Pray

What a gift God has given us in prayer!

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:11-12

Whether you pray on your knees in solitude, have a running dialogue with God throughout the day, use a prayer book or pray the Scriptures isn't the issue. The hardest part is just doing it. Starting the conversation - and listening to God's still small voice.

So, when is the last time you prayed for your husband, your pastor? ...and I mean really prayed?

When is the last time you prayed for your heart and mind?

If you've never read Stormie Omartian's books, they are great resources for thought-provoking insights, scriptural encouragement and actual prayers.

"Power of a Praying Woman"
"Power of a Praying Wife"
"Power of a Praying Parent"

One of my husband's favorite prayer practices is working through John 17 - the prayers of Jesus. Others I know pray portions of Scripture - especially the Psalms - to pray for themselves or on behalf of others. Here's a few verses that may be a great start to praying the Scripture.

Psalm 139
Galatians 6:9-10
Ephesians 3:14-20
Psalm 25:1-2
1 Samuel 2:1-2
Ephesians 3:14-16
Daniel 4:3
2 Chronicles 14:11a
1 Kings 3:9a

One of my prayers for you today is found in Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Every day is a new opportunity to begin the conversation. With every heart beat we can continue the conversation


...and in the busyness of life we must unplug, refocus and listen to the conversation. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Make the Connection!

            Is attending a carnival ministry? Sure! It’s a unique way to meet people and build relationships. This year, an out-of-town visitor asked my husband if he was the mayor of our town. The sincere question made us both grin! It is so refreshing at times to see things from a different perspective. Apparently, the man had seen my husband “working the crowd” and was intrigued. What this visitor didn’t know was that my husband is friendly all year long – not just at parades or when he is in the public eye. He genuinely loves people, wants them to feel special and takes the time to remember names. Shaking hands and giving hugs comes naturally to him. But, what do I do when “my pastor” is connecting with people? Often, a smile is all that’s needed.               People are always watching, and that reality is easy to forget. As Christians, we are in essence ‘on para...
Read more

Overwhelmed, Underwhelmed or Simply Unmotivated

  January is that time of year that many people get the Winter Blues - a general view of life that just says, "Blah!" Being underwhelmed with life threatens our sense of purpose and joy and makes everything seem a bit bland and boring. Perhaps it is fueled by the cold weather, feeling housebound or the fact that all the green things in life are resting dormant below ground or snow. Or, maybe it is just the reality of returning to the basic routines of life (even in a Covid world). All the frantic and fun activities that surround Christmas are behind us, and we just have the decorations and the bank balance to deal with.  For others, January is an excuse to cozy up by the fire, read a book or enjoy an indulgent mug of hot chocolate or hot vanilla. They enjoy their Christmas decorations as long as possible and their soul finds healing when the world is covered in a sparkling blanket of snow. They reflect on Christmas memories made and reread Christmas greetings. They're thr...
Read more

Bathroom Gymnastics?

If I had to guess, you’ve been enrolled in the school of bathroom gymnastics along with countless others in our world. It’s much more theatrical than balancing on a beam or flipping around and between parallel bars. Yet, I do believe it involves some of the same skills that are needed for a quality vault or floor routine! See if you can relate… When out and about on a normal day, we find ourselves in need of a place to “rest.” Our own bathroom at home may be preferred, but there are times when one just needs to find a place to “sit a spell” - and soon! So, the search ensues. Is there a business nearby that is open? If so, is their lobby accessible? Do they have public bathrooms? Are they clean by even pre-COVID standards?  Check. Check. Check and check. We breathe a sigh of relief - well almost! It's only now that we see the sign : “Only X amount of people are allowed in the restroom at a time.” (Hmmm…how do I know how many people are already inside?) ...and so, the gymnastics begi...
Read more