Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day. I don’t know if there is anything more encouraging than knowing someone is praying for you. I am always so thankful for the people who are praying for me! We’re going to talk about effective prayer this month, and making the most of our time in communication with the Father. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing, or to always be in an attitude of prayer, so I encourage you to take time to pray, and to pray effectively. Don’t forget to pray for our leaders and our nation. We really do move forward, when we are on our knees.
Prayer is our vital connection with the Father. There is nothing better than being connected with the Father. Our life, our source of strength, our everything comes from that connection. Prayers that prevail or accomplish are the kind of prayers that we want to pray. The kind of prayer that works is the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman, because it makes great power available, effective in its working. (James 5:16 AMP) There are prayers we can memorize, or there are times that we read our requests from a list, and pray right down the list. But the best kind of prayer I know of is the one that is needed at the moment, and no one knows what is needed better than the Holy Spirit. Here is how I listen to the Holy Spirit when I pray.
It is really very simple, and like the famous author’s book title, everything I ever wanted to know about…. being spirit led in my prayers…. I learned in kindergarten. It is really three steps…Stop, Look, Listen, just like what we learned in kindergarten about crossing the road.
First step is stop. Push the off button! We are called to enter into the rest of God.
stopping is waiting – take a breather – give God more than just a moment of your time.
Take time to be still, and quiet your heart.
Step two is Look. Look for cues – God gives us spiritual vision. He wants to show us great and mighty things that we know not of. We need to ask Him to “show us” what we need to know, as it says in Jeremiah 33:3.
Step three is Listen! – Be a listener! The voice of God isn’t in the storm, or the wind, but in the still small voice. Jesus said in John 5:30, “Even as I hear, I judge ….. I make a decision based on what I hear.” I make this confession regularly that I am His sheep and
know His voice. Stop, look and listen as you pray effectual, fervent prayers that avail much and touch heaven to change things on earth.
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