Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

PRAYER FOR HOLINESS



"I desire only Him and to be wholly His." ~~ Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (1605-1691)

II Timothy 3:1-5
Lord Jesus, pruify us as Your people.  May Your holy love so burn in our hearts that everything that competes for our attention and allegiance may be exposed as an unworthy suitor.  May the power of Your love call forth in us a renewed zeal for the beauty of holiness.  I love You.  Amen.


Prayer taken from Maranatha Worship Bible.

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THE FRIEND ABOVE ALL OTHERS



Matthew 11:19 (HCSB)
     The Son of Man came eating and drinking…………. a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”
 

Mark 2:15-17 (NLT)
     15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?” 17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
 

Father it is clear that the religious elite, those righteous in their own eyes, abhorred Jesus friendship with sinners. It was unthinkable and beyond their ability to identify or associate with such degenerates who had no right to social or religious acceptance. How could a holy man be involved with people like that? But that is why you came!
 

Thank you Jesus for being the Friend of Sinners. Thank you for being my friend, a sinner in desperate need of you. Thank you that I can sing with the Psalmist:
 

Psalm 103:1-3 (NLT)
     1 Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
 

Thank you Lord Jesus for being my friend. It doesn’t just mean to world to me, it means eternity with you. Thank you dear FRIEND!


Amen

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Abide with Me O Lord



Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

~ Henry Francis Lyte

Amen

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For Political Leadership

We are once more in the midst of a presidential choice. While I do not want to get into partisan politics, I would like to pray for that choice.

Father,

I pray that You will give this country wisdom in choosing a new leader. I pray You will help us see behind the hype and the image to see what is best. I pray that You will show us someone who will do what is right and not just what is convenient. That we may chose someone who is an individual of character and not just someone who will promise us everything but cannot deliver.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Father, focus our eyes on Jesus and on his finished work on the cross. Take our attention off people and their schemes and put it on the King and his kingdom. May everything we do be out of love and gratitude for your amazing love and grace. Amen

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PRAYING SCRIPTURE




Taken from Psalm 19.

Dear Lord, Your law is perfect, it revives my soul.  Your degrees are trustworthy, making me wise.  You commandments are right, bringing joy to my heart.  

Your commands are clear, giving me insight to life.  How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?  Cleanse me from hidden faults.  

Oh Lord, keep me from deliberate sins.  Don't let them control me.  Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.  

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  I love you Amen.



Amen

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Peace in the Face of Fear


Matthew 8:24-27 (NLT)
     24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm. 27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

James Merritt said: “Fear can lay silent, unseen, a deadly enemy that plays no favorites, knows no friend, gives no quarter and has no mercy.”

Yes, Father, fear can quickly rise like a storm, destroying hope and exposing our frail, weak inability to deal with forces greater than ourselves, whether they maybe natural or supernatural.  Fear creates sudden, startling and unsettling emotional responses we would rather not have to deal with. Yet Lord, your word and presence give us comfort and assurance that the sovereign God, creator of heaven and earth, is in control.

The great combination of your words in Matthew 14:27  Don’t be afraid……I am here” is all we truly need to assuage our fear and give us peace.

Thank you Lord for your reassuring words: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)

In Jesus powerful name,
Amen

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Praise the Lord, An Acrostic Prayer


Prayerfully I kneel before you Lord, I become
Rested, renewed and restored
All that I need you will provide, so
In you my soul will I abide
Surely sovereign you are magnificent, and
Everlasting, all-knowing, omnipotent
To you anew each day I come, yet
How much more you are and then some
Each day I seek of you
Lord and each day I yearn for you
O God so much I need of you, I
Rest in you
Delight in you

Amen

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We can know He hears us

One of the most treasured gifts that comes from a intimate and personal relationship with Christ is the amazing privilege to communicate with Him through prayer. It is our lifeline. It is our saving grace in times of trouble. It is one thing that we can count on always being available to us.

The Word tells us over and over again that when we cry out, He hears! I don't know about you but that is HUGE to me. That brings me comfort. That brings me peace. That brings overwhelming serenity to my spirit.

My God hears my cries. He hears the utterance of my lips when I lift my voice to Him. 

In Psalm 55 David says this:

"Give ear to my prayer, O God,
and do not hide Yourself from my
supplication. Attend to me
and hear me." 

David knew that His God could hear him. He knew that God would respond to His cries. We, too, can have that kind of intimate relationship with our LORD. We can know with certainty that when we cry out, our God hears our voices. He listens. He cares. He responds. 

Our prayer life is a direct reflection of who we say God is in our lives. Let's make a resolution to be prayer warriors. Let's make a resolution to bring not only our petitions to Him but our praises as well. It's time to get on our faces before Him and be women and men of prayer!

Father God, help us to see you for who you really are! Help us to spend time with you daily on our knees and in Your Word. Help us to know that when we cry out, You hear. Give us comfort that only comes from being in Your Presence and give us the desire to seek You every day. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for hearing us. Thank you for being our Father, Savior and LORD.

Amen

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Into the Unknown

Sometimes it is the unknown that is hardest to take. I have had my gall bladder removed,  but the mysterious pain is back. The doctors still do not know what is causing it. My wife's cancer and chemotherapy (which have gone well , though there is always the question of whether it will come back) are much more serious problems. But there is something wearing about just not knowing.

Father,

I thank You that You are Lord of the unknown.  I thank you that nothing is a surprise to You. I pray for those who are facing the unknown: unknown medical problems, unknown situations, puzzling circumstances, that You will give patience, give clarity, show us the way through the problem. But most of all, help us to trust You until the problem is resolved.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Prayer for Reconciliation

Father, please bring your children to unity in the Spirit. Where there is division because of race, remind us that there is no Jew or Gentile in the body of Christ. Where there is contention between genders, remind us that there is no male or female in Jesus. If there is strife due to economics, teach us that we are all equal in your eyes. Give us a greater love for our brothers and sisters that considers their interests above our own. Amen

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THE THRONE ROOM





Hebrews 4:16  "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus and all in Him is mine.
Alive in Him, my living Head;
And clothes in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through
Christ, my own.

Amazing love!  How can it be,
That Thou my God should die for me.

The words of this old hymn "And Can It Be, That I Should Gain" by Charles Wesley (1738) rings true in my heart as it did in his so many years ago.  We can pray scripture, and we can pray hymns.  They both minister to our hearts, and lift our voices into the Throne Room where we have confidence that we will receive the mercy and grace we so badly need.

Amen

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Life's Brevity



Psalm 90:12 (NLT)
     Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

Father when I was young I remember time seemed to move so slowly. Will the week-end ever get here?  This has sure been a long day. It seems like a year but it’s only been a month. I was so impatient for time to pass. And now time has passed and I wonder where has all the time gone? Twenty Four Hours as a measure of time has not changed, but my perception of it has. The Psalmist was wise to pray: “LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.” Psalm 39:4 (NLT) 

Now I know how brief life is and how true the words of James are: “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” James 4:14 (NLT)

So Father, even now, in the reality of the golden years may I treasure each day for what it is, a time and opportunity to live wisely and take advantage of every opportunity to honor you and be a help and blessing to all I may encounter.

Thank you Father for the gift of life, help me to life it wisely.

Amen

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Prayer for a busy day

“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”
~ Martin Luther

 O Abba Father.
 It is in busy days that I must stay closer to you.
 It is in busy days that I need more of you.
 Lest I flail in faith.
 Lest I fail in faith.
 Keep me close to you, Lord.
 Keep me close to you.
Amen.

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Without prayer....


Prayer is one of the most important elements of our relationship with God. Without prayer, we have no communication with our Savior. Without prayer, we leave ourselves unable to hear Him speak to our spirits. Without prayer, we remain in bondage with our sins and guilt instead of experiencing freedom through confession.

Psalm 51:10 is one of the most beautiful expressions of repentance in the bible. I challenge you to read all 19 verses and meditate on them, allowing them to penetrate deep into your hearts. Read each verse intentionally. Let His Word speak and move and renew.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. And uphold me by Your generous spirit." (Verses 10-12) NKJV

Father, thank you for Your powerful and precious Word, Help us to read it and cling to it. Help us to hunger after it and never neglect it. Let it speak to our hearts and let it change who we are into who You would have us to be...prayer



Amen

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Not the Force

The new Star Wars movie is out. It is great entertainment. But I am glad that the real God is not like the Force of  Star Wars. An impersonal force, incorporating good and evil, that both can tap into and use.

Father,

I thank You that You are only good. That You are in control of our lives. That we do not use You, but You guide and direct us. Help us not to reduce You down to something we use. But to remember that You are God and we are Your servants.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Epiphany Prayer

Father, as you revealed your Son as the One who was to be King and Savior for the Gentiles as well as the Jews, so reveal Jesus to us more and more each day. Increasingly show us his beauty and grace and let our love for him grow. Amen

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PRAYING SCRIPTURE





Psalms 8:1-5  "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.  You have set your glory above the heavens.




From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heaven, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars, which you have set in place.

What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?  You made him a little lower than the heavenly being and crowned him with glory and honor.

Dear Lord all prayer should start with YOU.  As David wrote this prayer,  his focus was YOU and your Majesty!!  Lord help us to praise your Holy Name, before we seek forgiveness, or ask for daily bread.  Thank you Jesus.  How I love Your WORD.  How I love You.   Amen.


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Fellowship with God



Genesis 3:8 (NLT)
    “When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden….”


Genesis 5:22-24 (NLT)
      “After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 23 Enoch lived 365 years, 24 walking in close fellowship with God.”
    

Father it is clear that from the very beginning of creation you determined, designed and desired fellowship with the human race. Why else would you create us in your image and likeness but that we might know you and live in the joy of your presence. What a unique thought Father, that we finite people, have the privilege of fellowship with the infinite God of creation. It reminds me of Psalm 144:3 (NLT)O LORD, who are we that you should notice us, mere mortals that you should care for us?”


Thank you Father that through the sacrifice and resurrection of your Son we have been reconciled and renewed in our relationship with you. As 1 John 5:20 (NLT) tells us so clearly: “….now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.”


Father it reminds me of the song:



Friendship with Jesus!
Fellowship divine!
Oh, what blessed, sweet communion!
Jesus is a Friend of mine.



Thank you Father for the pleasure of your fellowship.



Amen

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Prayer in Time of Trouble

Lord, in every need let me come to You with humble trust saying, "Jesus, help me."
In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations, Jesus, help me.
In hours of loneliness, weariness, and trials, Jesus, help me.
In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles, and sorrows, Jesus, help me.
When others fail me and Your grace alone can assist me, help me.
When I throw myself on Your tender love as a father and savior, Jesus, help me.
When my heart is cast down by failure at seeing no good come from my efforts, Jesus, help me.
When I feel impatient and my cross irritates me, Jesus, help me.
When I am ill and my head and hands cannot work and I am lonely, Jesus, help me.
Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls, and shortcomings of every kind, Jesus, help me and never forsake me.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
~ Deuteronomy 31:6

 Amen.

Source: Anonymous

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powerful prayer

"Our praying needs to be pressed
and pursued with an energy that never
tires, a persistency which will not be
denied, and a courage that never fails."
~~~~~
"We can do nothing without
prayer. All things can be
done by importunate prayer."
~~~~~
"God shapes the world by prayer."
~~~~~
"Prayer outlives the lives of those 
who uttered them;
outlive a generation,
outlive an age,
outlive a world."
~~~~~

Lord, help us to see the tremendous power of prayer and help us to live our lives in the power of prayer. Let us turn to you in all things. Let us seek your face above all else. But most of all give us hearts and spirits to believe and know that you hear and respond to our cries. May our hearts and minds be ever prayerful.

(Quotes by E.M. bounds)

Amen

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Do Nothing

Father,

Your Son said that without Him we, Your people, can do nothing. Help us to remember that. As we enter into a new year, help not to trust in our abilities, our virtues, our organizations, or our plans, but to trust in Your power. Help us to remember that all we have comes from You, and it is all useless without Your involvement. Help us, in the final analysis, to trust in You and You alone.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Prayer. For a Year

Father, in the year ahead let us be overwhelmed with your love and grace. May we be filled with your Holy Spirit and empowered to speak ànd live the gospel. We pray that the end of this year finds us formed more into the image of Christ than at the beginning. Amen

PRAYING SCRIPTURE



Psalms 119:33-35

"Teach me, O Lord to follow Your decrees, then I will keep them to the end.  Give me understanding, and I will keep Your law and obey it with all my heart.  Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight."  I love You.  Amen.




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Prayer for 2016


Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
     5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Father, we are beginning a new year with new hopes, new goals, and new expectations. But in order for us to fulfill the desires your heart we must trust you with all of our heart. Father you know the path we should follow so help us not to be misguided by our limited understanding but to acknowledge that you really know what is best for us.

Help us to trust the certainty of your direction each day. And to remember your promise: “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)

So Father, we pray for the peace of your presence, the wisdom of your guidance and the joy of your Spirit each day in 2016.

For this we thank you in Jesus name.

Amen

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Prayer for the New Year

Micah 7:18-20,  2 Corinthians 5:17
God's Steadfast Love and Compassion

Who is a God like you, 
pardoning iniquity 
and passing over transgression 
for the remnant of his inheritance? 

He does not retain his anger forever, 
because he delights in steadfast love. 
He will again have compassion on us; 
he will tread our iniquities underfoot. 

You will cast all our sins 
into the depths of the sea. 
You will show faithfulness to Jacob 
and steadfast love to Abraham, 
as you have sworn to our fathers 
from the days of old.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 
he is a new creation. 
The old has passed away; 
behold, the new has come.

Abba Father, as we enter into a new year, we are so thankful and grateful for your steadfast love and compassion. We confess to you our wrongdoings over the years, you have been merciful to us. As much as we do not deserve your loving kindness, you still love us and long to commune with us. To you now Lord, we offer ourselves again. Create in us a clean heart O Lord and renew a right spirit within us for today and the year ahead.

Amen.

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