prayer – Page 2 – herbcotton.org

Why I Believe In Praying Continuously

Text:

Jeremiah 30:18-22 (NLT)

18 This is what the LORD says: “When I bring Israel home again from captivity and restore their fortunes, Jerusalem will be rebuilt on its ruins, and the palace reconstructed as before.

19 There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving, and I will multiply my people, not diminish them; I will honor them, not despise them.

20 Their children will prosper as they did long ago. I will establish them as a nation before me, and I will punish anyone who hurts them.

21 They will have their own ruler again, and he will come from their own people. I will invite him to approach me,” says the LORD, “for who would dare to come unless invited?

22 You will be my people, and I will be your God.”

Observation:

When we pray we are having a conversation with God. Why do we need to pray? Where should our focus be when we pray; on me, or on God? Is my focus on telling God my needs, or is my desire to be near, and in close communion with the one who knows my needs, and is able to provide for all of my needs?

When I want to know God’s will, and what I should do, I want to know what the LORD has to say. Notice what Jesus says, and what Jesus did.

Mark 1:35 (NLT)

35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

Jesus sought communion, communication, and closeness with His heavenly Father; not just on this occasion, but always.

Jesus by His life and death has purchased for you the right to become the people of God.

Jeremiah 30:22 (NLT)

22 You will be my people, and I will be your God.”

We have the privilege of direct access to God through prayer. Let’s exercise our privilege to pray.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I pray that You would birth in Your people a burning desire to follow the example of Jesus in praying always, and value above everything else the value of living in close, and constant communion with You.

“Thou my everlasting portion,

More than friend or life to me,

All along my pilgrim journey,

Savior, let me walk with Thee.

Refrain 1:

Close to Thee, close to Thee,

Close to Thee, close to Thee;

All along my pilgrim journey,

Savior, let me walk with Thee.”

Father, thank You for the lyrics of this wonderful hymn by Fanny Crosby; Close to Thee. Father, this Word from You today convinces me that my greatest need is for more of Jesus, and less of me. So, Savior, let me walk with Thee. When I am with You, and You with me, I can say that all is well. Father, let it be our practice to pray always, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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Do You Believe God Works?

Text:

Luke 9:37-42 (ESV)

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.

38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him.

40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

41 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

Observation:

In our focal passage for today we are presented with two truths that grip my heart.

The first is that we can’t but God can. We don’t know who the disciples were that could not help the son of the man who made his appeal to Jesus after the disciples of Jesus could not help the child.

But, the second thing that we see from this passage is that nothing is impossible when we put it in the hands of the Lord.

There is something that encourages my heart as I read, and reflect upon this passage. Jesus has provided the way for those of us who are His disciples to be His extended heart and hand in the healing and helping ministry.

There is something that we can do with every problem we face in this world. We can take it to the Lord in prayer. The key is to have faith in God.

Luke 9:41 (ESV)

41 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, Oh how sweet it is to live in Your presence; to know You, and to know Your power.

Father, we pray that You will never have an occasion to look at us, and say, “O faithless and twisted generation”. Father, I pray that You would grant us the grace gift of sufficient faith in You so that we would be faithful to You all of the days of our life.

Father, make us mighty men and women of faith who have a pray first attitude; a people who are devoted to prayer. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Do You Have A Solid Foundation?

Text:

Psalm 61:1-4 (ESV)

1 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;

2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,

3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

4 Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah

Observation:

David expresses his deep seated need to be heard; to have God listen to his cry for help.

It is comforting to know that no matter how much distance seems to separate you from God, you are never too far away that God cannot see you, and hear your cry.

Psalm 34:15 (ESV)

15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

Notice that David was feeling very low when he cried out to the Lord. You are never too low for God to reach down, and pick you up.

Psalm 61:2 (KJV)

2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

When I feel overwhelmed by the troubles of living in the world, the words of this song rises from my heart to my mouth, and I lean on the solid rock.

“On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;

all other ground is sinking sand,

all other ground is sinking sand.”

Have you learned to lean on Jesus? The Lord will never let you fall; He will never let you down.

“What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

Leaning on the everlasting arms?

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.”

Prayer:

Father God, I am so grateful for Your abiding presence in the lives of Your people.

Father, we are so grateful that we can trust in You with our whole heart, and know with full assurance that You will never let us down. Father, we stand in faith on the promises of Your Word.

Jude 1:24-25 (KJV)

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

How to Get Answers to Prayer?

Text:

Mark 11:22-23 (ESV)

22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Observation:

The answer to fear is faith in God. I woke up this morning with the Lord on my mind, and the needs that so many people have in their lives. Some of those people have asked for prayer.

God began to speak into my heart, and He led me to the passage that is our text for today. Jesus teaches His followers some important things about prayer, and getting answers to prayer.

Jesus gives the first principle of prayer, and it is this, “Have faith in God”. The object of faith is God himself. The most important thing is not your faith, but the object of your faith. It’s not the quantity of your faith that determines the results, it is God who gives the results.

Faith has no power in itself, but if the object of your faith is God, there is nothing that is impossible for Him.

Faith requires that you know the object of your faith. Do you know the God to whom you are praying? The more you know God, the more you believe in Him.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Do you believe in God? Do you believe that He is sovereign, and that nothing is impossible for Him? If so, then go to Him in prayer, and tell Him all about your problems. Give your problems to Him, and leave them with Him.

My heart is singing this hymn:

“Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

? Refrain:

? Leave it there, leave it there,

? Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;

? If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out—

? Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Prayer:

Father God, I am so thankful for the privilege of prayer, and to know the God who hears, and answers prayer.

Father, I pray that each of us will be willing to bow the knee, look up to You, and take all of our burdens to you in prayer, and leave them in Your capable hands. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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.

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Why I Need More of These Two Attributes?

Text:

Mark 6:34 (ESV)

34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Mark 6:46 (ESV)

46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

Observation:

The two attributes that I desire to have more of in my life are the two things that Jesus did during His earthly ministry. They are found in our focal passage for today.

Jesus had compassion for people.
Jesus spent time alone with God in prayer.

1 Peter 2:21 (ESV)

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

The hymn writer captures my heart’s desire to have more of Jesus, and to be more like Him every day.

“More about Jesus, in His Word,

Holding communion with my Lord;

Hearing His voice in every line,

Making each faithful saying mine.”

The Psalmist encourages our hearts with these words of faith and hope from David; a man after God’s heart.

Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV)

4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, we are so grateful for the example of the words, and actions of Jesus that speaks into our hearts, and gives us hope, and strengthens our faith. Father, help us to be more like Jesus every day. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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How to Turn A Day of Trouble Into Triumph?

Text:

Psalm 20:1-4 (HCSB)

1 May Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.

2 May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.

3 May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering.Selah

4 May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.

Observation:

As I read the Psalms it is easy to detect that David was a man of God, and a man of prayer. In our focal passage we see him, and his men in a posture of prayer before going out to battle.

The key for David in facing his troubles was the name of the Lord. Notice what he wrote in the first sentence of the Psalm, “May Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble”.

There is nothing more effective than starting our day with prayer to the Lord. He is willing to help you, and able to help you. There are three keys that I see to victory in overcoming our troubles.

David came to the Lord with an attitude of gratitude; with praise, and thanksgiving on his lips.

It was sacred.
It was sincere.
It was sacrificial.

We don’t have to carry the burdens that we face on our shoulders alone. We can take our burdens, and troubles to the Lord, and offer up to Him our praise, thanksgiving, and our troubles. The Lord invites us to do that.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (HCSB)

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,

7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

We can turn our troubles into triumph when we trust in the Lord, and give Him our troubles. The God I serve hears and answers prayers.

Psalm 20:4 (HCSB)

4 May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your most holy and righteous name. Father, thank You for the privilege of coming to You in prayer, and thank You for the provisions that we receive when we live in Your presence, and walk in your ways.

O the blessing of being called by You, “My beloved”. We praise You, and thank You for answered prayer. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

—

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What is the Most Dangerous Weapon in the Hands of Man?

Text:

James 3:5-8 (ESV)

5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,

8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Observation:

The most common answer to the question asked in the title is nuclear weapons; especially in the hands of people with evil desires to kill and destroy innocent people.

However, our focal passage for today describes a weapon that has destroyed more lives than all the wars of the world. It is the tongue, and we all have one.

In my reading today, I read Psalm 5. In this Psalm David talks about the enemies he was facing, and he knew that they could destroy him, but he also knew that God could deliver him.

In times like these there is great profit in looking to the Psalms for encouragement.

Are you a child of God? Then why not turn to the Lord in prayer, and put your troubles, and worries in His hand. David turned to the Lord in prayer.

Psalm 5:1-3 (ESV)

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.

2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.

3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Prayer:

Father, we love and adore You. Father, if we ever needed You, we sure do need You now. Father, we associate ourselves with David in the final words of his lament before You.

Psalm 5:11-12 (ESV)

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Father, we look to You for protections and deliverance. Father, we rejoice not in winning, but we rejoice in You. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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Do You Love the Lord?

Text:

Psalm 116:1-4 (ESV)
1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.

2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”

Observation:

In this Psalm the Psalmist expresses the faith and the confidence that every child of God can identify with who has put their trust in the Lord. In this Psalm he indicates that he could not trust in himself, and that he could not trust in others.

Psalm 116:3 (ESV)
3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.

Psalm 116:11 (ESV)
11 I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.”

Have you ever felt like the Psalmist in his view about himself and others? Yes, life is hard down here. However, in the midst of all that the Psalmist experienced in his life, he never lost hope because he trusted in the Lord. He found hope and help by trusting in God, and calling upon the Lord in prayer.

It is comforting to the heart and uplifting to the soul to know that there is a God in heaven who hears and answers prayer. I join the Psalmist, and agree that the Lord is faithful.

Psalm 116:1 (ESV)
1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.

In view of the Lord’s faithfulness and His unconditional love, I will remember to call upon His name in prayer, and take everything to the Lord in prayer. I am so glad that I serve a God in whom I can trust.

Psalm 116:2 (ESV)
2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

Prayers don’t have to be long to be effective; this is the prayer of the psalmist.

Psalm 116:4 (ESV)
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”

Prayer:

Father, I exalt Your name, and delight to give praise to You and for You because You are God all by yourself. Father, there is none like You.

Father, we are blessed to enter Your throne room, and have an audience with our maker and redeemer.

Father, I have experienced Your love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Father, I have had more instances than I can count of receiving answers to prayers for others, and myself. With a grateful heart I say, thank You Lord for all of our blessings. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Who Will Deliver Us From Our Problems

Text:

Malachi 4:4-6 (HCSB)

4 “Remember the instruction of Moses My servant, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

5 Look, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome Day of the LORD comes.

6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to ?their? children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Observation:

If there ever was a time we needed leadership in this world, we surely need it now.

To whom are you looking for deliverance? May I recommend you to look to Jesus, the Messiah of God.

John 1:1-4 (HCSB)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.

4 Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men.

John 1:14 (HCSB)

14 The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

If not Jesus, then to whom shall we look? Pause for a moment, and think about that.

There are two leap off the page, and into my heart moments that I experienced when I read our text today.

The first is “look” in verse five, and the second is this verse.

Malachi 4:6 (HCSB)

6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to ?their? children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Oh, how all of God’s people need to look to the Word of God, and to look to God in constant and fervent prayer.

Psalm 119:16 (HCSB)

16 I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

James 5:17 (HCSB)

17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land.

The most effective way to change hearts and minds is to give instruction in the Word of God, and for God’s people to pray the Word.

Hebrews 4:12 (HCSB)

12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.

Psalm 138:3 (HCSB)

3 On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me.

Prayer:

Father, I adore you, and give you the highest praise my soul can muster. Praise God!

Father, I ask that you would birth in your people a hunger and thirst for the Word of God, and prayer. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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What Will It Take To Prevail?

Text:

Proverbs 19:19-21 (HCSB)

19 A person with great anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life.

21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the LORD’s decree will prevail.

Observation:

The events of the last 48 hours no doubt shapes what is on my heart this morning as I sat to write today’s devotional. It is also tempered by the news I received about 3 hours ago in a phone call from a life long friend that his wife had died peacefully at home after a long illness. I offered words of comfort to my friend, and I prayed for him.

Then, I listened to a devotional on our text for this morning before getting our of bed. As I read and examine this passage, the leap off the page message I take away is this, “But the LORD’s decree will prevail”.

I went to bed last night with the image of our nation on my mind. I received a text message this morning from a friend, with the same name of my childhood friend who’s wife died this morning, that he was praying for our nation. I responded to him, so am I.

I’m dealing with and seeking a Word from the Lord on what will it take to prevail; to succeed.

Proverbs 15:22 (HCSB)

22 Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

This I know, and if you agree, I ask that you join with me in praying for our nation to find success in the counsel of one another. That is needful, but there is something that we need more than the counsel of people; we need the prescription of God for times like these.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

What will succeed? Will protest or prayer? Will riots or revival? Will more laws or more love?

Prayer:

Father God, I pray that your people, the children of God, will humble themselves, pray, seek your face, and turn from their wicked ways.

Father, I pray that each of us will do like the evangelist of another century preached, “Draw a circle on the floor, stand in that circle, and pray for revival for the person that is standing in the circle”.

Father, I’m standing in the circle and praying for revival to fall down on me. Who will join me? In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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