Are We Praying From the Heart?

PM#0480

Ps44:21, Ps 37:4

When you pray, are you praying from your heart?

Many may will say answer yes, but God is the one who really knows if you are.  Ps 44:21 says God knows the secrets of the heart. 

When it comes to prayer, those secrets can affect our prayers, and if we want to see answers to prayer, there is Biblical encouragement in PS 37 verse 4 which says ‘delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart’.  Delighting ourselves in the Lord includes obeying God’s word, meditating on it, and letting it get into our hearts.

What is in our heart can affect our prayers.  If we really delight in God’s word, we will pray from our heart, and we will see answers to what you can call ‘heart prayer’.

Consider this prayer:  ‘Father, help me to delight in your word, and may your word be in my heart.  Thank you for helping me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.’

The Hold Back PS 66:1

PM#0479

PS 66:18, Ps 139:23-24

Do you feel like you are being held back but do not know why? 

Have you desired to obtain a goal like a promotion, but nothing happens?  Most of us have experienced that at one time or another.  Sometimes it seems that our desire never seems to happen.  If that pattern continues, then we should ask the Lord, what is holding us back? 

God says in Ps 66 vs 18 says “If I regard iniquity (or sin) in my heart, The Lord will not hear.”  The Psalmist knew this, and asked the Lord to search his heart; to try him, and know his thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in him. 

The Psalmist knew the value of letting the Lord show him what needed to be corrected.  Maybe we all should follow that example.

Consider this prayer:  Father I don’t want sin blocking your help.  Search my heart and reveal sin that I need to correct, like David did.  Thank you for your help.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Muddied Waters

PM#0478

Based on James 1:4    If any man lack wisdom let Him ask of God.

Have you ever felt the waters around you are muddied to the point where you do cannot see dangers like rocks or sand bars threatening to damage you ship?

Probably most of us have had that happen to us one time or another.  Those are times when we need to focus on Christ through His word.  There is much wisdom and guidance to be found in His word, which is written in the Bible.  Through studying the word and letting it help us develop a close personal relationship with Christ, we will find that He can guide us through those muddied waters, safely. 

Take time to talk with the Lord about your situation through prayer, and search the scriptures.  There is much wisdom and help in God’s Word.

Consider this prayer:  ‘Father, I need your help in this difficult situation.  The waters are muddied and I can’t see dangers ahead.  Please Guide me,  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.’

Speech and Your Heart

PM#0477

Matthew 15:18, Psalms 139:23-24, II Chronicles 7:14, Nehemiah 1:6

What expressions do we commonly use?  Many of those expressions show what is in our heart.  The Bible says that out of the heart, man speaks. (Matt 15:18)

New Years is a time to confess those wrong words spoken cleanse our heart, and to let Jesus cleanse our heart.  However, if we hide sin, in hidden places in our heart, he can't cleanse that.  That hiding of sin keeps us speaking wrong.

When you speak without thinking, are you using wrong expressions that actually address a false god, or something related, or down-grade someone?  To keep doing it is like a rut. 

To get out of that rut, we must confess all sin and let Christ work his cleansing in us. Consider this prayer:

Lord, show me what is not right in my heart, even those sins of my fathers which affect me today. Lead me in following your word, and in turning away from those sins by confessing them to you.  Cleanse my heart, Lord.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Celebrating Christmas...

Prayer Minutes PM#0476

 As we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate the coming of light into our world.  John 1: 9 says “There was the true light, … which lighteth every man, coming into the world.”  In John 1:4 the Bible says: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”  That life reflected the nature of God, which is Love.  I John 4:8. 

What keeps us from accepting that love?  Many of us have grown up with fear, and have done wrong things which we don’t want to even speak about.   Those things have a hold on us like a rope around our neck that can’t be removed. Christ came not to judge us, but to give us life. 

We can have that life if we believe on Jesus.  John 3:16 says: “For God so love the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish.” All we need to do is believe in Him.  Have you really personally done that? 

If not, then consider this prayer:  “Jesus, I believe in you as my savior.  Help me to love You.  Amen.”

Remembering Christ at Christmas

PM#0475

In the Christmas Season, and here is much hustle, traffic jams, and crowded stores.  There are beautiful lights everywhere, yes many are beautiful, but none are as beautiful as the true meaning of Christmas. 

Christmas is not about what we get, or all the glitter and lights.  Christmas is about a Savior being born for you and me.  It was a humble birth of one who showed love to many by caring for them, and was willing to lay down His life, so that we could have eternal life by believing on Him.

Why not this Christmas, take time to remember what Jesus Christ has done for us.  He came because He loved you.  If you have never put your personal trust in Him, and asked Him to be your Savior, don’t put that decision off.  Do it now, and pray this prayer:  “Jesus, I invite you to be my personal Savior and want you to help me love others as you love me.”

If you prayed that prayer for the first time, we would love to hear from you.

Prayer for Upcoming Leaders

PM#0474

Prayer for Upcoming Leaders

Based on Matt 13:3-7

John, is a man who appears to be an upcoming leader in your organization or church.  How are you responding to him?  Are you sitting on the sidelines watching, are you questioning his sincerity, or are you encouraging him and praying for him?

Most every one of us has probably seen someone like John.  Here is an interesting thought about upcoming leaders.  If they have encouragement, they generally do well.  When they do not have encouragement, then they are like the seed that fell on hard ground, and don’t often amount to much.

Encouragement does help people move forward.  Encouragement can be in the form of prayer for them, asking God’s help for them to grow and develop.

Consider a prayer like this in praying for an upcoming leader.  “Father, encourage my friend, John, who has been growing in the Lord and serving you.  May he look to you and your word daily.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.