PASSIONATE
PRAY-ER
BREAD
5 “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. 6 But
when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who
is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for
they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not
be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:5-8 (NIV)
12 “For
the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their
prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
1 Peter 3:12 (NIV)
12 Be
joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 (NIV)
16 Be
joyful always; 17 pray
continually; 18 give
thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
BUTTER
“There
comes a time, in spite of our soft, modern ways, when we must be desperate in
prayer, when we must wrestle, when we must be outspoken, shameless and
importunate. Many of the prayers
recorded in Scripture are ‘cries,’ and the Hebrew and Greek words are very strong. Despite opinions to the contrary, the Bible
recognizes such a thing as storming heaven- ‘praying through.’ The fervent prayer of a righteous man is
mighty in its working.” Cameron Thompson
“Being free
means that, in prayer, we don't have to work for slave's wages...Being free
means that we don't have to worry about every word and every thought that is
uttered in the presence of God...God says...You aren't a slave. Quit acting
like one.” Steve
Brown
“Men may spurn
our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons; but
they are helpless against our prayers.”
J. Sidlow Baxter
Prayer is not so
much a formula as it is a friendship – rote as it is relational. Prayer is a 24/7 access to “Abba” (Daddy)
Father Who loves us with an everlasting love as well as rejoices over us with
singing. Further, He “brings out the
starry host one by one and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty
strength not one of them is missing.” He
is all love and all ability – all achieving power – nothing is too hard for Him.
Prayer is coming into His Presence with
singing and into His courts with praise.
It is listening with Faith for His “still, small voice” as well as pouring
out our hearts in Trust resting our heads gently “between His shoulders”. It is knowing His answer always has our best
interest at heart because He loves us. It
is an unspeakably high gift from the Creator to the created. Prayers moves the hand and heart of God. BHY
“The
one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing
from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at
our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” Samuel
Chadwick
“‘Dost
thou want nothing, O poor soul? Hast
thou nothing to ask? Oh yes! You say, a great deal. Well then, draw near to thy gracious King and
Bridegroom without fear. Lo! He holds out His golden scepter to thee,
saying, ‘Only ask: not the half, but the
whole of My kingdom shall be granted; nay, I will give myself unto thee!’ O dear soul, pray, and tell Him everything
that is wanting, be it ever so great or ever so small. His loving-kindness will hear even the least
petition; nay, He will seem to be ignorant of what thou dost not tell Him. But whatever is poured out before Him is actually
addressed and lodged in its proper place, and does not lie upon thy heart any
longer, but upon His heart, which cannot rest till you are relieved. And if you have experienced His help
aforetime in great or small things, you may depend on His readiness to help you
out of troubles hereafter; only be earnest in prayer for His help. We often imagine we were willing and drawing
near to Him, but He was unwilling, and refused our request; but it is not so: He rather draws us, and desires our relief
more than we do; for it is He that works even this willing mind.” K.H.
Von Bogatzky
HEART
SAVOR
- · I am to pray continually.
- · In every circumstance I am to petition until peace permeates.
- · God is not unwilling to hear my prayers. He delights for me to pour out my heart to Him. My supplications never take Him by surprise. His desire is to walk with me through this life and eternally.
