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

People of Grace

Father,

I pray that your people may be people of grace. That we may reach out to those who are in trouble, helpless, and hurting. Even those who are there due to their own bad choices. Help us to know how to love the sinner without condoning the sin. Help us to recognize that we too are sinners, saved only by Your grace. Help us to put aside self-righteousness and recognize that it is those who are sick who need a physician.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Prayer for the Discouraged

Father, we pray for those who are discouraged, those who have tarried long with unanswered prayer, those who have gone from, "I believe, help my unbelief," to not even knowing if they believe. Fill them with the deep knowledge that you are a loving Father who always does what is good. Strengthen them through your Spirit. Amen

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LAYING DOWN THE TRACK


Dear Lord, As I am thrilled when my plants have shown growth by my care and watering,  You must also be thrilled when you see  your children dig into the Word of God and begin to grow in our faith, our love our obedience, our prayers and service.

Oh Lord, I want to grown and mature into the woman you created me to be.  Give me strength and desire to open your Word every day, and feast on your words of truth, and then act on them in my daily life.

I love you Lord.  Thank you for never giving up on us, and loving us unconditionally.  Amen.

"Our prayers lay the track down by which God's power can come.  Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails."  ~ Watchman Nee (1903-19720


Amen

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Worship with Joy


Jude 1:25 (ESV)
    “….to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

Father as I have, with great interest, watched the activities of Pope Francis this week I have been impressed with the news coverage, and the reception of joy and love he has received. I can hardly imagine what it will be like when Jesus himself returns in His glory and the adoration and the worship he will receive. The following passage certainly gives us more than a glimpse of that future glorious day. Father I look forward to it with great expectation and joy!

Revelation 5:11-14 (NLT)
   11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” 14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.

Amen

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Pope Francis' Five Finger Prayer



Using the fingers on your hand, start with the thumb and pray for these in this order:
  1. The thumb is closest finger to you. So start praying for those who are closest to you. They are the persons easiest to remember. To pray for our dear ones is a "Sweet Obligation."

  2. The next finger is the index. Pray for those who teach you, instruct you and heal you. They need the support and wisdom to show direction to others. Always keep them in your prayers.

  3. The following finger is the tallest. It reminds us of our leaders, the governors and those who have authority. They need God's guidance.

  4. The fourth finger is the ring finger. Even though it may surprise you, it is our weakest finger. It should remind us to pray for the weakest, the sick or those plagued by problems. They need your prayers.

  5. And finally we have our smallest finger, the smallest of all. Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. When you are done praying for the other four groups, you will be able to see your own needs but in the proper perspective, and also you will be able to pray for your own needs in a better way.


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desire to pray

Desire is a deep seated craving or an intense longing for attaining something. Speaking spiritually, it is an important adjunct to prayer. Desire precedes prayer and intensifies it. Prayer is the oral expression of desire. Prayer is heard where as desire is silent. The deeper desire, the stronger the prayer. Do you want to have a powerful prayer life?? Let the desires of your heart (the godly desires) pour out into verbal expression to God. Allow His Spirit to move within you and solidify your faith! Pray believing! Pray expecting! Diligently seek Him! And then get ready for a powerful move of God in your life.... It will come...

"... The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness ."
(James 5:16) NET


(Some ideas taken from E.M. Bounds on Prayer)

Amen

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Painful Summer

This has been a hard summer for me. My wife was diagnosed with cancer. (She is currently going through chemo-therapy and doing well under the circumstances, but we are not out of the woods yet.) I have a pain in my side the doctors cannot seem to diagnose for sure yet. (The best guess is it is my gallbladder, but it is not clear). And just last week the church congregation I have been part of for about fourteen years lost its pastor and closed its doors. And today I turn 60 years old, which is an interesting turning point. But God is faithful.

Father,

I thank that You we can praise You even in difficult times. I thank You that we can trust You to bring us through. I pray for all those who are going through painful times, that You will be near to them and will bring them through the storm. Help us to trust you whatever situation we are in.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Prayer From Ephesians 3

 I bow my knees before Abba, and pray that out of all of his glorious riches he would give us strength deep down inside through the power of his Spirit, so that Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith might be evident to us. I pray that we might have our roots down deep in love so that we have the strength to grasp fully, along with the other saints, just how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is, and so we can know with our hearts and experience that love of Christ that far surpasses anything we can know, so that God's fullness fill us.
I pray that God gets glory in us through Christ. He is the one whose great power works in us to do far, far more than we can ever imagine.
Amen

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ONE WAY


O Lord God, there are many ways that lead to hell, but only one way that leads to heaven.  All other paths are dead ends; all other gods are worthless idols.  Those who would follow them profess life, but they do not possess life.  Let us be Your witnesses to the nations that there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved but the great and exalted name of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the way; Jesus is the truth; Jesus is  the life.  No one can come to You, Father, unless they come through Jesus.  I love You. Amen.

(Isaiah 44:8-16)

Maranatha Worship Bible

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Prayer for America

Daniel 9:8-9 (NLT)
8  O LORD, we ………. are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. 9 But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.


Father in Daniel 9:1-19 we have one of the great prayers of the Bible for a nation that had sinned against you. Our nation, Father is not unlike Israel who rebelled in defiance of you and suffered judgement. We too as a nation face the same consequences for our sin if we don’t repent.

Father I thank you for the “But” that means: on the other hand or nevertheless.” This speaks of the option of grace instead of judgement, of mercy instead of anger and of forgiveness instead of retribution. Thank you Father for the reminder and encouragement of Psalm 86:15 (NLT)  But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

Father for our nation I join Daniel in prayer and petition:  “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. “….We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy. 19 “O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.” Daniel 9:18-19 (NLT)

Amen

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I have no idea where I am going.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
    and the fact that I think that I am following your will
    does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road
    though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always
    though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
    and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Amen

― Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

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overflow with abundance


"You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance." (Psalm 65:11)

I don't know about you but that scripture just pours out to my spirit. It is filled with mercy and grace and it brings me such peace!

Yesterday we did door to door ministry in a small, poverty filled neighborhood in Belmopan, Belize. It was very hot and humid and the sun was intense. Aside from an occasional God-sent breeze, the day was stifling to say the least. We are working with the young pastor here trying to encourage him and help him begin some outreach in the area around his small church. We visited with many families and invited them to a celebration we will have Sunday night at his church in honor of Belize's independence but also in honor of our independence in Christ.

You don't always know the fruit of your labor. There are times when we will never see the outcome of our efforts but we have to rest in the knowledge that our Father knows. We just have to obedient to His calling.

Last night was bible study at the Baptist Tabernacle and we had a small group of  seven plus Jimbo and I. We had a time of worship through song and prayer and then we were headed out into the night to do a prayer walk around the neighborhood. As we were getting up to leave, a woman and her elderly father were walking up the path. She had brought him to the church for prayer. It was a woman that we had stopped and visited and prayed with that morning. Our hearts were filled with joy as we saw the work of the Lord beginning even that night. After a short visit and prayer over her 89-year old dad, she said she would see us Sunday.

Prayer is the key to an effective life in Christ. Prayer is the key to God working in us and through us. Our efforts never go in vain and sometimes He gives us a small glimpse of His glory to compel us to keep going on.

Amen

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Busyness

Father,

We live in a world that is always in a hurry. Help us see past the busyness to what is really important. Help us not to spend so much time rushing through life that we miss the vital things. Help us slow down and appreciate the opportunities to truly know and serve You. Help us not to confuse the urgent things with those which are really needed.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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GOD'S PEACE



Lord, thank you for providing prayer as an antidote to fretfulness.  When my heart is full of anxiety I can see only my limitations; I cannot find Your peace.  But when my heart is full of thanksgiving I can see Your every provision; Your peace is unavoidable.  So in response to Your generous invitation, I bring my thoughts, one by one, into captivity to the obedience of Your Son.  I focus my heart and mind on the virtue of Jesus Christ.  I cast all my cares upon You; I receive in return Your incomparable gift of peace.  Thanks you.  I love You.  Amen.

Image from googleimages.com
Prayer from Maranath Worship Bible.  Philippians 4:6-8
Amen

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A Hope and A Prayer

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)
    11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.


Honestly, Father, when I look and think about life in this troubled world which looks so bleak and foreboding, despair sets in. Yet, I must praise you for the reminder that you have a plan, a purpose and a promise of a future and a hope that will be glorious. You can still be found by those who seek you wholeheartedly and you still hear and answer prayer.

Therefore we will say with the Apostle Paul: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

Thank you, Father, for the hope in us which we pray.

Amen

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Breaking the Cycle of Discouragement

From the heart of David:
I cry out loudly to GOD, loudly I plead with GOD for mercy. I spill out all my complaints before him, and spell out my troubles in detail: "As I sink in despair, my spirit ebbing away, you know how I'm feeling, Know the danger I'm in, the traps hidden in my path. Look right, look left-- there's not a soul who cares what happens! I'm up against it, with no exit-- bereft, left alone. I cry out, GOD, call out: 'You're my last chance, my only hope for life!' Oh listen, please listen; I've never been this low. Rescue me from those who are hunting me down; I'm no match for them. Get me out of this dungeon so I can thank you in public. Your people will form a circle around me and you'll bring me showers of blessing!" (Psalms 142)
From the sermon notes of David Jeremiah:
Psalm 142 is a beautiful presentation of the cycle of discouragement everyone goes through at some point in life. David writes these words in a cave in which he is hiding from Saul, who wants to kill him.

David gives a detailed description of his pain saying he is disoriented; his spirit is muffled within him. He says he has been deserted. He says his feelings of disorientation and desertion have resulted in depression. David says he is defeated; he has no hope for the future.

David teaches us that it is okay to tell God how we feel. He paints God a picture of how he feels, and teaches us that it is okay to visualize your problem if you keep it in perspective.

We can take comfort in the fact that God already is aware of our problems before we even approach him, and he understands. When he sees God’s strength, his problem begins to fade away. Someone wrote, “Friend, there’s no living in the land of the living like living on the living God.”
Knowing that discouragement, depression and pain are experiences that are common to all of us gives us a bit of hope. Many of the greatest people of all times traveled through very dark places to emerge as people of great courage and fortitude. Pain will shape us - sometimes for the good and sometimes not.

We pray Lord that you will help us to break the cycle of discouragement in our lives and use our pain to shape us for your beautiful purposes.

Amen

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He has heard..

As my husband and I sit in a mission house in a small village in Belize, I am drawn by the  Spirit to remind us all of the importance of prayer and to ask prayers of you all for us as we minister and spread the gospel to many in the next three weeks. 

There is nothing as powerful as the cumulative voices of God's children being lifted up to our Father. May our prayers be a sweet fragrance to Him and may our prayers be asked according to His will.

"I love the LORD, because He has heard My voice and my supplications..." (Psalm 116:1)

"Precious Father, our prayer today is that lives will be changed. Not just those that we minsisted to but our lives as well! May we live and love like You! May our hearts be filled with the desires of Your heart! Let us love in words and deeds and may we seek Your face diligently and urgently! Thank you sweet God for what You are going to accomplish through us Your servants. May it always be all about You...."
Amen

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Addiction of Sin

Let us face facts; sin is addictive. We start out with a little of a certain sin, and we gradually accept more and more of it till we end up hooked. And we need God's help to get free of it again.

Father,

Help us to be set free from our addictive sins. Give us Your power to overcome their attraction. And help us to see through the facades of sin that makes it look so desirable. Give us Your perspective on the real ugliness of sin. And give us the strength to act on that perception.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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Father, we lift up those who are despondent, those who are going through deep depression, those who see no way out. Protect them and let them know that you love them. Remind them that there is no darkness too dark for you. Shine your light into their darkness and lift them up. Be with those who care for them. Give them the wisdom and grace to love them and support them. Bring healing and restoration. Amen

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YOU KNOW MY NAME



Oh dear Lord, You are my Maker, You formed my heart.  Before even time began my life was in Your hand.  You know my name.  You know my every thought.  You see each tear that falls, and You hear me when I call.   What comfort this bring to my weary soul, Oh Lord.  I love You. Amen.


Adapted from the song "He Knows my Name by Tommy Walker
image from googleimages.com

Amen

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Sufficient



2 Corinthians 3:5 (ESV)
       “…. our sufficiency is from God…”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
     “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Father the Apostle Paul proved throughout his life that your grace was more than enough to sustain him and see him through any crisis or circumstance. Your power is great than our weakness. Your supply is greater than our need. Your peace is great than our depression. Your joy is greater than our sorrow. Your hope is greater than our despair. Your love is greater than our anxiety. Your fellowship is greater than our loneliness. Father you are truly all we need for you are our all in all.

Therefore Father we claim that ancient promise through Isaiah: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

Thank you Father, that is more than sufficient.

Amen

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Abiding

"If you abide in My Word, you are my disciples indeed.
 And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free"
(John 8:31)

If we desire powerful prayer lives, we must be abiding in Him and His Word. Through the power of the Word, the Holy Scriptures, we can know the truth. And His Word tells us that the truth will set us free! If we want freedom, if we want power, we must dwell on the Word of God. Our prayer lives are only going to be as effective and as mighty as the effort we put into them. May we long for a time of communion with our God and may we purpose to strive for consistent time spent in His presence. Then we will see Him begin to work in our lives and the lives of those we pray for. His Word is truth.

Amen

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Dealing with Change

Change can be difficult to deal with, especially change that we perceive to be for the worse. But life is nothing but continual change, and we need to be willing to face it.

Father,

Help to accept and deal with change. Help us not to be overwhelmed when something we thought was strong and permanent changes. Help us to trust in You, even when our world is rocked by circumstances. Help us to see new opportunities opening up and not just old fixtures in our life passing away.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

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