with Christ by inviting them to share your regular time with God. As you ask them questions about what they see in the passage, you'll teach them to think more deeply about God's Word. Their responses and observations may surprise you, stretch you, and enrich your own perspective.

WRITE ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD from a different point of view. Think about how someone else would describe your walk. For example, my teen son might say, "My mom has a radical walk with Jesus. She really got pegged (convicted) by this verse." Several friends from the mission field explained how this activity helped them communicate the parable of the sower to the tribe they worked with. In their translation work, they described the seed that grew as the one that fell on "mulchy" soil. In that tribe, the best heart is one that resembles a compost pile. When you consider your walk and God's Word from the perspective of another, you will think differently, cross cultural barriers, and gain a fresh view of god.

MEMORIZE ONE OF THE PRAYERS of the Bible, such a Mary's prayer in Lk. 1:46–55. Then act the prayer out as a soliloquy. Or how about one of the prayers of Paul in Ephesians 1 or 3?

WRITE OUT A LIST of theological questions you'd like answered. Choose one and begin researching it. "God, what is in your heart toward women?" was a question I had that led me on an exhaustive study of all the women in the Bible, and all the verses with the words woman and women in them.

ABIDING DAILY Remember, the purpose of all these ideas is to enhance your relationship with God and your intimacy with Him during your quiet time. The goal is to abide ever more in Him. As Fern Nichols, the founder of Moms in Touch, says, "If you seek to abide in the vine daily, you never know what day He might choose to change you life forever." Enjoy the adventure of time with God!

We Are Easter People -- And Our Lord is Coming Again!

2009-12-16T19:51:00.000-08:00

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!

Think on this promise: Christ will return -- let that FACT encourage your faith journey and prayer life!

A heavenly vision from the Bible --

"After I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, "Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!" Revelation 7:9-10 NLT

Heavenly praise for the Lamb

Many times our prayers tend to focus on this world and the struggles we encounter in our lives. God understands and accepts these prayers, but we must also direct our thoughts and prayers to the victory we will share with Christ. In Revelation, God gives us a splendid portrayal of that final victory. In a vision, the apostle John sees a magnificent scene: a vast multitude celebrating the triumph of the Lamb of God. Waving palm branches, the traditional symbol of victory, people from all over the world extol God for the salvation he had provided through his Son.

As followers of Christ, today, we are privileged to be part of this multitude—the communion of believers. Because Jesus has overcome death, a new life of wholeness and peace through him has opened up to us. This is worth shouting about—praising God with all that is in us! Do not wait until you get to heaven before you start to praise the Lord!

We are Easter people, persons of the resurrection, and we should be filled with hope, not despair. Never forget it! Our hope comes from the promises of Christ! If you get to feeling down, just look up, and think of Jesus coming in the clouds, as He one day will return.

The Golden Promises of the Bible Are Activated By Our Prayers

2009-12-16T19:49:00.000-08:00

[Jesus told them,] "Now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven." Luke 24:19
"Though the Bible be crowded with golden promises from board to board, yet they will be inoperative until we turn them into prayer. " F. B. Meyer (1847-1929)

Golden promises

Before Jesus sent out the disciples to take the message of the gospel to all nations, he assured them of his promise to send the Holy Spirit. That promise motivated them to continue with one accord in prayer (Acts 1:14). God's promises are provided to stir us and inspire us to pray. Those precious promises—there are hundreds throughout the Bible—show us things God has purposed and wants us to ask for, just as he wanted his disciples to ask for the Holy Spirit so they would have power for ministry. These golden promises teach us about how to pray, and they build our faith.

"If I am to have faith when I pray," said American evangelist R.A. Torrey, "I must find some promise in the Word of God on which to rest my faith.…If there is no promise in the Word of God, and no clear leading of the Spirit, there can be no real faith." Today, ask the Lord which of his promises he wants you to pray about. The Holy Spirit will fill you with power from on high to accomplish what needs to be done.

THANK YOU, FATHER, for the promises in your word. May they be incentives for me to continue in prayer so that your will may be accomplished and your kingdom will come in my life, family, nation, and world. Holy Spirit, thank you for dwelling within me and for filling me with your power. Let my prayers be pleasing to you, Father, as your Spirit leads me in praying in light of your promises.

Six Ways to Jump Start Your Prayer Life!

2009-12-16T06:39:00.000-08:00

Six Ways to Jump Start Your Prayer Life if you seem to be coasting a bit -- Here comes some enthusiasm in these practices!

1.. SPEND YOUR ENTIRE TIME WITH GOD SINGING and praising Him. Church hymnals and books of choruses are great resources to enliven your quiet time with personal worship. You might even try creating a song of your own!

2. DANCE BEFORE THE LORD like David, who danced "with all his might" (2 Sam. 6:14). David's dancing was a heartfelt and spontaneous expression of rejoicing. So put on your favorite hymn or praise song, and dance away. Interpretive dance is a wonderful way to express your heart and soul in praise before God. If you enjoy Jewish folk dancing, ballet, or some other kind of dance, dedicate your talent to God. When you are alone with God, you can move beyond any embarassment you might feel if someone else was around. Just let go and enjoy God!

3. WRITE DOWN EVERY SIN that continues to haunt you. Then write 1 Jn. 1:9 over each sin. Destroy the list—God has. This is a strong visual reminder of how God blots out your sin.

4. WRITE OUT a Philippians 4:8 list. What is lovely to you, worthy of praise, excellent, etc.? Hang the list in a place where you tend to be grumpy, such as above the washer and dryer or on the dashboard of your car for that frustrating commute!

5. PRAY IN A POSTURE you don't normally use. Try praying on your knees, prone, or standing with your face to the heavens and your hands raised in worship. It's amazing how simply changing your posture before God can change your attitude and help you experience Him in new ways.

6. READ A DIFFERENT TRANSLATION of the Bible. I started doing this one again yesterday, and am struggling with the Psalms in The Message paraphrase. I trust I will grow to appreciate the insights as I grow more confident in moving beyond the familiar memories of Psalms I know so well and love. You might consider purchasing a Bible that has several translations in parallel. Reading a new translation or comparing different ones can stimulate new insights into Scripture. If you've used and marked up one particular Bible for many years, reading a different Bible will enable you to see the Word with new vision. Because your eyes will not be drawn to notes and highlighted passages from previous study or devotional reading, the Scriptures will feel as beautiful and inviting as a fresh snowfall on a crisp winter morn.

Write a Letter to God -- The Bible is His Love Letter to You! Or Go on a Praise Walk, Praising Your Cares Away!

2009-12-16T06:34:00.000-08:00

Behind closed doors, many of us yawn through our quiet times. Somehow, our routine time with God slowly and quietly degenerates into a boring, predictable rut. As spiritual cataracts grow over our sleepy eyes, we may grow disinterested and frustrated. Such seasons demand a fresh view of the creator. Like any good relationship, quiet times with god need a little variety. Instead of rolling over and hitting the snooze button, try one of these ideas for your next quiet time.

1. WRITE A LETTER TO GOD about your life. Give it to a friend to mail hack to you in three months. In the letter, talk to God about the areas of your life that are bothering you. Write about how you'd like to grow and what attribute of His you'd like to see more clearly.

2. WRITE OUT AND PERSONALIZE Scripture by inserting your name into promises relevant to your life or current struggles. For example, I would personalize Ps. 84:11 in this way: "No good thing does God withhold from Pam when she walks uprightly." Many of the Bible's promises come to life and seem more powerful and relevant when personalized in this way Spend some time meditating and praying over verses that you personalize. I once copied a set of verses and strung them together as a personalized love letter from God's heart to my own. I have it framed and hanging in my room. Those personalized verses help me keep a trig view of God.

3. GO ON A PRAISE WALK. Thank God for everything you see. Take the opportunity to look closely at God's creation, praising Him for His creativity and the beauty of the world He's crafted. After hiking for a while, find a quiet spot to read one of the many psalms that describe His creation. Isaiah 40 and Genesis 1 are two other chapters that will help you focus your heart and mind on God's creative character.

Base Your Prayer Life on the Firm Foundation of the Living Word of God!

2009-12-16T06:32:00.000-08:00

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS AND STRENGTHENS THE ONE WHO PRAYS

THE WORD OF GOD IS POWERFUL AND LIVING, BRINGING LIFE!

Here are seven major power verses showing you how much supernatural life and power there really is in the Word of God. Base Your Prayer Life on the Word of God!

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

"Is not My word like a fire?" says the Lord, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23:29)

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63)
"This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life." (Psalm 119:50)

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " (Matthew 4:4)

"... as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." (1 Peter 2:2)

Do not neglect reading and hearing of the Word of God each day. Do not miss a filling on the word at your filling station, the church, where the Word of God is preached.

Reading and studying GOd's word is a powerful practice for Christians. The actual words of the Bible are anointed by the Holy Spirit Himself - and they have the full ability to completely change and transform you if you are willing to work with the truths that are contained in the actual words.

Jesus says in the Bible that you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. However, you first have to know what the truth is before the truth can start to work to set you free.

This is why Kind David said we must meditate on the words of the Bible - so we can find out what their true meaning is and how these truths can apply to our daily lives. Meditating on the Bible means to think about, to chew on, to allow the Holy Spirit to give you meaning for your life and the lives of your loved ones and Christian friends.

In one Book, God has given us everything we need to know about Himself, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the basics of our salvation through the death of His Son, how He wants us to live this life, the things He wants us doing and the things that He does not want us doing. It is a Book of Life and Victory, of love and caring from God's heart to us.

Bloom Where You Are Planted -- Bloom for Jesus Christ!

2009-12-16T06:28:00.000-08:00

Bloom Where You Are Planted!

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Blessings to you in His mighty name.

As we are in the spring and planting is near, the phrase bloom where you are planted comes to mind. As I flew home from Kansas City yesterday I saw many fields below the plane where tilling had been done and the ground was ready for the seed. These crops will bloom where they are planted, if they get the nutrient and nurture they need.

How goes it with you? Are you blooming where God has planted you? Are you bringing forth a good yield? Are you being fruitful and productive for the Lord?
Could it be you need more nutrients? (the Word in church and study, prayer, fellowship with Christians, etc.) Could it be that you need more nurture? (teaching by the pastor and church leaders, the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the care of a Christian family in addition to your natural family, the care of God that comes from being in His presence and worshipping Him in Spirit and in Truth).

Could it be that you need some weeding, to get toxic things (sin, disobedience, apathy) out of your life? Could it be that you need more light (from the Son) and more water (from the Living Water of the Holy Spirit)? If so, go to the Light and Water station that is your church every time you can and get filled up and warmed from the inside out.

Are you blooming for God? A blooming Christian is the opposite of a "blooming idiot" for the wisest thing you can do in your life is to give yourself to God and let Him help you to grow for Him.

So I urge you to bloom where you are planted for Jesus!

Patiently Seek God's Face -- Learn to Wait Upon the Lord in Prayer

2009-12-16T06:26:00.000-08:00

Through your precepts I get understanding…Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.

Do you pray for direction, and hear nothing? Do you wonder if God even heard your prayers? You are not alone. Often we pour out our hearts in prayer, seeking His will; hearing nothing. God is silent. Not wanting to wait, we tend to forge ahead on our own. Yet, when I examine Scripture, God consistently teaches us to sit, pray, and wait.

Jesus began His ministry by fasting forty days alone in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He spent an entire night alone in prayer before choosing g His twelve disciples (Luke 6:12). Esther fasted and prayed for three days before she took the bold and courageous step of going before the king on behalf of her people, knowing it could mean her death (Esther 4:8-16). Elijah was in the wilderness for forty days and heard the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-18).

What do these great people of faith teach us? To know God's leading, to hear His voice, we must listen and wait. Maybe we think God is silent because we never take the time to sit in God's Word and wait. When we do, He promises it will penetrate us to the marrow of our bones, to the deepest places in our heart. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

When we choose to get alone with God, He promises to meet us there. Jeremiah 29:13-14 says, “You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord.”

Setting Your Mind on God and His Purposes in Prayer

2009-12-16T06:24:00.000-08:00

"Now set your mind and heart to seek (inquire of and require as your vital necessity) the Lord your God.” (I Chronicles 22:19, AMP).

The Amplified version amplifies certain key thoughts, in this case the word “seek.” Make a special emphasis in your prayers this week to truly seek after the Lord. Meditate on some of God’s qualities and listen for Him speaking in your life.

Turn your mind to the greatness and goodness of God as He supplies our lives with blessings in abundance. As we look around outside, brown is still a dominant color, but just a little seeking points out more and more green- in the grass, flowers and first growth poking up through the ground, buds pushing out on the trees. In the same way, seek (look for as a vital necessity) signs of God’s hand of blessing at work in your life.

Have you “set your mind” today? In other words, when you woke up this morning, did you make the decision to focus on good things and to follow God with all your heart? If we don’t set our minds, if we don’t purposely focus our thoughts and energy, then chances are, we’ll be bombarded by the cares of life. We’ll be tossed back and forth by every situation we encounter. We’ll be distracted by every phone call, upset by the traffic, offended by what someone said, and we’ll get off the course God intended.

We’ve all heard it said that the best defense is a good offense. When you proactively set your thoughts, you are putting yourself on the offense. You are taking charge of your life. You are being an on-purpose person. You’re redeeming the time. Make the decision today to set your mind on things above. Set your mind on God’s eternal purposes so that you can stand in the victory He has for you.

A Good Prayer to Pray -- "Send Forth Your Light and Your Truth and Let Them Guide Me" Psalm 43:3

2009-12-16T06:20:00.000-08:00

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell." Psalm 43:3 (The following thoughts are from Glynnis Whitwer- Proverbs 31)

I live in a valley. Every direction I look there are mountains. Living in the West, my family also vacations in mountains. Because of that, it seems I spend lots of time in valleys. One truth I've learned is if you keep walking, you will eventually get out. One summer we took a trip to Bryce Canyon. It was warm outside, and got warmer as we headed down into the canyon. It was a great hike as we circled the interesting rock spires called hoodoos. We wound our way down the valley with steep mountains on all sides.

After a while, I was hot, tired and ready to sit down and relax. As I rested on a rock, I looked up at the canyon rim, wiping salty sweat out of my eyes. It looked very far away. I wished for a shortcut to get out, but knew there wasn't any. Short of calling in a helicopter, there was only one way out, and it was to walk across the valley and up the mountain. Sitting there on that rock might give me a moment's rest, but it didn't get me out of the valley.

I've also been in other valleys: those of fear, worry and hopelessness. I'll be honest. When I'm in those valleys, my inclination is to sit. Fear paralyzes me. Worry straps itself to my feet like weights. Hopelessness misconstrues reality so I'm blinded to the truth. And so I stay, planted firmly in the valley of misery. Over and over, I review how others have hurt me, and forecast possible fearful outcomes. None of those choices gets me out of the valley of misery. In fact, they get me nowhere.

What does get me out of those difficult valleys is when I keep walking. It’s when I keep praying even though it seems like my prayers hit the ceiling. It's when I keep reading my Bible, even though the words seem to have less meaning. It's when I keep going to church or a small group even when I'd rather stay home. It's singing songs of worship, even though my heart isn't soaring with joy. But when I keep doing those things, I take steps toward truth and eventually get out of the valley.

Walking through a valley to me means doing the things that are healthy and God-honoring, even when I don't feel like doing them. There is always a way out of a valley. But it means I have to keep walking, then climb a mountain, and that takes work. But when I do the work, God rewards me with a breathtaking view.

In TImes of Struggle, Turn to God and Pray -- and Ask Others to Pray for You

2009-12-16T06:10:00.000-08:00

"My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” Psalms 119:28

These are words of struggle. I don’t know if any of you reading this are in the midst of struggle, but there are many around you who are, you don’t have to look very far to find them. When it seems that the world is crushing in and there are simply too many, or too big of things to deal with, there is often the desire to run away, or retreat and hide- even from God, if it feels as though God is not listening or prayers are going unanswered.

This brings a physical and emotional exhaustion, but we have Hope. We have the promises of God delivered in the scriptures. Grab onto the prayer of Ps. 119:28 and ask to be strengthened by the Word of God. Look for the promises you find there and claim them in prayer. When you find the promises, there will be conditions- go to God in prayer asking how to meet them, that they can be real for you today.

"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you have planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” Psalm 40:5.

God has a plan for your life, and that is a promise that you can pass along to others. As we read through Psalms together as a congregation, highlight or underline the verses that have special meaning for you. Copy promises to claim into a notebook or your prayer journal and lift them up. Take your troubles to the cross and leave them there- our Lord can identify with our suffering, and He will lift the burden from you. Give thanks.

Praying to God Based on the Example of Jesus Our Savior

2009-12-16T06:08:00.000-08:00

Christians are instructed to follow in Jesus's footsteps as possible. The Bible teaches the most effective way to pray based on Jesus' example. Many people make the mistake of casually throwing up a few prayers here and there without giving much thought to the process. Jesus prayed with purpose and diligence. Here are a few tips fromt the life of Jesus that we should consideer to help you get the most out of your prayer time.

1. Get up early in the morning. In Mark 1:35, Jesus is shown getting up early to pray. Jesus knew that he needed to put God first in all things. Praying early in the morning not only starts our day off right, but also shows God that he is Number One in our lives.

2. Find a place where you can be alone. Jesus knew that, in order to have quality time with God, he had to be completely alone. If possible, find a place to pray where there will be no interruptions or distractions.

3. Pray with enthusiasm. Hebrews 5:7 says that Jesus threw himself entirely into his praying. We must use not only our minds but also our emotions and our spirit when praying.

4. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. Romans 8:26 tells us that Jesus prayed with dependency upon the Holy Spirit, and we are instructed to do the same. God often reveals things to us during our time of prayer. Keep a notepad handy to write down your thoughts and experiences. Partner with the Spirit. Ask Him to give you the gifts you need in order to lift up the body of Christ.

5. Pray in accordance with God's will. 1 John 5:14-15 says that Jesus, being God in the flesh, knew perfectly the mind and will of God. If we are to pray as Jesus did, we must pray according to God's will as revealed in the Scriptures.

6. Pray according to the Word of God. The only way we can be sure we are praying within the will of God is to pray according to the word of God. Reading and studying your Bible is essential to having a successful prayer life.

7. Pray in faith. When we pray according to God's will, as revealed through his word, we can pray with faith, knowing that God desires to answer our prayers. As you pray, believe that God will answer your prayers. Read Mark 11:22-26.

8. Visualize God answering your prayers. John 5:19 tells us that Jesus could do nothing except what he saw the Father doing. Just like Jesus, as we pray, we must see God doing the very things we are asking for. Use your baptized imagination for good things.

Lent -- Change is Not Just for the Spring of the Year in the Days Before Easter

2009-12-16T06:05:00.000-08:00

Lent is about change. We think about what we want to quit doing, or what we want to do more or better, and we make promises, and try really hard. That’s good, and that’s as it should be. But know this: the Spirit of God is always working in you, on you, with you, to transform you. You are swimming with the current, in other words, and God knows where you’re going.

Do not keep trying to swim upstream -- it will tire you out and break you down. Do not swim too close to the shore -- you might run aground ind the shallows or hit the rock or the hidden submerged tree limb. Swim with the current in the deep water of God.

We are all swimmers in the river of life. But many never find the beauty of the current that is the Way of Jesus Christ. It is in His current that lives of prayer and seeking His Word will reap abundant benefits and eternal virtues. Swim with Him, dear ones, swim in the deep waters of His love!

Wash Me Clean, O Lord -- Praying for Forgiveness and Cleansing

2009-12-16T05:59:00.000-08:00

Psalm 51:7, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

Hyssop was used to sprinkle the blood of the sacrificial lamb to bring spiritual cleansing and restoration, but being washed whiter than snow comes at a cost. This week I read an article about someone whitening their teeth that has some parallel lessons.

A friend of mine discovered that the whole teeth whitening thing wasn’t the blissful experience she had anticipated. It was far more painful and complicated than expected. The chemicals they use in the bleaching process can cause pain. The nerves under the gum-line exposed to these chemicals can really hurt. I thought about how this applies to God's process of making us white as snow. We want that process to be quick and easy. We don't want the pain, and yet sometimes pain is the only thing that will cause the change God wants to bring about in us.

Whitening takes a long time. The chemicals are so harsh you couldn’t take it all in one application, so they break it up a little at a time.

But think about how gentle and loving our Heavenly Father is, allowing us to go through a process of refinement, instead of being exposed to more than we can take all at once. He leads us along the path of righteousness– a journey. He never gives us more than we can take, balancing just the right amount of pain mixed with just the right amount of perfectly timed relief. It might take longer than we want, but we can find peace in knowing that the end-result will be worth waiting for. God’s whitening process- it might not be easy, or tidy, or even close to what we expected, but we can trust it will be for the best.

Prayer Lessons from King Jehosaphat and 2 Chroncles

2009-12-16T05:57:00.000-08:00

Christians almost universally agree, “God answers prayer.” But many people, if they were honest, would amend the phrase to say, “The Lord answers most prayers, but not mine.” A believer can fervently call upon God without receiving what he considers a satisfactory answer. The stumbling block isn't God's unwillingness or inability to respond, but rather the word satisfactory. If we come to God with a preconceived idea of how to solve our problem, we will often overlook His true resolution.

The power of our prayers is based in scripture. Please read II Chronicles 20:14-25 and meditate on vs. 21-22, “And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.”

Suppose King Jehoshaphat had decided that God could answer his prayer only by giving the army extra strength for the forthcoming skirmish. He would have called a war council, arrayed his soldier in armor, and set up battle lines. God's solution was entirely unexpected: First, send the choir out singing praises, then watch the Lord save Israel. If Jehoshaphat's soldiers had attempted combat, they may have lost Jerusalem.

Sometimes we don't like God's solution. We desire freedom from physical pain rather than an extra measure of grace to endure the hurt. Or we want a new job, not a command to seek the boss' forgiveness for our poor attitude. In essence, we want the Lord to fix everything without requiring any effort from us. But our willingness to obey is the key to answered prayer. When He tells us how to resolve our problem, we must act just as He specifies, or we will never be satisfied.

Set Aside the Distractions of Life When You Go to Pray

2009-12-16T05:52:00.000-08:00

"But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly." Matthew 6:6.

A common problem in prayer is we’re so busy each day that we don't pause to pray- for ourselves or others. We don’t plug into God, until a crisis happens. Even then, sometimes we're so used to dealing with things without praying that it can take awhile for us to remember to turn the problem over to God.

So developing a pray-as-I-go-through-my-day mindset is important. Equally as important as taking God along with me through my day, is to set aside and spend time with Him: to commune with Him; to read scripture; to pray, and to listen for His response; to be still in His presence and worship Him. This kind of thing can’t be done on the run. Some issues we face in life, for whatever reason in the spiritual realm, cannot be solved with one or two quick prayers.

We have to persist praying with faith. We may need to gather others to join us in praying, and to intercede on our behalf. It's always necessary too, to keep in mind that God may not answer in the way we expect.

EM Bounds writes, “We would not have anyone think that the value of prayer is to be measured by the clock.” He also asserts, however, “The short prevailing prayer cannot be prayed by one who has not prevailed with God in a mightier struggle of long continuance.”

When I look at the life of Jesus and His prayer practices, I see lots of brief prayers He prayed. I also see instances when He spent extended time praying and communing with God. For instance, in Mark 1:35 we find Jesus alone in a solitary place, very early in the morning, praying. In Mark 6:46, after miraculously feeding 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus leaves His disciples and goes up on a mountainside to pray. Matthew 14:23 adds that Jesus remained there alone until evening.

So let's examine our prayer life for a moment. Could you benefit from learning to pray quickly during your day as needs arise? Is a set-apart time of leaning deeper into God with stillness and prayer what your soul is truly craving? Whichever it is, or both, decide to make it happen.

John Knox -- Prayer Warrior for the People of Scotland

2009-12-16T05:50:00.000-08:00

The Great Presbyterian Leader John Knox: A Man of Fervent, Effectual Prayer

John Knox and Prayer: It is said that Mary, Queen of Scots trembled when John Knox went to his knees in prayer. One time she even exclaimed that she feared Knox's prayers "more than an any army in Europe."

Why was she so shaken? It was because Knox believed that God worked through prayer. This was no simple assent to a truth. Knox acted on his belief. He would boldly come before the throne of grace like no other, throwing his petitions at the Father's feet.

Author Larry Christenson attests to this in his book The Christian Family. As a matter of fact, Christenson almost goes so far as to attribute the whole reformation of Scotland to Knox's prayers. He writes,

"[Knox] prayed with such power that all Scotland was awakened. 'Lord, Give me Scotland or I'll die!' he cried. And he prayed with such intensity that the Lord answered."

Here is what John Knox wrote about the Holy Spirit and prayer:

"HOW THE SPIRIT MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US. So that without the Spirit of God supporting our infirmities (mightily making intercession for us with unceasing groans, which cannot be expressed with tongue, Rom. 8:26), there is no hope that we can desire anything according to God's will. I mean not that the Holy Ghost does mourn or pray, but that he stirs up our minds, giving unto us a desire or boldness to pray, and causes us to mourn when we are extracted or pulled therefrom."

May the Holy Spirit stir your mind for prayer today!

Listen to God -- Prayer is a Two-Way Communication

2009-12-16T05:47:00.000-08:00

“If only you carefully listen to the voice of the Lord your God…” (Deuteronomy 15:5, AMP).

Prayer is a two-way communication. Make sure you pause and quietly listen to God. Listen!

All through the day there are two voices that compete for our attention– the voice of faith and the voice of defeat. You'll hear a voice saying, “You'll never rise any higher. You don't have what it takes. You've reached your limit.” But if you listen carefully, you'll hear another voice saying, “You are well able. You can do all things through Christ. Your best days are still ahead.”

You are the one who gets to choose which voice comes to life by speaking it out of your own mouth. The moment you verbalize that thought, you give it the right to come to pass. When you speak faith, you're in agreement with God. When you speak defeat, you're in agreement with the enemy. God–talk brings God on the scene. Avoid the thoughts of defeat that Satan plants in our minds.

The English Standard Version (ESV) goes beyond the thought of careful listening to emphasize that we need to strictly obey the voice of the Lord. Why don't you get in agreement with God today? That negative voice may be louder, but you can override it. You can take away all of its power by simply choosing the voice of faith. Choose to declare favor, blessing, and increase over your life so that you can walk in the victory the Lord has in store for you.

The Prayer of a Righteous man ot Woman is Powerful and Effective -- James 5:16

2009-12-16T05:44:00.000-08:00

Effective Prayer --

For an effective prayer life, we must get sin out of our lives. Sin can slink into our hearts. Sinful thoughts slip into our mind and we ignore them, believing them to be harmless. But sin is an intruder intent on damage. Sin-filled thoughts can grow into sinful behaviors.

Proverbs 4:23 states, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” It is our responsibility to keep watch for the silent intruders in our thought life, and go to God when we find images or temptations that come to our minds. Let's block our hearts’ doors from sin, because once allowed in, it can do harm. It can also be hard to get rid of.

Pray on a regular basis -- and pray for the ones out of jobs during this hard winter. They need help in a big way. The Prayer of a Person Made Righteous by Christ's Blood is Powerful and Effective!

They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love!

2009-12-16T05:38:00.000-08:00

I encpourage you to pray through passages of scripture: it is a powerful spiritual exercise. James 1:22 encourages us to, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” A favorite passage from the Bible for many is the “Love” chapter from I Corinthians 13. Even secular scholars have no doubt that this piece of literature is a beautiful work, flowing in its rhythm and captivating in its cadence. Here is a challenge to really live in love. Let’s pick up the passage in verses 4-8….

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

How would you describe your love for others? Are you a patient soul or do you drum your fingers while you stew and sigh not-so-patiently? Is it hard to bring you to a point of anger or does flying off the handle come much too naturally? Do you keep score with those who have wronged you, ready to dredge up the past and become “historical” to make your point? Do you boast? Got a case of the green envies? Ever been rude to someone? How will we ever learn to love the way this passage urges us to?

Here’s an idea that was shared with me that may help to flesh this out in real life. Make a copy of the love chapter on your computer, or just on a sheet of paper. However, wherever the word love is used (or its pronoun ‘it’) leave a blank. Then try over the next week or so to be able to write your name in the blank when you have a chance to exhibit this quality in real life. Were you patient at the doctor’s office today and, instead of grumbling while sitting in the waiting room, you quietly thanked God for the extra time and then used it to pray for others?

Write your name on the “________ is patient” line. Did you and another family member get into a heated discussion and you were tempted to bring up a wrong from the past but, with great restraint, held your tongue? Great! Write your name on the “________ keeps no record of wrongs” line. Were you kind to the grumpy cashier instead of being rude right back? Get out that pen and write away!

Be assured that if you take this challenge, God will give you lots of opportunities to practice displaying these wonderful characteristics of love. And you can count on others noticing the change in you as you seek to love out loud.

Praise God! He Hears Our Voices in Prayer

2009-12-16T05:35:00.000-08:00

“How can you be sure that what you are hearing is God’s voice and not something you made up on your own?”

One thing that we can know with certainty is that what God tells you will never go against what the Bible says! That’s why learning to pray God’s Word is so important! That is also why reading God’s Word daily and internalizing the scope of God’s plan and absorbing an understanding of His will and plan for our lives and the world is so important to us.

I believe in the importance of reading through the whole Bible. If you are not reading with us in our daily readings (today is Nehemiah 5), I would recommend reading a Psalm each day, then you can branch out to Proverbs, and the Gospels. God will speak to you. The more you know about His Word and what it says, the more you will know if you are really hearing God. Thank Him that He talks to you and that His Word is truth. Here is a Scripture prayer included in the article to get you started:

We can pray: “Father, thank You for promising to talk to me and lead me. Thank You that I can listen to Your voice, that You know me, and that I can follow You (John 10:3,27). Thank You that I can trust Your Word because it is the truth (John 17:17). Amen.”

Here are a couple other verses you could use. Start your own collection, or pause for prayer as you come across verses that speak to you: Psalm 119:89,105; Isaiah 30:21; II Timothy 3:16; Malachi 3:10-11.

When Trouble Comes, Consider it An Opportunity for Great Joy!

2009-12-15T20:02:00.000-08:00

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete…" James 1:2-4 (NLT)

Do you ever take the time to watch the sun rise or set? I especially like to take time to watch the sun when I am on vacation. I always enjoy the glory of that giant yellow ball on the horizon, but the days that this becomes a spectacular view of glorious spreading colors is when there are clouds in the sky.

Clouds have been given a bum rap, but all along, these predictors of bad weather, these symbols of negativity, sadness, blues, and gloom really serve to expand light, reflect color, cast dazzling rays, and paint incredible scenes in the sky. A sunrise without clouds is like a life without trials and hardships.

I do all I can to avoid challenges and difficulties, but the fact is the so called "clouds" in my life can cast me in a certain aura of God's splendor. Truth is, the people I respect and admire most are those whose lives have been filled with "clouds" but they walk through any weather with God.

These people walk in splendor, surrounded with a certain attractive and hard-to-capture beauty. They are people I seek out on a regular basis. I pursue them because I want to bask in their glow and confidence. They leave me in awe. It is in their presence I realize God can shine His light through the clouds in our lives to show us His glory.

As you go in prayer this week, take time to give thanks for the struggles in your day; give thanks that God is with you in difficult times; praise Him for the promise to see you through. May your spirits rise in joy as your faith is tested.

They That Wait Upon the Lord Shall Renew Their Strength

2009-12-15T20:00:00.000-08:00

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

To wait for the Lord is to spend time with God- reading the Bible, taking our requests in prayer and waiting for God to speak answers in our hearts. As we wait and rely on God to work in our lives it also means that our hope is in God, in fact the New International Version (NIV) puts it just that way, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”

Sometimes we place our hopes in other people. We might place our hope in our Doctor or the medicine that might be prescribed, a series of treatments, or a surgical procedure to correct a difficulty. We might place our hope in other people or family members to come through to make an event or gathering special. We might even place our hope in our own abilities to accomplish a goal.

At times our hopes will be crushed in any of those situations when our hopes are not realized. The encouragement and promise of prayer, and those found in Isaiah 40:31 is that we need to place our hope in God. God can and does work through all of the human relationships, but our hope rests on God.

Human hope is in limited quantity, and when it runs out, you are left drained, discouraged, disappointed and …hopeless! Oh, it may masquerade as “hope,” but it is completely different from the hope that God provides. God’s hope renews and refreshes. It empowers, uplifts, and strengthens. God’s hope does not disappoint! There is an unlimited supply of God’s hope.

We can go to God in prayer refreshed in the sure and certain hope that is ours in Christ.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER -- THANK GOD FOR THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL!

2009-12-15T19:56:00.000-08:00

DEAR FRIENDS IN CHRIST:

Amidst the giving of gifts, the excitement of children and the cooking of traditional dinners, it is easy to miss "the reason for the season", the birth of God's son, Jesus Christ. Here is a prayer I said silently in a moment aside from the rush taht sometimes comes this time of year. Take time for Jesus! Perhaps this little prayer will inspire you in your prayer time as we consider the birth of births!

A CHISTMAS PRAYER

Lord. As I spend these holy days in your honor, help me to put aside any bitterness that I'm not celebrating at home with loved ones, friends or others. Help me to cherish those I know and help me to mend any brokeness with others.. I ask you, Loving Father, to give me a special sense of your presence as I meet people, that I may shed on them the light of the Bethlehem Star, the Spirit of Christmas.

Father God, When your precious Son became a tiny baby in a stable in Bethlehem in poverty and simplicity, you changed our world. As we imagine those surroundings, we join with the shepherds and the wise men in wonder and praise. We thank you for our material lives, praise you for our spiritual lives, and trust in you for our eternal life. IN JESUS NAME, Amen.

Hear My Cry, O Lord -- Be My Refuge in Times of Sadness

2009-12-15T19:54:00.000-08:00

“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.” Psalm 61:1-4.

This past week was a tough one for our Burt church family, as we lost our Trustee, member and friend Kent Habeger, who went home to be with the Lord last Monday after a tragic farming accident. Kent was just 50, and his leaving is a huge blow for his dear wife Marti, and his sons Ryan and Mitchell, and the whole Habeger and Noll (Marti's maiden name) families, our church family, the national show cattle family which Kent and his family were a key part of, and our Burt and Kossuth County community.

Thanks to all those who have reached out to help the family with prayers and visits and food and gifts. Keep praying for them in the coming days, weeks and months as they carry on. Our love is a tangible reminder of God's love, because He makes our love possible.

Many of us cried out to God for help when we heard this hard news. I was in Mason City visiting folks at the hospital when it I was called. I cried out to God. Thank God He is a strong tower of refuge. He sends the Holy Spirit to comfort us.

Though Christmas is a wonderful time of year, sometimes it makes our losses seem greater as we remember our departed loved ones. Many folks feel that loneliness and depressionm in this time, missing the ones wo have gone on to be with the Lord. Some might even start wondering if God cares about them. Let them know someone cares, and that God cares.

We are coming to the season of the year with colder temperatures and we don’t get out as much, days grow shorter, we get less sunshine, and it is easy for depression to get hold of many of us. A great number of people who have to deal with these difficult emotions. As Christmas draws near, we should also remind ourselves that the holidays can be difficult for many people. It is a time when they are reminded of the loss of loved ones, and loneliness can grow stronger. We need to remember the promises of our faith.

Jesus loves me, is a simple little song you probably learned many years ago. It is very simple, yet so powerfully profound, that one statement grounds me in the truth of who God says I am. Friends can’t make you feel accepted all the time. Accomplishments will never truly make you feel secure. Having lots of people around you does not mean you won’t ever feel lonely. So, turn to the One who is Everlasting, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel- God with us. Draw close to Him so you can separate solid truth from shifting emotion.

We are dearly loved by God. His love enables us to display compassion, kindness and patience even when we don’t feel like it. Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (NIV)

God is with us. As we cry out to Him, we are reminded of His help, of His deep love for us. And we are reminded that we are to represent His love in our dealings with those He has led us to know.

Cast Your Burdens on the Lord, for He Cares For You!

2009-12-15T19:51:00.000-08:00

Psalms 55:22 'Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.'

When the circumstances of life become a burden, we need to take them to the Lord! There is one place we can "cast" our burdens. A place that far exceeds the list above. There is someone who can be the best friend you'll ever have and you can be a part of His family. He is a counselor, who has no equal and He is available and wants to listen -- any time of the day or night. He takes whatever burdens you want to cast upon Him and takes care of them for you.

His name is Jesus. He waits right now for you to call on Him; to cast all of your burdens upon Him. Will you respond? Will you let Him take care of the heaviest burden you have, your sin?

Jesus gave His life so that you do not have to carry your burden. He knows this burden hinders you from having eternal life. He knows your sin burden hinders you from living the abundant life that God created you to live. He knows your sin hinders you from experiencing joy and peace that has no bounds and hinders you from receiving all that God has promised and created you to receive. You just have to ask. in prayer

He promises not to cast you away -- no matter what you have done (see John 6:37). There is nothing you have done, no burden you have, that He can't take care of for you. He cares for you, He loves you. You can call to Him now, right where you are.

In the Bible, God tells us how: "Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). So do it, my friend. Do it!

Is Anyone in Trouble -- Pray for Them!

2009-12-15T19:46:00.000-08:00

“Is anyone of you in trouble? He should pray. Is any one happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” James 5:13

When someone is struggling in a difficult situation, we might think that all we can do is pray. I believe in putting feet on those prayers, but so many times I am just as guilty as most in not acting on the nudges God gives us to reach out, visit, call or write someone. But I want to emphasize that we not overlook the importance and power of our offering and following through on prayer. It is truly the best we can do. We can pray. We can storm the gates of heaven on another’s behalf. They need our prayers right now, so just keep praying!

How many times do we idly comment that praying is “all I can do?” This seems to say that our prayers are a last resort, something to do when there is nothing else I can do – no meals I can bring, no Band-Aids I could apply to the hurt, no actions I could take. We need the reminder that praying is not a last resort, it’s a first response. It’s not the action of a powerless, hopeless person whose hands are tied in every other way. It’s the powerful, Heaven-summoning activity of a warrior who doesn’t want to fight alone. Praying isn’t all I can do, it’s the best I can do.

Are you facing a situation right now that you can’t do anything about? Maybe you are watching someone go through something that you can’t help with. Do you wonder what good it will do to pray? Do you despair of anything changing, or of your prayers helping? Have you, like me, shrugged your shoulders and commented that all you have left is prayer- when really your prayers are exactly what is needed?

Let’s focus today on doing what’s best. Let’s get on our knees for ourselves, our family members, our spouses, our children, our neighbors, our friends and our nation. Let’s focus on the power in our prayers. Our intercession, and nothing more, might be exactly what God desires. Let’s not forget that we can offer the most help when we are on our knees. Psalm 50:15, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

People Get Saved When God's People Pray for Them!

2009-12-15T19:44:00.000-08:00

Satan does not want you to pray. He will do anything to keep you from praying!

One of the tricks of Satan is leading us to believe prayer is simply a desirable exercise. Not so! It is an essential exercise, though terribly neglected by believers. In fact, it is more than an area of neglect; prayerlessness is sin. Thus Samuel assured the people of Israel, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.” I Sam. 12:23.

Did you know that there are spiritual battles being waged? I know that you will never win the war if you don't know where the battle is being fought- and we are in a spiritual battle from the moment we're saved. In Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul plainly describes the battle and advises the Christian to put on the whole armor of God. We have been so involved in figuring out the armor that we've neglected to see where the battle is being fought. Therefore, we don't engage in the battle, but spend our time on the fringes doing things that are perhaps good, but are inconsequential as far as eternity and souls are concerned. The first activity mentioned after the armor in Eph. 5:18 is clearly prayer.

Satan does not want you to understand this because you'll never be a threat to him and his cause apart from prayer. Do anything you want to do, and he'll not bother you; begin to pray and he'll put you on his hit list. Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees.

Do you understand the place of prayer? God moves in response to the prayers of His people. Although our finite minds cannot understand “why” at this time, isn't it time that we simply obeyed Him and became involved in the battle? Every believer can begin today to make a tremendous difference in lives and circumstances through prayer.The Scriptures are our aid. Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, (here is the place of Bible study) ask whatever you wish, (and here is the place of prayer) and it will be given you.” John 15:7.

Begin today to pray more consistently. Make a prayer list of concerns in your mind and on your heart. Begin to bring these before the Lord and you will see Him begin to move. He answers prayer! People get saved when God's people pray for them.

This Is Jesus Checking on You Today!

2009-12-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

A minister passing through his churchin the middle of the day, Decided to pause by the altarand see who had come to pray. Just then the back door opened,a man came down the aisle, The minister frowned as he sawthe man hadn't shaved in a while.

His shirt was kind a shabbyand his coat was worn and frayed, the man knelt, he bowed his head,Then rose and walked away. In the days that followed,each noon time came this chap, each time he knelt just for a moment,A lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister's suspicions grew,with robbery a main fear, He decided to stop the man and ask him,'What are you doing here?' The old man said, he worked down the road.Lunch was half an hour. Lunchtime was his prayer time,For finding strength and power. 'I stay only moments, see,because the factory is so far away; as I kneel here talking to the Lord,This is kind a what I say:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY.'

The minister feeling foolish,told Jim, that was fine. He told the man he was welcomeTo come and pray just anytime. Time to go, Jim smiled, said 'Thanks.'He hurried to the door.

The minister knelt at the altar,he'd never done it before. His cold heart melted, warmed with love,and met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed, in his heart,he repeated old Jim's prayer:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY'

Past noon one day, the minister noticedthat old Jim hadn't come. As more days passed without Jim,he began to worry some. At the factory, he asked about him,learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried,But he'd given them a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them,Brought changes in the ward. His smiles, a joy contagious.Changed people, were his reward. The head nurse couldn't understandwhy Jim was so glad, when no flowers, calls or cards came,Not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed,He voiced the nurse's concern: No friends came to show they cared.He had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Jim spokeup and with a winsome smile; 'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,that in here all the while everyday at noon He's here,a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down, takes my hand,Leans over and says to me:'

I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY,AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.

As the Deer Pants for the Water Brooks, So My Soul Longs for You, O God!

2009-12-15T19:36:00.000-08:00

Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

(1) Let Us Get hungry for God. Get thirsty for his mercy. Ask the Lord to make you conscious of your need for Him. Ask Him to give you an intense hunger and thirst for righteousness. Ask Him to place within your heart a longing for intimacy with Him, for purity of life, for the salvation of friends and neighbors, for revival in His church, and for the advancement of His kingdom in the world.

(2) Meditate on the spiritual riches God has promised His children. Compare the reality of your spiritual experience with the abundance He offers. If you are not enjoying the fullness of His peace, joy, freedom, and power, let that motivate you to come boldly to His throne of grace to receive all that He has promised.

(3) Welcome pressures and problems as an opportunity to cry out to God. Though my natural instinct is to wish for a life free from pain, trouble, and adversity, I am learning to welcome anything that makes me conscious of my need for Him. The psalmist said, "When I was in distress, I sought the Lord" (Ps. 77:2). And "Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD" (Ps. 130:1; see also Ps. 107:5–6; Jn. 2:1, 7).

Rather than running from, resenting, or resisting problems, learn to embrace them, for they move us to seek the Lord. When we have nowhere else to turn, we will be more likely to turn to Him.

4) Recognize that without Him you can do nothing. I sometimes wonder how much of my work for God will go up in smoke at the Judgment Seat of Christ, because it was done independently of His enabling and power. It was my agenda and my effort, not His. When I walk through my day without expressing my need for Him, without asking for His grace and enabling, I am really saying, "Lord, I can do this without You." All such labor is of the flesh and is less than worthless in terms of eternal or spiritual value.

(5) Remember that spiritual battles cannot be won without divine intervention. In the midst of everyday realities, we so easily forget about the warfare that is going on in the heavenly realm. How often do we tackle life's challenges and demands under our own means-natural wisdom, human effort, man-made programs-rather than in dependence on the power of His Spirit? Ask God to give you eyes of faith to see the real battle; the vision will move you to cry out to Him to exercise His power over the unseen forces of darkness.

May God grant us faith and boldness to approach His throne. For when we do so, we link arms with Omnipotence and become instruments of the fulfillment of His eternal purposes on this earth.

Our prayers that we persistently take to God over and over will bear much fruit. . Miracles tend to happen when there is a desperate need. Folks need to rely on God to meet their needs. Miracles still happen in places where there is a total reliance on God, and the accompanying belief that He will answer.

Let God Soften Your Heart and Fertilize Your Roots With His Word

2009-12-15T19:32:00.000-08:00

Do you have hard or dry places in your heart today? If so, God wants to soften those areas. He promises in Ezekiel that He will take out the stony, hard heart, and He will replace it with a new heart, a heart that is open to Him. And when you have an open and receptive heart, you are good ground! We need to till that ground and apply fertilizer. Open it up so that the seed of the Word will take root and grow, and it will produce an abundant harvest of blessing in every area of your life!

As we fertilize our spiritual roots, remember that the goal of the palm (or apple) tree is not to produce coconuts (or apples); it is to produce another tree. Our greatest desire should always be to reach out to others in the name of Jesus Christ. The blessings we receive should impel us to share that good news with others, to reach out to the lost and the hurting to bring them in. We are God's welcoming people!

You Are Like A Tree Planted By the Water!

2009-12-15T19:29:00.000-08:00

"Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted.” (Matthew 13:8).

There are many kinds of seeds we can sow, but do you know what produces the best crop? The seed of God's Word planted on the soil of our hearts. The more of the Word you take into your heart, the more abundant harvest it will produce. Our job, as believers, is to make sure we are good ground.

The scripture tells us there are things that can choke the seed of the Word out of our hearts. The cares of this world, greed and selfishness act as thorns that stop the seed from growing. It also tells us that in order for the seed to take root, we need to stand strong during the difficult times when persecution and challenges come.

Follow the encouragement found in Psalms chapter 1, to let our spiritual roots go down deep into God’s Word and prayer to bring fresh spiritual life. I want to expand on that image to think about what kind of trees we might exemplify, and I want to think about the palm.

Studies prove that during a hurricane, a palm tree will simply stretch and not break from the strong winds. It’s bent and pushed over, and all the while, its root system is actually being strengthened and given new opportunities for growth. That is the same way we were built to be. In Psalm 92:12 we read, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree.” That means God knew there would be difficult times in our lives, that things would come against us, trying to steal our joy, peace and victory. He’s not surprised by our difficulties, but rather knew ahead of time and equipped us with everything we need in Him! Because we have strong roots, we are going bounce right back. The storms in life will come. The winds will blow. But no weapon formed against us will prosper!

In these times of social upheaval these are important lessons for us to have firmly planted within us. The markets should bounce back, as do we. A bounce-back person sees adversity and every setback not as permanent, but temporary. It’s not going to last forever. You can be encouraged by every difficulty that comes your way by knowing that with God you can come out better than you were before. Why is that? Because it is in our DNA. God created us and intends us to walk in the same power which raised Christ from the dead; that same overcoming power and attitude that even the grave can’t keep down.

Billy Graham's Prayer for Our Nation -- One Nation Under God

2009-12-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation

The late great Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. It is a good prayer to reflect upon as we reflect on praying for our country, our "One nation under God."

Evangelist Billy Graham wrote: "Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

"We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.

"We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!"

Prayerlessness is a Sin -- We Must Become Desperate for God!

2009-12-15T19:10:00.000-08:00

I read an interesting article, “Desperate for God,” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss in Pray! Magazine this week and thought it worth sharing with you:

"Several years ago, the Lord began to speak to me about my prayerlessness. It's not that I never prayed- I tried to live each day in a spirit of prayer, seeking to know the heart and mind of God in relation to my activities and relationships and to know what would please Him in each decision and circumstance. But, with few exceptions over the years, I had never cultivated the practice of setting specific times for private prayer. Others may have assumed that I was a woman of prayer; but God knew and I knew that it was not the case.

"I'd like to say that I experienced a major "breakthrough" that turned me into the "prayer warrior" I wanted to be. There was no such breakthrough. However, what God began in my heart that summer has been a continuous process. It has included both a measure of growth as well as seasons of defeat. As Charles Swindoll would say, it has been "three steps forward and two steps back." What I do know is that there continues to be, deep within my heart, a call and a commitment to press on and to lay hold of the heart and hand of God through prayer.

"As God opened my eyes to this matter of prayerlessness, I asked Him to let me see it from His point of view. Here is what I wrote in my journal one day when God first began to deal with my heart:

"I am convicted that prayerlessness: is a sin against God (1 Sam. 12:23); is direct disobedience to the command of Christ ("watch and pray"- Mt. 26:41), is direct disobedience to the Word of God ("pray without ceasing"- 1 Thess. 5:17); makes me vulnerable to temptation ("watch and pray so . . .you will not fall into temptation"- Mt. 26:41); expresses independence- no need for God; gives place to the Enemy and makes me vulnerable to his schemes (Eph. 6:18, Daniel 10).

"Not prayimg hurts us! It results in powerlessness; limits (and defines) my relationship with God; hinders me from knowing His will, His priorities, His direction forces me to operate in the realm of the natural (what I can do) versus the supernatural (what He can do); leaves me weak, harried, and hassled; is rooted in pride, self-sufficiency, laziness, and lack of discipline; reveals a lack of real burden and compassion for others."

The Lord Will Hear Your Cry for Mercy -- He Will Accept Your Prayer

2009-12-15T19:05:00.000-08:00

Psalm 6:9 tells us, “The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.”

Have you ever grown frustrated with God over situations in your life? Have you gone to Him and poured out those feelings in prayer? If so, you’ll be able to relate to the prophet Habakkuk and his complaint: “How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save me. Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?” Hab.1:2-3.

God answered Habakkuk by telling him to be patient and to watch, that He will do amazing things and usher in justice- but only in His timing. Passionate, honest, gut-level prayers have been recorded through out the Bible.

Habakkuk wasn’t the only one to complain. Moses, Gideon, and Elijah all questioned God. Job even cursed the day God made him and said, “I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.” Job 10:1. In his anguish, Job accused God of afflicting people for no reason (Job 9:17), overwhelming them with misery (Job 9:18), and not caring about injustice (Job 9:22, 24).

These accusations are not accurate, but we can sometimes feel that way in times of severe suffering or testing. God knows our deepest thoughts and feelings, so it’s futile to think we can hide them from Him. It is better to tell God how we really feel, get it off our chest in prayer, and hopefully clear the way to hear and receive God’s reply or comfort.

Though God does not always change my circumstances the way I want Him to, He can and does change my perspective on those circumstances- enabling me to endure them. Be honest before God in prayer today. While maintaining a holy respect for Him and thanksgiving for His saving grace, pour out the good, the bad and the ugly of your feelings. As Habakkuk, Job and others discovered, God can handle our intense emotions and questions.

He may not explain Himself fully to us- perhaps because we can’t fully understand- but He will flood us with His love when we come humbly and honestly before Him and pour out our heart.

Make That Prayer Call to the Lord -- He Desires to Hear from You

2009-12-15T19:02:00.000-08:00

Do you remember pay phones? It is kind of the way he older generation tends to think about long distance phone calls today. We used to hoard the dime for the call until we really needed it.

Today there are those who restrict their ling distance calls because of the extra charges. Cell phones have changed all of that. Unless you are using a track phone, you have a plan that allows virtually unlimited calls and the charge is the same if you are like me and only use a few minutes, or if you are on the phone all the time, you might need to bump up your plan a little. On our land line at home, we have unlimited long distance for less than a basic plan for local calls used to cost us. The effect is that there is no hesitation in making a long distance call. I can be generous with others who don’t have that kind of plan and tell them to hang up and we call them back.

That is the kind of attitude we need to have about prayer. There are no extra fees to talk to God.

Your prayer life should flow freely from your heart. You should feel free to call, text and mobile-to-mobile our Lord about any and everything and, as a result, stay constantly connected to Him throughout the course of every day.

We should realize that His line is never busy, His ear never tires and He longs to connect with us more than an occasional time or two a week. I too can call (pray), text (journal), save a message (memorize Scripture) or return a message (praise Him) no matter the time or place!

Oh, if only God’s presence in my everyday life became as precious and desired as a teen’s cell phone use addiction! Perhaps this week when we spy a cell phone, let it trigger our desire to call upon the Lord all day long. He will answer every time. No roaming charges, no busy signals and best of all, no dropped calls! He will answer you every time!

God Has Plans for You -- To Prosper You and Give You a Future and Hope

2009-12-15T18:59:00.000-08:00

God desires that we thrive and flourish in all things. He wants to prosper everything we set our hands to. In Psalm 92:12 (Amplified Version) we read, “The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible].” The word “flourish” here means to grow, or achieve success; to be in a state of activity; to reach a height of development and ability to impact others. We are created to live fruitful, productive, and influential lives.

The key is to remain uncompromisingly righteous. Righteousness is about being in right standing with God. It’s about receiving His forgiveness and making the necessary adjustments to align ourselves with His Word. When you are uncompromisingly righteous, God’s Word is your final authority.

You seek Him in everything you do and make Him a part of your everyday life. This is why I am trying to emphasize so greatly the vital importance of spending time daily in the scriptures. Please pray that God will enable you to be faithful and influence others to build the habit and discipline of daily scripture reading.

Remember, God’s plans are for your good. He has plans to prosper you and give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)He rewards those who seek after Him. As you open your heart I prayer and allow Him to cover you with His righteousness, you will flourish and find success in every area of your life.

The Prayer of a Good Christian is a Great Force for Good!

2009-12-15T18:56:00.000-08:00

The power of prayer should not be underestimated. James 5:16-18 declares, "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." God most definitely listens to prayers, answers prayers, and moves in response to prayers.

Jesus taught, "…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20).

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The Bible urges us, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." No matter the person praying, the passion behind the prayer, or the purpose of the prayer - God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will. His answers are not always yes, but are always in our best interest. You can trust that fact! When our desires line up with His will, we will come to understand that in time. When we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully!

Bible Heroes and the Bible Example of Faith and Devotion to the Lord!

2009-12-15T18:53:00.000-08:00

People of faith have known the power of prayer since time began. Now even the secular worlds of psychology and medicine are catching on. Studies have shown that prayer (and meditation) can help heal. Hospitals across the land have even bolstered their "prayer therapy" for the sick and recovering. At the very least, prayers are comforting in times of need. Try praying daily to experience how the God of the ages will work a miracle in your life.
Here's a morning prayer for healing by author Jordan Rubuin that you can use as a guideline: "Father God, I thank You for creating me in Your image. I praise You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I confess that You are the God that heals, my Great Physician. I ask You to heal my body from the top of my head to the soles of my feet and keep me strong so that I might serve you today. I pray that You would regenerate every bone, joint, tendon, ligament, tissue, organ, and cell of my body. This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. In Jesus Name, Amen!"

Learn From the Biblical Example

All of the great heroes of the Bible, from Abraham to Hannah (the mother of the prophet Samuel) to John the Beloved, were people of fervent faith and devotion. One after another, they demonstrated the power and peace available through prayer and communion with the Creator. Continue in their line of faithful people. This is our day to be faithful heroes for our great God! Be a person of prayer and the Word!

2 Corinthians 4:7 States, "We Walk By Faith, Not By Sight"

2009-12-15T18:50:00.000-08:00

II Corinthians 5:7 reminds us that, “we walk by faith, not by sight.” The Message paraphrase renders the thought: “It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going.” Prayer is all about faith. This week I want to share some thoughts on the subject written by author Tracie Miles:

"It was finally here. My favorite time of year, and my favorite place to be. I hopped out of bed with an unusually eager attitude to do my morning exercise. I stepped out the door into the crisp morning, and inhaled a deep breath of salty beach air. I headed for the soft white sand, and began jogging briskly at the edge of the surf, admiring the vastness of one of God’s most amazing creations. After a short while, the morning sun became exceptionally bright, causing me to squint. It was then that I realized that in my haste to experience the beautiful Carolina surf, I had left my sunglasses behind. I tried to keep my eyes open, but it was just too bright. I thought to myself about the open area around me, and that there were very few people, if any, at the beach this early in the morning, and decided it would be safe to go a short distance with my eyes closed completely.

"As I continued running blindly, and spending time with God in prayer, a startling thought leapt into my mind- “is this what God means when He tells us to walk by faith and not by sight?”. I allowed my mind to drift away from my surroundings and focus on this concept. In the case of my morning run, I already knew that there was nothing in my path to bump into. There were no people, dogs, umbrellas or flying frisbees yet, so I felt completely confident running with my eyes closed. However, life does not always have a bump-free pathway for us to run on, but rather is packed full of obstacles, big and small. During this prayer time, I felt God nudging me to recognize whether or not I would be willing to run with my eyes closed through the bumpy patches of life, and solely rely on Him for my confidence, even when I did not know what lay in front of me.

"I found myself asking God, “Lord, what things do I need to walk by faith in, and not by sight?” For the next several minutes, with each exhale of breath, God brought something to mind that I needed to have a stronger faith about. A family member’s chronic illness. A friend’s job search. A damaged relationship. Someone whom I needed to forgive. Raising my children. Marriage. Health concerns. The war. Who would lead our country. The future. It became crystal clear to me in that moment, that I rarely walk by faith regarding issues of great concern. It seems that when the burdens get heavy, I try to carry them on my own. I fret and worry. I imagine the worst case scenario. I try to determine what I can do to remedy the problem. I waste time wishing things were different. When what I should be doing is giving God the opportunity to do His work. Worrying will not change a thing, but faith can change everything."

Walking by faith and not by sight, does not mean we need to walk around with our physical eyes closed, but that we need to live with the eyes of our heart open. God wants us to put our faith in Him, believing with full confidence that He will take care of the obstacles, guide us around the problems, and carry us through to the end. We are not commanded to merely walk by faith, but live by faith, each and every day.

Let us develop the type of faith in Christ that will allow us to close our physical eyes, and see through the eyes of our heart instead, while moving ahead with no fear because we know that God is in control.

Prayer Does Not Change God, But It Changes the One Who Prays!

2009-12-15T18:43:00.000-08:00

I have found a great quote on prayer from the famous writer John Bunyan -- “Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”

That is so true! And even non-Christians (albeit one that studied Christianity a great deal) have some fine insights on prayer. Mahatma Gandhi wrote: “Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart."

Finally, I found this from the great philosopher Søren Kierkegaard "Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays."

Please pray for the churches. Pray for the sessions, pray for the people, pray for the outreaches and programs. And please continue to pray for the sick, the elderly, the shut-ins, as well as the children and the youth. Pray for our nation, its troops, the economy, people's finances, and the poor and hurting and underprivileged. Please pray for the ones who still need to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, the lost who need to find themselves in Him.

God's love to you, dear prayer partners! Keep praying. Keep smiling for Jesus.

IN CHRIST, Pastor Glenn Wilson

The Local Church -- A House of Prayer Where Abundant Life is Lived!

2009-12-15T18:41:00.000-08:00

Once again, our friend and leader David Feltman strikes a pure chord with this note:
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As I observed the General Assembly at work, I thought – the heart of the church is still the local
parish. It is important to be connected, there are things we do together we cannot do alone but
the heart of the church is the local parish.

I have on my book shelf Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic by Reinhold Niebuhr.
Written in 1929, the young Niebuhr, right out of seminary, shares his “notes” about his first
years in a church in Detroit. A cynic of the church converted by the day in and day out ministry
of the local parish.

"It is the local church where:
- Love grows,- forgiveness is offered,- loneliness finds fellowship,
the dying have someone to hold their hand,- the squirming confirmand hears a bit of the truth,
- hope is rebirthed each Sunday, and life is lived.
Never lose sight of the important. The local church is worthy of your time, energy and dollars.
And, it is in giving you will receive."

Thanks to General Presbyter Dave for that wonderful thought!

Become a Member of a PIT crew -- a Prayer Intercession Team

2009-12-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

Every great work in the Church begins with someone on their knees. Tap into the power of God through prayer.

Prayer changes things -- and you have been given the power of prayer by the Lord Jesus Christ. He allows you, indeed, He encourages you to pray in His name!

IA church in Mesa, Arizona is using PIT CREWS for Jesus! They have “Pit Crews” or Personal Intercession Teams for every leader in the church. I think it is a large congregation as the pastor said that God had burdened 12 people to pray for him and his family every day, but I think it is a ministry that we could benefit from in our congregations.
We have been blessed in our churches with a strong music ministry, but what might God be able to do in our midst with dedicated and directed prayers? What a joy to keep our organists in prayer each week through all of the more tedious time spent in practice as they prepare to support us in worship. Maybe some of the men would like to pray for PW and the women’s circles -- you could lift up those who are able to gather in prayer. Everyone is called upon to pray for those who are in the hospital, but God might lay on some a ministry to pray for those in need of healing and their families, especially those with long term struggles. Praying for others is lifeblood for the church!

Powerful Prayer Quotes:

When at night you cannot sleep, talk to the Shepherd and stop counting sheep. ~Author Unknown

Be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your answers. ~William Culbertson

The trouble with our praying is, we often do it as a means of last resort. ~Will Rogers

Pray for the Sick and Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones

2009-12-15T18:31:00.000-08:00

Former journalist and White House Press Secretary Tony Snow died of cancer a couple of years ago. But before he left he gave a wonderful testimony of how Jesus had taught him in his illness and in the illness of others. Snow wtote:

Let love change everything. When Jesus was faced with the prospect of crucifixion, he grieved not for himself, but for us. He cried for Jerusalem before entering the holy city. From the Cross, he took on the cumulative burden of human sin and weakness, and begged for forgiveness on our behalf.

We get repeated chances to learn that life is not about us, that we acquire purpose and satisfaction by sharing in God's love for others. Sickness gets us part way there. It reminds us of our limitations and dependence. But it also gives us a chance to serve the healthy. A minister friend of mine observes that people suffering grave afflictions often acquire the faith of two people, while loved ones accept the worries and fears of two people.

'Learning How to Live'. Most of us have watched friends as they drifted toward God's arms, not with resignation, but with peace and hope. In so doing, they have taught us not how to die, but how to live. They have emulated Christ by transmitting the power and authority of love.

I sat by my best friend's bedside a few years ago as a wasting cancer took him away. He kept at his table a worn Bible and a 1928 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. A shattering grief disabled his family, many of his old friends, and at least one priest. Here was an humble and very good guy, someone who apologized when he winced with pain because he thought it made his guest uncomfortable. He retained his equanimity and good humor literally until his last conscious moment. "I'm going to try to beat this cancer," he told me several months before he died. "But if I don't, I'll see you on the other side."

His gift was to remind everyone around him that even though God doesn't promise us tomorrow, he does promise us eternity - filled with life and love we cannot comprehend - and that one can, in the throes of sickness, point the rest of us toward timeless truths that will help us weather future storms.

Through such trials, God bids us to choose: Do we believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations? Can we surrender our concern in things that don't matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do?

When our faith flags, he throws reminders in our way. Think of the praying persons in our midst. They change things, and those of us who have been o n the receiving end of their petitions and intercessions know it. It is hard to describe, but there are times when suddenly the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and you feel a surge of God¹s Spirit. Somehow you know that others have chosen, when talking to the Author of all creation, to lift us up, - to speak to Him about us!

This is love of a very special order. But so is the ability to sit back and appreciate the wonder of every created thing. The mere thought of death somehow makes every blessing vivid, every happiness more luminous and intense. We may not know how our contest with sickness will end, but we have felt the sovereign touch of God.

'What is man that Thou art mindful of him?' We don't know much, but we know this: No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects; each and every day each and every one of us who believe, lies in that safe and imp regnable place - in God's hand.

Remember to pray for those who are sick, and for those who grieve the loss of loved ones.

Psalm 119:65 -- Great Peace Have Those Who Love God's Word!

2009-12-15T18:24:00.000-08:00

Everything you need in this life is found in the Word of God- direction, healing, peace, joy and provision. No matter what situation you maybe facing today, you can live in peace and victory by knowing God’s Word and applying it your life. Consider Psalm 119:65, “Great peace have those who love Your law and nothing shall make them stumble.” Notice that this verse says that people who love God's Word have great peace. Prayer is all about coming into the presence of God. Have you ever noticed how many times Jesus greets people with words of peace and calm?

Prayer is all about coming into the Peace of God that passes all of our own understanding (Phil. 4:7). How do you show your love for God and His Word? By reading it, studying it, meditating on it, and obeying His commands. When you choose to obey God's Word, it activates His promises in your life. It activates His great peace in your heart. It activates His blessing, power, and provision. It will stimulate your imagine and give you a vision of God’s plan in your life. When you hold God’s Word in your heart, there is nothing that can take it away from you. There's nothing that can make you stumble or offend you. When you love the Word of God and apply it to your life, you will have great peace and live in victory, and enjoy the abundant life He has prepared for you! That is what prayer is about.

Praying Together in Church is A Powerful Thing to Do!

2009-11-13T17:54:00.000-08:00

If a church is going to carry out God's will and have a spiritual impact, believers must pray together. Pray that God will unleash a spirit of corporate prayer in your church.

The Word of God is the basis for believers praying together. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 reveals that it is God's will for the church to be a house of prayer. This is the first and primary calling of the church. It is the center piece of everything else in the life and ministry of the church.The following are some Bibical reasons we are to participate in corporate prayer.

1) The instructions from Jesus in the Matthew 6 "Model Prayer" (often called the Lord's Prayer), clearly points to multiple pray-ers. In teaching us how to pray, Jesus emphasizes that the church is to seek the Father corporately, as a body, not just as an individual believer.

"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 'Give us this day our daily bread. 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.]' Matthew 6:9-13 (NASB77)

In teaching us how to pray, Jesus has placed an emphasis on praying together-corporate prayer. "We", "our" and "us" indicate to that we are to call on our Father as a body of believers.

2) Many times we are shown in the book of Acts, believers spent much time praying together. Acts 1:14: "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." Acts 2:42: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 12:5: "...constant prayer was offered to God for him (Peter) by the church." Other related Scripture: Acts 1:24, 3:1, 6:4, 9:40,12:12, 13:1-3. Colossians 4:12 and James 5:13-18. These texts reveal to us God's desire for the church to pray corporately. It can also be noted that that the influence, witness and power of the early church was a direct result of their praying together.

3) Jesus gives us two promises based on our praying together in corporate prayer. In Matthew 18:19 He gives us this promise: "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven." When we pray together - God works and His hand moves on our behalf. This promise should motivate us toward corporate prayer. Then, we are given this promise in Matthew 18:20:"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." When believers pray together, Jesus is there to bless them,change their lives, and meet their needs.

4) Prayer is the foundation for effective ministry.

Day Five -- Living by the Golden Rule -- Following the Prince of Peace

2008-01-17T15:29:00.000-08:00

Today we look at the call to be peacemakers for Christ.

As Christians,. we pray for peace in our world. The Bible shows us that peace is far better than war, for we long for the time of Jesus Reconciling all things, when war shall be no more, and when swords shall become plows for the tilling of the field.

But peacemaking is not just the work of diplomats like the Secretary of State. Peacemaking begins right on the street where you live. It is not just about international affairs – it is about personal problems between people you may know, about local domestic strife, racism, injustice and hatred.

As Christians we are followers of the Prince of Peace. We should strive to be peacemakers in our churches and communities, showing kindness and love and compassion to all we meet. Think of How Gods reputation is affected by how we treat others?

Jesus said in John 17: “My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me." Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker and true peace can only come through him. He makes us at peace with God so that we might pass that peace to others in our lives.

God intends for us to be at peace --with God, within ourselves, and with others

 Jesus paid the ultimate peace price & He wants us to pay the peace price
 Dying to self and own desires Dying to the right to be indignant
 Dying to the right of reply learning to say ‘Sorry’ and mean it
 Peacemaking is a lifestyle not just for conflicts, but in all of life

Sadly, many do not know there is such a thing as peace and forgiveness

Lies that destroy peace include --look out for number one! Dont get mad, get even! I NEED REVENGE! Then there are the lies of prejudice and intolerance, some fostered by misinterpretation and misapplication of some religious Holy books, even at times the Bible itself.

What if we were to see every situation as allowed by God for a specific purpose for good?

How would your feelings, attitude and behaviour change if you saw this situation as an assignment from a loving, all powerful God for your good?

 Acknowledge God in prayer, bringing your situation to Him
 Resolve to Obey Gods commands
 Resolve to Serve others even in conflict

But first, we must get that log out! Jesus said, "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:5)

At its root, peacemaking stands on Jesus Golden Rule from the Sermon on the Mount. "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." (Matthew 7:12, NIV)

I firmly believe if we would all begin to live by the Golden Rule in every area of our lives, this world would become a much better place to live. Jesus said “This sums up the Law and the Prophets” – the heart of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Keeping the Golden Rule should be a goal for every Christian each day of their lives. As peacemakers following the Prince of Peace, let us strive to make 2008 the “Year of the Golden Rule.”

Day Four -- God Blesses You -- Be a Blessing to Others

2008-01-17T15:27:00.000-08:00

As Christians we are called to serve Christ in all we do. God blesses you so that you might be a blessing to others. The Holy Spirit gives us a desire to serve others though our local church, to be a blessing for the Lord. The desire to serve is a wonderful sign of spiritual fruit in your life. Your God-given gifts and talents are given the chance to blossom when you serve your church body. The Bible tells us that we are a family, and we need each other. The apostle Peter taught, "Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10). "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).

The Lord put us together where we are to bless one another, and to complement one another. "Various forms," Peter said in the verse above. That means we are not all given the same gifts. Some may be gifted in the arts like writing, music or art. Others excel in organizing, children's ministry, youth work, counseling, teaching, construction, crafts, hospitality….and many spiritual gifts. The Spirit gives us great gifts! We want to encourage you to use your gifts for God.

Now you may be trying to decide just what area of ministry to serve, in determining your place in the body of Christ. Know this – God has a place for you to serve and He will use your unique blend of experiences, talents, traits, and gifts to best accomplish His work. We each have a part to play in God’s great symphony.

The Apostle Paul calls us the '"Body of Christ," and like our human bodies, each part has a specific purpose. You were designed for a specific work and we want to make sure that you serve where your gifts will best be used. One of the main reasons for burnout in ministry is people serving in areas where they are not truly called. Carefully praying and discerning your gifts will maximize the potential for you to experience one of the greatest joys you'll ever know - being used by God in the capacity for which you were designed. God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.

Just look at the witness of the Bible – He used an old man named Abraham to father many nations; He used a prisoner named Joseph to become Governor of Egypt; He used a shepherd boy named David to defeat the great warrior of his day and to later become king; and he used a carpenter named Joseph to be earthly father to the Son of God, who was born to a peasant woman. There is no doubt that God can multiply our abilities when we give ourselves to Him.

The blood of Christ can make you as new, and the Spirit will make a place for you to serve in the body of Christ. May you become involved where God will be glorified through the gifts and talents He has given you. I encourage you to trust God to place you in the perfect area of ministry for which He has equipped you. When we become part of a church body we are not only on the receiving end of others' gifts, but we get the opportunity to use our gifts to bless others. May God richly bless you as you experience the abundant joy of serving Him with all your heart!

Day Three -- Growing with Christ

2008-01-17T15:25:00.000-08:00

Christians value personal growth because growing – increasing, gaining, developing – is something God has programmed into us as human beings. And we know from what God teaches us in His nature that growth takes care and nurture. Witness the growth of a plant in the garden or of a kitten becoming a cat, or a baby human child becoming a toddler.

Luke's concluding comments about Jesus' Childhood in Luke 2 are insightful about our own growth. (2:52) “And Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in grace with God and man.”2. Jesus grew in four ways Wing his youth according to verse 52:

a. Intellectually - "in wisdom"
b. Physically- "in stature"
c. Spiritually - "in favor with God"
d. Socially - "in favor with man"
There are four major areas of human growth and life -- they are all touched upon in Luke 2:52. Jesus grew in a balanced way, a four-fold way. As we begin the New Year it is a good time to give ourselves a check-up in these four areas.

How are we growing in wisdom? Are we studying God's Word? That is where the ultimate wisdom is found. Earthly wisdom, such as how to operate in a trade or a job, can be helpful. But ultimate wisdom is found in God's Word, and we acquire much of it through reading, study and meditation with the minds that God so wonderfully gave us. What are you doing to increase your wisdom this month?

Physical exercise is of some worth to us, because we get around in these physical bodies and we need to take care of them so we can do the Lord's work in this world. What can you do to help yourself physically? Do you need to exercise a bit more. Do you need to make better choices in your eating? The old rule I learned in computer class goes for our bodies, too. Garbage in, Garbage out. Junk food makes our bodies junky. This has been a hard lesson for me to learn. But it is a true one. What are you doing to increase or maintain your health this month?

Our social life is very important because God made us to be with other people. This has been true since Genesis and Adam and Eve. We are connectional people. One important lesson we learn is to choose our friends carefully. Who you hang out with can hang you if you make bad choices of friends. That is why it important for Christians to socialize with other Christians, to help each other and lift each other up. That is why church is so important. How is you social life? If you are married, can you show your spouse more love? How about your friends? Do you lift them up, or do they bring you down?

Finally, there is the foundational area that affects all areas in a wonderful way -- the Spiritual part of life, the part that connects us with God. Have you asked the Holy Spirit to fill you and to be your guide? Do you nourish yourself with daily prayer and Bible Reading and going to church every week? What can you do to foster your own spiritual growth and to help others to grow in the Lord this month?

We all need to grow, to be like the Sea of Galilee, with life for ourselves and to be life-giving to those who come near us. We must not be Dead Sea people, stagnant and lifeless, and not helping to sustain and affirm those who come near. Grow with God in 2008!

Day Two -- Caring for Those in Need

2008-01-17T15:22:00.000-08:00

Today we look at the values of Charity and Working to Help Others

How we live out our Christian faith is important. A pillar in our faith is the belief of charity towards others; taking a part of your own surplus and sharing it with others, especially the needy, but as an expression of your faith for God alone to see.We are called to a life of giving, Just as God gave to the earth His son, so we are to be givers and people that help those less fortunate than we are. Giving to the Food Pantry, helping the poor, visiting and praying with the sick, these are all acts of charity, and they are good.

We must fight the sin of the flesh that goes against giving. We must fight greed. All kinds of greed, which Jesus warns about, reflect a possessiveness about life. A perspective on life that is false. Possessions, whether few or many, will not be the answer to what life is about. Having things does not bring lasting happiness. Greed wishes us to think so. But it will just tie us up in knots. Positive emotions that we experience in life flow from life-giving and life-expanding sources. May we experience life, full life in Christ, and have it abundantly.

Certainly, we live in a culture of terrible greed and avarice. Too many people have become slaves to money and power, doing all that we can to acquire more. And when we are slaves to money, we cannot be servants to God. “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13)

What does Jesus say we should do instead? We should store up our treasures in heaven:

Matthew 6: 20-21

"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Success can be measured in many ways, dependent upon whom you are and the culture you live in. Having material wealth often is viewed as a sign of accomplishment and is supposed to offer us security and freedom. Jesus however teaches otherwise. We are given the responsibility for our environment and our place in the world, and the next person and we are stewards, not owners, of the goods entrusted to us, both material or spiritual.

The Bible teaches us to trust in God for daily needs and to use his gifts to us as good stewards of his world. If we listen to His word and follow His instruction, we shall accomplish His purpose. Treasure will come to us in heaven. It will be beyond our imaginations. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:9: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” On that promise we can depend.

We are called to truly submit to His will and put our own wishes and thoughts in line with His thoughts. May the Holy Spirit help You to clearly see God’s will for your life and may you be a giver, and not a taker, a person of charity and not greed.

I Pray for that God will bless your richly,from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, and everywhere your feet may walk. May the Spirit Guide your thoughts and deeds to fulfill God’s purpose and plan for your life and the life of your community and your church. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day One -- We are Called to Love Others

2008-01-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

Praise the Lord! This week we will be looking at Christian Values. Today we look at the value of Love.

A teenager recently told me that she thought Jesus taught a "crazy kind of love." with all His talk of helping the poor, and putting others first, and turning the other cheek, and laying His life for us. Yes, to the world it is a crazy kind of love. But to Christians it is our heartbeat and our calling card.

When you think of the "commandments" of Christ, two things come to mind. One is the Great Commandments When asked what the greatest commandment of all is, Jesus replied that we are to "love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength -- and to 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Adding, “There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)

Jesus then underlined this idea of love with His "New Commandment" that He gave to his disciples in the Upper Room during his last evening with them.

"I give you a new commandment, that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." It's that last part that makes this so difficult. We might want to get away with "sort of" loving one another, or "I love you but I don't like you" game playing -- but Jesus defines the kind of love we are supposed to have for one another. It's a life sacrificing, outer limits kind of love. Love that gives up self for the other.

And if that is not enough, the actual meaning of the term Jesus used for one another allows no escape hatches or 99 44/100 % loving one another. It means "each one should love every other one." It is no accident that Jesus used the term "commandment" three times in the Upper Room that last night with his disciples. Always in connection with this issue of loving one another. In fact this is the only time Jesus actually said "I command you" with anything.

Why did he lean so heavily on this issue? The First Letter of John takes this so far as to insist that if we say we love God and don't love each other, we are liars! [1 John 4:20] The way we know we are spiritually alive is that we love each other in the family of faith. [ 1 John 3:14] In other words, mutual love between Christian people is the evidence of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

To put it even stronger. The reputation of Jesus Christ is on the line in our relationships with each other in the church! You see, Jesus had informed his disciples that, the world would know they were his disciples if they loved each other. [John 13:35]

To think that God would not grant me even one exception to this commandment is sometimes hard to take. But here's where the wonderful part of loving God and keeping the commandments of Christ begins. Just at the point where we recognize our inability to do this on our own, the gifts of Christ come into play.