In 1995 I spent the Summer in North Carolina at a small church working my first youth pastor internship. I remember this Summer more than any I guess as I was counting down the days till Becky and I would be married in July. I really didn't know what it the world I was doing, but I fumbled my way through and all-in-all was a great summer. There was one moment I will never forget during those few short months there. There was nothing really profound about this brief memory, but for me it spoke to the center of my soul. I was visiting the pastor's house and I walked into his home office and noticed a little note hanging on his bookshelf. It simply read "Prayer Changes Things." Yea, well I told you it wasn't anything new, but it must have been the right moment and right time for it to speak to me deeply. As you think of it, that small quote has the potential to change our lives. If we as the people of God begin to pray - things will begin to change.
It is amazing how many people are basically clueless about how and what to pray about. Well, that's ok and hopefully by the end of the week that will all change.
Prayer is basically communication with God. It is our effort in our frail humanity to speak to God and inviting Him to speak to us. I heard a pastor once share his unique way of visualizing this. He would get up early in the morning and fix his coffee and sit at his breakfast table for a time of prayer. He would also pour God a cup of coffee and sit it across the table as a way to remind him that he is simply having a conversation with the maker of the universe. Some may see this as a over-simplification, but it is a simple way to understand that prayer is simply a communication line with the Lord. So, in your own way try to find this time daily. If prayer is that simple, we really don't have the excuse not to exercise it. I know that I spend the time in between dropping the kids off at school and arriving at the office for my first time each day speaking to the Lord. When do you or do you plan to have this time?
You know anyone can pray. It's funny to me when I ask people to pray in public that many don't feel as if they can handle it. Most of the time it's because they are so unpracticed in this area they don't feel comfortable praying. The great thing about living for Christ is that we are all on an equal playing field. So, here's some principles to help us get started on the right foot.
If were walking in disobedience we shouldn't expect to get the results were looking for. We must be living in a right relationship with God first and foremost as we see in Matthew 14:6.
Secondly, if you have unconfessed sin or have an unforgiving spirit against another person, you need to make it right before coming to the Lord in prayer (Psalm 66:18; Mark 11:25). And lastly, when you ask do so with a believing heart.
When we look at these principles it doesn't exclude anyone from not only praying, but praying with results. If we walk in obedience, repentance and pray with faith we can have a prayer live that will "change things." Let's take today and meditate on this truth, put into practice and trust God to do the rest.
I will be spending the rest of the week unpacking different aspects of having a powerful and effective prayer life. I use a lot of sources for study and the Campus Crusade For Christ website is a great resource if you want to study more on your own time. (http://www.ccci.org/)Technorati Tags: prayer, believe, unforgiving,
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It is amazing how many people are basically clueless about how and what to pray about. Well, that's ok and hopefully by the end of the week that will all change.
Prayer is basically communication with God. It is our effort in our frail humanity to speak to God and inviting Him to speak to us. I heard a pastor once share his unique way of visualizing this. He would get up early in the morning and fix his coffee and sit at his breakfast table for a time of prayer. He would also pour God a cup of coffee and sit it across the table as a way to remind him that he is simply having a conversation with the maker of the universe. Some may see this as a over-simplification, but it is a simple way to understand that prayer is simply a communication line with the Lord. So, in your own way try to find this time daily. If prayer is that simple, we really don't have the excuse not to exercise it. I know that I spend the time in between dropping the kids off at school and arriving at the office for my first time each day speaking to the Lord. When do you or do you plan to have this time?
You know anyone can pray. It's funny to me when I ask people to pray in public that many don't feel as if they can handle it. Most of the time it's because they are so unpracticed in this area they don't feel comfortable praying. The great thing about living for Christ is that we are all on an equal playing field. So, here's some principles to help us get started on the right foot.
If were walking in disobedience we shouldn't expect to get the results were looking for. We must be living in a right relationship with God first and foremost as we see in Matthew 14:6.
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Secondly, if you have unconfessed sin or have an unforgiving spirit against another person, you need to make it right before coming to the Lord in prayer (Psalm 66:18; Mark 11:25). And lastly, when you ask do so with a believing heart.
Matthew 21:22
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
When we look at these principles it doesn't exclude anyone from not only praying, but praying with results. If we walk in obedience, repentance and pray with faith we can have a prayer live that will "change things." Let's take today and meditate on this truth, put into practice and trust God to do the rest.
I will be spending the rest of the week unpacking different aspects of having a powerful and effective prayer life. I use a lot of sources for study and the Campus Crusade For Christ website is a great resource if you want to study more on your own time. (http://www.ccci.org/)Technorati Tags: prayer, believe, unforgiving,
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