Pray Without Ceasing
And Stay Fully Charged and Equipped
I pray this finds you well and prospering in all you put your hand to in your life. We are in the season of thanksgiving with many people posting daily on the internet the things they are thankful for this month. I suggest we extend this process throughout the year to keep our hearts (and it is always a heart issue) in gratitude for all the Lord does in our life each and every day!
Keep Praying
As I have written before I pray daily hedges of protection around myself, my dog, my house, my car, my neighbors, my neighborhood, town, state and country. Do you ever pray for something and wonder if God is listening? Maybe you do not see any immediate evidence that your prayers are being heard. Despite what you may see with your natural eyes know that God hears your every prayerful heart cry.
Perhaps it is not His time; perhaps it is not His perfect will to answer you in exactly the way you have presented your situation to Him. Whatever the case, know that He hears you and He will respond in His time and in His perfect way for you.
Is Your Prayer Battery Fully Charged Or Ready to Die?
This past week I took my car into the shop for an annual inspection. After pulling the car into the warm dealership garage I went to the desk to fill out the paperwork. A sign on the wall suggested having your car battery checked. As mine was five years old and we are entering winter in the North country I added a battery check to my list.
A few minutes later I got back into my car with the service technician and when I turned the key…the battery was dead! We both looked at each other and laughed as I had just mentioned checking the battery. There was no indication of trouble prior to that moment. Needless to say I was quite grateful that it died in the safety of the dealership and not on a dark, cold night.
Actually the night before I was scheduled to go to a nearby little town and as the time approached I just felt led to stay home. We had had our first snow dusting and black ice could have been an issue. I firmly believe that the Lord had His hand on the entire situation. Had I gone that evening the car could have died on a very cold night in a small little town with not many people around to help. I have learned to listen to those promptings that often change my plans and every time I am so glad that I did. As I relayed the story to the technician at the dealership, another young man overheard and said he was in that little town the night before and there surely was black ice!
Keep Your Prayer Life Charged!
I share this story because I know that my daily prayers for so long for hedges of protection kept me safe at home that night and got me safely to the dealership that following cold morning. Look for all the ways God does answer your prayers. I know there are many. Sometimes as you pray for the ‘big things’ on your wish list you can fail to see the moment by moment working of the Lord. He will process you, and teach you and bring you through things you may not have chosen for yourself. The key is He will bring you ‘through’ to the other side to His best for you.
No matter what you are praying for, know that He hears you. Keep praying. Thank Him. Trust Him. Praise Him for Who He is, not what He can do for you. Diligently seek Him for He rewards those who diligently seek Him. His rewards are faith, joy and the peace that surpasses all understanding. In this season of thanksgiving, make and keep prayer a part of your day.
Prayer does not have to be a formal, memorized litany. Prayer as conversation from your heart to His heart develops an intimacy that will grow with time. He hears you and you will hear Him if you listen. What are you doing right now? He is waiting to hear from you.
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Jesus, Matthew 11:24
“When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Jesus, Luke 11:1
“Then He spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart…” Luke 18:1
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.
God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families. May the Lord keep them safe. Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history.
Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel. May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history.
We continue to pray for truth to prevail as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour.
Please Join Me In Prayer
Father we thank You that through Your Son Jesus Christ we are able to come boldly to Your throne. Open our hearts to commune with Your heart through Holy Spirit empowerment. Guide us and enlarge our territory to pray far and wide for the things on Your heart. Grace us in our prayer time to see beyond our own limitations to pray Your Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Thank You for Your never ending faithfulness. We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and amen.