Tag: #praycontinually

Have You Experienced the Value and Power of Prayer?

Text:

1 Samuel 12:23 (HCSB)

“As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way.

Observation:

One of the saddest experiences in life is to look back at the decisions we make in life and say, “If only.”

O how we underestimate the reach and power of prayer. When we pray for others that is the most we can do for them. We can eliminate the if only in our lives with prayer. The Bible says in 2 Chron 7:14, “If my people would pray.” Let’s depend upon God’s help, and pray always. You are not without help when you pray; you have a helper.

Romans 8:26-27 (ESV)

26  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

27  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

However, there is more. Our Savior, the Lord Jesus, is praying for us in heaven. The writer of Hebrews speaking of Jesus tells of His intercession for God’s children.

Hebrews 7:25 (HCSB)

25  Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

The Apostle Paul was not too proud to ask others to pray for him because he knew the reach and power of prayer. Be humble enough to ask others to pray for you.

Ephesians 6:19 (HCSB)

19  Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.

Prayer:

Father, I am so awed that the triune God-head in heaven, and in us pray for us. Father, I am thankful that in Your wisdom, you have told us to pray for one another. Father, hear us when we pray.

Acts 4:31 (ESV)

31  And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Father, may the power of God fall upon us whenever we unite our hearts and voices in prayer. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
10  And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

How Do You Keep Your Joy?

 

Text:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (HCSB)

16  Rejoice always!

17  Pray constantly.

18  Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Observation:

In times like these how can you stay joyful all the time? Our pastor said in our prayer time yesterday that the word he had on his heart was the word burdens.

The truth is that we all have burdens; your burdens are different from my burdens, but they are just as real.

How do you rejoice always, and give thanks in everything as this passages says in verses sixteen and eighteen?

  • Pray constantly (verse 17).
  • This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (Verse 18b).

When you hear people discount the value of prayer, don’t listen to them.  Turn Your eyes to the Word of God, and listen to what Jesus says about prayer.

Luke 18:1 (HCSB)

1  He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged:

When I have burdens I love to sing, and one of my favorites is this one.

“What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer! ”

Again, turn your eyes to the Word of God, and listen to what Jesus says about the burdens you feel in your life. Why not take them to the Lord in prayer?

Matthew 11:28-29 (HCSB)

28  “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29  All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.

Prayer:

Father, I am so grateful for the privilege we have to spend time continually in Your presence.

Father, the awareness that we are never alone in our walk through this world should give us joy and peace for today, and a bright and shining hope for the future.

Father God, I pray this prayer for all of the readers and the hearers of the Word that You have poured into my heart today.

Romans 15:13 (HCSB)

13  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe ?in Him? so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry