God's Word on That

Tag: faith

  • 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.

  • Prayer For Duties To Perform

    O gracious Lord, from whom I have received so much, grant unto me this blessing also: make my heart grateful for the gift of the life You have bestowed upon me. Grant me the desire to apply my heart unto heavenly wisdom, that my remaining days may be spent to Your glory.

    Oh, to live an entire day in the mercies and blessings and knowledge of God’s love!

    Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).

    You know, O heavenly Father, the duties that lie before me this day, the dangers that may confront me, the sins that most beset me. Guide me, strengthen me, deliver me. Awaken in me the realization that You have a purpose for each of us to fulfill, that life is filled with sacred meaning. Bestow upon me a rich measure of Your wisdom that I may take from my past experiences insight that will serve in the present hour. You know our needs, teach us to pray.

    Help me to keep my body and mind trained and fit, that they may be wholesome instruments of service, and my soul may be free from remorse and despair. May I be in all my parts a worthy temple for Your indwelling Spirit and an honor to Your Name.

    Send me chances to do a little good every day, and to grow more like Christ Jesus every hour. O God, when I pray to You as my Father, please help me to remember that You are the Father of ALL people everywhere.

    O loving Father, I commit myself with perfect trust into Your loving hands. Watch over me and protect me in my hours of weakness, and grant that as I become unconscious of earthly things my thoughts may be turned to You. Please grant that I may bear suffering with cheerful courage that I may be the means under Your hand of helping others in their time of trial.

    I call upon You in my trouble, You will deliver me and I will glorify You. As You watch over me in these trying days, grant me patience and guide my thoughts to dwell on Your goodness and Your blessings. You are my shepherd; make me confident that I shall not want. O gracious Father, I cast all my cares upon You, knowing that You care for me.

  • Prayer For Graces

    St Francis of Assisi, the most beloved of all saints, gives us the immortal words of humility and kindness.

    O Lord our Messiah, may we have Your mind and Your Spirit. Make us instruments of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are ourselves pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

    O heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: take from us all pride and vanity, all boasting and forwardness, and give us the true strength that shows itself by gentleness, true understanding that shows itself by simplicity, and true wisdom that shows itself by humility. O Father, who has filled the world with beauty: open our eyes to behold Your gracious hand in all Your works, that rejoicing in Your whole creation we may learn to serve You with gladness. Give us grace to be generous toward others and stern with ourselves.

    When we draw near to You, dearest Father, deliver us from coldness of heart and wandering of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship You in spirit and in truth as You deserve. Hear our prayers, O Lord, and consider our desires. Give unto us true humility, a meek and quiet spirit, a loving, friendly, holy and useful manner of life, bearing the burdens of our neighbors, denying ourselves, and studying to benefit others and to please You in all things. Grant us to be gentle and easy to be entreated, slow to anger, and readily prepared for every good work.

    Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. I am weak in faith; strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me; at times I doubt and am unable to trust You altogether, renew my trust in You. Take from me all doubt and mistrust. Lift my thoughts up to You in heaven and make me to know that all things are possible to us who believe in Your Son, our Redeemer.

  • Prayer For Courage

    Nowhere in Scripture do we find anyone praying for courage. “Lord, give me courage to face this situation.” God tells us multiple times to “be of good courage” (Deuteronomy 31:6, 7, 23; Joshua 1:6-9; 2 Chronicles 32:7), but never “ask Me for courage”. Even Jesus exhorted His disciples, “Take courage” (Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50). I can only think then that courage is on our part, while strength and wisdom and fortitude come to us from our Heavenly Father.

    Be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart. Wait I say on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

    O God, make me ready to face what I must – prepared, trained, unafraid, willing – in the faith that if I do my utmost, my effort will not be lost. O God, with whom nothing shall be impossible: please teach me to build my courage, so I may meet whatever You send me with serenity and peace, and never fail to think brave thoughts, to speak brave words, and to do brave deeds. I ask this in the name of Him who died for me, my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

    Dear Father in heaven, I come to You and ask Your divine protection and gracious guidance. By the precious blood of Your Son You have bought me and made me Your own. You have assured me that the very hairs of my head are all numbered. Trusting in Your promise and relying on Your grace I confidently ask You to guard me against all danger and deliver me from all evil of body and soul. Yet it is Your will and not my own that I would serve.

    O Jesus, my Redeemer, let me never forget what it cost You to redeem me, so that the memory of Your bitter suffering and death may keep me from sin and wickedness. Wash me daily in Your blood, cleanse me from all my transgressions and iniquities, and by Your grace enable me to follow in Your footsteps, so You never need to be ashamed of me.

    O Holy Ghost, strengthen me in the hour of temptation. Keep me pure in heart and chaste in body, obedient to my superiors, considerate to all my fellow warriors in Christ, a living example of true Christian faith.

    O God of my salvation, let me be and remain Your own in time and eternity. Amen.

  • Prayer For Our Neighbors

    Eternal Father, enthroned in suns and stars yet near to the lowly and the contrite, hear us now as we pray, not for ourselves but for our neighbors.

    Let us pray for those around us. We are the light in our own personal sphere.

    As You have been mindful of us, so make us always mindful of You, for our times are in Your hands. Lord of the secret soul, who knows our infirmities before we ask and our blindness in the asking, we pray for all needy ones. Come like dawn upon all sadness, as a cool hand upon fevered sickness, as springs of water in deserts of despair, and be pleased, we pray, to hold our loved ones in Your care.

    Lord of the whole earth, govern our land and guide our leaders that we may be saved from low appeals to passion and fear, and instead be dedicated to the Spirit given through Your Son. Let vested interest wane and advocacy see beyond pure personal gain. Above all, help our elected officials to refrain from self-serving and to commit themselves to those things that benefit us all. Please preserve our commitment to the common good, give us joy in our citizenship, and confidence in our future.

    Most loving God, there are some who look up to me, and so I look up to You. They learn from me, and I need to be enlightened so what they learn may be only what is right and true. O God my Father, who gives food for the body and truth for the mind, so enlighten and nourish me that I may grow wise and strong to do Your will.

    O Lord of the harvest, I earnestly pray that You will send out workers into Your harvest field.