He rules the world with truth and grace.  Let us express, and point others to see the wonders of His love!

Rob Griepentrog

Also posted at: Pray OnSite

In His grip,

Rob Griepentrog
This blog post is also posted at Pray OnSite

Rob Griepentrog

We should never feel paralyzed from praying simply because we're not sure if we can word a prayer "correctly."  Jesus gave us an excellent model of prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) that we will do well to both pray, and study in depth!

"Prayer is the master strategy that God gives for the defeat and rout of Satan." - Wesley L. Duewel

Here are some additional quotes on the subject.

Paul, in Ephesians 6, also addresses the matter; and how we are to press past the things that attempt to make us spiritually impotent and prayerless.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. - Ephesians 6:10-20 (emphasis added)

Proverbs 3:5-8 says,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

If we focus on ourselves, our feelings, or our desires to first prompt us to pray, we've missed the mark.

Reviewing some of what we just read:  Trust in the Lord.  Be strong in Him and His mighty power.  Lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways submit to Him.  Do not be wise in your own eyes.  Put on the full armor of God.  And the list could continue.

When to Pray

The right time to pray is right now.  After you finish praying, continue praying.  After that time, when you feel like quitting, pray some more.  And so on... but do so in God's strength, with His mind, and Word.

1 Thessalonians 5 says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not quench the Spirit..."

Yielding to God

We can all make attempts to try harder to pray; to pray longer; pray more frequently, etc.  But we'll fail.  Every time.  The secret to praying, praying well, praying effectively, praying continually, and growing relationally with God in prayer is to seek Him first and always while we pray!

Some simple ways to invite God to grow you in prayer include:

Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit as you begin to pray, while you pray, and whenever you remember to pray (if you catch yourself having stopped praying for a time).   

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you listen for God's voice or promptings as you pray.  That's another critical way to continue praying!

Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to people, matters, or point you back to God as you pray.

Worship God in prayer.  Select a Psalm that tells of some of God's attributes.  Read it and pray it back to God as a form of worshiping Him.  He'll grow your awe, wonder, and desire for Him!

Find a book about God's attributes.  Pause to worship God while you read and after you stop reading!

Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.  Ask the Holy Spirit to bring His Word fresh meaning into your life and prayer life!

Thank God for specific conversations you share with Him or others.

All of these ideas, and more, can be used day and night to continue praying without ceasing!  They can be repeated while you pray- especially if you feel like you're running out of ideas or matters to be in prayer about.  But it's significant to invite God to direct your prayers by His Word and Spirit.  

Be, and become, active in God's master strategy to rout Satan today and throughout the days to come!

Text may be also found at: www.prayonsite.org/blog/waiting-right-time-pray

If you feel "stuck" in your prayer life; like your prayers seem ineffective or lacking in power, what David has to say will help you to move beyond where you currently find yourself.  Here's the link to his message to Life Action Ministries.

Thank you for your ministry in prayer!  May the Lord continue to teach us to pray, every day, and in every way; for His glory, for the strengthening of His bride, and the expansion of His kingdom in advance of His glorious return!

Rob Griepentrog

OnSite is currently offering a training that models what a quiet time can look like.  The training then gives all in attendance the opportunity to experience one-on-One time with God- to freshly allow each person to personally taste and see that He is good; in the model of Psalm 34:8.  See our schedule for upcoming trainings, or contact Rob to arrange this simple one-hour training for your church, small group, or neighborhood gathering.

* "I've never thought about praying on site at the schools before.  God brought so many different ideas to my mind to pray about while I was here today.  It wasn't until I followed Him here that He brought these to light.  I can't wait to do something like this here again!"

Blessed Are Your Feet

Romans 10:15b- As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (NIV)

For the Christian, faith is not asking for what we don't have, but making use of what God says we already possess. It's simply trusting God's Word to be true. Nowhere else is this more profoundly true than in what is given us in God's Spirit." - Henry & Mel Blackaby, (What's so Spiritual about Your Gifts? pgs. 14-15)

Is Relationship the Root?

Our society tells us to utilize time for speed, efficiency, effectiveness, investing long hours of hard work, an attitude of "never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best," being the best-of-the-best, and more. 

Yet, did Jesus model this form of living?  What did He do?  How did He handle the gift of time He was given?

Inviting the Holy Spirit's help and deepening presence draws us closer to the heart of God, but so does setting aside time to ask, meditate, ponder, and listen for God's impressions of our lives, decisions (past and upcoming), and more while being still before Him.

"But the biggest misfortune for a Christian does not lie in the calamity that befalls him in this world. It is the betrayal of God for the sake of secular things on earth." - Yuan Fusheng, house church leader in Beijing, China.

Our attention spans have become so splintered that prayer, and the Word of God for many, have become go-to things almost only in cases of emergency.  When the heat is turned up, only then is the Bible opened or prayer to God turned to as a means to provide hope, relief, or help.

We sell God, His promises, resources, and our relationship with Him FAR too short!  He is not honored as such.  This can be changed, but let's consider a few things first.

Let's consider two things:  Prayer and the Bible (the Word of God)

Our short attention spans can easily lead us to offering a quick burst of prayer in a moment; one that may not be truthful at its core.  We would do well to pause, consider what we're truly thinking about asking God in prayer, and then proceed in asking only after considering if what we're asking is being done so "in truth."

How to Properly Study God's Word

Torrey outlines four things that make for effective study of the Bible as the Word of God.

1. "The unquestioning acceptance of its teachings when they are understood, even when they may appear unreasonable or impossible.  Reason demands that we submit our judgment to the statements of infinite wisdom.  Nothing is more irrational than rationalism.  It makes finite wisdom the test of infinite wisdom and submits the teachings of God's omniscience to the approval of man's judgment.  Conceit says, 'This cannot be true, even though God says it, for it does not approve itself to my reason.'  'O man, who are you to reply against God?' (Romans 9:20)."

"Real human wisdom, when it finds infinite wisdom, bows before it and says, 'Speak what You will and I will believe.'  When we have once become convinced that the Bible is God's Word, its teachings must be the end of all controversy and discussion.  A 'Thus says the Lord' will settle every question.  Yet many who profess to believe the Bible is the Word of God will shake their heads and say, 'Yes, but I think so and so,' or  'Doctor--- or Professor--- or our church doesn't teach it that way.'  There is little advantage to that sort of study."

2.  Absolute reliance on all its promises in all their length and breadth.  "The person who studies the the Bible as the Word of God will not discount any one of its promises one iota.  A student who studies the Bible as the Word of God will say, 'God who cannot lie has promised,' and he will not try to make God a liar by trying to make one of His promises mean less than it says.  (See 1 John 5:10)  The one who studies the Bible as the Word of God will be on the lookout for promises.  As soon as he finds one, he should seek to discover what it means and then place his entire trust on its full meaning."

"This is one of the secrets of profitable Bible study.  Hunt for promises and appropriate them as fast as you find them by meeting the conditions and risking all upon them.  This is the way to make all the fullness of God's blessings your own.  This is the key to all the treasures of God's grace.  Happy is the one who has learned to study the Bible as God's Word and is ready to claim for himself every new promise as it appears and to risk everything on it."

3.  Prompt obedience to its every precept.  "Obedience may seem hard or impossible; but God has commanded it, and you have nothing to do but to obey and leave the results to God.  To get results from your Bible study, resolve that from this time on, you will claim every clear promise and obey every plain command.  When the meaning of promises and commands is not yet clear, try to discern their meaning immediately."

4.  Study in God's presence.  "When you read a verse of Scripture, hear the voice of the living God speaking directly to you in these written words.  There is new power and attractiveness in the Bible when you have learned to hear a living, present Person- God our Father- talking directly to you in these words."

The short attention spans of modern Christians seek more to honor the clock (how much or little can I pray, cram, or read in the short, allotted time I've set aside for God today?) than dwell deeply in His presence- for as long as He desires us to dwell with Him.

Today, we read Hebrews 5.

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Warning Against Falling Away

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

He shares some wise, and pertinent, advice regarding prayer in our daily lives:

Our lives, our relationships with God and others, and our world, are changed as we pray; if we'll pray.

I confess that I often approach both You, and Your gift of prayer, with too small of a mindset.  Sometimes, I imagine the things I have the ability to accomplish or dream up, and then ask You to do only that much.  Yet, You're able to do immeasurably more, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 3 (2).  Other times, I only pray thinking of the things of which I want or desire.  While it's not wrong or bad to do so, I confess that I often forget or neglect to worship, praise, and thank You for who You are, what You've done, and are doing (3).  I often fail to pray for others' concerns, joys, and for the lost (4).  I confess that I mostly consider Your actions and provisions ahead of You, Yourself.  Forgive me and continue to grow my trust, joy, and understanding in/of You (5).

Thank You for Your grace, forgiveness, compassion, and care (6).  Thank You for giving Your Holy Spirit to dwell within me (7).  Change my thinking, understanding, compassion for others, and more (8).  Continue to fill me with Your Spirit, that I may see others, and their situations, through Your eyes (9); that I may hear what they say, and don't say, accurately, as with Your ears (10); and that I may read, take to heart, and apply what Your Word says (11).

Help me to pray from Your Word and heart (12); think Your thoughts; see myself, people around me, and our matters of agreement and disagreement accurately and lovingly as You do.  I am not capable of any of these things on my own.  I yield to You.  You're the Rock that I stand upon (13).  You are my Joy and Strength (14), (15).  You are the Light of my life in this dark world (16), (17).  You are the Lifter of my head when I become discouraged, distraught, and even self-centered (18).  You are the Corrector of my vision; helping me to see You, myself, people, and matters with far greater accuracy than I could ever imagine or attempt to understand on my own (19). 

You are Lord of All.  Some try to convince me and others that You are not Lord at all (20).  Help me to love and pray for them with Your perfect love, compassion, and care.  Also, quicken the hearts and minds of other Christians to meet these people where they're at, to pray for them, and with them as Your Spirit leads and prompts.  Increase my sensitivity to Your Holy Spirit's promptings.  I desire to be obedient to bring You, and Your Name, glory; fulfilling things You've prepared for me to do since before You created time (21). 

I worry not about what's to come because You are there (22), (23).  I worry not about the things of the past: for You are my perfect Redeemer (24) (25).  I worry not about the present (26), because You are near, and Your Spirit and Word are guiding, sharpening, correcting, and renewing me; providing light to my feet and a lamp for the path before me (27).

I worship You, Jesus; Lord of All.  Nothing is too great or small; for You created and care for it all.  Continue to shepherd me through this day and night ahead (28) for Your glory alone.  In Jesus' name, and in increasing and endless praise, (29) Amen.

Instead of surrendering our ability to pray because our expectations aren't fully met in the moment (or in the way(s) we expect them to be fulfilled), shouldn't we surrender ourselves, and continually do so, to God?

*  Revival (when Christians, and the Church, become saturated with God).

Over the next year, the crime rate in Juarez dropped by over 90%!

"I can just imagine Satan gathering all the demons in hell and discussing what they can do to destroy Christians. And Satan says, 'Keep them from praying. Because no matter what else they do, if they don't pray, we can beat them every time. But if they learn how to pray, they'll beat us every time. Keep them from praying.'" -Dr. Sidlow Baxter

HIMSELF
     by A. B. Simpson
Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word.
Once His gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone.

Once 'twas painful trying, Now 'tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost.
Once 'twas ceaseless holding, Now He holds me fast;
Once 'twas constant drifting, Now my anchor's cast.

Once 'twas busy planning, Now 'tis trustful prayer;
Once 'twas anxious caring, Now He has the care.
Once 'twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says;
Once 'twas constant asking, Now 'tis ceaseless praise.

Once it was my working, His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me.
Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus, Now I know He's mine;
Once my lamps were dying, Now they brightly shine.
Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored, Safe within the vail.

As Simpson describes; prayer can be transformative to the life of each Christian. We often can begin praying with a specific motive, but end up refocused in relationship with Jesus, and finish praying with an entirely different motive, desire, or outcome.  He is that good to us and desires to meet us with that depth of intimacy!

Yet prayer, for many, is an afterthought in daily life.  Few consider praying until hardship strikes, or a circumstance gets out of their control.  It's only then that prayer becomes applicable or important in their lives.

In our American church culture, prayer is largely a spectator event.  Many churches treat prayer almost as an add-on in the service (a tradition that must be honored- at least for 1-3 minutes of a busy, tightly-packed, hour-long service/program/event), or at best, a specialized thing that only those who are "gifted in prayer" (there's no such thing as the spiritual gift of prayer) do in a small, separated room set apart from the rest of the hustling and bustling people in attendance.  A pastor or elder may "say or offer a prayer" in front of the congregation, but seldom, if ever, are the church attendees invited to pray or practice prayer with or for one another.  Is it any wonder that American Christianity is considered by many outside of the Church to be a toothless, weak, religion- and something that is just like every other religion or cult belief system in the world today?  Have you seen a "Coexist" bumper sticker, with symbols of many popular religions (including the use of the cross as the T in the word) on a car recently?  When you see that on a car, it essentially means, "Christianity is no different, more powerful, or life changing than any other belief system."  What a lie and misconception!

But Christian prayer is vastly different than prayer of any other religion or cult.  The difference comes from the People receiving and stirring the prayer within us- Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (in case you're not aware; the Holy Spirit is a Person, not a thing; one of the Trinity- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)!  Jesus is the only Person who died to take the sins of everyone upon Himself; to set each person free from sin and eternal separation from God; and to lead them into a personal, intimate, relationship with Himself, the Father, and through the working of the Holy Spirit.  It's by faith in Jesus; His work of living a perfect, sinless life; His death and taking the sins of all upon Himself; His resurrection from the dead; ascension into Heaven; and His upcoming return to establish His eternal kingdom, that we are saved.  No other god or belief system can bring us into a personal relationship with the Savior of our souls!  Only Jesus was given power (by God the Father) to rise from the dead, take away our sins which separate us from the Father, and establish us into a personal relationship with our Creator, Redeemer, Lord, and Savior.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:4-10

Is the Holy Spirit too weak to turn the heart of every person to faith in Jesus Christ?  No.  He could; but God has given each person a will.  They can control it, make decisions, and choose to do whatever they please.  The Holy Spirit won't force Himself, or Jesus Christ, upon anyone who refuses Him.  He yields to their preferences and choices.  Ultimately, they choose whether they'll humble themselves or harden their hearts toward God.  The Holy Spirit patiently works and waits- even until the person's last breath of life on earth.  But if at that time they continue to reject Him, their eternity will be spent in Hell; permanently separated from God- just the way they ultimately chose or wanted it. 

As Christ-followers, we can quickly forget that we were once in that position ourselves. 

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. - Ephesians 2:1-3 (emphasis added)

As we pray for others, their lives and circumstances will change, and we'll also begin to fulfill Jesus' command in Matthew 6:20-21 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

* Scripture examples borrowed from Paths of Gold; Praying the Way to Christ for Lost Friends and Family, by Terry Gooding.

Jesus, as recorded in Luke 11, shared a hypothetical, yet realistic, situation with his disciples.

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity (boldness- NIV 84) he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  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 the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” - Luke 11:5-13

Jesus points his disciples toward the importance of praying; seeking God in persistent prayer to provide the good things He makes available to us (especially His Holy Spirit).

But let's consider the one who finds himself needing bread for a visiting friend in a moment's notice.

Handling Abundance

In America, most of us are only one or two generations removed from a time of storing up and sharing abundance.  You may have neighbors, parents, grandparents, great grandparents, or other relatives who planted huge gardens each year.  When the produce was ripe to pick, much of it was canned and stored away to provide sustenance out of season, or to share with friends, family, or neighbors.  Many would store up for themselves and for others at the same time.  It was a time when a mindset of healthy storing up and/or sharing abundance (for the sheer joy of it or to meet the needs of others) was valued more greatly than it seems today. 

Today, our culture tells us to "live for now," or "get only what you need for today."  Sometimes we see this played out when people make multiple trips to a bank, grocery, or shopping store during a day or week.  Some people also handle relationships with this type of mindset.  But the "get what I need for today" mentality can extend far beyond financial, relational, or practical things- even into the spiritual.


Spiritual Consumerism

In our modern thinking, abundance is seldom stored up; it's picked from and devoured at a moment's notice.  Many Christians consume just enough spiritual content each day or week to reach a point where they feel they'll "get by" or have just enough.  Whether it's listening to segments on Christian radio, consuming a five-minute devotional, going to church for fellowship one or more times per week, or something else, a brief time of "plugging into God" or "touching base" with Him seems to satisfy a momentary want or need. 

Yet the abundance God makes readily available in continual relationship with Him and His Word isn't stored up to share with others when one only seeks for their own spiritual needs to be met in the moment!

What happens when a friend, acquaintance, or stranger personally approaches with a need (maybe the need to hear the gospel clearly or lovingly presented- but that need is masked or contained within another need)?  Do we have any spiritual bread or sustenance left in the cupboard to share? 

If we only consume (keeping for ourselves) what the Bible, church leaders, pastors, or writers tell us, we can be found empty-handed with nothing extra to share when need arises- and we'll likely need to outsource or find someone else to help meet the need.

If we're unprepared, with nothing of substance to offer, someone with an unmet need (spiritual, or otherwise) will likely move on to seek another answer or source of provision.  Often times, those other sources they discover will meet needs without a Christ-centered foundation or biblical worldview.  That could lead to a double defeat- especially if the seeking person is greatly influenced by the non-Christian worldview they encountered simply because the Christian was not originally prepared when opportunity arose.

Preparation happens before a need arises.  If it begins at the point when a need occurs, opportunity and blessing will be lost.

Paul, in 2 Timothy 4, tells Timothy to be prepared.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. - 2 Timothy 4:1-5 (emphases added)

As friends to others, how prepared are we to pray with someone, to accurately and lovingly share the gospel, to give patient and careful instruction in season and out of season (when we feel ready and when we might not feel so ready); to discharge all the duties of our personal ministries?

While many outsource to pastors or church leaders for answers and solutions (it's not totally wrong to do so), as maturing Christians- if we're maturing beyond only consuming for ourselves, we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to those in a lost world all around us.  This includes storing up and growing in biblical truth, sharing it with others as we learn, and assisting others in their maturation in Jesus Christ.  It's not only a pastor or spiritual leader's responsibility!  We all share in this abundance.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, - Matthew 6:20

It's more than consuming spiritual food for ourselves for today- but storing up and sharing for eternal treasures.

Seeking Who Provides Instead of Only the Abundance Itself

In a consumer-based culture, it's easy to become distracted by the items of abundance.  While we pray, "give us our daily bread," let's keep the Provider forefront in our thinking and worship instead of only obsessing over the bread or material items alone.

...how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

As we daily seek God to provide for our physical and emotional needs, let's remember to ask Him to fill, shape, and guide us with His Spirit living and working within us.  There's the abundance we can have and offer to others!  It may produce an internal battle at times when our flesh resists a leading, prompting, or direction He gives, but His Spirit helps us to pray, to speak the gospel in truth and love, to read, ingest, apply, share His Word, and more.  Let's ask with Him in mind!

By ourselves, we do no better than when we make a New Year's resolution.  Try as we might, we eventually become tired, distracted, exhausted, and lose drive.  By the Spirit's empowering, God is glorified through our weaknesses as He helps us through and past them- to do what He empowers us to do by His power.  And His outcome is always better than what we attempt to produce on our own!

Ask, seek, knock.  He provides.  But as we seek God, let's also be sure to ask for His perspective for ours, and others', needs- and how He might work in and through us to draw others to Himself for His glory alone!

Father, you are God of all.  In you we have all we need.  Help me to see beyond myself, my perceived needs and desires, and to see with your perspective- with vision far clearer and wisdom-filled than my own.  I expect I'll be wowed and amazed with what you show me and how you draw me closer in relationship with yourself.  I want you to fill my day; may waking and sleeping hours alike.  Have your way in me, and help me to store up treasures in heaven; to approach today with an eternal perspective that only you can give me.  Thank you for your grace, patience, love, mercy, truth, and so much more.  Continue to meet me where I am- for your glory alone.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

*Portions of this originated from sermon notes by Pastor John Parker of Westfield, Indiana.

This revival has only just begun.  What if we prayed for revival in other countries?  What if we prayed for revival in our country?   What more will God change?  How much more will he change us?

Lord, you are my all-in-all.  Everything I have and am is Yours.  The time you've given me this day belongs solely to You.  Thank you for giving me this day and night ahead.  I desire to utilize the time you've given me in fellowship with You- even while I work, serve, and do all things as unto You.  Have Your way in me and through me.  Help me to realize things I hold on too tightly to, and grasp You more fully in my heart, mind, life, and soul.  Be glorified and magnified in this day.  Teach me Your ways and show me greater depths of Your heart for me and others.  You are the One I seek.  I worship You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.