Through Prayer….Daily Putting on God’s Armor:
Heavenly Father, Your Warrior prepares for Battle.
Today I claim victory over Satan by putting on the whole armor of God!
Lord, I give you my will; submit today to your will; I give you my body, mind and soul. Oh Lord you are in control of me today. I give up myself; my selfishness to you oh God in heaven. I pray for protection around my mind; may I take every thought captive for Christ. Christ does not give me a spirit of fear but a spirit of peace and a sound mind that I am thinking clearly about my walk with You – Oh God YOU are my shelter and provider… YOU are my friend in a dark world - --YOU shed the light of peace upon me…no matter what I go through today You and I together can face it together because you live in me. The very Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me and because of that I know where my strength comes from. Thank you Jesus!
I put on the breastplate of righteousness! May it guard my heart from evil so I will remain pure and Holy, protected under the blood of Jesus Christ.
Thank You, Christ Jesus for what you did for me on the cross; taking my sins; sufferings and diseases to the cross. May I be a welcoming environment for Your leading in my life today. Thank you for the victory you’ve provided over Satan.
By Faith I bind up myself in Your Truth; may my life today be motivated by truth; my heart love truth. May I be motivated by what is righteous (right) and refuse that which is evil. Thank you for the imputed righteousness of Christ. May I stand firm in the truth of your word so I will not become a victim of Satan’s lies.
By Faith I put on the shoes of peace. May I stand firm in the Good News of the Gospel so Your peace will shine through me and be a light to all I encounter. Today may I be a peace maker not a trouble maker.
By Faith I take up the shield of Faith; may I trust your word today and not add any fuel to Satan’s darts. Thank you that I can go into this day without fear. Make me ready for Satan’s fiery darts of doubt, denial and deceit so I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat.
By Faith I put on the Helmet of Salvation; may I have my mind focused on You so Satan will not have a stronghold on my thoughts; may I remember today that Jesus is coming again; help me to live in the future tense.
By Faith I take up the Sword of the Spirit! May the two-edged sword of Your Word be ready in my hands so I can expose the tempting words of Satan. Protect my mind from discouragement and despair. Fill my mind with your swords (Rhema –personal word from God through His Word and the Holy Spirit through prayer).
By Faith I have put on the armor of God today; may this be a day of victory!
In Jesus Name AMEN
Friday, June 13, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
God is good and he's good all the time!
This morning before going to work at World Radio I wanted to let you know one more time what a great God we serve! He provides what we need when we need it! Yesterday, I left work early, around noon, to go to the church at Calhoun. My purpose was to serve and encourage Cindy and her family at Brad's Memorial service. My heart is so touched by these precious children that are left behind after Brad's death Sunday morning. One of them is in my Bible class on Sunday morning and he is so very precious! All of Cindy's children touch my heart...I prayed for Cindy and her children this morning and of course I've prayed for Mark - the brother to Brad that is recovering from multiple broken bones from the car accident.
Another family there at the Calhoun church has children about the same age as Cindy and Brad's...of course they are friends and I guess what rings true is how God has used this tragedy that was meant for evil in to something good. Of course there are many bad things that come from the loss of a dear husband, father and friend but...how God moves and works among us in difficult times gives all of us hope.
What I mean by that is yesterday when we all met together to take care of Cindy and family at the memorial service you could see that God's love was evident! Many of our church family showed up to serve, we had plenty of food and everyone worked together beautifully! Everyone there considered others more important than themselves...there was unity and peace with all of us making every effort to serve Cindy, her family and friends that had come to give respect to Brad and comfort to his family that is left behind.
So out of tragedy comes the visible peace and love of God... we don't mourn as those in the world without hope, we mourn with assurance that we'll see Bradley again...he'll meet us at the gate of heaven when we all get there. Praise God for his mercy and grace! God is good and he is good all the time! Have a blessed day, love, Jo Gower
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
One Another...don't go it alone...
Over the last few days I’ve been rudely reminded of just how quickly life can come to a halt! We lost a dear friend through a car wreck recently. He leaves behind a sweet wife with three young children. And to add to that, the very next day we got word that one of our distant relatives was killed at gunpoint through a violent crime. So two days in a row we’ve dealt with death in our local church.
How do people that do not have Christ in the center of their life live through such tragedy? Just as I was rudely reminded of the shortest of life, I was compassionately reminded that we are not alone! When we share struggles together, our common love brings some healing to our soul.
We thank the Father in heaven that he gave us “one another” through Jesus His Son. Jesus gave us a new command in John 13:34-35:
34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)
Sometimes, we refer to that “one another” concept as our “forever family”. This is vivid in my heart and mind because I had a friend that use to say “If I don’t see you again on this side of heaven then meet me in the back right hand corner of heaven”; when he died at a young age we all cherished his words and thought yeah! Charlie…we’ll meet you there!
Our togetherness does not stop here at the local church but reaches to where you are; that could be many miles from us here in West Monroe. You have your own story of sorrow or tragedy in your life. The great thing about being in God’s forever family is that the physical miles are only that – “physical” but in our hearts there are no miles between us. Hugh and I may have been to your church to conduct a prayer seminar or prayer retreat; therefore, you and I have our “one another” relationship; we are your brothers and sisters in Christ.
We’re here to pray with you; to mourn with you in hard times and yet to rejoice with you in your happy times. You are not only an important part of the prayer ministry team, but a friend in the fellowship of Christ and we thank you! Please tell me your story! You can reach me at jogopray@gmail.com or write me at PO Box 22, Monroe, La. 71210. Our website address is below.
How do people that do not have Christ in the center of their life live through such tragedy? Just as I was rudely reminded of the shortest of life, I was compassionately reminded that we are not alone! When we share struggles together, our common love brings some healing to our soul.
We thank the Father in heaven that he gave us “one another” through Jesus His Son. Jesus gave us a new command in John 13:34-35:
34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)
Sometimes, we refer to that “one another” concept as our “forever family”. This is vivid in my heart and mind because I had a friend that use to say “If I don’t see you again on this side of heaven then meet me in the back right hand corner of heaven”; when he died at a young age we all cherished his words and thought yeah! Charlie…we’ll meet you there!
Our togetherness does not stop here at the local church but reaches to where you are; that could be many miles from us here in West Monroe. You have your own story of sorrow or tragedy in your life. The great thing about being in God’s forever family is that the physical miles are only that – “physical” but in our hearts there are no miles between us. Hugh and I may have been to your church to conduct a prayer seminar or prayer retreat; therefore, you and I have our “one another” relationship; we are your brothers and sisters in Christ.
We’re here to pray with you; to mourn with you in hard times and yet to rejoice with you in your happy times. You are not only an important part of the prayer ministry team, but a friend in the fellowship of Christ and we thank you! Please tell me your story! You can reach me at jogopray@gmail.com or write me at PO Box 22, Monroe, La. 71210. Our website address is below.
Thanks again, Carolyn “Jo” Gower, Prayer Coordinator
www.ourchurch.com/member/j/jogopray/
jogopray@gmail.com
www.ourchurch.com/member/j/jogopray/
jogopray@gmail.com
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thoughts about Fasting...
Usually the purpose of fasting that we think about is giving up food or other good things for something better----for a spiritual reason...drawing closer to God and his will for our lives.
But what about another view of fasting? Would this be possible?
What if "fasting" {dependence} on God became such a part of my life that even though I would be fulfilling my duties; walking daily through life, I would be doing it in a "detached" way? Just as Paul said in the scriptures…"Everything is lawful… but I will not be bound by anything". I Cor. 6:12
What if I could have an attitude of "attachment" to the things of God and a "detachment" to the things of the world? Could I become so attached to Jesus that all strongholds would end and I could walk in victory?
Fasting represents the attitude of detachment from the things of time and sense. Prayer represents an attitude of attachment to the things of God and the spiritual world that we can't see with our earthly eyes.
In other words if I could grow in Christ – have the "mind" of Christ and do a great job of fulfilling life's demands but in a "detached" state of mind. A mind ever focused on Christ living in me; guiding me and calming me each step of the day.
By taking every thought captive for Christ I could start trusting God to lead me through each moment of the day. Wouldn't that be the ultimate spiritual formation and growth to be like Christ?
Then I could live in such a way as to have that peace that passes all understanding! I believe it is possible.
It may be that in order to reach that height of growth I have to start with the usual designated time of "fasting & prayer". Through those baby steps, I could proceed to a more in-depth Christian walk. That in-depth walk could gain the “peace that passes all understanding” as a benefit of the normal times of "fasting and prayer".
This ultimately becomes a reality when we totally trust our Lord Jesus Christ every day…every moment.
In pursuit peace and holiness...
-- Jo GowerJoGoPray Ministries"My house shall be called a House of Prayer for All Nations." Mark 11:17; Isaiah 56:7 www.ourchurch.com/member/j/jogopray
But what about another view of fasting? Would this be possible?
What if "fasting" {dependence} on God became such a part of my life that even though I would be fulfilling my duties; walking daily through life, I would be doing it in a "detached" way? Just as Paul said in the scriptures…"Everything is lawful… but I will not be bound by anything". I Cor. 6:12
What if I could have an attitude of "attachment" to the things of God and a "detachment" to the things of the world? Could I become so attached to Jesus that all strongholds would end and I could walk in victory?
Fasting represents the attitude of detachment from the things of time and sense. Prayer represents an attitude of attachment to the things of God and the spiritual world that we can't see with our earthly eyes.
In other words if I could grow in Christ – have the "mind" of Christ and do a great job of fulfilling life's demands but in a "detached" state of mind. A mind ever focused on Christ living in me; guiding me and calming me each step of the day.
By taking every thought captive for Christ I could start trusting God to lead me through each moment of the day. Wouldn't that be the ultimate spiritual formation and growth to be like Christ?
Then I could live in such a way as to have that peace that passes all understanding! I believe it is possible.
It may be that in order to reach that height of growth I have to start with the usual designated time of "fasting & prayer". Through those baby steps, I could proceed to a more in-depth Christian walk. That in-depth walk could gain the “peace that passes all understanding” as a benefit of the normal times of "fasting and prayer".
This ultimately becomes a reality when we totally trust our Lord Jesus Christ every day…every moment.
In pursuit peace and holiness...
-- Jo GowerJoGoPray Ministries"My house shall be called a House of Prayer for All Nations." Mark 11:17; Isaiah 56:7 www.ourchurch.com/member/j/jogopray
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Daily Bible Reading
Hugh & Carolyn "Jo" Gower
PO Box 22
Monroe, La. 71291
www.ourchurch.com/member/j/jogopray
You can start your year of reading the Bible anytime of the year by simply choosing Day one and going from there.
Don't worry if you miss a day just take up where you left off and you will eventually read the entire Bible.
May God bless you in your search of His Word....enjoy this easy way to keep up with your daily Bible reading.
Today's Scripture Reading
Day 1 - Genesis 1-3
Day 2 - Genesis 4-6
Day 3 - Genesis 7-9
Day 4 - Genesis 10-12
Day 5 - Genesis 13-15
Day 6 - Genesis 16-18
Day 7 - Genesis 19-21
Day 8 - Genesis 22-24
Day 9 - Genesis 25-27
Day 10 - Genesis 28-30
Day 11 - Genesis 31-33
Day 12 - Genesis 34-36
Day 13 - Genesis 37-39
Day 14 - Genesis 40-42
Day 15 - Genesis 43-46
Day 16 - Genesis 47-50
Day 17 - Exodus 1-3
Day 18 - Exodus 4-6
Day 19 - Exodus 7-9
Day 20 - Exodus 10-12
Day 21 - Exodus 13-15
Day 22 - Exodus 16-18
Day 23 - Exodus 19-21
Day 24 - Exodus 22-24
Day 25 - Exodus 25-27
Day 26 - Exodus 28-30
Day 27 - Exodus 31-33
Day 28 - Exodus 34-36
Day 29 - Exodus 37-40
Day 30 - Leviticus 1-3
Day 31 - Leviticus 4-6
Day 32 - Leviticus 7-9
Day 33 - Leviticus 10-12
Day 34 - Leviticus 13-15
Day 35 - Leviticus 16-18
Day 36 - Leviticus 19-21
Day 37 - Leviticus 22-24
Day 38 - Leviticus 25-27
Day 39 - Numbers 1-3
Day 40 - Numbers 4-6
Day 41 -Numbers 7-9
Day 42 - Numbers 10-12
Day 43 - Numbers 13-15
Day 44 - Numbers 16-18
Day 45 - Numbers 19-21
Day 46 - Numbers 22-24
Day 47 - Numbers 25-27
Day 48 - Numbers 28-30
Day 49 - Numbers 31-33
Day 50 - Numbers 34-36
Day 51 - Deuteronomy 1-3
Day 52 - Deuteronomy 4-6
Day 53 - Deuteronomy 7-9
Day 54 - Deuteronomy 10-12
Day 55 - Deuteronomy 13-15
Day 56 - Deuteronomy 16-18
Day 57 - Deuteronomy 19-21
Day 58 - Deuteronomy 22-24
Day 59 - Deuteronomy 25-27
Day 60 - Deuteronomy 28-30
Day 61 - Deuteronomy 31-34
Day 62 - Joshua 1-3
Day 63 - Joshua 4-6
Day 64 - Joshua 7-9
Day 65 -Joshua 10-12
Day 66 - Joshua 13-15
Day 67 - Joshua 16-18
Day 68 - Joshua 19-21
Day 69 - Joshua 22-24
Day 70 - Judges 1-3
Day 71 - Judges 4-6
Day 72 - Judges 7-9
Day 73 - Judges 10-12
Day 74 - Judges 13-15
Day 75 - Judges 16-18
Day 76 - Judges 19-21
Day 77 - Ruth 1-4
Day 78 - 1 Samuel 1-3
Day 79 - 1 Samuel 4-6
Day 80 - 1 Samuel 7-9
Day 81 - 1 Samuel 10-12
Day 82 - 1 Samuel 13-15
Day 83 -1 Samuel 16-18
Day 84 - 1 Samuel 19-21
Day 85 - 1 Samuel 22-24
Day 86 - 1 Samuel 25-27
Day 87 - 1 Samuel 28-31
Day 88 - 2 Samuel 1-3
Day 89 - 2 Samuel 4-6
Day 90 - 2 Samuel 7-9
Day 91 - 2 Samuel 10-12
Day 92 - 2 Samuel 13-15
Day 93 - 2 Samuel 16-18
Day 94 - 2 Samuel 19-21
Day 95 - 2 Samuel 22-24
Day 96 - 1 Kings 1-3
Day 97 - 1 Kings 4-6
Day 98 - 1 Kings 7-9
Day 99 - 1 Kings 10-12
Day 100 - 1 Kings 13-15
Day 101 - 1 Kings 16-18
Day 102 - 1 Kings 19-22
Day 103 - 2 Kings 1-3
Day 104 - 2 Kings 4-6
Day 105 - 2 Kings 7-9
Day 106 - 2 Kings 10-12
Day 107 - 2 Kings 13-15
Day 108 - 2 Kings 16-18
Day 109 - 2 Kings 19-21
Day 110 - 2 Kings 22-25
Day 111 - 1 Chronicles 1-6
Day 112 - 1 Chronicles 7-9
Day 113 - 1 Chronicles 10-12
Day 114 - 1 Chronicles 13-15
Day 115 - 1 Chronicles 16-18
Day 116 - 1 Chronicles 19-21
Day 117 - 1 Chronicles 22-25
Day 118 - 1 Chronicles 26-29
Day 119 - 2 Chronicles 1-3
Day 120 - 2 Chronicles 4-6
Day 121 - 2 Chronicles 7-9
Day 122 - 2 Chronicles 10-12
Day 123 - 2 Chronicles 13-15
Day 124 - 2 Chronicles 16-18
Day 125 - 2 Chronicles 19-21
Day 126 - 2 Chronicles 22-24
Day 127 - 2 Chronicles 25-27
Day 128 - 2 Chronicles 28-30
Day 129 - 2 Chronicles 31-33
Day 130 - 2 Chronicles 34-36
Day 131 - Ezra 1-3
Day 132 - Ezra 4-6
Day 133 - Ezra 7-10
Day 134 - Nehemiah 1-3
Day 135 - Nehemiah 4-6
Day 136 - Nehemiah 7-9
Day 137 -Nehemiah 10-13
Day 138 - Esther 1-3
Day 139 - Esther 4-6
Day 140 - Esther 7-10
Day 141 - Job 1-3
Day 142 - Job 4-6
Day 143 -Job 7-9
Day 144 - Job 10-12
Day 145 - Job 13-15
Day 146 - Job 16-18
Day 147 - Job 19-21
Day 148 -Job 22-24
Day 149 - Job 25-27
Day 150 - Job 28-30
Day 151 - Job 31-33
Day 152 -Job 34-36
Day 153 - Job 37-39
Day 154 - Job 40-42
Day 155 - Psalms 1-5
Day 156 - Psalms 6-10
Day 157 - Psalms 11-15
Day 158 - Psalms 16-20
Day 159 - Psalms 21-25
Day 160 - Psalms 26-30
Day 161 - Psalms 31-35
Day 162 - Psalms 36-40
Day 163 - Psalms 41-45
Day 164 - Psalms 46-50
Day 165 - Psalms 51-55
Day 166 - Psalms 56-60
Day 167 - Psalms 61-65
Day 168 - Psalms 66-70
Day 169 - Psalms 71-75
Day 170 - Psalms 76-80
Day 171 - Psalms 81-85
Day 172 - Psalms 86-90
Day 173 - Psalms 91-95
Day 174 - Psalms 96-100
Day 175 - Psalms 101-105
Day 176 - Psalms 106-110
Day 177 - Psalms 111-115
Day 178 - Psalms 116-120
Day 179 - Psalms 121-125
Day 180 - Psalms 126-130
Day 181 - Psalms 131-135
Day 182 - Psalms 136-140
Day 183 - Psalms 141-145
Day 184 - Psalms 146-150
Day 185 - Proverbs 1-3
Day 186 - Proverbs 4-6
Day 187 - Proverbs 7-9
Day 188 - Proverbs 10-12
Day 189 - Proverbs 13-15
Day 190 - Proverbs 16-18
Day 191 - Proverbs 19-21
Day 192 - Proverbs 22-24
Day 193 - Proverbs 25-27
Day 194 - Proverbs 28-31
Day 195 - Ecclesiastes 1-3
Day 196 - Ecclesiastes 4-6
Day 197 - Ecclesiastes 7-9
Day 198 - Ecclesiastes 10-12
Day 199 - Song of Songs 1-4
Day 200 - Song of Songs 5-8
Day 201 - Isaiah 1-3
Day 202 - Isaiah 4-6
Day 203 - Isaiah 7-9
Day 204 - Isaiah 10-12
Day 205 - Isaiah 13-15
Day 206 - Isaiah 16-18
Day 207 - Isaiah 19-21
Day 208 - Isaiah 22-24
Day 209 - Isaiah 25-27
Day 210 - Isaiah 28-30
Day 211 - Isaiah 31-33
Day 212 - Isaiah 34-36
Day 213 - Isaiah 37-39
Day 214 - Isaiah 40-42
Day 215 - Isaiah 43-45
Day 216 - Isaiah 46-48
Day 217 - Isaiah 49-51
Day 218 - Isaiah 52-54
Day 219 - Isaiah 55-57
Day 220 - Isaiah 58-60
Day 221 - Isaiah 61-63
Day 222 - Isaiah 64-66
Day 223 - Jeremiah 1-3
Day 224 - Jeremiah 4-6
Day 225 - Jeremiah 7-9
Day 226 - Jeremiah 10-12
Day 227 - Jeremiah 13-15
Day 228 - Jeremiah 16-18
Day 229 - Jeremiah 19-21
Day 230 - Jeremiah 22-24
Day 231 - Jeremiah 25-27
Day 232 - Jeremiah 28-30
Day 233 - Jeremiah 31-33
Day 234 - Jeremiah 34-36
Day 235 - Jeremiah 37-39
Day 236 - Jeremiah 40-42
Day 237 - Jeremiah 43-45
Day 238 - Jeremiah 46-48
Day 239 - Jeremiah 49-52
Day 240 - Lamentations 1-3
Day 241 - Lamentations 4-5
Day 242 - Ezekiel 1-3
Day 243 - Ezekiel 4-6
Day 244 - Ezekiel 7-9
Day 245 - Ezekiel 10-12
Day 246 - Ezekiel 13-15
Day 247 - Ezekiel 16-18
Day 248 - Ezekiel 19-21
Day 249 - Ezekiel 22-24
Day 250 - Ezekiel 25-27
Day 251 - Ezekiel 28-30
Day 252 - Ezekiel 31-33
Day 253 - Ezekiel 34-36
Day 254 - Ezekiel 37-40
Day 255 - Ezekiel 41-44
Day 256 - Ezekiel 45-48
Day 257 - Daniel 1-3
Day 258 - Daniel 4-6
Day 259 - Daniel 7-9
Day 260 - Daniel 10-12
Day 261 - Hosea 1-3
Day 262 - Hosea 4-6
Day 263 - Hosea 7-10
Day 264 - Hosea 11-14
Day 265 - Joel 1-3
Day 266 - Amos 1-3
Day 267 - Amos 4-6
Day 268 - Amos 7-9
Day 269 - Obadiah
Day 270 - Jonah 1-4
Day 271 - Micah 1-3
Day 272 - Micah 4-7
Day 273 - Nahum 1-3
Day 274 - Habakkuk 1-3
Day 275 - Zephaniah 1-3
Day 276 - Haggai 1-2
Day 277 - Zechariah 1-3
Day 278 - Zechariah 4-6
Day 279 - Zechariah 7-10
Day 280 - Zechariah 11-14
Day 281 - Malachi 1-2
Day 282 - Malachi 3-4
Day 283 - Matthew 1-3
Day 284 - Matthew 4-6
Day 285 - Matthew 7-9
Day 286 - Matthew 10-12
Day 287 - Matthew 13-15
Day 288 - Matthew 16-18
Day 289 - Matthew 19-21
Day 290 - Matthew 22-24
Day 291 - Matthew 25-28
Day 292 - Mark 1-3
Day 293 - Mark 4-6
Day 294 - Mark 7-9
Day 295 - Mark 10-12
Day 296 - Mark 13-16
Day 297 - Luke 1-3
Day 298 - Luke 4-6
Day 299 - Luke 7-9
Day 300 - Luke 10-12
Day 301 - Luke 13-15
Day 302 - Luke 16-18
Day 303 - Luke 19-21
Day 304 - Luke 22-24
Day 305 - John 1-3
Day 306 - John 4-6
Day 307 - John 7-9
Day 308 - John 10-12
Day 309 - John 13-15
Day 310 - John 16-18
Day 311 - John 19-21
Day 312 - Acts 1-3
Day 313 - Acts 4-6
Day 314 - Acts 7-9
Day 315 - Acts 10-12
Day 316 - Acts 13-15
Day 317 - Acts 16-18
Day 318 - Acts 19-21
Day 319 - Acts 22-24
Day 320 - Acts 25-28
Day 321 - Romans 1-3
Day 322 - Romans 4-6
Day 323 - Romans 7-9
Day 324 - Romans 10-12
Day 325 -Romans 13-16
Day 326 - 1 Corinthians 1-3
Day 327 - 1 Corinthians 4-6
Day 328 - 1 Corinthians 7-9
Day 329 - 1 Corinthians 10-12
Day 330 - 1 Corinthians 13-16
Day 331 - 2 Corinthians 1-3
Day 332 - 2 Corinthians 4-6
Day 333 - 2 Corinthians 7-9
Day 334 - 2 Corinthians 10-13
Day 335 - Galatians 1-3
Day 336 - Galatians 4-6
Day 337 - Ephesians 1-3
Day 338 - Ephesians 4-6
Day 339 - Philippians 1-4
Day 340 - Colossians 1-4
Day 341 - 1 Thessalonians 1-5
Day 342 - 2 Thessalonians 1-3
Day 343 - 1 Timothy 1-3
Day 344 - 1 Timothy 4-6
Day 345 - 2 Timothy 1-4
Day 346 - Titus 1-3
Day 347 - Philemon
Day 348 - Hebrews 1-3
Day 349 - Hebrews 4-6
Day 350 - Hebrews 7-9
Day 351 - Hebrews 10-13
Day 352 - James 1-3
Day 353 - James 4-5
Day 354 - 1 Peter 1-5
Day 355 - 2 Peter 1-3
Day 356 - 1 John 1-3
Day 357 - 1 John 4-5
Day 358 - 2 John, 3 John, and Jude
Day 359 - Revelation 1-3
Day 360 -Revelation 4-6
Day 361 - Revelation 7-9
Day 362 - Revelation 10-12
Day 363 - Revelation 13-15
Day 364 - Revelation 16-18
Day 365 - Revelation 19-22
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Let’s Be Persistent in Prayer
We want to obey God:
1. Obedient to the Father – Phil. 2:8-10
2. In unity with the Father – John 17:9-ff
3. Jesus’ prayer life was a “lifestyle”; authorized to do the Fathers’ will.
a. Matt. 17:21; Luke 6:12
b. 1Thess. 5:17
c. Luke 11:1-ff
d. Luke 18:1
e. Luke 21:36
f. Luke 22:40-ff
O Lord God, I beseech you to give World Radio, both now and at all times, speakers and teachers after your own heart, {Psalm 119:2} those who shall bring the sheep of Christ into his fold, and feed them with saving knowledge and understanding from your Word.
Make every preacher of your Word know and always remember that he who plants is nothing, nor he who waters, but you are all in all, who alone can give the increase.
Let none of them vainly depend on their skill and ability to do any good and obtain any success by their preaching on the radio, but let them all humbly look to you for grace and help that will enable them to dispense the Word of Life. May your blessing render their preaching happily successful to the souls of those who hear them? Amen
Adapted from a prayer of August Hermann Francke (1725)
What Prayer Guide would Jesus give us today?
Are you aware that the Bible mentions prayer more than 870 times – more than baptism, the Holy Spirit, heaven, worship, the church, and the Lord’s Supper? There seems to be a pattern of prayer in the Bible that should get our attention regarding our relationship with the Father. We are to communicate often with Him by reading His Word and through prayer. Prayer is not “saying prayers” but rather prayer becomes as natural as breathing as we draw closer to God. Jesus said “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (John 12:32 NIV)
Therefore “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart…” (Heb. 10:22a NIV)
Did you know that your Bible chronicles some 650 prayers and records answers to 450 of them? The Bible also records 10 major lessons on prayer by Jesus himself during His ministry. His disciples considered prayer training a must; as we see in this passage of scripture: “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." (Luke 11:1 NIV)
Scripture doesn’t record the disciples ever asking Jesus to teach them to preach or teach them to heal or even raise the dead but they did ask Jesus to teach them to pray. So how important is it to learn how to effectively pray? It could make the difference in how many we take to heaven with us.
The following is just a suggested prayer guide from the scripture.
1. Pray for your enemies. Matthew 5:43-44 Luke 6:27-28
(Matthew 5:43-44 NIV) "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' {44} But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"
2. Pray in sincerity. Matthew 6:5-8
(Matthew 6:5-8 NIV) "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. {6} But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. {7} And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. {8} Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
3. The Model Prayer. Matthew 6:9-15 Luke 11:1-4
(Mat 6:9-15 NIV) ""This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, {10} your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. {11} Give us today our daily bread. {12} Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. {13} And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' {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 sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
4. Ask and it shall be given. Matthew 7:7-12 I John 5:13-15 Luke 11:5-13
(Mat 7:7-12 NIV) ""Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. {8} For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. {9} "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? {10} Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? {11} If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! {12} So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
(I John 5:13-15 NIV) “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. {14}This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. {15} And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.”
5. Ask for workers Matthew 9:35-38 Luke 10:1-2
(Mat 9:35-38 NIV) "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. {36} When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. {37} Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. {38} Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."”
6. Pray as a group in unity, it can make a difference in eternity. Matthew 18:18-20
(Mat 18:18-20 NIV) ""I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. {19} "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. {20} For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.""
7. Pray for all nations. Mark 11:15-17 Matthew 21:12-13 Luke 19:45-46
(Mark 11:15-17 NIV) "On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, {16} and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. {17} "And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"" (Mark 11:17 NIV)
8. Always pray and don’t give up Luke 18:1-8
(Luke 18:1-8 NIV) "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. {2} He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. {3} And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' {4} "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, {5} yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" {6} And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. {7} And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? {8} I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?""
9. Humble yourself before the Lord. Luke 18:9-14
(Luke 18:9-14 NIV) "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: {10} "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. {11} The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. {12} I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' {13} "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' {14} "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.""
10. Prayer must be a way of life in order to be effective. Mark 9:28-29
(Mark 9:28-29 NIV) "After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" {29} He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.""
(John 15:7 NIV) "If you What Prayer Guide would Jesus give us today?
11. Believe, don’t doubt and forgive. Mark 11:20-25 Matthew 21:18-22
(Mark 11:20-25 NIV) "In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. {21} Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" {22} "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. {23} "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. {24} Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. {25} And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.""
12. Live a moral life and pray to the point. Mark 12:38-40 Luke 20:47
(Mark 12:38-40 NIV) "As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, {39} and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. {40} They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.""
13. Pray in Jesus name, obey His commands. John 14:13-14; v 15; 15:7; 15:16; 16:23-27
(John 14:13-15 NIV) "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. {14} You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. {15} "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 16:23-27 NIV) "In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. {24} Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. {25} "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. {26} In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. {27} No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."
14. Pray to overcome temptation. Luke 22:31
(Luke 22:31-32 NIV) ""Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. {32} But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.""
15. God is seeking true worshippers. Psalm 95:6 John 4:23
(Psalm 95:6) “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
(John 4:23) “…True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
The above prayer guide is just a beginning of the kind of prayer guide that Jesus might give us today. According to the author of Hebrews, Jesus exhibited fervent praying; “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears.” (Hebrews 5:7)
How is the church doing today regarding fervent prayer? How are you doing in your personal prayer life? If you need more encouragement on how to pray or why pray see this website: http://www.calhounchurch.org/ and click on The School of Prayer and/or The College of Prayer for more help on the subject of prayer.
Therefore “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart…” (Heb. 10:22a NIV)
Did you know that your Bible chronicles some 650 prayers and records answers to 450 of them? The Bible also records 10 major lessons on prayer by Jesus himself during His ministry. His disciples considered prayer training a must; as we see in this passage of scripture: “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." (Luke 11:1 NIV)
Scripture doesn’t record the disciples ever asking Jesus to teach them to preach or teach them to heal or even raise the dead but they did ask Jesus to teach them to pray. So how important is it to learn how to effectively pray? It could make the difference in how many we take to heaven with us.
The following is just a suggested prayer guide from the scripture.
1. Pray for your enemies. Matthew 5:43-44 Luke 6:27-28
(Matthew 5:43-44 NIV) "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' {44} But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"
2. Pray in sincerity. Matthew 6:5-8
(Matthew 6:5-8 NIV) "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. {6} But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. {7} And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. {8} Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
3. The Model Prayer. Matthew 6:9-15 Luke 11:1-4
(Mat 6:9-15 NIV) ""This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, {10} your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. {11} Give us today our daily bread. {12} Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. {13} And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' {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 sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
4. Ask and it shall be given. Matthew 7:7-12 I John 5:13-15 Luke 11:5-13
(Mat 7:7-12 NIV) ""Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. {8} For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. {9} "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? {10} Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? {11} If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! {12} So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
(I John 5:13-15 NIV) “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. {14}This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. {15} And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.”
5. Ask for workers Matthew 9:35-38 Luke 10:1-2
(Mat 9:35-38 NIV) "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. {36} When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. {37} Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. {38} Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."”
6. Pray as a group in unity, it can make a difference in eternity. Matthew 18:18-20
(Mat 18:18-20 NIV) ""I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. {19} "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. {20} For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.""
7. Pray for all nations. Mark 11:15-17 Matthew 21:12-13 Luke 19:45-46
(Mark 11:15-17 NIV) "On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, {16} and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. {17} "And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"" (Mark 11:17 NIV)
8. Always pray and don’t give up Luke 18:1-8
(Luke 18:1-8 NIV) "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. {2} He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. {3} And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' {4} "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, {5} yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" {6} And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. {7} And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? {8} I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?""
9. Humble yourself before the Lord. Luke 18:9-14
(Luke 18:9-14 NIV) "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: {10} "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. {11} The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. {12} I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' {13} "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' {14} "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.""
10. Prayer must be a way of life in order to be effective. Mark 9:28-29
(Mark 9:28-29 NIV) "After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" {29} He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.""
(John 15:7 NIV) "If you What Prayer Guide would Jesus give us today?
11. Believe, don’t doubt and forgive. Mark 11:20-25 Matthew 21:18-22
(Mark 11:20-25 NIV) "In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. {21} Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" {22} "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. {23} "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. {24} Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. {25} And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.""
12. Live a moral life and pray to the point. Mark 12:38-40 Luke 20:47
(Mark 12:38-40 NIV) "As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, {39} and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. {40} They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.""
13. Pray in Jesus name, obey His commands. John 14:13-14; v 15; 15:7; 15:16; 16:23-27
(John 14:13-15 NIV) "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. {14} You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. {15} "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 16:23-27 NIV) "In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. {24} Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. {25} "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. {26} In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. {27} No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."
14. Pray to overcome temptation. Luke 22:31
(Luke 22:31-32 NIV) ""Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. {32} But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.""
15. God is seeking true worshippers. Psalm 95:6 John 4:23
(Psalm 95:6) “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
(John 4:23) “…True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
The above prayer guide is just a beginning of the kind of prayer guide that Jesus might give us today. According to the author of Hebrews, Jesus exhibited fervent praying; “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears.” (Hebrews 5:7)
How is the church doing today regarding fervent prayer? How are you doing in your personal prayer life? If you need more encouragement on how to pray or why pray see this website: http://www.calhounchurch.org/ and click on The School of Prayer and/or The College of Prayer for more help on the subject of prayer.
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