This newly released movie emphasizes intercessory prayer, a highly valued ministry in the Christian life. “War Room” is the fifth movie in a series by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. We encourage your support of the movie because it brings attention to the way God loves, and how we can communicate with Him and trust Him. Watch the trailer at http://warroomthemovie.com
When Moses was commissioned for the history-changing mission of delivering Israel from Egypt, God appeared to him at the burning bush (Exodus 3:3-14). The LORD identified Himself as “I AM”. As you consider your purpose and calling, anchor yourself on the personal, self-existent, eternal God who has revealed Himself. He is the one we fellowship with and to whom we pray day by day.
-JBW
“Our thankfulness is not to be a dumb [voiceless] thing; it should be one of the daughters of music.”
– C.H. Spurgeon
“From the first chapter of the Epistle to the Romans we learn that thankfulness was one of the first steps the race took in departing from God (Rom. 1:21). When they ceased to be thankful they soon drifted far way from God, until they sank into the most abominable heathenism. We need to be very watchful lest we become thankless and go from thanklessness to prayerlessness.”
– Charles Cook
There is a free download offer until May 12 entitled “Prayer eChart and 14 Day Prayer Guide.” It is available at this Rose Publishing site.
“So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord.”
“So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, …”
“Then Moses returned to the Lord and said…” (Exodus 8;30; 17;4; 32:31).
“The man who led his people to salvation, and through whom the deliverances at the sea and in the wilderness were wrought, was himself a praying man. He lived and walked and talked with God as a friend. In that march, more celebrated than any other in history, in which he led an undisciplined horde through unparalleled difficulties to a splendid success, at every turn he called upon God. Next after our Lord’s intercessory prayer for His disciples, the grandest instance of that kind of petition the world ever saw came from the heart and lip of this man Moses. Every miracle of his is born in prayer. He is clearly the greatest genius of his time, and yet in nothing more remarkable than in what, if one may reverently say it, maybe called the genius for prayer. ” -D. W. Faunce
“How the world needs men today who shall be remarkable for the genius for prayer.” -Charles A. Cook
By Stacy Padrick
When we think about prayer, listening isn’t generally the first thing that comes to mind. But prayer is communion with God—and that requires that we listen to what’s on God’s heart in addition to expressing what’s on our own. That isn’t something that comes naturally to most of us. How can we cultivate our listening skills so that we can hear His voice?
I used to think, if only God would speak more clearly, I would follow Him more closely. I have often complained that His still, small voice seemed too quiet. But at unexpected times—when I became still—I have heard Him, longing to be heard and waiting for my ears to be open and attentive.
God desires to communicate with His people, even more than we desire to communicate with Him! He is still the same God He has always been and He continues to speak to us. I have learned to hear His voice through listening prayer—what some call contemplative prayer.
Contemplative prayer is thoughtful, reflective prayer. How can we, in our world of incessant noise and activity, incorporate it into our daily lives? It requires effort, active listening, focused attention, and confident expectation that God will speak.
Throughout the Psalms, David models someone who waits on God in this way: “My soul waits in silence for God only” (Psalm 62:1 NASB); “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:2).
Contemplative prayer is being with God, empty-handed, waiting attentively for whatever He wants to say. It is the discipline of being still and knowing that He is God (Psalm 46:10).
re-posted from Disciple! Monthly 3/2015
“Thus says the Lord God: ‘I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them…’ ” (Ezekiel 36:37)
“Prayer is part of the system of cooperation between God and man which pervades nature and life. No crop waves over the autumn field, no loaf stands on our breakfast table, no metal performs its useful service, no jewel sparkles on the brow of beauty, no coal burns in part or furnace, which does not witness to this workmanship of God and man. So in the spiritual world there must be cooperation, though on the part of man it is often limited to prayers, which may seem faint and feeble, but which touch the secret springs of Deity; as the last pick of the miner may break open the fountain of oil or a cavern set with dazzling jewels.”
– F.B. Meyer
by The Navigators
Though God is infinitely far above our ability to fully understand, He tells us through the Scriptures very specific truths about Himself so that we can know what He is like, and be drawn to worship Him. The following is a list of 30 names and attributes of God. Use this guide to enrich your time set apart with God by taking one description of Him and meditating on that for one day, along with the accompanying passage. Worship God, focusing on Him and His character.
God is Jehovah. The name of the independent, self-complete being—“I AM WHO I AM”—only belongs to Jehovah God. Our proper response to Him is to fall down in fear and awe of the One who possesses all authority. —Exodus 3:13-15
God is Jehovah-M’Kaddesh. This name means “the God who sanctifies.” A God separate from all that is evil requires that the people who follow Him be cleansed from all evil. —Leviticus 20:7,8
God is infinite. God is beyond measurement—we cannot define Him by size or amount. He has no beginning, no end, and no limits. —Romans 11:33
God is omnipotent. This means God is all-powerful. He spoke all things into being, and all things—every cell, every breath, every thought—are sustained by Him. There is nothing too difficult for Him to do. —Jeremiah 32:17,18, 26,27
God is good. God is the embodiment of perfect goodness, and is kind, benevolent, and full of good will toward all creation. —Psalm 119:65-72
God is love. God’s love is so great that He gave His only Son to bring us into fellowship with Him. God’s love not only encompasses the world, but embraces each of us personally and intimately. —1 John 4:7-10
God is Jehovah-jireh. This name means “the God who provides.” Just as He provided yesterday, He will also provide today and tomorrow. He grants deliverance from sin, the oil of joy for the ashes of sorrow, and eternal citizenship in His Kingdom for all those adopted into His household. —Genesis 22:9-14
God is Jehovah-shalom. This name means “the God of peace.” We are meant to know the fullness of God’s perfect peace, or His “shalom.” God’s peace surpasses understanding and sustains us even through difficult times. It is the product of fully being what we were created to be. —Judges 6:16-24
God is immutable. All that God is, He has always been. All that He has been and is, He will ever be. He is ever perfect and unchanging. —Psalm 102:25-28
God is transcendent. We must not think of God as simply the highest in an order of beings. This would be to grant Him eminence But he is more than eminent. He is transcendent—existing beyond and above the created universe. —Psalm 113:4,5
God is just. God is righteous and holy, fair and equitable in all things. We can trust Him to always do what is right. —Psalm 75:1-7
God is holy. God’s holiness is not simply a better version of the best we know. God is utterly and supremely untainted. His holiness stands apart—unique and incomprehensible. —Revelation 4:8-11
God is Jehovah-rophe. This name means “Jehovah heals.” God alone provides the remedy for mankind’s brokenness through His son, Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the physical, moral, and spiritual remedy for all people. —Exodus 15:22-26
God is self-sufficient. All things are God’s to give, and all that is given is given by Him. He can receive nothing that He has not already given us. —Acts 17:24-28
God is omniscient. This means God is all-knowing. God’s knowledge encompasses every possible thing that exists, has ever existed, or will ever exist. Nothing is a mystery to Him. —Psalm 139:1-6
God is omnipresent. God is everywhere—in and around everything, close to everyone. “‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord.” —Psalm 139:7-12
God is merciful. God’s merciful compassion is infinite and inexhaustible. Through His provision in Christ, He took the judgment that was rightfully ours and placed it on His own shoulders. He waits and works now for all people to turn to Him and to live under His justification. —Deuteronomy 4:29-31
God is sovereign. God presides over every event, great or small, and He is in control of our lives. To be sovereign, He must be all-knowing and all-powerful, and by His sovereignty He rules His entire creation. —1 Chronicles 29:11-13
God is Jehovah-nissi. This name means “God our banner.” Under His banner we go from triumph to triumph and say, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). —Exodus 17:8-15
God is wise. All God’s acts are accomplished through His infinite wisdom. He always acts for our good, which is to conform us to Christ. Our good and His glory are inextricably bound together. —Proverbs 3:19,20
God is faithful. Out of His faithfulness God honors His covenants and fulfills His promises. Our hope for the future rests upon God’s faithfulness. —Psalm 89:1-8
God is wrathful. Unlike human anger, God’s wrath is never capricious, self-indulgent, or irritable. It is the right and necessary reaction to objective moral evil. — Nahum 1:2-8
God is full of grace. Grace is God’s good pleasure that moves Him to grant merit where it is undeserved and to forgive debt that cannot be repaid. —Ephesians 1:5-8
God is our Comforter. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Comforter,” and the apostle Paul writes that the Lord is “the God of all comfort.” —2 Corinthians 1:3,4
God is El-Shaddai. This name means “God Almighty,”the God who is all-sufficient and all-bountiful, the source of all blessings. —Genesis 49:22-26
God is Father. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9), and the Spirit of God taught us to cry, “Abba, Father.,” an intimate Aramaic term similar to “Daddy.” The Creator of the universe cares for each one of us as if we were the only child He had. —Romans 8:15-17
God is the Church’s head. God the Son, Jesus, is the head of the Church. As the head, the part of the body that sees, hears, thinks, and decides, He gives the orders that the rest of the body lives by. —Ephesians 1:22,23
God is our intercessor. Knowing our temptations, God the Son intercedes for us. He opens the doors for us to boldly ask God the Father for mercy. Thus, God is both the initiation and conclusion of true prayer. —Hebrews 4:14-16
God is Adonai. This name means “Master” or “Lord.” God, our Adonai, calls all God’s people to acknowledge themselves as His servants, claiming His right to reign as Lord of our lives. —2 Samuel 7:18-20
God is Elohim. This name means “Strength” or “Power.” He is transcendent, mighty and strong. Elohim is the great name of God, displaying His supreme power, sovereignty, and faithfulness in His covenant relationship with us. —Genesis 17:7,8
Sources: The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer; Names of God, by Nathan Stone; and God of Glory, by Kenneth Landon.
You may download a one-page version of the 30 Days of Praying the Names and Attributes of God here.
“Call unto Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.”
(Jeremiah 33:3)
There are different translations of these words. One version renders it, “I will shew thee great and fortified things.” Another, “Great and reserved things.” Now, there are reserved and special things in Christian experience: all the developments of spiritual life are not alike easy of attainment. There are the common frames and feelings of repentance, and faith, and joy, and hope, which are enjoyed by the entire family; but there is an upper realm of rapture, of communion, and conscious union with Christ, which is far from being the common dwelling-place of believers.
We have not all the high privilege of John, to lean upon Jesus’ bosom; nor of Paul, to be caught up into the third heaven. There are heights in experimental knowledge of the things of God which the eagle’s eye of acumen and philosophic thought hath never seen: God alone can bear us there; but the chariot in which he takes us up, and the fiery steeds with which that chariot is dragged, are prevailing prayers.
Prevailing prayer is victorious over the God of mercy, “By his strength he had power with God: yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us.” Prevailing prayer takes the Christian to Carmel, and enables him to cover heaven with clouds of blessing, and earth with floods of mercy. Prevailing prayer bears the Christian aloft to Pisgah, and shows him the inheritance reserved; it elevates us to Tabor and transfigures us, till in the likeness of his Lord, as he is, so are we also in this world. If you would reach to something higher than ordinary grovelling experience, look to the Rock that is higher than you, and gaze with the eye of faith through the window of importunate prayer. When you open the window on your side, it will not be bolted on the other.
(Charles H. Spurgeon, Morning & Evening devotional, Sept. 9 reading)
The Sharif Bible Society has developed a Friday prayer guide called “Praying For Muslims (PFM)” which has been used worldwide for 24 years. At their web site are PDF files you can use each Friday until the end of the month. These pages are from the Praying for Muslims (PFM) 2014 (used with permission). You can order the full year’s worth in booklet form by emailing Pray4Ms [at] SharifBible [dot] com.
Practical Prayer Helps 