Category Archives: Prayer

Prayer

Prayer Needs the Spirit

The Spirit helps us pray. Without the feelings and words from the Spirit it is really hard to pray. Where is an easy place to get Spirit words? The Bible is in-spirited by God. So the words in the Bible turned into prayer are wonderful prayer words. And those words from the Bible are full of Spirit.

Someone once said that Prayer is an impossible task without the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Idaho Sunset

Idaho Sunset

Spurgeon

Spurgeon loved Bible study, prayer and preaching.

Spokane River

Spokane River

Here is a great quote on prayer from C.H. Spurgeon:  Of course the preacher is above all others distinguished as a man of prayer.  He prays as an ordinary Christian, else he were a hypocrite. He prays more than ordinary Christians, else he were disqualified for the office which he has undertaken.   

Reflection on the Spokane River

Reflection on the Spokane River

 So prayer is an important aspect to preaching.

Martin Luther Speaking to God in Prayer as a Friend

Martin Luther spoke to God in prayer as a friend.

Veit Dietrich, also known as Vitus Theodorus was a German theologian, writer and reformer. Theodorus was a close friend of Martin Luther. Theodorus, talking about Luther, said, “I overheard him in prayer, … with what life and spirit did he pray! It was with so much reverence as if he were speaking to God, yet with so much confidence, as if he had been speaking to his friend.” God wants us to be men and women of prayer.

Two Trees, Chorazin Israel

Two Trees, Chorazin Israel

Elijah Prayed Earnestly – Bible Prayers

Bible Prayers are prayers where the prayer words are in the Bible.  There are many prayers where the words of the prayer are right in the Bible.

Canon Beach Haystack Rock

Canon Beach Haystack Rock – Elijah Prayed

Sometime we don’t know what the words are, like when Jesus prayed all night.  We don’t know what He prayed, we just know the outcome the next day where He choose the twelve apostles.  There is a few Bible verses that are teachings on prayer, like the Lord’s Prayer.

I just love this Bible verse on prayer:  Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. — James 5:17

Psalm 22:19 But thou, Jehovah, be not far from me; O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Consider the verse in John 15:7 where the Lord Jesus says “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask what ever you wish and it shall be done.”  A big part of prayer is our mind being filled with the Words of the Bible.  The more our mind is renewed with God’s Word the more prayers get answered.  His word in our thinking causes us to pray closer to His will.

House of Prayer

Wow, the best Bible verse on this is:  Isaiah 56:7   I will bring them to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar;  My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.

Notice, it is a house of prayer, not a prayer room, not a place of prayer. A house is a place where we live and are comfortable. We typically live in our house almost everyday. Um, everyday is about how often we should pray.

Idaho Sunset

Idaho Sunset

Anxiety and Worry

Birds do not worry, but people do.  Even when things are good we find something to worry about. I am sure no one but me does his. We just need to trust Jesus.  Here are some great Bibles verses on anxiety and worry.

Seagull, Cannon Beach

Seagull, Cannon Beach – Birds do not worry, but people do.

Matthew 6:26-27 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Prayer or Bible Study

Which is more important, your left foot or your right foot. There may be some debate on this, but I personally prefer BOTH. So with my time, is it prayer or Bible Study or teaching or preaching or writing or coordinating? And the winner is, we need all of them. Just like my body as Paul talked about in First Corithians, we need all the members and we need all the functions in the body of Christ.

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Encouragement to Pray

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

The best verse or maybe a great one that is super encouraging is: Luke 11:9-13
“So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 What father …. 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

So we have a wonderful Heavenly Father who loves us and cares for us. We just need to ask Him for what we need. Look at the  phrase “keep knocking”, this means do not give up.  Don’t think that our Father in heaven has forgotten us. Keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. And keep believing our wonderful Father.