John Owen - "If we would talk less and pray more about them, things would be be better than they are in the world; at least, we should be better enabled to bear them."
Harold C. Phillips - "We are all weak, finite, simple human beings, standing in the need of prayer. None need it so much as those who think they are strong, those who know it not, but are deluded by self-sufficiency."
". . . prayer is a posture. By that, I mean that it's a way of approaching God - and it's a way of approaching your life. A "prayer full" posture does not mean one literally spends days, weeks, months and years on your knees locked in conscious conversation with God. Rather, life is spent growing ever more aware of the source of deepest gladness and trust - in constant communication through that awareness. Be a person of prayer - in a posture of awareness of and gratitude to God."
[from Gospel.com]
Allen E Vartlett - "Seven days without prayer makes one weak."
Kenneth L. Wilson - "To pray 'in Jesus' name' means to pray in his spirit, in his compassion, in his love, in his outrage, in his concern. In other words, it means to pray a prayer that Jesus himself might pray."
A. A. Wilson - "God may pass by our elaborate programs and outstanding talents, but He will never pass by the prostrate form of an intercessor."
Zig Zigler - "The story is told of a little guy valiantly but futilely trying to move a heavy log to clear a pathway to his favorite hideout. His dad stood nearby and finally asked him why he wasn't using all his strength. The little guy assured his dad he was straining with all his might. His dad quietly told him he was not using all his strength, because he hadn't asked him (his dad) to help."
"...It made me shiver. And I about made up my mind to pray, and see if I couldn't try to quit being the kind of a boy I was and be better. So I kneeled down. But the words wouldn't come. Why wouldn't they? It warn't no use to try and hide it from Him. Nor from me, neither. I knowed very well why they wouldn't come. It was because my heart warn't right; it was because I warn't square; it was because I was playing double. I was letting on to give up sin, but away inside of me I was holding on to the biggest one of all. I was trying to make my mouth say I would do the right thing and the clean thing, and go and write to that nigger's owner and tell where he was; but deep down in me I knowed it was a lie, and He knowed it.
"You can't pray a lie — I found that out."
- Huckleberry Finn
Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:07 am Post subject: FIVE FINGER PRAYER
FIVE FINGER PRAYER
Click to see full size image
1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."
2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.
4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.
When things get tough, always remember... Faith doesn't get you around trouble, it gets you through it !!
Last edited by God's Warrior on Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:15 pm; edited 2 times in total
Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject: The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying (to the self) that we are born to eternal life.
Prayer. Why pray? Does anyone listen?
"Ask and it shall be given you:
Seek and Ye shall find,
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
Matthew 7:7
When the world caves in around you, prayer can lift you from the depths of despair. So many times we hear that "God doesn't listen" but is this really true? Remember, that God has His plans for each and every one of us. What we think should be the answer to our prayers is not always in God's plan. As Christians we need to train ourselves to look where we least expect it for our answer.
Maybe you didn't get the million dollars you prayed for, but did you really get an answer? Did a troublesome teenager finally realize that the life he or she was leading would lead to his or her self destruction? Did the tumor that was robbing you of health begin to shrink and disappear? God DOES answer our prayers, we just need to learn to recognize that He knows what we need and that the answer that was in His plan for us may not be what we planned.
Trust in the Lord. Know that He does listen. Pray with a clean heart and a healthy spirit. Pray often, pray hard. Your closest friend is listening. His love for you will never let you down if you put your faith in Him and trust that He knows what His right for you.
For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.
~ Luke 11:10
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
~ Psalms 23:1
Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.
~ Matthew 6:32-34
But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
~ Isaiah 40:31
Ask, and it shall be given you; Seek, and ye shall find; Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
~ Matthew 7:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
~ 1 Peter 5:7
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
~ Psalm 32:8
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present not the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
~ Romans 8:38, 39
A traveler in China visited a heathen temple on a great feast-day. Many were the worshipers of the hideous idol enclosed in a sacred shrine. The visitor noticed that most of the devotees brought with them small pieces of paper on which prayers had been written or printed. These they would wrap up in little balls of stiff mud and fling at the idol. He enquired the reason for this strange proceeding, and was told that if the mud ball stuck fast to the idol, then the prayer would assuredly be answered; but if the mud fell off, the prayer was rejected by the god. We may smile at this peculiar way of testing the acceptability of a prayer. But is it not a fact that the majority of Christian men and women who pray to a Living God know very little about real prevailing prayer? Yet prayer is the key which unlocks the door of God's treasure-house. It is not too much to say that all real growth in the spiritual life-all victory over temptation, all confidence and peace in the presence of difficulties and dangers, all repose of spirit in times of great disappointment or loss, all habitual communion with God-depend upon the practice of secret prayer. This book was written by request, and with much hesitancy. It goes forth with much prayer. May He Who said, "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint," "teach us to pray."
To be an effective person of prayer, you must have relationship with the One to whom you pray.
Above all else, prayer is an opportunity to enjoy intimacy with God. Prayer is all about relationship with Father God. God longs to have relationship with you.
To know God is to realize that we are in relationship, covenant relationship with Him. You are His child. He is your Father. You are His bride. He is your Groom.
Jesus warns us that we can do His works and not be known of God.
Matt 7:21-23 (NIV) "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
How Can I Develop an Intimate Relationship with God?
* A. Spend Time with the Lord, daily.
* B. Study the Word of God
* C. Worship
* D. Repentance
* E. Practice the Presence of the Lord
A. Spend Time with the Lord, daily.
In any earthly relationship, the way to develop relationship with someone is to spend time with them. Intimate relationships are born by learning to trust. Being open and vulnerable and being willing to show all of your heart invites intimacy. To be intimate is to be willing to show all that is in your heart to the person. To be an intimate friend of God, you need to be able to pour out your heart to Him, sharing the most intimate details of your life, your hopes, your dreams and your very heart with Him.
Prov. 17:17 (NIV)
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
This scripture not only applies to God's heart toward us, but it should be our stance toward the Lord. Our hearts should long to be with Him no matter what the circumstance. As His people, We are to love Him and be His friend first. From that base of intimacy, we can pray effectively.
If our prayer life consists only of petitions and intercession, it can lead to anger and frustration. If prayer is not answered in the speed that we wish it to be answered, we can become bitter and resentful toward God. However, If we grow to know God, a delayed prayer will only be an opportunity to pray again. Spending much time with the Lord is one of the only methods to truly know His ways, and not just His acts. Knowing God leads to resting in the assurance of His ultimate goodness, despite the circumstances we see around us.
Hab. 3:17-18
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
To be in intimate relationship with God is to make Him number one in our lives, above all others, and above all else.
Matt 10:37
"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
Ask the Lord to show you any idols in your lives that would be number one instead of Him. These idols can take the form of family, friends, ministry, work or even personal dreams.
B. We get to know Him through the study of the word of God, in prayer.
As you daily study His word, you will soon get to know His will, His ways and His heart, which will give you keys to know how to pray. When you understand the way He moves in the lives of people, you can pray prayers that line up to His will. Psalm 119 is a wonderful passage to meditate upon, as it tells us the rewards of studying His word.
C. As we worship the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, He births intimacy in our hearts.
In worship, we are lavishing all our attention and affections toward Him.
Worship cleanses you from the "dirt" you pick up as you walk your everyday life by just living in an unsaved world.
A good anointed worship time refreshes and revives you. It speaks to your spirit the truth about God and His power. To be an effective intercessor, you must be awake in your spirit. Worship will awaken and sharpen your spirit to be in tune with the will of the Lord.
D. Repentance
Ask the Lord to search your heart, and to show you if there be any wicked way in it. The Lord is faithful to show us our motivations and secret desires. Keep a short account with the Lord.
1 John 1:8-9 (NIV)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If you know there are wounds from hurts you have received, allow the Lord to heal those areas as you forgive and receive forgiveness and healing. If you find it hard to hear from God, ask Him to show blockages or walls in your own life that are hindering you from receiving and giving to the Lord. Some blockages are unforgiveness, unconfessed sin, disobedience, wounds and hurts.
To pray effectively, pray out of a pure heart, so you don't pray in bitterness, anger and judgment.
Prayers prayed out of impure motives are sometimes known as soulful prayers. They are usually not very effective. When the Lord begins to show us things to pray for and our hearts are free from unconfessed sin and judgments toward others, we can pray without prejudice.
Intercession is front line spiritual warfare. It is essential that you pray for protection for yourself and your family as you enter into intercession. Sin can provide an open door for the enemy to attack us. If, when you pray for others, you find things falling apart in your own life, ask the Lord to search your heart and show you any doors left open because of your own sin, or sin against you.
E. Practice the Presence of God.
Practice just "being with God." Just enjoy each others company. Sometimes, just sitting with the Lord in silence can bring deep communion and refreshment to your spirit, soul and body. An earthly example of this sort of "being", would be a loving couple who have been married for years. They do not have to say a word to each other yet a glance or a smile can pass on deep intimacy and "knowing."
You don't always have to be talking to Him. You don't always have to be expecting heavy revelation from heaven, in prayer, you can just enjoy being with Him.
Part of practicing the presence of God is to understand he is with you always. It is a biblical fact and is not based on your emotions.
Deut 31:6 (NIV)
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."
The presence of God is there all the time. Learning to know He is there, however, will take time and patience. Just drink in His love for in the presence of God, fear cannot reside, anxiety cannot reside, heaviness cannot abide. You need to learn to tune into His presence, it is always there, but we need to practice becoming aware of it.
“The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (Romans 8:26)
Have you ever been in a situation that just seemed hopeless and you felt helpless? Have you prayed prayers that didn’t seem to get answered? At least not the answers you were hoping for? What do you do then? What is your next step?
He was eighteen when his father was diagnosed with lung cancer. He studied about the disease and knew the severity and probable course it would take. Still, he prayed for the Lord to heal his father. After surgery, treatment, and consultations, the inevitable became clear—the illness was terminal.
His family, friends and the church continued to pray prayers for healing. Everyone believed that God could give him a miracle if that was His will. But, after weeks and months it appeared that he would not receive that miracle. What then should be prayed for?
His mother shared Romans 8:26-27 with him. She said: “When you don’t know what to pray for or can’t find the words to express your feelings, ask for the Holy Spirit, who lives in all Christians, to pray for you.”
When he took this next step, the results were amazing. No, his father wasn’t healed, but the youngster could now accept the loss. His mother and sisters also received a calm and peace which enabled them to “let go,” because they understood that for a Christian, there is a life far better than this one—waiting on the other side.
No, things weren’t easy or painless. The family grieved and missed him terribly, but they had strength and comfort from each other and from the Holy Spirit.
Yes, he still misses his father. There are things he wishes he could share with him and tell him, but Romans 8:28 says, “...in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” His mother remarried a wonderful Christian man whom he came to love and who came to love him and his whole family.
There are many times when we do not know what to pray for and in those times we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us. The outcome may sometimes be different than what we might pray for, but we’ll find great comfort in the knowledge that God will see us through—His will be done.
All times are GMT - 5 Hours Page Previous1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Page 5 of 5
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Home
FAQ
Memberlist
Usergroups
Join! (free) 
Profile
Messages
Login/Out
