The Prayer that Leads to Praise
Bishop Keith Butler
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Philippians 4:6 (KJV)
Now, Philippians 4:6 says don't be worried or anxious about anything. Be anxious for nothing, but in every-thing, everything. That means in your financial things, in your physical things, in your relational things, in everything in life. In everything there are three things that you must do: pray, supplicate, and offer thanksgiving to God for delivering you out of the situation.
Now, in Acts, the 16th chapter, it says when Paul and Silas were taken captive, beaten in the city square, stripped, placed in a cold, dark, dingy dungeon at midnight, they prayed. Now, of course, I believe that midnight was a literal midnight, but that midnight also represents whatever dark time is in your life. And if you live long enough, you're going to see a midnight. But I want you to know you can shine some light in the middle of the darkness.
Well this was their opportunity to miss the rest of God. Instead they began to pray. Instead of thinking about what was about to happen, they prayed for God's deliverance. And they sang songs of praise to God, praising Him for their deliverance. They refused to take the thoughts of what their body was telling them and what the situation was telling them. They decided to take God's thoughts by praying. They prayed such a prayer that it started making them rejoice, so much so that there was an earthquake and their shackles fell off and the prison doors swung open.
Now, I know what kind of prayer that had to be. That had to be, Father, I thank you, you are the one who made the world. Everything is in your hands. You are the God who is more than enough, you are my creator, you are the way maker, you are the one that opens the door for me, and you are the one who gives me victory. You are the one who gives me strength. I mean, that's the kind of prayer that they prayed. They're praying that prayer until they came to the place where their prayer made them praise God, and their praise led them to deliverance!
And that's the kind of prayer you must pray when you are in your midnight-your dark situation. Pray a prayer that leads to praise and God will bring you out just like He delivered Paul and Silas.
Scripture References: Acts 16:25-26; Philippians 4:6-8
Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. Bishop Butler ministers extensively in churches, conferences, and seminars throughout the U.S. and abroad with an emphasis on instruction and no-nonsense, practical application of God's Word. Click here to browse and purchase MP3 sermons by Bishop Keith Butler!
© Bishop Keith A. Butler all rights reserved.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Power Of A Praying Man
Friday, March 05, 2010 Print Article
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The Power of a Praying Man
Kevin Bond
Prayer has always been the backbone of the African American family. Historically, not many African American men were willing to admit the fact that they regularly practiced prayer at home. Even fewer could say that they learned from their fathers the essential discipline of prayer.
For too many men, their twisted quest to be perceived as macho put the woman on the front lines as the spiritual leader of the home. Women became the ones to pray and carry the children to church while men stayed home, watched the games or played golf with the boys. This relinquishment of responsibility was due in part to the misguided perception that men who are active in church are soft or sissified.
Well, I'm from a different generation and I'm proud to say that the opposite was true for me. Not only was my father a praying man, but my grandfather was also a man of much prayer. They both instilled in me the practice of prayer, and I'm now passing that same trait to my sons and daughters.
My father, Alex T. Bond Jr., was a man who taught his children at an early age the power of prayer. Not once do I remember sitting down to a family meal without first asking God to bless our food. Not only would Dad pray over the food, but he would also raise any family issue or crisis that may have been looming that day. This could be work or schoolrelated, social, or even political. This became my norm.
In fact, for many of my friends who came over to visit at meal times, it became their norm. We could always tell those who weren't accustomed to this lifestyle of prayer because they would neither know Bible verses nor see the need to ask God's blessing over the meal. In an effort to plant the seed of prayer in my friends' lives, Dad would ask one of his children to lead prayer.
We gladly did so and were thrilled at the opportunity to share with our friends the practice of prayer that our parents had taught us. The most rewarding part was that we were also encouraged to practice this habit at school, as well as in our friends' homes. But Dad's prayer life extended far beyond the dinner table. As a child, I witnessed my father leading the church in prayer as a choir director, deacon, evangelist, and ultimately a pastor.
What a joy to know that the man people came to know and love publicly as Pastor Bond, was the same man I knew and loved privately as Dad. I am certain that Dad's active prayer life played a vital role in his development as he progressed through the different stages of his ministry assignments.
You see, prayer to us was recognized as one's communion with his Heavenly Father. For Christians, it's the way we commune with our God. It's the language through which we communicate with God. The Bible even states that Jesus communicated with God through prayer while He dwelt among us on earth. Prayer is one of the indispensable disciplines in the life of the Christian.
In fact, there's a motto that we use that states, "No prayer, no power; little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power." I feel blessed to have had a father who unashamedly prayed and taught our family to do likewise. I never saw my father hit my mother, spend the night in jail, drink, nor use drugs. I'd like to believe that it was because the prayer that he engaged in privately caused him to live openly as a righteous man.
That's my personal experience with the praying man God chose to rear me. I have adopted many of his methods and continue to pass them on to the next generation!
Dad , God rest your soul! Thanks for teaching us to pray!
Kevin Bond, a native from Chicago, IL, is perhaps one of the finest producers in the gospel music industry today. His leadership and production expertise have been vital to the success of some of gospel music's most recognizable artists, including Kirk Franklin, God's Property, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Bishop T.D. Jakes and The Potter's House Mass Choir, Marvin Sapp, and host of others. His book, A Servant's Guide From A Servant's Heart, is currently in it's second printing and has become a best-seller for those wishing to grow in ministry as well as the workplace. Kevin and his beautiful wife Toni reside in Atlanta, Georgia with their children; Alex III, Tayler Alexia, Kiara, and Phillip. For more information about Kevin Bond, log onto www.kevinbond.com.
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The Power of a Praying Man
Kevin Bond
Prayer has always been the backbone of the African American family. Historically, not many African American men were willing to admit the fact that they regularly practiced prayer at home. Even fewer could say that they learned from their fathers the essential discipline of prayer.
For too many men, their twisted quest to be perceived as macho put the woman on the front lines as the spiritual leader of the home. Women became the ones to pray and carry the children to church while men stayed home, watched the games or played golf with the boys. This relinquishment of responsibility was due in part to the misguided perception that men who are active in church are soft or sissified.
Well, I'm from a different generation and I'm proud to say that the opposite was true for me. Not only was my father a praying man, but my grandfather was also a man of much prayer. They both instilled in me the practice of prayer, and I'm now passing that same trait to my sons and daughters.
My father, Alex T. Bond Jr., was a man who taught his children at an early age the power of prayer. Not once do I remember sitting down to a family meal without first asking God to bless our food. Not only would Dad pray over the food, but he would also raise any family issue or crisis that may have been looming that day. This could be work or schoolrelated, social, or even political. This became my norm.
In fact, for many of my friends who came over to visit at meal times, it became their norm. We could always tell those who weren't accustomed to this lifestyle of prayer because they would neither know Bible verses nor see the need to ask God's blessing over the meal. In an effort to plant the seed of prayer in my friends' lives, Dad would ask one of his children to lead prayer.
We gladly did so and were thrilled at the opportunity to share with our friends the practice of prayer that our parents had taught us. The most rewarding part was that we were also encouraged to practice this habit at school, as well as in our friends' homes. But Dad's prayer life extended far beyond the dinner table. As a child, I witnessed my father leading the church in prayer as a choir director, deacon, evangelist, and ultimately a pastor.
What a joy to know that the man people came to know and love publicly as Pastor Bond, was the same man I knew and loved privately as Dad. I am certain that Dad's active prayer life played a vital role in his development as he progressed through the different stages of his ministry assignments.
You see, prayer to us was recognized as one's communion with his Heavenly Father. For Christians, it's the way we commune with our God. It's the language through which we communicate with God. The Bible even states that Jesus communicated with God through prayer while He dwelt among us on earth. Prayer is one of the indispensable disciplines in the life of the Christian.
In fact, there's a motto that we use that states, "No prayer, no power; little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power." I feel blessed to have had a father who unashamedly prayed and taught our family to do likewise. I never saw my father hit my mother, spend the night in jail, drink, nor use drugs. I'd like to believe that it was because the prayer that he engaged in privately caused him to live openly as a righteous man.
That's my personal experience with the praying man God chose to rear me. I have adopted many of his methods and continue to pass them on to the next generation!
Dad , God rest your soul! Thanks for teaching us to pray!
Kevin Bond, a native from Chicago, IL, is perhaps one of the finest producers in the gospel music industry today. His leadership and production expertise have been vital to the success of some of gospel music's most recognizable artists, including Kirk Franklin, God's Property, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Bishop T.D. Jakes and The Potter's House Mass Choir, Marvin Sapp, and host of others. His book, A Servant's Guide From A Servant's Heart, is currently in it's second printing and has become a best-seller for those wishing to grow in ministry as well as the workplace. Kevin and his beautiful wife Toni reside in Atlanta, Georgia with their children; Alex III, Tayler Alexia, Kiara, and Phillip. For more information about Kevin Bond, log onto www.kevinbond.com.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Effective Prayer
Thursday, March 04, 2010 Print Article
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Effective Prayer
Pastor Paula White
The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16
In order to have an effective prayer life, it is important to understand the various ways that we can communicate with God using the tool of prayer. It is important to know why we are praying, and what we are praying for. It is important that we have worked our faith to a point where we can trust in God to answer our prayers according to His will for our lives.
The Bible instructs us to cast all our cares to God in prayer, making our requests known to Him with an attitude of thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). We are to request what we need and then trust Him to meet our needs. As we do that, God acts - imparting to us His peace, and providing all that is beneficial for our eternal good.
God may not answer our prayers when we want... or even how we want. But He will always answer - even if the answer is not apparent to us, and it feels like He has ignored us, or not heard us. God's ways are higher than our ways - and therefore, how He 'answers' our prayers, will also operate on a heavenly and supernatural level that reveals and carries out His best intentions and plans for our lives.
It is good to know that we can pray effectively when we are in covenant with God and aligning ourselves with His divine will - praying as a "righteous man," as James instructs in 5:16. There are also different prayers to use in different situations. Knowing why we are praying, what we are praying for, and understanding how God answers prayers is vital if we want to pray effectively. Different prayers we can approach God with include:
Prayer of Faith. The Prayer of Faith should always be based on God's revealed will and His Word. It requires boldly declaring the Word of God over one's situation. Instead of 'God, please heal me, " one should pray, "Lord, your Word declares that by Your stripes, I AM HEALED!" This way you are declaring what you already know to be true based on God's Word.
Prayer of Commitment. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us we should pray "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." This kind of prayer declares your decision to give all of your concerns, fears, anxieties and problems to God. It is a conscious refusal to worry or have anxiety. This type of prayer has two parts: stating all of your requests to God, and committing to all Him to handle each request without interference from you.
Prayer of Agreement. This is the most powerful type of prayer. Matthew 18: 19 -20 tells us, "that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." This is a profound and powerful promise given to us by Jesus Christ! It means that whenever two people will believe together, and with the utmost faith believe on the Word of God, whatever they seek will be granted.
Intercessory Prayer. This involves praying for other people, nations, cities, and against the powers of darkness. The best example of and intercessor is Jesus himself; Romans 8:34 says that Jesus sits at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us. He asks the Lord to forgive us, and it is through Jesus' prayer that our slates are wiped clean when we repent and seek forgiveness. We have the ability to 'stand in the gap' of others in the same way, petitioning God on their behalf to answer our prayers -- by meeting their needs, saving their souls, or simply by showing mercy.
And remember: take every opportunity to appreciate the smallest answered prayer, and to meditate on God's faithfulness. You don't have to wait until you 'see' that your prayer has been answered -- give Him a prayer of thankfulness and praise right now for answering your prayers in His time, in His wisdom, and according to His will.
Because God is Good!
A life coach, author, and highly sought after motivational speaker, Pastor Paula White is the host of her own television program -- Paula Today, which reaches an audience of 2.3 billion people worldwide, spearheading a number of global humanitarian efforts. Her mission in life is to Transform Lives, Heal Hearts and Win Souls. For more information about Paula, log onto www.paulawhite.org.
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Effective Prayer
Pastor Paula White
The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16
In order to have an effective prayer life, it is important to understand the various ways that we can communicate with God using the tool of prayer. It is important to know why we are praying, and what we are praying for. It is important that we have worked our faith to a point where we can trust in God to answer our prayers according to His will for our lives.
The Bible instructs us to cast all our cares to God in prayer, making our requests known to Him with an attitude of thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). We are to request what we need and then trust Him to meet our needs. As we do that, God acts - imparting to us His peace, and providing all that is beneficial for our eternal good.
God may not answer our prayers when we want... or even how we want. But He will always answer - even if the answer is not apparent to us, and it feels like He has ignored us, or not heard us. God's ways are higher than our ways - and therefore, how He 'answers' our prayers, will also operate on a heavenly and supernatural level that reveals and carries out His best intentions and plans for our lives.
It is good to know that we can pray effectively when we are in covenant with God and aligning ourselves with His divine will - praying as a "righteous man," as James instructs in 5:16. There are also different prayers to use in different situations. Knowing why we are praying, what we are praying for, and understanding how God answers prayers is vital if we want to pray effectively. Different prayers we can approach God with include:
Prayer of Faith. The Prayer of Faith should always be based on God's revealed will and His Word. It requires boldly declaring the Word of God over one's situation. Instead of 'God, please heal me, " one should pray, "Lord, your Word declares that by Your stripes, I AM HEALED!" This way you are declaring what you already know to be true based on God's Word.
Prayer of Commitment. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us we should pray "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." This kind of prayer declares your decision to give all of your concerns, fears, anxieties and problems to God. It is a conscious refusal to worry or have anxiety. This type of prayer has two parts: stating all of your requests to God, and committing to all Him to handle each request without interference from you.
Prayer of Agreement. This is the most powerful type of prayer. Matthew 18: 19 -20 tells us, "that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." This is a profound and powerful promise given to us by Jesus Christ! It means that whenever two people will believe together, and with the utmost faith believe on the Word of God, whatever they seek will be granted.
Intercessory Prayer. This involves praying for other people, nations, cities, and against the powers of darkness. The best example of and intercessor is Jesus himself; Romans 8:34 says that Jesus sits at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us. He asks the Lord to forgive us, and it is through Jesus' prayer that our slates are wiped clean when we repent and seek forgiveness. We have the ability to 'stand in the gap' of others in the same way, petitioning God on their behalf to answer our prayers -- by meeting their needs, saving their souls, or simply by showing mercy.
And remember: take every opportunity to appreciate the smallest answered prayer, and to meditate on God's faithfulness. You don't have to wait until you 'see' that your prayer has been answered -- give Him a prayer of thankfulness and praise right now for answering your prayers in His time, in His wisdom, and according to His will.
Because God is Good!
A life coach, author, and highly sought after motivational speaker, Pastor Paula White is the host of her own television program -- Paula Today, which reaches an audience of 2.3 billion people worldwide, spearheading a number of global humanitarian efforts. Her mission in life is to Transform Lives, Heal Hearts and Win Souls. For more information about Paula, log onto www.paulawhite.org.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Unlimited Plan
The Unlimited Plan
Dr. Tara Jenkins
When I was dating the man who is now my husband of 12 years, I was in undergraduate school in Atlanta while he was in undergraduate school in Chicago. This would be classified as a long distance relationship. During this time (around 1996 to 1997) in order to talk on the phone, it required long distance telephone service.
These long distance calls costs amazing amounts of money. Thus, every time we talked, it would be in the back of our minds that we couldn't stay on the phone forever because the long distance rates were more than what we could afford as struggling college students. I had every calling card available at that time- MCI, Sprint and AT&T.
We had so many long distance calling card bills from the long distance courtship that we were paying them off during our first year of marriage in 1998!
After experiencing so many long distance bills in my past, I was so excited when times changed regarding long distance telephone service! Now, through cell phones and through newly introduced home phone rate plans, you can have a service package in which you can make unlimited 'long-distance' calls anywhere in the continental U.S. without minute by minute charges. What a difference an unlimited plan makes!
I can now call friends and family anywhere in the country without having to be mindful or fearful of an upcoming astronomical phone bill. I don't have to hang up when I have more to say because I can't afford it. That's the benefit of the unlimited plan...talking freely at length without minutes in mind!
Our father in heaven has gifted us with an amazing communication system with Him called prayer. It is an UNLIMITED PLAN! You can't run out of minutes. Your service can never be terminated or suspended. He's given us insurance and assurance that He will always be in the business of hearing and answering our prayers.
The Unlimited Plan that God has designed for us includes:
• Unlimited Communication (Talk Time): You will never run out of minutes.
• Unlimited Coverage: Where ever you are, He's with you!
• Unlimited (Direct) Contact: You can go directly to Him.
Unlimited Communication or Talk Time is a clear benefit according to 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 which states "Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Unlimited Coverage is a definite benefit according to Psalm 139:7-10 which exclaims, "... where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me."
Unlimited Direct Contact is another obvious benefit. We don't need another person to be our 'carrier.' Since Jesus shed His blood, we can pray to directly God for ourselves! Hebrews 10:19-22 states, "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith..."
*Warning: Even with the unlimited plan, your call may get dropped if you are praying with unforgiveness in your heart, head or hands. In Mark 11:25, Jesus says, "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
There is power in prayer because it is God's Unlimited Plan for communication with us. There is no need to rush off of the line when you have the unlimited plan! Today, take the time to take advantage of the fact that when talking to God you do not have to be mindful of your minutes!
Dr. Tara Jenkins is is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, as well as the wife of Pastor Charles Jenkins, pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Jenkins is the proud mother of three beautiful children, Princess Alexandria, Paris Victoria, and Charles Jenkins III. Dr. Jenkins is also the founder of Ministry Mates-Chicago, an organization designed to minister to Senior Pastors' wives in the Chicago-land area. For more information about Dr. Jenkins, log onto http://www.tarajenkins.org.
Dr. Tara Jenkins
When I was dating the man who is now my husband of 12 years, I was in undergraduate school in Atlanta while he was in undergraduate school in Chicago. This would be classified as a long distance relationship. During this time (around 1996 to 1997) in order to talk on the phone, it required long distance telephone service.
These long distance calls costs amazing amounts of money. Thus, every time we talked, it would be in the back of our minds that we couldn't stay on the phone forever because the long distance rates were more than what we could afford as struggling college students. I had every calling card available at that time- MCI, Sprint and AT&T.
We had so many long distance calling card bills from the long distance courtship that we were paying them off during our first year of marriage in 1998!
After experiencing so many long distance bills in my past, I was so excited when times changed regarding long distance telephone service! Now, through cell phones and through newly introduced home phone rate plans, you can have a service package in which you can make unlimited 'long-distance' calls anywhere in the continental U.S. without minute by minute charges. What a difference an unlimited plan makes!
I can now call friends and family anywhere in the country without having to be mindful or fearful of an upcoming astronomical phone bill. I don't have to hang up when I have more to say because I can't afford it. That's the benefit of the unlimited plan...talking freely at length without minutes in mind!
Our father in heaven has gifted us with an amazing communication system with Him called prayer. It is an UNLIMITED PLAN! You can't run out of minutes. Your service can never be terminated or suspended. He's given us insurance and assurance that He will always be in the business of hearing and answering our prayers.
The Unlimited Plan that God has designed for us includes:
• Unlimited Communication (Talk Time): You will never run out of minutes.
• Unlimited Coverage: Where ever you are, He's with you!
• Unlimited (Direct) Contact: You can go directly to Him.
Unlimited Communication or Talk Time is a clear benefit according to 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 which states "Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Unlimited Coverage is a definite benefit according to Psalm 139:7-10 which exclaims, "... where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me."
Unlimited Direct Contact is another obvious benefit. We don't need another person to be our 'carrier.' Since Jesus shed His blood, we can pray to directly God for ourselves! Hebrews 10:19-22 states, "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith..."
*Warning: Even with the unlimited plan, your call may get dropped if you are praying with unforgiveness in your heart, head or hands. In Mark 11:25, Jesus says, "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
There is power in prayer because it is God's Unlimited Plan for communication with us. There is no need to rush off of the line when you have the unlimited plan! Today, take the time to take advantage of the fact that when talking to God you do not have to be mindful of your minutes!
Dr. Tara Jenkins is is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, as well as the wife of Pastor Charles Jenkins, pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Jenkins is the proud mother of three beautiful children, Princess Alexandria, Paris Victoria, and Charles Jenkins III. Dr. Jenkins is also the founder of Ministry Mates-Chicago, an organization designed to minister to Senior Pastors' wives in the Chicago-land area. For more information about Dr. Jenkins, log onto http://www.tarajenkins.org.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Prayer Principles
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 Print Article
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The Prayer Principles
David Turner
Being a Christian means that we are in a battle. Every since he fell from heaven, satan has made himself an enemy to God and to His prized creation, mankind. In Ephesians 6, our Father has given us the tools that we need to win. One of our weapons is prayer.
There are 3 principles to a successful prayer life.
There is a time to talk.
God is our source. He holds the keys to the universe in His hands. He is the Creator. When we have doubts, concerns, and questions, He is the one that we should run to. In fact, He is anxiously waiting to hear from His children. It is a shame that some of us only talk to Him before we eat or only when there is a dire emergency.
I believe that God desire to have a running, consistent, conversation with us just like He did with Adam and Eve in the garden. You shouldn't just always run to Him with your laundry list of requests. Prayer is our opportunity to tell God how much we love Him and how grateful we are for all that He has done in our lives. It is also time for us to tell Him how much we look forward to what He is going to do in the future.
We should most definitely tell God how we feel if there are things in our lives that are making us nervous or afraid. As a matter of fact, we should bring all of our burdens and concerns to Him. The great thing about this transaction is that we can bring them to Him and leave them right there. He will deal with everything that concerns us and perfect them all.
There is also a time to listen.
Conversations between two parties are usually more effective when there is only one person speaking at a time. Sometimes our problem is that we spend all of our prayer time talking. We have to tell God all about everyone and everything that has been getting on our nerves. We have to tell Him about the guy that honked his horn at us on the expressway. And we also have to tell Him about our mean boss and nosy neighbors.
We even spend a great deal of time in prayer telling God how wonderful He is and thanking Him for all His wonderful blessings. The moment we get exhausted from talking for 30 minutes straight, our time in prayer is over. We never even give God 5 seconds to talk to us.
Prayer is a 2-way street, and we have to give God ample opportunity to speak to us. We should never jump to our feet without getting some sort of response. He may not always respond in the way we want but we must give Him room to be God. Sometimes we are afraid of what the answer might be. Sometimes we jump to conclusions about what He was going to say.
There is a time to act.
Once we have brought our petitions to God and once we have given Him room to respond, we must not stop there. We must allow the connection to God through prayer to give us the strength to act upon what He has said to us. There may be a time after prayer that we may need to call a friend or loved one that we haven't spoken to in years. There also may be opportunities to witness to a co-worker.
On the flip side, there may be times of distress coming where we need to act calm and rational. Our connection with God through prayer will show us how to act peaceful. Whatever the situation may call for, like in any war or battle, we must be prepared for action.
There is an ongoing effort by our enemy to destroy us or, at the very least, hinder our progress. When we learn who we are and all the advantages we have with prayer as a weapon we can cause mountains of despair and confusion to be cast into the sea of forgetfulness. When we connect to God through prayer we maintain our status as more than conquerors. The power of prayer is our weapon of choice.
David Turner is the founder of The Success Academy and serves as an associate minister at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Joliet, Illinois. He is a writer for numerous online publications. David advises local high schools in the areas of numeracy, literacy, and disciplinary guidance. He also mentors and coaches high school students with their Life Skills and college preparation process. You can catch him on his blog at www.dturn.net.
© David Turner all rights reserved.
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The Prayer Principles
David Turner
Being a Christian means that we are in a battle. Every since he fell from heaven, satan has made himself an enemy to God and to His prized creation, mankind. In Ephesians 6, our Father has given us the tools that we need to win. One of our weapons is prayer.
There are 3 principles to a successful prayer life.
There is a time to talk.
God is our source. He holds the keys to the universe in His hands. He is the Creator. When we have doubts, concerns, and questions, He is the one that we should run to. In fact, He is anxiously waiting to hear from His children. It is a shame that some of us only talk to Him before we eat or only when there is a dire emergency.
I believe that God desire to have a running, consistent, conversation with us just like He did with Adam and Eve in the garden. You shouldn't just always run to Him with your laundry list of requests. Prayer is our opportunity to tell God how much we love Him and how grateful we are for all that He has done in our lives. It is also time for us to tell Him how much we look forward to what He is going to do in the future.
We should most definitely tell God how we feel if there are things in our lives that are making us nervous or afraid. As a matter of fact, we should bring all of our burdens and concerns to Him. The great thing about this transaction is that we can bring them to Him and leave them right there. He will deal with everything that concerns us and perfect them all.
There is also a time to listen.
Conversations between two parties are usually more effective when there is only one person speaking at a time. Sometimes our problem is that we spend all of our prayer time talking. We have to tell God all about everyone and everything that has been getting on our nerves. We have to tell Him about the guy that honked his horn at us on the expressway. And we also have to tell Him about our mean boss and nosy neighbors.
We even spend a great deal of time in prayer telling God how wonderful He is and thanking Him for all His wonderful blessings. The moment we get exhausted from talking for 30 minutes straight, our time in prayer is over. We never even give God 5 seconds to talk to us.
Prayer is a 2-way street, and we have to give God ample opportunity to speak to us. We should never jump to our feet without getting some sort of response. He may not always respond in the way we want but we must give Him room to be God. Sometimes we are afraid of what the answer might be. Sometimes we jump to conclusions about what He was going to say.
There is a time to act.
Once we have brought our petitions to God and once we have given Him room to respond, we must not stop there. We must allow the connection to God through prayer to give us the strength to act upon what He has said to us. There may be a time after prayer that we may need to call a friend or loved one that we haven't spoken to in years. There also may be opportunities to witness to a co-worker.
On the flip side, there may be times of distress coming where we need to act calm and rational. Our connection with God through prayer will show us how to act peaceful. Whatever the situation may call for, like in any war or battle, we must be prepared for action.
There is an ongoing effort by our enemy to destroy us or, at the very least, hinder our progress. When we learn who we are and all the advantages we have with prayer as a weapon we can cause mountains of despair and confusion to be cast into the sea of forgetfulness. When we connect to God through prayer we maintain our status as more than conquerors. The power of prayer is our weapon of choice.
David Turner is the founder of The Success Academy and serves as an associate minister at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Joliet, Illinois. He is a writer for numerous online publications. David advises local high schools in the areas of numeracy, literacy, and disciplinary guidance. He also mentors and coaches high school students with their Life Skills and college preparation process. You can catch him on his blog at www.dturn.net.
© David Turner all rights reserved.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Prayer Is The Launching Pad
Monday, March 01, 2010 Print Article
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Prayer Is The Launching Pad
Christopher J Harris
I grew up in Florida and would look forward to those regular opportunities to walk outside of my school and see the space shuttle take off. My school was approximately one hundred and twenty-eight miles and about two hours driving from the actual point of the launch, but we could see it clearly.
It was amazing to think that there were people in a space shuttle that were about to go to outer space and just do neat things. I had no idea all of the work that took place prior to the launch, all of the behind the scenes work, all of the controls and people involved for me to simple watch this amazing thing. All I saw was the launch, but there was much more to it.
That's what prayer is to the believer. We want the launch, but misplace the reality that there's much more behind the scenes that must take place.
If done properly and biblically, prayer becomes your launching pad to living a life that is beyond even your wildest desires. That's what happened to Hannah praying for a son. Her prayer was answered because of her strategy. A strong prayer life will literally launch you into another dimension! In theory, we know this.
In practice, most of us struggle to have a consistent, vibrant, and refreshing prayer life. I too have struggled with my prayer life. Interestingly enough, I never misunderstood the supernatural power and effect that prayer would have. I can think my solid upbringing for that. But it wasn't until I understood the strategy for prayer that I could translate what I knew in theory into real, refreshing practice. What did I do?
1. I created a prayer agenda. I became very clear about what I needed to pray about. Now, my basic prayer focus remains the same daily and weekly. There is also an on-going list that I have that can be editing throughout the week. This helps the believer because you never have to start praying and wonder what you're going to pray about. For example, every Sunday we are specifically covering our family in prayer. Do we pray for our family other days? Yes, we do. But intentionally, we cover our family on Sundays.
2. I set appointments for prayer. All of us would admit that life is busy and our days can move quickly. Before we know it, it's Friday and we've been overwhelmed by all that took place that week. As we set all kinds of meetings, we can also set personal prayer meetings. These meetings may range in length, but when you can put it on your calendar and make it a consistent appointment, you will find yourself developing your day and expectations around your prayer time. You should be sure to guard this time as you would any other appointment. As we rearrange other things around scheduled meetings, let's do the same for prayer.
3. I intentionally unplug. Most of us have gotten spoiled from today's technologies attached to our waists, ears, or handbags. We've really gotten spoiled by the ready access to people's lives through today's social networks. But, we've got to be willing to unplug (disconnect) during our appointment with God. At one point in society, it was taboo to interrupt meetings to answer your phones and messages.
Unfortunately, in many places this isn't the case anymore. And to a greater extent, we've brought this same undisciplined approach to prayer. It was interesting to me that we were taught to pray with our eyes closed. And while there is no biblical mandate to always do this, sometimes it is helpful in order to discipline us to block out distractions. God is starved for our undivided attention.
4. Take the trash out. Prayer is not something that just involves a list of memorized scriptures. Your body and mind are involved. If you're mind is preoccupied with other life realities, it will be very difficult for you to prayer with a clear mind. As you enter your prayer time, come into it with a clear your mind. One of the best ways to clear your mind is by giving God the things on your mind.
Overseer Christopher J. Harris, a native of Palatka, Florida, currently serves as the Youth & College Pastor at Cedar Grove Tabernacle of Praise in North Carolina. He also serves as the International General Overseer of the Children & Youth Division for Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. He and his wife, Carmen, are the parents of three children. For more information about Overseer Christopher Harris, log onto www.ChristopherJHarris.com or you can follow him at twitter.com/cjharrisone.
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Prayer Is The Launching Pad
Christopher J Harris
I grew up in Florida and would look forward to those regular opportunities to walk outside of my school and see the space shuttle take off. My school was approximately one hundred and twenty-eight miles and about two hours driving from the actual point of the launch, but we could see it clearly.
It was amazing to think that there were people in a space shuttle that were about to go to outer space and just do neat things. I had no idea all of the work that took place prior to the launch, all of the behind the scenes work, all of the controls and people involved for me to simple watch this amazing thing. All I saw was the launch, but there was much more to it.
That's what prayer is to the believer. We want the launch, but misplace the reality that there's much more behind the scenes that must take place.
If done properly and biblically, prayer becomes your launching pad to living a life that is beyond even your wildest desires. That's what happened to Hannah praying for a son. Her prayer was answered because of her strategy. A strong prayer life will literally launch you into another dimension! In theory, we know this.
In practice, most of us struggle to have a consistent, vibrant, and refreshing prayer life. I too have struggled with my prayer life. Interestingly enough, I never misunderstood the supernatural power and effect that prayer would have. I can think my solid upbringing for that. But it wasn't until I understood the strategy for prayer that I could translate what I knew in theory into real, refreshing practice. What did I do?
1. I created a prayer agenda. I became very clear about what I needed to pray about. Now, my basic prayer focus remains the same daily and weekly. There is also an on-going list that I have that can be editing throughout the week. This helps the believer because you never have to start praying and wonder what you're going to pray about. For example, every Sunday we are specifically covering our family in prayer. Do we pray for our family other days? Yes, we do. But intentionally, we cover our family on Sundays.
2. I set appointments for prayer. All of us would admit that life is busy and our days can move quickly. Before we know it, it's Friday and we've been overwhelmed by all that took place that week. As we set all kinds of meetings, we can also set personal prayer meetings. These meetings may range in length, but when you can put it on your calendar and make it a consistent appointment, you will find yourself developing your day and expectations around your prayer time. You should be sure to guard this time as you would any other appointment. As we rearrange other things around scheduled meetings, let's do the same for prayer.
3. I intentionally unplug. Most of us have gotten spoiled from today's technologies attached to our waists, ears, or handbags. We've really gotten spoiled by the ready access to people's lives through today's social networks. But, we've got to be willing to unplug (disconnect) during our appointment with God. At one point in society, it was taboo to interrupt meetings to answer your phones and messages.
Unfortunately, in many places this isn't the case anymore. And to a greater extent, we've brought this same undisciplined approach to prayer. It was interesting to me that we were taught to pray with our eyes closed. And while there is no biblical mandate to always do this, sometimes it is helpful in order to discipline us to block out distractions. God is starved for our undivided attention.
4. Take the trash out. Prayer is not something that just involves a list of memorized scriptures. Your body and mind are involved. If you're mind is preoccupied with other life realities, it will be very difficult for you to prayer with a clear mind. As you enter your prayer time, come into it with a clear your mind. One of the best ways to clear your mind is by giving God the things on your mind.
Overseer Christopher J. Harris, a native of Palatka, Florida, currently serves as the Youth & College Pastor at Cedar Grove Tabernacle of Praise in North Carolina. He also serves as the International General Overseer of the Children & Youth Division for Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. He and his wife, Carmen, are the parents of three children. For more information about Overseer Christopher Harris, log onto www.ChristopherJHarris.com or you can follow him at twitter.com/cjharrisone.
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