My Prayer Helps

Many of us travel quite a bit and sometimes loneliness tags along. One of the biblical titles of God is “The LORD is there”–Jehovah Shammah (Ezek. 48:35). Because God is omnipresent, we can pray for His help around the world, and right where we are. Hear the promise given to commander Joshua: “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Cars, fashion, technology–we see everything changing. But this can make our lives seem insecure and unstable. As men, we need security and stability to provide and protect our loved ones. This confidence comes from centering our lives on God, in whom is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17). “For I am the LORD, I do not change…” (Malachi 3:6).

Here is a PDF document from Navigators:
Praying-the-Names-of-God-The-Navigators.

by Daniel Henderson

Over the last two decades I’ve known the incredible joy of leading scores of prayer experiences that we call “Prayer Summits.” These are multi-day gatherings, usually away at some kind of retreat center, featuring unscripted, Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, worship-based prayer. (Some have suggested that we call them “Bible Summits” because of the centrality of God’s word in prompting and guiding most of the prayers.) Because God is always faithful and creative, and His word alive and active, these experiences are always profound.

Our Most Effective Prayers

By conviction and experience I have concluded that the most creative and effective prayers spring from the inexhaustible treasury of the word of God. Thousands of times I have watched the Bible expose hearts, guide language, unite diverse interests, and create powerful moments of remarkable prayer impact. There is nothing more thrilling than watching a diverse group of Christians brought into unity and transformation as eyes and hearts are opened to pray from the Scriptures.

Finding our language in the Scripture through focused and measured prayers allows everyone to discover an entry point. The Bible provides handles for mature saints and struggling neophytes. It is a wonderful thing to observe this dynamic. This is at the heart of teaching people how to truly pray.

Prayer in Proper Context

Eugene Peterson said it well: “Prayer is language used to respond to the most that has been said to us with the potential for saying all that is in us . . . Prayer is dangerous . . . it moves our language into potencies we are unaccustomed to and unprepared for . . . We restore prayer to its context in God’s word. Prayer is not something we think up to get God’s attention or enlist his favor. Prayer is answering speech. The first word is God’s word. Prayer is a human word and is never the first word, never the primary word, never the initiating and shaping word simply because we are never first; never primary . . . the first word everywhere and always is God’s word to us, not ours to him.” (Working the Angles, Eerdman Press)

Peterson’s insights remind me of a lesson I’ve learned over the years about the value of letting the Bible shape the vocabulary of prayer. It’s sad, but somewhat humorous, to observe what happens in a prayer time that is based in stale human vocabulary rather than the fresh foundation of God’s word. Too often we just engage in a rapid-fire discharge of superficial thoughts, explaining to God all that we think He needs to do in order to structure the universe according to our specifications for a happy and comfortable life. Once we run out of our instructions for the day, our prayer concludes with a thud.

Of course, it is important for us to share our hearts with God when we pray. However, it is primary and essential that we allow Him to share His heart with us. This happens as we pray, first and foremost, from His word.

A Brimming Experience

John Piper has said, “Where the mind is not brimming with Scripture the heart is seldom brimming with prayer.” In his autobiography, George Mueller describes how for many years he did not begin his prayers in the Bible and confessed that his mind wandered. He goes on to testify that once he learned to pray from the Bible he was able to pray effectively for decades to follow.

Recently, one of the women attending a Prayer Summit pulled me aside to comment on her experiences. She said, “I never realized how simple but meaningful this kind of prayer can be. My prayer life has been stagnated for many months but through this experience I gained practical tips on how to kick-start my prayer life with new energy. The Spirit was really at work and I love learning how to pray straight from the Bible.” One pastor commented, “I’m convinced that the best way to apply God’s word is to pray it.”

Jonathan Edwards wrote, “The Spirit who causes men to have greater regard for the Holy Scriptures and establishes them more in their truth and divine inspiration is certainly the Spirit of God. . . It is this word that God has given to be the great, the standing rule for the direction of His church in all spiritual matters and for all concerns of their souls in all ages. A spirit of delusion will not incline persons to seek direction from the mouth of God.” (The Spirit of Revival by Archie Parrish and R.C. Sproul)

“Seek direction from the mouth of God.” What a focus! This is the key idea and the central passion of Scripture-fed prayer. Today, as you seek to spend time with God, open the Bible. Discover the truths that spring from the text about the His character, His works, and His names. Give Him praise based on these truths. Seek the admonitions of the text. Ask the Spirit to apply these truths to the very fabric of your life. With an open Bible, make it your cry: “Lord, teach me to pray.” He will be faithful to do so as you learn to talk to Him in His own words.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.
reposted from:

http://www.strategicrenewal.com/

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).

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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