Ephesians 6:18 "Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters." (The Message)
Same verse in NIV: "And pray in the spirit on all occasions, with ALL kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert, and always keep on praying for the saints."
I was watching Rick Warren's church service yesterday, "live" on my laptop ~ I am old enough to really be amazed by modern technology....I also feel very blessed to be able to participate in worship from my recliner. Being housebound, this is a very good option!
Anyway....Rick Warren spoke about prayer and mentioned a very good idea~ writing down our prayers...which I have done in the past, but he also suggested making 4 columns that give you an overall view of your prayers and God's responses to them.
Date~~~ Prayer Request~~~ Date Answered~~~ How God Answered
Pastor Warren also spoke about praying with tenacity....relentlessly....with determination.....
This gave me food for thought. I find that when I have a prayer request that I repeat and repeat, I either get discouraged when I don't see an answer OR I wonder if I have been oblivious to God's response because I did not get the answer I had hoped for. Hmmmm
I am not able to say that lately I have prayed with
tenacity...relentlessly...with determination .... or with alot of consistency. I need to confess that my structured prayer life leaves much to be desired. I certainly throw up prayers off and on throughout the day, but this realization is really a bit surprising to me because I used to have a very dedicated prayer life...and slowly it has ebbed away to just a quick morning prayer with my husband before he leaves for work and a few quick prayers throughout the day and night.
I have now added at the top of my intentions for 2009 list a prayer journal and structured Bible study. I am looking forward to seeing how my prayers are answered in 2009.
Praise God for His goodness and willingness to hear and answer our prayers. And praise God for laptops that bring pastors like Rick Warren into my living room "live"....on Sunday morning!
2 comments:
A consistent prayer life has been hard for me too, especially over the last year and a half. But what I've learned, is that I pray harder for other people than I ever pray for myself. I need those prayers too.
I've also learned to be faithful when my unsaid prayers go answered, when I have a good day, or I find something that works for my pain.
Good luck with your prayers in 2009, I'll be working on it too.
Thanks Chrissy
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