Be Still

"Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)

This week during your prayer times, focus on being in the moment. Let these words wrap themselves around your heart: "Be still. Know that I am God." Let the power of His presence flood you, filling you with confidence, peace, boldness. When He says, "I am God," what is He saying to you? Each morning, write down what it means to you that He is God.

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

Search Me

"O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me" Psalm 139:1

Each morning this week, during your prayer time, use Psalm 139:1-6. Read it through slowly each morning, concentrating on each phrase. Focus on a different verse each morning, turning it into your personal prayer and allowing the Spirit of God to speak personally to you. Keep that verse in your thoughts all day long, praying it as situations arise.

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

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!

Psalm 139:1-6

Our Refuge and Strength

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the
mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:1-2

God is not only our protector, He is also our helper. Even when
our world seems to be crashing around us, He is there. He will
deliver us from death or deliver us through death. He will deliver
us from evil or he will deliver us to overcome evil. Our task is to
trust that in the midst of our earthquakes and tidal waves we are
not alone or abandoned.

Approach The Throne

"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming
conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of
all about me, seemed insufficient for the day." -Abraham Lincoln

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we
may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Hebrews 4:16

Pray for Virginia Tech - Hokie Hope Day

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine declared Friday a day of mourning and called for a moment of silence at noon to honor the 32 victims in Monday's massacre at Virginia Tech. Churches around the country, from California to National Cathedral in Washington D.C., have scheduled vigils and special prayer services.

HOKIE HOPE DAY
Perhaps one way we can support the VT community is to join in today's expression of Hokie Hope. The VT Alumni Associations apparently have asked their members across the country to wear orange and maroon tomorrow, the school's colors, as an expression of their unity and support of Hokie Hope.

Matthew 18:20

Jesus said that "where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them".

We need Jesus in our midst, so we need to pray together with other believers.

Pray Without Ceasing

Hello..


It has been an incredibly tragic day to say the least. Please keep the 32 victims, the wounded, their family members and community of Virginia Tech in your prayers. Please also keep in your prayers the estimated 3,000 individuals in Africa who died of malaria today as well. And the 6,000 people who died of HIV/AIDS today. And the 24,000 people worldwide who died of hunger today.

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Weekly Prayer - Obey

"Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure." Ecclesiastes 8:5

During your prayer times this week, ask the Lord to tell you anything He wants you to do today--any action He wants you to take. Express your faith to Him that, when the time comes, you will know what to do and how to do it. Be alert every moment of your day for His command.

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

Jesus Christ, Our Coach

Living your life with Jesus is simply the best way to live. It's not that everything will be perfect. Being a Christian is not about being "happy" or "successful". It is about being right with God and doing right in the world. To follow Jesus is to take life to a deeper level -- the level God intended for us all along.

Living life the way Christ wants you to live will give you great peace and joy inside that nothing from the outside can give you. This peace and joy are better than anything else you can find. The key is Christ. What He gives you is Himself. The question is whether you will give yourself to Him.

Let Jesus Christ coach you through life. You cannot lose.

Are you willing to believe in Jesus Christ and follow him? If so, say to him: "Lord Jesus, I need You. I realize that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and then rose to new life. I believe You are my Savior. Forgive my sins and help me begin to follow You. Take control of my life and make me the person You want me to be. Thank you for coming into my life. In Jesus' name. Amen."

He Wakens Me

“He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught” (Isa. 50:4).

This week, during your prayer time, consider that you are there at His invitation. He has invited you to spend time alone with Him because He has something beneficial to teach you and say to you. Consider how that changes the atmosphere of your prayer time. Write your observations in your journal.

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

In Whom Do I Trust?

King David, the one who defeated Goliath, wrote these words:

It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in people. It
is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in princes. Psalms 118:8-9

David also wrote the following:

Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion; they will
not be defeated but will endure forever. Psalms 125:1

The Bible reminds us of this truth: "For God has said, 'I will never
fail you. I will never forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5). But, do we really
believe it?

If you choose some mere mortal human, you will be disappointed.
So let me encourage you to choose to trust in God.

He will never fail or forsake you no matter what!

For there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Perhaps it is time to ask
yourself: "In whom do I trust?"

I Don't Want To Sin

May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O
Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame
because of me, O God of Israel. Psalm 69:6

What a beautiful prayer for any Christian. In a world that is so
self-absorbed, isn't it refreshing to be reminded of the powerful
impact for good and bad that we can have? Let's not only be
reminded of the devastating impact of our hypocrisy and rebellion,
let's also pray that our failures will not be destructive to the
Kingdom's increase nor to our brothers and sisters in Christ as
they seek to serve and honor the Lord.

I do not want to sin. I know it is
rebellion against you and it breaks your heart.

I do not want to sin because I know it diminishes me and makes me even more
vulnerable to Satan's attacks in the future.

I don't want to sin and bring disgrace upon your cause

I don't want to sin and be the cause of those seeking you to stumble. Please
forgive my sins, but please Father, strengthen me and help me not
stumble in my time of temptation.

The Importance of Prayer

At that time Jesus went out to a mountain to pray. He stayed
there all night praying to God. The next morning, Jesus
called his followers. He chose twelve of them. He named these
men "apostles." They were: -- Luke 6:12-13 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:

Few events were more important in Jesus' ministry than his selection of
apostles. How would Jesus select 12 from the mob that followed him?
These men would have to change the world. Could he actually find 12
that could do that? Jesus knew what was in the hearts of people. Would
anyone be able to stand up to the challenges that he would have to face
as one of Jesus' chosen 12? Jesus withdrew to the mountains to be alone
with God and pray as he faced this momentous decision. He didn't choose
12 and then ask God to bless his choice. No, he spent the night in
prayer before he chose the 12. When faced with decisions, whether they
appear important or not, we need to follow the example of our Lord!


TODAY'S PRAYER:

Holy and loving Father, stir my heart with a deeper yearning for
prayer. I need your guidance every day, so please dear Lord, bless me
with the discipline of daily fervent prayer. Particularly in those
times when I face much hard decisions, have your Holy Spirit stir my
spirit with a longing to come into your presence and find my guidance
and peace in you. In Jesus' name, and because of Jesus' example, I
pray.
Amen.

Mystery of Godliness Is Great

VERSE:
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He
appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by
angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the
world, was taken up in glory.
-- 1 Timothy 3:16


THOUGHT:
Why would Jesus do it? How did he do it? How was he "God with
us" and still in "human flesh"? We cannot fully comprehend it, but
he was! The Son of God was also Jesus of Nazareth, born and placed
in a manger and crucified on a cross. But he was raised from the
dead and shown to be God's Son with power. He was seen by angels,
both on earth after his resurrection and in heaven at the throne of
God. He has been preached and believed on by people all over the
world. The glory that he has he will one day show and share with
us. If you want to understand godliness, then you begin with Jesus!

www.heartlight.org

Excellent Servant

Money is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master.

-- P. T. Barnum

Does It Matter?

After surveying Jesus' practice of prayer, I realize that that his example does answer one important question about prayer: Does it matter? When doubts creep in and I wonder whether prayer is a sanctified form of talking to myself, I remind myself that the Son of God, who had spoken worlds into being and sustains all that exists, felt a compelling need to pray. He prayed as if it made a difference, as if the time he devoted to prayer mattered every bit as much as the time he devoted to caring for people.

-Philip Yancey in PRAYER Does It Make Any Difference

He Cares

VERSE:

Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. Psalm 86:6-7

THOUGHT:

Sometimes there are no immediate answers. We have prayed and cried and tried and gone sleepless and mourned and shouted. Still there are no answers. The days roll by in an agonizing parade of pain. Still there are no answers we can identify. What do we do? We go to the Psalms. We let them raise up our heart's cry. We are honest with the God of the entire universe and yet we can still anticipate mercy from him. We are convinced that in our troubles, he will not only hear us, but he will also care about what is happening in our lives.

God's Temple

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1 Cor. 3:16-17

You are God’s dwelling place. He is at home in you. Focus on that reality this morning. You do not have to seek Him out and get His attention—He has sought you out. In the Old Testament, worship in the temple engaged all the senses. This week, create an atmosphere for your prayer time that engages your senses. Light a fragrant candle. Play worshipful music. Let your senses enter into the experience of worship.

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

Learn To Listen

‘“Speak, for your servant is listening’” (1 Sam. 3:10).

The most important prayer-skill is learning to listen to the Living Voice. This week let listening to Him be the main focus of your prayer time. Let 1 Samuel 3:10 be your only request. Listen for Him in His Word, in the quietness of your heart, in the circumstances of your day, in fresh ideas that come to mind, in new understanding that settles on you. Learn to listen. Write down what you think you sense Him saying to you.

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

Save

"He shall save his people from their sins."
-- Matthew 1:21

"Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity." If not saved from sin, how shall we hope to be
counted among his people.

It is true our Lord Jesus Christ does redeem all his people from
the wrath to come; he saves them from the fearful condemnation which
their sins had brought upon them; but his triumph is far more complete
than this. He saves his people "from their sins." Oh! sweet deliverance
from our worst foes. Where Christ works a saving work, he casts Satan
from his throne, and will not let him be master any longer.

Pray this with me...

Lord, save me now from all evil, and enable
me to honor my Savior.

I command you today to love the Lord your God. I command you to follow him and to obey his commands, laws, and rules. Then you will live, and your nation will grow larger. And the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take for your own. Deuteronomy 30:16

“You will never stand alone while standing on the Word of God.”
— Kathryn Souza-Wine

Pray Always & Pray One for Another

"Praying always."
-- Ephesians 6:18

"Pray one for another."
-- James 5:16

Our first prayer was a prayer for ourselves; we asked
that God would have mercy upon us, and blot out our
sin. He heard us.

But when he had blotted out our sins like a cloud,
then we had more prayers for ourselves. We have had to pray for
sanctifying grace.

For as your prayers have been many, so also have been God's answers to them. He has heard
you in the day of trouble, has strengthened you, and
helped you, even when you dishonored him by trembling
and doubting at the mercy-seat.

Remember this, and let it fill your heart with gratitude to God, who has
thus graciously heard your poor weak prayers.

Remember that such prayer is the sweetest God ever
hears, for the prayer of Christ is of this character.

Our prayers for others, having in them more of the
fruits of the Spirit, more love, more faith, and more
brotherly kindness.

All the bread your soul has eaten has come down from
heaven, and all the water of which it has drank has
flowed from the living rock-Christ Jesus the Lord.