PRAYER CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…”  (Colossians 1:9-10 ESV)

I believe the greatest cry around the world today is “Pray for me.” All of us are here today because someone has prayed for us. I know I am indebted to so many people for their wonderful prayers. Martin Luther said that the shoemaker makes shoes, the tailor makes clothes, and the Christian prays. Prayer can change a person’s life; it can change the world. Prayer is a challenge to me. If I pray for someone, it challenges me to love and to help that person. 

-- James H. Davis, as quoted in “Stories of Prayer for a Healthy Soul”

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DRAWING CLOSER TO GOD

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  (Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV)

God has provided prayer as the means of communicating directly with Him. Christ, the High Priest and Mediator, has made it possible for all Christians to come “boldly to the throne of grace.” Prayer may take many forms of expression, some of which are adoration and praise, thanksgiving, confession, and supplication. Each of these enables you to draw closer to God. Because you have the potential of two-way communication with God, be careful not to neglect your time with Him. Regular times alone with God for the purpose of fellowship are vitally necessary. 

-- From “Growing Strong in God’s Family”

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RESTING OUR WEARY SOULS

"So too the Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance." (Romans 8:26 AMP)

It is not necessary to maintain a conversation when we are in the presence of God.  We can come into His presence and rest our weary souls in quiet contemplation of Him.  Our groanings, which cannot be uttered, rise to Him and tell Him better than words how dependent we are upon Him.

-- O. Hallesby in Prayer

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