|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| ...and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of saints. |
| ~ Rev. 5 : 8 d, e |
|
| ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ |
|
| ...and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. |
| ~ James 5 : 16b |
|
| ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ |
|
| ...but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. |
| ~ Phil. 4 : 6b |
|
| ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ |
|
| And all things, whatever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. |
| ~ Matt. 21 : 22 |
|
| ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ |
|
| ...but the prayer of the upright is His delight. |
| ~ Prov. 15 : 8b |
|
| ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ |
|
| If my people, who are called by myname, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attentive unto the prayer that is made in this place. |
| ~ 2 Chron. 7 : 14 & 15 |
|
| ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ |
|
| Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. |
| ~ Col. 4 : 2 |
|
| ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ~ My personal convictions regarding prayer ~ |
| ******************************************* |
| You have heard the expression '" Prayer changes things " haven't you? But you want to know a little secret? It not only changes things, but it changes people and (more personally) it changes YOU ! |
| Before I get into how it blesses me and you, I will take a moment to go through the ABCs of what prayer should be. The first thing to do before you pray for others and yourself: Confess your sins and ask God to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Next, thank God for all that He has done for you, making an earnest effort to recall all of your blessings and praise Him for each one (God does inhabit praise, not whining). You may have heard of the acronym ACTS - it stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication . I personally have changed this acronym to CATS (Confession, Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Supplication ). Even when nothing else seems to be working right in any given day, prayer transcends all "dysfunctional" moments. It is the tie that binds you to Heaven when all "hell" is breaking loose below. It goes beyond a commandment once it is in the daily routine, and becomes the Grace of God which grows you in Christ and keeps you in His light and love. Prayer, reading God's Word, and sharing your faith in God's good news with others -- the three are one in essence of importance and should never be separated. Never doubt your usefulness when prayer is your constant ally! Do not misunderstand this: Without your consent prayer is God's power waiting to be released, BUT, God gives you even the desire to want to pray, and the trust to believe in His power and love to answer all prayers in His perfect way. The only thing you can claim as yours in the gift of praying is your willingness and obedience to pray whenever and wherever you see a need. ALL good things come from God - even your willingness, so... you are best as an empty vessel (empty of self) to be used and filled by the Spirit for God's good. All credit and honor and glory truly belong to God. Hope that bursts a few ego bubbles for some of you, so that you can be more empty - to be more filled - with all the "right stuff". Prayer has its value through the quality (not the quantity) of the words offered on behalf of others. Prayer should be simple, basic and sincere, as a child talks to a father, for that is the type of relationship God wants with us. |
|
| Anyone reading this article who is in need of prayer, please email me. |
|
|
