Prayer Time

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:16). Find a place in your home where you can be alone and undistracted during your prayer time. Keep your Bible, prayer journal, pen, and whatever tools you use in that place so that everything is ready. During your prayer time each day, this is a sacred place. Jennifer Kennedy Dean The Praying Life Foundation www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Wishing You Blessings

"For those who love the Lord, every day is a day of Thanksgiving."

Wishing you all a blessed Happy Thanksgiving.

Encourage One Another

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing".

(1 Thess. 5:11 ).

 

This week, prepare for your daily prayer timeby gathering note cards or stationary of some sort. Ask the Lord to place on your heart someone who needs encouragement. During your prayer time, write out your prayer for that person and mail it to him or her. Pray for and encourage someone different each morning.

 

Jennifer Kennedy Dean

The Praying Life Foundation

www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Quieter Life With God

"The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in." -C.S. Lewis

Being Content

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation" (Philippians 4:12)

In which areas of your life do you lack contentment? Write them down as they come to mind. Are you looking to some external circumstance or some other person for contentment? This week, focus your prayer time on asking the Lord to create in you a heart that rests contentedly in Him and His plans for you.


Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

A Savior

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent
an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God
would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been
money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our
greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.

-- Max Lucado

Ask & Listen

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" Matthew 6:13

This week, focus on Matthew 6:13. Daily, ask the Lord to lead you in paths that will help you avoid temptation. Listen to Him as He brings thoughts to your mind about how to avoid placing yourself in temptation's path. Obey.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/

Prayer Wireless!

Experience the ultimate in wireless:

PRAYER!

No busy signals! Reliable Service at all times! Out Of This World Coverage! Direct Access to the King of Kings!

Prepaid At Calvary!

-Joseph Suttle

Fuel

“He (God) Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other.” - C.S. Lewis

Praying With Confidence!

The emphasis here is on God's will, not our will. When we communicate with God, we do not demand what we want, rather we discuss with him what he wants for us. If we align our prayers to his will, he will listen, and we can be certain that if he listens, he will give us a definite answer. Start praying with confidence!

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

Brokenness

Brokenness is the ground from which spiritual power grows. Welcome brokenness. Embrace it. Don't fear or resist it. Like the kernel of wheat that falls into the ground to die, the outer layers of your flesh--self-centeredness, pride, self-trust--must be broken so that the life within can emerge. (He Restores My Soul)

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds" (John 12:24)


Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Grace Of God

fConcentrate on this Sentence

To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did. When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. So concentrate on this sentence...

The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.

It Is Finished!

Then Jesus cried with a loud voice and died. Mark 15:37 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:
Jesus finishes his work as our ransom from sin and death. Please ponder
the incredible words of Mark 15:37. God in human flesh dies. He dies
because he allows his life to be taken. He dies as one of us. He dies
in pain, humiliation, rejection, and ridicule. He dies because he loves
us and wants to free us from our sin by his blood. He completes the
work that God has given him to do in his incarnation.


TODAY'S PRAYER:
Almighty God, I cannot even begin to imagine how this moment of Jesus'
death impacted your heart and the hosts of heaven. In my human heart,
just reading this story makes me want to shout "Hallelujah!" in praise
to your Son for the victory he wins by laying down his life. At the
same time, my heart breaks at the thought of our human rebellion -- our
utter sinfulness -- that placed Jesus on the Cross both physically and
spiritually. During this time of year as we think of Jesus' birth, I am
reminded once again that he was born to pay this horrible price. Thank
you for my redemption. Thank you for paying such a horrible price to
win that redemption. All praises be to you, O God, the Father of grace
and to your Son and my Savior who paid the price for my sin.
Hallelujah! Amen.

www.heartlight.org

Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love

Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love--not death, not life, not angels or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us--nothing in the whole created world--will ever be able to separate us from God's love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38:39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? These verses contain one of the most comforting promises in all Scriptures. Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms: persecution, illness, imprisonment, and even death. Paul exclaims that it is impossible to be separated by Christ.

Teach God's Commandments To Your Children

VERSE:
Teach them [God's commandments] to your children, talking about
them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when
you lie down and when you get up.- Deuteronomy 11:19

THOUGHT:
Moses gives us three crucial messages about God's commandments.
First, as parents, it is our responsibility to teach them to our
children -- not the responsibility of the government, or of the
schools, nor even our churches. Second, we are to teach them in the
everyday course of life as we go about our routines as a family.
Third, we are to teach them continuously by both our words and our
lives as we raise our children.

PRAYER:
O LORD God, please bless me as I seek to impart my faith to
others, especially to those in my family. Please bless me with a
consistent and faithful witness to them and the right words to say
when the time is right. Give me the courage and sensitivity to say
it with loving respect, and the courage to live as a strong
Christian example for my children and grandchildren. In Jesus' name
I pray. Amen.

www.heartlight.org

Seasons of Dryness in Prayer

I ask God to use the time of spiritual dryness to prepare me for future growth. Jesus hints at such a process in his analogy of the vine: "Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." As any vintner or rose-grower knows, the act of lopping off lush branches, which at first seems cruel and destructive, actually causes the pruned shoots to grow back more productive than ever. A vintner explained to me that he refuses to irrigate because the stress caused by occasional drought produces the best, most tasty grapes. Seasons of dryness make the roots run deep, strengthening the vine for whatever the future holds.

-Philip Yancey in PRAYER Does It Make Any Difference?, p.203-204.

God Is Worth Waiting For

Waiting for God is not easy. Often it seems that he isn't answering
our prayers or doesn't understand the urgency of our situation. That
kind of thinking implies that God is not in control or is not fair.
But God is worth waiting for. Lamentations 3:24-26 calls us to hope in
and wait for the Lord because often God uses times of waiting to
refresh, renew, and teach us. Make good use of your waiting times by
discovering what God may be trying to teach you in them.

-Application note from Psalm 27:14 in the Life Application Bible

Thankfulness

The following quote is found in the introduction to Deuteronomy in the
Prayer Devotional Bible: - The spiritual disciplines of Scripture
meditation and prayer are like covenant renewals. Daily we need to
remember God's mercy and goodness, give thanks and pray for his
purposes to be accomplished in us, and confess our failures to let him
do so. Gratitude for God's mercy is the foundation of all spiritual
renewal and right living. . . 

Prayer is the first act of that thankfulness.

God's Promise

VERSE:
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all
things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in
every good work.
-- 2 Corinthians 9:8


THOUGHT:
What a powerful promise! If we are willing to generously share
with others in the name of Jesus as the apostle Paul discusses in
the previous two verses, we will have what we need and our lives
will be full of good deeds that bring glory to God. So let's remind
ourselves of one the very first lessons we should have learned as
young children: share! Only this time, as children of God, let's
share in the name of Jesus to bless others so they may come to his
grace.

PRAYER:
Thank you, dear Father, for all the incredible blessings you
have poured into my life. You have richly blessed me physically and
spiritually. Now I ask that your Spirit will help me be generous
with the gifts you have so richly given to me. May my life, O LORD,
be a consistent conduit of your blessings so that others may come
to know your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

www.heartlight.org

When In Prayer

"When in prayer you clasp your hands, God opens His."

 -German Proverb

Be Faithful

"It is better to be faithful than famous."

Roosevelt, Theodore

Jesus Is Calling You!

He's Calling You!


Jesus stopped and said, "Tell the man to come here." So they
called the blind man. They said, "Be happy! Stand up! Jesus
is calling you." The blind man stood quickly. He left his
coat there and went to Jesus.

-- Mark 10:49-50 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:
Jesus still calls to us! He wants us to hear the message of his life --
you can come to me and receive life, he speaks to us. He wants us to
hear the message of his teaching -- you who are heavy burdened come to
me and learn from me and find rest with me, he tells us. He wants us to
hear the message of his resurrection -- you can come to me and find
rest, safety, and joy in my presence, he wants us to know. Jesus is
calling to you. Will you follow him?


TODAY'S PRAYER:
O Father in heaven, help me hear the voice of Jesus calling to me to
follow, to find rest, and to focus on the glorious future that I have
in him. Give me courage to keep hearing his voice and following him
faithfully. In Jesus' name. Amen.

www.heartlight.org

God's Plan

God's Plan


"But when God made the world, 'he made people male and
female.'" Mark 10:6 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:
God's plan, rooted in the creation story of Genesis 2, is that one
woman and one man be married for life. As male and female, they are
different, yet each one is created in the image of God. They are
different -- not just because of the difference in their two lives,
with different experiences and different tastes, but also because they
are made fundamentally different. Learning to blend these differences
through mutual love and submission reflects the mystery of God himself,
who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.


TODAY'S PRAYER:
O Father in heaven, help the marriages among your people today more
fully reflect your divine intention. Teach us to submit to each other
out of love and respect -- not just love and respect for our marriage
partner, but also love and respect for Jesus as our Lord. In his name I
pray. Amen.

www.heartlight.org

God, You Are My Refuge

VERSE:
O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from
all who pursue me...
-- Psalm 7:1

THOUGHT:
Who or what is pursuing you? Is it a past mistake? Is it an old
enemy? Is it your conscience? Is it a nagging sense of guilt? Is it
someone who wants to do you physical harm? Is it a physical
illness? In the middle of all the storms and struggles of life,
where do you go to find peace and security? There is only One who
can be a true and lasting refuge. Just One!

PRAYER:
Father God, you are my refuge and source of strength when my
courage is gone and my soul is weary. Please, dear Father, destroy
all the forces and powers and enemies that pursue me and seek to
take me captive and draw me away from you. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.

www.heartlight.org

Real Prayer

Believe me, prayer is our highest privilege, our gravest reponsibility, and greatest power God has put into our hands.

Prayer, real prayer, is the noblest, the sublimest, the most stupendous act that any creature of God can perform. -

The Kneeling Christian

Honesty

Don't worry about having the right words; worry more about having the
right heart. It's not eloquence he seeks, just honesty.

-Max Lucado (The Great House of God,p.50)

Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you
won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and
honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God and
you will begin to sense his grace.

-Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:6 in The Message

Knowledge of the Bible

A knowledge of the Bible is essential to a rich and meaningful
life. -- Billy Graham

A Blessing for Prayer

Be a soldier of prayer.  Seek the Father before, during, and after your time of struggle.  May the Spirit constantly remind you of the need for prayer, and the Father's desire to hear your voice.

Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayer, asking for everything you need.  To do this you must always be ready and never give up.  Always pray for all God's people.  Ephesians 6:18

Faithful

It is better to be faithful than famous.

-- Theodore Roosevelt

Prayerlessness?

Why don't I pray more? Here is what I have come to believe is the
number one reason for my on prayerlessness: I don't pray because I'm
not desperate. I'm not fully conscious of my need for God.

-Nancy Leigh DeMoss in Pray!

Prayer Is Work

We need to realize that prayer is not just for personal use, nor is it

only for devotional purpose. Prayer is a ministry. Prayer is work.

-Watchman Nee

Be Glory For Ever and Ever

VERSE:
To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:20


THOUGHT:
When was the last time that you prayed and didn't request things
from God and you simply thanked and praised him? Why not use today
as a day of thanks and praise? Don't ask for anything; just praise
and thank the Father! Praise him for who he is, what he has done,
and what he is going to do! Thank him for blessing you, saving you,
and bringing you into his glory! Let today be a day of thanks and
praise.

PRAYER:
You are worthy, dear Father, of every word of praise my
imagination can find and every word of thanks my tongue can
pronounce. You are glorious, majestic, holy, mighty, and awesome.
You are patient, forgiving, sacrificial, loving, and tender. You
are more than I can imagine and closer than my very breath. Your
greatness exhausts my vocabulary and your generosity overwhelms my
heart. Please be glorified in my every thought, deed, and word. In
Jesus' name I praise you. Amen.

www.heartlight.org

Revealing Prayer

Prayer itself is revealing. It is the most sincere thing that we ever
do. We cannot pray that which we are not. We literally pray what we
are. Now there's a difference in saying prayers and in praying. I'm
convinced that too many times we say prayers without really praying. .

When we truly pray, we bare ourselves before God. Tell me what
you are in your prayer life and you've told me really what you are. We
cannot pray that which we are not.

Alan Bryan in The Meaning of Prayer

On God's Side

"Pray not that God is on our side, but that we are on God's side."
-Abraham Lincoln

Jesus keeps things so SIMPLE!

I just love how Jesus keeps things so SIMPLE!

When he was asked what the greatest command was, Jesus did not even blink - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12)

Is it really that SIMPLE? Seriously? I can do that, right?

Sometimes we make things far more complicated that they were ever meant to be. Think about all the books and magazines and research about how to be healthy. And yet we continue to have poor health. But if complexity creates confusion, simplicity brings success.

I pray that this month would be a return to the Simple Life. Keep it simple. Do the little things every day that lead to a life that matters!

In this Wellness E-Zine you will find terrific articles to help you as you pursue God and a healthy life!

To the Simple Life,

Jimmy PageFCA! Health & Fitness

jpage@fca.org
http://www.fcahealthandfitness.org/

Rule Of The Kingdom

"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on
looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be
opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds.
And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. You parents -if your
children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or
if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! If
you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how
much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask
him." -Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT)

"Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom."
-Charles H. Spurgeon

Alone With Jesus

Time spent alone with Jesus each day will order our hearts and grant a
sense of direction, enabling us to live purposeful, useful lives,
directed by the power of the Holy Spirit, rather than being driven by
the expectations and demands of others.

-Nancy Leigh DeMoss in A Place of Quiet Rest p.236

He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward
him for what he has done. Proverbs 19:17

Please Others and Not Yourself

If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. 2 We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. 3 Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, "The people who insulted you also insulted me." 4 And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. 5 God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. 6 Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Roman 15:1-6

Kindhearted

A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Proverbs 11:16

Not My Will

"Not my will, but yours be done'' Luke 22:42

This week let these words be the only prayer you pray about situations that confront you. Focus on relinquishing every situation to Him to be a platform for His power.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation

www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Prayer Is Warfare

Prayer is warfare. Just getting to prayer is half the battle;
staying there is the other half.

-anonymous

"O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth" (Psalm 78:1).

Read your Bible this morning with the awareness that you are listening to the words of His mouth. Stop at the first word, phrase, or thought that captures your attention and let the Father speak to you about it and let it shape your prayers.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation

www.nationaldayofprayer.org

2007 Ford Ironman World Championship Promo

Pray for Election Day on You Tube!

God's Love Is Total

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long, and high, and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:20

God's love is TOTAL, says Paul. It reaches every corner of our experience. His LOVE is deep - it reaches to the depths of discouragement, despair, and even death. When you feel shut out or isolated, remember that you can never be lost to GOD'S LOVE.

The fullness of God's is fully expressed only in Christ. In union with Christ and through his Spirit, we are complete. We have all the fullness of God available to us.  We must appropriate that fullness through faith and through prayer as we daily live for him. Paul's prayer for the Ephesians is also for you. You can ask the Holy Spirit to fill every aspect of your life to the fullest.

Encouragement To Be Faithful

For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgement. 

2 Timothy 1:7

Paul mentions three characteristics of the effective Christian leader: power, love, and self-discipline. These are available to us because the Holy Spirit lives in us. Follow his leading each day so that your life will more fully exhibit these characteristics.  The power of the Holy Spirit can help us overcome our fear of what some might say or do to us, so that we can continue to do God's work.  When we allow people to intimidate us, we neutralize our effectiveness for God.

Keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you.

Lord, I receive the promise of your Word. I will walk in faith and not fear and I believe my setback become a comeback.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

"When we begin to fan the flames of strength and boldness that are within us by praying, studying God's Word, and fellowship with other believers, we soon discover the coals that were about to go out will burst into flames again."  - Pat Street

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" Luke 5:16

Find a place in your home where you can be alone and undistracted during your prayer time. Keep your Bible, prayer journal, pen, and whatever tools you use in that place so that everything is ready. During your prayer time each day, this is a sacred place.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation

www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Daily Time with The Father

Quiet Time with God

The next morning, Jesus woke up very early. Jesus left the house while it was still dark. He went to a place to be alone and pray. Mark 1:35

KEY THOUGHT: Jesus had a regular, disciplined time to be alone with his Father each day. His quiet time with his Father was intentional; it was a priority he built into his day and it required his effort -- effort to wake up early before everyone else, and effort to go out away from everyone else so he could talk with God by himself. How intentional is your daily time with the Father?

TODAY'S PRAYER: O loving and tender Father, God Almighty who has the power to save, forgive me for those periods in my life when I have let my time with you suffer. I confess that I let other things and the hectic pace of my life steal away my time with you. Empower my resolve to put you first in my heart and in my daily schedule. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

www.heartlight.org

"Man is looking for better methods, God is looking for better men. Man is God's method."

- The Power of Prayer

You!

You were planned for God's pleasure. ... God did not NEED to create you, but he CHOSE to create you for ... his benefit, his glory, his purpose, and his delight.

Rick Warren

Real Life!

VERSE: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternallife. -- John 3:16

God wants us to have life! Real life. Life that lasts forever with him! That's why he sent Jesus, so we could have life. That is why Jesus left him and came to earth. That is why Jesus endured the Cross and its humiliation. That's why Jesus rose from the dead. God loves us with an everlasting love in Jesus! What other Christmas gift can compare? "O come, let us adore him!"

PRAYER: Of all your gifts, loving Father, none can compare to Jesus. You are worthy of praise simply because of who you are. You are worthy of honor because of all that you have done. You are worthy of praise because of your mighty acts. Most of all, you are worthy of my heart, soul, mind, and strength because of your love demonstrated in Jesus. Thank you for the greatest gift of all! In Jesus' name I praise you. Amen.


www.heartlight.org

Real Life

"Flash Prayers"

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you" (Eph. 1:18 ).

This week, plan a prayer excursion. Go by yourself, enlist a fellow intercessor, or go as a prayer group. Go to a public place--a mall, a restaurant, and a ball game. Pray "flash prayers" for people you encounter. Ask God to open the eyes of their hearts so that they will know the hope to which He has called them. If you are with a partner or a group, you may wish to pray out loud in conversational tones. You do not need to close your eyes to pray.


Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Eyes On Jesus

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" Hebrew. 12:2

This week, be fully aware of Jesus. He is God's Everything. During your daily prayer time, before you do anything else, fix your inner eyes on Jesus. As you go through your day, let your inner eyes see Jesus present in every situation. When you think of a friend or a family member, let your inner eyes see Jesus there with that person.


Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Lord's Purpose

"Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD"s purpose that prevails" Proverbs 19:12

This week, focus your prayer time on embracing the Lord's purpose in your every action, every plan, and every endeavor. Each morning, list your plans for the day. Yield them to God's purposes. Be ready to change them if the Lord should direct you to. Be alert for how God is working out His long-term purposes through your short-term plans.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Thankfulness

Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion.

-- John Henry Jowett

Psalm

VERSE:
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may
sing for joy and be glad all our days.
-- Psalm 90:14


THOUGHT:
What's the secret of having a good day? How about waking up and
recognizing that we begin each day just as we ended the previous
one -- we are in the grip of God's unfailing love. That should make
our hearts stir with love and our voices sing with joy. This song
should stir God's Spirit within us and lead us to a deep and
profound thanksgiving that gladdens all of our days. So rather than
waking up tired, cranky, and dreading another day, let this day
with a reminder of God's grace in our daily lives and a reminder of
God's promises in our hearts. Then, I don't think we're going to
have any problem singing the rest of the day!

PRAYER:
Glorious Master and Eternal Father, thank you for pouring your
love and joy into my heart through your Holy Spirit. Fill my heart
and satisfy my life with a sense of your abiding and unfailing
love. In the name of my loving Savior, Jesus. Amen.

www.heartlight.org

Much Prayer

Where there is much prayer, there will be much of the Spirit;
where there is much of the Spirit, there will be ever-increasing
prayer.

- Andrew Murray

Jesus does his best work at such moments. Just when the truth
about life sinks in, his truth starts to surface. He takes us by
the hand and dares us not to sweep the facts under the rug but
to confront them with him at our side.

-- Max Lucado

The Word Is Near You

"The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it" (Deut. 30:14).

This week, during your prayer times, read the Scripture out loud. You will find that your mind stays focused better and that hearing the words and speaking them brings out nuances that you have missed by reading silently.


Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Invite God

. . . prayer invites God into my world and ushers me into God's.
Jesus himself, who spent many hours in solitary prayer, invariably
returned to a busy world of weddings, dinners, and crowds of sick and
needy people. He rejected Peter's suggestion to build a tent on a
mountaintop and returned instead to the masses below. Following that
pattern, I look for ways to bring the two worlds together, God's and
mine, to let them become one.



-Philip Yancey in PRAYER Does It Make Any Difference?, p.167.

Never Stop Praying

Never Give Up


Then Jesus taught the followers that they should always pray
and never lose hope. Jesus used this story to teach them:

-- Luke 18:1 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:
Jesus had two points he wanted to impress into the hearts of his
disciples. First, he wanted them to be dedicated to prayer and have it
as a constant part of their lives. Second, he wanted them to know that
they must never give up, no matter what the circumstances might be.
While Jesus makes his points clear, why did he feel the need to tell a
story? The answer is pretty straightforward. Stories help us remember.
They connect to a different place in our hearts and in our heads rather
than just saying the main point. Finally, Jesus used stories from
everyday experience so that the sight or experience of something
similar would bring his teaching back into the forefront of their
thoughts. So the next time you hear about a Bible teacher or preacher
who tells too many stories, remind the folks of the Master Storyteller
-- Jesus!


TODAY'S PRAYER:
Father, thank you for Jesus' ability to put your truth into everyday
stories. Thank you for the truth that they carry and the power they
have in our memories. Thank you for giving so much of your truth in
Scripture in the form of stories. Most of all, dear Father, help me to
never give up as I seek your will, your presence, and your help through
prayer. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

www.heartlight.org

VERSE:
I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my
name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his
reward. Mark 9:41


THOUGHT:
This simple and clear passage cuts two ways: First, we are
blessed when we bless God's children, even if the blessing is
simple. Second, we can rejoice when others do the simplest things
to bless us in Jesus' name, because we receive the kindness and
grace of others and because God blesses that kindness with his
overwhelming grace. Bottom line -- let's live to be a blessing!
When we do, God is blessed. We are blessed. We bless others. In
addition, when others are gracious to us, God has also promised to
bless them. God pours his blessings out on all of us. In God's
miraculous economy, the more we bless each other, the more
blessings there are for everyone!

PRAYER:
Gracious and loving Father, please use me this week to be a
blessing to everyone around me. But this week, dear Father, please
lead me into the life of someone who desperately needs your grace.
Please give me discernment to see them when you bring them across
my path. Give me courage to reach out and bless them. Keep them on
my heart and help me as I seek to be a long-term blessing to them.
In Jesus' name I ask for your help and grace to use this
opportunity for your glory. Amen.

Only God Could Love Like That

WHAT God did makes sense.

It makes sense that Jesus would be
our sacrifice because a sacrifice was needed to justify man's
presence before God. ... However, WHY God did it is absolutely
absurd. When one leaves the method and examines the motive, the
carefully stacked blocks of logic begin to tumble. That type of
love isn't logical; it can't be neatly outlined in a sermon or
explained in a term paper. It is inexplicable. It doesn't
have a drop of logic nor a thread of rationality. And yet, it is
that very irrationality that gives the gospel its greatest
defense. For only God could love like that.

-- Max Lucado

Our Fuel

The following quote is attributed to C. S. Lewis in Wild at Heart by John Eldredge:

"A car is made to run on gasoline, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on himself. He himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other."

You Are Not An Accident

You are not an accident. Your birth was no mistake or mishap,
and your life is no fluke of nature. Your parents may not have
planned you, but God did. ... Long before you were conceived by
your parents, you were conceived in the mind of God. He thought
of you first. It is not fate, nor chance, nor luck, nor
coincidence that you are breathing this very moment. You are
alive because God wanted to create you!

-- Rick Warren

Pray for The Soldiers

Prayer

"Lord, please hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."

Prayer Request: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.

At The Feet of Jesus

Those who are willing to come apart from the clamor and demands of
each day's activity in order to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to
His heart are the ones who will be blessed with intimacy beyond that
which most believers will ever know.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss in A Place of Quiet Rest, p.235.

Purpose Of Your Life

The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal
fulfillment, peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far
greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest
dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on
this planet, you must begin with God. You were born BY his
purpose and FOR his purpose. - Rick Warren

Be A Friend

VERSE:
Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
1 Corinthians 10:24


THOUGHT:
Isn't it amazing how the more we try to fix things for
ourselves, the more we focus on "looking out for number 1," and the
more we also find ourselves isolated from meaningful relationships
that make life worth living. "If you want to have a friend, then be
a friend," the saying goes. You know what? It's right! It's easy to
seek what is only for our own good. That's what most folks do as a
matter of course. But what makes Christians redemptive, what makes
them like God, is their willingness to think of others before
themselves!

PRAYER:
Father, forgive me, because I know that I am often selfish and
seldom think through the implications of my decisions based on the
needs of others. I want to have the mind of Christ and be more
selfless and sacrificial with everyone who needs your grace and the
tenderness that you have placed within me to share with them.
Please bless me as I seek to be like your Son in this area of my
life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

"Busy-ness"

www.heartlight.org

VERSE:
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own
business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that
your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you
will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

THOUGHT:
What's your ambition? I don't know about you, but I'm not so
sure I could say my ambition is to "live a quiet life ...." But
when I hear the reason for that directive, I understand. So many
people I meet are frazzled, run down, and exhausted with all their
"busy-ness." So let's make a commitment to cycle down a little,
trust God more and more each day, and seek to live a life that wins
the respect of those around us!

PRAYER:
O precious and righteous Father, I need your help to learn to
slow down and tend to my own responsibilities instead of running
around out of control and without purpose. Please grant me not only
the wisdom that I have been praying for, but also the patience and
quietude that I need for that wisdom to change my heart and mind.
In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen.

Ask Someone To Pray For You

I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me" Romans 15:30

This week, ask someone else to pray for you in your struggles. Let the Lord guide you to the right person. During your prayer times, when your struggle comes to mind, rest in the fact that someone else is carrying that burden for you this week.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

"My most important appointment today is with Jesus in prayer."

-anonymous

God Is Near

Recently I noticed the following words of Moses: "What other nation
is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is
near us whenever we pray to him?" Deuteronomy 4:7

I believe God is always near us but in a unique way when we pray to him as his children.

Joseph Suttle

Urgent Need for Prayers - Baby Bennett

There is an urgent need for prayers. Please pray for Travis, Kelly, and Bennett. Petition God on their behalf and ask him to heal little Bennett and meet the emotional and physical needs of Travis, Kelly, and their families.

http://prayingforbennett.blogspot.com/

He Cares For You

-Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Carrry Each Other's Burdens

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:1-3).

This week, ask the Lord to place on your mind someone for whom you are to pray. It may be someone you know well, or it may be someone with whom you are only acquainted. It may even be someone you only know of. Write the name down. Be faithful in praying each time that the name comes to your remembrance. Watch for the amazing ways the Lord will lead you in prayer and the ways He will give you a glimpse of His work. Write them in your journal.


Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Surrender

Whether climbing a mountain or writing a book, I have a goal-oriented, accomplish-the-mission attitude toward life, and prayer stops me in my tracks. I learn that I cannot "fix" the people I am praying for. I cannot get everything I want in the time frame I want. I must slow down and wait. I have to present my request in a manner that seems at first like surrender. I "give them up" to God, and through that act of submission God can at last begin to grow in me the qualities, or "fruit," that I needed all along: peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

-Philip Yancey in PRAYER Does It Make Any Difference?, p.154-155.

Confess & Believe in Me!

www.heartlight.org


Confessing Christ!


"I tell you, if any person stands before other people and is
willing to say that he believes in me, then I will say that
person belongs to me. I will say this before the angels of
God. But if any person stands before people and says he does
not believe in me, then I will say that person does not
belong to me. I will say this before the angels of God."

-- Luke 12:8-9 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:
Confessing Christ is crucial! Confessing Christ can be costly in human
terms. Christians in generations before us were sometimes put to death
simply for saying, "Jesus Christ is Lord" rather than calling some
other ruler "Lord." However, the significance of our confessing Christ
is revealed most clearly by Jesus' own words here: he will claim us if
we claim him!

Strength

www.heartlight.org

VERSE:
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the
weak.
-- Isaiah 40:29


THOUGHT:
Even the most pumped up and positive ones of us find ourselves
broken and weary at some point in our life. It isn't so hard to
believe and follow Jesus when we are soaring on the wings of eagles
or running and not getting weary in our walk with God. Often the
toughest time to keep our faith vibrant is when we are trying to
keep putting one foot in front of the other while not fainting. In
those moments of absolute powerlessness, weakness, and brokenness
the Lord is often most real, most powerful, and most present.

PRAYER:
Thank you, God, for sustaining me and keeping my faith alive
when I have been under attack from the Evil One and have grown
weary with the challenges and hardships of life. Please give those
I love, and mention now by name, ... the strength to press on even
though they are weary and weak. Please be real in their lives and
let them know that you are coming with grace to help and redeem as
their Great Deliverer. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen

The Greatest Answer to Prayer?

www.heartlight.org


The Greatest Answer to Prayer?


"Does any of you have a son? What would you do if your son
asked you for a fish? Would any father give his son a snake?
No! You would give him a fish. Or, if your son asks for an
egg, would you give him a scorpion? No! {You are like all
other people}--you are evil. But you know how to give good
things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father knows
how to give the Holy Spirit to those people that ask him."

-- Luke 11:11-13 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:
What's the greatest answer to our prayers? The gift of God's cleansing,
justifying, sanctifying, saving, empowering, and indwelling Holy
Spirit! If fathers know how to give good gifts, don't you think the
Father will give us and empower us with his Holy Spirit? So let's ask,
expect, and receive this greatest of gifts.


TODAY'S PRAYER:
Father, I know when I was saved you cleansed me by your Holy Spirit and
that you came to live in me and make my body your temple through your
Holy Spirit. Now I ask that the Spirit's presence and power be more
real to me, not just to sense your presence but so that I can be like
Christ in every way. In Jesus' name. Amen.

"Give us today our daily bread" (Matthew. 6:11 ).

This week, focus each morning on Matthew 6:11. Ask Him for His provision in every circumstance and every need that the day presents. Rest in His willingness and His ability to meet every need as it arises.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Teach Me to Pray!

www.heartlight.org

Lord, Teach Me to Pray!


One time Jesus was praying in a place. When Jesus finished
praying, one of his followers said to him, "John taught his
followers how to pray. Lord, teach us how to pray too."

-- Luke 11:1 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:
So many books have been written about prayer. Most of us have attended
classes that chose prayer as their subject matter. Yet, when was the
last time you gave serious time to looking in the Gospels (Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John) and studying Jesus as he prayed, what he taught
about prayer, and what the importance of prayer is? Why not commit to
spending several months with a hilighter reading the Gospels? As we
read, let's ask Jesus each day, "Lord, teach me to pray!" While we pray
in the power and authority of Jesus' name every day, let's also commit
to learning to pray as Jesus prayed.


TODAY'S PRAYER:
Holy God and Almighty Father, thank you for giving me the avenue of
prayer to speak with you, to seek you, and to come into your presence.
I recognize that prayer is a gift from you, ensured and assisted by the
intercession of your Son and the Holy Spirit. Please, dear Father, lead
me and guide me in my efforts to learn to pray as your Son prayed and
as he taught his disciples to pray. I long to draw nearer to you, to
honor you more completely with all of my being, and to open my will up
to your will. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Let Your Will Be Done

"Your kingdom come, Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10 ).

This week, focus each morning on Matthew 6:10. Bring each situation to the Lord and pray, "Let Your will be done in every detail. Let Your kingdom rule take effect in every detail." Bring every detail of your situations before Him, asking Him to take full charge.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Send Me!

www.heartlight.org

VERSE:
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8


THOUGHT:
Church worship on Sunday is not the goal of our life here on
earth. As important as church worship and personal praise are, they
are only part of our goal. We are here to glorify God with both our
lips and our lives, with our hearts and our hands. With the world
around us caught up in Satan's traps, God wants us to hear his call
to us in our church and private worship and respond by saying,
"Here am I. Use me!" Then he wants us to enter the world
redemptively, making a difference in our "public worship" of
ministry.

PRAYER:
Loving God, Rock and Refuge of my soul, thank you for giving me
the experiences I've had in my life. Thank you for the abilities
you placed in me while you fashioned me in my mother's womb. Thank
you for the gifts your Spirit molded in me when I became your
child. Now, dear Father, please help me to know how and where I am
to use these gifts in your Kingdom and to bless those in the world,
so that I can help bring others to you, help build up the Body of
Christ, and bless your people. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Worship Our Father

VERSE:
Above him were seraphs, each with six wings ... and they were
calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the
whole earth is full of his glory."
-- Isaiah 6:2-3


THOUGHT:
Jesus taught us that worship is not about a place, but about our
Father (John 4:21-24). Knowing that our Father is worshipped by the
heavenly hosts should inspire us, humble us, and motivate us to do
the same, no matter where we may find ourselves. Above all other
qualities, God is holy. Three times the heavenly beings acknowledge
his holiness -- he is special, undefiled, pure, perfect, and
something much more than everyday and mundane. His glory fills the
earth and sky. He is bigger than all we can imagine. He is worthy
of our worship, reverence, and awe.

Competing For Christ

http://www.fcaendurance.org/

"May the God who gives ENDURANCE and encouragement give you a spirit of
unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one
heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 15: 5-6

Strengthen My Heart

www.heartlight.org

VERSE:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a
throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the
temple. Isaiah 6:1


THOUGHT:
We often view difficult times, crisis times, as bad because the
circumstances we face are very hard. But difficult times can also
be an opportunity for our hearts to re-awaken to the steadfastness
and the gloriousness of God, as well as our great need for him in
our lives. The crisis of Uzziah's death for Israel and Isaiah
became the great opportunity for Isaiah to see God in a fresh way
and to be called into a special ministry for God. How can God use
your crises, hardships, trials, and difficulties? Why don't you ask
him to show you!

PRAYER:
Holy God, I confess that I get discouraged enduring hardships. I
sometimes wonder where you are and why you have forgotten me. Deep
in my heart, dear Father, I know you are there. But sometimes, O
God, it is difficult to keep my faith burning brightly when I don't
hear your voice or see you face to face. Please strengthen my heart
with your Holy Spirit and help me "see" you in a fresh way so that
I will open myself to you and be tuned more perfectly for your
service. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Freedom

Heartlight.org

VERSE:
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then,
and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery Galatians 5:1


THOUGHT:
We have been set free! We are delivered from law, sin, and
death. We have been set free to serve God and share in his grace
eternally. So how will we use that freedom?

PRAYER:
God of freedom and grace, please give me your Spirit of wisdom
to understand more fully all the ways that you have blessed me.
Please help me use those blessings to share your grace with my
family and friends. May I never take for granted your gifts or
abuse my freedoms won at such great cost. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.

Pray for Harvesters

www.heartlight.org

Pray for Harvesters


Jesus said to them, "There are many, many people to harvest
(save). But there are only a few workers to help harvest
them. God owns the harvest (people). Pray to God that he will
send more workers to help gather his harvest."

-- Luke 10:2 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:
So often we wring our hands when messages about how all Christians
should be evangelistic don't seem to make much difference. At times, we
can get frustrated when so few people sign up for evangelism training
classes. However, we often neglect the approach Jesus commanded: we
need to pray for harvesters. Why do we have so few reaching out to the
lost? Could it be that we have not fervently and consistently prayed
for the Lord to send out workers into his harvest fields?


TODAY'S PRAYER:
Holy and gracious God, please stir your people's hearts and open your
people's eyes to the need of reaching the lost. Send out workers for
the harvest. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Crown of Glory

From www.heartlight.org

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown
of glory that will never fade away.
-- 1 Peter 5:4


What a wonderful blessing it is to be led by godly, loving
shepherds. But as much as we love them and show them respect, they
will receive even greater appreciation in heaven!

O glorious God, please bless every faithful and concerned leader
in your Church with a clear sense of your blessing and
appreciation. Please use me to show this love to your faithful
servants as well.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

The Great Shepherd

Today's verse from Heartlight. I like this one.

VERSE:
May the God of peace ... that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip
you with everything good for doing his will. Hebrews 13:20-21

THOUGHT:
A good shepherd equips his sheep to face the trials of life. But
as Psalm 23 reminds us, no shepherd equips his sheep quite like the
ultimate Shepherd. Let's unleash his power in the lives of our
brothers and sisters in Christ by specifically praying for God to
equip them with everything they need to do his good work!

PRAYER:
O Great Shepherd of the sheep, please release the power of your
Spirit in your people and equip us to do great things in our day,
like the first Christians did in their day. May it all be done to
your glory, in the name of my hero, Jesus. Amen.

Bless My Brothers & Sisters

VERSE:
Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying
for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9


THOUGHT:
When we hear of Christians in other places, especially where
circumstances and times are difficult, or they are new in the
Faith, let's intentionally and purposefully pray this prayer for
them!

PRAYER:
Loving Father please bless my brothers and sisters in Christ all
over the world. Strengthen those under attack and facing
oppression. Mature those new to your family. Enlighten those who
are facing doubt and uncertainty. Please bless your people today
with peace. In Jesus' name I ask it. Amen.

To Be Stronger

When you face the perils of weariness, carelessness, and
confusion, don't pray for an easier life. Pray instead to be a
stronger man or woman of God.

- Luis Palau

Constantly Pray

We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy ofhis calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. -- 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Paul prays for God to be active in the lives of these new Christians -- to maximize the good they intend to do as well as fully bless every good deed they do out of their commitment offaith. What new Christian do you need to pray this for?

Strong and mighty Father, please bless several new Christians who are on my heart today. Help them recognize your presence in their lives. Please maximize the good in every effort they make and every intention they have to honor you and bless your people. Protect them from the evil one.

In Jesus' name I ask this blessing.

Amen.

Embrace Everything

"This is the day the LORD has made;
[I will] rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

This week, let this be your first thought every morning: This is the day the Lord has appointed for you. He has given you this day. Embrace everything He brings into this day. When it brings difficulty or disappointment, think of your circumstance as a "faith lab." Every little joy or pleasure it brings is a gift from the Father. Start your prayer times this week by settling this in your mind: I will rejoice and be glad in this day.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Against Such Forces

The New Testament openly describes Satan as "the god of this age" and
"the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in
those who are disobedient." Of course bad things happen! On a planet
ruled by the Evil One we should expect to see violence, deception,
disease, and all manner of opposition to the reign of God.

We pray because against such forces we have no more powerful way to
bring together the two worlds, visible and invisible. I present my
world, whatever its circumstances, to God and ask for God's help in
equipping me to counter the forces of evil.

-Philip Yancey in PRAYER Does It Make Any Difference?, p.118.

Day of Prayer & Fasting

http://www.fxcc.org/missions/#day

Changing the world one life, one family and one village at a time.

The Annual Day of Prayer and Fasting was created to support mission efforts in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

We are joining with Churches of Christ around the world in a special Day of Prayer for the helpless and lost.