Tag Archive | Christian

Rewarding Corporate Prayer

Aug22

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42 NASB

Continually. Devoted. Prayer.
Continually devoting themselves to prayer. The Bible, knowing and practicing it, is important to the body of Christ, His church. Fellowship and the breaking of bread together is also important. And Prayer.
Prayer is where we are witness to the movement of God. In us individually. In others. Most importantly in the body, working together to accomplish the will of the Lord God. His kingdom come. His will be done.

Private prayer has it’s reward but also does corporate prayer. Rewards of corporate prayer:

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:43‭-‬47 NASB

🌹Wow! The power of sincere, devoted, corporate prayer in the fulfilling of God’s kingdom will.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Rewarding Private Prayer

Aug21

“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:5‭-‬6 NASB

After spending the weekend with three very active, self minded, beautiful granddaughters vying for my attention — all at the same time — made me appreciate the one on one time I have with the Father, going “into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father“. I have the full attention of my loving, caring Lord.
And the rewards of His undivided attention fills my heart and soul with overflowing joy, power and direction.
The greatest and most fulfilling reward is seeing the glory of God. His glory at work in me, changing and sanctifying, and through me as He answers my prayers on behalf of others.

You just can’t go wrong following in the footsteps of Jesus  . . .

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
Luke 5:16 NASB

After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.
Mark 6:46 NASB

🌹Does your private prayer time need refreshing? No time like the present.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Spirit of . . .

Aug18

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity (cowardice), but of power and love and discipline (sound judgment).
2 Timothy 1:7 NASB

Sovereign God, Creator, thank You for the gift of salvation and the indwelling of the Your Holy Spirit. Through the power of the Holy Spirit guide me to speak boldly in truth, love unconditionally, and practice sound judgment under Your power! I humbly surrender to your will in my life and to that which you have entrusted to me for Your glory. Amen.

🌹Guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
2 Timothy 1:14 RSV

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Prayer Testimony

Aug17

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.
Romans 8:26 AMPC

What excuses have you used to avoid prayer? I know I have many. . . too tired. . . in a minute. . . not “feeling” it. . . excuse after excuse after excuse.Well we are without excuse if the Holy Spirit resides in us.

This week I resolved to set aside time, more than my normal morning prayer time, to pray. I had all my excuses lined up as to why I couldn’t but surrendered to the presence of God through the Holy Spirit.  Day 1. . . struggle. BUT, by the time I said amen, I was refreshed. I had a better attitude and I was filled with joy.

God blesses our efforts. The next morning I received two answers to prayer. One a done deal and one a positive step in a mother/son relationship. What a blessing to be a part of answered prayer. 

So what is your excuse?

🌹Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”
Exodus 33:18 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Prayer Invitation

Aug16

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 NASB

We Christians have been invited to the throne of grace. Into the holy of holies. WOW!

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:19‭-‬22 NASB

We have a direct line to the ear of God. We are invited into His presence. The door of welcome is always open. Prayer is essential to growing a relationship with God. Jesus, our example, whom we are to follow, did not neglect time with His Father.

Can we grow in faith and trust in Jesus without prayer?

🌹But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
Jude 1:20-21 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Pray to Know and Live Jesus

Aug15

Pray desiring to know and live for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Father, You have made known to us the mystery of Your will, according to Your kind intention which You purposed in Him, our Lord Jesus Christ. Father of glory, give to us a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Jesus. I pray that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened, so that we will know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of Your power toward us who believe.
Ephesians 1:9‭a, ‬17‭-‬19a NASB

🌹I pray the desire of my heart will always be to know Jesus and to live for Him. Amen.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

In the Presence of God

Aug14

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry.
Psalms 34:15 NASB

God is available. God is just a prayer away. And yet. . .
It brings me to tears when I think what little time is spent in the presence of Almighty God. I’m as guilty as anyone.

Prayer is drawing close to God, experiencing His presence. Prayer is where we pour out our life to be filled with His life. Prayer is connecting with our Lord and with one another when we gather in corporate prayer. It is where we find the heart of God.

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places.
Psalms 43:3 NASB

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalms 16:11 NASB

For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
1 Peter 3:12 NASB

Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; The upright will dwell in Your presence.
Psalms 140:13 NASB

🌹For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.
Psalms 21:6 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Shout Joyfully to God Our Maker

Aug11

It is He (God) who has made us, and not we ourselves (and His we are);
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 100:3b

Your hands made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
Psalms 119:73 NASB

Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Psalms 95:6 NASB

For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice,
Psalms 95:7 NASB

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Psalms 100:1 NASB

We belong to God and that is something to shout joyfully about!

🌹Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.
Isaiah 40:11 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Joyfully Praise the Lord!

Aug10

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
Psalm 100:1, 3a NASB

Do you know the Lord God?

To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord, He is God; there is no other besides Him.
Deuteronomy 4:35 NASB

If God has revealed Himself to you and you know Him, shout joyfully! Acknowledge Him with praise. Don’t wait until all people stand before God in judgment. Every knee will bow and everyone will proclaim, “The Lord, He is God!”

When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.”
1 Kings 18:39 NASB

If you truly know God, you can’t help but shout joyfully!

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord.
Psalms 113:1 NASB

Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
Psalms 150:1 NASB

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Psalms 150:6 NASB

🌹Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
Psalms 146:1 NASB

Continually Seeking Him with praise,

Sharon

Shout Joyfully While Serving

Aug9

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Psalm 100:1-2a NASB

Shout joyfully to the Lord while serving Him with gladness and as you serve the Lord your God, out of obedience, He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst.
Exodus 23:25 NASB

🌹“Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deuteronomy 10:12‭ NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon