Prayer Articles
Faith
Faith is the belief that God is real and that God is good…It is a choice to believe that the one who made it all hasn’t left it all and that he still sends light into the shadows and responds to gestures of faith…
Faith is the belief that God will do what is right.
God says that the more hopeless your circumstances, the more likely your salvation. The greater your cares, the more genuine your prayers. The darker the room, the greater the need for light.
God’s help is near and always available, but it is only given to those who seek it.
Max Lucado – He Still Move Stones
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The Power of Agreement…
Will Bring 10 Fold Increase in Power – Deut. 32:30
This verse speaks of increasing the power of prayer 10 fold if you agree with someone. The scripture says, “One man can chase a 1000, and two men put 10,000 to flight.”
Helps You Make the Right Decisions – Acts 1:24
This verse shows them praying together and asking the Lord to show them who He has chosen.
Brings Great Power – Acts 4:31-33
The apostles are praying together for boldness. They were of one heart and one soul. After their prayers, the place was shaken and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Brings Freedom – Acts 12:5-11
The church prayed to God for Peter constantly while he was in prison. One night an angel came and released Peter from chains and set him free.
To Escape From Temptation – Matthew 26:36-41
Even the Lord needed someone to pray with him. Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and took his disciples to pray with him. He found them asleep but then told them to watch and pray lest you enter into temptation.
For the complete Bible Study, visit http://www.christianjourney.com/godsword/prayeragree.html
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Ingredients of a Powerful Prayer Life
Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, has identified the following ingredients to a powerful prayer life in the Ten Basic Steps to Christian Maturity.
Faith – Hebrews 11: 1,6
Yieldedness – Romas 12: 1,2
Steadfastness and abounding in God’s work – 1 Corinthians 15:58
Righteousness – James 5:16
The filling of the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 5:18
Abiding in Christ and letting His Word control us – John 15:7
Thanksgiving in all things - Ephesians 5:20 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Praying according to God’s will as revealed in His Word – 1John 5:14, 15
This article is an excerpt from Principles of Leadership, Campus Crusade for Christ
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It’s Time To Fast
Fasting is scriptural: The Word of God makes it clear that fasting is an instrument of spiritual power; a key by which bonds of evil are broken, and by which God’s counsels are received and established in the affairs of men or women (Isaiah 58:6-8; Mark 9:29; Acts 13:2,3).
Jesus taught fasting: By Hiw own word and example, Jesus taught fasting and He said that in the era following His early ministry, after His ascension, it would be a part of the disciplines of His people to fast (Matthew 4:2, 6:16; Mark 2:20).
The Bible nowhere suggests that fasting is to be thought of as a means by which we earn God’s favor or improve our status with God. Therefore, we do not fast as a religious or superstitious exercise, hoping thereby to gain God’s special attention or to tip invisible scales of blessing in our direction. We believe that every good thing that comes from God is a gift (James 1:17) and is the product of His grace, not human endeavor (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Bible makes clear that there are certain means by which Christ’s people partner with God’s almightiness through the acceptance and application of certain principles–”Kingdom Keys.” The Scriptures teach, by both precept and example, a number of means by which believers may enter into the exercise of spiritual dominion through simple obedience to disciplines shown there. Prayer, joined with fasting, is a proven means of advancing spiritual objectives. By fasting, we know that we earn nothing. However, by fasting, we do believe that we learn something; we learn a simple, dynamic pathway to spiritual conquest. We do not claim to know exactly why fasting with prayer is so powerful, but the Bible makes clear that it is effective and important, and that Jesus directed it as a part of His Church’s life.
Excerpt from “It’s Time To Fast” by Pastor Jack Hayford
www.livingway.org/free_resources.html
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Most Important Truths About Fasting
- Fasting is your most powerful help in attaining miracle working faith. Matthew 17:20-21
- All through the history of the Bible and the Church, fasting has consistently been the solution God’s people have turned to when facing impossible and difficult situations.
- God consistently intervened in the affairs of those who fasted and worked mighty miracles.
- Jesus:
- Fasted for forty days and nights.
- Started His ministry when He completed a long fast of 40 days.
- After His long fast, miracles began to happen and demons began to manifest in His presence.
- He taught his disciples how to fast successfully.
- Fasting has been a normal part of the life of God’s greatest champions throughout the history of Scripture and the Church.
- Wrong motives for a fast will nullify its rewards. Matthew 6:16-18; Zech 7:5.
Scriptural fasting is not doing without food only but doing without food for the purpose of repentance and consecrating your heart to God and His will. Isaiah 58:1-6
“Fasting, The Restoration of Champions” by Billy Godwin, Founder, Mighty in Spirit, Int’l.
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The Army of God
…God wants each one of us to become a member of an army. His army. God is Commander-in-Chief of this army, and the weapons of choice are prayer, praise and the Word of God. God’s army is an all-volunteer organization, so we have to enlist. We have to tell God we want to be a part of His army of prayer warriors and ask Him to put us on high alert so we can be mobilized at a moment’s notice. The best part about being in God’s army is that He goes with us into every battle. He says, “Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you” (Deut.) 20:3-4). He says all we have to do is pray, worship Him, and declare His Word and He will do the rest because “the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam. 17:47).
Excerpt from “The Power of a Praying Church” by Stomie Omartian with Jack Hayford
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I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;
I was given health, that I might learn to obey.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy;
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I received nothing that I had asked for–
Everything I had hoped for.
My prayers were answered.
~~Francis of Assisi
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Prayer Walking
A prayer walk is simply taking our prayer hour and prayer format “on the road” around an area that our hearts are burdened for. Prayer walking is not done to be seen but to see. God can use this time to help us pray in detail, care in detail, learn in detail and listen to God in detail.
The concept comes from:
“I will give you every place where you set your foot.” Joshua 1:3
“I will stand at my watch (observation) and station myself on the ramparts (walls); I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.” Habakkuk 2:1
“Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be out guide even to the end.” Psalm 48: 12-14
Source: www.PowertoPray.com
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How God Answers Our Prayers
Someone said that God answers prayers, “Yes,” “No,” “Wait,” and “You gotta be kidding.” Someone else said that if our request is wrong, God says, “No”; if our timing is wrong, God says, “Slow”; if we are wrong, God says, “Grow”; and if our request is right, our timing is right, and we are right, God says, “Go!” However God answers, we know that He is a wise heavenly Father who knows what is best for us, and what is best for others.
Excerpt from The 21 Most Effective Prayers of the Bible by Dave Earley. Barbour Publishing, Inc.
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Praying “ACTS”
Have your ever prayed using the acronym A-C-T-S? The origin of this simple but powerful tool is unknown but proves to be quite effective. It works as follows:
“A” stands for Adoration
Begin your prayer time focusing on God in adoration, praise and worship. Acknowledge His sovereignty and His holiness. This is important to do because it immediately changes our focus from our need, our world, our limited and finite thinking. As we adore God the Father, we become aware of His greatness, His majesty and power. We leave “Our presence” and enter “His presence.”
“C” stands for Confession
As you draw closer to the Lord, most likely you will understand that you are a sinful person. And no sin can be present in the presence of the glorious, righteous God. Praise God in Jesus Christ there is provision of forgiveness of our sins. First John 1:9 says “if we confess our sins, (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Spend some time in examining your life and heart. Ask God to reveal to you any unconfessed sin or area in your life that you need to seek forgiveness. “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.” Ps. 51:10.
“T” stands for Thanksgiving
This quite naturally leads you to become acutely thankful, in receiving something so precious of which you don’t deserve. Meditate on all Jesus has done, is doing and will do in your life. Give expression to those feelings of thankfulness that now so easily rise in your spirit. Thank Him for today, for daily bread, for love, freedom, etc. The list is truly endless of things to be thankful.
“S” stands for Supplication
This is a fancy way of simply saying to ask or make petition. Now is the time to present your requests to God. Give him the concerns on your heart. Lift up to Him the needs of your friends and family. Request Him to move in the affairs of people around the world. “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.” Ps. 96:3. As His child, simply ask for what you need. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Ps. 37:4 Praise God, He is a very present help in time of trouble! When we call, He hears us!
So next time you feel the need for prayer, and just don’t know where to start, remember the acronym “A-C-T-S”!
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George Muller – A Man Of Prayer
George Muller devoted his life to a dream which would require millions of dollars.
He then refused to make his needs known to man but only to God through prayer.
He eventually cared for 2,000 orphans, on a daily basis, through the power of prayer.
Through prayer alone, George Muller received millions of dollars and demonstrated to His generation the reality of God.
He destroyed the cowardly excuses of Christians for not taking prayer seriously, especially in the world of business.
He proved that prayer truly makes a difference.
Excerpt from PRAYER – The Power of Champions by Billy Godwin, Mighty In Spirit, Int’l.
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“Just Enough Light”
Sometimes only the step I’m on,
Or the very next one ahead,
Is all that is illuminated for me.
God gives just the amount of light I need
For the exact moment I need it.
At those times I walk in surrender to faith,
Unable to see the future
And not fully comprehending the past.
And because it is God who has given me what light I have,
I know I must reject the fear and
Doubt that threaten to overtake me.
I must determine to be content where
I am, and allow God to get me where
I need to go. I walk forward,
One step at a time,
Fully trusting that the light God sheds
Is absolutely sufficient.
It has been said, “Prayer, for many, is like a foreign land. When we go there, we go as tourists. Like most tourists, we can feel uncomfortable and out of place. Like most tourists, we therefore move on before too long and go somewhere else.”
For this reason, the habits of a daily prayer practice can begin to make us feel more like we are citizens in the land of prayer. One day at a time leads us into a new way of thinking and speaking with God, whom we may not have visited in a long time
Found on Dial A Prayer.com, provided by Bill W. Lanpher, President of Trinity college of Florida