The Force of Prayer By Debra Courtney

The LORD is far from the wicked: but He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous (the upright, in right standing with Him). Proverbs 15:29 AMP

Do you sometimes forget that prayer is not a right, but a privilege that we get to participate in from God? God is not obligated to hear the prayers of anyone. He will reject the prayers of the wicked. But he will hear the prayers of the righteous, and he will answer them according to his will and timing.

And that is why I want to pray the right kind of prayers. Don’t you? Yes we can pray to our Father in heaven our own words and what is on our heart, and there is nothing wrong with that; however, we can also pray the right kind of prayers right out of the word of God? I love to pray the Psalms that David prayed and also I pray the prayers that Paul prayed. Sometimes they just have the words that I want to say to my Heavenly Father.  

I have experienced the fact that you can’t wink at God on Sunday and live like you want to the rest of the week!  

People who ignore the warning signs and convection of the Holy Spirit will not be blessed or comforted. That’s just not me. I want my prayers answered. I want the blessings’ of God in and on my life and my children and my children children.

I am more and more intentional to have the right things coming out of my mouth so I can have the right things coming in to my life!

When our rebellion against God gets so offensive, he will laugh and mock us when we do need him. Even our sacrifices will be an abomination to him. I make it a priority to examine my heart and life to make sure that I am in right standing with him. He wants to answer our prayers! I have learned the hard way to just go ahead and humble myself, pray and ask God to forgive me of my sins by confessing them with my mouth. He always hears me and delivers me and then he blesses me! He will do the same for you too!

Prayer is mine and yours greatest weapon on earth! God commands us to pray. He expects it daily.

“ALSO [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up)”. Luke 18:1 AMP.

It pleases God when we pray. He wants to be involved in our life every day. Prayer changes things. By prayer the hand of God can move people around you and miracles start to happen!

PRAYER IS A FORCE THAT CHANGES OUR LIVES!

Debra’s life goal is to inspire and motivate women globally to become all they have been created and designed to be by using the guiding principles of their Creator’s word in gaining wisdom, understanding their designed-given personality identities & create their purpose!  You can contact Debra at dwcscc@yahoo.com. 

 

“…, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice…”

                                                      Song of Songs 2:14 

Praying Like a Beggar or a Child? - A Guest Post by Sherri Sand

How often do we shoot spiritual flares of prayer toward heaven the moment our lives take on water like scuttled ships? Too often our prayers lack power because we pray from a place of fear.

Prayer should be a lethal weapon in the hands of a believer; tearing down strongholds, breathing life into dead bones. But too often we plead for our prayers to be answered. That’s the stance of a beggar child rather than a daughter.

What if we truly believed God would never leave us alone and forsaken?

That would be a game changer, wouldn’t it? Instead of shooting prayer toward a distant God in heaven, we turn and have a conversation with the One who adores us. The Friend who is closer than a brother.

Wouldn’t prayer be easier if we knew God’s heart for our challenges? The outcome He wants to achieve? Perhaps instead of going straight to prayer when difficulty arises, we practice declaring His goodness with thanksgiving and praise.

Out loud.

Where the enemy can hear us making a stand. Where we can hear ourselves speaking truth into a difficult circumstance. Where we give our emotions a chance to align themselves with Truth.

Where prayer becomes a relationship instead of a plea.

Where prayer becomes a hunger for more. A hunger for intimacy and connection that leads us to a place of stillness...where we can start listening.

Listening to the One who holds the answers to our every situation.

Or does fear tell us that in the stillness we will hear nothing but our own hearts beating?

Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Perhaps we don’t hear God respond because fear blocks our ears. Fear that we are speaking into a vacuum where our voice echoes back to us.

God waits for us to be still and come to a place of peace. It is in that secret place that He speaks. That understanding comes. Even if it is just: I Am With You.

His voice comes quietly. It may be a word, a thought or a picture that gently floats to mind. Don’t discount what may seem inconsequential. Often he speaks as softly as butterfly wings.

Teaching our hearts to praise him in the midst of difficulty will transform our internal atmosphere into a place of hope and peace, rest and joy. Praise and thankfulness push back the enemy’s lies. It opens up a place for us to listen. To hear God’s voice.

It is from the secret place we pray lethal and effective prayers.

Sherri Sand is an author and speaker. Her unique perspective unlocks truths and biblical mysteries to bring hope to the hurting and peace to the stressed. She desires to lead people into a deeper relationship with God, where living as victorious overcomers becomes the norm rather than an elusive desire. To read her blog and discover more about living in spiritual wholeness and about Sherri’s novel, Leave it to Chance, visit her web site.

Butterfly pic: http://pixabay.com/en/butterfly-insect-nature-green-199911