Prayer Matters

Father, Give Me a Good Kick!

2011-10-10T14:01:00.000-06:00

Father, in the abundance of your blessings, you give me opportunity. Opportunity to serve, to love, to share, to give, opportunities to bless others. But, so much of the time, my fervor to serve, to love, to share, to give, and to bless wanes. I am so preoccupied with my own concerns, needs, activities, and ambitions. With the opportunities you give me, grant to me also a willing heart, motivation, give me a good kick and move me out of my comfort (or my rut) so that I may be about your business, your concerns, to share the blessing of your love with others.

Teach Me Lord To Wait

2011-09-20T15:49:00.000-06:00

"Teach Me Lord To Wait," by Stuart Hamblen, (c) 1953, ren. 1981 Hamblen Music Co. Inspired by the words of Isaiah 40.30-31.

Teach me Lord, to wait
Down on my knees
Till in Your own good time
You answer my pleas
Teach me not to rely
On what others do
But to wait in prayer
For an answer from You

They who wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings like eagles
They shall run and not grow weary
They shall walk and not faint
Teach me Lord
Teach me Lord, to wait

Teach me Lord, to wait
While hearts are aflame
Let me humble my pride
And call on Your name
Keep my faith renewed
My eyes on Thee
Let me be on this earth
What You want me to be

They who wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings like eagles
They shall run and not grow weary
They shall walk and not faint
Teach me Lord
Teach me Lord, to wait

For You Will Answer Me

2011-09-15T16:31:00.004-06:00

Psalm 86

Hear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.

You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, O Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
In the day of trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.

Teach me your way, O Lord,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

The arrogant are attacking me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life--
men without regard for you.
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your maidservant.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
tht my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Pray for Rain!!!

2011-09-06T17:54:00.002-06:00

A photo certainly worth a 1,000 words . . . and some tears!

(Photo of wildfire burning near Bastrop, Texas)

Please pray for rain to come to Texas and drench these awful fires.
Our God is much greater than any wildfire.

Thank You For Our Labor

2011-09-05T15:17:00.004-06:00

Father, thank you for the work you give my hands to do.
You have made me to be productive:
To create just as you do;
To sustain;
To aide and to help;
To bless others who are in need;
To lead and direct;
To teach;
To heal and to soothe;
To plan and to build;
To grow;
To mentor and inspire;
To entertain;
To learn and discover;
To recover and rebuild;
To counsel;
To protect and defend.
You did not create us to sit and be still,
for you gave us two arms and two legs,
hands that grip and feet that move,
and a mind that initiates and executes.
Thank you for our labor.
May we ever use our work as praise to You.

Forgive Me For My Absence

2011-09-02T17:07:00.004-06:00

O Lord my God
To you I lift my praise
You remind me daily of your love
And I don't have to look far to see your presence

But, forgive me for my absence
In my busyness I shove you out of the way
In my selfishness I give you no time
But my neglect only brings worry
Anxieties and stress
I can't do it on my own
That becomes clearer each day

So thank you for staying with me
For your long-suffering patience
For your love that knows no end

May I learn to pray to you daily
Not merely in those moments of despair
But also in gladness and smooth sailing seas

Out of the Depths

2010-03-21T15:24:00.004-06:00

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in His word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

O [man], put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with Him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

Psalm 130

My Whole Being, Praise the Lord

2010-03-20T12:36:00.001-06:00

The prayer of Psalm 146:

My whole being, praise the Lord.
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praisies to my God as long as I live.

Do not put your trust in princes
or other people, who cannot save you.
When people die, they are buried.
Then all of their plans come to an end.
Happy are those who are helped by the God of Jacob.
Their hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth,
the sea and everything in it.
He remains loyal forever.
He does what is fair for those who have been wronged.
He gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.
The Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord lifts up people who are in trouble.
The Lord loves those who do right.
The Lord protects the foreigners.
He defends the orphans and widows,
but he blocks the way of the wicked.

The Lord will be King forever.
Jerusalem, your God is everlasting.

Praise the Lord!

The One Who Hears Prayer

2010-03-18T21:35:00.004-06:00

Praise is rightfully Yours, God, in Zion;
vows to You will be fulfilled.
All humanity will come to You,
the One who hears prayer.
Iniquities overwhelm me;
only You can atone for our rebellions.
How happy is the one You choose
and bring near to live in Your courts!
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
the holiness of Your temple.

You answer us in righteousness,
with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the distant seas;
You establish the mountains by Your power,
robed with strength;
You silence the roar of the seas,
the roar of their waves,
and the tumult of the nations.
Those who live far away are awed by Your signs;
You make the east and west shout for joy.

You visit the earth and water it abundantly,
enriching it greatly.
God's stream is filled with water,
for You prepare the earth in this way,
providing people with grain.
You soften it with showers and bless its growth,
soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges.
You crown the year with Your goodness;
Your ways overflow with plenty.
The wilderness pastures overflow,
and the hills are robed with joy.
The pastures are clothed with flocks,
and the valleys covered with grain.
They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.

The prayer of Psalm 65 (HCSB)

A Night Prayer

2010-03-16T14:11:00.003-06:00

Answer me when I call,
God, who vindicates me.
You freed me from affliction;
be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

How long, exalted men,
will my honor be insulted?
How long will you love
what is worthless
and pursue a lie?
Know that the Lord has set apart
the faithful for Himself;
the Lord will hear when i call to Him.
be angry and do not sin;
on your bed, reflect
in your heart and be still.

Offer sacrifices
in righteousness
and trust in the Lord.

Many are saying
'Who can show us
anything good?"
Look on us with favor, Lord.

You have put more joy
in my heart
than they have when their grain
and new wine abound.
I will both lie down and sleep
in peace,
for You alone, Lord, make me
live in safety.

Psalm 4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The Meaning of Worship

2010-03-05T14:40:00.004-07:00

To worship is:
To quicken the conscience by the holiness of God.
To feed the mind with the truth of God.
To purge the imagination with the beauty of God.
To open the heart to the love of God.
To devote the will to the purpose of God.

by William Temple

The Power of the Bended Knee

2010-02-28T14:47:00.003-07:00

Birds go to sleep on their perches, but they never fall off. This is because of the tendons in the bird's legs. They are so constructed that when the leg is bent at the knee, the claws contract and grip like a steel trap. The claws refuse to let go until the knees are unbent again. The bended knee gives the bird the ability to hold on to his perch so tightly.

Isn't this also the secret of the holding power of the Christian? Daniel found this to be true. Surrounded by a pagan environment, tempted to compromise with evil, urged to weaken his grip on God, he refused to let go. He held firm when others faltered because he was a man of prayer. He knew the power of the bended knee.

From sleeping birds we can learn the secret of holding things which are most precious to us--honesty, purity, thoughtfulness, honor, character. That secret is in the knee bent in prayer, seeking to get a firmer grip on those values which make life worth living. When we hold firmly to God in prayer, we can rest assured he will hold tightly to us.

--Rollin S. Burhans

Thoughts on Prayer

2010-02-27T12:16:00.003-07:00

They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright! (Drummond Burns, b. 1823)

Between the humble and contrite heart and the majesty of heaven there are no barriers; the only password is prayer. (Hosea Ballou, b. 1771)

Prayer is the voice of faith. (Richard Horne, b. 1803)

You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance. (Kahlil Gibran, b. 1884)

O God, if in the day of battle I forget Thee, do not Thou forget me. (William King, b. 1663)

God warms his hands at man's heart when he prays. (John Masefield, b. 1878)

Pray as if everything depended upon God, and work as if everything depended upon man. (Francis J. Spellman, b. 1889)

Higher Thoughts

2010-02-26T09:51:00.004-07:00

Lord, let me not be too content
with life in trifling service spent--
Make me aspire!

When days with petty cares are filled,
Let me with fleeting thought be thrilled
Of something higher!

Help me to long for mental grace
To struggle with the commonplace
I daily find.

My little deeds not bring to fruit
A crop of little thought to suit
A shriveled mind.

Author Unknown

Sincere Prayer

2010-02-25T08:26:00.003-07:00

'Tis not enough to bend the knee,
And words of prayer to say;
The heart must with the lips agree;
Or else we do not pray.

For words,without the heart,
The Lord will never hear;
Nor will he to those lips attend,
Whose prayers are not sincere.

Author Unknown

The Five Finger Prayer

2009-10-12T14:43:00.003-06:00

Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, "a sweet duty."

The next finger is the pointer finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct, and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as an piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble, or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

Lastly comes our pinkie; the smallest finger of all, which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "the least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Author Unknown

Be Sincere

2009-10-10T20:02:00.003-06:00

We often say our prayers,
But do we ever pray?
And do the wishes of our heart
Go with the words we say?

We may as well kneel down
And worship gods of stone
As offer to the living God
A prayer of words alone.

For words without the heart
The Lord will never hear,
Nor will He to those lips attend
Whose prayers are not sincere.

Author Unkown

More On Prayer

2009-09-28T09:21:00.003-06:00

Every time we pray, our horizon is altered, our attitude to things is altered, not sometimes but every time, and the amazing thing is that we don't pray more. (Oswald Chambers)

It would be rash to say that there is any prayer in which God never grants. But the strongest candidate is the prayer we might express in the single word encore. (C. S. Lewis)

When life knocks you to your knees--well, that's the best position in which to pray, isn't it? (Ethel Barrymore)

Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. (William Cowper & John Newton)

Any revitalization of faith in this country will have to start with prayer, in which we gain a sense of the living presence of God. (George H. Gallup, Jr.)

On Prayer

2009-09-27T11:17:00.004-06:00

I have often learned more in prayer than I have been able to glean from much reading and reflection. (Martin Luther)

He who prays fervently knows not whether he prays or not, for he is not thinking of the prayer which he makes, but of God, to whom he makes it. (Francis de Sales)

The penalty of not praying is the loss of one's capacity to pray. (Edward J. Farrell)

To pray is the greatest thing we can do, and to do it well, there must be calmness, time, and deliberation. (E. M. Bounds)

In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without heart. (John Bunyan)

I am often, I believe, praying for others when I should be doing things for them. It's so much easier to pray for a bore than to go and see him. (C. S. Lewis)

O Give Thanks to the Lord

2009-09-26T18:26:00.003-06:00

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
for His steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
those He redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south. . . .

For He satisfies the thirsty,
and the hungry he fills with good things. . . .

He brought them out of darkness and gloom,
and He saved them from their distress. . . .

He sent out His word and healed them,
and delivered them from destruction. . . .

Let those who are wise give heed to these things,
and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

(Excerpted from Psalm 107, NRSV)

A Child's Prayer

2009-09-25T08:36:00.003-06:00

God make my life a little light,
Within the world to glow;
A tiny flame that burneth bright
Wherever I may go.
God make my life a little flower,
That giveth joy to all,
Content to bloom in native bower,
Although its place be small.
God make my life a little song,
That comforteth the sad;
That helpeth others to be strong,
And makes the singer glad.
God make my life a little staff,
Whereon the weak may rest,
That so what health and strength I have
May serve my neighbors best.

(M. Bentham-Edwards)

Three Things

2009-09-15T13:17:00.003-06:00

I know three things must always be
To keep a nation strong and free
One is a hearthstone bright and dear
With busy, happy loved ones near
One is a ready heart and hand
To love and serve and keep the land
One is a worn and beaten way
To where the people go to pray
So long as these are kept alive
Nation and people will survive
God keep them always everywhere
The home, the heart, the place of prayer

Author Unknown

2009-03-26T21:35:00.003-06:00

The prayer of Psalm 84

How lovely is your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young--
even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
they will still be prising You.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring;
the rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob.
O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of your annointed.
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord will give grace and glory;
no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts, blessed in the man who trusts in You!

King James Version

2009-02-15T14:09:00.003-07:00

We plow the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God's almighty hand.
He sends the snow in the winter,
the warmth to swell the grains,
the breeze and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.
He only is the Maker
of all things near and far.
He paints the wayside flowers,
He lights the evening star.
The winds and waves obey Him;
by Him the birds are fed;
much more to us, His children,
He gives our daily bread.
We thank Thee, then, O Father,
for all things bright and good,
the seed time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer,
for all Thy love imparts,
and, what Thous most desirest,
our humble, thankful hearts.

Author Unknown

2009-02-13T15:50:00.002-07:00

Columnist Herb Caen wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle: "Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

Charles Spurgeon writes likewise, "If you are not seeking the Lord, the Devil is seeking you. If you are not seeking the Lord, judgment is at your heels."

In the Christian life, it's not enough to simply wake up. We are called to run, to become more like Christ, to press ahead in godliness.

Author Unknown

2009-01-25T21:45:00.003-07:00

When the promises of love
are first made to us,
Our hearts overflow
with ecstasy.
We never dreamed such happiness
could ever be ours--
the love,
the warmth,
the acceptance,
The promise of a future
alive with excitement
and joy.
But when the promises are broken,
the love vanishes,
the hope disappears,
And we feel so empty
and alone.

And we wonder in despair,
'What did I say
to bring about such change?
What did I do
to turn away such love?
Am I not worthy
of another's love?
Am I no good at all?"

God hears those cries
of our broken hearts.
He promises to stay
especially close to us
Until our hearts are mended
and our wounds
are healed.

Author Unknown

2009-01-21T21:40:00.003-07:00

Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
He will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55.22

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 43.5

I will exalt you, O Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths. . . .
O Lord my God,
I called to you for help
and you healed me.
Psalm 30.1-2

The Lord delights in the way of man
whose steps he has made firm;
Though he stumble,
he will not fall,
For the Lord upholds him
with his hand.
Psalm 37.23-24

2009-01-20T23:52:00.004-07:00

Everyone hurts
at one time
or another.
Sometimes the hurts
are relatively minor
and tend to go away
by themselves,
but at other times
the hurts
are so intense
that we wonder
whether they will
ever go away.
God does not promise
that his children
will have no hurts
in this life,
but God wants you to know
that every hurt of yours
is of concern
to him,
and he graciously
invites you
to cast all your cares
on him,
because HE cares
about YOU.

Author Unknown

2009-01-18T20:33:00.004-07:00

If you put a buzzard in a pen eight feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason: a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten to twelve feet. Without space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no ceiling.

The ordinary bat, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessle and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself up into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

A bumblebee, if dropped into a open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat, and the bee. They are struggling with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is righ there above them.

May we always look up and put our trust in the Lord.

Author Unknown

2009-01-17T20:16:00.002-07:00

'Tis not enough to bend the knee,
And words of prayer to say;
The heart must with the lips agree;
Or else we do not pray.

For words, without the heart,
The Lord will never hear;
Nor will he to those lips attend,
Whose prayers are not sincere.

Author Unknown

2009-01-15T13:07:00.004-07:00

An excerpt from Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son (Doubleday, 1992).

For most of my life I have struggled to find God, to know God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of spiritual life--pray always, work for others, read the Scriptures--and to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tried again, even when I was close to despair.

Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not "How am I to find God?" but "How am I to let myself be found by him?" The question is not "How am I to know God?" but "How am I to let myself be known by God?" And, finally, the question is not "How am I to love God?" but "How am I to let myself be loved by God?" God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.

It might sound strange, but God want too find me as much as, if not more than, I want to find God. yes, God needs me as much as I need God. God is not the patriarch who stays home, doesn't move, and expects his children to come to him, apologize for their aberrant behavior, beg for forgiveness, and promise to do better. To the contrary, he leaves the house, ignoring his dignity by running toward them, pays no heed to apologies and promises of change, and brings them to the table richly prepared for them.

2009-01-14T13:44:00.004-07:00

Henri Nouwen, a great champion of prayer, conducted an interview with Youthworker in 1993 on the subject of prayer. Here is Nouwen's response to the question, "What exactly is prayer?"

Prayer is listening to God. It's listening to God who calls us his beloved son or his beloved daughter. Remember when Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River? He heard a word that came down from heaven: "You are my beloved Son." That word basically announced his identity--who he was. And it was on the basis of that identity that Jesus lived his life--as the Beloved, the one who was intimately connected to the Father.

When we pray, then, we listen to God to hear his voice--to find out who we really are. We are his beloved children.

What is important is that we continue to listen to God's voice and not become distracted by the voices of the world that tell us other things, things that cause us to lose our true identity. We need to set aside certain moments of each day to pray, not because God needs us to pray, but because we need to be reminded by God of who we truly are. We need to constantly be in touch with what our lives are all about.

Prayer can also become a way of living. it can permeate all of life. We can pray as we drive a car, as we work, as we talk to people. In that sense, all of life can become a prayer.

An excerpt from "Gazing at Jesus: A conversation with Henri Nouwen about the discipline of contemplative prayer," Youthworker (Spring 1993): 38-44.

2009-01-13T14:02:00.003-07:00

Where is God?

The Lord is before his people. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice (John 10.4).

The Lord is behind his people. O Lord, you have searched me and known me. . . . You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me (Psalm 139.1, 5).

The Lord is above his people. More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the Lord (Psalm 93.4).

The Lord is beneath his people. Listen to me, o house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, even when you turn gray I will carry you (Isaiah 46.3-4).

The Lord is around his people. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore (Psalm 125.2).

The Lord is with his people. "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." . . . . and remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 1.23; 28.20).

The Lord is in the midst of his people. The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love (Zephaniah 3.17).

2009-01-10T17:30:00.003-07:00

Give me, O God, the wisdom that I need
To mold the tender lives within my care;
Give me the power that I may subtly lead
Them into righteousness--true joy is there.

I ask for them no rainbowed path of ease;
I ask for them no store of wealth or fame;
I only ask that by their lives they please
Thee and the world with an untarnished name.

I know that man is weak, and life is strong,
And sometimes honest roads look very drear;
That winning laurels often takes too long
And luring vistas from all sides appear.

But while my young are still beneath my wing,
God, help me guide them right in everything.

Author Unknown

2009-01-09T16:36:00.003-07:00

I will exalt you, O Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

O Lord my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.
O Lord, you brought me up from the grave;
you spared me from going down into the pit.

Sing to the Lord, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."
O Lord, when you favored me,
you made my mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

To you, O Lord, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
"What gain is there in my destruction,
in my going down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
Hear, o Lord, and be merciful to me;
O Lord, be my help."

You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.

The prayer of Psalm 30 (NIV)

2009-01-07T14:25:00.002-07:00

Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?
Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans 11.33-36 (NIV)

2008-12-16T17:16:00.002-07:00

I began this blog over a year and a half ago with the desire to provide an online forum for prayer requests to be posted and for inspirational articles and comments on prayer to be offered. I'm not sure how many people read this blog (it may be very few), but I remain committed to updating it often. If you would like to contribute to the offerings posted here, or if you have a prayer request you would like to see posted here, please contact me at jeffrfoster@gmail.com.

2008-12-11T17:10:00.003-07:00

You're the God of this city

You're the King of these people

You're the Lord of this nation

You are

You're the light in this darkness

You're the hope to the hopeless

You're the peace to the restless

You are

There is no one like our God

For greater things are yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in this city

For greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done here

We believe, we believe in You, God

From the album Love, by Chris Tomlin

2008-12-06T22:57:00.002-07:00

The prayer of Moses (Psalm 90.1-2 NKJV):

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

2008-12-03T21:39:00.003-07:00

Empty hands held high

Such small sacrifice

If not joined with my life

I sing in vain tonight

May the words I say

And the things I do

Make my lifesong sing

Bring a smile to You

Let my lifesong sing to You

I want to sign Your name to the end of this day

Knowing that my heart was true

Let my lifesong sing to You

Lord, I give my life

A living sacrifice

To reach a world in need

To be Your hands and feet

So may the words I say

And the things I do

Make my lifesong sing

Bring a smile to You

Hallelujah

Let my lifesong sing to You

Lifesong

Composed by Mark Hall

On the album Lifesong by Casting Crowns

2008-12-02T23:53:00.003-07:00

The prayer of Psalm 145 (Holman CSB)

I exalt You, my God the King,

and praise Your name forever and ever.

I will praise You every day;

I will honor You name forever and ever.

Yahweh is great and is highly praised;

His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation will declare Your works to the next

and will proclaim Your mighty acts.

I will speak of Your glorious splendor

and Your wonderful works.

They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring works,

and I will declare Your greatness.

They will give a testimony of Your great goodness

and will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and great in faithful love.

The Lord is good to everyone;

His compassion rests on all He has made.

All You have made will praise You, Lord;

the godly will bless You.

The will speak of the glory of Your kingdom

and will declare Your might,

informing all people of Your mighty acts

and of the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;

Your rule is for all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all His words

and gracious in all His actions.

The Lord helps all who fall;

He raises up all who are oppressed.

All eyes look to You,

and You give them their food in due time.

You open Your hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways

and gracious in all His acts.

The Lord is near all who call out to Him,

all who call out to Him with integrity.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;

He hears their cry for help and saves them.

The Lord guards all those who love Him,

but He destroys all the wicked.

My mouth will declare the Lord's praise;

let every living thing praise His holy name

forever and ever.

2008-12-01T22:31:00.002-07:00

I will thank the Lord with all my heart;
I will declare all Your wonderful works.
I will rejoice and boast about You;
I will sing about Your name, Most High.

(Psalm 9.1-2 CSB)

The Lord's Prayer

2008-11-17T14:04:00.002-07:00

The words of Jesus in John 17.20-26 (NIV):

My prayer is not for them alone.

I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.

May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Righteous Father, thought the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.

I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.

A Prayer for Our Country

2008-11-15T14:08:00.002-07:00

Father, a new day has begun. My country has chosen a new path, new leadership. Father, I pray that the days that follow will represent not merely a changing of policy and governance, but a changing of the sectarian spirit that has pervaded in this country for too long. Father, may this new day be for us an opportunity to leave the strife behind and to come together as one nation, unified in the endeavor to lift the spirits and conditions and potential of all men and women, old and young.

Father, the one who has been chosen to lead this land was not my choice, but help me to be humble and committed to the well-being of the great nation. Help me to be respectful and to be a good citizen, to not stand in the way stubbornly, but to be patient and productive.

Father, bless our new leaders. May they seek your guidance and strength. May our nation be an honor to you. May you continue to bless us with your grace.

Deal Generously with Your Servant

2008-10-23T00:07:00.002-06:00

The prayer of Psalm 119.17-24 (Holman CSB):

Deal generously with Your servant so that I might live;

then I will keep Your word.

Open my eyes so that I may see wonderful things in Your law.

I am a stranger on earth;

do not hide Your commands from me.

I am continually overcome by longing for Your judgments.

You rebuke the proud, the accursed,

who wander from Your commands.

Take insult and contempt away from me,

for I have kept Your decrees.

Though princes sit together speaking against me,

Your servant will think about Your statutes;

Your decrees are my delight and my counselors.

A Prayer for Missionaries

2008-04-21T20:41:00.003-06:00

Father, I thank you for the men and women who devote their lives to take your message of love to people from the four corners of the earth, for reaching the lost with the Gospel. Missionaries are special people, O Lord. Bless them, Father, with your love and the strength they need to continue in their work. Encourage them, Father, for their labor is often thankless and forgotten by so many. The results of their work is not often not readily seen . . . it can take a long time for some seeds to take root and sprout. Father, affirm in your servants the value of their labor and the satisfaction that they are glorifying you in their tireless fervor of sharing your word.

Thank You for This Day

2008-04-20T14:34:00.002-06:00

Father, thank you for this new day. It is a day filled with promise and potential. Father, may I use this day to honor you and bless those around me. May I be disciplined in my use of the time you have given me today. May I be productive and not slothful. May I accomplish good things, worthwhile things, and not just occupy space and waste the precious time that you have given. At the end of this day, may I look back with satisfaction and know that you have been praised in my actions, this day.

Daniel Prayed to God

2008-04-15T09:43:00.005-06:00

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom, and over them three presidents, including Daniel; to these the satraps gave an account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Daniel distinguished himself above all the other presidents and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom. So the presidents and the satraps tried to find grounds for complaint against Daniel in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could be found in him. The men said, "We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God."

So the presidents and satraps conspired and came to the king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever! All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an interdict, that whoever prays to anyone, divine or human, for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions. Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked." Therefore, King Darius signed the document and the interdict.

Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open toward Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously. The conspirators came and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God. Then they approached the king and said concerning the interdict, "O king! Did you not sing an interdict, that anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human, within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions?" The king answered, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." Then they responded to the king, "Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, prays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day."

When the king heard the charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and until the sun went down he made every effort to rescue him. Then the conspirators came to the king and said to him, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed."

Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!" A stone was brought and laid on on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with hi sown signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting: no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?" Daniel then said to the king, "O king, live forever! My God has sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong." Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Then the king gave a command, and those who had accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions--they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

Then King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations of every language throughout the whole world: "May you have abundant prosperity! I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: For he is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end. He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions."

So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

(The words of Daniel 6, New Revised Standard Version)

God's Answer to Prayer . . . May Be You

2008-04-14T11:02:00.002-06:00

In the latest NOOMA video, entitled "Open," Rob Bell speaks about prayer, specifically the subject of "unanswered prayer." He offers one line that struck me as particularly powerful. He said, "Don't pray for God to feed the hungry if you have plenty to eat." His point was that in many cases you and I might very well be the answer to the prayers we offer to God.

Don't pray for God to feed the hungry if you have plenty to eat. I'll be thinking a lot about these words and the message behind them during this upcoming week. I am often quick to overlook the ways in which I can be a blessing to the lives of others. I, like many, get too caught up in my own life to see the needs of others. My life is not to be lived to self, it is to be given as an offering to God and used in service to others. That is why I am here. That is why you are here.

Sweet Hour of Prayer

2008-03-06T14:07:00.002-07:00

This old William Bradbury and W. W. Walford hymn speaks of the great blessing of prayer.

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,

That calls me from a world of care,

And bids me at my Father's throne

Make all my wants and wishes known;

In seasons of distress and grief

My soul has often found relief,

And oft escaped the tempter's snare,

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,

The joy I feel, the bliss I share

Of those whose anxious spirits burn

With strong desires for thy return!

With such I hasten to the place

Where God, my Savior, shows His face,

And gladly take my station there,

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,

Thy wings shall my petition bear

To Him whose truth and faithfulness

Engage the waiting soul to bless;

And since He bids me seek His face,

Belive His wrd, and trust His grace,

I'll cast on Him my ev'ry care,

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.

John Calvin on Prayer

2008-03-04T23:09:00.003-07:00

John Calvin said this on prayer, while commenting on Jesus' prayer in Matthew 6:

Believers do not pray with the view of informing God about things known to him, or of exciting him to do his duty, or of urging him as though he were relucant. On the conrary, they pray in order that they may arouse themselves to seek him, that they may exercise their faith in mediating on his promises, that they may relieve themselves from their anxieties by pouring them into his bossom; in a word, that they may declare that from him alone they hope and expect, both for themselves and for others, all good things.

Father, My Prayers are Confused

2008-02-23T13:44:00.004-07:00

Father, many times, my prayers are confused. There are times when I am uncertain of what to pray, of what to ask, of what to expect. In my selfishness, I have desires and my own estimation of what needs to be, but I look at the world and I observe my small corner of it and realize that the way in which you are working must be at odds with what I am wanting. At first, such observation makes me frustrated, even angry and bitter . . . Why, God, have you not stepped in? . . . then, I realize, that you are God and I am not . . . You have all the wisdom and foresight, and my understanding is quite limited.

Father, I praise you that in my confusion, you know what is best for me and for those I love so deeply. May I learn to trust you more, to be patient in awaiting for your hand and your response. And, Father, may I know that you are not a manipulator . . . that the free choices of others sometimes goes against your will. May you judge them in accordance with your will, and may I be free of resentment and hatred and judgment.

Father, I give to you the concerns of my heart and the troubles of my family. I praise you for your love . . . for your abiding presence . . . may I accept the way that you lead. May I be at peace with where you are bringing me. May I live for you irrespective of what happens around me and to me. Father, I leave the circumstances of my life to you, fully trusting in You.

Thank You for a New Year

2008-01-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

Father, thank you for this new year. As I look ahead I see the horizon far away. This new year is filled with wide vistas, its promise and potential is great. You are the God of new beginnings, of renewal. Be with us, Father, as we live this new year. May we be recharged, rejuvenated, ready to grow, improve, prosper, and succeed. Lead us in this new year, Father. May we be what you desire us to be.

Father, Give Me a Good Kick

2007-12-21T08:56:00.001-07:00

I Try So Hard

2007-12-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

O Lord, You know, I try so hard

To be like You everyday;

But one thing, Lord, I truly know,

Is You gave Your life away.

To be like You, and all You are,

Well that's a lot easier to say.

O Lord, You gave Your life for me,

And I'll give You mine today.

(By Lydia Weathersby)

Like a River

2007-12-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

Like a river rushing down to the sea

Like a rushing wind You blow into me

Like the falling of the snow

Like the blood that makes me whole

Is the love of God that flows into me

Like a river You come flooding

Thru the desert fo my heart

And like the wind, You come rushing

Blowing life thru ev'ry part

And like the snow, You're falling

On me with the blood of Your Son

And like the sun, You come shining

Making darkness run

Like a river flowing down to the sea

Like a rushing wind You blow into me

Like the falling of the snow

Like the blood that makes me whole

Is the love of God that flows into me

Like a river You come pouring

Out Your love upon my heart

And like the wind, You bring

Harvest down to take Your yeild, and

Like the snow, You come to winter

Touching hearts and making warmth

And like the sun, You raised

A mighty light to calm the storm

Like a river flowing down to the sea

Like a rushing wind You blow into me

Like the falling of the snow

Like the blood that makes me whole

Is the love of God that flows into me

(A song/prayer by Dennis Jernigan, c. 1982)

In the Shelter of Your Wings

2007-12-17T11:37:00.000-07:00

God, hear my cry;

listen to my prayer.

I will call to you from the ends of the earth

when I am afraid.

Carry me way to a high mountain.

You have been my protection,

like a strong tower against my enemies.

Let me live in your Holy Tent forever.

Let me find safety in the shelter of your wings.

God, you have heard my promises.

You have given me what belongs

to those who fear you.

(Psalm 61.1-5)

Create In Me

2007-12-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

Create in me

A clean heart, O God

Let me be like You

In all my ways

Give me Your strength

Teach me Your song

Shelter me in the shadow

Of Your wings

For we are Your righteousness

If we die to ourselves

And live to Your death

We shall be born

Again to be blessed in Your name

(by Terry Talbot, inspired from Psalm 51)

In My Life, Lord

2007-12-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

A simple song, a powerful prayer:

In my life, Lord,

Be glorified, be glorified.

In my life, Lord,

Be glorified today.

In my home, Lord,

Be glorified, be glorified.

In my home, Lord,

Be glorified today.

In your church, Lord,

Be glorified, be glorified.

In your church Lord,

Be glorified today.

(Song by Bob Kilpatrick, c. 1978)

Thank You for the Snow

2007-12-11T09:13:00.001-07:00

Lord, what a beautiful morning! Your world, all clothed in white, is a most wondrous view. Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow. Thank you for this special gift.

You are the God of renewal, of new beginnings, of taking the old and transforming it into the new. The sparkling snow reminds me of this, and I praise you. I praise you for your hands of love as the mold and shape me into the one you want me to be. For your patience, as you chip away all that is unsightly and useful for naught. For your love in seeing me through difficult times and foolish moments, for leading me to the place you want me to be.

Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow. Father, thank you for the blanket of white on a landscape barren and dry.

I Have a Boy to Bring Up

2007-12-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

Lord, I have a boy to bring up.

Help me to perform my task with wisdom and kinness and good cheer. Help me always to see him clearly as he is. Let not my pride in him hide his faults. Let not my fear for him magnify my doubts and fears lest I make him doubting and fearful in his turn.

Quicken my judgment so that I shall know how to train him to think as a child, to be in all things pure and simple as a child.

I have a boy to bring up.

Give me great patience and a long memory. Let me remember the hard places in my own youth, so that I may help when I see him struggling as I struggled then.

Let me remember the things that made me glad, lest I, sweating in the toil and strain of life, forget a little child's laughter in the light of life.

I have a boy to bring up.

Teach me that love that understandeth all things, the love that knows no weakness, tolerates no selfishness. Keep me from weakening my son through granting him pleasures that end in pain, ease of body that must bring sickness of soul, a vision of life that must end in death. Grant that I love my son wisely and myself not at all.

I have a boy to bring up.

So guide and direct me that I may do this service to Your glory, O God, the service of my country and to my son's happiness.

(Author Unknown; Adapted)

My Feet Stand on Level Ground

2007-12-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

A prayer attributed to David (Psalm 26):

Vindicate me, O Lord,

for I have led a blameless life;

I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

Test me, O Lord, and try me,

examine my heart and my mind;

for your love is ever before me,

and I walk continually in your truth.

I do not sit with deceitful men,

nor do I consort with hypocrites;

I abhor the assembly of evildoers

and refuse to sit with the wicked.

I wash my hands in innocence,

and go about your altar, O Lord,

proclaiming aloud your praise

and telling of your wonderful deeds.

I love the house where you live, O Lord,

the place where your glory dwells.

Do not take away my soul along with sinners,

my life with bloodthirsty men,

in whose hands are wicked schemes,

whose right hands are full of bribes,

But I lead a blameless life;

redeem me and be merciful to me.

My feet stand on level ground;

in the great assembly I will praise the Lord.

A Little Prayer

2007-12-06T13:41:00.001-07:00

A little prayer in the morning

Gives the day a better start

Because it seems to open up

Windows of the heart.

And like a ray of sunshine,

Faith comes beaming in

To brighten hopes and wishes

As each new day begins.

(Author Unknown)

Father, Open My Eyes

2007-11-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Father, open my eyes. I want to see as you see. I want to see clearly, without the cloudiness of prejudice, without the confusion of personal comfort and desire, without the blinding of pride, bitterness, and self-concern. Help me to see clearly, to see through eyes of love, concern, mercy, and humility.

Father, help me to see as you see. Let me notice the one who is crying, the one who is hurting, the one who is in need. Let me see, and let me care, and let me move to make a difference, to provide a firm shoulder to lean upon, to give a helping hand, to act in love.

Father, open my eyes. You are light. Your light dispels darkness. You bring sight to the blind and hope to those that are lost. Father, help me see as you see.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-21T21:47:00.001-07:00

Father, THANK YOU!

James, On Prayer

2007-11-15T14:17:00.000-07:00

The words of James 1.5-8:

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

A Parent's Prayer

2007-11-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

The picture comes from the Japanese Space Agency. It is a high-resolution photograph of the earth from the orbit of the moon . . . "Earthrise." God is awesome!

____________________

Dear Lord, help me to be the person I want my children to be. May they see Christ in me, especially when I am tired and rushed or when things haven't gone my way. Help me never to be too busy to stop and listen to them without interrupting or contradicting them. Let me answer their questions kindly.

Lord, guide me so that I will have no habits that I would not want them to have. May my daily life show that honesty produces happiness. may I never tempt them to lie or steal by my actions. Help me to be fair in granting them all their wishes that are reasonable. But give me the courage to withhold a privilege which I think would not be best for them. Lord, I want to encourage and praise them when it is due, and discipline and correct them when it is needed.

Let them see that the Christian life is the greatest life on earth.

Lord, what I want more than anything else is to love them and care for them as You love and care for me.

Thank You for being my loving Father. Help me to be their loving parent.

(Author Unknown)

A Father's Prayer

2007-11-11T13:53:00.000-07:00

Give me, O God, the wisdom that I need
To mold the tender lives within my care;
Give me the power that I may subtly lead
Them into righteousness--true joy is there.

I ask for them no rainbowed path of ease;
I ask for them no store of wealth or fame;
I only ask that by their lives they please
Thee and the world with an untarnished name.

I know that man is weak, and life is strong,
And sometimes honest roads look very drear;
That winning laurels often takes too long
And luring vistas from all sides appear.

But while my young are still beneath my wing,
God, help me guide them right in everything.

(Author Unknown)

Father, May I Be Satisfied

2007-11-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

Father, may I be satisfied in the bounty you bring. As your Son, Jesus, prayed, let me simply say, "Give us this day our daily bread."

Father, I become so dissatisfied. Despite all that you give, I long for more. I want what the world calls better and newer, fuller and greater. But, Father, what is better will become surpassed, what is new will become old, what is fuller will become empty, what is greater will become lesser. You, O Lord, know all and see all. You, O Lord, made me and gave me life. You, O Lord, know what it is to be. You know what is necessary for life, what is beneficial, what is truly to be desired. Father God, give me this knowledge, show me your peace, fill me with what is truly great. May I trust your provision and be grateful.

In the blessed name of Jesus, your Son, my Lord and Savior, I pray. Amen.

Psalm 13: How Long, O Lord?

2007-11-06T21:59:00.000-07:00

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, and my enemy will say, "I have prevailed"; my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Thank You For This Sink of Dirty Dishes

2007-10-08T13:00:00.000-06:00

(This prayer has circulated around the Internet for the past several years.)

Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat. Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of good clothes to wear. And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.

My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mirrors, soggy, grimy towels, and dirty lavatory; they are so convenient. Thank you for this finger-smidged refrigerator that needs cleaning inside and out. It has served us faithfully for many years and has enough food in it for several meals. Thank you, Lord for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today. It has baked so many things over the years.

The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing and the lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard. Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming door; my kids are healthy and able to run and play.

Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says that you have richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.

Be With Me, Lord

2007-10-04T13:30:00.000-06:00

Many of our most beloved hymns are prayers set to music. One of the most special is "Be With Me, Lord," with lyrics composed by L. O. Sanderson and music by T. O. Chisholm. These men were friends. The story of how "Be With Me, Lord" came to be (at least as I understand it) is incredible and suggests the presence of Providence.

In 1935, Sanderson spent a restless night. He was occupied with the concept of a song, and during the course of the long night, composed the lyrics that would become "Be With Me, Lord." He had the words, but could not put them to music. By mail, he sent a copy of the newly composed lyrics to his friend Chisholm, along with the explanation of his restless night.

Chisholm received the post, and much to his surprise the lyrics written by Sanderson fit the bars of music that he himself had composed days earlier. Indeed, on the very night Sanderson was restless and could not sleep, Chisolm was kept awake by a raging thunderstorm. On that very night, a tune came to his mind, music that would fit the lyrics of Sanderson's song.

A coincidence? I'm given to the belief that a greater Composer had a hand in "Be With Me, Lord."

What a beautiful prayer this beloved hymn is.

Be with me, Lord, I cannot live without Thee,

I dare not try to take one step alone,

I cannot bear the loads of life, unaided,

I need Thy strength to lean myself upon.

Be with me, Lord, and then if dangers threaten,

If storms of trial burst above my head,

If lashing seas leap ev'ry where about me,

They cannot harm, or make my heart afraid.

Be with me, Lord! No other gift or blessing

Thou couldst bestow could with this one compare--

A constant sense of Thy abiding presence,

Where'er I am, to feel that Thou art near.

Be with me, Lord, when lonliness o'ertakes me,

When I must weep amid the fires of pain,

And when shall come the hour of my departure

For worlds unknown, O Lord, be with me then.

What Prayer Is Not

2007-10-03T17:18:00.001-06:00

Lionel O'Neal was a great man of prayer and one of those giants of faith that I have been blessed to know. I still remember the eloquent and passionate prayers he offered for the Green Lawn church when I was a child. He wrote a rather thorough curriculum on prayer. In it he offers this listing, "What Prayer Is Not."

1. Prayer is not a means of informing God and scolding men. We need not, in our prayers, to try to tell God all about the universe. He knows all we know and more than we shall ever know.

2. Too, we should not be scolding men while we pretend that we are talking to God. Prayer is too sacred to be abused in such manner.

3. Then, too, we should not feel that prayer is a means of ministering to our selfishness. James said, "Ye have not because ye ask not." Then, the reason we do not receive when we ask, is because we are selfish in our petition. "Ye . . . receive not," says James, "because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it is your pleasures." God has not promised to answer our selfish prayers. It is very difficult for us to spearate our selfishness from our requests.

4. Prayer is not a means of getting out of doing what God requires of us. Prayer will not set aside God's laws. God's laws are immutable. The laws of God cannot be changed by calling upon Him. God requires his servants to obey. Many attempt to use prayer as a means of getting out of doing the will of God. In the Great Commission, Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved," yet many will try to avoid being baptized by falling down on their faces and praying. Prayer will not set aside the command to be baptized. The Lord says, "Belive and be baptized" and ye shall be saved. Some preachers say, "Belive and kneel down by your radio and TV and pray" and ye shall be saved. Prayer is not a substitute for baptism nor for any other direct command of our Lord. Prayer does not supplant giving. Prayer is not a substitute for the Lord's Supper. Jesus demands that his disciples meet upon the first day of every week to break bread. For us to fall down on our knees and cry out in prayer will not change this law. In fact, Jesus will not hear the man who fails to meet his requirements. Our Lord said, "Why call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" That is, "Why pray and do not do what I say?" God will only hear the man who hears him.

Psalm 4

2007-10-02T13:37:00.000-06:00

Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.

How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?

But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him him.

When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent.

Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.

There are many who say, "O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, o Lord!" You have put the gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound.

I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

No Greater Comfort

2007-10-01T13:13:00.000-06:00

If in early life we seek Him

We will always find Him near

Always there to guide and comfort,

Guilding us through early years.

When we reach life's busy noonday

What a blessing when He's near

Just to know we are in His favor

And can go to Him in prayer.

When life's evening sun is setting

And we are nearing heaven's shore,

There can be no greater comfort

Than to go to God in prayer.

(Author Unknown)

For Whom Do We Pray?

2007-09-27T13:12:00.000-06:00

I love the description of Epaphras given in Colossians 4.12 by Paul. Paul says Epaphras "wrestled in his prayers to God" for the church at Colossae. Epaphras was a man of prayer, and in his prayers he kept the Christians of Colossae in mind. He was diligent in his prayers for them. He was persistent. He was passionate. May we share his spirit as we "wrestle in our prayers to God," keeping in mind each other . . . our needs, concerns, thanksgivings.

For whom do we pray? Consider these examples from prayers and teachings in Scripture.

We should pray for ourselves (Luke 18.9-14).

We should pray for one another (1 Thess. 1.2-3 & James 5.16).

We should pray for the lost (Romans 10.1).

We should pray for the sick (James 5.14-16).

We should pray for our rulers (1 Timothy 2.1-2).

We should pray for our enemies (Luke 6.27-28).

We should pray for our children (1 Chron. 29.19).

We should pray for our elders (Acts 20.36).

We should pray for preachers (Ephesians 6.19-20).

We should pray for the church (Philippians 1.9-11).

No Time for God

2007-09-26T11:56:00.000-06:00

You've time to build houses, and in them dwell,

And time to do business--to buy and sell;

But none for repentance, or deep earnest prayer;

To seek your salvation you've no time to spare.

You've time for earth's pleasures, for frolic and fun,

For her glittering treasures, how quickly you run;

But care not to seek the fair mansion above,

The favor of God or the gift of His love.

You've time to take voyages over the sea,

And time to take in the world's jubilee;

But soon your bright hopes will be lost in the gloom

Of the cold, dark river of death and the tomb.

You've time to resort to the mountain and glen;

And time to gain knowledge from books and from men;

Yet no time to search for the wisdom of God,

But what of your soul when you're under the sod?

For time will not linger when helpless you lie,

Staring death in the face, you will take time to die.

Then, what of the judgment--pause, think, I implore!

For time will be lost on eternity's shore.

(Author Unknown)

Do You Believe?

2007-09-19T14:43:00.000-06:00

Do you believe that one day years ago a man just like you and me was ablt to change the rainfall cycle of a who nation just by praying?

Do you believe that a dying man added 15 more years to his life because he prayed to live?

Do you believe that a previously barren woman became able to conceive and bear a son because she talked to God about her problem?

Do you believe that twice in history a man's prayer was all that was needed to stop the normal movement of the solar system so that "the sun stood still," or, in one case, went backwards?

Incredible as these stories may sound to us today, they are recorded in the Bible as actual fact.

Maybe that explains why some of us get so discouraged. When our troubles pile up so heavy that we're ready to throw in the towel, we are usually coping with situations too big for us to handle by ourselves and we have not thought of asking God to handle them for us.

Christ recommended prayer as an alternative to depression. He taught that we "ought always to pray and not to lose heart." Too often we try every possible situation to some problem except praying about it, and then we despair because things aren't getting any better. Only God can move some mountains; trying to move them without asking His help is foolish and frustrating.

(Author Unknown)

Fear Not, You're Not Alone

2007-09-18T13:34:00.000-06:00

Have you ever feared driving over a high bridge? If so, you're not alone. In fact, some people are so afraid of bridges that they will drive hours out of their way to avoid them. Others try to cross but have a panic attack in the middle of the bridge and can't go on. They block traffic.

Because of this the operators of some of the longest and highest spans in America now offer a driving service. On request, one of the bridge attendants will get behind the wheel and drive the car over the bridge.

For example, on average, each year, Michigan's Timid Motorist Program assists in the neighborhood of 1,000 drivers across the Mackinac Bridge, which is five miles long and rises two hundred feet above the water.

Bridges aren't the only things causing fear in people's hearts. In any terrifying situation the way to get over the paralysis of fear is to do like these motorists--turn the wheel over to someone else. Turn the situation over to God and then trust him. You have to cross that bridge, but you're not doing it alone, and God is the One in control.

1 Peter 5.6-7: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you."

A Faith that Moves Mountains

2007-09-17T13:49:00.000-06:00

The promise of Jesus, from Matthew 21.21-22:

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive."

Great Photo

2007-09-14T14:17:00.000-06:00

Break Thou the Bread of Life

2007-09-13T11:03:00.000-06:00

Break Thou the bread of life,
Dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves
Beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page
I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee,
O living Word.

Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord,
To me--to me--
As Thou didst bless the bread
By Galilee;
Then shall all bondage cease,
All fetters fall;
And I shall find my peace,
My all in all.

Thou art the bread of life,
O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth
That saveth me;
Give me to eat and live
With Thee above;
Teach me to love Thy truth,
For Thou art love.

(Author Unknown)

Where Should I Pray?

2007-09-08T15:31:00.001-06:00

Where should I pray?

I should pray when I am alone. Personal times of prayer and devotion to God are so important. Jesus prayed alone. Luke's Gospel is particularly good at pointing this out. In Lk. 11.1, we are told that the disciples noticed Jesus praying and asked him to teach them how to pray. We must have this eagerness to learn to pray and have a commitment to make personal prayer an important part of our life.

Designating a particular and specific time each day to pray is a good practice. The most disciplined we are, the more committed we become. Certainly, there is adanger of making prayer merely a ritual, and there needs to be a certain amount of spontaneity in our practice of prayer, but a schedule can help to keep us focused.

A prayer journal is a good resource to help us become more disciplined and focused in our prayers. A prayer journal can either be a verbatum record of our personal prayers to God, or may simply be a place to jot down those requests and concerns we wish to bring before God; a prayer journal can also be used to preserve our thoughts and feelings during and after times of prayer.

I must pray together with the church. The early church provides countless examples of times of corporate prayer. Acts 2.42 says, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

Prayer needs to be emphasized as the church comes together. Public prayers must not be relegated to an afterthought or as a transitional element of worship or simply offered because they must. Public prayer is the congregation of believers speaking, through the agency of a leader, to the Father. As such, the leading of public prayer is an awesome responsibility and honor. Those who lead public prayer need to understand this, but must never forget that prayer is not about eloquence, it is about honest and forthright communication to God.

Sadly, the contemporary church has largely forgotten the power of "Amen!" "Amen" is the public declaration of the congregation that the prayer offered publically is a prayer offered by the community of faith, and not solely the one saying the prayer. "Amen" declares "This is OUR Prayer! May God hear our words!" Thus, public prayer is meant to be participatory, not passive.

I must pray together in my family. A praying family is a faithful family. A praying family is a family that loves each other and loves God.

How often does your family pray together? It should be a daily exercise, and not just a ritual before meal time. Families should set aside time in the morning and evening and pray together. These times do not have to be lenghty, a simple one sentence prayer can be effective and meaningful.

The words of Alexander Campbell are worth repeating. What scene on earth is more transcendingly interesting than a whole household gathered around the family Bible and paternal hearth, to listen to the living word of the living God; and after the oral instruction of a Christian parent, male or female, and the hymn of thanksgiving, falling down upon their knees before the Lord of heaven and earth. . . . Surely the destiny of such a family, both in time and ternity, may be expected to differ much from that of a family left, without such parental care and tenderness, to follow their own impulses or customs of an apostate world.

Nearing the Ford

2007-09-07T10:58:00.000-06:00

A prayer by Dwight Edwards Marvin:

Kindle, O Lord, along the way

Bring guiding torches, lest I stray;

For I am near the ford.

Take Thou my hand, clear Thou my sight

Amid these brooding clouds of night:

Kindle the torches, Lord.

The mists are falling o'er my eyes

And darkness robes the dripping skies

As I draw near the ford.

Strange voices whisper in my ear;

Strange thoughts surcharge my mind with fear:

Kindle the torches, Lord.

The waters raor, I cannot see

And tremble with anxiety,

Now I am near the ford.

Light the lonely path I tread;

Take from my mind all doubt and dread:

Kindle the torches, Lord.

Behold, one cometh on apace,

A radience gleaming from His face,

He calls, "Fear not the ford."

His garments are as white as snow,

And on my path there falls a glow

Brighter than torches, Lord.

I cannot suffer harm or loss

When I the rushing waters cross;

For He is at the ford.

Soon I shall go through portals bright

To walk with Him in realms of light

And need no torches, Lord.

In Our Own Words

2007-09-05T12:11:00.000-06:00

(This is an article by John Fischer, found in Contemporary Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers.)

I have a bad habit. When my children tell me about something they've learned for the first time, I often act as if I knew that. Even worse, sometimes I tell them how the same thing happened to me years ago.

When my wife hears something "new" from the kids, her mouth drops open and her eyes widen. It's as if she has never heard this kind of thing before. The kids' faces brighten, and they feel as if they have actually enlightened their mother.

I used to think my wife was just acting and sooner or later the kids would find out and feel lied to. Then I realized it isn't an act at all. Though she may have already experienced what they are trying to tell her, she's never experienced it through them. Their personal "revelations" are entirely new.

It's the same with God. As all-knowing and sovereign as he is, I'm sure he's still eager to hear our prayers because he has never heard it quite the way we say it. We are all unique. We have our own signature attached to all we do and say. Our lives, our experiences, and our faith expressed to him are never old.

Gathered Around the Paternal Hearth

2007-09-04T13:27:00.000-06:00

Alexander Campbell said this about the importance of prayer in the family:

"What scene on earth is more transcendantly interesting than a whole household gathered around the family Bible and paternal hearth, to listen to the living word of the living God; and after the oral instruction of a Christian parent, male or female, and the hymn of thanksgiving, falling down upon their knees before the Lord of heaven and earth. . . . Surely the destiny of such a family, both in time and eternity, may be expected to differ much from that of a family left, without such parental care and tenderness, to follow their own impulses or customs of an apostate world."

A Nurse's Prayer

2007-09-03T14:08:00.000-06:00

Ruth Winant Wheeler has written this prayer:

Because the day that stretches out for me

Is full of busy hours, I come to Thee

To ask Thee, Lord, that Thou wilt see me through

The many things that I may have to do.

Help me to make more tempting every tray.

Help me to sense when pain must have relief.

Help me to deal with those bourne down by grief.

Help me to take to every patient's room

The Light of Life to brighten up the gloom.

Help me to bring to every soul in fear

The sure and steadfast thought that Thou art near,

And if today, or if tonight, maybe,

Some patients in my care set out to sea

To face the great adventure we call death,

Sustain them, Father, in their parting breath.

Help me to live throughout this live long day

As one who loves Thee well, dear Lord, I pray;

And when the task is done, and evening stars

Shine through the dark above the sunset bars,

When weary quite, I turn to seek my rest,

Lord, may I truly know I've done my best.

Keep Your Head Down

2007-09-02T13:47:00.000-06:00

Alan Smith wrote the following. It was published on his "Thought for the Day" E-mail.

The story is told of a preacher who took a vacation and decided to make it a golfing holiday. He went to a golfing resort, and on his first day out on the course he learned that Arnold Palmer played the course frequently.

The toughest hole was the 17th, and as the preacher approached the tee his caddie said, "When Arnold Palmer plays this hole he uses a 3 iron and says a little prayer."

"I'll give it a try," said the preacher. He prayed and swung, but the ball landed in a sand trap. "Ah, well," he said, "I gues the Lord didn't hear me."

"He probably heard you," said the caddie, "but when Mr. Palmer says his prayer, he ususally keeps his head down."

We would do well to remember that prayer doesn't relieve us of our responsibilities. We pray that God will provide us with "daily bread," but we don't stay home from work waiting for him to do it!

Prayer should not motivate us to do nothing. Rather it should motivate us to do even more as we turn our lives over to God to use. Take your requests to God in prayer today, but don't forget to keep your head down!

No Time for Prayer?

2007-08-30T12:00:00.000-06:00

I knelt to pray, but not for long,

I had too much to do.

Must hurry and get to work

For bills would soon be due.

And so, I said a hurried prayer,

Jumped up from off my knees;

My Christian duty now was done,

My soul could be at ease.

All through the day I had no time

To speak a word of cheer,

No time to speak of Christ to friends;

They'd laugh at me, I feared.

No time, no time, too much to do--

That was my constant cry;

No time to give to those in need--

At last 'twas time to die.

And when before the Lord I came,

I stood with downcast eyes,

Within His hands he held a book,

It was the "Book of Life."

God looked into His Book and said,

"Your name I cannot find,

I once was going to write it down,

But never found the time."

(Author Unknown)

Pray A.S.A.P.!

2007-08-29T13:20:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wondered about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.? We often interpret it to mean "As Soon As Possible," just another term that underscores the stress most people operate their lives under. Perhaps we should attach another meaning to A.S.A.P. Doing so will help us better deal with the stress we confront each day.

There's work to do,

Deadlines to meet;

You've got not time to spare,

But as you hurry and scurry--

A.S.A.P.,

Always Say A Prayer!

In the midst of family chaos,

"Quality time" is rare,

But do your best,

And let God do the rest--

A.S.A.P.,

Always Say A Prayer!

It may seem like your worries

Are more than you can bear,

So slow down

And take a breather--

A.S.A.P.,

Always Say A Prayer!

God knows

How stressful life is,

He wants to ease our cares;

And He'll respond,

A.S.A.P.,

Always Say A Prayer!

(Author Unknown)

Calmness in the Loudness

2007-08-28T12:04:00.000-06:00

The world can be a loud place. Our days are filled with the constant clamoring of voices, nature, media, street sounds, and the thoughts that fill our minds. Don't we all long for a few moments of quiet reflection, times when we can withdraw and feel at ease?

God knows our need for serenity and he has given us prayer. You have witnessed how effective a few moments of prayer can be. In those moments spent with God calmness comes when there was stress, reflection when there was confusion, and peace of mind when there was frustration. Even when we come to God and pray at times of crises and despair, these moments spent with the Father offer clarity to the situation and bring comfort. We may not know when the end of our troubles will come, we may not immediately know the solutions God will offer, but we do know that our Father is listening and that he is acting and that he is present.

How wonderful is the gift of prayer.

I Cannot Say . . .

2007-08-27T14:10:00.000-06:00

I cannot say our if I only live for myself.

I cannot say Father if I do not endeavor each day to act like his child.

I cannot say who art in heaven if I am laying up no treasure there.

I cannot sayhallowed be Thy name if I am not striving for holiness.

I cannot sayThy Kingdom come if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful event.

I cannot say Thy will be done if I am disobedient to his Word.

I cannot say on earth as it is in heaven if I'll not serve him here and now.

I cannot say give us this day our daily bread if I am dishonest or an seeking things by subterfuge.

I cannot say forgive us our debts if I harbor a grudge against anyone.

I cannot say lead us not into temptation if I deliberatly place myself in its path.

I cannot say deliver us from evil if I do not put on the whole armor of God.

I cannot say Thine is the kingdom if I do not give the King the loyalty due him from a faithful subject.

I cannot say the power if I fear what men may do.

I cannot say the glory if I'm seeking honor only for myself.

I cannot say forever if the horizon of my life is bounded completely by time.

(Author Unknown)

Solomon's Prayer

2007-08-26T17:06:00.000-06:00

Solomon's prayer from 1 Kings 3.6-9:

"You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

"Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours."

The response of God to Solomon's prayer (1 Kings 3.10-14):

"The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, 'Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both riches and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."

Our Prayers Can Be Hindered

2007-08-25T13:22:00.000-06:00

We must understand that our thoughts and actions can hinder the effectiveness of our prayers.

In James 4.1-3, we are told that when we pray with impure or selfish motives, God does not hear our prayers. James writes, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

In 1 Peter 3.7, we are told that the ill treatment of one's spouse may hinder one's prayers. Peter writes, "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."

In 1 Samuel 28.18, King Saul is told that his prayers were not heard by God because of Saul's disobedience. Samuel tells him, "Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today."

In Isaiah 58 the people of Israel wander why God has not heard their prayers and answered them. The gist of God's response to this charge is that the people have come to him very insincerely and full or arrogance and self-interest and not in humility and worshipful reverence. God, through his prophet, says, "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."

In Matthew 6.5-8, Jesus says, "And when you pray do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. . . . But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Let us approach God with himility, sincerity, transparency, and a deep-abiding faith.

Prayer to the Lord of the Church

2007-08-24T09:00:00.000-06:00

In Ephesians 6.18-20, Paul asked, "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

The prayer of Edward Osler:

Lord of the church, we humbly pray

For those who guide us in Thy way,

And speak Thy holy word;

With love divine their hearts inspire,

And touch their lips with hallowed fire,

And needful grace afford.

Help them to preach the truth of God,

Redemption through the Saviour's blood;

Nor let the Spirit cease

On all the church His gifts to shower:

To them, a Messenger of power,

To us, of life and peace.

So may they live to Thee alone,

Then hear the welcome word, "Well done!"

And take their crown above;

Enter into their Master's joy,

And all eternity employ

In praise and bliss and love.

The Power Was There All the Time

2007-08-21T10:55:00.000-06:00

Herbert Jackson tells the story of when, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push.

After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave his car running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.

Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the swtich, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life.

For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting the power to work.

J. B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians 1.19-20, "How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God." When we make our firm connection with God, his life and power flow through us."

Reflections on Prayer

2007-08-20T15:27:00.000-06:00

Francis de Sales: "He who prays fervently knows not whether he prays or not, for he is not thinking of the prayer which he makes, but of God, to whom he makes it."

P. Y. Forsyth: "Not to want to pray is the sin behind sin."

E. M. Bounds: "To pray is the greatest thing we can do, and to do it well, there must be calmness, time, and deliberation."

Edward J. Farrell: "The penalty of not praying is the loss of one's capacity to pray."

George H. Gallup, Jr.: "Any revitalization of faith in this country will have to start with prayer, in which we gain a sense of the living presence of God."

A Prayer to the God of My Life

2007-08-19T13:25:00.000-06:00

The prayer of Psalms 42 & 43 (NIV):

As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

Where can I go and meet with God?

My tears have been my food day and night,

while men say to me all day long,

"Where is your God?"

These things I remember as I pour out my soul:

how I used to go with the multitude,

leading the procession to the house of God,

with shouts of joy and thanksgiving

among the festive throng.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

My soul is downcast within me;

therefore I will remmeber you

from the land of Jordan,

the heights of Hermon--from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep

in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers

have swept over me.

By day the Lord directs his love,

at night his song is within me--

a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God my Rock,

"Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I go about mourning,

oppressed by the enemy?"

My bones suffer mortal agony

as my foes taunt me,

saying to me all day long,

"Where is your God?"

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him.

my Savior and my God?

Vindicate me, O God,

and plead my cause against an ungodly nation;

rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.

You are God my stronghold.

Why have you rejected me?

Why must I go about mourning,

oppressed by the enemy?

Send forth your light and your truth,

let them guide me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain,

to the place where you dwell.

Then will I go to the altar of God,

to God, my joy and my delight.

I will praise you with the harp,

O God, my God.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

Resurrection Prayer

2007-08-18T12:31:00.000-06:00

(A prayer by Francis Ridley Havergal)

Oh, let me know

The power of Thy resurrection!

Oh, let me show

Thy life in clear reflection!

Oh, let me soar

Where Thou, my Savior Christ, art gone before!

In mind and heart

Let me dwell always, only, where Thou Art!

Oh, let me give

Out of the gifts Thou freely givest;

Oh, let me live

With life abundantly because Thou livest;

Oh, make me shine

In darkest places, for Thy light in mine;

Oh, let me be

A faithful witness for Thy truth and Thee.

Oh, let me show

The strong relatiy of gospel story;

Oh, let me go

From strength to strength, from glory unto glory;

Oh, let me sing

For every joy, because Thou art my King;

Oh, let me praise

Thy love and faithfulness through all my days.

Comments on Prayer

2007-08-16T15:48:00.000-06:00

Henri Nouwen: "As we are involved in unceasing thinking, so we are called to unceasing prayer."

Abraham Lincoln: "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day."

Eugene Peterson: "In prayer, we are aware that God is in action and that when the circumstances are ready, when others are in the right place, and when our hearts are prepared, he will call us into the action. Waiting in prayer is a disciplined refusal to act before God acts."