Home Tags Posts tagged with "How to Pray"
Tag:

How to Pray

ArticlesFeaturedNewsVideo

God Appears In Eric Gilmour’s Dream To Show Him How To Pray

by Le-Jovale Vallejo
written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

When Eric Gilmour asked God how exactly to pray, He appeared in his dream and told him what to do.

Eric Gilmour

Eric Gilmour is a musician, author, and itinerant speaker who travels sharing the Good News. He and his wife, Brooke, founded Sonship International, a teaching organization dedicated to church growth. Their hearts are set on bringing the church closer to God’s presence in their daily lives. Eric’s music and teachings have helped millions of people connect to the presence of God.

With this mission in mind, he encourages his audience to fully depend on God. “We must always be careful never to use spiritual disciplines, fasting, or theology as a replacement for simple dependency.”

But there was also a point in his life when he struggled to pray. So he asked God about it.

God Appears In His Dream

“One day I asked the Lord to teach me to pray before I went to sleep. And I slipped into a dream. And this doesn’t happen very often. I’m not a prophet. I don’t have dreams like this all the time. I said, “Lord, please show me what prayer is. Teach me,” he said.

Even though he was waiting for God to answer, he didn’t expect that He would show up in his dream.

READ: HUSBAND WORSHIPS GOD UPON FINDING OUT WIFE’S PREGNANCY AFTER 6 YEARS OF INFERTILITY

“And in the dream… I fall asleep, and what begins to happen is I see this old Italian cafe with two cups of coffee. He’s sitting on one side and I’m sitting on the other. There’s nobody else there. It’s just him and me. So, I sat down across from him; we both had cups of coffee. He said nothing. I said nothing. We’re just aware of each other’s presence,” he recalled.

God Appears In His Dream And Tells Him How To Pray

Initially, Eric didn’t know what had just happened or what the meaning behind his dream was.

Then he asked God, “Lord, what was that?”

Then it dawned on him that it was the answer to the question he asked before sleeping.

“And I felt like the Lord told me, “You wanted me to teach you how to pray.”
I’m like, could it be so simple that all it is: JUST TO BE WITH HIM!”

Header image: Eric Gilmour [wearenationschurch]. Instagram, 27 August 2023, https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cwa5seCtFKF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
Do not be afraid...You have access to Heaven on earth
FaithToday's Encouragement

Do Not Be Afraid…You Have Access To Heaven On Earth

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

“So He said to them, ‘When you pray, say, ‘our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread and forgive us our sins. For we also forgive everyone who’s indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one'” (Luke chapter 11:2-4).

This passage ought to be one of the most endearing words of Jesus. It’s so personal, direct, and powerful. It really condenses the core of the Gospel. I remember teaching my children to talk when they were toddlers. The first thing we tend to teach them is our identity as parents. We wait for them to call us as ‘Mama’ or ‘Papa’. That just establishes the relationship we share with them. We eagerly wait and cherish that moment when that happens.

The passage I read reinforces two things. Love God and love your neighbor. God is teaching us to address Him as Father. What an incredible privilege that is for us. We often take this for granted. The close and personal relationship we can share with our Savior. No other religion can boast of this privilege. It just breaks down all the barriers and establishes a very close and powerful relationship. It reveals that God is for us. He’s generous and He’s gracious, and He’s teaching us to pray this prayer every day.

As we grow older, it’s hard for us to live for the day. We prefer the long-term view of things; secure everything for the future. But here, God says to take each day at a time, not just the provision, but our relationship with Him. We need to redefine our relationship with Him every day and receive His grace.

Friends, I just want to encourage you, if you are going through a difficult time or facing fear of an uncertain future, just stop everything and say the prayer. Take your time and say it, “Our Father in heaven.”  Relish that relationship. Acknowledge that we need His grace every day. Make an effort to forgive others. Just do it day after day, not as a ritual, but make it relational. Remember, you have access to heaven on earth. Your heavenly Father is just a prayer away.

We are so blessed by our partners around the world who faithfully give to GOD TV.  It humbles us when we receive donations from around the world, from people who’ve been blessed by the ministry of GOD TV.  You know, we are called to preach the Gospel to all the nations of the earth, and we cannot do this without you. So I want to invite you today to give generously to GOD TV, so that we can continue airing the Gospel of Jesus to the nations of the earth.

________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
Your Prayers Matter
FaithToday's Encouragement

Your Prayers Matter

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Guys, did you know that your prayers matter? They actually matter. They shift things in the earth. You know, it’s like we have our personal prayer time with the Lord where we pray for things that are concerning us, whether it’s, you know, your finances, your family, your job, whatever it is. But then the Lord calls us to a place, an intercession, where we begin to partner with Him and we begin to pray the prayers of Jesus.

The word says that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. And so I just wanna encourage you, prayer, intercession is such a powerful tool where you can say, “God, what are you praying?” You know, we see just so many things on the news. I feel like we’re just being bombarded with just chaos in the earth right now, and it’s so easy to become overwhelmed. But guys, God has a solution. And we can take time and we can say, “Lord, what are you praying about this situation?” And we take time and we listen, and then we begin to partner with Him, and we begin to pray the prayers of Jesus on the earth.

And sometimes I don’t feel like I have enough faith, and I don’t feel like my prayers matter, but I know for sure that I can bank on the prayers of Jesus. And so I lean in and I say, “God, what are you praying about this situation? What is your heart for this situation?” And then I just begin to pray out what I feel like the Lord is saying, you know, about whatever it is that’s on His heart.

And so I just really just want to encourage the body that we would begin to step into just that deeper realm of intersection, that deeper place of just praying, just partnering with God. You know, the word says, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray.”  It doesn’t say if we will humble ourselves and make Facebook posts and Instagram posts, if we will humble ourselves and become loud and angry. But it says, if we will humble ourselves and pray, then God will heal our land.

And so, I’m just gonna take time just to pray for our nation right now, and just that faith would arise in you to just begin to pray just the intercession of Jesus. And so, Lord, we just humble ourselves and we just, we pray God for our nation, Lord, we ask that you would just give us your burden for this nation, God, that you would give us your burden for people, for people groups, for cities, God. For states, Lord. God, that you would yet just begin to just pour out the intersection of Jesus on the earth, God. And that we would see just a wave of healing, God, just touch our land. God, where there is pain, God, where there is blood crying out in the streets, God, that your blood speaks a better word over this nation. God, we ask that you would finish the good thing that you started, God, that you would make your name known in the earth. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
God's Will For You
FaithToday's Encouragement

God’s Will For You

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV


You know, often we’re asking God, “God, what do you want for my life? God, what’s your will for me?” Right? And we’ll ask these questions like, we don’t know, or we’re seeking instruction. And God is way more interested in being with us than us doing things for Him. So listen to this beautiful set of verses in 1 Thessalonians. I’m reading from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, and it says, “Be happy in your faith and rejoice and be glad-hearted continuously. Be unceasing in prayer, praying perseveringly. And thank God in everything. No matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks. For this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus.”

Isn’t that beautiful? This is how we get to say, “God, what is your will for us?” And He goes, “You know what? Be happy, rejoice. Rejoice always, pray continuously, and be thankful.”  Super simple, right? Super simple little formula that He’s given us that helps us throughout our day.

My husband and I moved home two weeks ago. And it is hot here where we live. So in the middle of going up and down stairs with boxes and sweating, and trying to get things into the back of the van, one of the things we caught ourselves doing was, you know, carrying a heavy box, sweating profusely and going, “Lord, thank you so much for a few clouds today. Lord, thank you that we have a truck to go to. Thank you that we have friends to help us move.” And we just found ourselves bubbling up with thankfulness. And this is what happens as we live these three little instructions from the Lord.

Rejoice always, pray unceasingly, and be thankful. This is a beautiful formula that no matter what is happening in our lives, it keeps us mindful of God. It keeps us thankful. It keeps us constantly talking to Him about everything that’s going on in our day. So, the next time you are out doing something, the next time you are making food, the next time you are taking a bath, anything that you’re doing, remember that you get to do these things: rejoice always, pray continuously, and be thankful, because this is the will of God for you.

Thank you so much, Lord, that you care so much about the practical pieces of our lives. You care so much about helping us to walk out the truth of your word, walk out relationship, see you as our Dad, and walk in the world like you get us to do everyday. Thank you so much, Lord, that we get to do this with you in Jesus name. Amen.

________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
What Are You For?
FaithFeaturedToday's Encouragement

What Are You For?

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

You know, whatever we focus on grows. And the Bible says, you know, the Lord is for us and not against us. And you know, it’s very interesting to hear people pray. You know, I serve on the prayer line at my church, and when people come up and they’re asking for prayer, I really don’t want them to share the whole entire story of what they need prayer for. It’s not because I don’t want to hear it and I don’t have compassion, but whatever you focus on grows.

And so if somebody broke their foot and they come up for prayer, and they tell me, “I was running and then this happened, and it was so terrible,” we’re about to pray for their foot to be healed, but we spent 10 minutes talking about how it’s broken and hurting and all these things, and those are facts, but whatever you focus on grows, and I want to encourage you, we can pray against something or we can pray for something. Even, you know, like the broken foot, I could pray against falling and pain and all this stuff, or I could pray for healing.

And so I want to encourage you. In the Kingdom, that as you’re praying, no matter what it is, if you’re pressing in for breakthrough, if you need financial provision, whatever it is in your life, that you’re needing a breakthrough, and that you’re wanting to see a promise fulfilled, or a desire fulfilled, or a dream that you’ve been going after that God put in your heart, I want to encourage you, as you pray into that, pray what you’re for.

I want to share another quick story. I was at a worship night and somebody asked, “Who needs prayer?” A couple of us came over and put a hand on this guy who’s hand was up. And I just had a yucky feeling. And that’s what I was sensing, is something yucky. And instead of praying, “I break the spirit of perversion, I pray against any temptations,” instead of focusing on all what I was sensing and picking up on, I released freedom, and health and wholeness. And I had started praying for what I was for, because if I spent the whole time praying for what I was against, it’s giving that thing attention. And it doesn’t mean that it’s not there, it just means that we can pray in the opposite spirit.

If I’m having a very frustrating day, I will move in the opposite spirit. I don’t want to be frustrated. That’s not where I want to live my life. I want to step into joy. The joy of the Lord is my strength. And so I’ll start pondering, I’ll start focusing on what has God done? What have I seen God do? And I’ll let that joy bubble up. And that’s how I shift. As I begin to pray, I’m not praying against frustration, because I’m so focused on it, but I start praying, “Lord, thank you that your joy is my strength. Thank you for this time that you did this. Thank you for speaking to me here. Thank you for breakthrough.” And as I focus on that, it grows.

So I want to pray for you right now that you would have a grace that you would be aware of the facts, but that you would be able to release the opposite spirit. You would be able to pray for what you are for and not for what you’re against. And I just bless you to focus on what God is doing and not what’s not happening, in Jesus’ name.

________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
ArticlesFaith

Do You Trust God Fully?

by Navigator Jo
written by Navigator Jo

Prayer. Inadvertently and I guess, through ignorance, I spent the first 50 years of my life praying in a particular way and from a specific perspective. This was what I was taught and I didn’t think to consider an alternative. This type of prayer usually referred to as “intercession” is essentially an exercise in begging God to be merciful, kind or loving towards us or our loved ones. Honestly, this is how I prayed for years, and many believers still do. But Holy Spirit has now (I believe) explained to me how pointless and foolish this is.

God Does Not Need Persuasion

Much of the time this is asking God to prove He is good by solving my problem or meeting my need. This is rather like asking water to be wet or the sun to be warm. It’s a waste of energy and it exposes the belief that God won’t be good unless I spend hours on my knees. It also assumes that God won’t be good, kind, loving, or merciful unless I plead with Him and get others to beg along with me. Sometimes I still catch myself coming to God in this begging mode that assumes He may not be my loving Father unless I persuade Him.

God Does Not Ignore Us

Do we believe that God will not be true to Himself? He may ignore me? If He truly loved me He would solve all my problems. His primary interest is an intimate and deepening relationship with us.
“The way in which God demonstrates His love for us is not (often) by solving our problem, issue, challenge or need.” It is vital that we grasp that the Lord loves us whether He solves our problem issue or not.

It’s good to frequently remember who God already is and what he has already done to demonstrate this goodness and mercy over and over again. Take time out to meditate on His love and goodness and recall the times and situations where He demonstrated that. Then lock into your mind and spirit the awareness of His amazing heart. To then look at our challenges or needs from this “focused” place will radically change our perspective of that issue.
God is always a good father, Jesus continues to redeem us and Holy Spirit is always by our side. If we find ourselves thinking or feeling that these facts are not true for us, then we are misunderstanding God. The answer is to go deeper relationally with Him. Fear subsides in His presence. Doubts are displaced by His love and problems find their proper place.

Prayer: Final Words

This is learning to see our issues in the light of who God is, rather than our problems shaping our view of who God is. This is transformational for a believer. Stop praying in the old way and it will reorient perspective. Praying in the new way will revolutionise your impact on your world. This transition always opens up the whole realm of declaration and pronouncing blessing.

Navigator Jo

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
Prayer life
Faith

6 Ways To Improve Your Prayer Life

by Jessica Kastner
written by Jessica Kastner

I believe prayer is one of the most under utilized, underestimated practices in the church today. We have the ability to talk to the creator of the universe on a daily, momentary basis, asking for anything in His will…and yet how many of us can honestly say we designate daily times of prayer? Especially during these tumultuous times, we all need daily contact with God. Without participating in daily prayer, we’re like a group of tourists standing in front of a gourmet buffet, complaining that we’re starving. Prayer changes everything. It means the different between carrying out our days in peace or chaos, being connected or disconnected to the Lord, and seeing answers and direction to questions and problems. If you want a better, more consistent prayer life, these six tips will help significantly.

Designate A Daily Prayer Time

Committing to daily prayer time can be like those allusive date nights we say we’re going to plan every week. Our intentions are good, but unless we designate a time and stick to it, it’ll never happen. I believe mornings are the best time for prayer, but if you can’t set the alarm 15 minutes earlier, it can be any time. In your car on lunch break. 15 minutes before the kids get home, or before bed, etc. We’re all stretched so thin, and it can be SO hard carving out time daily when we can barely army crawl to bed at night, but it’s so worth it.

Be Thankful

If we want a more effective prayer life, we can’t forget to add the element of praise and thanks. This might seem awkward at first, like we’re disingenuously thanking God to get on his good side, but God has a strategy. When we posture ourselves in praise, our spirits are naturally lifted. We’re reminded of how much we have (SO Much) even if we’re going through seasons of dryness and/or disappointment. Healthy kids, a husband who loves us, a recently answered prayer, etc.) This sets our hearts in the right place before petitioning God for our needs. When we’re in a state of praise, we’re more apt to pray his will, and hear his voice. Hence a more fulfilling prayer life.

Meditate on Scripture

Ephesians 6:10-20 describes prayer as a weapon of spiritual warfare. If we want a more powerful prayer life, it’s helpful to know the tools and gifts we innately possess. Here are some of the most vital scriptures on prayer:

Thessalonians 5:16–18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Philippians 4:6–7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

1 John 5:14–15: “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

Mark 11:24: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ”

James 5:16: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Incorporate Worship Into Your Prayer Time

If you have the time and space to incorporate times of worship into your prayer life, it greatly amplifies the experience. Worship helps align our hearts with Him, and silences the enemy. It postures our spirits towards gratefulness and peace, ripening us for a more intimate, powerful prayer time. Fear, sinful thoughts, anger and and anxiety all flee during worship, allowing us to pray with more boldness, and clarity.

Pray Specifically

God doesn’t desire  daily prayer because he needs reminding of our needs. He isn’t forgetful. Or lonely.  He just enjoys talking with us. He wants us to tell him how we’re feeling, what our worries are, what we’re hoping for, just as we do our best friends or spouses. He wants us to pray specifically. It can be tempting to pray in general phrases like “help my spouse and I to become closer,”  because we know God’s aware of our needs, but I find prayer to be so much more impactful when going further than the blanket supplications. This way, when he does answer our prayers, it’s much more meaningful and moving…it becomes more of  a partnership than just a daily list of asks.

Don’t Forget To Listen

I read a quote year’s ago that always stuck with me. It said prayer should entail more listening than talking. If prayer is a conversation with the Lord, we need to incorporate times of listening into our prayer time. Prayer is a conversation, and no one enjoys one sided talks. Try incorporating small times of silence before scooting off to start/continue our day after prayer. This can feel awkward at first, but God will honor your efforts, and you will hear that quiet voice of the Holy Spirit if you make room for him.

Prayer is such a precious gift. God will honor any effort we make to hear His voice clearer. Don’t let the enemy turn our prayer times into a religious exercise. When you forget your quiet time, don’t feel guilty, just get back into your routine tomorrow. And don’t forget to create a prayer request list/answered prayer list or journal, it’s super encouraging!

_______

Read more on the GOD TV Blog – www.christianlearning.com

You can also watch GOD TV –  god.tv

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
Articles

How To Pray: Pray The Answer, Not The Problem

by John Mathai
written by John Mathai

Pray the answer: How To Pray

Prayer is two-way communication between God and us. However, most of the time we pray asking God to meet our needs. Or pray for the needs of others. We are almost begging God to be merciful and to be the answer to our needs. Unfortunately, our prayers are so focused on our needs that we forget that God wants a relationship with us rather than being an ATM machine. We treat God as if He is a machine who can cough up what we beg Him to do. This is where we have missed the point of Jesus’ teaching on prayer. He taught us how to pray and said, “Our Father”. This is the sound of a son calling on His Father. This is a relationship where God the Father is listening to His Son. Thus, there is no begging for things but a sound of worship.

Relationship

A relationship is different from taking cash out at an ATM machine. On the contrary, a relationship involves trust. My Father knows my needs even before I ask Him and He will provide for my needs. He already knows my needs, I just have to pray for the needs of others. Praying for our needs sometimes implies we doubt if God loves us. It is a relationship where doubt prevails rather than trust. We don’t have to remind God every day of our needs but rather say, “Thank you, Lord, for answering our prayers for all that we need.” He is our Provider, Healer, Protector, and Friend.

Pray The Answer As If It’s Already Done

Once you know God as the all-sufficient One then you trust Him for everything. You will stop telling God your problems. You will seek to know what His will is and thank Him for the answer. If your need is healing then you will pray as if you are already healed. If it is a promotion then you will pray as if you are already promoted. Confidently praying the answer knowing it is God’s will to heal, provide, and protect opens the heavens to provide from His resources in Heaven. Try this and see how your prayer time changes from asking to thanking Him for all His answers. Amen.

John Mathai

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
A prayer book reminds us of God's faithfulness over the years
Articles

Why You Should Make a Prayer Book Today

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Keeping a prayer book can give your prayer life a generous spark.

People pray every day. Christian and non-Christian, we all say the words, “Please God…” throughout our days. Often, we pray without even thinking about it. We lift up requests about our job, our kids, and over our meals. We pray for a good day at work, a good grade on that exam, and for that light to stay green. We also throw in a, “Thank you, God” for good measure. You know, those quick little prayers that allow us to put a star in the box that we prayed today.

Then when someone asks you about your prayer life, you smile, give the thumbs up, and say it is thriving. But when asked about which ones have been answered, we give a clueless look, and the answer is always the same, “I dunno.” A good way to remember our God answers us, is to write it down. A prayer book reminds us of prayers over the years.

Why Keep a Prayer Book?

A prayer book is basically a journal – a place where you record what is on your heart. This will aid you when you sit down and talk with God. There are many reasons some choose to document their heavenly requests. Here are just a few:

  • It keeps us accountable. One of the biggest struggles with prayer is actually doing it. We all have the desire to be in communication with the Almighty; to have his ear for a moment. But the business of life, or so we say, keeps us from those quiet moments with the Lord. Committing to keeping a prayer book gives you a means of accountability.
  • It reminds us what to pray. How many times have you told someone, “Yes, I will pray for you,” then later that day, we have completely forgot what they asked us to remember? A prayer journal is a way to keep notes and to look back and honor your friend’s request.
  • It reminds us God is faithful. Not only should you record your needs, you should write about when they are answered. Regardless of if you received a ‘Yes,’ ‘No,’ or ‘Wait.’ As you progress through the years, you can be reminded of how faithful God is, and you can see how His answers have impacted your life. It is encouraging to see in your own writing all God has done for you.
  • It helps us to understand God. We can ask to win the lottery all we want. We can pray through a loved one suffering. But when it comes down to it, prayer is about us asking God for something. We want to be wealthy. We want to hold on to our ailing loved one. We want. We want. We want. Keeping a prayer book helps us align our desires to God’s desire for us. It helps us see the difference between needs and wants.

A prayer book reminds us of God's faithfulness over the years

What Should I Include in My Prayer Book?

What is most important, is honesty with God. Do not put a request on the shelf because you may feel it is selfish or that God does not care about it. God cares about the little things. According to Matthew 6:26, he feeds the birds of the air. So, we should not worry about the small things. Yet, we still should bring those needs before the Lord. Prayer reveals our dependence on Him.

Even the disciples struggled with praying. Jesus himself gives them, and us, a model as guidance. Matthew records:

“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” – Matthew 6:9-13

 Your prayer book should include Prayers of:

  1. Reverence – Give God his due. Remember who you are speaking to.
  • Thank God for who he is.
  • Praise Him for the answers he gives.
  1. Acceptance – Understand that God is going to answer according to His Will.
  • Ask for help in accepting the answer He is giving or has given us.
  • Thank Him for knowing what is best.
  1. Needs – The needs of yours, and those you are interceding for.
  • The things we need for daily life.
  • The needs of others that we are praying for.
  • To understand the difference between needs and wants.
  • Thank him for what you have that may not be a need.
  1. Forgiveness – Remember, if we have unrepented sins, God may withhold answers.
  • Repent the sin in your life.
  • Ask for revelation of sin unknowingly committed.
  1. Grace – If we are unforgiving toward someone, God may withhold answers.
  • The ability to know how to deal with someone we struggle with.
  • The ability to forgive when we are wronged.
  1. Guidance – Daily guidance in our decision making.
  • To know what His Will is and to act accordingly.
  • How you can contribute to the world around you: church, community, the world.
  • To understand His leading and to accept His direction.
  1. Protection – The ability to be vigilant for our vulnerabilities.
  • For the understanding that there are powers working against us.
  • For our leaders: church, community, country, and world.
  • That He will help us to stay focused on Him.
  1. Acknowledgment – Acknowledge that He is ultimately in control of it all.
  • Reminders that God gets the glory in everything.
  • We are acknowledging we cannot do what we do without Him.

A prayer book reminds us of God's faithfulness over the years

Final Thoughts

Prayer is about intent, not about the ritual itself. God warns us about being flowery and boastful with our words in Luke 18:9-14. If we approach God as if he owes us something, we can expect no answer to any of them. But when we pray with humility and reverence, they will be cherished by the Lord. A prayer book helps us remain humble because when we write something out, we often see how selfish it sounds.

Finally, a prayer book can give us personal evidence of spiritual growth. We witness our maturity as a Christian by learning to value what is essential in life. We gain an understanding of who God is. James 6 speaks of God meeting the needs of those who are committed to prayer. His passage culminates in verse 16, “… The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man, avails much.” Keeping a detailed prayer journal will help you on your road to be an effective, fervent prayer warrior.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail
daily bread
Articles

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

by Brian Taylor
written by Brian Taylor

In the discourse of teaching the disciples the manner in which they should pray, Jesus comes to a point and says that they should say to God the Father, “give us this day our daily bread.” In one respect, bread is a representation of provision. That word provision gives a very powerful image of the relationship God desires to have with us, His children.

Merriam Webster defines Provision as:

  1. The act or process of providing
  2. The fact or state of being prepared beforehand
  3. A measure taken beforehand to deal with a need or contingency: preparation.
  4. A stock of needed materials or supplies; especially: a stock of food.

When we pray to God for “daily bread” we are asking Him for the provisions that only He is able to provide us with. All things are His, according to scripture. When we read from Psalms 23, David speaks of how great of a shepherd that the Lord is. He goes on to tell of His ability to provide through leading His sheep to green pastures, which is a bountifully, lush and plenteous place. At one point, he specifically speaks of how God prepares a place for His own, even in the presence of their enemy.

An interesting point of fact about children of kings throughout history is that as prince or princess, they were often called on to represent the king’s interest as they journeyed to other territories. Often, upon being given the assignment of representation, be it in the office of ambassador, liaison or as one of the highest order in military, the king will issue provision as is needed to fulfill the task; be it food, money, or clothing, or armor and weaponry.

God knows our every need and every situation. He is all knowing and even knows what we will do before we do it. When you go to Psalm 24, David begins by stating that everything is God’s. While there are an infinite number of possible things we can choose to do in a given day, God has already prepared ahead of time for every possible contingency, the thing that we will need in that day. Who we are, what we will face, wherever we may go, whomever we might meet in that day, He has already prepared something for us. We only have need to ask Him to make it available for us to access it.

The Bible speaks of the things which have been stored up for us. If they are stored up for us, it means that we need not worry that we don’t have it. We only need to access it. It is already ours and for our use. When you pray, “give us this day our daily bread,” be confident that you have what you ask, because it isn’t something that God has to consider whether or not He can afford to make it available. It was set aside for you before you had need of it. He thought about it before you even knew you had a need for it. God has been considering you and your every need from the moment He thought of you, even before you were formed in your mother’s womb. Give God thanks that He made provision beforehand your every daily provision, spirit, soul and body.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestTelegramEmail

GET YOUR DAILY
DEVOTIONAL