Mark S Mirza's Posts (146)

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CONFLICT

http://markmirza.com/conflict/

There are a lot of ideas on how to address our problematic issues in the USA, namely:

  • Racial Fairness
  • Political Tension
  • Employment Disparities
  • Etc.

From my little perch in Midtown Atlanta, GA, I see the numerous arguments, and the emotional intensity on opposite sides of each issue! They are evident in both the world and the church.

May I give you a simple solution from Scripture?

First, my message here is not for the unsaved. Why? Because spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). The only message I have to the unsaved through all of this is, “Get saved!”

But, what is the message to the Christian, to each of us individually?

It comes from Jesus, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

I think that means:

  • Be obedient unto love, not hate, no matter how different someone’s views or looks are from you. And;
  • Be obedient unto forgiveness, no matter what was done and by whom.

Too simple?

Maybe so, but isn’t that just like God?

PS. Don’t confuse simple with “easy.” It’s not easy. . .which is why we have the Holy Spirit.

I look forward to serving with all y’all.

Blessings,

Mark S Mirza
Common Thread Ministries/Founder
National Day of Prayer/Georgia State Coordinator

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Prayer of the Meek

The Prayer of the Meek by S. I. McMillan MD. (1963)

Lord, keep me from becoming talkative and possessed with the idea that I must express myself on every subject.

Release Me From the craving to straighten out everyone's affairs.

Teach me the Glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.

Make me helpful but not bossy.

With my vast store of wisdom and experience, it does seem a Pity not to use it all--,

But thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the End. Amen.

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Trust

Do you know why we DO NOT seek His will?

Because we DO NOT trust Him to give us our will

(MarkMirza.com)

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Pray All Year - January 10

JANUARY 10

From and 1830's Devo Mark has republished (https://markmirza.com/product/threefold-cord/)

100 Days of Prayer
— Preparing the heart

JANUARY 10
Precept (Principle)
John 15:4a
Abide in Me [Christ.]

Promise (from God)
John 15:7
If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Prayer (to God)
Ephesians 3:17a
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.

TURNING THE ABOVE DAY’S VERSES INTO A PRAYER

Thank You Lord for making salvation so simple a choice. You tell us that when we pray Your will, You give us our request, and we know that You are not willing that any should perish (1 Timothy 2:4) and so You answer our prayer when we ask in faith, trusting You to be our Savior, thru the shed blood of Christ, on the cross…

NOTE: Another way to have prayed these passages would have been to pray about all that we have in Christ, by faith, as we abide in Him, and He in us.

Above, we have taken a Precept and Promise and Prayer and re-written them as a prayer back to the Lord. Try it yourself.

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

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Pray All Year - January 9

JANUARY 9

From and 1830's Devo Mark has republished(https://markmirza.com/product/threefold-cord/)

100 Days of Prayer
— Preparing the heart

JANUARY 09
Precept (Principle)
Ephesians 4:25a
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour.

Promise (from God)
Proverbs 12:19a
The lip of truth shall be established for ever.

Prayer (to God)
Psalm 119:29a
Remove from me the way of lying.

Take each Precept and Promise and Prayer and pray them back to the Lord as one prayer

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

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Pray All Year - January 8

JANUARY 8

From and 1830's Devo Mark has republished(https://markmirza.com/product/threefold-cord/)

100 Days of Prayer
— Preparing the heart

JANUARY 08
Precept (Principle)
Psalm 34:14b
Seek peace, and pursue it.

Promise (from God)
Psalm 85:8
I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

Prayer (to God)
Isaiah 26:12
Lord, Thou wilt ordain peace for us: for Thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

Take each Precept and Promise and Prayer and pray them back to the Lord as one prayer

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

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Pray All Year - January 4

JANUARY 4

From and 1830's Devo Mark has republished(https://markmirza.com/product/threefold-cord/)

100 Days of Prayer
— Preparing the heart

JANUARY 04
Precept (Principle)
2 Peter 3:14m
Be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace.

Promise (from God)
Psalm 125:5e
Peace shall be upon Israel.

Prayer (to God)
Luke 2:29-30
Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: For mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation.

Take each Precept and Promise and Prayer and pray them back to the Lord as one prayer

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

1/4/2019, WHY do you worry?
Here’s a popular 3 minute video of Mark’s on NOT WORRYING:
https://markmirza.com/worry-no-more/

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Pray All Year - January 3

JANUARY 3

(www.MarkMirza.com/PrayAllYear)

100 Days of Prayer
— Preparing the heart

JANUARY 03
Precept (Principle)
Isaiah 26:4
Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

Promise (from God)
Psalm 125:1
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

Prayer (to God)
Psalm 141:8
Mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord: in Thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

Take each Precept and Promise and Prayer and pray them back to the Lord as one prayer

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

1/3/2019, Are you struggling? Do you need strength?
No! You need to trust the God WHO IS strength.
Read this day’s Devo. Do you hear the subtle difference in how we are encouraged to pray about strength?
We DO NOT pray to the God of strength to GIVE US strength. No, we are trusting His strength. We are resting in His strength.
This is a lot more difficult to do than it sounds.

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Pray All Year - January 2

JANUARY 2

From and 1830's Devo Mark has republished(https://markmirza.com/product/threefold-cord/)

100 Days of Prayer
— Preparing the heart

JANUARY 02
Precept (Principle)
Proverbs 4:7b
Get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Promise (from God)
Psalm 89:15
Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance.

Prayer (to God)
2 Chronicles 1:10
Give me now wisdom and knowledge.

Take each Precept and Promise and Prayer and pray them back to the Lord as one prayer

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

1/2/2019, Father, as we begin this year I am reminded of a verse, very near the beginning of the book of Proverbs. Verse 7 of chapter 1 finds your reminder to awe You, for it is the beginning, it’s where we start. Forgive us Lord, for being more like the second half of the verse, “fools who despise wisdom and instruction.” Father, I plead with You for a revival of respecting, awing, and fearing You to return to The Body of Christ. . . And let it begin with me.

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Pray In The New Year – The Great Escape

Seriously? Praying in the New Year with The Great Escape?

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DECEMBER 31
PRAY OR SIN

Movie . . . The Great Escape

  • Steve McQueen looks up at his colleague who has just been killed and decides to get the information outside the camp, get himself recaptured, and then give up his freedom, for the rest of his colleagues.

    • What are you willing to give up for other Christians?

    • You are on the precipice of a brand new year and I cannot think of anything better to decide, than to pray. Will you?

Read Today’s Verse

1 Samuel 12:23a (HCSB) “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. . .

Background for Today’s Prayer:

Just like in the movie, sometimes a commitment is costly.

  • When was the last time you promised to pray for someone, but didn’t?

  • Have you ever considered praying for that person’s request even though the need is over?

  • I know it sounds odd, but remember, God is outside of time?

  • Have you ever asked God to rehear your prayers afresh?

TODAY’S PRAYER:

Lord the verse above is sobering. I rarely consider it sin when I do not pray for someone I promised to. Lord, would You create in me a desire to make prayer my foremost spiritual discipline this year. And Lord, while I am praying, let me leave a legacy of praying, to those around me. Let them see me pray with my Bible open. Thank You Lord.

Join us tomorrow as we begin to Prepare the Heart, in and for Prayer:
Pray All Year With us at #PrayAllYear.

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

#PrayAllYear
#PrayInTheNewYear


You may be interested in this short post and 2 minute video:
At then end of the video I talk about the . . .
LEGACY OF PRAYING WITH YOUR BIBLE OPEN

A Legacy Lost

 


Consider signing up for Mark’s E-Letters:

The Pray-ers E-Letters Sign Up Link

 

Blessings,

Mark S Mirza Signature

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Pray In The New Year - Dec 30 - City Slickers

Pray In The New Year – City Slickers

Seriously? Praying in the New Year with City Slickers?

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DECEMBER 30
GLORIFYING GOD

Movie . . . City Slickers

  • Jack Palance holds up his index finger to Billy Crystal and then tells him that the secret to life is “One Thing” but that you have to figure out that “One Thing” for yourself

    • But as Christians, is there one thing?

    • And if there is, do we have to figure it out?

Read Today’s Verse

1 Corinthians 10:31 (AMP) So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.

Background for Today’s Prayer:

Unlike in the movie, Christians have a clear direction.

  • Think about this, when you pray, do you find yourself going to God, wondering what He wants you to do?

  • If so, then begin that journey with our verse

  • Begin this year with a commitment to glorify God in absolutely, positively, everything you do.

  • How do we pray about it? Like this…

TODAY’S PRAYER:

Lord, Your word is so clear, our role here on earth is to bring glory to You. Oh Lord, let that be the question we ask ourselves about every single thing we do, or think about doing, every time I answer the phone, every time I get in the car, every time I speak to my spouse, or my kids. Lord, allow me to have a keen sensitivity to be honoring to You, bringing You glory in ALL that I do. Thank You Lord.

A Glance at Tomorrow’s Prayer:
The Great Escape and what does it mean to Pray and not Sin?

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

#PrayAllYear
#PrayInTheNewYear


You may be interested in this short post and 2 minute video:
PRAYING FOR DIRECTION 

Featured Image for Confusion post

 


Consider signing up for Mark’s E-Letters:

The Pray-ers E-Letters Sign Up Link

 

Blessings,

Mark S Mirza Signature

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Pray In The New Year – Blazing Saddles

Seriously? Praying in the New Year with Blazing Saddles?

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DECEMBER 29
LOVING GOD

Movie . . . Blazing Saddles

  • Slim Pickens rides up to his other outlaw cowboys and says, “What in the wide, wide, world of sports are you doing?”

    • And that’s my question to Christians, “What in the wide, wide, world of sports are you doing?”

    • We need to focus on one thing, loving God, whatever that looks like in your life and wherever that leads us.

Read Today’s Verse

Matthew 22:37 (NASB)  And He said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’

Background for Today’s Prayer:

So far this week we have:

  • Asked God to break our hearts,

  • Given up our idols, including fear.,

  • Determined to seek God, who promises to let Himself be found by us.

  • But, how do we make sure that these have not just been, what we might call academic decisions?

  • Simple answer…. “LOVE!” Our love for Him is the way He asks us to demonstrate our decisions.

TODAY’S PRAYER:

Lord, we so often give You “lip-service” but this verse arrests our heart. Father, how can we love You with all of our heart and all of our soul and all of our mind? Lord this is so difficult to understand, but we trust You to give us the grace to, in fact, love You completely. Lord show us this year, how to in fact love You with all of our heart and all of our soul and all of our mind.

A Glance at Tomorrow’s Prayer:
City Slickers and what does it mean to Glorify God?

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

#PrayAllYear
#PrayInTheNewYear


You may be interested in this short post and 3 minute video:
WORRY NO MORE 

Video Still of Worry No More

 


Consider signing up for Mark’s E-Letters:

The Pray-ers E-Letters Sign Up Link

 

Blessings,

Mark S Mirza Signature

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Pray In The New Year – The Santa ClausE

Seriously? Praying in the New Year with Santa Clause?

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DECEMBER 28
SEEKING GOD

Movie . . . The Santa Clause

  • Tim Allen gets into trouble because of the fine print on the Santa Clause business card.

    • In scripture there is no “fine print” because God Himself says that when we seek Him, He will let Himself be found.

    • We don’t have to “hunt” for Him and “hope” that we will find Him. We are assured that we will find Him.

Read Today’s Verse

Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB) You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart

Background for Today’s Prayer:

As we start the new year, are you committed to seeking Him?

  • Often we do not seek Him because we fear where He may lead

  • Dr. Charles F. Stanley, recalling his days at seminary, talks about friends of his who would not go to Missions Conferences because they feared God would call them to go over seas and become missionaries.

  • Do not let fear keep you from beginning this year by seeking Him…with, I might add, your whole heart.

TODAY’S PRAYER:

Lord, so many verses talk about seeking You. Forgive us Lord for not regularly seeking You. Your word promises that when we seek You we will find You, just like it says about wisdom, that if we seek wisdom, we will find it (Proverbs 8:17 and James 1:5). Lord we pray that this year will be a year where we seek You with all our heart and watch You bless us by opening Your word to us. Forgive us Lord when we let our wants and our fears get between us and seeking You.

A Glance at Tomorrow’s Prayer:
Blazing Saddles and what does it mean to Love God?

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

#PrayAllYear
#PrayInTheNewYear


You may be interested in this short post and 2 minute video:
SEEKING GOD TO KNOW HIS WILL 

Featured Photo of YouTube video on Knowing God's Will

 


Consider signing up for Mark’s E-Letters:

The Pray-ers E-Letters Sign Up Link

 

Blessings,

Mark S Mirza Signature

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Pray In The New Year - Dec 27 - Indiana Jones

Pray In The New Year – Indiana Jones

Seriously? Praying in the New Year with Indiana Jones?


PrayingInNewYear-IndianaJones.png?resize=300%2C140&width=300

DECEMBER 27
CHOOSING GOD

Movie . . . Indiana Jones

  • The guardian of the Holy Grail says to Indiana Jones, regarding the Nazi who chooses what he thinks is the cup of Christ and drinks from it, “He chose poorly.”

    • With all of the choices you will make in 2017 let the first one be the best choice not a poor choice.

Read Today’s Verse

Joshua 24:14-15 (NASB) “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Background for Today’s Prayer:

So if you are going to live for the Lord this year…

  • Do you have any gods, any idols?

  • May I suggest one that perhaps you’ve never thought of as an idol, as a god, in front of God Almighty?

  • How about worry?

  • Let me suggest that anything you worry about you’ve made an idol before God,. How?

  • By worrying about it, rather than trusting the God you’ve chosen, God Almighty

TODAY’S PRAYER

Lord, we recognize that there are idols we have in our life and one of those is “worry.” Lord, this is a sin, an idol, a god, that our fathers and mothers have served, in some cases, for generations. Lord, we do not want to serve the god of worry in 2012. We choose You, by taking those thoughts captive, when they enter our minds. Lord, we do not want in our lives the idol of worry or any other idol, sex, money, self-righteousness, nothing Lord, but You. We choose You Lord.

A Glance at Tomorrow’s Prayer:
Santa Clause and what does it mean to Seek God?

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

#PrayAllYear
#PrayInTheNewYear

 


Consider signing up for Mark’s E-Letters:

The Pray-ers E-Letters Sign Up Link

 

Blessings,

Mark S Mirza Signature

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Pray In The New Year - Dec 26 - The Godfather

Pray In The New Year – The Godfather

Seriously? Praying in the New Year with The Godfather?


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DECEMBER 26
RENT HEARTS

Movie . . . Godfather II

  • Michael Corleone grips Fredo by the cheeks and looks into his eyes and says, “Fredo, you broke my heart.”

    • We look at a broken heart as something to stay away from, something to run from, as Fredo did.

Read Today’s Verse:

Psalm 51:17 (HCSB) The sacrifice [which is] pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise [or turn away] a broken and humbled heart.

Background for Today’s Prayer:

Does God hear your prayers?

  • 1 Peter 3:7 tells us that if there is anything between you and your spouse your prayers will be hindered.

  • Proverbs 28:9 tells us that sin keeps our prayers from being heard.

  • As we begin this new year, let’s get serious about sin in our lives.

TODAY’S PRAYER

Lord, as we come to You, thinking about this new year, Oh Lord we want You to hear our prayers. So Father, show us where our hearts need to be broken before You. Lord, we know that the sacrifice You want is a broken, a contrite, a humbled heart. Lord we know that You will NEVER turn aside a humbled heart. Thank You for that promise Father.

A Glance at Tomorrow’s Prayer:
Indiana Jones and what does it mean to Choose the Lord?

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

#PrayAllYear
#PrayInTheNewYear


You may be interested in this 30 minute message:
TAKING SIN TOO LIGHTLY 

Staged photo of Mark Prostrate


Consider signing up for Mark’s E-Letters:

The Pray-ers E-Letters Sign Up Link

 

Blessings,

Mark S Mirza Signature

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Pray Christmas - Day 25

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December 25

  • Background to today’s prayer

    • So today is the last day.

    • Why have you spent the time to pray this?

    • What result do you expect?

    • Below is my prayer, my expectation, for you…enjoy.

TODAY’S PRAYER

Lord this is the last day of this 25 Days of Prayer. And it is fitting  to end this with a picture of Jesus life AFTER His birth. Luke 2:40 and 52 tell us that He grew in strength, wisdom, grace, stature and favor, among both You and man. Father, my prayer is that each person praying during these 25 Days of Prayer would go from these prayers, and grow in the experience of Your presence, that comes so clearly as we spend time in close communing prayer with You Lord. Thank You Lord for this 25 Days of Prayer.

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

#PrayAllYear
#PrayChristmas

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Pray Christmas - Day 24

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December 24

  • Background to today’s prayer

    • We all have a past,

    • And there are probably some things in that past that we would prefer would just go away,

    • But as we said in an earlier prayer, God uses whom He chooses to use,

    • How exciting that God has a desire to use YOU!

TODAY’S PRAYER

Lord, as I think of Jesus’ visit to the temple when He was 12 (Luke 2:41-51), or John’s seclusion in the wilderness, until You wanted him on the scene (Luke 1:80b). And then I think of Daniel and Samuel, who lived godly lives, seemingly until their deaths. Lord these men seem so perfect. I want to bring You glory, and yet how can I bring You glory when I have the past that I do? I don’t know Lord, I don’t know. But, I thank You and praise You that there are men like David, Peter, Paul, and James, the half brother of our Lord, who grew up with Him and did not know Him. Oh Lord if these men would be used by You then I know that I too can be used. I submit myself to You Lord. Use me as You see fit. Use me to proclaim the message of Your Son, especially during this time of the year.

FREE prayer helps are always available on our Prayer-Basics-Page

#PrayAllYear
#PrayChristmas

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