|
.
PRAYERS.
"We can approach God with confidence for
this reason: if we make requests which accord with
His Will He listens to us; and if we know that our requests are
heard, we know also that
the things we ask for are ours." (1 John 5:14,15 NEB).
HOW SHOULD WE PRAY TO GOD?
"In your
prayers do not go babbling on like the heathen, who imagine that
the more they say the more likely they are to be heard. Do not imitate them.
Your Father knows what your needs are before you ask
Him."
(Matt 6:7,8 NEB).
"Again, when you pray, do not be like the
hypocrites; they love to say their prayers standing up in synagogue and at the
street corners, for everyone to see them. I tell you this: they have their
reward already. But when you pray, go into a room
by yourself, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is there in the secret
place; and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you."
(Matt 6:5,6 NEB).
"And when you stand praying,
if you have a grievance against anyone, forgive him,
so that your Father in heaven may forgive you the wrongs you have done."
(Mark 11:25 NEB).
"In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ give
thanks every day for everything to our God and Father." (Eph 5:20 NEB).
"(Christ) is the Yes pronounced
upon God's promises, every one of them. That is why, when we give glory to God,
it is through Christ Jesus that we say 'Amen'."
(2 Cor 1:20 NEB).
"Persevere in
prayer, with mind awake and thankful heart".
(From Col 4:2 NEB).
"If any of you falls
short in wisdom, he should ask God for it and it will be given him,
for God is a generous giver who neither refuses nor reproaches anyone.
But he must ask in faith, without a doubt in his mind".
(James 1:5,6 NEB).
WHAT SHOULD WE PRAY FOR?
'Whatsoever it is
that presses you, go tell your Father; put over the matter into His hand, and so
you shall be freed from that dividing perplexing care that the world is full of.
When you are either to do or suffer anything, when you are about any purpose or
business, go tell God of it... and you have done for matter of caring; no more
care, but quiet, sweet diligence in your duty, and dependence on Him for the
carriage of your matters. Roll your cares, and yourself with them, as one
burden, all on your God.' (R. Leighton).
'If you have any trial
which seems intolerable, pray,
pray that it be relieved or changed. There is
no harm in that. We may pray for anything, not wrong in itself, with perfect
freedom, if we do not pray selfishly. One disabled from duty by sickness may
pray for health, that he may do his work; or one hemmed in by internal
impediments may pray for utterance, that he may better serve the truth and the
right. Or, if we have a besetting sin, we may pray
to be delivered from it, in order to serve God and man, and not be ourselves
satan's to mislead and destroy. But the answer to the prayer may
be, as it was to Paul, not the removal of the thorn, but, instead, a growing
insight into its meaning and value. The voice of
God in our soul may show us, as we look up to Him, that His strength is enough
to enable us to bear it.' (J. F. Clarke).
"Give yourselves wholly to prayer and
entreaty; pray on every occasion in the power of
the Spirit. To this end keep watch and persevere,
always interceding (1)
for all God's people".
(Eph 6:18 NEB).
PRAYING TO GOD REFRESHES THE SPIRIT.
'It is impossible for us to make
the duties of our lot minister to our sanctification without a habit of devout
fellowship with God. This is the spring of all our life, and the strength of it.
It is prayer, meditation, and converse with God,
that refreshes, restores, and renews the temper of our minds, at all times,
under all trials, after all conflicts with the world. By this
contact with the world unseen we receive continual accesses of strength. As our
day, so is our strength. Without this healing and refreshing of spirit, duties
grow to be burdens, the events of life chafe our temper, employments lower the
tone of our minds, and we become fretful, irritable, and impatient.' (H. E.
Manning).
"The Lord is near; have no anxiety,
but in everything make your requests known to God in
prayer and petition with thanksgiving. Then the peace of God,
which is beyond our utmost understanding, will keep guard over your hearts and
your thoughts, in Christ Jesus."
(Phil 4:6,7 NEB).
PRAYERS ON BEHALF OF OUR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS.
"The prayer offered in faith
will save the sick man, the Lord will raise him from his bed, and any sins he
may have committed will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another,
and pray for one another, and then
you will be healed. A good man's prayer is powerful
and effective."
(James 5:15,16 NEB).
(1) INTERCEDE:
Earnestly pray on
behalf of others. |