God's Word on That

  • A Prayer for Unity in the Church

    How good and pleasant it is when brothers can live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

    May we all grow to be of one mind and Spirit for the sake of our Lord.

    My prayer, Abba Father, gracious God of the Cosmos, is that we may be one, united on earth now as we will be when we are all together around Your glorious throne in heaven. I pray for unity among all those who call upon Your name and share Your Spirit, so the world may know there is a solution to conflict, strife, and division. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray.

    Jesus is not in the world any longer, but we are in the world. Holy Father, keep us safe by the power of Your name, the name that You gave Jesus, so that our unity may be like the unity between Jesus and You… I pray that all people accepting Jesus’ message continue to have unity in the way that You, Father, have with us. I pray that we may all be unified with You and Your Son, so that the world will believe that You have sent Jesus to show Your love. Jesus has given us glory so that we are united in the same way You are: You in Jesus and Jesus in us. As we are completely united, the world will know that You have sent Jesus to us and that You love us in the same way You love Him. (John 17:11, 20-23)

    May our love for You and for one another increase and overflow!

    The foreigner will join them and be united with the house of Jacob (Isaiah 14:1). Anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17).

    Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction (1 Corinthians 1:10). Above all, put on love – the perfect bond of unity (Colossians 3:14). I want [your] hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love (Colossians 2:2).

    If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves (Philippians 2:1-3).

    I, therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us (Ephesians 4:1-3). And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son (Ephesians 4:11-13).

    For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:5). Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with a united mind and voice (Romans 15:5-6).

  • Other Bible Examples of Prayer

    Indeed, You are my Rock and my Fortress. For the sake of Your name, lead me and guide me (Psalm 31:3).

    Let us reflect on God’s Word and pray using His thoughts.

    O Lord, Your mercy reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mountains, Your judgments like the deep ocean. You save people and animals, O Lord. Your mercy is so precisions, O God, that Adam’s descendants take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They are refreshed with the rich foods in Your house, and You make them drink from the river of Your pleasure. Indeed, the fountain of life is with You. In Your light we see light. Continue to show Your mercy to those who know You and Your righteousness to those whose motives are decent. Do not let the feet of arrogant people step on me or the hands of wicked people push me away. (Psalm 36:5-11)

    Have pity on me, O God, in keeping with Your mercy. In keeping with Your unlimited compassion, wipe out my rebellious acts. Wash me thoroughly from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. I admit that I am rebellious. All my sin is always in front of me. I have sinned against You, especially You. I have done what You consider evil. So, You hand down justice when You speak, and You are blameless when You judge. Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me. Yet You desire truth and sincerity. Deep down inside me You teach me wisdom. Purify me from sin with hyssop and I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness. Let the bones that You have broken dance. Hide Your face from my sin and wipe out all that I have done wrong. Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a faithful spirit within me. Do not force me away from Your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience. Then I will teach Your ways to those who are rebellious, and sinners will return to You. (Psalm 51:1-13)

    Examine me, O God, and know my mind. Test me, and know my thoughts. See whether I am on an evil path. Then lead me on the everlasting path. (Psalm 139:23-24)

    This is the reason I kneel in the presence of the Father from whom all the family in heaven and on earth receives its name. I am asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of His glory. I pray that He would give you inner strength and power through His Spirit. Then Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the ground into which you sink your roots and on which you have your foundation. This way, with all of God’s people you will be able to understand how wide, long, high, and deep His love is. You will know Christ’s love which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God. Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power He can do infinitely more than we can ask or image. Glory belongs to God in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time and eternity! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

    May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart be acceptable to You, O Lord, my rock and my defender (Psalm 19:14).

  • Moses’ Examples of Prayer -Part 3

    Moses grew to be exceptionally strong in his mediations with the Lord, between God and the Israelites. Moses identified with the people as his own family and kept in mind all the miracles the Lord had performed. Unlike the people, Moses did not forget the mighty hand of God and the miracles He performed against the Egyptians. He knew their God was capable of amazing things! And terrible things!

    Out of all traits we could possibly ask for, compassion for our fellow man is most important.

    Moses fell down before the Lord and worshiped. And he said, “If it is true that I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, then please go with us to the Promised Land; yes, it is an unruly, stubborn people, but pardon our iniquity and our sins, and accept us as Your own.” (Exodus 34:8-9)

    “Oh please, show the great power of Your patience by forgiving our sins and showing us Your steadfast love. Forgive us, even though You have said that You don’t let sin go unpunished, and that You punish the father’s fault in the children to the third and fourth generation. Oh, I plead with You, pardon the sins of this people because of Your magnificent, steadfast love, just as You have forgiven them all the time from when we left Egypt until now.” Then the Lord said, “All right, I will pardon them as you have requested…” (Numbers 14:17-20)

    But Moses begged … “Lord,” he pleaded, “Why is Your anger so hot against Your own people whom You brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and mighty miracles? … Turn back from Your fierce wrath. Turn away from this terrible evil You are planning against Your people! Remember Your promise to Your servants – to Abraham, Isaac and Israel. For You swore by Your own self, ‘I will multiply your posterity as the stars of heaven, and I will give them all of this land I have promised to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever’.” So, the Lord changed His mind and spared them. (Exodus 32:11-14)

    Then, for another forty days and nights I lay before the Lord, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for you had done what the Lord hated most, thus provoking Him to great anger. How I feared for you – for the Lord was ready to destroy you. But that time, too, He listened to me… Yes, you have been rebellious against the Lord from the first day I knew you. That is why I fell down before Him for forty days and nights when the Lord was ready to destroy you. I prayed to Him, “O Lord God, don’t destroy Your own people. They are Your inheritance saved from Egypt by Your mighty power and glorious strength. Don’t notice the rebellion and stubbornness of these people, but remember instead Your promises to Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Oh, please overlook the awful wickedness and sin of these people… They are Your people and Your inheritance which You brought from Egypt by Your great power and Your mighty arm.”(Deuteronomy 9:18-29)

    Even to the end, Moses stood as a warrior for the people praying for their safety and protection.

    Then Moses said to the Lord, “O Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all mankind, before I am taken away, please appoint a new leader for the people, a man who will lead them into battle and care for them, so that the people of the Lord will not be as sheep without a shepherd.”(Numbers 27:15)

    We need to learn how to stand with our fellow countrymen, to have compassion for them as Moses demonstrated. Because we too have been called to lead others to the New Promised Land.

  • Moses’ Examples of Prayer -Part 2

    Between Moses’ low self-esteem and the people’s response to his efforts, it was not easy for Moses to continue in his task.

    Now the Lord spoke to Moses again and told him, “Go back again to Pharaoh and tell him that he must let the people of Israel go.” “But look,” Moses objected, “my own people won’t even listen to me anymore; how can I expect Pharaoh to? I’m no orator!” (Exodus 6:10-12)

    God expects us to continue walking with Him, despite the world that we perceive surrounding us.

    But Moses had seen God’s mighty strong hand and knew God was capable of amazing things. He found the courage somehow to go back to Pharaoh again and again, delivering God’s messages as he was instructed to do.

    “Be so kind as to tell me when you want them to go” Moses said, “and I will pray that the frogs will die at the time you specify; everywhere except in the river.” … After Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the Lord for help … the Lord did as Moses had said: the frogs in the house, courtyards, and fields died. (Exodus 8:9)

    So Moses went out from Pharaoh and asked the Lord to get rid of the flies. And the Lord did as Moses asked… (Exodus 8:30)

    “All right,” Moses replied, “As soon as I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord, and the thunder and hail will stop. This will prove to you that the earth is controlled by Jehovah. (Exodus 9:29)

    When Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go from Egypt, the multitude of people marched away with great riches and possessions. None were feeble, none without treasures, but also none without fear that God would stay with them and protect them. Yet, Moses knew.

    Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch, and you will see the wonderful way the Lord will rescue you today. The Egyptians you are looking at – you will never see them again. The Lord will fight for you, and you won’t need to lift a finger!” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Quit praying and get the people moving! Forward March!” (Exodus 14:13-15)

    Moses had such faith in God that even a mighty sea before him would not cause doubt! We too serve this same God. When you are in a tight place, look to heaven and worship the only God that can cause waters to divide and light to shine in darkness.

  • Moses’ Examples of Prayer -Part 1

    One book I read states that we should study these passages until our hearts are filled with the part that prayer must play in the lives of people who want to be God’s servant to their fellow men.

    We may feel unworthy, but God has led us through life to the path we are currently on for a reason.

    When Moses was first called, he was very reluctant. Beyond reluctant even. He felt totally unworthy and ill-equipped for any task relating to being God’s spokesperson. But I have come to learn that the majority of us feel unworthy, and that is what keeps most of us from following the Lord even half-heartedly. We must remember that “if God made me, I am worthy [and God did make me].”

    “But I am not the person for a job like that!” Moses exclaimed. Then God told him, “I will certainly be with you, and this is the proof that I am the One who is sending you: When you have led the people out of Egypt, you shall worship Me here upon this mountain!” But Moses asked, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them that their fathers’ God has sent me, they will ask, ‘Which God are you talking about?’ What shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:11-13)

    But Moses said, “They won’t believe me! They won’t do what I tell them to. They will say, ‘Jehovah never appeared to you’!” … Moses pleaded, “O Lord, I’m just not a good speaker, I never have been, and I’m not now, even after You have spoken to me, for my speech is slow and halting.” “Who makes mouths?” Jehovah asked him. “Isn’t it I, the Lord? Who makes a man so that he can speak or not speak, see or not see, hear or not hear? Now go ahead and do as I tell you, for I will help you to speak well, and I will tell you what to say.” But Moses said, “Lord, please! Send someone else.” Then the Lord became angry… (Exodus 4:1-14)

    Then, after finally deciding God’s way was the only way and that God would help him do what God wanted him to do, Moses goes to the people and to Pharaoh to deliver the messages God instructs him to deliver. But even before the miracles are displayed and the plagues start, Moses feels compassion for the people of God, that they be relieved of their oppression.

    Then Moses went back to the Lord, “Lord,” he protested, “How can You mistreat Your own people like this? Why did You ever send me, if You were going to do this to them? Ever since I gave Pharaoh Your message, he has only been more and more brutal to them, and You have not delivered them at all!” (Exodus 5:22-23)

    Compassion will consume us once we give our lives to God and His purposes.

  • Ask According to His Will

    We must not measure our spiritual capacity by education or intellect, but by the promises God has given to us personally. When it is a question of spirit, never say “I can’t” without saying “He can”. The limitation of natural ability does not count. Isn’t’ God able to fulfill His promises?

    We have but to ask, and God has promised to listen. Asking is part of praying.

    Everyone who asks will receive; he one who searches will find, and for the one who knocks, the door will be opened. If your child asks you for bread would any of you give him a stone? Or if your child asks for a fish, would you give him a snake? Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him? (Matthew 7:8-11)

    So far you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive so that you can be completely happy. (John 16:24)

    So, admit your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective! (James 5:16)

    That is why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24)

    This verse from Mark is sometimes used to teach a “name-it and claim-it” theology. This is a self-centered theology. Remember that only God takes the initiative. He is the One who gives you the desire to do His will. His Holy Spirit guides you to pray according to His will.

    For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to will and to act for His good purpose (Philippians 2:13).

    In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us, with unspoken groanings. (Romans 8:26-27).

    The God-centered approach would be to let God lead you to pray according to His will, in the name and character of Christ Jesus. Believe what He has led you to pray is what He Himself will bring to pass. Then continue praying – speaking the result to anyone who will hear – in faith and watching for it to come to pass.

    God Himself leads us to pray in words that will make the things He has set in heaven manifested on earth.

  • A Prayer for Oneness with Jesus

    My prayer, Abba Father, is that we may be one, united on earth now as we will be when we are all together around Your throne in heaven. I pray for unity among all those who call upon Your name and share Your Spirit, so the world may know there is a solution to conflict, strife, and division. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray.

    That we may all be united under the cross of Christ Jesus!

    We pray to the Father in the name of His Son, Jesus, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. When we pray to the Father, our prayers are accepted by Jesus and interpreted to God by the Holy Spirit.

    In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God… Christ Jesus is the One who died but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. (Romans 8:26-27, 34).

    How I rejoice that through Christ Jesus I am all right as a person, now and forever! Totally clean, every stain removed, every guilt atoned for. Totally forgiven, no matter how great or recent a failure I’ve had to confess, or how often I have failed. What amazing grace! What undeserved acceptance and favor!

    How wonderful that You ask me to do absolutely nothing to earn Your forgiveness – no striving to measure up, no self-punishment, no prolonged remorse, no self-blame, no deeds of penance. That I don’t have to sink down into regret, or into shame, or into denial, or into excuses for things I do wrong.

    I am so thankful that You, dearest Lord God, do not hold a pair of scales and ask me to pile up enough good works to outweigh my sins, my failures, my unworthiness… that it is all by grace through faith in Christ Jesus to save me – my soul and body and spirit from death and hell. Thank You so very much, O God, King of the Cosmos.

  • How to Listen to God

    Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Jesus, with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgement of His many mercies.

    We must remain attentive, for God often speaks when we listen.

    Charles Stanley gives us four avenues God can use to direct us to listen for the Father’s will in a situation. Perhaps God has a message for the listener that He has chosen us to deliver – and our rambling or talking or un-mindfulness detracts from that message. Thus, we should seek to be alert and available to God’s voice, if He should need us for such things.

    The first way to listen to God when we face or perceive a challenge is to meditate upon the Word until you know God has spoken to you. Simply read the Word and meditate on what He directs you to read. Something in your reading will be meant just for you at this time.

    The next way is that if we walk in the Spirit daily, surrounded by and surrendered to God’s love, we have the courage and the right to expect anything we need to hear from God. We can claim His presence, direction, and guidance. We are to listen in order to comprehend, and to comprehend in order to be shaped and conformed to His truth, to be made like Jesus.

    Thirdly, when you become restless in your spirit, don’t run! Stop, sit still, and listen. You will hear the voice of God telling you what He knows you need to hear. When you feel a burden to pray, it is because there is something heavy coming. Pray until the burden lifts. Pray until that heavy feeling is lifted from you.

    Finally, we must learn to listen with an open heart to the voice of God as He speaks through others. Many times, God uses the circumstance and the people around us to make His point obvious to our spirit. But we must be careful to examine both the message and the messenger – without prejudice. If the messenger is from God, His fruit will be evident, and the message will always align to God’s Word.

  • Prayer For The Home

    We praise You as the bountiful benefactor from whose gracious hand all our blessings have come. We remember Your lovingkindness and tender mercy toward us through all the years, and with grateful hearts we lift up to You our songs of joy. For all the gifts You have bestowed upon us and upon our land, we give You humble and hearty thanks. May we show our gratitude by faithful lives devoted to Your service.

    Let us ask God to bless our homes and our families, that we may radiate His love.

    Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your mercy in giving me a home. Keep me from a sullen and ungrateful spirit. Show me how I may help to make my home a blessing to all who come to it. And let the law of kindness rule my life. Make me kindly and thoughtful in word and generous in deed. Make me ever ready to give the understanding answer that turns away wrath. Take from me the wish to irritate and prevent me from saying the grievous words that stir up strife. If I am tempted to quarrel, make me able to keep my own temper. Let the law of kindness rule my life and govern all I do. When my feelings are hurt, let me turn to You for comfort and keep my calm under the shadow of Your wings.

    As I read and study Your Word, please let the words permeate my being, accomplishing the creative work they are designed to do in Your people. Loving God, source of all wisdom, grant that as we seek truth, we may find that the search leads to You. Give us courage to seek honestly and reverence to seek humbly and, when our minds are perplexed and we cannot find You, give us patience to go on with our daily duties and wait on Your timing.

    O God, all my life is Yours. Help me so to plan and arrange the hours of this day that I may serve You in then all. Give me an open mind, O God, a mind ready to receive and to welcome new light of knowledge as You reveal it to me. Let me be tolerant to the thoughts of others and hospitable to such light as may come to me through them. Be with me today and help me to do my best. Give me a clear mind and an honest heart. If there are things I do not know, let me not be flustered or afraid but let me use to the utmost what I do know. May everything in which I have worked hard stand by me now, and if in anything I must face the results of laziness, make me resolve to work better in the days ahead. Help me express all I know; but whether I can do that or not, grant that I may have learned something that will last

    From the family of men, we give You thanks, O Lord of Hosts, for all saints and servants who have done justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with You. For all the high and holy ones who have wrought wonders and been shining lights in the world, we thank You. For all the meek and lowly ones who have earnestly sought You in darkness, and held fast their faith in trial, and done good unto all men as they had opportunity, we thank You. Especially for those whom we have known and loved, who by their patient obedience and self-denial, steadfast hope and helpfulness in trouble have shown the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, we bless Your holy Name. Grant us grace to follow in their footsteps.

  • Prayer For His Church

    O Almighty God, who by the birth of Your holy Son Jesus has given us a great light to dawn upon our darkness, grant that in His Light we may see light to the end of our days. Bestow upon us that most excellent gift of love to all men, so the likeness of Your Son may be formed in us, and we may have the ever-brightening hope of everlasting life.

    May the church of Christ Jesus spread over the whole earth and subdue it.

    O Lord and Father of us all, who did send Your Son to be the Savior of the entire world; grant Your blessing to all followers of Christ Jesus of every name and creed. May we rejoice in the privilege of being fellow workers with You and Him and each other, that the dankness of the world may be driven out by the Light of life.

    Take away all hatred and prejudice, arrogance and contention; and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord. Bring us into close cooperation and harmony that all our forces may be united for the common cause of Your Kingdom. Grant that as there is one Body and one Spirt, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify You, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Take all resentment, bitterness, and rebellion out of our hearts. Make us instead hopeful, cheerful, courageous, patient, and confident people to serve You faithfully.

    O God, who has made man in Your own likeness and who loves all whom You have made; teach us the unity of Your family and the breadth of Your love. Enable us to enter into fellowship of the whole human family and forbid we should despise any for whom Christ died. Lord, in Your great mercy, please remember us when You come into Your kingdom.

    O Lord and Father of us all, who did send Your Son to be the Savior of the entire world; grant Your blessing to all followers of Christ Jesus of every name and creed. May we rejoice in the privilege of being fellow workers with You and Him and each other, that the dankness of the world may be driven out by the Light of life.

    Take away all hatred and prejudice, arrogance and contention; and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord. Bring us into close cooperation and harmony that all our forces may be united for the common cause of Your Kingdom. Grant that as there is one Body and one Spirt, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify You, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Take all resentment, bitterness, and rebellion out of our hearts. Make us instead hopeful, cheerful, courageous, patient, and confident people to serve You faithfully.

    O God, who has made man in Your own likeness and who loves all whom You have made; teach us the unity of Your family and the breadth of Your love. Enable us to enter into fellowship of the whole human family and forbid we should despise any for whom Christ died. Lord, in Your great mercy, please remember us when You come into Your kingdom.