Prayer 101

Prayer Basics 101

I enjoy praying, and believe that we are all called to pray, maybe some more than others, but pray we must. This is a study about prayer.

Over the years, I've gathered Scriptures that I use a LOT during prayer, because we're to take His Word to Him in prayer, and respeak it to Him. Standing on God's Word in prayer is the ticket for all of us. God will not listen to my whinning and emotions, but He will listen to His Word. Isaiah 55:11 tells us: So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper [in the thing] for which I sent it.

After reading an article recently that coincided with what I already know and organized a few of my own thoughts, I wanted to share it here today. Not all of what I'm posting here is original with me, but things that I've learned from others over the years and have used myself. They are, however, the truth of God's Word.

I'm listing only a few Scriptures here, but most importantly I wanted to interate the TYPES OF PRAYER and FIVE BASIC PRINCIPLES of prayer.

Every activity in life has basic rules that must be followed before success can be achieved. For example, if you would not use the rules that govern the game of baseball, you would not use the rules that govern the game of football. You can't get to the first base, let alone make a home run without a bat. You'll just stand at home plate watching the ball whiz by and strike out every time.

The same principle is true when it comes to prayer. There are basic rules that must be followed in oder to have a winning prayer life. Without them, you will continually strike out and never achieve God's will for your life.

Prayer has been defined as "communication with God." Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated the importance of staying in constant communication with His Father. Because prayer was His lifestyle, Jesus always knew where He was going and what He would and do when He got there. Through His example, we know that the very first rule about prayer is that we need to do it!

Hebrews 5:7 (Amplified Version) tells us:
7In the days of His flesh Jesus offered up definite, special petitions for that which He not only wanted but needed and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was always able to save Him out from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].

Notice, the Word does not say that Jesus' prayer was heard because He was the Son of God. It says that His prayer was heard because of His reverence toward God. How do we approach God?

Jesus said: John 5:19 - Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. John 8:28,29 ....I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

It's not that God won't, it's that we don't. Why? Because the devil convinces us that God won't answer our prayers, so we don't even bother to pray. How many victories were never won because we failed to go to God for help in the time of need? Realize today that it is not that God won't, but rather that we don't.



TYPES OF PRAYER
We know the importance of prayer, the next thing you should know is that there are different types of prayer with rules that govern each one.

PRAYER OF FAITH- is the prayer of petition or the prayer to change things. It is always based on God's revealed Word and never contains the word "IF." A few examples of this can be found in Matthew 21:21, 22 and Mark 11:22-24

THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION- Which is the type of prayer that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done." Luke 22:42

Unfortunately, people think that every type of prayer should begin or end by asking for God's will to be done. When Jesus prayed for the sick, He didn't end it with "if it by Thy will" as so many do today. He often told the sick things like, "Your faith has made you whole." God's Word tells us it is always His will to heal the sick, save the lost, and deliver the oppressed.

If we look at the ministry years Jesus spent on earth, that's ALL He did. Healed EVERYONE that came to him for healing, set the captive free, delivered people from bondage. Look at Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. That's what He did.

Over in I John 3:8 we're told that Jesus was made manifest to destroy the work of the devil. That's what we've been commissioned to do also. Mark 16 speaks of THE GREAT COMMISSION.

Acts 10:38 says how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT- Found in I Peter 5:7

PRAYER OF WORSHIP- Found in Acts 13:1-4; Luke 24:52, 53

PRAYER OF AGREEMENT- Found in Matthew 18:18-20

UNITED PRAYER- Found in Acts 4:23-31

INTERCESSORY PRAYER- - Found inRomans 8:26-27, Ephesians 6:18

Although there are many types of prayer, it is vital to always pray in faith and expect results every time.

I have known there to be about 5 basic elements to prayer. If there are more, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE!!!! But to start out with, here are the ones that I've been reminded of, recently.



#1 Abide

John 15:7
7If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. WHAT A PROMISE!!! Ask whatever you will and Jesus said it shall be done for you. It all hinges upon that two-letter word "if".....
IF you live in Christ (abide vitally united to Him).
IF His Words remain in you.
IF His Words continue to live in your heart.
IF you ask for whatever it is that is on your heart.

IF is a little word, but pulls a big punch.

While Jesus walked on earth, He walked in this powerful truth day-by-day and He wanted us to have the same advantage. Because He stayed vitally united to His Father in prayer, He could ask whatever He willed and it was done.

Remember the leper that came to Jesus wanting to be healed? He said "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean" Matthew 8:2 Some people know that God can, but don't know if He will. Others believe that it's God's will to heal, but they don't believe He can heal them. This man had the will and can in the right perspective and got his miracle that day. Jesus touched him and said "I will; be thou clean" verse 3. Immediately the leprosy left and he was made clean.

In Psalm 91 we are told of an impenetrable fortress of protection that is available to us, but there's a condition that must be met before the protection promise can go to work in our lives.
Psalm 91:1 Amplified version, says: HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

The Strongs Concordance says this about "shadow" = "shade". It's a cool place to abide in. No sweat. No matter what weapons the devil may be forming aginst us, they will not prosper. Psalm 91:16 says, "With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation." When we stick with the Lord, we have it made in the shade.
Isaiah 54:17 tells us: No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.


#2 Ask

John Wesley had this to say about prayer. "it seems God is liimited by our prayer life - that He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him."

It's not easy to think that the Creator is limited by the creation, but it is true. God just will not intervene in our lives ithout being asked or invited. A perfect example of this is the Israelites that refused to possess their Promised Land. Psalm 78:41 says, "Yes, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel." When we refuse to ask God for the things we need, regardless of our reasons, we limit God in the earth.

God will not be shocked with our requests. He saw them all even before the foundations of the earth, He's never surprised. He knows what we have need of before we even ask. But His will is still that we ask.

Jesus said: So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. Luke 11:9 Amplified Version, Matthew 7:11, 18:19

Psalm 145:18-19 tells us: The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.

When we cry out to God, He instantly identifies us. Not only does He hear us, the Bible says He is always near by to those that call Him in truth and will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him. So, go ahead and ask. It's His idea.



#3 Assurance

One of MY favorite promises for answered prayer is I John 5:14-15 . I LOVE the way it is translated in the Amplified Bible:
14And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.
15And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

His Word IS His Will.

Jesus gave us an example of how to pray....Luke 11:2 - So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

There's no lack in heaven.
There's no sickness and disease in heaven.
There's no confusion in heaven.
There's no death and destruction in heaven.
He TOLD US to pray that His will be done ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

John 14:9 we're told: Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

He said if we see Him, we see the Father. This gives us a good picture of the character of God.

Assurance in prayer comes from knowing the character of God. If you have studied His Word and you know His will concerning the thing you are asking about, there's no reason to be timid or fearful because God's Word says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need? Hebrews 4:16.

His Word IS HIS WILL. His last will and testiment to us, on this earth.

When we ask in reverence to Him as our Source, we can rejoice for the answer because we know our Father has heard our request. When we abide in Him and He abides in us, we can be assured that He will always hear and listen to us, and grant us anything that we ask. You just know it would happen just that way because you know Him that well.



#4 Authority

Every born-again believer has the potential to tear down strongholds of the enemy and build up the Kingdom of God with their prayers. I am not talking about a haphazard prayer life that occasionally reminds God about your problems. I am talking about perpetual, consistent, and even consistant communication with God. Communication that keeps the airways open, so to speak, so that the Holy Spirit is able to reveal the plans of the enemy to you, and show YOU how to neutralize his forces and send him running for cover.

No wonder the devil works overtime to stop our prayer life. He knows that it's all over for him the moment we discover the authority given to us by Jesus Christ in Luke 10:19 : Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

In John 14:14 Jesus gave us the authority to use His name. "If you shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it."

In John 16:23, 24 Jesus tells us: And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
Until now you have asked nothing in My name, Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

That is what happened in Acts 3:6 to the paralyzed man that sat at the gate of the city. While asking for alms, Peter said, "....silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." The power of the Name of Jesus instantly healed that man. He was so excited that he took of running and leaping and praising God.

Philippians 2:10-11 says: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
While using the Name of Jesus, everything that is named has to bow to it. Cancer is a name. All manner of sickness and disease, is a name. Depression is a name. Lack is a name. Fear is a name...and they all must bow to the Name of Jesus. Get it?

The devil really messed up when he put a name on your problem.

Paul prayed a prayer in Ephesians 1:19-22; 2:6
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, ....and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

We are seated with Christ and have full authority to use His name to bust the devil's head back into the dust. Get busy! Pray!



#5 Assignments

These prayer basics will lead us out of infancy in prayer and into rivers of Spirit-led prayer. John 7:38 tells us, "He that believes on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." Remember that heart-led prayers, not head-led prayers, are the type that flow with the Holy Spirit.

Once God knows He can rely on you to pray in reverence and with authority, He may place specific assignments on your heart. It could be an entire nation or the little girl next door, but in His sight they are equally important and vital to His plan. Think of it: God has asked you to be involved in helping Him in the earth!

James 5:16 tells us: "...the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availes much."

Prayer always begins with God. If prayer is your lifestyle, God will find a way to get His assignments to you. If we are found faithful, God will move us into deeper things.

NEVER underestimate the power of prayer. It is so awesome that it will heal the sick, save the lost, and set the captives free. Prayers spoken in fiath parted the Red Sea, raised the dead, and fed the multitudes. Regardless of the need, prayer will always reveal God's plan for your victory.

Don't let past failures keep you away from God's throne of grace. Discover the awesome power that is available in prayer and never pass up the opportunity to pray!!!

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Father, HELP US!!! Help us to pray, Help us to be faithful to PRAY and to remember that prayer always makes a difference. ALWAYS! Strengthen us, teach our hands to war in the spirit. Help us to know and remember that prayer is always a win-win situation. Your Word never fails. In Jesus' Name.

God's Will To Heal - 101 Things God Said.

These Scriptures were compiled by Keith Moore, of Moore Life Ministries, from Missouri. They are not exhaustive, but certainly a good start to place our faith in what God has already told us.

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God’s Will to Heal
Keith Moore

GOD SAID SO!
How do we know whether it's God's will to heal us or not? It makes little difference what others say about it. What did He say about it? Remember that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34 and He never changes (Mal. 3:6). So what He said to them yesterday, He is saying to you today.

God's Word is speaking to me. (These statements are taken directly from the Bible with little or no variation. The erbs and construction have been changed to apply to you personally and to sum up the thoughts in some instances. Also, many of these statements are prefaced by phrases like, "If you walk in My commandments", "If you believe....obey..." etc."How do we know whether it’s God’s will to heal us or not? It makes little difference
what others say about it. What did He say about it?


What did God say?

101 THINGS GOD SAID
Old Testament

God said…

1) I am the Lord that healeth thee (Ex. 15:26 ).
2) Your days shall be one hundred and twenty years ( Gen. 6:3 ).
3) You shall be buried in a good old age (Gen. 15:15 ).
4) You shall come to your grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in his
season (Job 5:26 ).
5) When I see the blood, I will pass over you and the plague shall not be upon you to
destroy you (Ex. 12:13 ).
6) I will take sickness away from the midst of you and the number of your days I will
fulfill (Ex. 23: 25, 26 ).
7) I will not put any of the diseases you are afraid of on you, but I will take all sickness away from you (Deut. 7:15 ).
8) It will be well with you and your days shall be multiplied and prolonged as the days of heaven upon the earth (Deut. 11:9,21 ).
9) I turned the curse into a blessing unto you, because I loved you (Deut. 23:5 and Neh. 13:2 ).
10) I have redeemed you from every sickness and every plague (Deut. 28:61 and Gal. 3:13 ).
11) As your days, so shall your strength be (Deut. 33:25 ).
12) I have found a ransom for you, your flesh shall be fresher than a child’s and you
shall return to the days of your youth (Job 33:24, 25 ).
13) I have healed you and brought up your soul from the grave; I have kept you alive
from going down into the pit (Ps. 30:1, 2 ).
14) I will give you strength and bless you with peace (Ps. 29:11 ).
15) I will preserve you and keep you alive (Ps. 41:2 ).
16) I will strengthen you upon the bed of languishing; I will turn all your bed in your sickness (Ps. 41:3 ).
17) I am the health of your countenance and your God (Ps.43: 5 ).
18) No plague shall come near your dwelling (Ps. 91:10 ).
19) I will satisfy you with long life (Ps. 91:16 ).
20) I heal all your diseases (Ps. 103:3 ).
21) I sent My word and healed you and delivered you from your destructions (Ps.
107:20 ).
22) You shall not die, but live, and declare My works (Ps. 118:17 ).
23) I heal your broken heart and bind up your wounds (Ps. 147:3 ).
24) The years of your life shall be many (Pr. 4:10 ).
25) Trusting Me brings health to your navel and marrow to your bones (Pr. 3:8 ).
26) My words are life to you, and health/medicine to all your flesh (Pr. 4:22 ).
27) (My) good report makes your bones fat (Pr. 15:30 ).
28) (My) pleasant words are sweet to your soul and health to your bones (Pr. 16:24 ).
29) My joy is your strength. A merry heart does good like a medicine (Neh. 8:10; Pr. 17:22 ).
30) The eyes of the blind shall be opened. The eyes of them that see shall not be dim
(Isa. 32:3; 35:5 ).
31) The ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. The ears of them that hear shall hearken
(Isa. 32:3; 35:5 ).
32) The tongue of the dumb shall sing. The tongue of the stammerers shall be ready
to speak plainly (Isa. 35:6; 32:4 ).
33) The lame man shall leap as a hart (Isa. 35:6 ).
34) I will recover you and make you to live. I am ready to save you (Isa. 38:16, 20 ).
35) I give power to the faint. I increase strength to them that have no might (Isa. 40:29 ).
36) I will renew your strength. I will strengthen and help you (Isa. 40:31; 41:10 ).
37) To your old age and gray hairs I will carry you and I will deliver you (Isa. 46:4 ).
38) I bore your sickness (Isa. 53:4 ).
39) I carried your pains (Isa. 53:4 ).
40) I was put to sickness for you (Isa. 53:10 ).
41) With My stripes you are healed (Isa. 53:5 ).
42) I will heal you (Isa. 57:19 ).
43) Your light shall break forth as the morning and your health shall spring forth
speedily (Isa. 58:8 ).
44) I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds saith the Lord (Jer. 30:17 ).
45) Behold I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure you, and will reveal unto you the abundance of peace and truth (Jer. 33:6 ).
46) I will bind up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick (Eze. 34:16 ).
47) Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live. And I shall put My Spirit in you and you shall live (Eze. 37:5,14 ).
48) Whithersoever the rivers shall come shall live. They shall be healed and every
thing shall live where the river comes (Eze. 47:9 ).
49) Seek Me and you shall live (Amos 5:4, 6 ).
50) I have arisen with healing in My wings (beams) (Mal. 4:2).

New Testament

51) I will, be thou clean (Mt. 8:3 ).
52) I took your infirmities (Mt. 8:17 ).
53) I bore your sicknesses (Mt. 8:17).
54) If you’re sick you need a physician. (I am the Lord your physician) (Mt. 9:12 & Ex. 15:26 ).
55) I am moved with compassion toward the sick and I heal them (Mt. 14:14 ).
56) I heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (Mt. 4:23 ).
57) According to your faith, be it unto you (Mt. 9:29 ).
58) I give you power and authority over all unclean spirits to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (Mt. 10:1 & Lk. 9:1 ).
59) I heal them all (Mt. 12:15 & Heb. 13:8 ).
60) As many as touch Me are made perfectly whole (Mt. 14:36 ).
61) Healing is the children’s bread (Mt. 15:26 ).
62) I do all things well. I make the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak (Mk. 7:37 ).
63) If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mk. 9:23; 11:23,24 ).
64) When hands are laid on you, you shall recover (Mk. 16:18 ).
65) My anointing heals the brokenhearted, and delivers the captives, recovers sight to the blind, and sets at liberty those that are bruised (Lk. 4:18; Isa. 10:27; 61:1 ).
66) I heal all those who have need of healing (Lk. 9:11 ).
67) I am not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them (Lk. 9:56 ).
68) Behold, I give you authority over all the enemy’s power and nothing shall by any
means hurt you (Lk. 10:19 ).
69) Sickness is satanic bondage and you ought to be loosed today (Lk. 13:16 & II Cor. 6:2 ).
70) In Me is life (Jn. 1:4 ).
71) I am the bread of life. I give you life (Jn. 6:33, 35 ).
72) The words I speak unto you are spirit and life (Jn. 6:63 ).
73) I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly
(Jn. 10:10 ).
74) I am the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:25 ).
75) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it (Jn. 14:14 ).
76) Faith in My name makes you strong and gives you perfect soundness (Acts 3:16 ).
77) I stretch forth My hand to heal (Acts 4:30 ).
78) I, Jesus Christ, make you whole (Acts 9:34 ).
79) I do good and heal all that are oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38 ).
80) My power causes diseases to depart from you (Acts 19:12 ).
81) The law of the Spirit of life in Me has made you free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2 ).
82) The same Spirit that raised Me from the dead now lives in you and that Spirit will quicken your mortal body (Rom. 8:11 ).
83) Your body is a member of Me (I Cor. 6:15 ).
84) Your body is the temple of My Spirit and you’re to glorify Me in your body (I Cor. 6:19, 20 ).
85) If you’ll rightly discern My body which was broken for you, and judge yourself, you’ll not be judged and you’ll not be weak, sickly or die prematurely (I Cor. 11:29-31 ).
86) I have set gifts of healing in My body (I Cor. 12:9 ).
87) My life may be made manifest in your mortal flesh (II Cor. 4:10, 11 ).
88) I have delivered you from death, I do deliver you, and if you trust Me I will yet
deliver you (II Cor. 1:10 ).
89) I have given you My name and have put all things under your feet (Eph. 1:21, 22 ).
90) I want it to be well with you and I want you to live long on the earth. (Eph. 6:3 ).
91) I have delivered you from the authority of darkness (Col. 1:13 ).
92) I will deliver you from every evil work (II Tim. 4:18 ).
93) I tasted death for you. I destroyed the devil who had the power of death. I’ve
delivered you from the fear of death and bondage (Heb. 2:9, 14, 15 ).
94) I wash your body with pure water (Heb. 10:22; Eph. 5:26 ).
95) Lift up the weak hands and the feeble knees. Don’t let that which is lame be
turned aside but rather let Me heal it (Heb. 12:12, 13 ).
96) Let the elders anoint you and pray for you in My name and I will raise you up (Jas.5:14, 15 ).
97) Pray for one another and I will heal you (Jas. 5:16 ).
98) By My stripes you were healed (I Pet. 2:24 ).
99) My Divine power has given unto you all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Me (II Pet. 1:3 ).
100) Whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely (Rev. 22:17 ).
101) Beloved, I wish above all things that you may…be in health (III Jn. 2 )

FORGIVENESS.....

Matthew 6:14, 15
14 "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I remember, one time, while a young mother, I was carrying our oldest son on my hip, and helping our oldest girl out of the car. We'd gone uptown to run some errands, and as the door on the car was shut I looked up at the pane glass window of the business I parked in front of to see our reflection and distinctly heard a voice inside me say, "If you don't forgive that dead man, you'll not grow any closer with Me."

This took my breath away. I knew this to be the voice of the Lord, I gave my life to Him when I was 8 years old. He was (and is) EVERYTHING TO ME. I knew the "dead man" He spoke to me about to have been my father. He died when I was about 12 years old.

My Daddy was a tough old bird. He didn't really have a good handle on relationships. Had a difficult time showing his affections and overall, just a crusty, hard man that my brother and I had a difficult time with, him, his discipline, mannerisms, emotions etc. He was an officer in the military in WWII, and he also didn't know how to leave THAT behind. Our home was ran like a military establishment. :) He said "Jump!", we'd said "How far?" and so on. You get the picture. His father gave he and his siblings away after his Mom died (he was 7) and NONE of them could ever reconcile with that one.

I was 12 when he died, and had a lot of unresolved conflict concerning my Dad. It had to be dealt with, and thus the visit from the Lord that day on downtown Main Street. My immediate response was something like, OK, I'll get back with you on this. My heart sank and stayed that way all morning long.

After I got home fed the kids and put them down for a nap, I knew it was time to take care of business. While I was before the Lord, I humm hawed around and finally told him that I was in a RUT, with this unforgiveness, had been there so long that I didn't know HOW to get out of it. Told Him that I was willing, but needed His HELP.

We can stay in unforgiveness so long, that it will harden our hearts and cause a root of bitterness and we will be like a poison to everyone we touch...it will just ooozzze out of us that way. So pitiful and so ugly, isn't it? We have all known people that way, even if we've not been there ourselves, it's sad to see and even worse to be there, it's about like having a rotten gut all the time.

My Dad was not INTENTIONALLY being a jerk...it's just what he knew.

God HELPED me, I got over it and it was a VALUABLE lesson the Lord taught me.....But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. GOD HELP US. None of us want to be on the unforgiving side of God.

Matthew 6:12 tells us:
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Someone told me recently that we don't forgive people - we forgive their sin, because forgive means to cut off. Well, YES - that is ONE of the meanings of the word......we do forgive them their trespass against us, but God is plain and clear that we forgive our debtors as well, and if we don't, what the consequences are. It's a package deal, else it would be lopsided, that "forgiveness." We need it ALL.

Not long ago, the Lord asked me to phone a person that has done my family great harm, and tell them that I forgive them. I thought of it ONLY a moment and said YES. After I made the phone call, said what I needed to, the person wanted to DRAG me into conversation that was not beneficial, and so I just let it be known that I said what I needed to and was bringing the call to an end. When I hung up the phone, the Lord WASHED OVER my spirit, soul and body and confirmed to me by His Spirit what I'd done was pleasing to Him and HELPED ME.

Anything that would remove us from fellowship with the Lord is unfortunate, because the Lord is after RELATIONSHIP with us....and that should also be what motivates us. I don't want anything between He and I. I don't want anything between me and anyone else...that would hinder my relationship with the Lord, that's what our enemy the devil is after, he's the stealer, killer and destroyer, and lives up to his title (John 10:10). I want to be on good terms with the Lord, no matter what it costs me.

Father, HELP US!!!! We need You! We need You to help us to see when we need forgiveness, and when we need to forgive. We don't want ANYTHING between You and us. Help us to see with Your eyes. To listen to You and do what You say. In Jesus' Name.

You Make Me WANT TO BE a BETTER Person.

Anyone remember a movie with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt called "As Good As It Gets"?



I don't usually plug movies here, but I came across some interesting things in study this morning, I wanted to share.

I've been running references about "value" and "precious" in the Scripture. Those things that are precious and valuable to God and how we need to recognize that also, for our own lives.

There's a place over in Acts 19:19 that says:
Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Paul was in Ephesus preaching the Gospel and there were a LOT of miracles and signs and wonders that took place. God showed up in that place, at that time.

The VALUE of the books on magic that was burned that day was 50,000 coins of silver. The commentary in my Bible says that this was probably a reference to 50,000 Greek drachmae, a coin which was roughly equivalent to one day's wage....so the cumulative value of these magic books was ENORMOUS.

The Word of God that was shared with these people was so precious and VALUABLE that they became serious about, and wanted to PLEASE GOD. They did what they did to make a step in the right direction towards pleasing God in their lives.

In the movie, there was a scene where the character, played by Helen Hunt, said she wanted Jack to pay her a serious compliment, because there was a LOT LACKING in the relationship....she thought this would be good place to start. A compliment. He then told her that she made him want to be a better man.

All of God's Words, His precious instructions, His VALUABLE HELP should be just that to us. PRECIOUS and VALUABLE, and that should motivate us to DO what HE SAYS, because of His LOVE towards us. What He's said and done FOR US, makes me wnat to be a better person.... because I VALUE HIM, HIS WORD, HIS LOVE, HIS DIRECTIONS, HIS GIFT to me.

Jeremiah 38:20 tells us:
Please, obey the voice of the LORD which I speak to you. So it shall be well with you, and your soul shall live.

God wants to save our hide, and save us heartache, and trouble in our lives, and many times we look upon His instructions as an INCONVIENCE and not PRECIOUS.

Jeremiah 42:6 says:
Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God."

Colossians 1:10 tells us:
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God

Hebrews 13:21 says:
make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Father, YOU are the One that wants us to be better people, and put us into a situation to SAVE our hide. I ask YOU to make us hungry and thirsty for You and Your Ways. HELP US to respond to You with a loving and willing heart. HELP US to show our Love to YOU with our obedience to You. I AM a better person because of YOU. In Jesus' Name.

Call To Arms....

Most of the folks I know are patriotic people who have an appreciation for the freedoms in our country, for us and our families. We know what it cost our husbands, fathers, grandfathers as dedicated soldiers to "let freedom ring." NOW, if we want the continued peace, safety and freedom in our land...... it's going to cost US something....Time in prayer, spiritual warfare and fasting. Whether we like it or not, we are already on the front lines.

II Timothy 2:4
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

If you're part of the Body of Christ...you're enlisted as a soldier in the army of God.

We have lives, obligations, jobs, families to take care of, and God does not expect us to forsake those obligations to take care of matters that He's called us to.
Entangled with the affairs of this life means - Be ensnared, involved in difficulties, to be involved as a tangle. When we place God first He'll see to helping us with the work of our hands.

One of the Scriptures that has been brought to mind the last year or two has been
Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.

We need to have the confidence that God hears us, He knows what we need in our lives, an has the wherewithall to deliver to us, not only the HELP we need, but also to deliver us from evil.

The Patriarchs from God's Word answered the call to arms, and MADE A DIFFERENCE in not only thier lives, but also in history. The Bible is not just a book full of "stories" and encourages us to say, "Now I lay me down to sleep.".....It's full of accounts of men and women that took their assignments from God seriously, because it WAS a matter of life and death. They dedicated themselves to God, understanding His faithfulness to His Word, to them, and stood in the face of unbeatable odds, knowing that GREATER is their GOD than any "giant" in front of them.

Hezekiah had five kings from five different countries that wrote him a threatening letter with promises to do him in and bring his country and people into their receivership. He took the letter and put it upon the altar of God and told God what they said (as if God didn't already know LOL) but God saw Hezekiah committing his kingship, his country, and his people before God and GOD takes that seriously. God DELIVERED THEM ALL.

Elisha was camped out in a valley an while he and his servant rested during the night, they woke up to their enemy surrounding them with the threat of death and destruction. The servant was pacing the tent floor fearful about their own demise. Elisha asked God to remove the scales from the eyes of his servant, so he could see God's GREAT provision. He did, and the servant went to the tent door to see the hills lined with God's GREAT and MIGHTY warrior angels with their chariots readied for battle.

Esther, Abraham, Enoc, David, Jeremiah, Noah, Sarah, Deborah, Paul, Peter....and the list goes on and on and on about God's mighty men and women of God taking their place in God, with His strength, His direction and His plans and purposes. They were ALL OVERCOMERS, and they all made the hall of fame in God's book. Were they fearless? Probably not. Were they above average? Probably not, except with their trust in God.

God ALWAYS honored their trust in Him, their faith in His Word and not only His ABIITY, but His DESIRE to come to their RESCUE!! LOL

Jeremiah 20:11
But the LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.

Isaiah 50:7-9
For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me. Surely the Lord GOD will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up.

Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.
Do I hear - "YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME?!?!"

We need the same boldness that Isaiah was displaying. He KNEW His God and what HE WOULD DO FOR HIM.

Isaiah 54:17 tells us:
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.

Psalm 46:1-3
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

God's Word is FULL of His promises to us, to our families, to nations, if we only take HIM AT HIS WORD. What is impossible for man is POSSIBLE for God. ALWAYS!

I want to encourage you to answer your call to arms.

Father, I ask You to HELP US! Help us to listen to You and DO what you speak to our hearts. HELP US to stand in the gap for our famiies, our churches, our communities, for SOULS and for our COUNTRY. Help us to KNOW and be confident that You really to hear and answer our prayers...and that You will never turn a deaf ear. Your arms are not short and your ear is not deaf to the cry of our hearts to You. In Jesus' Name.