Tag Archives: pray

Aug 12 2010

Spiritual Practices: Applications to Effective Prayer

6 “P” Principles for Affective Prayer:

(Matt 6:9-13) The Model Prayer practices

Praise – (v.9)

  • Adoration: In prayers of adoration or worship, we praise the greatness of God, and we acknowledge our dependence on him in all things.
  • Thanksgiving: Perhaps the most neglected type of prayer is prayer of thanksgiving.
  • Love: Prayers of love or charity are just that—expressions of our love for God

Purpose – (v.10) Our prayers should always include a statement of our willingness to accept God’s will, whether He directly answers our prayer or not. Seek God’s will for your life.

Provision – (v.11)

  • Provision: are the type of prayer we are most familiar with. In them, we ask God for things we need—primarily spiritual needs, but physical ones as well.
  • Petition/Supplication: Call out to God asking for certain things beyond your needs
  • Intercession: Pray for others, or praying seeking God’s intercession concerning circumstances.

Pardon – (v.12)

  • Expiation/Confession: In a prayer of expiation or contrition, we acknowledge our sinfulness and ask God for His forgiveness and mercy. Confess your “sins” Specifically, Personally, Immediately, Completely, Sincerely, & Confidently.  – Song “Count Your Bless” – Count your sins, count them one by one, count your sins see what you have done. 1 John 1:7-9  (God doesn’t want empty apologies)
  • Repentance: Turn away from your sin – STOP doing it!!

“The most miserable man on earth is not the un-saved man, but the saved man who is out of fellowship with God.” – Adrian Rogers

Protection – (v.13) Prayer for spiritual, physical, and mental protection for yourself and the ones you love. Put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6)

Persistence – Consistent/Constant: Pray without ceasing  1 Thess. 5:17

Quick Four Step Process to Prayer

P- raise: Praise

R- epent: Pardon/ Confession / Repentance

A- sk: Provision/ Protection / Petition / Intercession

Y- ield: Purpose

2 Key Aspects to Prayer

Humility

Honesty

Jul 14 2009

The Test Are In

 It has been over 5 years since our last child, and up to about six months ago we were not going to have any more children.  We have tried to adopt for the last year, but due to the stringent process and rigid guidelines we decided to just have our own.  It was kind of disappointing that we were not able to provide a home for a child in need, but we couldn’t let that prevent us from continuing to build our own family.

Yesterday, we finalpregnantly received the results we had been waiting for.  Katie is officially pregnant!  If it is a boy then we will name him Elijah (Eli) Pierce, and if it is a girl she will be called Trinity Lynn.  We would like to have three children so I am praying for twins. That way we can get the baby process out of the way.  I love children, but am not the fondest of babies.  Something about long nights, pooping, peeing, screaming, bottles, and diapers that I am just not fond of.  Either way we will rejoice in the Lord whatever He decides to bless us with.  We primarily are just praying for a healthy baby with ten toes and ten fingers.  If it is anything like our first one it is destined to be a little monster…. oh I meant bundle of joy. :)

I am overwhelmed with joy, but at the same time my heart burdens.

  • First of all my hearts goes out to those who are struggling trying to or cannot have children – infertility
  • Second the children that find themselves without loving parents, because of a ridiculous adoption process
  • Third and probably the most heart breaking is the children that are aborted everyday because of someones inconvenience or choice / abortion / Find out more

Please be praying for us, and those who find themselves in one of these three categories.

May 13 2009

From Fast Food to F.I.T.: Fervent Prayer

mcjesusLast week we looked at the Fast Food Spiritual Lifestyle that wants things here and now.  This spiritual lifestyle consists of quick simple choices that lead to results.  However often times this is why Christians are so unsatisfied with their walk with the Lord, because the results are not what they expected.  These types of results lead to spiritual obesity and fat hearts and heads.  Today I want to take a closer look at the F in the acronym F.I.T. which is Fervent Prayer.  In today’s society God’s prayer feed is so filled with “Thank you for the food I eat” and “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayers that you know that our relationship with him is hindered due to OUR lack of intimacy and authenticity.   Let us consider these key aspects to a healthy and F.I.T. prayer life:

Philippians 4:4-9

Benefits of Fervent Prayer: vs. 5-7

  • Removes anxiety and fear
  • Guards your heart and mind
  • Establishes your relationship with God

Formula for Affective Prayer:  Matt 6:9-13

  • Praise – Adoration/Thanksgiving/Love
  • Purpose – God’s Will for your life
  • Provision – Supplication
  • Pardon – Expiation/Confession
  • Protection – Supplication
  • Petition – Intercession
  • Persistence – Consistent/Constant

Applications of Constant Prayer:  1 Thessalonians 5:17

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, the Apostle Paul makes an astonishing statement that we are to “Pray without Ceasing”, but what does that really mean?  

To sum it up, it means that we are to pray whether we feel like it or not.  I’m sure there were many times in Apostle Paul’s life where he didn’t feel like praying.  Maybe when he was shipwrecked three times, or when he was beaten and stoned on many occasions, but either way he prayed because he knew that in prayer he was strengthened.  He knew that God could see him through even the most difficult situations.   To pray without ceasing can also pertain to what we meditate on.

1.    Meditate on things that are: vs. 8

  • True
  • Just
  • Pure
  • Lovely
  • Good

2.    Pray In season and out

  • Good times, and the bad
  • Desire or No desire

Prayer Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Selfish Prayer – Seeking only answers and results that we desire / Vain Glory
  • Shallow Prayer –  Lacks Intimacy and authenticity
  • Corporate Prayer – Praying because it is something we are suppose to do / Only praying during gatherings

Too often we make prayer more complex than it really is, but on the other hand we neglect prayer because our perception views prayer as mere simplistic speech.  Prayer is more than simply bowing our heads and speaking to God. Prayer is an attitude born out of a relationship. We don’t pray to some idol, but to a loving Father, one who desires an intimate relationship with us.   Don’t get stuck on the form of prayer or traditions of prayer — rather focus on the unique relationship we have, through Jesus Christ, with God the Father.

Nov 5 2008

How to Pray

howtoprayI purchased R.A. Torrey’s book “How to Pray” early in my ministry.  I had no idea what it was; I just knew I didn’t have a book on prayer so I purchased it.  It’s been probably 6-8 years, but one day while organizing my books this one in particular came to my attention; most likely because it was extremely old and worn.  The edges were bent, the cover was faded and dirty, and it even had 5-6 cup rings on it where someone had used it as a coaster. (Not Me)  I decided “you know I should read this book.”  I can’t believe this treasure of a book has been setting on my shelf all these years, and I have never read it.  I began to read it as if it had just been written.  Its teachings were just as applicable today as they were in the early 1900′s.  It must have been written sometime before his death October 26th, 1928.

Below are just a few excerpts that really impacted my thought on prayer.

“The reason so many have so little faith when they pray is because they take so little time to meditate upon and thank God for blessings already received.”

Ch.9 – Hindrances to Prayer

  1. James 4:3 – A selfish purpose in prayer robs prayer of power.  The true purpose in prayer is that God may be glorified in the answer.
  2. Isaiah 59:1,2 – Sin hinders prayer – Ps.66:18
  3. Ezekiel 14:3 – Idols in the heart cause god to refuse to listen to our prayers.  What is an idol?  An idol is anything that takes the place of God, anything that is the supreme object of our affection.
  4. Proverbs 21:13 – There is perhaps no greater hindrance to prayer than stinginess, the lack of liberality toward the poor and toward God’s work.  It is the one who gives generously to others who receives generously from God.
  5. Mark 11:25 – An unforgiving spirit is one of the commonest hindrances to prayer.  Prayer is answered on the basis that our sins are forgiven; but God cannot deal with us on the basis of forgiveness while we are harboring ill will against those who have wronged us.
  6. I Peter 3:7 – We are plainly told that a wrong relation between husband and wife is a hindrance to prayer.
  7. James 1:5-7 – Prayers are hindered by unbelief.  God demands that we shall believe His Word absolutely.  To question it is to make Him a liar.

I really liked #5 of When to Pray Ch.9.

5. Pray when life is busy.

Some men are so busy that they find no time for prayer.  Apparently the busier Christ’s life was, the more He prayed.  Sometimes He had no time to eat (Mark 3:20), sometimes He had no time for needed rest and sleep (Mark 6:31,33,46); but He ALWAYS took time to pray; and the more the work crowded the more He prayed.  Many a mighty man of God has learned this secret from Christ.

- How To Pray R.A. Torrey (Moody Press)(MCL89)

My hope is that we might learn from Christ example; especially when we are busy or overwhelmed we should take genuine valuable time to pray.

I would definitely encourage you to purchase this book.  A link is provided by clicking on the book image.  Of course my copy looks nothing like this, but it is the same book which was just recently republished.  Enjoy.

Oct 1 2008

New Church Building / Sunday School

I am probably being premature in this matter, and I know it is something that is in the near future to be discussed here at Bethel Baptist Church, however after reading Criswell’s view on growth I believe it is essential for us to build a new building.

“Every church building in the country has its own story to tell.  Usually, it is a story of men and women who believed in the future and of their victory over those who doubt.  The real price of a building built to house the work of Christ is not in dollars and cents, but in the measure of sacrifice taken on lovingly, freely, and faithfully by the people who had a dream.”  – W.A. Criswell

Even with us going to two services we are still having full Sunday School Classes.  I recently visited these classes and discovered that many of them are full.  With that being said when need to consider more classroom space, and that is something we just don’t have.  At the same time we need to be training up teachers to lead these classes once a classroom setting is in place.  I believe Sunday School is essential to obtaining committed Christians.  We must have these small groups in order for relationships to be established, and theology to be taught and implemented.  We are only holding ourselves back.  We must step out by faith, and it starts with prayer.  Be praying for our church growth, and leadership team. 

We start our Outreach Program in less than a week, and if we don’t have a place for them to go then we have a problem.  God is going to do amazing things through our GROW program.  GROW stands for God Rewards Our Works.  With that being said even if everyone moves up 3 rows God is going to fill them, and we will still need more space.  I think right now it is a crucial time to go to two services, however at the same time without more Sunday School Classes we will never be able to have consistent growth.  We fail to realize that Sunday School is a vital part of our church, and it doesn’t have to be Sunday School but some form of small groups.  These groups make people accountable, and as a Sunday School teacher we should hold our students accountable for attendance.  I’m not saying go to everyone in church that should be in your Sunday School Class and hound them.  No, I’m saying those who are active in your class currently encourage them to be consistent in their attendance, and also encourage them to reach out to others.  Call your students when they are absent.  Once again not to hound them, but to make sure they are ok and to let them know you care about them and missed them.

Another aspect of Sunday School that we fail to realize is that Sunday School is one of the greatest outreach tools we as a church have.  If we get our students fired up about Sunday School they will invite others.  It is through Sunday School that we should challenge believers to share their faith.

This is a lot to consider.  I pray that you think about it, pray about it, and implement it.