Mistaken Attitudes That Entrap Christians
In light of the above, we see that in addition to concern we should have in personally drawing close to God and over what is happening in God’s Church, we are clearly also to watch, listen and read to keep up with world news, events, conditions and trends.
In doing so, we should focus on news that is significant rather than sensational. Let your knowledge of end-time prophecy guide you in your selections. If you’re quite busy, and many of us are, still make “watching” a high priority and dedicate time for it.
In spite of Jesus’ command, many Christians don’t stay well informed. Why? We can name several reasons.
Some feel that paying serious attention to news is not “spiritual” enough. But true spirituality is based on obeying our Master, Jesus Christ, who commanded us to watch!
Some people ignore news because it’s mostly bad news that interferes with feeling happy and comfortable. But that’s choosing escapism over facing reality and obeying Christ’s command to “deny” yourself . We are not to selfishly shut our eyes and hearts to the suffering of others, becoming indifferent, complacent or fatalistic.
People get depressed when they feel helpless. But by watching and praying, we are strengthened. We can help others to understand what’s happening, plus we are more effective helpers with God’s work in other ways!
What If I Don’t Know How To Pray
The Holy Spirit will help you in prayer when you don’t know how to pray:
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
What Does The Bible Say About Praying For Our Leaders
Youve probably heard it said before that it is important to pray for our leaders. Maybe you regularly pray for your leaders at church or at home. Do you sometimes feel that praying for our leaders is hard because you dont see eye to eye with the way they are leading? The truth is . . . we may not get to choose our leader or their position on the issues we care about, but we can choose to cover them in prayer.
The Bible tells us several times how and why we should cover our leaders in prayer. Lets dig into Gods Word and take a look at some verses to help us teach our children this important, biblical habit.
What Does the Bible Say About Praying for Our Leaders?
When it comes to praying for our leaders, 1 Timothy 2:1-4 gives us direct instruction.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT
When we pray for our leaders we take part in advancing Gods kingdom on this earth. Here are some of the ways to pray for those in leadership that can impact Gods influence on the earth:
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Christian Quotes About Praying For Others
Pray for others before praying for yourself.
It is not only our duty to pray for others, but also to desire the prayers of others for ourselves. William Gurnall
When you pray for others God listens to you and blessed them. So when you are safe and happy remember that someone is praying for you.
We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in Gods work on behalf of the people for whom we pray. Corrie Ten Boom
You are never more like Jesus than when you pray for others. Pray for this hurting world. Max Lucado
I have been benefited by praying for others for by making an errand to God for them I have gotten something for myself. Samuel Rutherford
True intercession involves bringing the person, or the circumstance that seems to be crashing in on you, before God, until you are changed by His attitude toward that person or circumstance. People describe intercession by saying, It is putting yourself in someone elses place. That is not true! Intercession is putting yourself in Gods place it is having His mind and His perspective. Oswald Chambers
Intercession is the truly universal work for the Christian. No place is closed to intercessory prayer: no continent, no nation, no city, no organization, no office. No power on earth can keep intercession out. Richard Halverson
You Should Pray Scripture Because It Kindles Your Affections
Ray Ortlund writes, I have learned to see the Bible as kindling for a holy fire. Scripture is meant to inform us, and thus to inflame us. It is meant to illuminate our thoughts of God, and thus to ignite our affections for God.8
John Pipers chapter on Scripture in Desiring God is called Scripture: Kindling for Christian Hedonism.9 He closes by sharing from George Müllers autobiography how he started his day:
The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. . . .
Before this time my practice had been, at least for ten years previously, as an habitual thing, to give myself to prayer, after having dressed in the morning. Now I saw, that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed and that thus, whilst meditating, my heart might be brought into experimental, communion with the Lord. I began therefore, to meditate on the New Testament, from the beginning, early in the morning.
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Why Should We Pray For Others
We pray for others for comfort, for salvation, for healing, for safety for any number of reasons. God uses prayer to align our hearts to His will. We can pray that someone comes to know God, or that God will allow their lost dog to return home we can pray for any reason at all.
5. 2 Corinthians 1:11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
6. Psalm 17:6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
7. Psalm 102:17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute he will not despise their plea.
8. James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
9. Colossians 4:3-4 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
Does God Hear The Prayers Of Sinners Or Unsaved Persons
Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
In context ” rel=”nofollow”> Isaiah 59:1-8), God heard the prayers of the Israelites . However, Isaiah was warning the Israelites that their prayers would not be answered because of their persistent sin and refusal to repent.
This verse in John is also cited:
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.
This was actually a comment from a man that Jesus had healed, so it reflects his own understanding rather than a Bible teaching.
We are all sinners in our own ways ” rel=”nofollow”> Romans 3:23, ), so these verses cannot be interpreted to mean that God will not listen to the prayers of any sinner. The overall Bible teaching is that God will accept the prayers of anyone who prays sincerely for forgiveness ” rel=”nofollow”> Luke 18:10-14). We are also cautioned not to make judgments about who is a sinner ” rel=”nofollow”> Matthew 7:1-5, , , ). Only God can make that judgment.
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+ Bible Verses About Prayer
Prayer is vital to the Christian life.
But sometimes, it can be difficult to find the motivation to pray.
Whether due to stress, time constraints, or sheer overwhelm, despite the value of prayer in the life of the Christian, it can easily become the first thing we discard when we need it most.
Here, we will overview what the Bible teaches about prayer by supplying you with a list of over 100 Bible verses on the topic.
Why Must We Pray For Them
Jesus himself told his followers to pray for his enemies. You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, . He didnt suggest we like them or ignore them but through our prayers, we bring them to the throne of God and bless them. And when we do, Matthew 5:45-48 says that we will be … children of Your father in heaven. In other words, obeying this commandment marks us as people related to God Almighty.
Jesus then added that if we pray for those who persecute us, it will be painful to them. As our enemies receive blessings via our prayers, they will feel miserable, weighed down with burning coals heaped on top of their head . Because when someone is against you, they will expect you to retaliate. Turning the other cheek and petitioning God for your enemys needs is the last thing they will expect.
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Check Out These Additional Bible Verse Posts
For additional encouraging Bible verses and Bible verse posts, check out these resources:
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Why Does God Call Us To Pray
So why does the Lord call us to pray, when He already knows the answer? Its because prayer enters us into His presence, unlocks the power of His Spirit in us, and provides healing and direction.. and in making our requests known to Him He often provides answers to the questions that we have yet to ask.
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How Do You Ask God To Pray
Ask God specifically what you want. Tell God what you want or need and ask Him to provide it for you. Be specific about your request. Even though God knows what you want and need, He wants you to ask Him. God may answer vague prayers, but being specific creates a deeper connection between you and Him.
What Should We Pray For
We are commanded to pray with petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving and for all people. This verse in 1 Timothy says that we do this so that we might live peaceful and quiet lives in all aspects of godliness and holiness. A peaceful and quiet life can only occur if we grow in godliness and holiness. This isnt necessarily quiet life as in nothing bad happens but a quiet sense of the soul. A peace that stays regardless of the chaos that ensues around you.
30. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people for kings and all those in authority, that we might live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Above all, praying for others brings God glory. We should seek to glorify God in every aspect of our life. When we pray for others, we are reflecting the way Jesus prays for us. Also when we pray for others we are reflecting Gods kindness. And praying for others draws us nearer to God. So let us lift one another up in prayer to our Father in Heaven!
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What Is The Highest Form Of Prayer
The necessity of prayer for the realization of salvation is brought to light in the acts and teachings of Jesus. Thus, He exhorted His disciples to pray always and not loose heart. If Holy Mass is the highest form of Christian prayer, it must be of absolute necessity for any Christian that worth the name.
What Else Are We Commanded To Pray
One of the most neglected items for prayer is that the Lord may send out workers into His harvest field.
Then He said to His disciples, The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. .
Why isnt everyone hearing the gospel? Why are there so few people that can really cast out demons and heal the sick effectively? It is because laborers are not being sent into the harvest in sufficient quantities. When laborers are SENT, then God also PROVIDES for them. A lot of people would like to go, but cannot, because they are not sent, and God is not guaranteeing to provide for them financially to work in His harvest field until they are sent. But they wont be sent, except by a miracle from God. It really seems to be like this. We need to pray hard and long for workers to be sent.
There is a cliche about this verse that the disciples answered their own prayer in Matthew 10:1 when they were sent out. I dont believe that for a moment. GOD answered the prayer. If we can answer our own prayers then we dont need to pray. In the same way, we need to pray hard that God send out workers. And praise the Lord if He sends us out. It is an honor to serve. And praise the Lord if He sends someone else out. The Lord knows who He wants to send.
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What Does It Mean To Pray For Your Enemies
Jesus himself told his followers to pray for his enemies. And when we do, Matthew 5:45 says that we will be children of Your father in heaven. Praying softens our heart, as we let go of our agenda. And most of all it allows us to become more like Jesus.
- Carol Stratton
- 201921 Aug
The New Testament talks a lot about forgiving ones enemies, a noble and altruistic notion. But its difficult. As humans, we want revenge and vindication. We dont naturally think about praying for our enemies. But Jesus commanded us to pray.
When You Pray Pray In Private
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
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Prayer In The Bible: The Lord’s Prayer
In Matthew 6, Jesus gives clear instruction and guidance on how to pray, saying “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
He then proclaims what is known as the “Lord’s Prayer” which is popularly used across most Christian denominations to this day!
“Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.“ ~ Matthew 6:9-13
We Need Knowledge Of End
To know where to focus our attention, we particularly need to know the Bible prophecies of the end time, especially the prophecies surrounding the second coming of Christ.
We are to “eagerly wait for” Christ’s return, not just passively wait around . Jesus was emphatic that His followers should hopefor His return, expect His return and pray for His return! In addition, our enthusiastic anticipation and excitement will intensify as we see more and more world events fulfilling Bible propheciesespecially those that point to the increasing nearness of Christ’s return.
Note the watching, waiting, anticipation and preparedness in the following passage:
“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning and you yourselves be like men who wait fortheir master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching” .
Jesus concluded His message by saying, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour youdo not expect” .
Much later, Jesus echoed that point: “Behold, I am coming as a thief . Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame” . We must not be caught undressedunprepared.
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