The Conversation of PRAYER

Hillsong: 40 Days of Revival

1 John 5:14-15

Ephesians 3:12

WHAT CAN WE PRAY FOR?

It is obviously a great privilege for us to pray, bringing our needs and requests before an omnipotent God. Yet amazingly, Jesus has made it possible for us to approach God with confidence and to come before Him boldly. God hears us when we pray and it is His will that prayer would allow us to know Him more and receive His grace.

Perhaps you haven't always prayed with the confidence that 1 John 5:14-15 and Ephesians 3:12 speak of. Consider why that is and allow the truth of God's Word to replace the old mindsets you may have had about prayer.

During this time as we seek God to see a change in our lives and the world around us, let's be united in prayer for:

1. Salvations - for loved ones in our world who are yet to know Jesus.

2. Our city and nation - let's believe for our leaders and authorities to lead with Godly wisdom and counsel.

3. Revival - let's believe together for people to awaken to the things of God and for Him to move mightily across the earth.

Let us approach the throne of grace not as aliens to the kingdom but as friends...as beloved sons and daughters of the Most High God! He is Abba Father and is waiting, Day and night, to hear from His children. Let us stand in the gap for others as we pray for God's Kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven...

Pray...pray...pray

Matthew 6:9-13

There are times when we just don't know what to pray. We have so much that we want to pray for but we just can't get all our thoughts together. The prayer that Jesus taught is a great place to start. As we continue in prayer, our Spirits will tells us what to pray for. Our Spirit is aligned with God's purpose and it will help us in intercessory prayer for others...

The Power of Prayer

Acts 4:31

The Power of Prayer

When we pray...things happen. People are saved, families are reunited and lives are changed as we pray for God's will and Spirit to come and take hold of situations. We have seen, in the church that I pastor, the power if prayer. People have been healed, addictions have been overcome and situations have been changed just through our prayers for God to intercede. God has a plan and through prayer and praise His plan unfolds it. We need to get involved with God's plan for humanity and it begins with prayer...

Following the Lines

Proverbs 3:5-6

We need to follow God's "guide lines" for life...a life abundant with His blessings. As we live according to his word, we live a life that He is blessed by. When we live within His lines...following them for guidance...it is easier to see his glory our lives as well as in the world in which we live. Just as we follow the lines on the road to stay safe and not crash into other cars, we must follow God's lines so that we do not crash and burn in the chaos of life. 

Push through

Galatians 6:9

I Love the way Joyce Meyers puts it about what to do during our desert times...in our times of trouble...She simply states:

"Keep in mind that in the heat of our struggles, the Holy Spirit is probably doing His greatest work within us. He is not moved by the circumstances. If you and I really trust Him, we shouldn't be either! He's not in our lives for good times only, but for the difficult times as well.

He will lead us through anything if we'll just hang in there and follow Him. This means being diligent in prayer, relentless in our resolve, unwavering in faith, and determined to stand firmly on God's Word and His promises to us."

If we persevere through the tough times we will come out in the end a changed person...better than we were before. It is within these rocky places that we grow in our faith and trust in God. 

Instead of giving up we need to have a different perspective...a different view...of the problem. "How can I grow through this? How is God using this situation to help me grow? What is God trying to tell me about myself in the midst of this struggle?" It is when we have a different perspective that the struggle looks different. Instead of fear, we can face it head on knowing that what ever happens, God will make good come out of it...

Put on love

1 John 4:8

Each day we have a choice. Will we love others as Christ loved and still loves us. If we are to follow Jesus' example, we need to love unconditionally. This can be hard at times. There are those around us that seem "unlovable". They may have rough spots about them that we just don't want to deal with. But in order to help them smooth out the rough spots we need to set an example for them to follow. Love is not just a verb...it is also a noun. Sometimes we need to just love others into changing. It is when we decide to put on love each day that we can make a change in our world and in the lives of others. We need to "suit up" each morning with the love and compassion of Christ. You never know...it may be our lives that are changed...

The Bigger Picture

Ephesians 2:19-22

Why do we, at times, limit God to only our "physical" church and community. Our God is so much bigger than that. Our God cannot be boxed in to just our own community's. God is moving and doing such awesome things not only in our own community's bu tin the world as a whole. If we want to be a part of that "kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven" we need to think outside our church's...outside our community's...and into the world at large. We only see a small part of the picture within our own neighborhoods. But there is a much larger picture that God is painting on the tapestry of humanity. Let us be that paint brush for His glory as we set out of the boat, with His help, and onto the sea of "chaos" of the world and being to paint a picture of hope and redemption on the canvas of the world around us.

https://www.bible.com/notes/6327987180404736

In the Here and Now...

1 Corinthians 12:18-19

We all need to show up and be present with and in the body of Christ. When we are not present the whole body suffers. You may just be a "toilet cleaner"...a janitorial engineer...but if you didn't do your part who would? The whole church would suffer from "dirty bathrooms."

We need to take pride in what we do for God's kingdom. We are the one that God called to do a specific job. It may not be all glamorous and such but it is still just as vital as being a preacher or the chair of a committee. There are no small, insignificant jobs in the kingdom of God, only small priceless things that make the whole Kingdom work like a well oiled machine.

Present In The Present...

John 20:24-29 KJV

"24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

 25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

 26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

 27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

Why was Thomas not there the first time Jesus "showed up" after the resurrection? What ever the reason he almost missed out on seeing Jesus. But Jesus gave Thomas a chance...a second chance to see Him. We too, at times, are so caught up in ourselves and our "chaos" in life that we too may miss Jesus standing right in front of us. We may miss out on the call on our lives...We are blessed to be a blessing to others... As we decide that we are going to be present in our lives...present to the opportunities...present to the call on our lives...present to see Jesus in others...present to be that blessing...we are able to see Jesus work though us and in us. Jesus is always present in the present. Will you show up to see the miracle? 

Be A Visionary

Proverbs 29:18

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

The world around us tells us what is an important "vision" and what is not. God, at times, asks us to step out in faith and have the vision that may be contrary to what the worlds vision is. We, as Christians need to be "visionary's" for God. We need to think "out of the box". In doing so, we will fulfill the call God has on our lives. Jesus was a "radical visionary" who went against all the those in His time thought to be true. We too must "catch" that same vision for our lives as we carry on His ministry in and to the world.

Wide Open...

https://www.bible.com/notes/5850020535336960

Invitation...

https://www.bible.com/notes/5981295992635392

Do we really comprehend?

Souvenirs of Solitude

Finding Rest In Abba's Embrace

by, Brennan Manning

I have begun reading "Souvenirs of Solitude" by Brennan Manning to still myself each day before God and rest in His open arms. Today's reading really struck me to the core. How much do I...how much do we..., as Christians, really believe in the fact that God is in love with us and has compassion for us? Do we realize that He is waiting there to be with us each and every moment of each and every day? Do we really think that He would not understand what we are going through? Do we really think we are so familiar with God and His ways that we are just "waiting to reveal something new in our lives?" Have we really got God figured out?

It would seem that the answers to these questions would be yes in our minds and traditions but the real answer is no in our hearts. When we feel we have God figured out it is then when we know nothing. When we feel "our faith is all good and we can't be shaken" something comes along to make us question that statement. God is all knowing...all seeing...ever present. How could we think in our "human minds" that we have Him all figured out...you know the One whose ways are not our ways and whose time is not time as we see it?

Our God is a God who infinitely unfathomable. He gave His only Son for us so that we can have a restored relationship with him. How mind boggling is that? Can we really say that we totally understand that? Would we do the same? (More than likely not...) Why? (we are taught survival of the fittest)So why would God do that? (Because of His love?) Why does He love us, who are broken and flawed, so much? (Haven't a clue) See what I mean...

Loving and gracious God, thank you for the love that you shower upon us...that you love and loved us to the point of death. As we walk our faith journey, may we know how wide and deep Your love is for us and be ever more grateful to You. May we fall back in love with our first love because you loved us first.

Amen...