Pray Persistently
About twenty years ago, this next sentence changed my life: "You do not have because you do not ask God." This short verse opened a door for me to discover the life-changing power of persistent prayer.
At that time in my life, I was stressed out about a lot of different things. I was trying to make my ministry grow, trying to make my husband do this or that, trying to make my kids act a certain way, trying to make other people do the things I wanted, trying to basically do absolutely everything on my own. As you can probably guess, it wasn't working!
As a burned-out, frustrated young Christian, I realized one day that living in my own strength was useless. I needed to take my problems to God. In other words, I needed to pray more!
When we understand God's love for us and His plan for us, then we can begin to realize the doors that He wants to open for us. But we'll only realize these things when we're constantly talking with Him, listening to His voice, and growing deeper in our relationship with Him.
In Matthew 7:7 (AMP), Jesus tells us, "Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you."
So many times, when we reach the end of our rope, we turn to prayer, but when our prayers are not instantly answered, we give up. Today, I want to encourage you to not only pray, but to pray persistently. Don't stress out trying to make things happen on your own. Give it all to God as you pray.
Remember, He promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him. Let's pray and seek Him with all our hearts.
Prayer Starter: God, remind me to bring my problems to You. I'm tired of living in my own strength. I need Your guidance and Your direction. As I seek You daily, I will put my trust in You.
About twenty years ago, this next sentence changed my life: "You do not have because you do not ask God." This short verse opened a door for me to discover the life-changing power of persistent prayer.
At that time in my life, I was stressed out about a lot of different things. I was trying to make my ministry grow, trying to make my husband do this or that, trying to make my kids act a certain way, trying to make other people do the things I wanted, trying to basically do absolutely everything on my own. As you can probably guess, it wasn't working!
As a burned-out, frustrated young Christian, I realized one day that living in my own strength was useless. I needed to take my problems to God. In other words, I needed to pray more!
When we understand God's love for us and His plan for us, then we can begin to realize the doors that He wants to open for us. But we'll only realize these things when we're constantly talking with Him, listening to His voice, and growing deeper in our relationship with Him.
In Matthew 7:7 (AMP), Jesus tells us, "Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you."
So many times, when we reach the end of our rope, we turn to prayer, but when our prayers are not instantly answered, we give up. Today, I want to encourage you to not only pray, but to pray persistently. Don't stress out trying to make things happen on your own. Give it all to God as you pray.
Remember, He promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him. Let's pray and seek Him with all our hearts.
Prayer Starter: God, remind me to bring my problems to You. I'm tired of living in my own strength. I need Your guidance and Your direction. As I seek You daily, I will put my trust in You.
My response:
God, again you remind me to bring my problem to you. Actually I'm tired of living in my own strength. I need your direction and guidance. As I seek you daily, I will put my trust in you. In Jesus Christ Name I pray, Amen.
There are few thing I need to change after I had get the message from yesterday. I need to change... I shouldn't judge what's right and wrong. Judging is not by us, Jesus would not judge the sinned lady in front of the public, although he had the right to judge.
We should accept and love one another , pray for his or her weakness.
RECEIVING FORGIVENESS
TALKING TO GOD
Silently confess the things you have done that are hurtful to others. Ask God for forgiveness. Then thank Him for forgiving you.
DIVING IN
At your next family meal, have everyone wear earplugs or earphones but talk as usual, without trying to help each other hear what you are saying. Also wear them as you clear the table as a family.
GOING DEEPER
When you don't come to God to be forgiven, it is as if you refuse to listen to Him. By not hearing God, you separate yourself from Him, just as you did when you suddenly could not hear your family well. Read Psalm 32:5, "I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' — and you forgave the guilt of my sin." When you ask for forgiveness, God forgives you. It is as if He removes the earplugs from your ears, and you can hear Him again.
TALKING TO EACH OTHER
- Have you ever kept something you did wrong a secret? If so, how did trying to hide this secret make you feel?
TALKING TO GOD
Silently confess the things you have done that are hurtful to others. Ask God for forgiveness. Then thank Him for forgiving you.
DIVING IN
At your next family meal, have everyone wear earplugs or earphones but talk as usual, without trying to help each other hear what you are saying. Also wear them as you clear the table as a family.
GOING DEEPER
When you don't come to God to be forgiven, it is as if you refuse to listen to Him. By not hearing God, you separate yourself from Him, just as you did when you suddenly could not hear your family well. Read Psalm 32:5, "I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' — and you forgave the guilt of my sin." When you ask for forgiveness, God forgives you. It is as if He removes the earplugs from your ears, and you can hear Him again.
TALKING TO EACH OTHER
- Have you ever kept something you did wrong a secret? If so, how did trying to hide this secret make you feel?
Yes. I will pray to ask for forgiveness.
- What might keep you from going to God and confessing a sin?
- What might keep you from going to God and confessing a sin?
That's should be my proud I think.
- How do you feel when someone forgives you for something you've done wrong?
- How do you feel when someone forgives you for something you've done wrong?
Quite embarrassing initially. I would wish to do something for he or she as a return.
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