Author: debo

I was once involved in a prayer group that met once a week at 7:14 to pray for our nation, and it’s leaders. We met at that specific time, because of 2 Cor 7:14 that says if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, God will hear us and heal our land. All you have to do is watch one hour of the national news and you can see that our land needs God’s healing hand. From every type of criminal behavior, all the way to our nation’s capital, our nation needs the healing of the Lord. I want to encourage you, maybe even twice a day, when 7:14 rolls around in the morning and at night to take a minute and pray for our nation and its leaders. Pray protection around our civil servants and protection around our borders. God tells us to pray for where we live, so if America is your nation pray for America. For years and years I have prayed for Switzerland, that a mighty move of God would take place there as well, since my roots are there. Maybe God will place another nation on your heart to pray for. Wouldn’t it be amazing if all of us together at 7:14 AM and PM everyday would take time to pray? Untied prayer brings amazing results. We can pray like this: Father, In Jesus Name, we pray for our nation. We believe for our leaders to be surrounded with Godly men and women to give them wise counsel. We pray for protection and blessing upon our nation as well, in Jesus Name, AMEN.

I love all of I John chapter 3, and particularly verse 22 about receiving from God. It is always good to read each passage in context, and if you start in verse 16, this is how it reads.
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
It sounds like love is pretty important when it comes to prayer! We are not just supposed to be talking about love, but really loving people through action. We can have confidence when we come to God if we have loved in word and in deed. If we really want to receive from God, the promise of verse 22 is for us, when we love like Jesus loves. Let’s please God by loving people completely!

I John 5:14 and 15 says this:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
This is one more of those scriptures that sounds too good to be true. Did it really say that what we ask we will receive? It really does. It is always to remember that God’s will is wrapped up in His Word. So we could say it this ways, if we ask anything according to God Word (which is His Will and Testament to us) we can be assured that we will receive it. Doesn’t that make sense even on a legal document? If you have been willed something, can’t you claim it as your own? Say you mom willed her house to you. When she died, you wouldn’t tell the probate lawyer, I don’t deserve it, or I don’t think I should have something that nice. You would say, thank you very much, can I have the keys please!!! Let’s know God’s Word, so we can know His will and then let’s have confidence when we pray. Can we pray for healing? Yes, it is in God’s will. Can we pray for provision? Yes, it is in God’s will. Can we pray for protection? Yes, it is in God’s will! Let’s confidently pray God’s Word over our families, our church, our communities, our states, our nation and our world. God hears, and He answers.

I like watching the show What Not To Wear sometimes to see how transformed a person can be just by learning how not to dress. When you understand the don’ts, and get a grasp on the do’s, you can have some real success, even just in the way you dress. What is amazing is that along with knowing how to dress for your body type, and appropriately for each occasion, confidence builds. I have seen the same thing happen when people learn how to pray. Luke 18:9-11 actually talks about how not to pray. Let’s read it and get the picture.
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
It sounds like a little bit of pride was going on, and a lot of self righteousness. So how are we not supposed to pray? With pride and self righteousness. Let’s do just the opposite. Let’s be humble and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. That is how we should pray!

Do you say grace before you eat, or take time to pray before you go to sleep each night? It is very good to ask God to bless our food, and then to thank Him for providing it for us. It is also a good thing before you go to sleep to pray and ask God for his protection over your family, for health and safety for those you love. Hi this is Dorette Schaal with your dailyeword. Prayer is our topic and the best reminder I have for you is to pray! Become someone who prays without ceasing!

Today we are looking at the tax collector who got prayer right. He was commended for his humble prayer. Here is what it says in Luke 18:13-14
13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The Pharisee was all about what He had done, and how good his deeds were. The tax collector realized that He needed God’s mercy because He was a sinner. The tax collector was the one who was justified, because he humbled himself before God. In light of that, if we want to know how to pray, this would be a great place to start. Let’s remember who God is. He is GOD! We are not! We are nothing without Him. He is our everything. Once we embrace salvation, we become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, but that also is only because of God’s great mercy. He gives us right standing, and a robe of righteousness, not to show off how great we are, but to demonstrate His goodness. Let’s come humbly before our awesome God.

Have you ever heard this definition of worry? Worry is faith going the opposite direction. Faith is expecting and believing for the best, worry does the opposite! Worry expects and believes for the worst. It would appear that faith comes from God, and worry is from the enemy! Phil 4:6 tells us not to worry, but bring our requests to God, who hears and answers us. If you feel worry trying to grab ahold of your heart, start praying! When we pray in faith, we can expect results! Worry takes us backward, but prayer takes us forward. Here is the hard question you may be asking: In our world that has so much turmoil, how can I keep from worrying, about my future, my family or even the condition of our world? Here is how Phil 4:6 would answer that question, the way we can keep from worrying, is to let our requests be made known unto God and then keep on trusting Him. We don’t have control over the condition of our planet, but we can believe that God will protect and provide for us and our loved ones, because it is what He has promised in His Word. Another reason we don’t have to worry is because Matt 6:33 tells not to worry, and if we are told not worry, then we have the ability not to! And if you look at it another way, if He tells us not to worry, when we do, we are in sin. Let’s be obedient, and cast our cares on the Lord! He cares for us. Instead of worry, let’s pray! Father, in the Name of Jesus, I pray that you would help everyone who hears or sees this to be encouraged to bring their worries and concerns to You, and leave them there. We believe Your Word, and put our trust in You completely. We will live by faith, and not be moved by fear. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN! Don’t worry, be happy!

06

We all want to know the secret to powerful prayer. What really is the best kind of prayer? The best answer I know for that question is…the one that is needed at the moment. God has given us the keys to the kingdom and has shown us how we can pray to change circumstances on the earth. It is important that we know that prayer is our responsibility, and at the same time, it is a privilege. The God of the universe wants us to communicate meaningfully with us. How amazing. Living a life with God at the center makes prayer as natural as breathing. A need arises, talk to God. Something praiseworthy happens, thank God. It isn’t the last resort, it is what we do first. We abide in Him, and we will bear much fruit. Our prayer life will be fruitful when His Words abide in us.

I want to encourage you more than ever, line your prayers up with the Word of God. Know what God says on a topic and pray according to the will of God. Pray with all the different kinds of prayer. Be specific when you pray, and expect things to change. Prayer changes things, but it also changes people. Choosing to be a person of prayer will change you. Let’s pray effectively, to accomplish what God wants to have done on the earth! II Tim 1:6 tells us to fan the flame and stir ourself up! Hold fast and follow the pattern of wholesome and sound teaching. Guard and Keep the precious and excellent truth which has been entrusted to you to be an effective pray-er. Make a commitment today to make prayer more of a priority in your life!

It is easy to be distracted, and lose focus. God wants us to be attentive and listen. We are to listen an be familiar with His voice. You get to know someone’s voice by being around them, and listening. It says in John 10:4,5 that I know His voice, I won’t follow the voice of a stranger. Listening is more than hearing with your natural ears. He that hath an ear, let Him hear. Mark 7:16 If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend by hearing is how it is stated in the Amplified Bible. God knows how to speak to you! He spoke through a donkey in Num 22, so surely He can handle speaking to and through you! Be attentive, and pay attention! He’ll bring the Word to your remembrance – John 14:26. The important part of remembering it is having it in your heart to begin with. That is why we are to hide His Word in our hearts. Get the Word in! Jesus will take what is God’s and reveal it to you! John 16:14-15. If we’ll be teachable and attentive to His Words, He will teach us if we will listen! I John 2:27. It is proof that we are God’s sons and daughters when we are led by His Spirit. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. Rom 8:14
Pay attention to God in your prayer life by stopping, looking and listening. He needs our spirit to be quiet and concentrating on Him, and our ears and eyes attentive to what He wants us to see and hear. If we want our prayer to be effective, we must stay vitally connected to the vine, and whatever you ask will be yours. John 15:5-7 What a promise! Today remember to pray for our nation and the many issues we are facing. God is bigger than it all!

I don’t want to miss anything that God has for me! I want my eyes wide open. Today we’re going to talk about how important it is for us to be watchful, or to look and see what God is doing. In John 5:19-20,30, Jesus said that He did what He saw His father do. God discloses, or shows Jesus everything that God Himself does. He isn’t hiding from us! He wants us to see, so keep your eyes open. There are clues for you to find, just by having your eyes open.

The Holy Spirit wants to lead and guide us and will lead and guide us to the truth if we are willing to stop, look and listen. (John 16:12-13) God can impress images on your heart – pray those things that He shows you. He can put a word in your heart and give you insight that you wouldn’t know by your natural mind. During a time of prayer today, I was impressed to call a friend of mine who today needed God’s intervention. I wouldn’t have known that other than by the Spirit of God.

It is important that we don’t try to make something happen or try to impress others with how spiritual we are. It’s not about us, it’s about Jesus! Relax and let the Spirit of God do His work in you! The gifts of the spirit and the leading of the Holy Spirit are for us today as it says in I Cor 12. They are given to believers. The Spirit divides them to every person as he wills or desires. Be alert and have a heart of expectation – and be ready with your eyes open! Be a watcher! Every time I hear or sing the song, Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord, I remember the scriptures that God wants to show us great and mighty things. I want my eyes open! Let’s pray effectively and see God do great things on the earth.

One of the best ways to pray is to be Spirit led while praying. Instead of just following a list, or going through a set pattern, it is good to stop, look and listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him direct your prayers. Today we’re going to look at the importance of stopping, taking time and just giving ourselves a moment to be still in God’s presence. When we quiet our heart, we can be prepared to hear effectively. If we want our strength renewed, the Bible says in Is 40:31 for us to wait on God and we won’t be weary and we won’t faint! Is 30:15-18 – says that in quietness and confidence we will find our strength, and there is a blessing for all who earnestly wait for Him. Is 64:4 says that eyes have not seen, and ears have not heard what God has prepared for those who wait on God. Is 49:23 says we will not be ashamed when we wait on God. Busyness and activity can keep us from hearing from God. We can look at Mary and Martha and see a visible example of this. Martha’s timing was off. She was busy when she should have been still. It was time to lay aside busyness and concentrate on what was most important at the moment. Don’t miss your visitation with God because of busyness! A friend of mine say this, busyness isn’t of the devil, it is the devil. Don’t let the enemy or activity steal your time with God. Two final scriptures today are found in Ps 37:7 where it says to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. And probably one of my favorites when it comes to stopping to listen is found in Ps 46:10 where we are told to be still. God wants us to know that He is God. He sees the big picture, He knows all the details, and we can rest in Him. How encouraging is that!