Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Jaci Velasquexz singing… On My Knees … poignantly singing of the of the place we all should be on a daily basis to let the power of God work thru us.
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Highlight Verse[s]: James 5:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
… So, why do we hesitate to pray?
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Highlight Passage [context]: James 5:13-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God unleashes His power thru humble prayer.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ...
… And to dampen or avoid the stresses of life, … PRAY!!!
Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18 [NLT] …
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus
… Prayer should be a continual attitude of surrender and seeking involving our relationship with Christ.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Anne Cetas, used a clever word-picture to help Christians organize their prayers. The ODB author wrote: Prayer is a conversation with God, not a formula. Yet sometimes we might need to use a “method” to freshen up our prayer time. We can pray the Psalms or other Scriptures (such as The Lord’s Prayer), or use the ACTS method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication).
But I recently came across this “Five-Finger Prayer” to use as a guide when praying for others [see photo]:
… When you fold your hands, the thumb is nearest you. So begin by praying for those closest to you—your loved ones (Phil. 1:3–5).
… The index finger is the pointer. Pray for those who teach—Bible teachers and preachers, and those who teach children (1 Thess. 5:25).
… The next finger is the tallest. It reminds you to pray for those in authority over you—national and local leaders, and your supervisor at work (1 Tim. 2:1–2).
… The fourth finger is usually the weakest. Pray for those who are in trouble or who are suffering (James 5:13–16)
… Then comes your little finger. It reminds you of your smallness in relation to God’s greatness. Ask Him to supply your needs (Phil. 4:6, 19).
But whatever method you use, just talk with your Father. He wants to hear what’s on your heart.
I think all mature Christians realize and recognize that a disciplined/daily attitude of prayer is necessary for all born-again believers (see 1Thess.5:17). The early church fathers (in the Scriptures above) exhorted Christians to take ALL things to God ALL THE TIME. And the ODB author today presents a clever tool to help us do that.
The question is WILL WE? … NO, … the real question is JUST HOW MUCH DO WE DESIRE TO TAP INTO GOD’S POWER? … I’ll leave it to you to let my thoughts today, as well as ODB, motivate and direct you in your prayer life.
My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … Lord, … Every day - as today - I come to you on my knees, as the song today sings, with my “ACTS” of prayer. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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