God Has Called US to Pray!

"Traveling light means trusting God

with the burdens you never intended to bear."

Max Lucado (Traveling Light)

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God Has Called US to Pray!

READ Nehemiah 1:1--2:10

SITUATION Nehemiah, a Jew displaced by the Babylonian captivity, served in the king's court. When he heard of the decrepit condition of the gates and walls of Jerusalem, he wept and asked the king to send him to rebuild the wall.

OBSERVATION When Nehemiah heard bad news, he prayed. He asked the Lord for success and kindness.

INSPIRATION When God says to pray, he really means it. To pray is the most commonly mentioned command in Scripture. It is mentioned more than "love your neighbor," more than "go to church," and more than "evangelize." More than anything else, God calls us to pray.

We should be people of great prayer. We should be prayer warriors. We should be people who use the ministry of prayer to its fullest capacity. The highest and greatest calling of Christians is the ministry of prayer.

I would like to encourage you, admonish you to make a decision to pray more and to set up some specific plans to support that decision. Will you determine in your heart to pray more? Will you start a prayer group in your home? Pray continually -- live in a spirit of prayer. (From The Inspirational Bible, "Prayer")

APPLICATION Many Christians feel that prayer is the weakest part of their Christian walk, yet it's vital for your relationship with the Lord. Set up a regular time each day to commune with the Lord. For many people, that's early in the morning before they become too busy. If you get tired easily, pray out loud. And establish regular prayer times with friends and family.

EXPLORATION PRAYER - Psalm 55:1, Matthew 20:22; Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:19, Colossians 4:2

ATTENTION ALL PRAYER WARRIORS: God has called us to pray! How you pray and how often you pray, well that's really up to you. And if there ever was a time and place in history that God's people have been called to pray - well it's now! Below is a prayer request from Maurice Sklar asking for prayers for the state of California. But from my perspective - as California goes - so goes the nation and the world!

PRAY FOR CALIFORNIA!

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Maurice Sklar

Jun 25, 2009

Dear Friends,

California is in crisis on many fronts! We as a state are facing an almost 25 billion dollar deficit that is coming due for payment on July 1, 2009 – in about a week!! We are in a terrible place morally as well as spiritually, and over 100 years overdue for a major earthquake along the San Andreas fault. These are just the facts in the natural realm. They are extremely serious.

Here is why:

1. If the economy fails in California, which seems inevitable, it will affect the entire nation as well as creating massive financial instability in the global markets. This state has the largest economy in the USA, as well as the lowest credit rating of any state. The whole world is watching what will happen in July to us! California cannot be realistically “bailed out” by President Obama and the Federal Government, because it would set a precedent to do the same for the other states that have over $150 billion dollars of debt. Obama has said “no” to our governor, even though, like AIG and GM, many claim: California is “too big to fail”.

But, IT WILL FAIL, UNLESS THERE IS A MIRACLE FROM GOD NEXT WEEK!

If California’s economy fails, it will most likely drag the whole country down with it, and this will shake the global economies like nothing we have ever seen before.

2. California leads the way for the agenda of the homosexual movement in the U.S. Although homosexual marriage has been temporarily halted in our courts, other recent legislation has been passed that demands the forced education of young children just entering elementary school on all sexually deviant behaviors as being “an acceptable alternative” and “alternate family units” of two men or two women as being “normal”. This has been signed into law in such a way that parents cannot choose whether their 6-7 children participate in this or not. It is just shoved down their throats! This is an abomination in the sight of God.

THIS BRINGS JUDGMENT ON BOTH OUR STATE AND OUR NATION!

Also, our state’s educational system has gone from the top of nation to nearly the bottom academically. Violence, teenage pregnancy, rampant drug and alcohol abuse, and record numbers of dropouts plague our public high schools. We are bankrupt in our school systems, both morally and financially. Our education system is in dire straits, if a miracle doesn’t occur now!

3. Unemployment is over 10%. We are now approaching the worst recession in the state since World War Two! Many are predicting this to rise over 12% next year, with some economists predicting even worse if the state government defaults on our debt. It would then rapidly rise to over 25%! It could exceed even the Great Depression if this slide does not stop. The housing crisis has hit California extremely hard. We have a health care disaster because of the millions of primarily illegal Hispanics that flood our emergency rooms and cannot pay.

We are on the verge of economic collapse if God doesn’t have mercy and intervene somehow RIGHT NOW

4. We are experiencing one of the worst droughts in history here in California. This is threatening our food supply of produce and other agriculture, as well as, of course, our water table and drinking supply, etc. As we have seen during the past several years, wild fires have been devastating to our national forests and even urban areas…this will only get worse if we don’t get rain/snow fall to replace the depleted levels soon.

5. California is the seat of the Hollywood movie industry that has polluted the entire world morally and spiritually. It is also the center for pornography production. For the past forty years, it has gone from one level of degradation and depravity to another in an exponential downward spiral. Now, while there have been a few good movies here and there, the majority have only corrupted and polluted the minds and hearts of billions of souls!

THIS BRING’S GOD’S JUDGMENT ON US!

6. Scientists have unanimously declared, on the basis of all their independent research, that the San Andreas Fault is ONE HUNDRED YEARS late in shifting in a violent and catastrophic way. It is under tremendous underground pressure on both sides of the continental tectonic plates. This will not continue much longer without a HUGE earthquake when it finally releases and moves. This is not “prophetic hype of gloom and doom”, but rather scientific FACT. It will make any other earthquake of recent history look like a picnic in comparison.

7 . There is a substantial threat from North Korea concerning their thermonuclear missiles. In addition, they have a massive supply of biological and chemical weapons developed and horded since the end of the Korean War in the early 1950’s that can be fitted on their ballistic missiles. While, at this time, it is more likely for North Korea to attack with shorter range missiles in Asia, especially South Korea, there is still a very real and tangible threat of their missiles hitting Hawaii and the West Coast of California. As they are more and more desperate, they will not hesitate to launch these weapons. Like a wounded and trapped, wild animal, it is most dangerous to lash out in its’ desperation. This is the picture of North Korea at this time. The dictator is about to step down and hand over power to his 26 year old son.

THIS IS A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF EVENTS IN THIS CRAZY, DEMONIZED NORTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT THAT COULD EASILY LEAD TO WAR.

They are poised to attack, unless God stops them. California would be one of their first targets. They possess hydrogen bombs of great magnitude. If one of these huge megaton thermonuclear devices is detonated even in outer space, it would cause a massive disruption in the earth’s magnetic field. This would immediately shut down our computer systems and communication systems. They would no longer function properly. California is the center for computer and communication electronics. We have our whole economy built on top of these. Also, if they were to bomb our nuclear power plants, this would set off so much radiation into the atmosphere that it would devastate major swaths of our state and make it uninhabitable for many years.

THESE ARE REAL THREATS THAT NORTH KOREA HAS PUBLICLY DECLARED IT HAS PLANNED TO DO IF “PROVOKED”.

Beloved, please pray for us here in California, in the United States, and for the Middle East – especially Iran and Israel at this time. God has had such mercy on us. He has blessed us, kept us, and preserved us for much longer than we deserve because of His infinite grace and mercy. If we only will repent and turn back to God, perhaps these calamities will not come upon us. I pray it is not too late for California! Amen.

Shalom in our soon coming Messiah Yeshua!
Maurice Sklar

RELATED STORY: California set to issue IOUs as fiscal crisis weighs...

Nehemiah's PRAYER

"Those who are left from the captivity are back in Judah, but they are in much trouble and are full of shame. The wall around Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned."

When I heard these things, I sat down and cried for several days. I was sad and ate nothing. I prayed to the God of heaven, "Lord, God of heaven, you are the great God who is to be respected. You are loyal, and you keep your agreement with those who love you and obey your commands. Look and listen carefully. Hear the prayer that I, your servant, am praying to you day and night for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we Israelites have done against you. My father's family and I have sinned against you. We have been wicked toward you and have not obeyed the commands, rules, and laws you gave your servant Moses.

"Remember what you taught your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands, I will gather your people from the far ends of the earth. And I will bring them from captivity to where I have chosen to be worshiped.'

"They are your servants and your people, whom you have saved with your great strength and power. Lord, listen carefully to the prayer of your servant and the prayers of your servants who love to honor you. Give me, your servant, success today; allow this king to show kindness to me." I was the one who served wine to the king.


The Devotional Bible - Experiencing the Heart of Jesus, Max Lucado General Editor, New Century Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers

I Pray You Enough

I Pray You Enough

Author Unkown

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, 'I love you, and I pray you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I pray you enough, too, Mom.'

They kissed, and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'

'Well...I'm not as young as I once was, she lives so far away & has her own busy life. I have some challenges ahead, and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I pray you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

She began to smile. 'That's a prayer that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.' She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I pray you enough,' we wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.'

Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Then, she began to cry, and walked away.

They say, it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire life to forget them.


TAKE TIME TO LIVE.......

To all my friends and loved ones I PRAY YOU ENOUGH......

Hat tip: Uncle Richard

Praying for the Person You Need To Forgive

"When you pray, go into a room

alone and close the door. Pray

to your Father in private. He

knows what is done in private,

and he will reward you."

Matthew 6:6

Praying for the Person You Need To Forgive

Beth Moore

For just a moment, envision your heart like a pitcher. When you've been hurt by another person, the habit we still retain from our old nature is to feed the heart-injury with incessant mediation. The water in the picture soon becomes cloudy, even contaminated. Praying about the person we need to forgive is the means by which we tip that pitcher heavenward and slowly begin to pour out negative feelings and frustrations out to God. As we pour out, a wonderful thing happens: we make room for God to pour in. Our omniscient God know that a heart heals when a heart changes. Until we make room for fresh contents that changes our hearts, we will never be healed from the injury and subsequent feelings of unforgiveness.

After we've practiced pouring our hearts out to God through praying about the person, it's time to additionally begin praying for the person. I already know what you may be thinking because I use to feel the same way. "Why should I pray for a person who has hurt me so badly?" God's ways are not our ways. He created our psyches, and He alone knows how they operate. He created our hearts so uniquely, so in His image, that they are forced to forgive in order to be free. God greatly honors our willingness to bless others when our human reaction would be to curse them. First Peter 3:0 says it all: "Do not repay evil for evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing." Don't miss the phrase "to this you were called." I've heard many people say, "God could never expect me to forgive or pray for blessing for that persona after all she/he has done." Oh, yes, He could. In fact, to this we were called! The invitation to bless when the rest of the world would curse is one of the very characteristics that sets us apart and causes people to take note of our faith. What have we gained if we do it our way? An ulcer? A bad heart? Unending depression? Such bitterness that no one wants to be around us? God knows what He's doing. He created the rules of the heart. When we choose to go against everything our own humanity would tells us and, instead, approach our struggle God's way, we are shocked once again to see that He was right.

Praying God's Word- Breaking Free From Spiritual Strongholds; by Beth Moore, pages 240-241, Broadman & Holman Publishers, ISBN 0800542351-6

In Touch Ministries
The Restorer of Lost Hopes
Dr. Charles Stanley
Romans 5:1-5

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Not only is Christ the source of genuine hope; He is also the restorer of lost hope. Unless we're vigilant in guarding our perspective, many situations can erode opti-mism and trust. Biblical principles are the best defense against such discouragement.

Unchanging difficult circumstances can cause despair and rob life of meaning, but Romans 5:1-5 tells us that God has a much different view about the value of trials.We are eager for our Father to just fix the problem or relieve the suffering, but He has an eternal goal in mind. His purpose in trials is to produce proven character in us, which will result in hope, not disappointment.

Personal failure is another thief of hope. Sometimes discouragement is caused by a failure to meet our own expectations. This may be evidence that we have trusted in our own abilities and plans rather than in the Lord. Remember that "our adequacy is from God" (2 Cor. 3:5).

At other times we might lose hope because, despite all our efforts, we cannot live a victorious Christian life. Old flesh patterns may seem to be winning the battle. But just as the failure originates within us, so does the solution--with the indwelling Holy Spirit. If we surrender to His authority and live in dependence upon Him, He will begin to transform us from the inside out.

Hopelessness is a miserable trap that blinds a believer from seeing the Lord. The only way out is to deliberately focus on Christ through praise, prayer, and Scripture. This is probably the last thing a discouraged person wants to do, but hope awaits those who are willing to see life from God's perspective.

Trading My Sorrows (Yes Lord)

The Lord's Prayer In Hell

John Clark holds a few of the Prisoner of War Bracelets

bearing his name that people wore during his six years

as a POW in Hanoi Hilton. Bracelets like these were often worn

by people who did not know the POW but still wanted to

keep that person in their hearts and minds. ¦ ALICIA SCHAMBURG

His story is here:

www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/11/01/


The Lord’s Prayer In Hell
by Col. Leo Thorsness

“…deliver us from evil…” (Matthew 6:13)

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Col. Thorsness tells his story in Surviving Hell: A POW's Journey

On April 30, 1967, LeoThorsness was shot down over North Vietnam. He was held and tortured for six years. Today's devotional comes from Col. Thorsness' memoirs, Surviving Hell.

The first Sunday at the Hanoi Hilton, someone said, "Let's have church service." Good idea, we all agreed. One POW volunteered to lead the service and we started gathering in the other end of the long, rectangular cell. No sooner had we gathered than an English-speaking Vietnamese officer who worked as an interrogator burst into the cell with a dozen armed guards. Ned Shuman, our Senior Ranking Officer, went to the officer and said there would not be a problem, we were just going to have a short church service. The response was unyielding: we were not allowed to gather into groups larger than three persons and absolutely could not have a church service.

During the next few days we all grumbled that we should not have backed down in our intention to have a church service and ought to do it the coming Sunday. Toward the end of the week, Ned stepped forward and said, "Are we really committed to having church Sunday?"

There was a murmuring of the assent throughout the cell. Ned said, "No, I want to know person by person if you are really committed to holding church."

We all knew the implications of our answer. If we went ahead with the plan, some would pay the price -- starting with Ned himself because he was the SRO. He went around the cell pointing to each of us individually.

"Leo, are you committed?"

"Yes."

When the 42nd man said “yes,” it was unanimous. We had 100% commitment to hold church the next Sunday. At that instant, Ned knew he would end up in the torture cells. It was different from previous Sunday. We now had a goal and we were committed. We only needed to develop a plan.

Sunday morning came and we knew they would be watching us again. Once more, we gathered in the far end of the cell. As soon as we moved together, the interrogator and guards burst through the door. Ned stepped forward and said there wouldn't be a problem, we were just going to hold a quiet, 10-minute church service and then we would spread back out in the cell. As expected, they grabbed him and hauled him off for torture.

Our plan unfolded. The second ranking man, the new SRO, stood, walked to the center of the cell and in a clear, firm voice said, "Gentlemen," our signal to stand, "the Lord's Prayer." We got perhaps halfway through the prayer when the guards grabbed the SRO and hauled him out the door.

As planned, the number three SRO stood, walked to the center of the cell and said, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." We had gotten about to "Thy kingdom come" before the guards grabbed him. Immediately, the number four SRO stood, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer."

I have never heard five or six words from the Lord's Prayer recited so loudly or so reverently. The interrogator was shouting, "Stop, stop!" but we drowned him out. The guards were now hitting POWs with gun butts and the cell was in chaos.

The number five ranking officer was way back in the corner and took his time moving toward the center of the cell. (I was number seven, and not particularly anxious for him to hurry.) But just before he got to the center of the area, the cell became pin-drop quiet.

In Vietnamese, the interrogator spat out something to the guards. They grabbed the number five SRO and they all left, locking the cell door behind them. The number six SRO began, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." This time we finished it.

Five courageous officers were tortured, but I think they believed it was worth it. From that Sunday on until we came home, we held a church service. We won. They lost. Forty-two men in prison pajamas followed Ned’s lead. I know I will never see a better example of pure, raw leadership or will ever pray with a better sense of the meaning of those words.

This Week
Thank the Lord for the freedom we have to recite His Word without fear and for the brave men and women who continue to fight for this freedom.

Prayer
“Father, help me to not take our freedom for granted. Be with those who have sacrificed so much to protect our country and our liberty. Intercede on behalf of those who are in harm’s way and bring peace to our world so that everyone can worship openly and freely."

Hear Col. Thorsness’ story this Monday as he joins James and Betty Robison on LIFE Today. Story used with permission from Encounter Books.

The True Meaning of Memorial Day

In The Morning

In the Morning
Glenn Jackson

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THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF TRUE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER AND THE STUDY OF HIS WORD IS THE "INNER CHAMBER"

...."In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch".... Psalms 5:3 NASB

...."Let me hear Your loving kindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul. Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in You. Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me. In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. And in Your lovingkindness, cut off my enemies And destroy all those who afflict my soul, For I am Your servant".... Psalms 143:8-12 NASB

It is very, very important for each and every one of us to "let go" of anything that would hinder our receiving the "revelation" of God's Word [Will] that is necessary to lead us and guide us and keep us safe in this final hour. We need to have our "closets cleaned" daily in His presence - in order to have room for the precious blessings that our loving Father has for us in this time. Again, it is important to seek the Father on what the precise food that is "needful" for us is, and "allow" Him [in and by His Spirit] to lead us each day to the specific portions of His Word - and any other "resources" He has prepared for the Body of Christ that are necessary for our edification. Again, the most important aspect of true fellowship with the Father and the study of His Word is the "inner chamber". This is simply the place wherein we enter into a close and intimate fellowship with Him in His presence - and it ALWAYS "begins" in the early morning hours. In some cases [depending on one's calling and the tasks before them] this abiding in the place of close and intimate fellowship will vary in the amount of time spent "physically" in a place wherein they are separated from the certain "distractions" that their entrance out into daily activities will bring. Each situation is unique for every believer and the Father will make very clear to the pure in heart exactly what He requires of them.

THE IMPORTANCE OF "INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP" WITH THE FATHER AND HIS WORD

Many things happen in the times of intimate fellowship that one spends with the Father and His Word each morning in the "inner chamber". First, they come into His glorious presence and are, thus, saturated by it - whether they "feel" like they are or not. Secondly, the Holy Spirit [the Spirit of wisdom and revelation] is able to reveal "mysteries" to a continually deeper degree to their heart - and in such a way that they gain the understanding needed to combat the lies and darkness that exist in the minds and hearts they will "encounter". Thirdly, in seeing [gaining a revelation of] the reality of "salvation" [Jesus Christ] and its [His] fullness and, in the light of the Father's love, seeing clearly the bondage and captivity of those who are apart from His Word [Will] they shall "fearlessly" bear the burdens of these suffering ones - and, through their intercession, cause them to be lifted up into the "fullness" of their inheritance in Christ.

THE "INNER CHAMBER" IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A HEART-ATTITUDE

This matter of the "inner chamber" is FIRST AND FOREMOST a "heart-attitude"; a heart-attitude [love for God] that can, through the exercising of an acknowledgment of the Father and His Word in ALL of our ways - cause us to be continually directed in EVERY aspect of our lives and ministries. Again, this includes what portions of God's Word are needful for us to partake of. When one begins the day in the "inner chamber" they will most surely receive there the "food" that is necessary for them and, as they go out into the day, they will have the deep assurance in their heart [strong faith] that they are "fully" equipped to both handle and overcome anything the Evil One attempts to place in their path.

Related Scriptures: Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 54:17; Proverbs 30:8b;

"I told you these things so that you can have PEACE IN ME.

In this world you will have trouble, but be brave!

I have defeated the world."

John 16:33

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THEN JESUS PRAYS FOR HIS FOLLOWERS

1 After Jesus said these things, he looked toward heaven and prayed, "Father, the time has come. Give glory to your Son so that the Son can give glory to you. 2 You gave the Son power over all people so that the Son could give eternal life to all those you gave him. 3 And this is eternal life: that people know you, the only true God, and that they know Jesus Christ, the One you sent. 4 Having finished the work you gave me to do, I brought you glory on earth. 5 And now, Father, give me glory with you; give me the glory I had with you before the world was made.

6 "I showed what you are like to those you gave me from the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your teaching. 7 Now they know that everything you gave me comes from you. 8 I gave them the teachings you gave me, and they accepted them. They knew that I truly came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for people in the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And my glory is shown through them.

11 I am coming to you; I will not stay in the world any longer. But they are still in the world. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they will be one, just as you and I are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me. I protected them, and only one of them, the one worthy of destruction, was lost so that the Scripture would come true. 13 "I am coming to you now. But I pray these things while I am still in the world so that these followers can have all of my joy in them. 14 I have given them your teaching. And the world has hated them, because they don't belong to the world, just as I don't belong to the world. 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world but to keep them safe from the Evil One. 16 They don't belong to the world, just as I don't belong to the world.

17 Make them ready for your service through your truth; your teaching is truth. 18 I have sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world. 19 For their sake, I am making myself ready to serve so that they can be ready for their service of the truth.

20 "I pray for these followers, but I am also praying for all those who will believe in me because of their teaching. 21 Father, I pray that they can be one. As you are in me and I am in you, I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I have given these people the glory that you gave me so that they can be one, just as you and I are one. 23 I will be in them and you will be in me so that they will be completely one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you loved them just as much as you loved me.

24 "Father, I want these people that you gave me to be with me where I am. I want them to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the world was made. 25 Father, you are the One who is good. The world does not know you, but I know you, and these people know you sent me. 26 I showed them what you are like, and I will show them again. Then they will have the same love that you have for me, and I will live in them." (John 17:1-28 NCV)

The Glory Forever - Dolly Parton

Will the White House Boycott the National Day of Prayer?

Will the White House boycott the National Day of Prayer?

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=512684

The 58th Annual Observance of National Day of Prayer

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Why We Pray

As American troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, President Franklin Roosevelt called for our nation to unite in prayer. He also offered a prayer to prepare each citizen for the road ahead. "Let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be. And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee." The victory that followed on June 6, 1944-also known as D-Day-began the march to Berlin. Eighteen months later, WWII was over and one of the world's greatest evils had been defeated. The prayers of a nation had been a powerful force.

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Prayer has always been used in this country for guidance, protection and strength-even before we were a nation or a handful of colonies. The Pilgrims at Plymouth relied on prayer during their first and darkest winter. Our founding fathers also called for prayer during the Constitutional Congress. In their eyes, our recently created nation and freedoms were a direct gift from God. And being a gift from God, there was only one way to insure protection-through prayer.

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President Abraham Lincoln knew this well. It was his belief that, "it is the duty of nations as well as men, to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God." When it came to the fate of the nation, he practiced what he preached. Before the battle of Gettysburg, he turned to God in prayer. "I went to my room one day and I locked the door and got down on my knees before Almighty God and prayed to him mightily for victory at Gettysburg." Won by the Union, Gettysburg was one of the turning points in the war that ended slavery and kept the states united. Today the need for prayer is as great as ever. Our nation again faces battlefields, along with an epidemic of broken homes, violence, sexual immorality and social strife. As the heroes of our nation did in the past, we must again bow our heads in prayer. We must ask the Lord to bless our leaders with wisdom and protection, and that we will have the fortitude to overcome the challenges at hand. If Roosevelt, the Pilgrims and Lincoln never underestimated the power of prayer, neither should we.

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It is our goal that you, your family and friends would participate in the National Day of Prayer. We pray that the event impacts your life, and that praying for our nation moves from a one-day event to a lifetime endeavor. So join us on the first Thursday in May and pray with conviction that God would continue to shed His grace on thee.

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Mission

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The National Day of Prayer Task Force's mission is to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for America and its leadership in the seven centers of power: Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church and Family.

Our Vision and Values

In accordance with Biblical truth, the National Day of Prayer Task Force seeks to:

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Foster unity within the Christian Church

Protect America's Constitutional Freedoms to gather, worship, pray and speak freely.

Publicize and preserve America's Christian heritage

Encourage and emphasize prayer, regardless of current issues and positions

Respect all people, regardless of denomination or creed

Be wise stewards of God's resources and provision

Glorify the Lord in word and deed

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Who We Are and What We Do

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Our Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America's leaders and its families.

The Task Force represents a Judeo Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible.

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To learn more:http://www.ndptf.org/home/index.cfm

The only thing that is beautiful in me

"Never make the blunder of trying to forecast the way God is going to answer your prayer." Oswald Chambers

"Prayer's perplexities are most often camouflaged discoveries, there for the making." Donald Cranefield

"God answers only the requests which he inspires." Ralph A. Herring

"Remember, O Lord; make thyself know in this time of our affliction, and give me courage, O King of the gods and Master of all dominion!" Additions to Esther 14:12

"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost." Book of Common Prayer

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"The only thing that is beautiful in me" - Rush of Fools
Music Video by paikimchung

God's Love Letter

"Anything large enough for a wish to light upon is large enough to hang a prayer on." George MacDonald

"Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom." Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"The reason we must ask God for things he already intends to give us is that he wants us to teach us dependence, especially our needs for himself." Erwin W. Lutzer

"Your needs are absolutely guaranteed by the most stringent of warranties, in the plainest, truest words! Knock, seek; ask. But you must read the fine print. "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you." Annie Dillard


God's Love Letter
Music Video by JAHficionado

Give us today our daily bread

"I have treasured THE WORDS of His mouth more than my daily bread."

"But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." Job 23:8-11

"This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:9-15


Lord's Prayer by Jennifer Knapp
Music Video tanksta8454

The Storm Became The Path

The Storm on the Sea of Galilee

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

The Storm Became The Path

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READ Luke 6:1-49

SITUATION Jesus called and appointed his apostles. He spent the next three years teaching them.

OBSERVATION The night before Jesus appointed the Twelve Apostles, he prayed.

INSPIRATION "Jesus went off to a mountain to pray . . ." (Luke 6:12).

Maybe he didn't ask for anything. Maybe he just stood quietly in the presence of Presence and basked in the Majesty. Perhaps he place his war-weary self before the throne and rested.

Maybe he lifted his head out of the confusion of earth long enough to hear the solution of heaven. Perhaps he was reminded that hard hearts don't faze the Father. That problem people don't perturb the Eternal One.

We don't know what he did or what he said. But we do know the result. The hill became a steppingstone; the storm became the path. And the disciples saw Jesus as they had never seen him before.

During the storm, Jesus prayed. The sky darkened. The winds howled. Yet he prayed. The people grumbled. The disciples doubted. Yet he prayed. When forced to choose between the muscles of men and the mountain of prayer, he prayed.

Jesus did not try to do it by himself. Why should you?

There are crevasses in your life that you cannot cross alone. There are hearts in your world that you cannot change without help. There are mountains that you cannot climb until you climb his mountain.

Climb it. You will be amazed. (From In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado)

APPLICATION All around you people are hurting, even Christian brother and sisters. Think of how you can meet their needs and encourage them. Follow Jesus' example and pray for them.

EXPLORATION Discipleship--Matthew 10:42; 28:19; Luke 14:33; John 8:31-32; 13:35; 15:8.

The Devotional Bible - Experiencing the Heart of Jesus , Max Lucado General Editor, New Century Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers

The Damage of Prayerlessness

"Adoration is the highest form of prayer."

Louis Cassels

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The Damage of Prayerlessness

Dr. Charles Stanley
Colossians 4:2-6

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Prayer is a priority for any person who is used mightily by God. Jesus often slipped away to spend quiet moments with His Father. If the Son of God needed prayer time, then we certainly cannot live well without it! Yesterday we saw that those who go it alone become weary bearing unnecessary burdens. Today we will look at the results of slogging through life under that extra weight.

When someone is spiritually, emotionally, or physically drained, he or she becomes susceptible to discouragement. Joshua was exhorted to meditate upon the Law, because his success was dependent upon following God's will (Josh. 1:8-9). Keeping the Lord at the center of one's focus builds confidence. Without prayer and Bible reading--which cannot be separated--believers enter a vicious cycle where troubles loom ever larger as man-made solutions fail. Under such conditions, discouragement is unavoidable.

Loss of confidence is soon followed by doubt. A believer immersed in prayer and Scripture reading will find security in the Lord's power and presence. But someone who questions God's faithfulness will look for refuge everywhere except in those disciplines. Eventually, he or she is going to step out of God's will while chasing a counterfeit solution. Sadly, a testimony-damaging situation often results.

Forsaking prayer results in a downward slide, but the good news is that the direction can be reversed at any time. The corrective steps are simple: confess your prayerlessness and then prioritize a regular quiet time with the Lord. In those moments of communion, He will make burdens light, offer encouragement, and fill His children with confidence.

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WORDS TO WARM THE HEART

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"I love the Lord, for he has heard me and listened to my prayer." Psalm 116:1

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"The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer." Frederick Brotherton (F.B.) Meyer

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"God has not always answered my prayers. If he had. I would have married the wrong man--several times!" Ruth Graham Bell

"All my discoveries have been made in answer to prayer." Sir Issac Newton

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"There is a communion with God that asks for nothing, yet asks for everything . . . He who seeks the Father more than anything he can give is likely to have what he asks, for he is not likely to ask amiss." George MacDonald

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"Therefore with Angels, and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of they glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord most High. Amen."

--Book of Common Prayer

Praying God's Word: Overcoming the Enemy

"Satan dines on what we withhold from God."

Francis Frangipane,

The Three Battlefields

Praying God's Word: Overcoming the Enemy
Beth Moore

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d"Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge. I say to You, Lord, "You are my Lord apart from you I have no good thing." (Psalm 16:1-2)

"Lord, my God, show the wonder of Your great love. You who save me by Your right hand those who take refuge in You from their foes. Keep me Lord as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of our wings from the wicked who assail me." (Psalm 17:7-9)

"Reach down from on high, my God and my Redeemer, and take hold of me! Draw me out of deep waters. Rescue me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who are too strong for me! My enemy has confronted me in the day of my disaster, by You, Lord, are my support! Bring me to a spacious place; rescue me because You delight in me! (Psalm 18:16-19)

"As for You, my God, Your way is perfect; Your word is flawless. You are a shield for all who take refuge in You." (Psalm 18:30

"The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! You are the God who avenges me, who subdues and saves me from my enemy! Therefore, I will praise You among nations, O Lord; I will sing praises to Your name. You give great victories, Lord God; You show Your unfailing kindness to Your anointed ones. (Psalm 18:46-50)

"I trust in You, Lord, so I'll let You rescue me. Teach me to delight in You and deliver me, O God." (Psalm 22:8)

.........."When the Archenemy finds a weak place in the walls of our castles, he takes care where to plant his battering ram and being his siege. You may conceal it from your friend, but you will not conceal it from your worst Enemy. He has lynx eyes and detects in a moment the weak point in your armor. He goes about with a match, and though you may think you have covered all the gunpowder of your heart, he knows how to find a crack to put his match through. Much mischief will he do unless eternal mercy prevents."

.-..C-Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon on Prayer and Spiritual Warfare

"Though my enemy plots evil against me and devises wicked schemes, he will not succeed if I am walking with You, O God. You will make him turn his back when you aim at him with drawn bow. Be exalted, O Lord, in YOUR strength! I will sing and praise Your might! (Psalm 21:11-13)

"You, the Lord, are my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? You, the Lord, are the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? When evil advances against me, cause him to stumble and fall. Though an unseen army besiege me, cause my heart not to fear; though war breaks out against me, even then will I be confident. . . .Because . . . one thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek You in Your temple. (Psalm 27:1-4)

"Lord God, in the day of trouble, keep me safe in Your dwelling. Hide me in the shelter of Your tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Cause my head to be exalted above the enemy surrounding me. Then remind me to offer You the sacrifice with shouts of joy, and help me to sing and make music to You, Lord! (Psalm 27:5-6)

Praying God's Word - Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds, Beth Moore, pages 313-317; Broadman & Holman Publishsers, ISBN 080542351-6

Revelatory Prayer

REVELATORY PRAYER

by Greg Manalli

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The apostle Paul prayed more than he preached. I conclude this from his own confession that he “ceased not” to make mention of the Ephesians in his prayers. This is the same man who exhorted us to pray without ceasing, 1Thes 2:13, 5:17, 2Tim 1:3 with Eph. 6:18. He wouldn’t ask what he didn’t do himself.

Why so much prayer when he had so much revelation? He was an excellent teacher despite what some thought. No one had his revelations. They form the cornerstones of New Testament doctrine. One would think that the teachings themselves would have such weight of influence that they would automatically accomplish what they revealed. They didn’t and they couldn’t and he knew it. He knew that something more must be added to what he taught in order to drive in the truth.

This something more was prayer and specific prayer. Not just any prayer would do, but prayer aimed at penetrating the inward man to reveal something that would ultimately take over the believer. He knew that what one beholds is what one is conformed to or better, transformed into.

We can say that without seeing something it is very difficult to comprehend or grasp ideas. We say in our vernacular “do you see what I am saying?” and “do you see what I mean?” We often fail with mere words, as powerful as they are, to get across the point we wish to make. We need something more.

That something more is prayer for the working of the Holy Spirit, who after all is the teacher of the church in the same manner that Jesus was a teacher while on the earth. Our gifts beloved have a powerful, yet limited role. Even by the Spirit they do not take the place of the Spirit. He must take over after we have done our thing and then do His thing.

The specifics I wish to address have to do with Paul’s prayer in Eph. 1:16-19. “ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” The prayer goes on, but I must stop here and focus on the aspect of revelation.

Paul’s specific request of the Father is for the Holy Spirit to give wisdom and revelation (enlightenment). The specific wisdom and revelation is about knowing God better. This is not book learning and bible teaching, but Spirit to spirit impartation. Why would such a great communicator beg for the Spirit to do what we would perhaps think could be done with super oratory skills? Super oratory skills fall short when attempting to convey this kind of revelation. Paul did not receive his revelations through some bible course.

There were two times that Paul had enlightenment from God about God. The first was on the road to Damascus, Acts 9:3-6. Jesus appeared to him and though he couldn’t see the Lord physically, he heard Him and knew He was present in a blinding LIGHT. Such light was itself significant of revelation and enlightenment. The experience was beyond a moment of teaching. Paul was blinded to the old and enlightened to the new.

The second reference of enlightenment of God is in Gal. 1:16. He states that it was a pleasure of God to reveal His son in him. This obviously was the beginning of the formation of the doctrine of the Indwelling Christ. The revelation was inward in the inner man and Paul could desire no less for the new Christian. He knew that what God had done for him He would do for them, if he asked. Therefore he was not confident in his preaching alone as a means of conveying this revelation. Since he had received it by the Spirit, he knew others would have to receive it the same way.

The solution was prayer. The solution is still prayer. I confess, we take too much pride in speaking. We must learn to speak and pray with equal emphasis. No, pray even more than speak. We have the example right in front of us. If Paul who had first hand revelation conceded it was necessary for prayer in order to transmit the vision, then who are we?

And his prayer was ceaseless. In other words, he prayed more than he preached and I think had more confidence in prayer to God the Father that the Holy Spirit would accomplish what preaching alone would not. We must pray, all of us for the same revelations.

To begin with we must have a powerful revelation of God our Father and the Lord Himself. Without that we are limited in scope of knowledge. Our Lord must be revealed in us the same way He was to Paul. We must know the indwelling Christ. Further without knowing our Father, how can we know the love of the Father? How can we have faith? Just who is our faith in if not the person(s) of God and the Son. Surely we are not to have faith in ourselves, as if we could just believe in our ability to believe and make all things possible.

To get this revelation, we too must pray and without ceasing. We cannot leave it to others to do what we should. I for one am praying more and more for the church, its leaders and myself. It is clear that I am to encourage pastors and other five-fold ministry to pray the same revelations. Tell me what ministry and what believer and what church can go on without them? I consider this an apostolic mandate for any apostle.

The first need of having a revelation of our God is primary to all the others. Everything else flows from the knowledge of Him. He is our ground, the Lord himself the foundation of the church. The further requests of the prayer in Eph.1: 16-23, include our enlightenment for knowing the hope of our calling, the tremendous inheritance that is within us and the extraordinary power that is at work in us who believe. All these are Spirit impartations to the heart or inner man. Illumination comes to the darkened soul void of understanding and unable to comprehend any other way except Spirit to spirit, 1Cor 2:13-15.

It is clear by the order that Paul places the desired revelations, that knowing God our Father and the Lord personally by the Spirit, precedes all the rest of the enlightenment. So it is to that that we are in this present time called and commissioned. To be bankrupt of the deep spiritual understanding of our God is to make us not much better than heathens worshipping dumb idols. It shall not be so.

Let us be as clear and precise as possible. We must pray exactly like Paul prayed and then in the Holy Spirit with personal requests to know Him more and more. As He is revealed inwardly and we see Him, we become changed into what we behold. Then as Paul, we preach who is revealed inwardly. We no longer talk about the Lord as if we had some information of Him. We express Him as the One we intimately know. It is this that will make the believer strong. “The people that do know their god shall be strong and do exploits” Dan. 11:32.

And when do we stop? When is the job finished? That is the way we think isn’t it? The answer by now should be easy. We don’t stop this side of eternity. How much God can you know? We will know as much of Him as we pray for. It will only get better and better. We will be changed more and more and His power will become more and more available to the people who know their God.

greg@folchurch.org

The Wonder Of Your Cross

"Jesus, my STRENGTH, my HOPE,
One Thee I CAST my care,
With HUMBLE confidence LOOK up,
And KNOW Thou hear'st my prayer.
Give on Thee to WAIT,
Till I can all things do,
On Thee, almighty to create,
Almighty to RENEW."

- Charles Wesley

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"To pray effectively we must want what God wants--that and that only is to pray in the will of God." Aiden Wilson (A.W.) Tozer

"Prayer allows us a direct relationship with the one person who can save us from the evil that invades our hearts." James Houston

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The Wonder of Your Cross - Robin Mark
Music Video by coolram52: I put together this video of Robin Mark's song "The Wonder Of Your Cross". Very powerful song. Robin Mark is a popular worship leader in Northern Ireland, probably best known for his song "Days Of Elijah." This song is pretty representative of his style, so if you like this one you should check out his other music

Deliver Us from the Evil One

Evil is like a small fire.

First, it burns weeds and thorns.

Next, it burns the larger bushes in the forest,

and they all go up in a column of smoke.

The Lord All-Powerful is angry,

so the land will be burned.

The people are like fuel for the fire;

no one will try to save his brother or sister.

Isaiah 9: 18-19


Deliver Us from the Evil One
by Max Lucado

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The next-to-last phrase in the Lord’s prayer is a petition for protection from Satan: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Is such a prayer necessary? Would God ever lead us into temptation? James 1:13 says, “When people are tempted they should not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ Evil cannot tempt God, and God himself does not tempt anyone.” If God does not tempt us, then why pray, “Lead us not into temptation”? These words trouble the most sophisticated theologian.

But they don’t trouble a child. And this is a prayer for the child-like heart. This is a prayer for those who look upon God as their Abba. This is a prayer for those who have already talked to their Father about provision for today (“Give us our daily bread.”) and pardon for yesterday (“Forgive us our debts.”). Now the child needs assurance about protection for tomorrow.

The phrase is best understood with a simple illustration. Imagine a father and son walking down an icy street. The father cautions the boy to be careful, but the boy is too excited to slow down. He hits the first patch of ice. Up go the feet and down plops the bottom. Dad comes along and helps him to his feet. The boy apologizes for disregarding the warning and then, tightly holding his father’s big hand, he asks, “Keep me from the slippery spots. Don’t let me fall again.”

The Father is so willing to comply. “The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Ps. 37:23–24 TLB). Such is the heart of this petition. It’s a tender request of a child to a father. The last few slips have taught us—the walk is too treacherous to make alone. So we place our small hand in his large one and say, “Please, Abba, keep me from evil.”

From The Great House of God©

(Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001) Max Lucado

What If God Says No?

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What If God Says No?

Max Lucado

READ Philippians 4:1-23

SITUATION Paul expressed joy and thanked the Philippians for their support. In addition to earlier gifts, they willingly sent financial support with Epaphroditus for Paul during his imprisonment.

OBSERVATION God knows our needs and promises to provide for them. We are to trust him with an attitude of thanksgiving and find contentment in what we are given.


INSPIRATION There are times when the one thing you want is the one thing you never get. You're not being picky or demanding; you're only obeying his command to "ask God for everything you need" (Philippians 4:6). All you want is an open door or an extra day or an answered prayer, for which you will be thankful.

And so you pray and wait.
No answer.
You pray and wait.
No answer.
You pray and wait.
May I ask a very important question? What is God says no?

What if the request is delayed or even denied? When God says no to you, how do you respond? If God says I have given you my grace and that is enough," will you be content?

Content: That's the word. A state of heart in which you would be at peace if God gave you nothing more that he already has. Test yourself with this question: What is God's only gift to you were his grace to save you? Would you be content? You beg him to save the life of your child. You plead with him to keep your business afloat. You implore him to remove the cancer from your body. What if his answer is, "My grace is enough"? Would you be content?

You see, from heaven's perspective, grace is enough. If God did nothing more than save you from hell, could anyone complain? If God saved our souls and then left us to spend our lives leprosy-struck on a deserted island would he be unjust? Having been given heavenly riches, dare we bemoan earthly poverty?

Let me be quick to add, God has not left you with "just salvation." If you have eyes to read these words, hands to hold this book, the means to own this volume, he has already given you grace upon grace. The vast majority of us have been saved and then blessed even more!

But there are those times when God, having given us his grace, hears our appeals and says, "My grace is sufficient for you." Is he being unfair?

In God Came Near I've told how our oldest daughter fell into a swimming pool when she was two years old. A friend saw her and pulled her to safety. What I didn't tell was what happened the next morning in my prayer time. I made a special effort to record my gratitude in my journal. I told God how wonderful he was for saving her. As clearly as if God himself were speaking, this question came to mind: Would I be less wonderful had I let her drown? Would I be any less a good God for calling her home? Would I still be receiving your praise this morning had I not saved her?

Is God still a good God when he says no? (From In The Grip of Grace by Max Lucado)

APPLICATION Make a mental list of how God has provided for you in the past. Use that as the basis for recognizing how he will provide for your needs in the future. Instead of complaining or worrying, taking your requests directly to the Lord.

EXPLORATION Contentment --

"The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need." Psalm 23:1

"So I tell you, don't worry about the food or drink you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. Look at the birds in the air. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it."

"And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don't have so little faith! Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you. So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

"Serving God does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have. We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out. But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that. Those who want to become rich bring temptation to themselves and are caught in a trap. They want many foolish and harmful things that ruin and destroy people. The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have left the faith, because they wanted to get more money, but they have caused themselves much sorrow. But you, man of God, run away from all those things. Instead, live in the right way, serve God, have faith, love, patience, and gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:6-11

The Devotional Bible - Experiencing the Heart of Jesus, Max Lucado General Editor, New Century Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers

When You Speak, God Hears

When You Speak, God Hears
by Max Lucado

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Those who pray keep alive the watch fires of faith. For the most part we don’t even know their names. Such is the case of someone who prayed on a day long ago. His name is not important. He is important not because of who he was, but because of what he did.

He went to Jesus on behalf of a friend. His friend was sick, and Jesus could help, and someone needed to go to Jesus, so someone went. Others cared for the sick man in other ways. Some brought food; others provided treatment; still others comforted the family. Each role was crucial. Each person was helpful, but no one was more vital than the one who went to Jesus.

John writes: “So Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick’” (John 11:3, emphasis mine).

Someone carried the request. Someone walked the trail. Someone went to Jesus on behalf of Lazarus. And because someone went, Jesus responded.

In the economy of heaven, the prayers of saints are a valued commodity. John the apostle would agree. He wrote the story of Lazarus and was careful to show the sequence: The healing began when the request was made.

The phrase the friend of Lazarus used is worth noting. When he told Jesus of the illness, he said, “The one you love is sick.” The power of the prayer, in other words, does not depend on the one who makes the prayer but on the one who hears the prayer.

We can and must repeat the phrase in manifold ways. “The one you love is tired, sad, hungry, lonely, fearful, depressed.” The words of the prayer vary, but the response never changes. The Savior hears the prayer. He silences heaven so he won’t miss a word. The Master heard the request. Jesus stopped whatever he was doing and took note of the man’s words. This anonymous courier was heard by God.

John’s message is critical. You can talk to God because God listens. Your voice matters in heaven. He takes you very seriously. When you enter his presence, the attendants turn to you to hear your voice. No need to fear that you will be ignored. Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God—and he listens.

Intently. Carefully. The prayers are honored as precious jewels. Purified and empowered, the words rise in a delightful fragrance to our Lord. “The smoke from the incense went up from the angel’s hand to God” (Rev. 8:4). Incredible. Your words do not stop until they reach the very throne of God.

One call and heaven’s fleet appears. Your prayer on earth activates God’s power in heaven.

You are the someone of God’s kingdom. Your prayers move God to change the world. You may not understand the mystery of prayer. You don’t need to. But this much is clear: Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth. What an amazing thought!

When you speak, Jesus hears.

And when Jesus hears, the world is changed.

All because someone prayed.

From For These Though Times: Reaching Toward Heaven for Hope and Healing © (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006) Max Lucado