Pray Network Forum

This week, we're turning the Spotlight on Ron Edwards, a relatively new member of PrayNetwork.  Ron is located in Australia and joined the Network on July 1, 2015.

PN: Ron, how did you first come to be interested in prayer?

Ron: I began to experience prayer as spiritual warfare when I took my company Christian Press into the secular marketplace under the name Care & Share Products.  We focused on offering scripture cards and gifts.  The company began to come under intense spiritual attack, and I realized then that prayer is spiritual warfare and that I was involved in it whether I realized it or not.

PN: What's your favorite passage about prayer and why?

Ron: It's Ephesians 6:18, "Therefore give yourselves wholly to prayer and entreaty; pray on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit". In context, this verse ties prayer in with the armor of God and spiritual warfare, and this summarizes well my experience in prayer.

PN: What topic(s) of prayer make your heart beat faster?

Ron: With the perspective of spiritual warfare, I'm particularly interested in prayer as a means of binding the strong man (Matthew 12:29; Luke 10:19). Satan is our spiritual enemy, the strong man, and prayer is our main weapon for binding him.

PN: What has been your best experience of prayer in community?

Ron: Praying with Transforming Sidney.  We saw the kind of unity that Jesus himself prayed for evident across denominations, age, and nationalities as we came together in this prayer event.

PN: What resources would you recommend on prayer?

Ron: The Way of Victorious Praying by Zacharias Tanee Fomum and Handle with Prayer by Charles Stanley.  Also, for praying in community, Joe Aldrich's Prayer Summits.

PN: What word of encouragement do you have for the PrayNetwork community?

Ron: God stirs up prayer movements and prayer warriors to stem the tide of people turning away from him.  We've seen this in Australia, as a renewed emphasis on prayer has resulted from our country's movement toward ejecting God from its life.  God does not give up on us!

PN:  Ron doesn't have a profile set up on PrayNetwork yet, but you can find out more about him at his sites,

www.livingeternal.net

www.buildakingdombusiness.com

Also, check out Ron's homepage on PrayNetwork for a Powerpoint presentation sharing his insights on praying effectively.

PrayNetwork.org Spotlight by Andrew Wheeler.

See Andrew's website at www.togetherinprayer.net

During this autumn season, I am reminded of my childhood, growing up on a wheat farm in Oklahoma. In the summer after the wheat harvest, my father would prepare the soil for the next year’s harvest and in the autumn, he would sow the wheat seed. Throughout the winter months, we would wait for the rains to water the seed and wait for it to come up and watch it grow. In the spring, we would see the wheat heads form and ripen to a golden color for the harvest in early June. We simply had faith that once the seed was in the ground, rains would come, nature would take its course and the golden heads of wheat would be ready to be harvested next summer.  

Asking God for what we desire for our grandchildren and their parents when we are praying for them, reminds me of sowing seed. Once we have asked in prayer, things start happening behind the scenes, whether we are asleep or awake, God is at work, preparing an answer to our prayers. In God’s timing the answer will be evident and we will “reap” the results of our seed sown with our prayers.  

However, we must have faith trusting God is at work even when it seems like nothing is happening while we are wait for the seed (prayers) to sprout, grow, and bring forth a harvest.    

One little seed has a lot of potential, it seems so small, but under the right conditions, this one seed can grow into a plant that will yield a great harvest! Spiritual multiplication is the same. The seed (prayers) that we sow in the lives of our grandchildren and their parents will produce a harvest, even into the future generations.

•  Pray your grandchildren will allow God to prepare the soil of their hearts for planting.
• Pray your grandchildren will invite Jesus Christ into their hearts.
• Pray their hearts will be watered with God’s Word for the seed to grow.
• Pray they will allow the Holy Spirit to control their hearts.
• Pray they will experience God’s presence and love in their hearts when being weeded and pruned with disappointments in the challenges of life.

Questions: What are you asking God in faith for your grandchildren today?

Are you fully trusting God with the seeds of prayers that you are sowing to bring forth a harvest in the lives of your grandchildren?  

“And let us not grow weary while doing good,

for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9, NKJV).

If you join the mailing list for this blog I will send you a free downloadable document of “Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren.” I would appreciate your comments about how you are sowing seeds in the lives of your grandchildren. If you are on Facebook "like" and share the Grandparenting with a Purpose fan page, so this blog will reach many more grandparents.

By Lillian Penner, National Prayer Coordinator, Christian Grandparenting Network

In this foundational prayer Jesus told us to pray for God's will to be done. Our sin and the subsequent fall has spun our world and our hearts out of the will of God. Only God can restore us to the way things ought to be. This is one of the most powerful aspects of prayer. But there is much more to praying for God's will than simply mouthing these words in a rote prayer. Let me suggest two critical factors of consistently praying in obedience to this directive from Jesus, Discernment of His will and Desire for His will.

To pray for God's will, I must learn learn to discern God's will in various situations. That begins in exposing myself to God's word. God powerfully and personally reveals Himself to us in the Bible. As we apply ourselves to learning Scripture, the Holy Spirit speaks to us.

A more important facet of discerning God's will is the transformation of your mind, indeed your entire character. Romans 12:2 says, "Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God." God makes us more and more like Him. The verse just before calls us to present our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice. Transformation is a process that takes a lifetime. But every day of His work, often painful to our pride and self-centeredess, produces character, confidence and spiritual maturity. God shapes us in His image, in the likeness of Jesus, so we can know and understand His will. Through this process we come to desire His will. We learn in practice what we usually know superficially, that the best thing that can ever happen is what God desires whether it is what we want or not. Our joy increases exponentially as we come to delight in his will.

I need to note one other blessing that comes as we learn pray for God's will. He gives powerful assurance. 1 John 5:14-15 reads, "This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."

http://daveswatch.com/

http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

​One of the complaints I hear most often from believers is that they feel like they don’t hear from God. “It’s easy for you,” they say, “but God just doesn’t speak to me like that!”

It is understandable that an unsaved person might not hear from God, lacking a personal relationship with Him. Yet sincere, seeking Christians can also have trouble being confident in what they are hearing.

Read More Here - His Inscriptions Blog - Deborah Perkins

EFFECTIVE%20PRAYER.ppt

Hope this will be of value.

Why should the blessing of a praying grandparent be limited to his or her own grandchildren? We have the opportunity to stand in the gap for many children in our churches, as well as children of acquaintances who do not have praying grandparents. My husband and I have found that God has placed people in our lives because He wants us to pray for them.   

Jesus Had a Heart for Children

Jesus had a special place in his heart for children, and if we want to have a heart like Jesus, we will have a heart for children. Jesus tells the disciples, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14).

Children today are growing up in an increasingly hostile world, receiving many conflicting messages through a media-driven culture that is trying to capture their minds. We cannot shelter them from the world, but we can stand in the gap for them and pray a hedge of protection around them.    

A Surrogate Grandchild

In 1989, when Patty was fourteen, she and her parents immigrated to the United States from Colombia, South America. Soon after their arrival, my husband and I befriended her family; she asked us if we would be her surrogate grandparents. We were delighted to accept the role and have been praying for Patty as she has gone through high school, college, and medical school and now as a college professor. There are many miles between us, but we stay connected with telephone calls, e-mails, and prayer.   

Patty wrote to us saying, “God has poured His love on me by knowing I have praying grandparents, it has made a huge difference in my life, especially during the difficult times in my studies.”  

In addition to Patty, we have been praying for several other surrogate grandchildren. We are humbled and encouraged when we see our prayers answered in their lives. God has blessed us with the privilege to stand in the gap for these dear children as they have grown up; it has literally expanded our family, and a vital ministry for us.   

I am sure there are young families in your church or neighborhood who would love to have surrogate grandparents praying for their children.

I hope this blog will encourage you to invest in the lives of children who do not have praying grandparents you can love and pray for them. If you have surrogate grandchildren for whom you are praying, please comment to this blog or send me an email.

Ask yourself: Has God placed some children your neighborhood or your church that need praying surrogate grandparents?

Lillian Penner, National Prayer Coordinator

Christian Grandparenting Network, lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net

​

Despite all of our divisions and denominations, the great test for every Christian is the test of love. Can we love without judging, when our brother believes differently than we do? Can we rejoice in the preaching of the gospel by those "less qualified" than ourselves? Can we allow for differences of opinion and interpretation while still agreeing on the essentials of the faith? 

This is the great test for every Christian: not simply to preach the gospel ourself, but to allow others to preach Christ in the knowledge they have attained, however limited. Paul recognized this in his letter to the Philippians. Instead of being upset by those who preached Christ out of "selfish ambition" or even contention, he rejoiced that the gospel was being preached at all! (SeePhilippians 1:15-18). Sometimes, even those who attack our faith end up drawing more attention to it, instead of causing its demise.

Click here to continue article:

the-test-of-love

We pray for so many things. I saw two prayer requests this week for sick and suffering dogs. I think that is legitimate. Those who lifted the requests loved their animals. Our prayers should reflect the concerns and passions of our hearts. But it is crucial for us to have right priorities of desire and concerns. Jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of God. Are you praying for the kingdom?

The day will come when the kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. In 2 Peter 3:11-12 we find these words.

"Since all these things are to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening, the coming of the day of God."

We are to wait for and hasten that day. Now let me ask you what we could do to hasten the culmination of history?

It is legitimate to pray as John prayed at the end of The Revelation. "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" But there is more that we can do and pray in this regard. In Matthew 24 Jesus gave us signs of the end times. And in verse 14 He said, "This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all people groups, and then the end will come."

Are you praying for the spread of the gospel, the spread of the Kingdom?  Do you have lists of missionaries that you pray for every day? Are you praying for the gospel to be brought to unreached and unengaged people groups? www.operationworld.org/ is great place to begin. They have the definitive prayer guide for people groups around the world. You can also find information on praying for the spread of the gospel at www.imb.org/ or on the websites of other mission agencies. We can pray for His kingdom to come.

Next week we will look at praying for God's will.

http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/

daveswatch.com/

In the wake of several brutal terror attacks around the Temple Mount over the weekend, hundreds gathered Sunday in the historic Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem to pray. These were joined by millions of Christians united globally for The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem (DPPJ).

Over 1400 global Christian leadersendorse this growing prayer movement calling believers to intercede for the city God calls His own and to invoke God’s blessing, purposes, and provision upon all of Jerusalem’s people. Hispanic evangelical leader the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, oversees more than 500,000 Latino churches globally that participate each year. Dr. Jeff Farmer, President of Pentecostal/Charismatic Church of North America (PCCNA) – which represents over 480,000 churches and nearly 90 million followers of Christ worldwide – has also recently endorsed the DPPJ.

From over 175 nations, believers gathered to pray in their churches and homes from cities to rural villages, from huts to mansions, and from cathedrals to underground churches in China and seven Muslim countries. They also joined in intercession via the prayer app “Instapray” and on a global 24 Hour Prayer Conference Call. (Photo: DPPJ in Seoul Korea, Oct. 4th)

Broadcast by GOD TV to 500 million viewers in almost 200 nations, people were also able to participate in the special Jerusalem DPPJ Celebration - hosted by Eagles’ Wings Founder / Executive Director Rev.Robert Stearns - at Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem. Christ Church is the oldest Protestant Church in the Middle East. Host Pastor Rev. David Pileggi (photo at right) opened the service in prayer and shared that “the very motto of Christ Church since 1830 has been: ‘Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.’ ” Some of the speakers included: Anne Ayalon, President of The Galilean Project & Christian Friends of Magen David Adom Israel (and the wife of Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel, Daniel Ayalon); Ken Howard of Christian Friends of Israel; Rev. Petra Heldt, of The Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity; Rick Ridings, Founder of Succat Hallel; 24/7 House of Prayer; Peter Tsukahira, Director of Or HaCarmel Ministry Center, and keynote speaker Canon Andrew White – popularly known as the "Vicar of Baghdad".

Normally the guest speakers also include many Jewish religious and governmental leaders as well but this year, the first Sunday of October coincided with the holiday of Simchat Torah, which limited Jewish participation.

This multi-national, multi-denominational global prayer movement was started in 2002 and is co-chaired by Evangelical Christian leaders Rev. Robert Stearns, Dr. Jack W. Hayford, and Dr. Paul Cedar.

With more than 40 nations represented in the sanctuary and almost 200 nations watching the broadcast, Rev. Stearns issued a strong challenge to the nations: “Don’t ask God to bless your city unless you bless His city – Jerusalem. Don’t ask God to bless your family unless you bless His family – the Jewish people. In Jerusalem we will see The Mashiach (Messiah) reign in glory and power!” He also added, “God has a blessing for both the sons of Isaac and the sons of Ishmael.”

“The Vicar of Baghdad”, Canon Andrew White, who was educated in Jerusalem at both Hebrew University and a Jewish Yeshiva, shared a story from his present work as President of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, which led him recently to gather key Rabbis and several Islamic Ayatollahs. After 3 challenging days together, the Rabbis said to the Ayatollahs: “We have heard your story and now we love you.” The Ayatollahs responded to the Rabbis: “We hated you, but we have looked into your eyes; once you were our enemies but now you are our friends.” White said: “God is at work amongst us. What we know is that the Lord is here. Ultimately, we will see the power of God come forth from Israel to the nations.”

The Jerusalem DPPJ celebration was saturated in prayer for God’s city and people. “We pray that as Christian brothers and sisters we no longer can be silent among the nations…bind us together with our Jewish brothers and sisters, for together we are the family of the One True God,” prayed Ken Howard of Christian Friends of Israel. Rev. Dr. Heldt prayed for the five orphans who had just lost their parents on Shabbat of Sukkot in a brutal terror attack, lamenting that a high time of praise became a high time of sorrow. “Lord, we beseech you to take the place of the children’s parents who were murdered by the hatred of men. We pray for the nations who are full of hatred against Jerusalem; please make their hearts as tender as the heart of Abraham who served you with all his soul.”  As one of the few Asian Christian leaders in Israel, Peter Tsukahira prayed that God would plant a seed in the hearts of Christians from all of the Asian nations and the Far East, and raise up millions from those lands to “stand as watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem.” And as Jesus taught His disciples, Rick Ridings led those gathered in praying a blessing even over those who would perpetrate violence and terror against the Jewish and Christian communities in the Middle East.

Throughout the 24 hours of October 4^th, over 500 believers from around the world also prayed together through the 24-Hour DPPJ Prayer Conference Call hosted by www.greatercalling.org. Callers representing many states in the U.S. were joined by believers from the nations, praying a total of 17,472 combined minutes of prayer, which is the equivalent to one person praying for the peace of Jerusalem non-stop for more than 12 days.

Social media was also a key part of October 4^th with global believers joining one another in prayer for the peace of Jerusalem through the world’s leading prayer app,Instapray. As soon as one person would release their written prayer for Jerusalem, a multitude of others from the US and places like India, France, Australia, Brazil, Mozambique, South Korea, Nepal, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, and even Iran, immediately sent back messages saying that they too had prayed that prayer for Jerusalem.

The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem – on the first Sunday of every October - is the largest Jerusalem-focused prayer initiative in the world, involving tens of millions of believers participating each year from over 175 nations. It is endorsed by prominent Christian leaders worldwide, including T.D Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Michael W. Smith, Dick Eastman, Ron Luce, Kay Arthur, Jane Hansen Hoyt, K.P. Yohannan, Ravi Zacharias, Dr. Raleigh Washington, Kenneth Copeland, Lance Wallnau, Larry Stockstill, Bishop Charles Scott, The Newsboys, Dennis Balcombe, Sunday Adelaja, and many more.

I would like to send you a free downloadable copy of  “31 Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren” which have helped me and many others to pray for our grandchildren.

 I have found when I pray according to God’s Word, I am in line with His will. I not only find myself in intimate communication with God, but my mind is renewed to His perspective about the situation for which I am praying, instead of my own thoughts. 

Nothing threatens the enemy (Satan) more than when we are intentionally praying God’s Word for our children, grandchildren, their parents and ourselves. We read in Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is living and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12” (NLT)

I also like the Bible verse in Isaiah 55:11,

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

 It shall not return to Me void,  

 but it shall accomplish what I please, . . . (NKJV)

 It tells me that God’s Word will not return void. 

When I started claiming God’s promises and personalizing his Word I experienced more confidence, boldness and peace in my praying. I believe God’s Word puts power in our prayer life. The movie War Room focused predominantly on the importance of prayer and how speaking to God directly can help people change our lives. Claim God’s promises for your grandchildren and their parents. There are many scriptures in Psalms, Proverbs, the gospels, and Paul’s writings can be used in our prayer.

Here is an example:  Accept Advice    I pray that Susan will listen to constructive criticism and correction, and through it gain understanding. Proverbs 15:31,32

 If you complete the form (on the right) to receive the blogs regularly with grandparenting suggestions on my website, or if you email me, I will send you a free downloadable copy of the “31 Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren”. We have distributed these Scriptures to thousands of grandparents and I hope you too, will find them helpful in praying intentionally for your grandchildren. “31 Scriptures to Pray for your Grandchildren” is available in English and Spanish. To receive the Spanish translations email me at info@gdptpr.com .

By Lillian Penner, National Prayer Coordinator, Christian Grandparenting Network

lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net

Could you have your prayer group specifically pray for the Atlanta team as they make calls to every local church.

Specific Prayer Request:

 Pray for all callers as they gather information and make contact with each church

·         That they can speak with the pastor, church outreach pastor, or the church representative

·         Have divine appointments with pastors

·         Every follow-up email will be opened and read

·         Churches catch the vision and the urgency of My Hope this year

·         Churches register and order the materials they need

·         Pray for the harvest

·         Pray for Atlanta

·         Pray for safety as team members travel around visiting churches.

“Pray for me.” Driving home from preaching at a Sunday worship service, thinking about the next sermon I would present to the congregation a few weeks later, these words shot across my mind. “Pray for me.” None other than the apostle Paul, asking Christians in Ephesus (6:19) to pray for him. Those three words immediately became the text of my next sermon.

Certainly the scriptures contain these words because yet two thousand years later, the Church needs to hear and heed his appeal. It is the appeal of the Holy Spirit to remind us to “pray for one another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16) and “too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ” (Colossian 4:3).

As daily life becomes more stressful and as families struggle to survive or even merely to function, members of the Body of Christ need to be schooled and skilled in responding to this sometime agonizing plea; “pray for me.” In increasing measure, even the most veteran Christ-followers are in need of prayer that results in physical healing, an emotional strengthening of hope, or a practical blessing of help. We must hear this appeal when listening to the “how are you?” responses from the newest believer to the most revered servant leader. No one is immune from the trials and troubles of life. As the apostle said, “always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18).

“Pray for me” praying, is the ability to enter into the pressures and problems of the simplest personal story with “powerful and effective” prayers (James 5:16). For our peers. Youth or a child in distress. Fracturing families. Weary leaders . Praying for them like Epaphras, “always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Colosians 4:12).

“Pray for me” is a call, sometimes a cry, for help that we must respond to by praying beyond temporal circumstances toward a deepening discipleship in the life of the person we pray for. So that. So that they stand strong, unmovable in their faith in God’s good will no matter what swirls around them, mature in their response to even an evil enemy, and fully assured “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

“Pray for me” is also a trumpet blast for the Gospel; a call to advance the message of Christ into the lives of neighbors and neighborhoods, near and far.

The apostle issued his request for intercession so “that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19. In other words, pray for me so that I have opportunities to witness to the salvation God presents in Jesus our Lord.

“Pray for me” is both reactive and proactive. Reactive, when we petition the Lord on behalf of another as a response to the defeats and dis-eases that have inflicted them. Proactive, when we pray toward a future of new opportunities to advance the life-transforming message of our Savior.

Sadly, the standard “pray for me” prayer so many of us offer is inadequate. The enemy we battle calls for a strategy that is more scriptural and more spiritual. Merely praying louder or longer will not bring victory. This three-word plea needs a three-letter strategy: A-s-k.

            For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;                       

            and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:8

The Lord has instructed us to ask. Paul told us “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, (to) present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Our problem is not that we refuse or fail to ask. Our weakness is that in asking, we begin with conclusions rather than starting with questions. We mostly tell God information he already knows (he is omniscient, remember?) and conclude with solutions we have determined are best in each case. And, sometimes God’s grace gives us what we want, when we want it, in the way we want it. Sometimes.

Asking that begins with questions takes longer. Requires listening. Even learning. Sounds like, well, the teaching of our Lord in Matthew 7:8. He told us to ask and to seek. Asking-by-telling has no need of seeking, other than to wait for the response we have outlined in our prayer instructions to the Almighty. But asking-by-questioning is a radically different approach. After all, when you ask a question, the sensible thing to do is to be still, even silent, so you can hear the answer and discern next steps.

            For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds;

            and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. Matthew 7:8 Amplified

So, when someone asks you to “pray for me,” don’t. Not until you have asked a few questions. Not until the asking of questions shifts your prayers from your best thoughts and wishes to discerning what is in the Father’s heart (2 Thessalonians 3:5), the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), and the ministry of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:8).

So, when someone asks you to pray for them, first ask . . .

• Ask the Holy Spirit to pray through you (Romans 8:26) ... Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you (Ephesians 5:18) (“let the Spirit stimulate your soul” Phillips) then seek (yield) to his leading
• Ask the person for a brief description of the who-what-where-when-why of their presenting-problem ... then ask (and listen) to them answer “how” they see/sense/discern God’s presence/ purposes in the midst of the circumstances they are asking you to pray about
• ... this may be an opportunity to ask them to pray from the insights they have just shared with you because it may be the first time they have allowed the Lord to reveal his presence and promises in the midst of their problem
• ... as they pray, ask the Spirit to give you insight into how to respond; pray from something they said? Share a scripture? Ask them what they heard from the Lord as they were praying?
• Ask others to join you in prayer. It may be appropriate to invite one or a few other persons to join you in a prayer circle for the person who asked for prayer. Ask first for that person’s permission, explaining this is like hearing in stereo when several listen and discern at the same time.
• Ask both trusted veteran intercessors as well as someone who needs deeper discipling in prayer (this will become a learning lab for them).
• Ask for feedback. After prayer (yours, the persons you have invited to pray with you for this friend, or after the person requesting prayer has said a prayer), ask a simple, wide-open question: “Have you (has anyone) received a scripture verse or a thought we might consider for further praying?” If someone shares, simply go back to asking the Holy Spirit for leading, guiding, focusing.
• Ask the person receiving prayer to update you about the issue but make the commitment to reach out if they do not give you a timely reply.

            And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.                                                 Matthew 21:22

Ask. Questions, that is.

Seek. Stop, be silent, search scripture.

Knock . When you know you’ve heard the will of God, then knock the door down!a

 “Sending prayers your way.” Please don’t! There is little to nothing I can do with prayers sent my way. If you want to pray for me, please send your prayers to God, who can not only hear them, but is able to respond. I know I’ve written about this before, but I keep seeing it on social media, and it makes me wonder if the person sending the prayers knows much about biblical prayer. To my knowledge, nowhere in the Bible does it say that anyone other than God hears and responds to prayer. What the Bible does quote God saying is, “Call to Me, and I will answer you” (Jeremiah 33:3). The Psalmist said, “I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication” (Psalm 142:1). I know the sentiment is good, but I for one would prefer getting the wording correct, if for no other reason, so I know that the one praying knows what they are doing. Apologies if this offends, but if we’re going to pray, let’s get it right.

There are many organizations and sites devoted to praying for the United States.  One of the largest is the Presidential Prayer Team.  Founded in 2001, PPT is a source of prayer information and requests for all three branches of our government, plus a source of prayer for international events.  The PPT is chaired by Franklin Graham, CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

I have a good word from the Lord to share with you. To give you the context, my spiritual mother has a favorite saying for raising children: "You do what's important them at the time." When you invest in what's important to your children at the time, they come to know the love you have for them. We have a Father who parents us this way, too. What's important to us is always important to Him, because His goal is always to show us how much He loves us. Listen in on my time with the Lord this morning. I know you'll be blessed, and I pray His tender words will lead you deeply into His Presence, as they did for me.

"Enter In! Enter in to the fellowship of the gospel! It is fellowship with Me that you seek above all, and it is fellowship with you that I desire. My heart is satisfied in your presence just as yours is satisfied in Mine. A Father delights in being with his children, because they are a reflection of who he is. His children bring him joy each time they come. To see their faces, to kiss their cheeks, this is how I feel about you, child. No one understands you better than Me, because I made you. I spend time with you. I know you intimately, and you do not challenge or threaten me. I am bigger than you are - stronger - ready to handle whatever you throw My way! Even your accusations fall short of Me, for I know what is truly in your heart, says the Lord. Do not be afraid to enter in to My Presence. All the way has been cleared. My schedule is free. My arms are open. There is nothing more important on my agenda than to meet with you. In fact, I don't have an agenda when it comes to you. My goal for you is to make you know the depth of My love, at any and all cost. When you change direction, I will follow you, overtake you, restore you. You cannot escape from the love of this Father! My heart is open wide to you, completely free, completely at peace. You have nothing to fear in My love. Enter in, child - enter in.

Philippians 1:9

c. Deborah Perkins / His Inscriptions

Our grandkids are going back to school in a culture where secular humanists have attempted to develop a secular society, they have very strategically and very intentionally whittled away at our Godly heritage, until they have developed a country in which prayer has been removed from schools, being a Christian is scorned, and talking about Jesus is unacceptable.

We, as grandparents are in a battle for the minds and hearts of our dear grandchildren as they go back to school. The enemy is trying to steal their lives and the plans God has for them. In addition to trying to destroy their faith, the enemy is trying to destroy the morals of our country, especially the family unit. It is urgent that we stand in the gap to pray for the spiritual, emotional, and physical protection of our grandchildren and their parents so they do not become victims of our culture.   

For that reason, Christian Grandparenting Network has a passion to encourage and equip grandparents to pray for their grandchildren. Our mission is to challenge grandparents around the world to intentionally and regularly come together to pray, interceding for their grandchildren, children and communities.

That is why we have organized “Grandparents@Prayer” (G@P) intercessory prayer groups. Our goal is to encourage grandparents to be prayer warriors through the personal discipline of intercessory prayer in the battle against the enemy. We encourage grandparents to meet together in small or large groups on a regular basis to unite in prayer at a designated location for 1 hour or longer for prayer and fellowship.

In Isaiah 58:6 we read, “loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke.”  We can break these chains  by “standing in the gap” with prayer for our dear grandchildren.  Just as Esther stood in the gap for her people, the Jews, when they were physically threatened. Today, we as grandparents can stand in the gap with prayer for our grandchildren as the enemy threatens their spiritual lives.  

I have found uniting in prayer with other grandparents for my grandchildren is a special blessing for me because God has answered many prayers. We now have a number of G@P intercessory groups meeting in about 20 states, Canada and South Africa, in retirement Centers, schools, churches and homes.  We would like to see the number of G@P groups grow since there is such an urgency for prayer. Some of the groups meet weekly, some twice a month or once a month, whatever the group desires. Since Grandparents’ Day of Prayer we have had many requests for guidelines and additional information.

Ask God whom he would like you to ask to join you in prayer to cover your grandchildren with prayer, as they will be navigating in a world hostile to truth as they go back to school. Ask your friends, church senior group, neighbors, family members or whom ever to join you in prayer. Check out the following website to learn more about the G@P prayer groups, complete the form and I will send you additional information.  http://www.christiangrandparenting.net/prayer/grandparents-prayer/introduction-to-g-p

You may also email me at lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net

The legacy of a praying grandparent will live on forever.

By Lillian Penner

National Prayer Coordinator

Christian Grandparenting Network

Attended the All Nations Prayer Gathering at HisStory Church 1/56-60 Parramatta Rd, Lidcombe on Monday September 21st. Pastor David Hadi and Pastor John Kim hosted the event. Representatives of the Chinese, Korean, Indonesian, Malaysian Churches as well as Traditional Australian Churches were present. It was good to see some young people there and they were prayed for by the elders which was a time of special blessing for all. John 17 unity was evident and I believe a significant step was taken for Kingdom rule in this State if not the Nation.

It has been over 100 years since there has been a major move of God in the city. A video on the history of Revival and major moves of God can be seen here:   Let The Fire Fall video

On Friday, October 9th The Sunlite Broadcasting Network and The Chicago Bible Society will be holding a special prayer meeting for revival in the city. The event will be held at 7PM in The Cornerstone Center, 1111 N. Wells, Street in Leslie Hall. The Center is located approximately four blocks north of the Moody Bible Institute.

We are praying for a mighty move of the Holy Spirit to begin and we will also be ministering to the needs of those in attendance, you cordially invited to attend on Friday, October 9th

God Bless you

Allan Winters, President Sunite Broadcasting Network

In Ephesus 5:14-15 Paul writes, "For this reason I bow before the Father from whom Every family in heaven and earth derives its name."

The Lord's Prayer does not simply teach us to say the words, "Our Father which art in heaven." Jesus is calling us to bow our hearts to our Heavenly Father. The privilege of coming to God as our father represents ultimate intimacy and majesty. I remember my sister and I running out to meet my father and throwing ourselves around his legs as he came home from work. Jesus is telling us we have that kind of relationship with the God of the universe, the God beyond the universe who created heaven and earth.

In Matthew 23:9 Jesus told us we have one father who is in heaven. He is the source of our spiritual DNA. We are born again in Him. Have you ever seen a child who reflected his father's appearance? God is working in the lives of His children making us more and more like Him, like Jesus.

I also remember my father's deep quiet voice teaching and encouraging me. He did not always do it perfectly, but my heavenly Father does. God teaches and guides His children.

My father worked hard to provide for the needs of our family. But even my father's provision was given us by God. God provides our every need. In His arms we are blessed and comforted. He alone knows our deepest needs.

There were times when my children knew I was afraid. But I do not ever remember my father being afraid. I could not imagine being afraid when I was with him. If he was there we were safe. God is our ultimate rescuer. He is our Savior. More than a dozen times in Scripture we have the phrase, "God our savior." This of course includes Jesus as God the Son. Tutus 2:14 speaks of "our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Jude 25 reads, "To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time now and forever. amen"

http://daveswatch.com/

watchinginprayer.blogspot.com

One of the benefits of walking with Jesus through this life is that we gain the advantage of perspective. My husband likes to picture it this way: imagine that you are walking along the “timeline” of life: a horizontal line with both a starting and ending point. The starting point would be Genesis and the ending point, of course, is the end of time, as pictured in Revelation.

God, however, lives outside of time. He is the Creator of it, yet is not bound by it. Picture God as residing somewhere above our imaginary timeline, seated on His throne, and able to see both beginning and end at once because of His “omniscient” position.

When we connect with God as believers, our spirits are no longer bound by time or distance because of the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit within us. God steps into our world through the Spirit who now dwells within us. The distance between us and God has been eradicated, and God now walks with us. He enters time.

Continue Reading Pieces of the Puzzle Here