Sunday, 20 October 2013
Prayer From a Parent’s Heart
Praying ParentAs I sit down to write this article I am reminded of the awesome honour of being a parent. God has granted me the privilege of raising three of His special little ones, but with the privilege comes great responsibility and a lot of hard work. Perhaps more than any other area of life, parenting brings with it the capacity both for boundless joy and tremendous heartache. What can we do as parents to succeed at the task God has given us? Pray, Pray, Pray!
Parenting has not been an easy journey for me. I have had to face my own inadequacy and rely on God’s plan for my life and my children. Part of that process was God teaching me how to pray for my children. There is no exact science for this, but the Lord put it on my heart to write a prayer for each of my children.
Why write a prayer? I had so many things that I wanted to remember to pray for each of my children, and writing it out really helped me to be concise. The written prayers reflect each child’s uniqueness, while also covering the basics in such a way that I don’t feel like I’m forgetting any important issues. I’d encourage you to give it a try.
Begin with a decision to take the time to pray for your children. This sounds simple, but it takes follow-through and commitment. When it comes to prayer, there is no substitute for time, and writing a well-crafted prayer for each child takes extra effort. But you will find that it’s well worth it.
Next, sit down and brainstorm a list of all the things you want to pray for. What is important to you as you raise your children in this difficult culture we live in? Try to catch a glimpse of the future: what kind of adults do you want your kids to become? Here are a few items on my prayer list:
Purity: I pray for purity both for my kids and for their future spouses. Their spouses are out there somewhere, growing up as children right now, and what happens in their lives will greatly affect the life of my children down the road.
Relationships: Above all, I pray that my kids will develop strong relationships with the Lord. I also pray for healthy relationships with their siblings, with friends, and with my husband and I as their parents.
Protection: The world is a dangerous place in many ways. I pray for physical, spiritual and emotional protection for each child.
Personal weaknesses: Every child has their own struggles, whether it’s lying, angry outbursts, disrespect, or any number of other issues. I pray that God will shape their character and turn their weaknesses to strengths.
Thanks: Each child also has unique strengths that are God’s gift to our family. For some it’s charm, for others leadership ability or a sense of humour. I thank God for these special qualities and ask Him to continue to develop these characteristics in our children.
After brainstorming your list, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in writing the prayer. Then it’s finally time to sit down and start writing! In addition to working from the list, I try to incorporate scripture passages that are applicable to the situation. Because the Bible is God’s perfect Word, I believe it is very powerful in prayer.
Here is an example of what I wrote as part of a prayer regarding purity:
For a daughter:
“Lord, we ask for purity in her life and that of her husband. We ask for protection over their innocence and purity; protect them from others and wrong choices, call them to a higher standard. We ask for wisdom and discernment in teaching and preparing her for a life of purity and modesty. I also ask that you grant her husband’s parents wisdom as they raise a man of integrity.”
For a son:
“Lord, we pray against pornography and lust and its evil effects on his life both as a child and as an adult. Give us wisdom in teaching him to respect girls and women. Put a calling of purity upon his life that he will never use, abuse, or take advantage of girls or women. We ask for wisdom and discernment in teaching and preparing him for a life of purity.”
I pray blessing and biblical qualities for my children. The Bible has a lot to say about how we speak and the power of the tongue to do damage, but also to bring healing. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).
“Father we thank You for (insert your daughter’s name here), You have heaped us with bounty and we praise You for entrusting us with her. She is fearfully and wonderfully made. You chose her for us and we thank You for the gift she is to us. We bless her and ask that You fill her with “Whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, having virtue, or anything praiseworthy, let her think on these things.””
I pray for wisdom as a parent regarding specific issues for this child. The Bible says whoever lacks wisdom should ask…so I ask a lot! “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
“Lord, grant us wisdom. We ask that you would impress upon him that lying is wrong. Help us to train him to be a man of integrity and honesty starting now. We ask that you would raise him up to be an upright man; one who is pro-active for what is right. May he not be passive, but aggressive for truth and what is honourable.”
Relationships will be a lifelong pursuit for your children: relationships with family, friends and especially with the Lord. My dad prayed faithfully for a good Christian friend for me in high school. I am so thankful for those prayers, and I believe God has answered them many times over in my life. I thank God for many wonderful friends over the years.
“We ask Father that you would fill her life with good relationships, first with you Lord. Help her to seek after Godly things. We ask your blessing on our relationship with her, help us to express to her and for her to feel unconditional love; may she rise up and call us blessed. We ask for good friends for her; that she may feel accepted and influenced by good kids. Keep her path straight. We ask your blessing on her life by causing Godly people to positively influence her life at the crossroads she will face. Go before her and prepare the way.”
7 Morning Prayers to Start Your Day
The morning is the perfect time to pray. It gets you focused on God and helps you meditate on those you love and yourself, as well. There are many great ways to pray in the morning. Here are 7 of them.
Being Thankful
Dear Lord, thank you so much for another day of life on Earth. Thank you for another beautiful sunrise to enjoy. Thank you for the wonderful sounds of nature, from the cool breeze brushing through the trees to the birds singing melodies. You are a wonderful God, full of grace and mercy. I praise you for allowing me another day to spend with my family. I love you Father! Amen.
“The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”
Song of Solomon 2:12
Strength
Dear Lord, I pray that you would give me strength to be strong for You in the world today. Lord, you know the struggles that I will face today. Be with me as I go through them. Carry me if I am too weak to move. If I stumble in them, forgive me Father. When I succeed in them, I will praise You! You are worthy of all praise and honor. Amen.
“My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26
Family
The morning is the perfect time to pray
The morning is the perfect time to pray
Dear Gracious Father, I praise You for my family. Thank you for my spouse. Even in his/her weaknesses, I love him/her unconditionally. Thank you for my children. Every time I hear the pitter-patter of their feet across the house I smile. Joy overwhelms me Father! Be with my family today as they go their separate ways. Bring us all back home safely to each other I pray. Amen.
“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots around your table.”
Psalm 128:3
Career
Dear God, I thank you for my job. You have provided me with a steady income and I thank you. I pray that you watch over me today at work and I pray that there are no accidents, so that everyone can go back to their homes. I thank you that my job has provided an income to support me and my family. I thank you for the provisions that you have given to me, my house, car and food. I pray for safe travels to and from work and I pray that you will use me as you see fit today for Your Glory. Amen.
“Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.”
Proverbs 16:3
Men and Women Overseas
Dear Merciful Father, I pray that you would keep your hand on our men and women defending our country so that we can be free. Be with our soldiers as they go onto their assignments. Bring them back to base safely. I praise you for our brave men and women! I thank you for our brave men and women! I also pray that you give them the skills that they need in every moment, so that they can come back home safely to their families.
“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle.”
Psalm 144:1
Opportunities
Dear Lord, I pray today that I will yield my spirit completely to You, that You may use me as You please. I pray that You will provide me opportunities to show people how much You mean to me. Give me discretion to know what to say and how to say it. Make me bold enough, that I may proclaim salvation cheerfully and joyfully. I pray that the seeds You allow me to plant will grow and mature. I pray that You, Father, will water the seeds that You allow me to plant today. I am forever grateful for the cross; may I proclaim it in a contagious way today. Amen.
“Do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself
or what you should say,
for the Holy Spirit will teach you
in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Luke 12:11b-12
Contentment
Dear Glorious Father, I pray that I will stay focused on you today. I pray that You will constantly remind me to be content in all of my circumstances. I pray that You will fill me up that I may be joyful all day, even if stress creeps in. I know that through my contentment, You will be glorified. I want to honor You, Father, in all that I do. I praise Your Holy Name! Amen
“Not that I am speaking of being in need,
for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
I know how to be brought low,
and I know how to abound.
In any and every circumstance,
I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,
abundance and need.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:11-13
Conclusion
You can have such wonderful encounters with God when you approach His throne in the morning. I encourage you to start praying when you wake up, if you aren’t already doing so. When you wake with God you take Him with you too. God bless you as you live a life worthy of the calling.
Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/7-morning-prayers-to-start-your-day/#ixzz2iKA0ZIkN
DAILY VICTORY PRAYER by Arthur Burk
I pray that my spirit, soul and body will line up now underneath the Holy Spirit in Jesus'
Name. The truth is that I am made in God's image (Genesis 1:26). I have been made
from God's very nature. Therefore I am a composite of His qualities, His truth, His light and
His image. God put everything in my spirit from His character that I need to heal from every
bruise, every point of pain and every lie in Jesus name. (2Peter 1:3) Father, let Your healing
power flow into those places now in Jesus' name for You are Jehovah Rophe, the LORD who
heals me. (Exodus 15:26)
Before the foundation of the world, God You predestined me to be conformed into Your image
(Romans 8:29) and You put everything in my spirit that I would need to deal with every
situation I would face in my lifetime. (2Peter 1:3) LORD, unpackage all the resources from
Your character that You put in my spirit and release them into my life today. May I be led by
the Holy Spirit and face this day with Your abilities instead of my soul taking care of things. As
You release those things into my life may I be a victor and an overcomer in every circumstance
in Jesus' name.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE PRAYER
SPIRITUAL WARFARE PRAYER
Satan, take note and listen well. We are the Church of the Living God, we are bought with the
Blood, charged with Power, married to Jesus, indwelled with His Spirit, destined for victory, and
immune to destruction. We’re part of the company of the committed, the Crown of the
Covenant, the congregation of the courageous, we are a fellowship of the faithful, a battalion
of believers, a regiment of the redeemed, a division of the devoted, an army of the approved,
a team of the triumphant, a platoon of the powerful. Satan, you will not conquer me. For I am
Blood washed, daily delivered, strongly sanctified, spirit soaked, in-Word, and indwelled. You
are wasting your energy on me. My faith is set. My victory is assured. I am linked with a
sovereign and eternal power. You are a deceiver, but you will not deceive me. You are a
roaring lion, but I am not devourable. You are extremely subtle, but I’m on to your ways. You
parade as an angel of light, but I walk in a stronger light. Your days of deception are over with
me. I won’t be detoured, derailed, distracted, distorted, discouraged, or disillusioned by your
schemes. I’m off limits to you now. My doors are closed and locked and I’ve thrown away the
keys. You won’t walk in, crawl in, slither in, sneak in, pry in, or barge into my life. I have a
permanent and precious Friend, who lives inside of me, and He will not share this temple with
anyone else, especially you. His Name is Jesus. He and I know that your time’s almost up.
You may lie, lure, linger, lurch, and laugh, but you won’t get in. Your days are numbered; your
designs are dwindling; your evil is eroding; your devilishness is dissolving; your progress is
poisoned; your success has been subverted; so get off my property; get off my porch. Get out
of my sight. For He who is in me, is greater than he who is in the world. Leave my family
alone; leave my children alone; and leave my church alone. God is on my side. I am on God’s
side. I have the same power that delivered Jesus from temptation and sin. I have the same
power that raised Him from the grave. I have been promised the victory, and I have claimed
that victory, and you can summon all your hosts, but you will lose the battle! We are the
church of the Living God! Blood-washed, Spirit-filled, battle-scarred, unrelenting and
indestructible. And in the blessed words of Jesus Christ, the gates of hell will not prevail
against us. In Jesus Name. In Jesus Name. Are you listening? In Jesus Name. Amen and
Amen!
Use this prayer for God's guidance:
Use this prayer for God's guidance:
God, this world’s problems are so complicated
that I cannot make my way without Your guidance.
Quicken my mind and deepen my understanding.
Help me hear Your voice and heed your advice.
Keep me walking along the path behind you.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Obstacles to Prayer
Obstacles to Prayer
Even though we all long for the kingdom of God – f or unity with
God and for the total dominion of the Holy Spirit over all other spirits
– we know that we are obstacles to this kingdom. Our own nature is always
interfering when God tries to reveal himself. Our personalities get in the
way, because in each of us there are countless thoughts, feelings, and traits of
character that are not completely centered on the kingdom of God or compatible
with the spirit of Jesus. Every prayer is therefore inevitably burdened
with personal mistakes and desires.
In addition to our own failings, we are often besieged by dark clouds of
worry. When this happens we need to ask for the freshening wind of the Holy
Spirit so that, surrounded by God’s pure, clear atmosphere, we can pray tirelessly
to God, asking him to banish our anxiety and prove that he is the ruler
over life and death. By praying we can resist temptation (Matt. 26:41).
Even more dangerous than the most nightmarish anxiety is the force that
drives away the Spirit—sin. Sin fights against life and leads to death through
the demonic darkness of unrighteousness, impurity, covetousness, self-seeking,
self-will, lying and deception.
These demonic forces will yield only to prayer offered in a spirit of self-denying
love. Sin and the prayer of faith exclude each other. We cannot meet God
unless we are free from hate, anger, quarreling, and all wrong done to others (1
Tim.2:8). If we are serious about praying we must be cleansed of all sin. God
dwells only in hearts that have been completely purified. We cannot speak to
God, who is holy, unless we have prayed for the forgiveness of our sins with a
converted and changed heart and truly believe in and live in this forgiveness.
“Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness”
(2 Tim. 2:19). That is the clear stamp by which God can recognize his
own. If we refuse to listen to God’s demands for righteousness, our prayer is
16
The Prayer God Answers
Obstacles to Prayer
an abomination. It is loathsome to God. As long as we continue to shed the
blood of others, none of our prayers will be heard. With all the strength and
determination we can muster, we must reject evil and strive to do only what
is good. We must try to show justice and love to all people, especially to the
poor and deserted, the widows and orphans. We must be ready to fulfill the
will of God with the willing obedience of faith. Only then will God take away
our sins and accept our prayers.
Unless we have utterly surrendered ourselves to God and left behind all
selfishness, our prayer for God’s gifts will have no effect ( James 4:2-3). Everything,
absolutely everything, that stifles our love for him must be burned
or melted away.
The sin that separates us from God most is the cold arrogance of a selfcentered,
individualistic life. The key to prayer is to give up all the privileges,
rights, and demands of self-esteem, all self-justification and all clinging to the
good things we have accomplished through our own virtue. Self-importance
is the opposite of love and goodness and is the deepest root of sin. Conversely,
the root of community with God and love to others is the awareness that we
receive undeserved grace and good gifts from God. If we are full of ourselves,
thinking we are better than others, our prayer will never reach God. But if we
are aware of our guilt and recognize that we are worse than others, and ask
God for his mercy, he accepts our prayers (Luke 18:9-14).
Our prayers are blocked whenever our hearts remain unmoved. To experience
a fundamental change of heart and direction and to enter a new
life in God, we must first feel profound remorse for the heartless evil of our
self-governed lives. A person who sees his guilt as it really is, learns through
God’s judgment to detest sin and to turn away from it forever. He spends
the rest of his life in awe before God, for now he knows that the Father to
whom he prays is no respecter of persons but judges each according to his
actions, and that the purpose of his judgment is to destroy what is evil in us.
When we have been overpowered by God in this way, we will keep watch in
every area of our lives and in all our relationships, particularly in marriage
(1 Cor.7:5). We will not let pleasures, especially those of possession and sensuality,
distract us from God and hinder our prayers. Prayer demands clearheaded
moderation.
Even though we all long for the kingdom of God – f or unity with
God and for the total dominion of the Holy Spirit over all other spirits
– we know that we are obstacles to this kingdom. Our own nature is always
interfering when God tries to reveal himself. Our personalities get in the
way, because in each of us there are countless thoughts, feelings, and traits of
character that are not completely centered on the kingdom of God or compatible
with the spirit of Jesus. Every prayer is therefore inevitably burdened
with personal mistakes and desires.
In addition to our own failings, we are often besieged by dark clouds of
worry. When this happens we need to ask for the freshening wind of the Holy
Spirit so that, surrounded by God’s pure, clear atmosphere, we can pray tirelessly
to God, asking him to banish our anxiety and prove that he is the ruler
over life and death. By praying we can resist temptation (Matt. 26:41).
Even more dangerous than the most nightmarish anxiety is the force that
drives away the Spirit—sin. Sin fights against life and leads to death through
the demonic darkness of unrighteousness, impurity, covetousness, self-seeking,
self-will, lying and deception.
These demonic forces will yield only to prayer offered in a spirit of self-denying
love. Sin and the prayer of faith exclude each other. We cannot meet God
unless we are free from hate, anger, quarreling, and all wrong done to others (1
Tim.2:8). If we are serious about praying we must be cleansed of all sin. God
dwells only in hearts that have been completely purified. We cannot speak to
God, who is holy, unless we have prayed for the forgiveness of our sins with a
converted and changed heart and truly believe in and live in this forgiveness.
“Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness”
(2 Tim. 2:19). That is the clear stamp by which God can recognize his
own. If we refuse to listen to God’s demands for righteousness, our prayer is
16
The Prayer God Answers
Obstacles to Prayer
an abomination. It is loathsome to God. As long as we continue to shed the
blood of others, none of our prayers will be heard. With all the strength and
determination we can muster, we must reject evil and strive to do only what
is good. We must try to show justice and love to all people, especially to the
poor and deserted, the widows and orphans. We must be ready to fulfill the
will of God with the willing obedience of faith. Only then will God take away
our sins and accept our prayers.
Unless we have utterly surrendered ourselves to God and left behind all
selfishness, our prayer for God’s gifts will have no effect ( James 4:2-3). Everything,
absolutely everything, that stifles our love for him must be burned
or melted away.
The sin that separates us from God most is the cold arrogance of a selfcentered,
individualistic life. The key to prayer is to give up all the privileges,
rights, and demands of self-esteem, all self-justification and all clinging to the
good things we have accomplished through our own virtue. Self-importance
is the opposite of love and goodness and is the deepest root of sin. Conversely,
the root of community with God and love to others is the awareness that we
receive undeserved grace and good gifts from God. If we are full of ourselves,
thinking we are better than others, our prayer will never reach God. But if we
are aware of our guilt and recognize that we are worse than others, and ask
God for his mercy, he accepts our prayers (Luke 18:9-14).
Our prayers are blocked whenever our hearts remain unmoved. To experience
a fundamental change of heart and direction and to enter a new
life in God, we must first feel profound remorse for the heartless evil of our
self-governed lives. A person who sees his guilt as it really is, learns through
God’s judgment to detest sin and to turn away from it forever. He spends
the rest of his life in awe before God, for now he knows that the Father to
whom he prays is no respecter of persons but judges each according to his
actions, and that the purpose of his judgment is to destroy what is evil in us.
When we have been overpowered by God in this way, we will keep watch in
every area of our lives and in all our relationships, particularly in marriage
(1 Cor.7:5). We will not let pleasures, especially those of possession and sensuality,
distract us from God and hinder our prayers. Prayer demands clearheaded
moderation.
Contact Eliza Mariana Wilson Powerful Miracle Prayers (or The Seven P’s in Prayer)
What makes a prayer more powerful than other? What is the secret of an answered prayer? How can we use it to bring a miracle in our life or the lives of the people around us? How can we make the best of this amazing tool God has given us? The way from ordinary to extraordinary is within our reach. There are just a few simple steps to follow. Learning to trust God is one of the most important. Having the courage to pray for a miracle is another.
And we could go on... Having the spirit and the passion of the first Christians. Being honest about everything, including our doubts, but keeping a positive outlook on all (“I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief”). Experiencing God. Becoming receptive to his voice. Persevering. Trying again and again. Having patience.
Here is a list of what I call “the Seven P’s in Prayer”. Or, in other words, the attributes of a prayer that can move mountains...
PATIENT
Patience actually refers to the period after praying. Wait patiently, even if you can’t see immediate results. Rest assured that God will answer you, in one way or another. When I was in college, after each exam I had to wait for the results. Waiting wasn’t easy but I knew in my heart I had done my bit. I had tried my hardest and now it was time to lay back and wait. Do what depends on you and God will do what depends on Him.
PERSEVERENT
Keep praying. Don’t give up. Persevere in your act of communication with God. When you feel like giving up, ask God for help to go on. When you feel you can’t pray, ask him to help you with that too. Whatever your feelings are, talk to God about them. Whatever you need, ask for it. Patience and perseverance are very important in any human activity. Without them, you will never cross that edge to achieving the best performances.
PERSONAL
Be personal. Use your own words. Describe how you feel in an honest and straightforward way. Remember God knows your heart anyway, so there is no need to hide anything. Let the words flow from inside and when they don’t come, remember God can see beyond words. The strength of a prayer is not measured in what you say, but in how you say it and in how you feel. Sometimes the silence is the most powerful prayer. I’ve met someone who was often lost for words when praying but her emotion was real. She told me that there were times when all she could say was “You know, my Lord. You know, my Lord.” There was no need for anything else, because, indeed, the Lord knew what she meant and what her prayer was all about.
POWERFUL
A powerful prayer can move mountains. But what makes a powerful prayer? When Jesus prayed, He prayed with authority and taught his disciples to do the same. He said: pray as if you’ve already received what you are praying for. What exactly did he mean? How can we gain that confidence? How did Jesus gain it? Through a close relationship with the Father. Through experience. The first time when we ask for something, we are reluctant because we don’t know whether we are going to get it or not. But as we learn how God works, as we learn to distinguish His voice among the confusing whispers of this world, we also learn to rely on Him. We learn to trust Him. We learn to love Him. That is what it’s all about. Faith, trust, love. We are not talking to a stranger anymore. We’re talking to our friend, to the One who knows everything about us, who loves us for who we are and wants us to have the best, here and in Eternity.
PASSIONATE
Passion is putting your heart and soul into something. You can’t be cold-hearted in prayer. It is the heat that rises up to the throne of God, it is the flame that pierces the sky and makes its way to the heart of the Father. God loves passion. As a Creator and an artist, He knows that nothing great is achieved without passion. Sometimes passion involves pain and tears, making yourself vulnerable, becoming exposed, giving everything. But it’s a risk that is worth taking. And in relationship with God, it might prove not to be a risk at all.
PROFOUND
‘Profound’ is a synonym for ‘deep’. A mountain-moving prayer has to be as deep as deep can be. Now ‘deep’ can be understood in several ways. A profound prayer can be a prayer reflecting your most hidden inner feelings; a prayer that goes much beyond the surface, into places you normally don’t reveal to anybody. A profound prayer can also refer to a prayer that plunges deeply into the causes and roots of exterior things and circumstances. Both these aspects are very important. When you ask for a miracle, you already go into ‘profound’ territory. Unknowingly, you step into a realm where faith stands face to face with physics, medicine, philosophy, history, psychology, and it has to prove stronger than any of them. It is quite a challenge! But as it has been proved many times, it can stand its ground and pass the test.
POSITIVE
We don’t know the complex mechanisms of this universe and how it all works. But we do know there is a balance between good and evil, between positive and negative. The very laws of Chemistry and Physics prove it. God doesn’t ask us to understand. But He does want us to stick to the positive side. The most minor of our thoughts can alter the balance of the universe. We’ll never know how much good we’ve brought into the world by one single positive thought, word or action. But we do know praying is one of those things that can mysteriously alter this balance. It is, in a way, like throwing stones into a river. Each time we struggle to throw further and we can watch the stone as it goes but only up to a certain point. We’ll never know how far and how deep it went beyond the surface.
And we could go on... Having the spirit and the passion of the first Christians. Being honest about everything, including our doubts, but keeping a positive outlook on all (“I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief”). Experiencing God. Becoming receptive to his voice. Persevering. Trying again and again. Having patience.
Here is a list of what I call “the Seven P’s in Prayer”. Or, in other words, the attributes of a prayer that can move mountains...
PATIENT
Patience actually refers to the period after praying. Wait patiently, even if you can’t see immediate results. Rest assured that God will answer you, in one way or another. When I was in college, after each exam I had to wait for the results. Waiting wasn’t easy but I knew in my heart I had done my bit. I had tried my hardest and now it was time to lay back and wait. Do what depends on you and God will do what depends on Him.
PERSEVERENT
Keep praying. Don’t give up. Persevere in your act of communication with God. When you feel like giving up, ask God for help to go on. When you feel you can’t pray, ask him to help you with that too. Whatever your feelings are, talk to God about them. Whatever you need, ask for it. Patience and perseverance are very important in any human activity. Without them, you will never cross that edge to achieving the best performances.
PERSONAL
Be personal. Use your own words. Describe how you feel in an honest and straightforward way. Remember God knows your heart anyway, so there is no need to hide anything. Let the words flow from inside and when they don’t come, remember God can see beyond words. The strength of a prayer is not measured in what you say, but in how you say it and in how you feel. Sometimes the silence is the most powerful prayer. I’ve met someone who was often lost for words when praying but her emotion was real. She told me that there were times when all she could say was “You know, my Lord. You know, my Lord.” There was no need for anything else, because, indeed, the Lord knew what she meant and what her prayer was all about.
POWERFUL
A powerful prayer can move mountains. But what makes a powerful prayer? When Jesus prayed, He prayed with authority and taught his disciples to do the same. He said: pray as if you’ve already received what you are praying for. What exactly did he mean? How can we gain that confidence? How did Jesus gain it? Through a close relationship with the Father. Through experience. The first time when we ask for something, we are reluctant because we don’t know whether we are going to get it or not. But as we learn how God works, as we learn to distinguish His voice among the confusing whispers of this world, we also learn to rely on Him. We learn to trust Him. We learn to love Him. That is what it’s all about. Faith, trust, love. We are not talking to a stranger anymore. We’re talking to our friend, to the One who knows everything about us, who loves us for who we are and wants us to have the best, here and in Eternity.
PASSIONATE
Passion is putting your heart and soul into something. You can’t be cold-hearted in prayer. It is the heat that rises up to the throne of God, it is the flame that pierces the sky and makes its way to the heart of the Father. God loves passion. As a Creator and an artist, He knows that nothing great is achieved without passion. Sometimes passion involves pain and tears, making yourself vulnerable, becoming exposed, giving everything. But it’s a risk that is worth taking. And in relationship with God, it might prove not to be a risk at all.
PROFOUND
‘Profound’ is a synonym for ‘deep’. A mountain-moving prayer has to be as deep as deep can be. Now ‘deep’ can be understood in several ways. A profound prayer can be a prayer reflecting your most hidden inner feelings; a prayer that goes much beyond the surface, into places you normally don’t reveal to anybody. A profound prayer can also refer to a prayer that plunges deeply into the causes and roots of exterior things and circumstances. Both these aspects are very important. When you ask for a miracle, you already go into ‘profound’ territory. Unknowingly, you step into a realm where faith stands face to face with physics, medicine, philosophy, history, psychology, and it has to prove stronger than any of them. It is quite a challenge! But as it has been proved many times, it can stand its ground and pass the test.
POSITIVE
We don’t know the complex mechanisms of this universe and how it all works. But we do know there is a balance between good and evil, between positive and negative. The very laws of Chemistry and Physics prove it. God doesn’t ask us to understand. But He does want us to stick to the positive side. The most minor of our thoughts can alter the balance of the universe. We’ll never know how much good we’ve brought into the world by one single positive thought, word or action. But we do know praying is one of those things that can mysteriously alter this balance. It is, in a way, like throwing stones into a river. Each time we struggle to throw further and we can watch the stone as it goes but only up to a certain point. We’ll never know how far and how deep it went beyond the surface.
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