Praying for Missionaries: for Spiritual Renewal!

 

 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

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

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

Seven ways to pray according to the Apostle Paul.

1. Pray for open doors
2. Pray for courage to witness
3. Pray that the Word God is proclaimed without obstacles
4. Pray for protection
5. Pray that there will be harmony and acceptance among the believers
6. Pray for God's direction and help while they travel
7. Pray for renewal

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

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 5:15-16 (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

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!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

"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!

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

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!

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!

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!"

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!