There are days I get Chronic Ego Flare-up (CEF), a condition in which my ego starts screaming for attention. My whacked-out ego seizes my thoughts and badgers my mind with rantings, grumblings and complaining. Suddenly, I am de- bating myself about my pay scale at work and whether I am being paid what I am worth. Or I am eager for credit for my smallest accomplishment. During this time I even wonder if I was put on earth to do much greater things than coach. The issues that come to my mind are not usually things I think about except when I am having a CEF attack.
My inflated ego means I have decided to govern my own thoughts, words and deeds and to ignore the claim Christ has on my life. In other words, when my ego goes postal I am stag- ing a coup against God for control of my life. I have yet to discover what triggers these flare-ups; I do know the remedy is Christ’s cross.
As my sinfulness escalates, God in Christ shows me His cross. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, I am made aware of Christ’s sacrifice on my behalf. The Spirit awakens me to Jesus’ absolute submission to God and the glory the Son brought to the Father through His death on the cross. After Judas left the Passover meal to betray Jesus, Jesus said to the disciples, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him” (John 13:31).
When the Spirit leads me to Christ’s cross, my ego is abased; then I submit to God’s authority over my life.
Looking for birthday prayers to wish a “Happy Birthday”? When you are facing an empty page you might catch yourself fixed on just what to write in a birthday card, making the birthday wishes sound both sweet and appropriate. But you are not the only one. For a lot of individuals, it can be hard to obtain the precise words to describe the love of God and what you wish for a friend or family member on their birthday, all at the same time. But religious birthday wishes can be stimulated by a lot of phases of our lives, from the humble favors that the Lord provides us to precise Bible verses that find a way to express your spirits of faith.
To attain a greater influence you might make a distinctive sacred happy birthday message. Think about a personalized birthday card that will convey your definite sentiments. There are also a lot of happy birthday quotations existing online to use as a muse, both religious and otherwise. So every so often we are moved by the love we experience for our friends and need to look for ways to wish them religious happy birthday messages, but don’t know from where to initiate. Following are a few examples of religious happy birthday wishes that you can individually get a feel for to notify somebody celebrating a birthday that you adore them and wish them one more year of God’s forgiveness and love.
Happy Birthday Prayers and Blessings
May God Love You
May God’s love continuously surrounds you, and may the route that you walk on each day be ever so smooth, and without any hurdles. May God be constantly with you today and all the remaining days of your life. I love you a whole lot, my wonderful daughter. You are the biggest blessing of my life. Happiest birthday!
Creation of God
I hope that you will grow up recognizing that you are a gorgeous creation of God. I pray that you will be blessed with good health and wellbeing all through your life, at all times. I wish you the best in everything you do, because you deserve it, and more. I love you. Happy birthday, my perfect daughter.
Wishes of Your Heart
On your very special day, I wish you beautiful skies and cheery songs. I pray that all the wishes of your heart will come true. I hope that you will be sympathetic and true all the time, and constantly appreciative of all the gifts that have been given to you. God bless you, my child. I love you to the moon and back. Happiest birthday!
May God Keep and Lead You
May God bless you and keep you safe from any kind of hurt or harm. May He lead you to sparkle brilliantly just as you are meant to be. May you continuously find harmony, bravery, strength, and contentment when you need it the most. May your heart be constantly bursting with joyful songs. I love you. Happy birthday!
Life of Peace and Happiness
May the Lord sanctify you and guide you on your special day, and all the days that follow. I hope you have a life of peace, happiness, and merriment. I hope that whatever you do and wherever you go, you will permanently be safe and happy. Have an incredible day, my love. Happy birthday!
As Your Parents…
As your parents, we pray that you will grow up to be compassionate, wise, resilient, and brave. We hope that you will touch a lot of lives in a similar way that you have influenced ours. Whenever your birthday comes around, it feels as if it is our birthday, too. You are the present that we open every day, and you are the greatest blessing that we have ever gotten. We thank God for you every day. Happiest birthday, my sweet child.
Brilliant Plans for You
God knew you even before we became your Mom and Dad. God has a lot of great and brilliant plans for you. Every birthday that you make merry brings you a step closer to making those plans a reality. We are so thankful to have a son as great as you. You give us so much delight and contentment. We wish you have the most blessed birthday ever, my little, dear one. We love you!
Sweet Child
Happiest birthday, my little sweet child. I hope you wake up every day knowing full well that God loves you and God favors you. I wish that you will at all times have faith in yourself, that you will continuously pursue after your dreams, that you will not falter to go on exhilarating quests, and that you will all the time treasure the small miracles that happen each and every day. Just have a lot of fun and be content with your life. I love you. God bless you.
Laughter and Love
I wish you a lot of laughter and even a lot more of the love. I pray that you will have a closer and stronger connection with God so that you will grow up to be generous, warm, and good. I wish you all the best things that this world can provide for the reason that you are the best son in the world. I love you so much! Happy birthday!
Blessed Birthday for Son
A blessed birthday to my brilliant son! You are so treasured and prized. I wish that you will at all times be tough and courageous and that you will all the time have the wish to go after what you desire in your life. May our good Lord be constantly with you wherever you go and whatever you do. I love you so much. Happiest birthday!
Love for Son
Happy birthday to our favorite little creature who means the world to us. I hope you know that you are very blessed and that God loves you more than you think it is possible. We will do all that we can to give you the life that you are worthy of, and we will under no circumstances end displaying you just how much we love you. We love you so very much, son.
Magnificent Year
May this day be the beginning of one more magnificent year. May this day mark one more year packed with amazement and a lot of cheerful instants. Happiest birthday, love. God bless you abundantly.
Author Bio: Umer Ishfaq is a Search Engine and Content Marketing expert at Techvando. A writer by day and reader by night, his passion for helping people in all aspects of online marketing flows through in the expert industry coverage he provides.
Smudging is a ritual utilizing the burning and smoke of special herbs, incense or plants. It originated with native peoples who understood the power of unseen forces and energies. It involves burning plants, herbs or incense so that the smoke will clear out any negative vibrations or stimulate the flow of positive ones.
A smudge stick is composed of plants or essences such as lavender, sage, sweetgrass or cedarwood. The sticks are then burned in the area you wish to cleanse, or near you, to cleanse your aura.
In response to requests, we researched special prayers to help cleanse negative energies from your mind, body or space and restore harmonious and peaceful vibrations. We believe that prayer invites healing and positive energies into our life, and so we believe these prayers are also vital to maintaining harmony and balance.
For example, when you move into a new apartment or house you may wish to cleanse the atmosphere of any negativity that may have occurred under the previous tenants. Or if someone has been ill or passed away in your home, you may burn smudge sticks to ensure the peaceful passing of the individual and the return of your living space to a calm, healthy energy.
Here is a prayer to be said with your back facing each of the directions as it is named, turning to the right one quarter turn each time:
Nurture Me
Spirit of the East, source of the Light
And of the Element of Fire.
Bring enlightenment into my Life.
Spirit of the South. where the sun burns brightly.
The source of feelings and the Element of Water
Bring strength into my life.
Spirit of the West and place of the setting Sun
Place of the Element of Earth
Bring transformation into my Life.
Spirit of the North, resting place of the sun.
And of the Element of Air.
Inform me.
Great Masculine Force behind All That Is.
Grandmother Earth,
Nurture me.
Many people wonder, should you pray for your enemies? When we have been hurt, it is easy to think harmful thoughts towards another. We can become full of blame and hateful feelings, even wanting to cause revenge.
It can become easy to get stuck in the pain once we have been hurt by another, yet the proper way is to pray for your enemies.
Living a Life of Love like Jesus
As Christians, we are guided to follow in the strong footsteps of Jesus. Molded by unconditional love, he forgave people for being human. One aspect of humanity is the ability to harm others. We cannot escape that others do bad things, but we can choose how we react. As Jesus said, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34).
Jesuss example teaches us of a strong individual who saw others weakness and was not controlled by them. When someone persecutes us, it is easy to have a mean thing to say in return. Jesus calls us to a different path in which we first offer acceptance towards anothers faults. He also teaches not to take the blame on and think self-hating thoughts. Instead, we are asked to love and accept others as they are.
Handling Conflict Responsibly
Loving others is not easy, especially if they are harming us. It can be really easy to feel like you want to fight and get justice from another. We can come to wallow in the pain, but that is not the life Jesus called for us. But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28).
When people are engaged in conflict, often the conflict increases because each side is trying to get their way. Maybe one person wants to stop being talked down to, while the other wants to talk down to that person. Jesus taught to seek understanding with the person. Instead of being hurt and reacting, understand that the person wants to harm you and accept that.
When you see someone as they are, you stop trying to fight and change them and have time to focus on yourself and your life. God wants great things for your life, not constant struggle. Yet, sometimes we need to learn how to detach and focus on what we desire and hope for.
Many self-help books teach the idea of detachment. This means that we detach from the conflict and stop trying to get someone to be what we need to feel better about ourselves. Jesus is teaching this same philosophy when he says to love your enemies, because when you detach you stop trying to control outcomes. You accept the situation as it is, and can even come to feel good will towards others you are in conflict with.
All hope is not lost when you detach, however. As Jesus instructed, But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28). The reason for prayer is to mentally wish good towards those who need help and to place the outcome in Gods hands. Some people will not hear you if you ask them to stop persecuting you. In this case, so many get caught in a battle to change how another is behaving. With prayer, we can take focused action to allow God to grant the other what he or she needs to change.
Sometimes life can be full of chaos and pain. No matter what our circumstances, we always choose how we feel. Through Jesuss guidance, we learn to accept situations as they are and offer love towards others, while praying for another to change. As many self-help books teach, when we detach from the outcome, we have time to tend to our needs. Often the situation will then resolve itself when we are not putting pressure on it to resolve.
The rapture is a controversial topic among many Christians. Lets take a close look at what the bible say about the rapture, and answer some of the most common questions regarding end-times.
What is the Rapture?
The term ‘rapture’ has embedded itself in much of the modern Christian church due to the dramatization of the concept through literature and film, particularly through the popular Left Behind series.
The term is used to refer to a sudden taking away of Christian believers from the Earth.
Apparently, Christians will be ‘raptured’ just prior to seven years of ‘tribulation’ or years of extreme difficulty and suffering for those who remain living on the Earth. Non believers will be left behind to face the end times.
In this article, we will examine the Biblical basis for the concept of a the Rapture, as well as discuss the variations of beliefs regarding the circumstances which will surround that event.
What the Bible Says About the Rapture?
Many people are surprised to learn that rapture is not a Biblical term, but it is true. You will not find the word rapture in the Bible, particularly not in reference to the second coming of Christ or the removal of Christians from the Earth.
The term ‘rapture’ is ‘extra-Biblical,’ in a similar way that the terms ‘Trinity’ and ‘Triune God’ are also extra-Biblical. They are terms representative of concepts found within Bible passages, but which never had those exact terms applied to them by the writers.
The concept of the rapture is derived from the New Testament book of First Thessalonians and the fourth chapter, as shown in verses 15 through 17.
“For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven with commandment, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead who are in Christ, shall rise first. ”
[1 Thessalonians 4:16]
It is quite obvious that the basic definition of the rapture is taken from these verses.
The Bible does clearly state that their will be a time when Christians still living on the Earth shall be ‘taken up.’ The debate between Christians on this tends to be in two areas:
One being whether this scripture is meant to be taken literally or figuratively. Secondly, and more commonly, the debate is more one of timing. Is the rapture something that takes place several years prior to Christ’s final coming or as an integral part of that singular event?
When Will The Rapture Happen?
As stated above, the debate on the event labeled as The Rapture centers primarily about when this event will occur in relation to the other prophesied events surrounding the Second Coming of Christ.
Although there are several minor variations, the two primary camps of thought on the subject are the ‘pre-tribulation’ and ‘post-tribulation’ proponents. To understand their viewpoints, we must first examine what the Bible has to say about this period commonly referred to as the Great Tribulation.
What the Bible Says About the Great Tribulation
The Biblical basis for what has been referred to as the Great Tribulation comes primarily from references in the Gospels:
“Immediately after the tribulation … then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man [Jesus] … and he shall gather his elect”
[Matthew 24:29“31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-27]
This declaration of a time of tribulation or trouble is then coupled with the series of devastating events described in the prophetic Book of Revelation which culminate in a thousand year reign of Christ on the Earth.
Pre or Post Tribulation Rapture?
The fact is that both sides of the debate can provide you with a trail of scripture references that back their reasoning for believing in a rapture event that occurs prior to or following this period of tribulation.
To fully demonstrate those arguments would take much more time and space than we’ve allotted for this article. However, we can address the ‘attitude’ which the Bible encourages us to have in regards to the events of the future, particularly those which my cause us anxiety or concern.
The Attitude of Those Who Trust in Christ
“…I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.”
[II Timothy 7: 12b NLT]
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
[John 16:33 KJV]
In conclusion, the Bible clearly teaches that Christ will again return to gather his followers to himself, that he will take them up or ‘rapture’ them from the current Earth.
When that will occur can be debated and where he will be taking them may be debated, however, if you trust in what the Bible says, as a follower of Christ you need not fear tribulation or death. We follow One whom we can trust and who desires and offers us peace, now and for future days and events, as well.
There are many instances of healing in the bible. But, does that prove that God actually heals believers who pray to him?
One of the most challenging times of any Christian’s walk with God is when they or a loved one face a time of illness.
For many, it is easy to know God can do anything, but when the need for a healing is personal it can be much more difficult to keep that faith.
So what does the Bible say about healing? The more that you study the answers, the more you will be able to find the strength to trust God even during the most difficult challenges.
Scriptures About Healing
There are many scriptures about healing in the Bible. Below are just a few of the many examples.
Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. {15} And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. {16} Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
The first thing to keep in mind when praying for healing is the most well-known example of prayer in the Bible: The Lord’s Prayer. In this prayer is a line that can be so hard to say, especially when you have a desperate need such as for a healing.
Just like Jesus petitioned God to be delivered from his crucifixion, we can petition God for healing. However, Jesus understood that what the flesh wants isn’t always what God wants. Therefore, prayers for healing should always include “not my will, Lord, but yours be done.”
That being said, the Bible also tells us to make our petitions known to God.
Fret not about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.
Phillippians 4:6
When you pray about healing, seek to do so with a heart that trusts God. While it can seem almost impossible, try to pray without fear and without being anxious. This is difficult, but ask God to increase your faith and to give you peace through this time of trial.
What if Healing Doesn’t Come?
While we wish it could be different, the fact is that healing is not always going to come.
This doesn’t mean that God didn’t hear you or that He doesn’t care about you. The fact is that at the end of every life is death. Death is not a sign of a God who doesn’t care; it is just the natural end of every life. When death comes too soon – especially when a child is involved – it is so hard not to wonder how that could be just in God’s eyes. But remember what it says in Isaiah:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Yes, it seem cruelly unfair when we lose a loved one or when we are sick with no sign of healing in sight, but we are looking at the situation with human eyes. God’s ways are higher than our, and we cannot understand them fully. Some think that the absence of a healing means God is angry or that the person who needed the healing did something wrong. We know that is not the case by what it says in the book of Matthew.
That ye may children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
It rains on the just and the unjust. There is no promise to the righteous that healing will always come. The promise is that God is in control and that, in the end, those who love Him will live with Him whether or not they ever get a physical healing in this life.
Give us and forgive us are two phrases which rely completely upon the grace and mercy of our Father in Heaven. There is nothing we can do to merit a give us request, nor is there anything which we can do to gain forgiveness from God.
It seems Jesus meant more than mere bread when he taught the disciples this phrase. He also seems to list a type of requirement for gaining forgiveness which can really twist our thinking on salvation.
Daily Bread
Prayer for daily bread was not new to the disciples, nor to any other Jewish man in the first century. Proverbs taught the Hebrews to pray for daily sustenance and to only ask God for what one needs that day.
Couched within this prayer in the book of Proverbs is the idea of daily dependence upon God for all of ones needs in life. Receiving only what we need for our day keeps us dependent upon God. It establishes a barrier of sorts against dishonoring God as a result of having too much stuff or not enough supply to live. It is important understand that this daily bread is not merely enough to survive, to keep us from starving, but our daily bread is to give our bodies and souls nourishment to support growth.
Jesus & Daily Bread
Jesus, however, had a unique understanding of daily bread. Before Jesus started His public ministry, He was tempted by the devil. In particular, Jesus was fasting for forty days, and the devil tempted Him to turn stone into bread. Jesus responded by quoting from the book of Deuteronomy saying, man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4 NIV, Deut. 4:3 NIV).
Jesus makes it clear that God gives us life. Bread gives our bodies physical strength, but ultimately, God is the giver of that bread, and therefore, of life. In addition, God gives us the spiritual vitality to live in peace with Him for eternity. Only God can provide this grace, which He does so through forgiving us of our sins.
Our Debts
In the Lords Prayer, the word debt is used to explain and resemble sin. Our transgressions against Gods law put us into a type of creditor / debtor relationship. In first century Israel, there was a practice which was intended to remind the Jews of the ultimate release from sin provided by God. Every seven and fifty years, all debts were forgiven and wiped away.
This practice foreshadowed the idea of God setting us free from sin through Jesus sacrifice on the cross. God put up payment for our sins against His law through the sacrifice of Jesus. The problem with this idea was that the release of debts is bad for business. Thus, some ancient Jews found ways to get around the releasing of debts.
Forgiveness is linked directly with our forgiving others who have become indebted to us. Undoubtedly, this referenced the practices of release every seven and fifty years. Furthermore, it also refers to the condition of our hearts. One cannot have the love of God dwelling inside of them who desires to see their neighbor suffer. God is granting freedom from eternal oppression, therefore we are to grant freedom to our fellow people from temporal oppression here on earth.
Jesus lets us know through this phrase, that our prayer, our faith, involves action. Faith in God mixed with living life results in a change of heart.
This section of our prayer with God that Jesus sets forward deals with our actions and attitudes. We are to remember that God gives all life. We are to keep in mind that a change in heart walks hand in hand with forgiveness.
God – Help us to love. Help us to forgive. Give us what we need and forgive us for our sins. Keep us on the upright path.
————————————————————–
This post is part of a traveling series on The Lords Prayer. You can find the other posts below:
Debt is a tricky thing. How should one deal with debt, and is prayer an effective tool for helping with debt?
Some people teach that you should have absolutely zero debt. Owe no man anything, or let no debt remain outstanding will be quoted from Romans 13:8.
Some people teach that debt is a tool, and you can make money from using other people’s money. There are also various teachings in between the two sides of the spectrum of zero debt and using debt.
Regardless of whether or not debt is wrong, what happens when you find yourself in debt? What happens when you wake up one morning, and feel that you’ve been lied to your for your entire life. What happens when you realize that the following verse from the book of proverbs is true?
Once we realize that debt is not a friendly thing, then we begin to search out God to help us. We ask God to help get us out of debt. Again, there are multiple teachings on how this happens. Some people teach you to give, give, give, and then God will give it back to you ten, twenty, or hundredfold.
While that may be a true biblical principal teaching God’s generosity, the idea behind those expressions in Scripture is not to teach a method for you to get out of debt.
Some people teach that you reap what you sow, therefore, go give money to help someone get out of debt, and God will in return bring you out of debt. Again, great biblical principle throughout the Scriptures which teaches that you get what you give. It’s where we get the phrase treat others how you would want to be treated, or as Jesus said it: love your neighbor as yourself.
So therefore, we can continue to ask God for help. You can continue pleading that God will bring you out of debt. You can keep on crying out to God for Him to free you from this bondage. But the ultimate question is this: Can you pray your way out of debt?
No you cannot pray your way out of debt.
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Praying, faith, and believing that God can do something is great. It is needed. It is the building block of all Christian life. However, it doesn’t stop there. Mental belief is not the destination God desires for us to rest our trust in Him. We are to trust God with everything we are, and this shows through in all of our actions.
So no, you can’t pray your way out of debt. You can ask God for help, and He will help you, but you cannot pray your way out of debt. And while the teachings mentioned previously sound like they will work, they aren’t a surefire way to get yourself out of debt. I’m not saying that God doesn’t honor those principles and help people through those ideals. However, I am saying it is involving a little guesswork because God gave us the formula for getting out of debt. And the formula doesn’t involve those teachings.
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have struck hands in pledge for another,
if you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth,
then do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go and humble yourself;
press your plea with your neighbor!
Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
In short, you don’t pray your way out of debt, you work your way out of debt. You ask for forgiveness from your creditors. You ask for your debt to be forgiven and apologize that you cannot repay. You work like crazy to pay off your debts. You run with your head on fire and gather all the cash that you can to dump into repayment of your debts.
Yes God will help you get out of debt, and you should continue asking for His help. God is our provider. He provides for us by providing work opportunities and giving us wisdom. God can miraculously provide you with hundreds of thousands of dollars a moments notice to clear all your debts. However, on the normal, God teaches us to work, and work hard, to get out of debt.
Brand Andres is a licensed minister and his passion is to help people understand the Bible and maximize
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While all followers of Christ have a missionary call on their lives, that is, to take Christ to others, not all of us are called to specific people nor to specific countries in order to fulfill that missionary call.
The seemingly extreme cases where people are directed by God to move overseas in order to share the Gospel is when the term missionary is commonly employed. Let’s discuss how to pray for missionaries so that they may be able to carry out God’s Will more effectively.
While we all have a call to spread the good news of Jesus Christ on our lives, many of us can do that within our local communities. However, sometimes God has unique plans for certain people, and those whom God directs to minister in foreign countries are those we are going to be referring to as missionaries throughout this article.
In one of our previous articles, Tips for Keeping a Prayer Journal, we mentioned missionaries as one group you may want to include in your prayer list. This article is going to give you some ideas on how to actually pray for them once you include missionaries in your prayer list.
Start with their name.
Praying for all the missionaries across the world is a great idea. However, we want our prayers to flow from a little more connection, a little more passion, than a general mentioning. This is why you should start with the missionaries name (or their family name).
Know their ministry.
Connect with a few missionaries whom you feel a similar passion with. Many missionaries have an email or post mail newsletter which will keep you informed and give you specific prayer opportunities. Dont start with fifty, start by finding one, or two, and go from there.
Know their mission.
As a result from connecting with their ministry, you will also get to know their mission. This will give you ideas on what to pray for. A missionary to the middle east will need some different prayer than a missionary to South America. Also, a missionary to a region open to Christianity will need different prayer than someone going to a country closed to Christianity. Last of all, a media missionary will have different needs than a missionary establishing clean water supply.
The Three Ps – Protection, Provision, Power
Protection
While some missionaries move into hostile environments, and others not so much, it is still good practice to pray for God to protect them and their families. Not all harm comes in the form of physical assault. Praying for protection includes asking God to protect their minds, their hearts, and their emotions.
Provision
Missionaries usually give up everything they have in order to go follow Gods desire for their life. Normally, missionaries will go for months or years without seeing, sometimes without contacting, family or friends from their home. In addition to praying for financial support, prayer for friendships, relationships, opportunities, and workers to join their cause are all included in Gods provision.
Power
A missionary will be ineffective without Gods power. Asking God to give the missionary His Holy Spirit to confirm their message with signs and wonders, wisdom and power, is essential for their task. Requesting God to supply them with the power of His Holy Spirit to overcome all obstacles, physical and spiritual, will help their ministry move forward effectively.
Pulling it all together.
No this is not a fourth P. This is a suggestion on what prayer for missionaries may look like. Some people will sit with their prayer journal and go through the list they have made, praying these bullet points for missionaries. Other temperaments and personalities will not be able to do that. Here is a final suggestion on how to pray for missionaries as a family:
Grab a card of theirs (or write their name on an index card) and place it in a bowl.
Write additional information on their card such as place of ministry, mission, and specific prayer requests from their newsletters.
Remember the three Ps – Protection, Provision, & Power.
At dinner time, before eating draw a card from the bowl, and take that time to pray though the three Ps for that missionary and their family. Your kids can draw the cards, and this can make the practice of praying for missionaries a little bit more fun, spontaneous, and random.
All in all, this is just one idea to help you with putting prayer for missionaries into practice in your personal life. There is no right or wrong way, but knowing their name, ministry, mission and going through the three Ps, protection, provision, and power will give you a solid base for effective prayer.
What other ways can you pray for missionaries? Share your ideas and practices on how you can make praying for missionaries effectively a common practice in your life in the comments below!
Brand Andres is a licensed minister and his passion is to help people understand the Bible and maximize
Praying with the dying can be an intimidating thing. The time nearing death can be a very stressful and scary time for families and friends of the ill.
Let’s go over some of the basics of praying for someone who is nearing death. We’ve also included some sample prayers for the dying below to help guide you through this process.
If you do not know the individual, then spend some time getting to know them as a person. Ask them about their family, about their life. Find out what they are proud of, ask if they have any regrets. Discover what they believe the afterlife is going to be like.
Once a rapport is established, albeit however small, then you can move onto the praying part. People need to know you care about them before you pray for them, and taking the time to ask about their life is one way to do that.
Therefore, following establishing a relationship, here are a few things to remember which will help guide you when saying prayers for the ill.
1. Do they know Jesus?
This is the most important question which you need to answer before praying with someone as they are about to pass onto the next life. If they do not know Jesus, you need to introduce them to each other as soon as possible.
In all actuality, if they do not know Jesus, then there is not much point in progressing further. Yes, you will still pray with them, for God’s comfort, peace, and rest, but if they are not going to inherit the free gift of eternal life, then what is the point? The point of praying those things is that maybe something will click, possibly the Lord could grab ahold of their hearts before death, and they may encounter Jesus before their passing. And besides, it is just courteous to bless someone in their dark hours of life.
Prayer To Know Jesus Before Dying
Lord Jesus,
Come into my life.
I believe you died and rose from the grave.
I believe you live eternally in heaven.
Cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
Forgive me of all my sins.
Move into my heart.
I make you my Lord and Savior.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
I accept your gift of eternal salvation.
Amen.
2. Pray for God’s peace.
Death can be frightening for some, and for others, death can be completely natural. Some who know Christ will face death fearlessly, while some others will be terrified. The same goes for those who are not in a relationship with Christ; some will be unafraid and some will be frightened.
As stated earlier, it will be good practice to pray for God’s comfort and peace regardless of that person’s level of relationship with Jesus.
A Comforting Prayer for the Dying
God,
Help [Insert Name] discover your peace.
Let them receive your comfort.
Help them to be at rest knowing that you care for them,
and that you love them.
Calm their soul as they move into the afterlife.
May they spend eternity with you;
may they live forever in your presence.
Amen.
3. Pray for the Family
Just as death may be hard or easy for an individual, so can it be the same for any remaining family or friends. Sometimes when you have the opportunity to pray with the dying, you will be alone. Othertimes, family and friends will be present. Regardless, even if you pray this as you leave, it is still thoughtful to pray for those who will be mourning the person’s passing.
A Prayer for the Family of the Dying
God,
Bring this family peace.
Provide them with your comfort.
Let them know you tenderly care for each and every one of them.
Lead them to be reunited with their loved one some day.
Sit with them in their mourning.
Let your presence provide rest.
Thank you, for the gift of life that [Insert Name of Dying] brought to the world.
May he rest peacefully with you for eternity.
Amen.
A final note to remember is that this time is an emotional and stressful time for all associated with the dying person. Therefore, you may be given a chance to pray, and you may not be given a chance to pray. Remember to respect all people’s wishes, and know that as you walk with God into the room, you are inviting His presence into the situation. If you pray these prayers on your way back home alone, it still carries power to allow God into the situation.
And we will finish with my prayer for you.
A Prayer for Those Going to Pray with the Dying
God,
Give this person strength.
Grant this person confidence.
Allow them the opportunity to discover if the passing person knows you.
Give them wisdom to know when to speak and what to say.
Let them bring your presence into the room.
Let them carry your love into the situation.
Encourage them with a special gift or your presence.
Amen.
If you’d like to submit a prayer request for someone who is ill, please do so below.
Brand Andres is a licensed minister and his passion is to help people understand the Bible and maximize
Prayer is something we are to be engaged in every day. Whether we are communicating with God on the go, or we are setting aside a dedicated hour, it is considered prayer. Therefore, sometimes we will have a prayer journal in hand while waiting to hear from God. Othertimes, we will hear from God on the move and need to come back to our prayer journal afterwards.
A prayer journal can be very beneficial to an individuals walk with God. Below are some tips for keeping a prayer journal. Note, there is no right or wrong way to keep a prayer journal. The best way to keep a prayer journal is to do what works for you. Nonetheless, here is some guidance and some tips that may help you start a prayer journal or adapt your approach if needed.
Format
I have kept both a paper prayer journal and an electronic prayer journal. I prefer an electronic prayer journal. Again, this is my personal preference, it is what works for me. Here are some pros and cons of each type.
Paper
Pros
Handwriting forces a long thought process and engagement on reflection
Unless you set it on fire, or spill coffee over it, paper is a safe way to store information
A journal and pen is much less expensive than any electronic gadget
Cons
Hard to find information if you do not remember the specific date or page number
Handwriting generally takes more time than typewriting
Generally, a journal stays at home and is not instantly available
Over the years, a collection of journals make take up much space
Electronic
Pros
Ability to search your entries for key words or phrases in order to update prayer requests.
Many note keeping programs will sync to your computer, tablet, and mobile phone. This enables you to be able to enter prayer thoughts quickly, even when God speaks to you on the go. This also provides access to your prayers in multiple locations.
Takes up little physical space.
Cons
While still a safe way to store information, there is about as much chance as fire or coffee spills to losing your information in a hard drive crash or other similar electronic mishap.
Electronic gadgets cost much more money than paper and pen.
Typing does not reinforce a reflective mindset as easily as handwriting a journal entry does.
All in all, there are various positives and negatives to any format you choose for your prayer journal. If you have any other pros or cons, be sure to include them in the comments section below!
Content
What should be included in a prayer journal? In short, anything you want! Below are some examples of information and types of entries I use for my personal prayer journal.
Date – I like to know when I prayed about certain things. This lets me see a timeline between prayer requests and eventual answers or responses.
Summaries – I do not record every word from all of my prayers. Often times, I will summarize my prayers and summarize what I have heard from God. I am more concerned with main ideas and concepts than with a detailed word for word recording.
Answered Requests – Its great when you can read about a prayer, and then turn to read about the answer or response from God. This lets me draw encouragement from past connections and experiences with God to trust for the future.
Spiritual Events – Sometimes encounters with God occur in the context of some spiritual event. You feel a breakthrough inside your spirit. You witness or receive a miracle of healing. You witness or receive a financial miracle or spectacular provision. You encounter an angel. You exercise Christs given authority over an evil spirit. Or, you may have simply had an a-ha moment. All of these events usually accompany learning something from God or experiencing him in a fresh new way.
Personal Struggles – The psalmists often wrote of their personal struggles and internal conflicts. This helps process these struggles in our minds. It also helps us pinpoint issues and communicate what we need God to help us with.
Written Prayers – Writing can also be considered prayer. We can write to communicate with God. Prayer is not always strictly spoken words. Sometimes I write prayers that I will return to pray again later. This is more of a psalmist approach in telling God about my struggles, praising him for his faithfulness, and seeking his counsel or will.
Prayer Lists
These can help keep us focused and help us to remember to pray about certain things.
People – I list those people I wish to pray for, and sometimes write the phrases or things I wish to pray about for them.
Situations – Some situations are immediate, and other situations I would like to see change or appear. I keep a list of these to remember the non-pressing matters where I desire to see God move.
Country – It is good practice to pray for national direction and for the national leaders.
Church – It is also good practice to pray for your local church, its direction, and their leadership.
Missionaries – The missionaries whom you feel a connection with, keep these missionaries in prayer. This helps remind you to pray for them as well.
In conclusion, keeping a prayer journal should be a joy, not a burden. You have the freedom to write journal entries as often or as little as you like. There is no need to feel pressure to make daily entries, and there is no pressure to need to reference your prayer journal daily either. Having a living relationship with Jesus and communicating with Him daily is the goal.
Keeping a prayer journal is something that may be a good practice, and it will more than likely augment your relationship with God. Do you have any other tips on keeping a prayer journal? Please be sure to share them in the comment section below!
Brand Andres is a licensed minister and his passion is to help people understand the Bible and maximize
It is a good question. We don’t often here about “sloth” in our every day lives. Here is a brief run down of the seven deadly sins defined in a way we can all understand.
1. Lust
Normally, the first idea which comes to mind with lust is the act of sex. It is not uncommon for the idea of forbidden sexual activity to surface upon hearing the word lust. However, lust does not center around sensual pleasures.
Lust is an intense desire.
Lust is an unquenchable thirst. It is something that burns inside and has the potential to consume a person. Lust may show itself reaching for food, power, money, or any other thing an individuals heart may desire.
Do not lust in your heart for her beauty,
and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes. Proverbs 6:25 NET
2. Gluttony
Usually, the first idea which accompanies the word gluttony is that of cramming food down ones throat. When someone is being considered a glutton, it is often on the basis of them over eating. When boiled down to its core:
Gluttony is simply an over consumption.
The sin of drunkenness is often associated with the sin of gluttony. The principal in action is that of an over consumption. Drunkenness is a result of too much alcohol. As the hyper indulgence of alcohol is defined by drunkenness, so is the hyper indulgence of food defined by gluttony.
Do not spend time among drunkards,
among those who eat too much meat,
because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished,
and drowsiness clothes them with rags. Proverbs 23:20-21 NET
3. Greed
Green dollar signs flash in front of the eyes of a greedy person. This is the common mental image concerning greed, someone who desires more money than they need. While this idea is accurate, there is something that separates this intense desire for more from the sins of lust or gluttony.
Greed is focused on obtaining material wealth or objects.
Sometimes, greed is evidenced by a questionable choice. Committing other sins in order to obtain a material object displays the greed which exists inside a person.
My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Ezekiel 33:31 NIV
4. Sloth
A sloth is a slow, lethargic animal. It lays around, eats, and sleeps. It seems to accomplish nothing. So too does this sin of sloth relate to a persons problem with laziness. Throughout Christian history, sloth has referred to a spiritual laziness which rejects the free gift of Gods grace and salvation. However, this understanding plays off of the biblical idea of sloth and sluggishness.
Sloth is a laziness, an indifference, an attitude lacking motivation.
Biblically, sloth gives way to the downfall, or ruin, of a person. Because of their sloth (laziness or sluggishness), a person must go without their needed desires. Instead of a focus on spiritual aspects, sloth throughout Scripture deals with the physical side of life. The primary focus is on choosing to stay diligent concerning physical tasks which arise throughout life.
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
observe its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
overseer, or ruler,
yet it prepares its food in the summer;
it gathers at the harvest what it will eat.
How long, you sluggard, will you lie there?
When will you rise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to relax,
and your poverty will come like a robber,
and your need like an armed man. Proverbs 6:6-11 NET
5. Wrath
Wrath brings a thought of someone with a red hot face, screaming out of control. The common thought of wrath is that it is simply a heightened form of anger. This is both true and false.
Wrath is anger which seeks vengeance beyond an offense.
Anger is separate from wrath. Whereas anger may be an acceptable emotion, wrath is defined by the desired actions accompanying that emotion. Wrath seeks retaliation above what is just. Wrath doesnt intend to get even; it goes far beyond what is reasonable.
When they heard this, all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage (wrath). They got up, forced him out of the town, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. Luke 4:28-29 NET
6. Envy
Envy may bring a mental picture of a person daydreaming about being someone else. It is a feeling of resentment or discontentment which arouses from another individuals possessions or qualities.
Envy desires what someone else has.
Jealousy, that unhappy feeling connected to seeing someone else succeed, is closely connected to envy. However, envy is something separate from jealousy. Envy desires to obtain that object of adoration which causes a jealous feeling. It covets something, and devises a way to obtain it.
You shall not covet your neighbors house. You shall not covet your neighbors wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 20:17 NET
7. Pride
Pride is the hardest of the seven deadly sins to pinpoint. It is easy to spot a prideful and arrogant person who walks with their chin up, chest puffed out, and without regard for others who are worth less than they are.
Pride lifts oneself up above all others, including God.
Pride is considered by some to be the chief sin. It is thought by some to be the dysfunction that causes and leads to all other sin.
As an individual believes that they are the highest authority, that they are the best performer, or that they are untouchable, then they have dismissed God and His higher power above them. These thoughts of pride show themselves in disregard for the rest of Gods creation, Gods people, and their abilities.
The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rocks
and make your home on the heights,
you who say to yourself,
Who can bring me down to the ground?
Though you soar like the eagle
and make your nest among the stars,
from there I will bring you down,
declares the Lord. Obadiah 1:3-4 NIV
Brad Andres is a licensed minister and his passion is to help people understand the Bible and maximize their God given potential for life.
If so, you can probably agree that it is one of the most precious things to hear. Children have an innocent faith about them and if they are praying about something, theyre usually praying right from the bottom of their heart speaking to God with childlike faith.
If youre wondering how to teach your children about prayer, I commend you for your desire to teach such an important principle to your children.
Prayer is a powerful tool and if taught to children while they are young, its likely that they will pray throughout their whole lives.
Here are some practical ways to teach your children about prayer…
Lead by Example:
Children will learn a great deal about prayer as they hear you pray. Pray in the morning, before meals, during family time, when someone is ill, at bedtime, or anytime for that matter!
As you boldly declare your faith in prayer to God, your children will be more apt to want to follow in your footsteps. They may even add to your prayers spontaneously.
Promote Talking:
Children might be apprehensive if they hear formal prayers and wonder if they could pray so eloquent.
Teach your children that praying simply means talking to God. Just like they would talk to their teacher, parent, or friend, they can talk to God. Let them know that there is really no right or wrong way to talk to God; they can simply share their feelings, thoughts, and concerns.
Read Bible stories together:
There are plenty of times that Jesus or others in the Bible prayed to God. Read Bible stories with your children as often as you can, as they will get to learn more about God and hear how men prayed to God back in the ancient days.
There are many Bible story books available to choose from. There are also childrens prayer books you could purchase and read together.
Write out some prayers:
If your child is struggling with an issue such as fear or ill health, write out some prayers to God that he or she can pray on occasion. I know one child who taped a piece of paper to her wall by her bed that had prayers written on it. She prayed those prayers every night before going to sleep.
Let your children know that they dont have to pray word for word, but to use the prayers as a guide. You dont want them to think that their doing it wrong.
Remind them of answered prayers:
If you and your children have prayed about something and that prayer was answered, let them know.
If you prayed for Aunt Susie to recover from the flu in record time and she did, celebrate the answered prayer with your children. This will act as a faith builder for them and theyll be more apt to pray in the future.
Give them a prayer journal:
Prayer journaling is a great way for your children to learn how to pray. Purchase or make a prayer journal out of a notebook and give it to your child. Tell him to write down prayers, as well as thoughts and feelings. Encourage him to make a note when a prayer has been answered.
This will help him to build his faith and express his feelings and desires to God.
Go through the Lords Prayer:
Matthew 6:9-13 is known as the Lords Prayer. Take your children through this prayer and discuss how Jesus prayed and how they can use the same type of prayer as an example while they pray.
The Lords Prayer can teach them to:
“Honor God
Ask God for daily needs to be met
Ask for forgiveness for sins
Promote protection from evil
Be thankful”
[Matthew 6:9-13]
Have regular family prayer time:
Im sure youve heard the saying, A family that prays together stays together. Praying as a family is advantageous in various ways. There is a bond that is formed as people pray together and you can share that as a family.
Your children will come to love family prayer time, as there is much love and devotion during that time. Pray for each other, friends, the Body of Christ, the hurt, lost, lonely, afflicted, and so on. Commit to regular family prayer time and know that your prayers are powerful and changing lives.
Teaching your children to pray is a wonderful act of love and service. The power of prayer is remarkable and to instill that to your children is a worthwhile goal. It doesnt matter how old your children are now; you can begin teaching them about prayer today.
As you esteem prayer in your house, your children will come to understand that prayer is simply a part of life and be more apt to pray now and later in life.
Did you know that prayer is one of the most powerful forces in the world?
Many men and women will attest to the fact that their prayers changed lives, saved lives, moved mountains, upheld faith, got them through tough times, and so much more. Here are some great reasons to pray every day.
1. Prayer Protects Us
1 Timothy 2:1-2 admonishes people to pray for everyone who is in authority so that life can be lived peacefully and quietly in holiness and godliness. If you pray protection over yourself, your family, and others, the angels and protective forces surround and protect you from harm. This is one powerful reason to pray.
2 Chronicles 7:14 tells states that if people would humble themselves, pray, and turn from sin, God will hear them, forgive their sins, and heal the land. Prayer changes circumstances, people, and the spiritual state of the land.
Revivals have occurred due to much prayer!
3. Prayer Keeps You In the Will of God
Many people wonder from time to time if they are doing things that are Gods will. They may be faced with a tough decision or want to begin a new adventure and wonder what God wants them to do.
Praying about such issues will help you to get and stay in the will of God. As you pray, be sure to listen to the still, small voice within your spirit for direction and guidance.
4. Prayer draws you closer to God
Im sure you want to feel very close to God and praying can help you draw very close indeed. Just like spending time with a friend enhances your friendship, spending time with God greatly enhances your relationship. The more time you spend, the more acquainted and intimate you can become.
Commit to regular time to converse.
5. Prayer enhances your happiness level
Studies reveal that people who pray regularly experience less stress and tend to feel happier. The ability to let God know your thoughts, feelings, fears, and requests for yourself and others is a great stress reliever and faith builder.
Youll simply feel happier as well!
6. Prayer gives you hope
Sometimes life can throw some pretty awful things your way and you might be tempted to lose heart or give up on your hopes or dreams. Prayer is your answer to hopelessness.
Praying people hope even though they cant see with their physical eyes the solution or miracle, they believe prayers can be answered. When youre at your wits end and dont know what to do, pray. When youve run into the brick wall time and time again, pray and hope. Never lose hope.
I think we can all admit that sometimes we can become selfish and forget about the well-being of others. We can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and forget, neglect prayer time, and end up feeling burned out. If you take time for regular prayer, youll be reminded that life isnt all about you.
Life is about all of humanity and to only think about yourself can be selfish. Make a commitment to pray consistently and let your carnality be replaced by your spiritual nature.
8. Prayer heals
Prayer not only brings about physical healings, but also emotional healings. James 5:15 states: The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. There are many instances in the Bible where men, women, and children were healed.
Prayers for the sick ought to be prayed daily, as there really is power in such prayers.
Just like healthy food gives your physical body nourishment and strength, prayer and reading the Word of God nourishes your spiritual nature. As you converse with God in prayer, you are drawing strength from Him and those you pray for are receiving strength as well.
Philippians 4:6-7 admonishes us to pray to God with issues, problems, and concerns and God will see to it that peace comes to you so you can rest knowing that the power of prayer works.
The Holy Spirit is able to give you supernatural peace even in the toughest of times. Take your heartaches, fears, and biggest concerns to God in prayer.
If you have been wondering if you should pray or take more time for prayer, the answer is a resounding yes!
When you are facing an empty page you might catch yourself fixed on just what to write in a birthday card, making the birthday wishes sound both sweet and appropriate. But you are not the only one.
So, you want to know about the seven deadly sins? It is a good question. We don’t often here about “sloth” in our every day lives. Here is a brief run down of the seven deadly sins defined in a way we can all understand.
How do we know if God answers the prayers of non-believers? This can be a loaded question. It is also something that can be easily misunderstood. Therefore, before we attempt to answer this question, we must understand the exact question we are trying to answer.
Prayer is something we are to be engaged in every day. Whether we are communicating with God on the go, or we are setting aside a dedicated hour, it is considered prayer. Therefore, sometimes we will have a prayer journal in hand while waiting to hear from God. Othertimes, we will hear from God on the move and need to come back to our prayer journal afterwards.
Prayer is something that most Christians understand the need for, but may be unsure about how to pray to God or intimidated by the idea of speaking directly to God.
Did you know that prayer is one of the most powerful forces in the world?Many men and women will attest to the fact that their prayers changed lives, saved lives, moved mountains, upheld faith, got them through tough times, and so much more. Here are some great reasons to pray every day.
Have you ever heard a child pray? If so, you can probably agree that it is one of the most precious things to hear. Children have an innocent faith about them and if they are praying about something, theyre usually praying right from the bottom of their heart speaking to God with childlike faith.
The rapture is a controversial topic among many Christians. Lets take a close look at what the bible say about the rapture, and answer some of the most common questions regarding end-times.
Praying within the will of God is a point of interest for most followers of Christ.
How do you pray within the will of God? How do you know the will of God? These are common questions which oftentimes receive a variety of answers.
One of the most direct passages which speak to these questions is quoted above. However, this passage offers an encouragement about prayers within Gods will. It does not directly tell us how to pray in Gods will, nor how to discover His will. However, it provides for us a reassurance that God is more awesome and supportive than we may already believe.
We are going to highlight pieces of this verse in order to bring a little more understanding into the idea of praying within Gods will.
Weakness
Our weakness is our ignorance. It is displayed by the fact that we have to ask questions in which we really do not know the answers to. In this passage, our weakness is proven in that we do not always know what to pray for. However, God has provided strength to aid our weakness.
Spirit
The main subject in this passage is not ourselves; it is the Spirit of God. It must be noted that the Spirit intercedes for us. Gods Spirit is not teaching us how to pray, but He is praying for us. This prayer from the Spirit often occurs without our knowledge of its happening.
Groans in the Old Testament referred to an unarticulated prayer from Gods people in their time of weakness, the desert wanderings. Their groans called out for Gods completion of his promise to bring them into the promised land.
Gods Will
Now the Spirit is calling out for the completion of Gods will in our lives. He is interceding for us, praying on our behalf, that Gods will be completed within a certain situation. Furthermore, God, who knows our most intimate needs and desires also knows what the Spirit is praying as it is perfectly in line with Gods will.
We have Jesus interceding for us on the right hand of the Father in heaven, and we have the Spirit interceding for us on earth. There is more prayer happening for us than we have the capacity to pray ourselves! In addition, this prayer is directed by Gods will!
Its almost a no brainer that the next verse following our passage is so encouraging:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
While this verse is usually given as an encouragement by itself for understanding Gods will, it is the completion of a larger encouragement on the prayer of Gods will! The word and is the connection of these verses, in other translations the word furthermore is used, which shows the idea of building upon the previous verses.
What We May Know
In conclusion, we may desire to know what Gods will is, and rightfully so. We should seek to understand Gods will in all situations. However, we are weak. A cognitive understanding of Gods will in all situations is not likely to be realized until we are made perfect with Him in the new age.
In the meantime, while waiting for the completion of His promise, we have the Spirit to intercede for us in full agreement with Gods will. Just as the Israelites longed for completion of Gods promise to enter the promised land with groanings, so too does the Spirit long with groanings for completion of Gods promise to see His completed work within us.
So while we may search for understanding of Gods will, we must be sure to rest knowing that God is on our side. He is helping us, His Spirit is praying for us, and everything is coming together as God is directing. Although we may not understand, we can know God is working for the positive in our lives.
How beautiful it is, that Gods will is being prayed for us, all while we have no clue of its happening. How awesome is our God, that He is providing for us beyond our scope of understanding!
Thank you God, for helping me in my weaknesses. I will continue to search for your will in all situations. But please, help me rest in the assurance that you are on my side.
Let me find peace knowing that youre working on my behalf. Let me understand your will, but furthermore, let me understand that your Spirit is praying for the completion of your will in my life on a daily basis. Return soon Lord Jesus and finish your work in us, that we may be perfect and completely one together with you.
Amen.
Brand Andres is a licensed minister and his passion is to help people understand the Bible and maximize
There is a lot of advice out there about how to pray, but there is not a right or a wrong way when it comes to how to communicate with God.
That said, when starting out, you may be in need of a guideline, a template of sorts, to help form your prayers until you become comfortable praying without it.
In the Bible, Jesus mentions a couple things that should not be done when praying.
“Do not always pray openly for others to see and hear.”
[Matthew 6:5-6]
“Do not pray using repetitive prayers. ”
[Matthew 6:5-6]
After admonishing his disciples not to pray for show and not to use rote prayers, Jesus gave a beautiful example of a prayer, and said that this is how His followers should pray.
Before beginning His prayer, Jesus said, After this manner therefore pray ye:.
Learn How To Pray With The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer that Jesus wants us to use as an example of a good prayer.
Lets go over each line and examine the structure and meaning of this prayer.
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ”
[Matthew 6:9]
Before launching into to what you need or the purpose of your prayer, start with praise to the Lord. Begin your prayer with worship and by exalting the name of the Lord.
“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
[Matthew 6:10]
Remember that when you pray, you are not making demands of God. Christians should always want Gods will above their own. Include this in your prayer by asking that Gods will be done.
“Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
[Matthew 6:11-12]
After you have worshiped and exalted the Lord and asked that His will be done, it is time to ask for any needs that you might have.
This could be healing for yourself or others, the strength to deal with difficult people, help with financial needs, the need to be forgiven for sin or anything else.
“Whatever needs you have, the Bible says that you should make your requests known unto God”
[Phillipians 4:6]
There is nothing wrong with asking God for help in meeting your needs; in fact you just saw that the Bible tells you to do just that.
What Christians must be careful of, however, is coming to God with a laundry list of requests without taking the time to offer praise and worship. That is why following the basic template of the Lords Prayer is helpful.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: ”
[Matthew 6:13]
With temptation all around, it is a good idea to include a request for help in avoiding it. When you ask God for help in avoiding temptation you are acknowledging that the strength to live a dedicated and holy life does not come from you, but from Gods grace.
When you ask God to deliver you from evil, He can put a hedge about your life and help to protect you from the influences that could cause you to fall into sin.
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
[Matthew 6:13]
Finally, you should end your prayers the same way that you began: with praise and worship to God.
Be mindful that you are not following The Lords Prayer word for word. Instead, use it as a guide to pray the prayers that are on your own heart. When you pray in the same manner that Jesus prayed, you words will find their way to the heart of the Lord.
When To Pray
The bible gives countless examples of when to pray.
This site gives a decent breakdown of the different scriptures quoting when people pray in the bible.
What should we take away from this?
I believe there is not “right” time to pray. But, it is a good idea to pray every day, and this becomes easier if you choose a time and stick to it every day.
I pray in the morning in order to prepare myself for the day, and to help keep me on the right path throughout the day.
Praying in the evening is better for reflecting on the day’s events. If you can do both, great!
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Another says, Once a person believes in Jesus; He grants them eternal life. As soon as someone 
