More on Prayer

Are You Glorifying God with that word or action? -Col 3:23

Do nothing out of selfish ambition! –Phil 2:3

These two scriptures tie together some loose ends for me about prayer.

Anything and EVERYTHING we do should be for God’s glory. HE created us to worship HIM. I think that must include our prayer life.

Couple of Questions: What are you praying about? How are you praying…? Is God going to get the Glory for answered prayer?

Friends, I feel like God spoke plainly and clearly to me this morning at 4:55 AM.

We MUST do everything we do as if we are doing it for the Lord. This includes prayer.

WE should NOT be the main focus of our own prayer. We need to pray primarily for others. And others should be praying for us. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we should be lifting one another up. James 5:16 says pray for one another…!

This is how the body of Christ was meant to function…!

Matthew 18:20 says where two or more are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of them…

If we just pray by ourselves, and for ourselves, we are not only selfish, but we are also leave ourselves weak and vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks. Do you know what the bible says about ‘going it alone‘…? ‘…Though one can be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken…’ Ecclesiastes 4:12

The more strands in your ‘prayer cord’ then the stronger it will be to pull down principalities and strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 says: …The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds…

I remember a conversation I had with a dear friend who was discipling me at the time. He had been working with me for about a year going through the bible and teaching me one on one. We prayed for each other a lot. And I remember distinctly one day him telling me that I needed to get away from ‘self-keeping’ and start focusing on others more in my prayer. I was completely self absorbed with trying to not sin and thinking about my own needs and concerns.

I understood what he was saying then, but I understand that concept on a whole different level now. –It only took about six or seven years…!

I’ll expound on this topic more in the future. But for now, please make sure that your motives in prayer are not selfish, and that when God does answer your prayer that it will advance the Kingdom.

Here’s another good link I came across about prayer, verses on prayer, and other prayer resources…

Have a great day in the Lord.

The Book of Jeremiah

I've been reading the book of Jeremiah lately. Last night I couldn't sleep and read Jeremiah for several hours. I see many striking similarities between an unrepentant Judah and the unrepentant United States.

IT'S SCARY. -Makes me want to be in prayer more than ever for our country and the world...!

Praise Reports from Wednesday and Thursday...!

Monica and I have been facing some tremendously stressful situations the past few months. We, (I, mostly) have toggled between trusting God to meet our needs and worrying about what would happen if our needs were not met.

PRAISE HIM. The Lord has been doing a mighty work in me, (us) lately.

After weeks and months of fervent prayer and examining every inch of our lives to root out the source of our problems, I really felt God telling me that the main source of our problem was my unbelief. You see, up until God’s revelation to me, I was praying from a standpoint of ‘hopefulness’ rather than a standpoint of ‘confident expectancy’.

It took me over a week to wrap my head around that concept and get my mindset in the ‘right’ place. Honestly, pretty much the moment I absolutely knew and trusted God COMPLETELY that no matter how dire the situation looked, that the Lord would meet our needs, He did in fact meet our needs and answer our prayers in an amazing, abundant fashion that only can be explained as: God Did This…!

This morning as I compose this message and put all the pieces together I am humbled to the point of tears at How Great Is Our God and how so utterly unworthy I am.

Friends, worry and anxiety GREATLY HINDER the effectiveness of our prayer life.

‘Hopeful’ prayers don’t cut it.

Yesterday afternoon God showed up BIG in our lives and made His presence known at just the right moment, just as He was supposed to, and I don’t think my prayer life will ever be the same again…!

God is Good. God is Faithful. God Does Hear and Answer Prayer…! PRAISE HIM…!

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The praise report above was for Wednesday. Then yesterday, Thursday... I had more prayer answered. Woohoo... I'm singing the praises of my Lord and Savior this morning.

I'm encouraged to stay in my 'prayer closet' all day today...!

John 14:27 Let not Your heart be troubled

My scripture today comes from Charles Spurgeon's morning devotional. One of the Key verses in Spurgeon's lesson this morning is: John 14:27. Oh that verse means much to me this morning.

Dear Friends, I've been struggling with some things for some time now. Praise God He's moving me beyond my fears and worries. Yes, God is showing me quite a bit about myself right now.

Spurgeon asked these questions of men who worry and have anxiety about the future:

...What is the value of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess...?

Indeed, I ask myself these questions: Where is my faith...?

If I trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior, why am I worried about money? Why am I worried about 'this and that', or anything at all...?

If I have truly trusted my eternal soul to the Lord, but still have anxiety over the things of this world, there is a disconnect somewhere.

And that's how I've been feeling lately: Disconnected.

Praise God the bible is filled with story after story of ordinary people trusting God, and example after example of God miraculously meeting the needs of His people. Those stories are there for a reason. To show us the nature of God and to provide evidence that God has a plan for our lives.

We can't get where we need to go because we don't know the way. We MUST put God in the driver's seat.

I'm slowly starting to get it.

Friends, if you are struggling with something. The answer is in the bible. Do you want the answer to a question? Read the bible. Resolve to read the bible from cover to cover at least once every year. That's right.

What? You've never even read the bible completely through, even once? How long have You been a Christian? Don't feel too bad, my record on reading the bible is not outstanding, I assure you. I hope this post challenges and convicts you to get in the word daily.

Devotions are good, especially to give us confirmation about things, but we should never rely ONLY on books ABOUT the bible. I implore you to go directly to THE SOURCE.

Books ABOUT the bible are a record of what God has told someone else. I'll bet God may have something SPECIFIC to say to You.

I'm praying this morning that God will give each of you reading this post a hunger and thirst for God's written word and that it will transform your life today...!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord, I believe in You. But Father help me defeat the unbelief that creeps into my heart and mind from time to time. Lord I sense that many of my friends and family are struggling with exactly the same things. I cover them with prayer this morning, too.

Bless us Oh Lord. Give us eyes to see things as You see them. Give us hearts of compassion. Do not let our hearts grow cold toward each other. Rather, let us grow closer to each other and You in Love.

Father God I am so imperfect. Such a sinner. -So unworthy. But Lord You have saved me by Grace. I can't believe That You have saved me and are preparing a place for me right now and NOT believe You are in complete control of every single aspect of my life. Lord I do praise You for the peace that comes with understanding this concept.

I love You Lord. I praise YOU, Jesus. Lift me up, Lord. Bless my family and friends today, this very minute. And I pray these things in Your Precious, Holy Name, AMEN...!

The Day's Forecast: Difficulty

I have a difficult day ahead. Need prayer support. Thanks, Prayer Warriors...

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are my source of strength. I can do all things through You, Jesus. I know You never give us more than we can handle. Father God, all the conditions are present for You to provide a great miracle. I'm resting in You, my King.

I know that the same power that conquered the grave lives in me. Praise You, Father...!

I love You Lord. I give today to You for Your glory. Lift me up, hold me up. Bless me Lord, And Bless my precious family.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Prayer For Blessings

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I cover my stepson Connor and his friend Jimmy in prayer as they travel to a cross country event for school competition this morning. Bless their trip, Father. I pray that they have an opportunity to share their faith today with coaches and friends, and impact others for YOU.

Lord I pray blessings over my precious wife Monica, who has not been feeling well lately. Let today be a day of rest and peace for her. Father God as always I lift up sweet little Elijah to You. Bless his heart, Lord. I pray that we raise him to the best of our ability to love like You love and to be kind and compassionate.

I ask blessings on the weather so that I am able to host my lessons today and that I may give great lessons for Your Glory, my King. I am so grateful for the opportunity to earn a living for my family and speak encouragement and life into other's lives on a daily basis.

Father God finally I ask blessings on our finances. Bless my family to be good stewards of Your provision and multiply or gifts back to the family of God.

I love you Lord. I give today to You, for Your Glory and Praise You that the Same Power that conquered the grave LIVES IN ME...!

In the power of the name of JESUS CHRIST I PRAY,

AMEN

Let's All Observe a Moment of Silence: NOT ME..!

Who started a moment of silence...? What event was it first associated with...?

Call me crazy, but today it just dawned on me that 'a moment of silence' is probably a politically correct phrase for those who don't want to pray.

Otherwise, why not just have 'a moment of prayer'...? I think most Christians equate a moment of silence with a moment of prayer because that's what we do. But that's not what a moment of silence means. -I'M CERTAIN OF IT...! Duh...

A moment of silence is respectful, for sure. But it is most definitely NOT the same as a moment of prayer.

I'm offended by that phrase, now. Is that crazy...?

Whenever I am observing a moment of silence... That moment will be steeped in prayer, I assure you...!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I recognize that you have been trying to get America's attention for a long time. The events of September 11, 2001 was like you taking us by our shoulders and shaking us so hard that our teeth rattled.

You've got my full attention, my King. I repent of my sins. Lord, I'm following You. I call America to do the same. I lift up America this morning to You.

Father God, I especially lift up the families of the victims of the attacks. Another anniversary of this memory has got to be particularly painful to those who lost a loved one.

Thank You God for being Sovereign through all this. I love You Lord. And I pray these things in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Hearing from God

I am convinced that God is trying to get our attention all the time. The problem is that we are just too busy to hear His voice. Well anyway, I'm convinced that's MY problem.

This morning I really felt like God spoke to me the moment I opened my eyes.

PRAISE the LORD that HE would communicate with someone like me. I've been having some very rough days lately, but in spite of different situations I'm facing I really have a calm confidence that God is in control and HE WILL meet my families needs...!

What did God tell me...? Well, that's between God, my wife, and I...!

But the question that begs asking is this: Do YOU want to hear from God too...? Here's some advice:

SLOW DOWN.... All that happens when you go 90 miles an hour is that you crash...

SPEND TIME IN THE WORD... Get the WORD of GOD in YOU. This is how God speaks to people.

PRAY... Talk to God but DON'T You do all the talking...

GET REST... Our Bodies are not indestructible. God will not BLESS an insane schedule. I have come to realize that an insane schedule for me means that I'm trying to hard to do things under my own power.

Slow Down and let God be God...!

Is God in Your TOP 5...? Jeremiah 33.3

My wife and I have our mobile phone service with T-Mobile. They have a feature that you can list your 'top 5' phone numbers and when you call those numbers the calls will be FREE CALLS for you. No air time will be charged to your account...! That's a pretty good deal, I think!

Hey, would you want to add God's phone number to your top 5...? I've got it down right here so you can copy it and save it.

Here, let me text it to you: P - R - A - Y - E - R

In Jeremiah 33.3 God says: Call to me and I will answer you...

Do it... IT'S A FREE CALL...!

Proverbs 27:17... Got Iron...?

Before we went to bed a few short hours ago my wife and I prayed together. It was our third time to come together within a 24 hour period and pray specifically for each other's burdens and needs. As I mercifully drifted off to sleep I was reminded of a verse that was part of our wedding vows:

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV

I am so grateful to have my precious Monica by my side. We are God's gifts to each other. I awakened this morning with similar sentiments on my heart and was thinking that a good topic of discussion today would be the importance of having a prayer partner.

Do you have a specific prayer partner, someone to encourage you or hold you accountable...? I mean one other living person that you can physically be in the same room with, lay hands on, and pray together with ...? Honestly, I believe that such an intimate friendship is rare.

Proverbs 27:17 NIV says: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

So, do you have any 'iron' in your Life...? Who 'sharpens' you...? I encourage You, Dear Friends, to 'Get Some Iron'. Don't be an island. God didn't intend for us to be solitary and alone. He created us as 'social beings'. There is strength in numbers. Two are better than one.

Psalm 119:4 Good Verse...

May those who fear You rejoice when they see me for I have put my hope in Your WORD...

We can be an encouragement to others when they see us trust in the Lord and live a life totally, recklessly abandoned to Him...!

What has given me encouragement and cause to rejoice lately...?


-The Faith of My Precious Wife.

-The miracle of my sweet little boy Elijah

-Watching my stepson Connor grow in his faith.

-Young people at church reciting the books of the bible in order.

-Young people at church reciting the 10 commandments in order.

-Young people reading their bibles and memorizing scripture.

-Movies like facing the Giants and Faith like Potatos.


Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for any and all encouragement and inspiration that comes my way. There is so much bad happening in the world, but I can see You raising up a generation of prayer warriors and those who would live their lives counter to popular culture. Thank You for the hope of the future.

Lord I humbly pray that my life's message would not be a hindrance to some but an encouragement to many. What ever the case, I will endeavor to live my life for You.

Father God I lift up my sister Becky who is traveling today. I lift up my own house to You, Lord. Please bless the Chadwells. Bless our health and bless our finances as we seek to live lives of obedience to .Your words and will.

Lord I am learning to trust You more and more. Thank You for healing my faith. Thank You for the efforts of those Christians who have gone before me. Lord I love You. I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Praying For America

Friends, America needs our prayers. Every day a little more of our liberty is taken away. Some Christians would say that we need not concern ourselves with politics. I think we are called as Christians to stand up for what we believe in. All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to remain silent and do nothing. I am publicly taking a stand for Jesus. I am getting involved in politics by writing and phoning my congressmen and legislators. I am making crucial issues known to everyone within my sphere of influence. And Most importantly:

I'm Praying...!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I stand in the Gap for America this morning. I pray a blessing over this country. Lord give us more time to repent. Father give those who really love and serve You more opportunity to influence those around us.

Father God I feel assaulted by then enemy on every front in my life right now. Help me to stand tall amidst the oppression. Help me to see the world through Your eyes. Lord Jesus guide my steps, words, and actions.

Thank You for today my King. Thank You for another breath and another opportunity to stand up for the Truth. Thank You for my precious family. Lord I do what I do for them and You.

I love you Lord. You have lifted me up from the depths.. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Where Are My Priorities..?

It concerns me that sometimes in the morning when I get out of bed I'll feel compelled to check my email or face book BEFORE I dive into a devotional.

I see that as a HUGE problem. Blogging used to be my big addiction and now face book is definitely an issue for me, too. Oh, I do spend a lot of time ministering encouragement and mentoring through those venues but I should NEVER put them before time spent with God, Himself.

Here are some Lyrics from Rich Mullins song: One Thing

...Save me from those things that might distract me, please take them away and purify my heart. I don't want to lose the eternal for the things that are passing 'cause what will I have when the world is gone if it isn't for the love that goes on and on...

YOU'RE MY ONE THING....! -and the pure in heart shall see God... Matt 5:8

This is a good message. We are in the world but not of it. Got to focus on God and not be distracted by what's going on. Must keep my mission clear: Represent my Lord and Savior and let everyone see the Joy that is in me because I am saved.

Praying for a pure heart today. How can I get a pure heart...? Pray for it. And spend time in the WORD.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help me focus in a world of distractions. Let me see things through Your eyes. Help my heart, Lord. I love You, Father . I give today to You and ask You to bless and order my steps. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

Praise Report Friday...!

I'm excited to begin a regular feature on my blog: It's Called Praise Report Friday: I'm going to begin counting my blessings every Friday. I'd like to put a new spin on TGIF -'Thank God it's Friday'...

So Yesterday, MAFA got off to a great start. Monica's Art Classes went very well. Yay... -And my tennis classes went very well, too... -Yay...! Those were two prayer requests that have been completely answered by God. Oh, God is Good!

I'm still in prayer for many special prayer needs of my friends and family. I'm still in prayer for sanity in my work schedule.

But God is really showing me how to trust in Him these days. He does always come through. My problem is that I feel I often limit his blessings by working too hard under my own power.

God is God. He created the heavens and the earth. He speaks things into existence. He is all powerful and can do anything He wants whenever He feels like it. The bible says that God has a good and perfect plan for my life. I will know the will of my Heavenly Father if I listen for His voice, Read and study His Word, and Obey His commands.

Obedience is the key. The problem is that sometimes (many times) being obedient costs us. But that's where my favorite 'life principle' kicks in: Trust God and leave all the consequences to HIM. That's what God is showing me right now...

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You Lord for loving me so much that You died on the cross for my sins. I would be nothing without You. I'm so grateful Your spirit is indwelling inside of me. Lord help me to let You be God. Help me to let go of fears and just trust and rest in Your promises...

Give me boldness and courage to stand up for You in a day and time where few are living for You. Father God I am living for You. I love You, Lord. And I give today to You, I'm following You no matter what it costs me...!

I know that taking a stand like this means that the forces of darkness will mount up an attack against me. But scripture says that if YOU are for me, who can be against me...? No weapon formed against me will prosper.... I have Your promise that I can do all things through You who give me strength. -AWESOME GOD...! -I love You, Lord.

You know my needs, Lord. I humbly lay them at Your feet. Father I continue to lift up the DiBlasi family, the Marquez family, and the Mariani family to You. Bless them Lord. Bless all their special needs of healing and deliverance.

Father God I lift up my Friend in South Africa, Werner. Thank You for the work You are doing in Him right now. Oh Lord I lift up my Brothers and Sister and all my family and Monica's family to You. Thank You for family, Lord.

Lord I lift up America to You. I call for repentance and prayer and beg You to heal our land and sway our leaders to follow You. America is on a path to self destruction. I stand in the gap in prayer this morning for my country.

Father God I do love You and pray these things in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Fiery Furnace...

Things must have looked bleak to outsiders. The young men were put into the furnace and the King ordered it to be made seven times hotter than normal. The extreme temperature even killed those who were attending the furnace on the outside...

But the Lord was with them and walked with them over the glowing coals. He delivered them.

Now, that is a reward for faithfulness...!

Dr Charles Stanley always says: Trust God and leave all the consequences to HIM...

Those are good words to live by...!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I love You. Thank You for showing me some things I need to attend to. I submit to You, my King. I want my life to be pleasing to You. Please keep showing me and rooting out things in my life that do not bring You Glory.

Lord I lift up my precious wife today. I lift up all the teachers and students at the MAFA school today. Bless them as they start the first day of enrichment programs for their school year.

Father God I continue to lift up the DiBlasi family. I'm believing in YOU for a miracle.

Lord I pray for the Chadwell family resources. Bless what we have to go a long way, and bless our ability to increase the harvest. Help us to be good stewards of Your Providence, my King.

Lord Jesus, I give this day to You and pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.