Pray Network Forum

        Eternal Father,

        How we love You, give Thee thanks and praise for your goodness and mercy toward us.You are forever our God  

Father, we need Your love and blessings to flow in our marriages and families. Thank You Father for Your amazing grace that affords us the gift of salvation and marriage. Lord, I ask You to teach us how to be more appreciative and grateful for every blessing You give us on a daily basis.

Lord, I pray Your blessing will cover each married couple and those engaged to be married. I also pray for those hopeful to becoming married. I pray they will grow in mutual respect, forgiveness, communication and in their love for one another; that through their faith in You and prayer together they will prepare themselves rightly and chastely for marriage. Thank You for teaching us how to love according to Your word. I Corinthians 13:4-13.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

I pray every married couple will equip themselves with the word of God and a spirit of submission to one another.. Thank You for your word that helps us to understand more clearly about love as You have defined it and not as the world knows it.

 John 15:9-15:

⁹ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

¹⁰ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

¹¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

¹² This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

¹⁴ Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

¹⁵ Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

This is My commandment: love one another as I have loved you.

We praise You for your unfailing and never dying love for each of us. Teach us Lord to love that very same Way! Let Your compassion fill our hearts as we journey each day. In Jesus' name. Amen!

PrayOn!

Mary J. Crosby

I’M GLAD YOU ASKED …

Q. In Sunday School we talked about God’s will; how do I know if I’m praying outside the will of God?

A.  There’s an easy test … “is my prayer consistent with what Scripture teaches?”  Let me suggest an obvious scenario to show what I mean.  Suppose we have Christian who has been unemployed for some time.  He needs money, so he begins to pray that he won’t get caught when he robs a gas station.  That’s praying outside the will of God.  Scripture teaches … “Do not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)  Here’s a less obvious example.  A Christian woman is asking God to bless her upcoming marriage to a non-Christian … is that praying in or out of God’s will?  We read in Scripture, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)   It would appear that God has already declared His will concerning that.  Now situations may come up where answers can’t be found in Scripture.  In this case, find a person who is mature in the faith and seek his/her counsel.  Finally, listen to your heart.  If you have sincerely prayed about something, and don’t have a peace about it, that’s probably The Holy Spirit prompting that what you’re about to do isn’t God’s will for you.  Hope this has been helpful.
I’ll see you in Church (& Sunday School) …
 Rande

"In this dark world, there's a bright light shining." It's good to be reminded of who that bright light is.

“Sadness flies on the wings of the morning and out of the heart of darkness comes the light.” (Jean Giraudoux, 1945)

Observation of current events shows the world’s darkness. 
In Syria—tyranny has slaughtered 100,000 innocents.
In Iran—pride announces ships en route to America.
In Ukraine—corruption makes streets a war zone.
In Afghanistan—chaos still disturbs the peace.
In Iraq—suicide bombers perpetuate terror.

Meditation on Christ's Presence floods our soul with light.
In temptation—He calls us out of sin’s shadows into holy, radiant light..
In loneliness—He radiates hope into our hearts by His promises. .
In hubris—He humbles us by the object lesson of the sun.
In ignorance—He teaches our mind timeless truth.
In our darkest hour—He whispers sweet peace.
In despair—He shines the bright light of hope.
In anxiety—He always leaves the light on.
Light beyond light is our Night Light.

“From there Isaac moved to Beersheba, where the LORD appeared to him on the night of his arrival.

‘I am the God of your father, Abraham,’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you.’”
Genesis 26:23, 24 NLT

Johnny R. Almond
Pastor, Colonial Beach Baptist Church, Virginia
Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—Scripture Personalized
Book available through local bookseller or preferred on-line retailer.
Author’s blog www.GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com
[This devotion was based on/adapted from Day 17 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity]

Earlier today I was talking with someone who was ordering copies of Seek God for the City 2014 for eight churches of her community. She asked me how it was that I came to write and publish these prayers. “Could I tell that story and put the video online?” she asked.
 
My reply was “Yes. I think that might be a cool idea. We can do that.” (So watch for that among the resources on our website). But I went on to tell her that the reason people find the prayers compelling is not because of how God led me and many others to pray for communities up and down the west coast of California. Although that’s an interesting story, it’s not why people find the prayers helpful.
 
I think that the reason these prayers are compelling is that in the midst of the dismay and mind-numbing darkness of our day, God’s Spirit continues to breathe a living idea of hope into our hearts: God will do great things. And that’s why it’s so critically important to pray great things. Yes, we need to pray for some specific needs and urgent requests. But what makes sense to those who love Christ and His appearing is that we should do more than merely seek God’s providing and protecting hand. We have got to seek His face. We yearn to seek the glory His kingdom.
 
This year’s Seek God for the City is designed around these very things. The first 11 days focus on seeking God’s face. The next 29 days guide us to seek His kingdom in our communities. They are prayers of substance, expressing the irrepressible hope that God will outdo Himself to bring light in the midst of the growing darkness of our day.
 
Allow me to remind you to order copies for yourself and others in your church or city. Many have already downloaded the companion app that is designed to heighten the value of the booklet with a few extra features. The app makes it possible for many to keep praying in the midst of hectic schedules. I find it tremendously encouraging to know that I am seeking God along with many thousands of others in these great days.
 
Gladly for His glory,
 
Steve Hawthorne
Director, WayMakers
 
PS: It all starts in one month from today on March 5. The forty days end on Palm Sunday, April 13. Contact our team today at 512.419.7729 to order copies or order online at www.waymakers.org. We still have some copies in Spanish available.

Praying with purpose is simply praying for God to fulfill what He has already begun. Seek God for the City 2014 stirs up this kind of purposeful, “fulfill-it” prayers. Since God’s work is always a story, our best praying will be part of an ongoing story. Instead of using prayer as a “quick-fix” procedure that will supposedly get results if performed correctly, our prayers become a way of collaborating with God.

We’re not pushing to get God started. He’s already doing great things; and He has promised to do even better things. Instead of holding off the worst, our praying can ask for God to bring on the best. God is the one who is orchestrating the united prayer of which we are a part. He’s the one stimulating us to pray as never before.
 
God doesn’t need our prayers, but He wants us to experience the joy of working with Him in bringing new life to many others. And the joy is even greater when we find that we have labored with many others for the fulfillment of God’s longstanding promises. As you stretch your prayers longer and larger, you will do an even better job of praying for everyday needs of others. You’ll be praying in hope.
 
For even more details check out our site at www.waymakers.org or call us at 800.264-5214.
 
There is still a bit more time for leaders in recognized positions of pastoral or prayer leadership to call for a complimentary review copy. Please call our office at 512.419.7729 to request a review booklet.
 
All for His glory,
 
Barb Hawthorne and Stephanie Tucker
 
PS We want to encourage you to place a value on the Seek God for the City booklet if you are distributing them to your congregation. After almost 20 years of providing this resource, we have found that when people personally invest in the prayer guide, they tend to value it more and be more faithful in their praying. And as an additional benefit, churches can easily cover the cost of the books by asking for just a one or two dollar suggested donation.

“God is in the process of redemption for the long haul.  My persistent praying says, ‘Count me in. I won’t cut and run when the answers are slow in coming. Instead of drumming impatient fingers, I’m going to use that hand to knock firmly on heaven’s door - again and again! Together, God and I share the ongoing fellowship of intercession.”  Sandy Mayle
 
Jesus was persistent in prayer. He practiced persistence in His prayer life, and He taught it to His disciples. He was passionate about not giving up in prayer because He wanted His disciples to learn to stand firm in persistent prayer. Look at His life. He spent whole nights in prayer. That takes perseverance and incredible persistence. At the end of His life, he was so intensely praying that he sweat great drops of blood. Jesus knew how to stand firm in persistent prayer. He wanted us to learn to keep asking, to keep seeking, and to keep knocking. He said in Luke 11:9-10:      
 
“So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened” (Amplified Bible).

Prayer doesn’t seem so attractive when you don’t see quick results. We think that maybe we are doing something wrong or that God doesn’t hear us. We may even question His goodness. But we are so wrong when we think in this way. God hears every prayer and He does answer us - but it’s in His way and in His timing. We are so quick to give up. In Luke 18:1-5 (NIV) Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow who never gave up:

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming.'"

The word “persist” in Webster’s dictionary means “to stand or be fixed, to continue steadfastly and firmly in the pursuit of any cause, to pursue, not receding from the purpose, not to give up or abandon.” That persistent widow wanted justice and didn’t waver in her pursuit. She stood firmly and didn’t give up in her asking. Finally the judge answered her request because of her persistence. 

Persistence is Reality
 
Most people like to live and serve God when everything is exciting. I lived on an exciting mission’s ship as a young person. We went from country to country and city to city. The first three months in this exciting ministry was absolutely glorious! Young people would come to live on board and though the ship was old, worn and full of little cockroaches, the ministry opportunities were fantastic. It was like a little bit of heaven. Everything was absolutely thrilling initially - living with people from over 40 nations, sharing your testimony in a different church meeting every Sunday, and eating new food and fruits in countries you never even heard of! 
 
But time went on and all the glamour quickly wore off. 
 
All of a sudden your own home country seemed like a beautiful dream. Roommates started to get irritating, sea voyages were no longer enchanting, seasickness was a hard endurance, and many wondered if they made a huge mistake by joining for two long years. But it was a good training for young people in the area of reality because persistence is reality. During the testimony times when people were leaving the ship, they often told how long they had been on board. For example, “My name is Mary. I’ve been on board one year, eleven and ½ months.” Then they would tell what they learned during their time on board. I am surprised someone hasn’t yet told how many hours and minutes he/she has lived on board! But just to press the point, ship life had a lot of persistence and endurance for a young person. 
 
There is no getting around it for any of us - old or young. No matter who we are or what job we have, if we are going to reach the world for Christ we will have to persist. Intercessors have to persist. It’s part of their calling. Persistence is reality. The real world is not always exciting. It may have exciting moments but in between those mountaintop experiences, there is a lot of persistence.

If we all stop and think about it, life is not easy for anyone. Every job includes endurance and persistence. Prayer takes persistence. There are wilderness and dry times when you think you are the only one praying. There are times when you feel as if you’ve prayed a thousand times without an answer. Real purposeful ministry takes time and persistence as it develops. Everything good takes endurance. People think that living here at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOPKC) is all excitement. It takes a very high level of persistent prayer for everyone here. Rick Joyner, a wise prophetic leader, author and founder of the Morning Star ministry, says:
 
“Many will come at first because a new work is always exciting. However, they will not have the stability or endurance to stay through the wilderness and dry times, which we must always go through to get to the place where we receive the promises of God and the Promised land, to the fulfillment of the promises. In fact, we can see in both Scripture and history that the quicker and easier the promises are fulfilled, the less significant the purpose.” 
 
When we are praying for something big, we need great patience. It takes both faith and patience to inherit the promise. We read in Hebrews 6:11-12 “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” The greater the purpose, the greater the faith and patience are required. Persistence is reality. 
 
Persistent Prayer Does Not Give Up
 
“Persistent praying never faints or grows weary. It is never discouraged. It never yields to cowardice, but is lifted up and sustained by a hope that knows no despair and a faith that will not let go. Persistent praying has patience to wait and strength to continue. It never prepares itself to quit praying, and it refuses to get up from its knees until an answer is received.” E. M. Bounds
 
Not to give up means not to faint or lose heart. It is steady prayer. It’s long-term and not for the faint-hearted. It stands firm. It displays a trust in God that says, “I am going to believe you for the answer in your way and your timing.” When we persist in prayer, we cover every aspect of the need from a variety of perspectives. We see it from the big perspective and from the tiniest aspect. We don’t forget the prayer because we carry it with us, and it’s in our routine. We knock and knock at heaven’s door. We are passionate about it. 
 
There is not one of us who doesn’t have to be persistent in prayer. 
 
It’s part of our training for reigning. We have to learn to wait no matter how hard it is. Patience is not one of our favorite words. It’s so exciting to run around and do things, but to wait and pray is hard work. And to keep from getting discouraged is another story. Many of us live in cultures where waiting is not considered a virtue. But God sees things differently than we do. Waiting is often the best use of our time. I’ve written about it often because I feel it is the important DNA of an intercessor. We have to patiently wait and persist in prayer. We have to stand firm without wavering and then we have to wait some more. 
 
The Apostle Paul was a fast-moving individual but he learned the secret of persistent prayer. He said to the Church in Thessalonica, “Night and day we pray more earnestly that we may see you again" (1 Thessalonians 3:10).  To the Church in Colosse he said, “We have not stopped praying for you….” (Colossians 1:9).  To the Church in Ephesus he said, “I keep asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ…. may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Ephesians 1:17).
 
When we lived in Virginia Beach, my husband and I used to walk around a lake for exercise in the evenings. Every year a carnival would set up their rides and food stands right near that area. We’d walk past it as well as through it several times on our brisk walk around the lake. Many people think traveling with a carnival must be exciting and fun. Children think it must be the most exciting life one could have! Lots of rides, hot dogs, and cotton candy all the time! We watched those carnival workers closely as we walked. They looked tired, bored, worn out, and hopeless. The weather was humid and it rained a lot, so that you had to tiptoe through the mud puddles. Often the rides had only a couple of riders. Where was all the excitement? There wasn’t any. It was hard work and persistence. 
 
We, who represent Jesus, must be persistent, patient, and persevering in our prayers. 
 
We must be the ones who stand the strongest in persistent prayer and in every occupation in life. It’s easy to give up, but we are representing a King and living for a Kingdom that will never end. Next time you feel like quitting, look up the following verses: Luke 11:5-10, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Luke 18:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 3:10, Col. 1:9, and Genesis 32:26. This is not the time to give up but to stand firm. We are laying hold of God’s strength as we pray. Keep on knocking on heaven’s door. It will pay off dramatically in the end, because God not only hears but He answers persistent prayer in a powerful way.   

The following will help you to be persistent in prayer. I invite you to see my four new facebook pages for my books: Breakthrough Prayer, Ascending the Height in Prayer, Deeper Still, and 24/7 Prayer Arise. Join and like the Intercessors Arise facebook page for daily encouragement in your prayer life. For bi-monthly training in prayer, have your friends sign up for Intercessors Arise here.
 
“Persistence has various elements - the main ones are perseverance, determination, and intensity. It begins with a refusal to readily accept denial. This develops into a determination to persevere, to spare no time or trouble until the answer comes. This grows in intensity until the whole being is given to God in supplication. Boldness comes to lay hold of God’s strength. At one time, it is quiet; at another, bold. At one point, it waits in patience, but at another, it claims at once what it desires. In whatever different shape, persistence always means and knows that God hears prayer: I must be heard.” Andrew Murray
 
Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
International House of Prayer (IHOP) KC Staff
deb@intercessorsarise.org
www.intercessorsarise.org

There’s all kinds of topics to write about on prayer such as the power of prayer—or the perseverance of prayer—or the potential of prayer—but I want to look at the privilege of prayer because it truly is a privilege and one that unfortunately is too often overlooked and neglected in the church today. First of all, what do I mean by privilege? The dictionary defines “privilege” as “something regarded as a special honour”. The same thing is true when it comes to prayer—specifically, praying for others. It’s more than just a duty—it’s more than a responsibility—it’s more than an obligation—it’s a privilege.

Sadly, prayer is a special honour that so many believers today do not avail themselves of. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—I believe one of the greatest failures on the part of the Christian Church today is the failure to pray—the failure to make use of the dynamic power that God has granted us to connect with Him on behalf of not only ourselves, but of others. No doubt, many prayerless believers will stand speechless before Christ when the fearful subject of prayer comes up and Jesus asks “Did you pray?” Did you pray for your unsaved loved ones? Did you pray for your neighbours? Did you pray for your spouse and children? Did you pray for your boss? Did you pray for your pastor? Did you pray for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, not only in your own church, but around the world? Did you pray for your enemies who persecuted you and despitefully used you?

That’s why Paul said, “Pray without ceasing” Why? Because prayer changes things! We’ve all heard that little, three word phrase and it’s true! No, it’s not in the Bible but the implication of it is—it’s found in James 5:16- “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” The word “avail” literally means to exercise force! So prayer absolutely changes things! It exercises force to change circumstances, it exercises force to change the spiritual atmosphere and it exercises force to change people’s hearts for the Holy Spirit to work on them. That is the tremendous privilege of prayer!  This was Revival Prayer Ministries’ very first prayer submission for 2014 from one of our website visitors—“Let God remember us--Let God break the yoke of poverty in my life and family. Let Him establish the ministry He has given to me. Let Him cause men to remember me for good. Let Him bless the works of my hand.”

I don’t doubt that the majority of Christians in North America made a New Year’s resolution that they were going to pray more in 2014. I’ll be the first to agree that we need to pray more—however, if we are praying for the sole purpose of trying to please God with works of the flesh and self-effort, then our motives are out of place. If you’re looking at the clock every five minutes to see how long you’ve prayed, then something is terribly wrong with your reason to pray. A spirit of religion will tell you that you have to pray more and fast more and give more and try harder and try longer and all of that is true if our heart’s desire is to honour God in all that we do.  If you’ve got this great big prayer list with 100 names on it and fifty personal needs and you’ve just got to get through it, even though your heart is not even in it, that is legalistic prayer. But if you desire to pray more because the Holy Spirit is convicting you to do so, and you recognize that you are falling short in your prayer life, then your immediate obedience is required and then God will be pleased with your effort and desire to correct that area of your spiritual life, for there are others depending on your prayers!

For example, statistics tell us that 1,500 pastors leave the ministry every month in North America for various reasons. That is why pastors need our prayers today like never before and it is a privilege for us to pray for them. Your pastor bears the heavy burden of caring for the flock. Many Christian homes are struggling today financially, relationally and emotionally and it’s hard on the spiritual shepherds who are responsible for their spiritual comfort and welfare. And if pastors themselves aren’t grounded in prayer and in the Word of God, and walking in the Holy Spirit, they will soon be defeated and sidelined by the mounting pressure and stress that they face and carry. Therefore, ask God to strengthen and revive their hearts. Pray that the Word of God will be preached in the pulpit faithfully with boldness and truth that will set people free from sin. Pray for a spirit of humility that will keep your pastor safe from pride and arrogance and a carnal desire to be popular.  Pray for protection over them from falling into temptation and immoral conduct which would devastate your church. God will honour that prayer! That’s the power and the privilege of prayer.

You’ve heard the phrase, “If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem”. The Church is the only solution for the insurmountable problems that are occurring in our nation today. We are entering into the period of what the Bible calls, “The time of Jacob’s trouble”. It is also referred to as“The Day of the Lord”,  a time of death and destruction such as the world has never known. Am I talking 50 years from now? 25 years from now? No—I personally believe it is much sooner than that according to the signs of the times all around us signalling the end—that is why we must pray! Some Christians who don’t seem to have a burden for prayer feel that if God is sovereign and in full control, what possible difference could their feeble prayers make? Prayer invokes all the power of Heaven at our disposal when we call upon the Lord—all things are possible through prayer!

I believe the majority of Christians are guilty of neglecting the privilege of prayer that ignites such incredible spiritual power—power that can literally transform any impossible situation! So, yes—prayer really can change things! If that were not true, then why bother praying? That would be the supreme exercise of futility if prayer had no effect whatsoever. In Acts 12, King Herod arrested the Apostle Peter to please the people, intending to put him to death the following day just as he had done to James. Peter was a dead man—and the church couldn’t do a thing about it! But what do we read in Act 12:5?  “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him”

Your prayers can subdue the powers of darkness in order for the Gospel to be preached and for souls to come to Christ. That is the privilege of prayer. To think that God would include us in His great plan of salvation to rescue souls from hell and damnation through our prayers—what an honour! It was Queen Esther’s desperate prayers that saved the Jewish race from annihilation at the hands of Haman. Esther’s intercessions overthrew his wicked plot to destroy God’s people. She was truly a privileged woman who God favoured to sit in a seat of royal authority having a righteous influence over the king. You and I also sit in a seat of royal authority—we are seated in Heavenly places with Christ and our prayers influence God in His righteous dealings with sinners and saints alike. What a privilege is prayer! To take part in a new name being written down in the Lamb’s book of Life! To participate in strengthening a hurting member of the family of God. Does it get any better that that? I don’t think so! “What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!” That is our special honour that God has graciously granted us in His Kingdom. Do not neglect such a great privilege that the Lord has bestowed upon you—the privilege to take part with Him in winning the lost and building His Church through prayer!

http://HisInscriptions.weebly.com/blog

If prayer were a dance, we would let God lead. Prayer is a relationship with God. We respond in obedience to God’s lead in prayer. He guides our prayers. He develops our prayer life.

Have ever you determined to rise early in the morning to pray like Jesus did in Mark 1:35? Many of us have done that. Be sure, that desire comes from the Holy Spirit within you. God is leading. And most of us have had this experience as well. God obviously woke you, but you lay there and went back to sleep? When you respond in obedience, your prayer life grows. But what do we do when we have flubbed it? Our enemy frantically works to make you give up and give in to our weakness and sin.

Keep asking God to help you, to change your attitudes, to give you a hunger for Him, to help you discipline yourself to grow in prayer. If you are growing in prayer you are probably in the habit of asking God to help in nearly every facet of your prayer life. Keep asking for Him to help you follow His lead.

Think the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it? There's a far better way.

“No one  can ask honestly or happily to be delivered from temptation unless he has

honestly and firmly determined to do the best he can to keep out of it.”

- John Ruskin

Is your future for sale? What would you eat in exchange for your soul?

You may be tempted to act impulsively to satisfy insistent appetites.

Stop to consider long-range effects before gobbling sinful morsels.

Old-world forbidden fruit tastes good, but has a bitter aftertaste.

Ordering from Satan’s menu is invariably asking for trouble.

With God’s help, Resist impulse buying in hell’s cafeteria.

Every temptation you resist will prove to be a victory.

Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew.

Esau ate and drank and went on about his business,

indifferent to the fact that he had given up his birthright.

Genesis 25:34 NLT

Johnny R. Almond

                Pastor, Colonial Beach Baptist Church, Virginia

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—Scripture Personalized

Book available through local bookseller or preferred on-line retailer.

Author’s blog www.GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com

[This devotion based on/adapted from Day 16 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity]             

Hi my name is Mike and my general nickname is: "Mikkimonkki"

This is my first post here on Pay! Network.

I came back to The Lord 12 month`s or so ago after running away from Him, or so I thought, for 25-30 years!

I was working fo Him as an Evangelist and previously as a Pastor.

He put tenderly put His arms around me and brought me home to His fold once again... Hallelujah!

I am now disabled with Spinal Stenosis and now retired as I am nearly 65yrs of age.

I am trying to develop my prayer life, and I would like to as if you could please give me some advice/tips on how to "Wait on the Lord in Prayer"... Thank you so much for letting me to become a member at "Pray! Network.

Yours in Him, Christ Our Lord

mikkimonkki

Hi my name is Mike and my general nickname is: "Mikkimonkki"

This is my first post here on Pay! Network.

I came back to The Lord 12 month`s or so ago after running away from Him, or so I thought, for 25-30 years!

I was working fo Him as an Evangelist and previously as a Pastor.

He put tenderly put His arms around me and brought me home to His fold once again... Hallelujah!

I am now disabled with Spinal Stenosis and now retired as I am nearly 65yrs of age.

I am trying to develop my prayer life, and I would like to as if you could please give me some advice/tips on how to "Wait on the Lord in Prayer"... Thank you so much for letting me to become a member here on "Pray! Network"

Yours in Chris Our Lord

Mikkimonkki

Please pray for California to receive water (precipitation). This state produces a ton of food, more than I ever knew before i looked up the CA department of food and agriculture web site. The consequences of drought in CA can negatively effect the whole country, easy. Pray for rain, snow, and miraculous intervention on the land. The following are some stats on food production for 2012. Boggles the mind on how much food come out from CA. 

California’s agricultural abundance includes more than 400 commodities. The state produces nearly half of US-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables. Across the nation, US consumers regularly purchase several crops produced solely in California.

California’s top-ten commodities for 2012 are:

Milk — $6.9 billion
Grapes — $4.449 billion
Almonds — $4.347 billion
Nursery plants — $3.543 billion
Cattle, Calves — $3.299 billion
Strawberries — $1.939 billion
Lettuce — $1.448 billion
Walnuts — $1.349 billion
Hay — $1.237 billion
Tomatoes — $1.170 billion

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 246 | Wed 05 Feb 2014

NIGERIA: ONE WEEK'S JIHAD IN THE NORTH

by Elizabeth Kendal

Boko Haram is waging a jihad to Islamise Nigeria. Their jihad is supported by al-Qaeda which is seeking to gain strategic depth in sub-Saharan Africa. Their base is in Borno State, in the far north-east of Nigeria. Meanwhile, Fulani Muslims are waging a jihad to colonise and extend control deeper into the Christian-dominated south. Their jihad is supported by Boko Haram and rogue Muslim elements within the security forces who see the advance of the Fulani as furthering their own goals. Their front-line is the Middle Belt, in particular the states of Kaduna and Plateau. This is classic Islamic jihad: strife/war/terror to expand the territory over which Islam rules.

* ADAMAWA STATE (north-east Nigeria, bordering northern Cameroon)

Sunday 26 January 2014: unknown gunmen attacked St Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Chakawa village in Madagali Local Government Area (LGA). They stormed the church, locked the doors behind them, threw improvised explosives (IEDs) and opened fire on the worshippers. Moses Yohanna told reporters that several believers had their throats slit. 'My brother was slaughtered like a ram,' he said. At least 45 Christians were killed in the attack. Rahilla Ibrahim, who is pregnant, lost her husband and child and her home was burnt. According to a local Muslim, the militants set up a road block in a nearby area where they killed many Christians, before attacking Chakawa. Nigerian media report that a new tactic of Boko Haram appears to be attacking highways, including the use of 'snap road blocks'.

Friday 31 January: unknown gunmen attacked the EYN Church [Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria / the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria] at Sabon Gari Gemadai in Madagali LGA around 8:30pm when a prayer vigil was being held. The attackers opened fire on the worshippers, killing the pastor and ten members of the congregation. Two church members are reported to be missing.

* BORNO STATE (far north-east)

Sunday 26 January: Boko Haram militants in 26 vehicles, including two armoured personnel carriers and six vans painted in army colours, attacked the weekly farmers' market in Kawuri Village in Konduga LGA. They torched over 300 homes and opened fire on the local population. Dozens have been hospitalised and 85 are dead. Some were shot or burnt. Others were killed later by IEDs planted throughout the area. In total more than 4000 people were affected, with over 2000 becoming internally displaced.

Friday 31 January: seven people were killed and three others seriously injured when their bus ran over an IED on the Gwoza-Madagali road near Kuthra village.

* KADUNA STATE (Middle Belt)

Friday 31 January: a mob of around 20 Fulani herdsmen (Muslims) invaded Manchok town in Kaura LGA, southern (Christian-dominated) Kaduna about 1 am. They set fire to at least one home and massacred a Christian family of seven, six of them slaughtered 'silently' as they slept in their beds. Traumatised and distraught relatives then launched a reprisal attack on a nearby Fulani settlement. Tensions are soaring. Though stationed in the area, security forces arrived at the scene only hours later, once the killers had long gone. At the funeral, Manchok Gaiya, the Catechist of St Francis Catholic Church, queried how such an attack could go unchallenged in an area that boasts a high concentration of security officers.

As Christian Solidarity notes: 'Kaura LGA borders Plateau State and is in relatively close proximity to Riyom, Bokkos and Birkin Ladi LGAs, where night attacks on non-Muslim villages have occurred regularly since 2010.' 'And how many cities have We destroyed, and Our punishment came to them at night or while they were sleeping at noon.' (Quran, Sura 7:4)


Despite jihad, Christian mission is strong and Muslims are turning to the Lord in unprecedented numbers. This is ultimately a spiritual battle.


PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL -

* give the Nigerian government the clarity, conviction and courage to deny the Islamists their goals and preserve Nigeria as a united, secular state into the future.

* intervene to protect his people, confound the enemy and empower all Christian witness.

May those who seek to turn back the battle, find their wisdom and strength in the LORD of hosts. 'In that day the LORD of hosts will be . . . strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.' (Isaiah 28:5,6 ESV)

* stir up deep compassion and righteous indignation in the free and prosperous southern Christians to take up the cause of the profoundly suffering church in the north in a new, fresh and revitalised way, such that prayer and mission flow out on an unprecedented scale.


SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE

NIGERIAN JIHAD

Christians in Nigeria's north-east continue to suffer at the hands of the al-Qaeda-linked Boko Haram which is waging a jihad to Islamise Nigeria. Meanwhile, Christians in the volatile Middle Belt - Nigeria's ethnic-religious fault-line - continue to suffer at the hands of Fulani Muslims who, with the support of Boko Haram and rogue security forces, conduct night raids to slaughter Christians while they sleep. Whole communities are being terrorised off their lands. Christians in Northern Nigeria are repressed, persecuted and traumatised. They are being attacked and killed while at worship in their churches. Despite this, mission is strong and Muslims are turning to the Lord in unprecedented numbers. This is a spiritual battle. Please pray for Nigeria and its Church.


To view this RLPB with hyperlinks or to access RLPB and RLM archives, visit the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin blog at http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com

We suggest that churches and fellowships using the Summary above might also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their worship by people who are leading in prayer.

This RLPB was written by Elizabeth Kendal, an international religious liberty analyst and advocate, and is issued as a ministry of the Evangelical Alliance in Australia.

Elizabeth Kendal is the author of 'Turn Back the Battle: Isaiah speaks to Christians today' (Deror Books, Dec. 2012) http://turnbackthebattle.com/thebook.html

Elizabeth is Adjunct Research Fellow in the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths at the Melbourne School of Theology. She is Director of Advocacy for Christian Faith & Freedom based in Canberra, Australia.

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I recently heard of an excellent idea for grandparents to use for Valentines for their grandchildren that I would like to share with you.

For example, send them a Valentine with two five-dollar bills (or whatever amount you desire.) One five-dollar bill is your love gifts to them, the other five-dollar bill is for them to show love forward to someone in need. This will give you an opportunity to discuss different options of how they can show love to others. Then ask them to report to you how they showed their love forward.

We read in 1 John 4:11, “Dear Friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” I John 4:11.

Here is a Valentine’s Prayer you can share in the Valentine for Your Grandchild.

Dear God, give ________ a good heart:

©      a heart that is gentle, tender, and teachable

©      a heart that loves You

©      a heart that wants to obey You

©      a heart You can use for Your glory

In Jesus name, Amen.

By Lillian Penner

“’Tis man’s to fight, but Heaven’s to give success.”

- Homer, Iliad, 9^th century B.C.

Succeeding by heaven’s definition is greater than succeeding by human standards.

Winning the fight of faith is infinitely more fulfilling than winning the Super Bowl.

Cheering fans, media coverage, and worldwide fame fade before God’s smile.

If we dare travel a road paved with grace, God promises enduring success.

He designed a purpose for our journey and a unique mission statement.

God has assigned work to us He has not entrusted to other people.

Heaven’s part in our success is to keep holding us together,

dispatch angel battalions to watch over us in our journey,

direct us by signs, and encircle us with kindness.  

Our part is to humbly walk in God’s Presence,

obey His clear instructions, wait patiently,

and above all else to pray as we go.

Yearning for authentic success?

The Lord will do His part.

Will we do ours?  

The Lord, in whose presence I have walked, will send his angel with you

and will make your mission successful.

Genesis 24:40 NLT

Johnny R. Almond

                Pastor, Colonial Beach Baptist Church, Virginia

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—Scripture Personalized

Book available through local bookseller or preferred on-line retailer.

Author’s blog www.GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com

[This devotion was based on/adapted from Day 15 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity]

A woman is struggling in the icy waters of the north Atlantic. She is on the last of her strength when she sees a lifeboat from the sunken ship headed her way. When the boat is near enough they throw her a life saver. In wild desperation she grabs it and is saved. That is a parable of faith.

A woman who has had an issue of blood for twelve years sees Jesus and says to herself, “If I can only touch Him, I will be healed.” She sneaks up behind and touches the hem of His garment, and is immediately healed. Jesus stops the crowd and draws her out. “Woman,” He tells her, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” But at that time Jesus was hurrying to the house of a man whose daughter was at the point of death. Now people arrive from the house of the man saying they are too late. His daughter is dead. Jesus turns to the man saying, “Do not fear. Only believe.” Jesus is not telling him to have a positive attitude. He is telling him to trust Him.

Faith is the grasp of prayer. It is clinging to Jesus. The drowning woman was not saved by grasping at the water or the air. She could not hold to the sinking ship and be saved. She had to grab hold of the life preserver to keep from drowning. Jesus is the only life saver. Take hold of Him in faith.

“The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present, but it is a source of inspiration, vitality and hope.

It enables a man to hold his head high, to claim the future for himself and not to abandon it to his enemy.”

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison (1953)

How would you describe your usual outlook on the future?

“The Lord might provide?”—hoping for divine help to survive.  

“The Lord could provide”—feeling God will help if He chooses to.

“The Lord will provide”—exercising radical faith whatever happens.

If death occurs, there will ultimately be a day of resurrection.

Whatever we need between now and not yet, God will furnish.

If nothing works out like we wish, God will strengthen our character.

If hard times come along, we will still be able to find reasons to be grateful.

It is good to keep in mind that the cross is a plus sign—

changing negativism to positivism, checkmating death by life,

canceling transgression by forgiveness, conquering hate by love,

eclipsing crucifixion by resurrection, converting skeptics into believers.

We can be optimistic because God’s infinite power sustains, and His unfailing love comforts.

We can be optimistic because God promises that goodness will prevail at the dawn of eternity.

God looks on the bright side—far brighter than we could ever imagine from our limited perspective.

Rest assured—the future is just as bright as the trustworthy promises of the quintessential Eternal Optimist.

The Lord Will Provide.

Genesis 22:14 NLT

Johnny R. Almond

                Pastor, Colonial Beach Baptist Church, Virginia

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—Scripture Personalized

Book available through local bookseller or preferred on-line retailer.

Author’s blog www.GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com

[This devotion based on / adapted from Day 14 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity]