August 22, 2012

  • One More!

    We've talked about having a good prayer life. We mentioned that faith, and living a life of obedience to God are important elements. We covered getting to KNOW God, so we know how to hear from Him. There are just a few other things I would like to share before I am done with prayer.

    (James 5:16 NLT)  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

    Let's take a look at that word EARNEST. The KJV uses the word FERVENT. From these words, we can see that prayer is not an" afterthought." It is top priority. We need to be strong and consistent in prayer. That word earnest means; serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous.

    (1Th 5:17 NLT)  Never stop praying.

    Now, THAT is an interesting verse, right?! I don't think it means we should never get off our knees. I think we need to learn the art of being in constant communion with God. We can be breathing a prayer while we wash dishes, ride the bus, fold clothes or drive to the store. Any time. All the time. If we learn to be conscious of God's presence, we will be able to listen to His spirit, and pray what He puts on our hearts. There have been times when I suddenly feel a strong impression to pray for a certain person. Later I find out that at that particular time, the person was dealing with something difficult and needed protection or strength and wisdom! God knows, and if we are in constant touch with Him, He can tell us. Cool, huh?

    Another important aspect of prayer is ATTITUDE. We need to check ourselves often in this area. God is not someone we can "sic" on people who make us angry. Vengeful, angry prayers are not the best. Oh, I know David did that in the Psalms, but I have never been able to get away with it!

    In the prayer model we know as The Lord's Prayer, we are admonished to forgive others.  The verse is especially interesting in the Amplified translation.

    (Mat 6:12 AMP)  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors.

    So, no mean prayers, OK? We need to have a loving, humble heart when we come before God. He has forgiven us much. Well, He has me!

    One last thing I want to encourage you to do is to pray from your heart. I remember an elderly lady at our old church who would call me up often so I could pray for her. I would always remind her that God would also hear her own prayers, but she would say, "Oh, you just do it better!" Well. I don't think God sees it that way. Do we judge our children's speech good, better and best? Of course not! God loves us! We don't have to use big, religious-sounding words, or read prayers written by someone else! God wants to hear from us. He doesn't mind if we stutter and stumble through our prayers. He reads our hearts, and He knows. So, be natural. Use your own words and let it come from your heart.

    When my kids were little, at bedtime prayer they used to tell God all about the big, nasty bug they stepped on, and how GREEN GUTS squirted out. Yeah.... and how many mosquito bites they had, and how they had a fight with Katy, and the cat threw up. All of it. In technicolor and great detail.  I think God thoroughly enjoyed it! Myself, not so much! I just wanted to hear AMEN, so I could turn out the light and go to bed myself! As much as I would have liked to, I never, ever told them to hurry it along. God always has time to listen to His kids, even when mommies are tired and nodding off on their knees!

    Well, I have enjoyed doing these posts on prayer. Thank you for stopping by!

Comments (9)

  • I so agree with praying all the time. It's talking to a friend who is close by us all the time.

  •  I used to babysit a little boy who did not come from a praying home.  We always prayed before meals.   One day it was his turn.  He prayed a long time and then he started telling God about his family having the stomach flu.  "And I barfed and my mommy barfed, and my daddy........"  My husband was home that particular meal, and I knew what he would think about that subject at the dinner table, so I said "Amen."  And we ate dinner.  (And we didn't barf.)

  • @ata_grandma - Thanks for the chuckle!

  • constant contact with God-I like that. I always start and end with the Lord but I have a friend who says,"my day started going off track and I take a deep breath and say to God that I would like to start my day over -no matter what time of day."

     I kind of do it by saying, 'God please slow me down and let me enjoy all of today."

  • Lol, loved your kids prayers...that is so true Mae I too believe God wants to hear from the heart. I can not tell you the many times I would be praying & the next thing I know I wake up & say oh my I didn't finish my prayers. I just start over lol, but I pray all day long, & sometimes all night, & sometimes sleeping through out occasionally falling asleep, & waking back up lol! But I know that God knows me, & he understands---.

    God bless

  • When I get caught up on how to pray "just so" I cannot do it!!  But, letting it become a natural flow of praise and conversation to God on a constant basis, it becomes so meaningful and real.  Thank you for this post.

    And, thank you for visiting my blog today!  You always leave something encouraging behind.  ((hugs))

    xoxo

  • Most of my prayers are on the go--as you put it 'being conscious of God.'

    My prayers are detailed---not too spiritual except as the mood hits me.

    I have a prayer journal.  My wife is the prayer warrior.

    Very good thoughts here.

    frank

  • constant communication - I'd be lost without it   thanks for the prayer post, they mean a great deal!

  • It is good to consult with someone with experience and has shown themselves to be righteous. We have various gifts and various experience and maybe G-d placed that person close to you to help solve your problems.

    Being a good friend or good fellow Christian requires caring for them. We sort of teach when we listen and see some of the problems friends and Christians have.

    Sometimes we may forgive debts of money more than debts of sin. Lying makes you in debt of trust. Rebuilding trust takes longer than the time to make one lie. Thank G-d for having people who we have lied to forgive us and give us another chance at trust.

    Thank G-d for those who we have let down, yet they are willing to trust us again and again. There is a limit to how long people will trust us, it is a gift to be trusted.

    Thank G-d for prayer. It is a line to G-d that will always be there. Have faith in Prayer, it is a powerful weapon/tool/and instrument of faith.

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