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The Word of God says:

John 3:8 (NASB)
⁸ “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

My reflections on the Word of God:

Yesterday was a very interesting day here in Maui. We got to see this illustration that Jesus used to describe the new birth played out all day and all night long. I have never seen the wind blow like this for such an extended period of time. To top it off, the church that we attended last night, the pastor led a study on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Then when we got home last night, a man greeted us as we entered the condo and said, “I hope the weather man is wrong, he said that the wind will be blowing like this for the remainder of the week”.

I had this scripture in my mind as I got up this morning, and begin to think about what scripture on prayer that would be our focal passage for today. Although the above scripture is not about prayer, it prompted me to think about the roles of the triune God in prayer.

Matthew 6:6 (NASB)
⁶ “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Romans 8:34 (NASB)
³⁴ who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

In the above verses we see the role of God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, and how they are involved in prayer. The believer prays to the Father, the Holy Spirit is our helper in prayer, and Jesus is the reason that we have access to the Father. Also, both the Holy Spirit and Jesus are interceding for us when we pray. Now that is what I would say is a powerful prayer meeting. Let’s follow the example of Jesus and pray.

Matthew 14:23 (NASB)
²³ After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I thank You for the privilege of being able to come to You in prayer. I feel strength in knowing that the Holy Spirit who lives in me, and Jesus who is at Your right hand, are interceding for me.

Lord, I have been living in the Psalms recently, and I have been using the words of the Psalms to give voice to my prayers.

So, I join the Psalmist in saying, “God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause Your face to shine upon us, That Your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations”.

Psalm 67:3 (NASB)
³ Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.

All Praises to Our Redeeming Lord (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://www.biblestudycharts.com/SH_All_Praise_to_Our_Redeeming_Lord.html

The Word of God says:

Proverbs 15:8 (NASB)
⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

My reflections on the Word of God:

One of the amazing things about prayer is that the Sovereign God of creation and who rules and reigns over His entire creation has delight in having fellowship with people like you and me. How inspiring it is to know that the prayers of His righteous ones are His delight.

I am moved beyond measure when I consider the Word of God which says, “But the prayer of the upright is His delight”.

It is no wonder that Jesus taught His disciples to follow His example by seeking refuge in a solitary place where they could be alone with God. When we follow the example of Jesus, and the disciples, we will find like they found, that the Father will be waiting to meet us, to have fellowship with us, and that He will find delight in our prayers.

1 Chronicles 29:17 (NASB)
¹⁷ “Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You.

Proverbs 15:29 (NASB)
²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

O Lord, my God, how wonderful is Thy name, and how exalted You are above every name on earth and in heaven.

Father God, the Psalmist captured the words that I want to say to You when He wrote, “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth”.

Lord God Almighty, how wonderful it is to know that You delight in the prayers of Your righteous ones. Father, I thank You for sending Jesus into the world because it is only through Him that I can come before You as one who is righteous in Your eyes.

Lord, my soul trusts in You. Please Lord, be merciful to me. In God alone, I have put my trust.

I’ve Found A Friend (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://www.biblestudycharts.com/SH_Ive_Found_A_Friend.html

The Word of God says:

Mark 1:35 (ESV)
³⁵ And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Today we revisit this passage to consider another reason why Jesus found it necessary for Him to pray. Yesterday I got some feedback about the place that Jesus selected to pray. I used a different version for the focal verse yesterday so the responder use the word “secluded place”.

Mark 1:35 (NASB)
³⁵ In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

Mark 6:30-31 (NASB)
³⁰ The apostles gathered* together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.
³¹ And He said* to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)

The responder also cited the above listed verse to point out that Jesus admonished them to come and follow Him to a secluded place.

The secluded place provides a time to get away from the press of the crowd. In the first instance Jesus found the need to get alone by Himself for a time to be alone with His Father in heaven. In the second instance it was a time for Him to be alone with His disciples. He needed to have quiet time and they needed to have quiet time away from the crowd.

Now, we come to the examination of another reason why Jesus needed time alone to pray. There was always the temptation that people would follow Jesus for the wrong motive. He wanted there loyalty for the right reason. He did not want people to follow Him only for what they could get out of it. He did not want them to follow Him for the miracles that He performed. Earlier He had dealt with the temptation that comes from using the spectacular to secure the praise and loyalty of men.

Matthew 4:5-7 (NIV)
⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Jesus found great value in going away to a place where He could be away from the crowd and ponder His purpose, His mission, and His motives. Jesus knew that His disciples would face the same temptations that He faced so He wanted to train them and prepare them well for their mission and ministry in the world. And, indeed we need to examine our motives that we are not tempted by the praise and applause of people for the work that God, by the Holy Spirit, does in and through our lives. Time alone with God can help us to overcome the sin of pride that is always knocking at the door of our heart tempting us to be impressed by the praise and applause of the crowd.

 Regretfully, many gifted servants of God have fallen because they spent too much time listening to the praise and applause of people, and not enough secluded time with the Master.

Yes, Jesus felt the need for the quiet and private place alone with God. And, yes I find the need for that place also.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I thank You for the precious time that I spend away from the noise of the crowd, and alone in the presence of my heavenly Father.

Father God, I pray that these times will be fruitful in helping me to stay grounded with my heart and my loyalty in the right place. Father, keep me near to Your heart.

There Is a Place of Quiet Rest (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php?t=h&n=375

The Word of God says:

Mark 1:35 (NASB)
³⁵ In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Yesterday we looked at this verse, and proposed that one of the reasons why Jesus prayed was because He was tired. That is what long days and the many needs of people will do to your physical body.

Mark 5:30 (NASB)
³⁰ Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?”

If it happened to Jesus, it will happen to you. So, what did Jesus do? Our focal verse says that He went away to a quiet place so that He could pray.

Let’s look at another reason why Jesus prayed, and why His example is one that we should follow. These events took place at the time that Jesus was launching His public ministry. He was preparing to leave His home base to launch a preaching and teaching ministry in another town.

Mark 1:38 (NASB)
³⁸ He said* to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.”

This is a point that we should pay special attention to. Serving others in the name of Jesus is a very demanding, and as we have seen physically draining thing to do. It requires strength, and it requires power that is beyond our human abilities and resources. It requires strength and power that comes from spending time alone with our Father in heaven. That is the power that Jesus sought, and that is the power that we should seek before we go out serving our Lord.

Psalm 5:3 (NASB)
³ In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.

Luke 6:12 (NASB)
¹² It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

O Lord my God, in You I put my trust. Lord, it is to You alone that I seek refuge from the storms of life. Father God, it is to You that I come to find the strength and the power to do the work that you have assigned to my hands to do.

Heavenly Father, as Jesus looked to You in prayer to supply Him with the strength and power He needed to do Your work, I pray that I and all of Your believing people would look to You in prayer to find the strength, the power, and the help that we need to do Your will and Your work in this world.

Anywhere With Jesus (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://www.biblestudycharts.com/SH_Anywhere_with_Jesus.html

The Word of God says:

Mark 1:35 (KJV)
³⁵ And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Last week we ended the week looking at the topic of why we should pray. Today, we take up that subject again by looking to the example of Jesus. When I see how much Jesus depended upon prayer during His earthly ministry, it convinces me of my need to have a vital and effective prayer life.

Our focal verse tells us when Jesus prayed, He prayed early in the morning. He prayed after a long and tiring day. This passage tells us that He got away from the crowds that followed Him by going to a solitary place.

Mark 5:30 (KJV)
³⁰ And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

By this verse we know that Jesus got tired just like you and I get tired. It is noteworthy that one of the primary sources that Jesus received strength from was prayer.

Oh, that God’s people today would realize the strength and power that comes from spending time alone with our heavenly Father in prayer.

If you need a reason to pray, I can think of no better reason than to pray because you want to follow the example of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:7 (NASB)
⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Ephesians 6:18 (NASB)
¹⁸ With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful for the privilege of being able to come to You in prayer.

Father God, I join with the Psalmist in saying, “Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His mercy endures forever.”

Lord, You have been so good to me, and You stand ready to give good gifts to Your children, and You only ask that we come to You in prayer.

Draw Me Nearer (Click on link below for lyrics and midi file):

http://www.digitalhymnal.org/dhymn.cfm?hymnNumber=306

The Word of God says:

Luke 21:36 (KJV)
³⁶ Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

My reflections on the Word of God:

When seeking to answer the question, “Why should I pray”, we find that the bible in many places commands God’s people to pray. Today, I just want to focus on one of those places.

Notice that in our focal verse for today that the bible commands you to pray. The commands of God to His people are always for the benefit of His people.

There is great benefit to God’s people when they obey the command of our Lord to watch and pray. It takes faith in God to watch and pray for the Lord’s return. I read an article earlier this week that said that most people do not expect the Lord to return in their lifetime. They don’t expect the Lord to return because they don’t believe that He will return.

However, those of us who believe in God, and who obey His command to watch and prayer, have the promise that God will see our faith and count us worthy.

Now, get your mind and heart around that blessed truth. The Sovereign God, who has the final say in where you will spend eternity, says that He will count you worthy. Now, does this goodnews make you want to watch and pray for our Lord’s return?

Romans 4:1-3 (KJV)
¹ What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
² For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
³ For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Romans 5:1 (KJV)
¹ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, O Sovereign God, there is none like You, no not one. Lord God Almighty, I bless You from the depths of my soul, all that is within me, I bless Your Most Holy and Righteous Name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and may I and all of Your believing children never forget all of the benefits that You give to Your believing children.

Psalm 103 (Click on link below to watch this video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbHV2TYGVso&feature=related

The Word of God says:

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

John 14:14 (KJV)
¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Today I want to reflect upon one important truth from God’s Word that should instruct us in the matter of prayer. Who we pray to is important.

Our focal verses teach us two important truths about prayer. Our prayers should be to God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus. And, we should come to the Father in the name of Jesus.

The scriptures give us the reason why these truths are so important. There is great danger in praying to gods made of wood, stone, or in the imagination of sinful man. It is natural for man to pray, but it is also natural for man to assimilate the moral character of the objects they worship. I became aware of this truth in a book that I am reading about prayer. Here is the scripture that supports this truth.

Romans 1:22-24 (NIV)
²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

This is the big idea that I wanted to dwell on today. There are many reasons why I believe in and pray to the God of the bible, and what we are reflecting upon today is one of the central reasons. There is a reason why Christians come to God in the name of Jesus. It is become we come in His merit, and not our own. By coming to the Father through Jesus we take on the moral character of the God we worship. When you talk about change, this is the kind of change that I can believe in, and embrace.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
¹⁸ And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus, in the name and in the authority given me by Jesus, I come to Your throne of grace and mercy today.

O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. It is true that my soul silently waits for the God of my salvation.

Lord God, Almighty God, the words of the psalmist fits my needs today. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful not only to me, but to all of Your believing children. Lord, You alone can see our innermost needs, and You alone can hear our faintest cry. Lord, my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these current storms have passed by.

Trouble of the World (Click on link below to watch this video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzd4Xu_cwTo&feature=related

The Word of God says:

John 14:13-14 (KJV)
¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

My reflections on the Word of God:

There is more to praying in the name of Jesus than just invoking these words at the end of our prayers whether they are private or public.

In the preceding verse Jesus indicated that belief was an important element in prayer. Additionally, this is a consistent theme throughout the bible.

John 14:12 (KJV)
¹² Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God the Father, the one to whom Jesus taught that our prayers should be directed, finds the Son to be worthy of His approval, and has given Him all power over things in heaven and earth.

Matthew 3:17 (KJV)
¹⁷ And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 28:18 (KJV)
¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

When we come to God the Father in prayer, we come in Jesus name. We come with His agenda, and not our own. God will do those things that are according to His will.

1 John 5:14 (KJV)
¹⁴ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful for the privilege of prayer and the power of prayer for those who believe in Jesus.

Father God, I am so thankful that we can have confidence that our prayers will be answered when we ask those things that are in accordance with Your will.

There is Power in the Name of Jesus (Click on link below to watch video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK0KQgMLfHE&NR=1

The Word of God says:

John 14:12-14 (KJV)
¹² Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Today we return to our look at selected verses from the bible about the important matter of prayer in the life of God’s people. Yesterday afternoon I found a temporary fix for a problem that I have with my notebook computer. One of the attitudes that I have developed over time is that there is nothing that I face in life that I have to face alone. There is nothing that under girds this attitude more than the words that Jesus said to His disciples in our central passage for today.

Anybody can pray and most people do.  When troubles come into the lives of people they gravitate toward prayer. Many pray to gods that are not the God of the bible. However, the God to whom Jesus refers to in our focal passage is His Father. Let’s look at what Jesus says about God and about himself.

John 14:9-11 (KJV)
⁹ Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
¹⁰ Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Jesus had taught His disciples to pray to the Father in heaven. He had taught them to pray in His name, which is in the name of Jesus. Now, nearing the time of His crucifixion, He tells them that they can pray to Him. The reason is that Jesus and the Father are one.

There is much to say about this passage, but today I just want to pause here and begin to praise and thank God for this wonderful truth that God answers the prayers of His people.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, I give You praise for the wonderful privilege of prayer. There is nothing more faith building than to know that there is a God in heaven who hears and answers the prayers of His people.

Dear Jesus, I praise and I thank You for all that You have done for me. If it were not for You, Jesus, I would not have this access to the Father’s house.

These moments that I spend in prayer are so precious to me. They are precious because of the opportunity that it affords me to be in the presence of my heavenly Father, and Jesus, my Savior and my Lord. I count being in the presence of God more important than any answer to prayer that I may request. Oh how sweet is the time that I spend in prayer with Thee.

Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Sweet Hour of Prayer (Click on link below to watch video of George Beverly Shea singing this hymn):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQE98DDO6e0

The Word of God says:

Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV)
¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
¹⁵ For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

My reflections on the Word of God:

When I speak or write about the subject of prayer there is so many scriptures that I could select. The one that I have chosen for today is one that should give every Christian a great amount of confidence in prayer.

Many Christians find it difficult to pray. Others don’t know how to pray. And still others wonder whether prayer does any good. These questions may not be your questions, if you are a Christian; you have a Savior in heaven that knows your name, and cares about your every need. You can take all your questions and all your needs to God in prayer.

Prayer is communication with God. Every Christian has direct access to God through the means of prayer. Yesterday, our focus was upon the open invitation that God extends to His people to communicate with Him.

Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV)
³ Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

As a child of God your heavenly Father invites you to come boldly to the throne room of God’s Amazing grace. Just think about the implications of this awesome invitation. You and I have the opportunity to have an audience with the creator and Sovereign God of the universe. This is not an invitation for some special day, but it is an invitation to come every day, and every hour. In fact He invites us to make His home our home. His home is a House of Prayer.

And then, there is Jesus, our Savior and our Lord, who is right there at the right hand of our heavenly Father. Now how does that make you feel? I don’t know about you, but it makes me want to bow down on my knees, and say thank You Lord for the privilege of prayer.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise You for Your greatness and Your goodness. Father, I am overwhelmed at the awesome privilege I have to enter the very throne room of Almighty God, and for the privilege of having unlimited and uninterrupted conversation with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Father God, I thank You for Jesus, and for all that He has done for me. Oh, how good it is to know that I belong to Jesus, and that He is my friend.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Version 1 - MIDI and Lyrics - Sacred Hymns - Bible Study Charts.com - Free MIDI Hymns