Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 28

July 30, 2009




It's hard to believe that the end is already here!! Wow where did the time go? I am very excited for Lord, Teach Me To Pray for Kids to arrive so that I can work through that with my 7 year old son. I just started God's Amazing Creation with him and love how it is helping set the habit of studying his Bible daily. But back to our study. I almost feel overwhelmed by this chapter as there is so much meat to chew on!!! But as I close the book what I am left with are these two reminders:

1. To watch (as I read my bible daily, look out for the promises that God has given us and the seek out the conditions to those promises.)
2. Then pray (we now know what, how, and when to pray so let us not be caught falling asleep but seek diligently the will of God that we will stay on the path He has created for us.)

So as you place this book on your book shelf what will you take from it and apply to your prayer as you pray in this way: Matthew 6:9-13

'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

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Father, although this study has ended it is only the beginning of our prayer being transformed. Let us take the truths we have learned over the last month and apply it not only to our prayer but in our relationship with Jesus as well. Let us not settle for general prayer but be bold, confident, and come humbly before You in the confidence of Your Word and the works You have prepared for us to do. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Jul 30: Is 54-58
Jul 31: Is 59-63
Aug 1: Is 64-66
Aug 2: 2King 20-21
Aug 3: 2Chron 32-33
Aug 4: Nahum
Aug 5: 2King 22-23; 2Chron 34-35

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 27

July 29, 2009




So here we are one day away from the end of this study and I have no answers for you today. Maybe you could share with me your thoughts on why we have to ask for forgiveness of sin if we have already been forgiven by the blood of Christ? I feel like I understand but am having a hard time personalizing this point.

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Father how blessed we are that Your Word is living and does not return void. Reveal to me that which you desire for me to take away from this chapter. In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 26

July 28, 2009




The question posed to us was why does unconfessed sin put a barrier between God and us if all our sins have been paid for at Calvary? Here is a good starting point. Please leave your answer in the comments. I would love to see what you have uncovered in the truth God has hidden in His word for you to discover!!

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Father, let us see You for who You are and not limited by our human minds. Let us live our lives as a sacrifice to the One and Only Living God and not make a mockery of Your Son's name. It is in Jesus name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 25

July 27, 2009




"To pray, therefore, effectually in His name means realizing our standing in Christ, our union with Him, and seeking His glory." Arno C. Gaebelein.

James 4:1-3 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.

Can we truly be united with Christ if we seek our own desires over what God's will is?

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Father, You will stays the same and never changes but our desires quickly fade like the grass in the fields. Show us our motives and change our hearts! In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 24

July 26, 2009




Wow, making your Bible your prayer book. And I never thought of worship as a need but oh sweet friend it is, isn't it. Here we are, 4 days away from the end of the book and it just keeps getting better and better. This truly is.....transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

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Father, bring my heart back to total worship of You. Transform my mind and renew my Spirit as I seek out the promises you have hidden for us to discover in Your Word. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 23

July 25, 2009



.
Oh wow, was this chapter chalked with scripture that tells it like it is!!!! I have been able to depend on God, or I thought I had, because He was my only answer. Then after reading this chapter I have been convicted on seeking His will but wanting to do it my own way. Ouch!!! Having a type A personality that has caused me great strife within myself as His Will can only be done His way, any other way it just wont work. And for me I can either do it right or don't do it at all. Sigh. What relief!!! Why relief cause I see that this "I'm such a failure" mode can easily be corrected if I just do it His way. (Which this really is an answer to prayer that I will reveal after this study is over.)

As I read the last two sentences of this chapter I realized it's not how confident I am in God or even that I believe He will do what He says He will do. No the question I have never asked myself before is: How dependant upon God am I really?

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Father, as I sit here so much is unveiled. Thank you for sticking with me till I got it! As I go through this day continue to show me where I need to depend on you and not just call upon You! In Jesus Name I pray. Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 22

July 24, 2009




Give us this day our daily bread....

This is the index sentence we looked at today and after reading I began to think of
Matthew 7:9-11 (New International Version)
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Deuteronomy 8:2-4 (New International Version)
2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.

Luke 4:3-4 (New International Version)
3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"

How many times do we ask for cheesecake, filet mignon, watermelon, well you get the point, before we even ask for our daily bread? In looking at Deuteronomy I begin to ponder is daily bread really about providing food and clothing or a means to show us where our hearts really lies?

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Father, humble me that I may see that I am not asking for my daily bread but snakes and stones. Reveal to me the true desires of my heart that I may come to know Your will because I have given up my own. In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 21

July 23, 2009




It's hard to believe that we only have one week left with this study!!!! And it just keeps getting better and better. I really enjoy studies that don't give you all the answers but guide you in finding the answers on your own, making it so much easier to internalize what you are learning and applying it to your life and circumstances. Before we get to today's chapter I wanted to include this week's reading schedule:
Jul 23: Is 31-34
Jul 24: Is 35-36
Jul 25: Is 37-39; Ps 76
Jul 26: Is 40-43
Jul 27: Is 44-48
Jul 28: 2King 18:9-19:37; Ps 46/80/135
Jul 29: Is 49-53

Today we look at The Lord's Prayer for answers to intercession prayer:
Matthew 6:9-13
Pray, then, in this way:
'Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'

Wow, I never thought of the Lord's Prayer as a way to pray for others. Oh I do pray for others but never in the way Jesus laid out for us. Are you starting to see that prayer is not that of eloquent words but simply obedience to the outline that God gave us when Jesus taught his disciples how to pray as He did!!!! So, I encourage you to use The Lord's Prayer and pray for someone else today!!!!

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Father, you desire so much for us to dwell with You. Let us see Your Prayer as a way to come to know you more and may it be the next stone we set beside Jesus as we continue to build our foundation on You. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen!

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 20

July 22, 2009




I am so thankful that Kay touched on prayers not being answered as you thought they would. I love how she points out that it is "we" who miss the mark; not God. She continues with amazing insight that most of us do not exercise: when you get it wrong pick yourself up and dust off those knees and say "I got it wrong Lord." And to that I would like to add, thank the Lord that he has now directed you one step closer to the path He wants you on. Don't be discouraged but encouraged for now you have communication going on, which is the whole purpose of prayer!

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Dear Father, let us be encouraged and thankful that you seek to draw us closer to you. You have a plan for our lives, let us seek it out and bring glory to Your name through the way we live our lives. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 19

July 19,2009



Martha vs. Mary
Luke 10:38-42
As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."
The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her."

So, what is pulling you from the Lord? I like at the end where it says: Mary has chosen it... and it won't be taken from her. Do you see a promise here!!! If we abide in The Word, it will be with us always! Oh but how often do we chase after all those O-T-H-E-R things we think have to be done and where does it leave us?

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Father, still my soul, quiet my heart, and open my ears that I may hear all that you long to tell me. When I get caught up in the busy of the day, may I take time to sit at Your feet and feast on the main course that I will never go hungry again. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 18

July 20, 2009



Not my will, but yours be done.... this is where religion starts to form into a relationship. At the point we are able to see past that which we want and get a glimpse of the Work that God has in store, our focus is correct. Where is Your focus, why do you ask for the things you ask for in prayer? What is your motive?

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Dear Father work within us that our hearts cry out to You: "Your will be done!" May our focus go from self-centered to Christ-centered. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 17

July 19, 2009



It never really dawned on me, until today, that when a promise arises in the Bible there is also a condition that goes with it! And to know those conditions we must know God's Word and that can only be achieved by reading the Bible daily. Does that seem daunting, like you could never do it? Well let me ask you this, if we don't have time to make room in our schedule for God what right do we have to think we can ask anything and it will be given to us? Which flows right into what God has been revealing to me in my quite time:
July 18:
-what keeps me out of the hearts of my children:
+ my computer use
+ their T.V. & game time

July 19:
-what is one thing that keeps me in my children's heart:
+ reading to them, they really love to be read too!
(Ponder: How does this parallel with your relationship with God)
1) What keeps my focus off of God:
+ computer use and T.V. watching
2) What keeps my focus on God:
+ daily reading His word and scheduling my day around spending time with Him, instead of trying to fit Him into my schedule.

I love it when God uses my children to teach me something. So what is the Lord saying to you today?

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Father, thank you that You do not give up on us, that you love us so much You will do what ever it takes to get our attention, not to punish us but because Your love for us does not wavier! In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 16

July 18, 2009



I've always said that the amazing thing about prayer is not that God answers our prayers but that He is even willing to listen. That is the power in prayer!

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Father, may we seek to please you in those things we ask not to "make" You happy but so that Your will be done. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 15

July 17,2009

..the Word of God plays such a critical role in prayer because it shows us the will of God....let Scripture interpret Scripture... Who are we to contradict God!...Kay Arthur

One reason I do not do "Big Name" Bible Studies in groups is that a majority of women in those studies only go as deep as the author does. They take the author's word for the truth instead of searching out Scripture for themselves. But wait, I do the same thing with my pastor. Why? Because we are told to do so: 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22

This is where we can cross over from religion into a relationship with Christ. How? When we come to know God's Word, we come to know Him and not just what someone else has to say about Him.

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Father, may I desire to experience You for myself and not become content in hearing of the wonderful relationships others have but, this very day, build upon my foundation, Jesus Christ, and develop my own personal relationship with You!! In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 14

Here are two scriptures we were suppose to compare and write out our insights about. So what do you think? Does this scripture contradict each other?
Matthew 21:21-22
21Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
1 John 5:14-15
14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Now here is a perspective you may not have thought about concerning Matthew 21:21-22. What if instead of thinking that these verses are about getting what you want in prayer by believing you re-read the scripture but now with the view that Jesus is talking about the lack of faith His disciples have? Does that change the dynamics of the meaning at all?

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Dear Father, let us always remember that it is not what we ask but who we are asking of. Train our hearts to seek out Your will and not treat prayer as a means to get what we want but a way to test our desires against Your Will. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 13

July 15, 2009



Sorry this is so late. I had such a busy day and well.... when push came to shove, I needed some sleep. Thankfully I am in a different time zone so this should still get to most of you in the States on the correct day, lol.

We are almost half way through this book!!!!!! I'm so excited to be going strong and still committed to my morning date with God. I have, though, been letting distractions slip in; which has caused me to lose focus at times. Need to get back on track with that!!!!!

Now, I do remember having already read this part of the book and it's one of my favorite sections,so far, in that Kay lays out some awesome information concerning prayer requests. I think she says it best with this statement from her book:

The will of God is the key to solving many mysteries regaurding prayer.

So I do hope you stay faithful friend and continue with me as we solve a mystery of sorts!!!!

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Father, continue to soften our hearts as we seek Your will in prayer. Strengthen us so that we do not lost heart or motivation to continue seeking the wisdom of Your Word daily. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 12

July 14, 2009



So today reminded me of an essential item needed for prayer: A Good Study Bible. Why is that important? Well as you read and study God's Word it really helps to have a bible that has good commentary and also cross reverences. Here is an example today I was looking up Matthew 17:20, Mark 11:24, & John 14:13-14. I use the Life Application Study Bible and here is what else I was able to look up:

Matthew 17:20 } Matthew 21:22-22 } Matthew 7:7
} Luke 17:6
} 1 Corinthians 13:23

Mark 11:23-24 } commentary: to pray effectively you need to have faith in God not faith in what you will receive.

John 14:12-13 } John 16:23-24 What do you see here?
} commentary: asking be in Jesus' name = according to God's character and will. God will not grant requests contrary to his nature or his will, not to be used to fulfill selfish desires.

Through reading the above I was able to come to a conclusion not in my own knowledge but that which the Bible states. And so here is my answer to Kay's question today:

I do not see where just believing in our prayers will make them happen is supported by scripture. For there is no discerning of God's will with this mind set. The flesh (our desires) are worldly and will die or rot away. God's will (His purpose for us) is everlasting and never dies out and out lives our fleshly desires.

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Father, help us to discern your word and human falsehoods. Let us always test anything that is presented to us against Your Word and if it fails may we throw it into the fire and separate ourselves from the lies that entice so many. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 11

July 13, 2009





I've always been certain that the Lord answers prayers in three ways: Yes, No, or Not Now. However, before you even consider those options, are you certain that your prayers are being heard?

John 9:31
We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and a worshiper of Him and does His will, He listens to him.

And what exactly is His will?
John 6:40
For this is My Father's will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.

If you are not sure you are saved or want to know exactly what you need to do here it is in a nut shell in what has come to be known as The ABCs of salvation:

A
Admit that you are a sinner. Romans 3:23 all have sinned. The importance of admitting that you are a sinner is because it is SIN that separates us forever from God. Naturally once you begin to understand the consequences of sin then the next two steps make more sense.

B
Believe in Jesus. But there is a little more than that as even the demons know who Jesus is. There are 4 things about Jesus that you must believe in:
1. Jesus was born a virgin birth.
2. Jesus lived a sin free life
3. Jesus died on the cross for our (YOUR) sins.
4. God raised Jesus from the dead on the 3rd day.
Why do you have to believe all these things because they are the signs of who the Messiah would be. To believe that Jesus is Savior is to believe that He is the one the Old Testament prophesied about.

C
Chose to accept Jesus as your Savior. The penalty of sin has been paid for in full by Christ. However you still have to chose to accept this free gift of salvation that Christ sacrificed Himself for, because He loves You that much!!!

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Father, may hearts be softened and ears open to hear You call them home. May those who have not chosen Jesus as their Savior not have peace until the make a decision. Give those with questions the courage to ask and those who are seeking the determination to continue until they are satisfied with what they have discovered. May they Ask, Seek, and Knock until they find You. In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 10

July 12, 2009




Wow, Kay hits it on the nail again today when she states:

"Our fruit, or sparseness of it, bears witness to our allegiance."

I have so often played the "I don't have time" game. But the truth of the matter is we are stating very loudly to God: "I don't have time for You." So what is one thing you can give up so that you can put God first in your life; where he belongs?

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Father, help me to focus on what is important and realize that when I "don't have time" then I am doing to much of the wrong thing. When I don't have time for You, my focus is off. Help me to adjust my focus and rid it of the worldly desires that make me betray You. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Lord Teach Me To Pray: Day 9

July 11, 2009




Do you have religion or relationship? My growth as a Christian did not begin until I fell before the Lord, broken, desperately seeking the acceptance of my Heavenly Father. It was rather easy for me to see him as Father because I had never know my biological father and desperately sought the love, affection, and acceptance that only a daughter can find in the loving arms of her father. I had accept Jesus as my Savior at the young age of 8 but as circumstances would have it, my life was forever changed and I did not get a chance to step into a church on a regular or committed basis until I was a young adult in the Marine Corps. Looking back I can see the Holy Spirit guiding me through my life and watching over me. And although I did not aways heed His prompting, I always felt His presence. It was this understanding, later, that helped me to begin the healing process and up root the truth. So, it was very personal as we read about God being our Father today. But I had never put any thought in the fact that only those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior have that right. Which is why I echo Kay's question, Do you have a religion or do you have a relationship?

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My God, My Father, You are the creator of heaven and earth, of our faith, and you are Love. Soften my heart so that I can see clearly how I have become callous to hallowing Your Name. May my words, actions, motivations, and prayers lift You up in revereace. Not because I am righteous but because of Your great mercy.