Pray the Word

Pray the Word in 2008 
 

Celebrate!.....And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. Luke 9:43

Pray with expectancy in 2008; pray God's Word.

Prayer Events

40 Day Prayer Ramp
April 23 - June 1, 2008
Participate in Prayer Conference Calls at 11am EST:
April 24, May 1, May 8, May 15, May 22, May 29
www.40dayprayerramp.com

Heal Our Land National Women's Prayer Wave
May 3, 2008 at 1pm in each time zone
www.womensprayerwave.com

Global Day of Prayer
Sunday, May 11, 2008
www.gdopcanada.com

National Fast Track
May 12 - November 27, 2008
40 Days in 5 Time Zones

National House of Prayer -- Women Alive Week
June 2-6, 2008
Contact Michelle at info@womenalive.org to book your reservation to join us in Ottawa!

Canadian Government Prayer Sunday
June 29, 2008 (Sunday before Canada Day)
The National House of Prayer in Ottawa is encouraging churches and individuals from every part of the nation to take part in this second annual national prayer initiative.  Sunday, June 29th is a day set apart for churches of all denominations across Canada to dedicate a portion of their Sunday morning servie to specifically pray for Canada and at least one elected government leader.  Visit www.nhop.ca for more details.

The Cry
www.4mycanada.ca
www.thecry.ca
Ottawa - August 23, 2008
Toronto - October 31, 2008
Nunavut - Fall 2008

Heaven's Rehearsal
November 1, 2008
www.heavensrehearsal.com

"Pray the Word" in 2008

Theme Verse: Luke 9:43, "And they were all amazed at the greatness of God."

The Power of Praying Scripture for Real Life Issues

by Nellie Triemstra

Praying scripture for our needs brings our requests into alignment with the promises of God's Word.  Without intent to manipulate God into our agenda, when we pray using scripture, we keep our focus and desires in agreement with His Word. 

• Depression
  

• Fear

• Be Still

• Who Am I?

• Embracing Change

• When You are Single or Alone

• Praying for Salvation for Loved Ones            
  

Depression

    We've all got dates that we remember... milestones, markers, anniversaries.  I had an anniversary of sorts this week.  Fifteen years ago, in the middle of a life-sucking battle with depression, I decided that I'd had enough.  I determined to make it better the only way I could think of... called my friends, apologized to them for being so difficult, promised that I would do whatever was in my power to fix it, said "I love you" and goodbye.  I felt so relieved that I would no longer be a burden and I wouldn't have to hurt so much anymore... I was sure that God would understand.  My pills were ready... and one of the friends I called showed up at the door and took me to the hospital where I stayed for about 3 months.

I share all of this, because I  believe it takes way more courage to live, to face the black dogs and huge giants that inevitably come our way... and to do so in the strength and peace that only God can give.  Depression stalks many of us... for some it's a life long struggle, for others it may be situational... but I've learned that God never leaves us alone.  He gives strength to the weary... He longs to fix what is broken and bleeding in you.

I've included some passages of Scripture that have been helpful to me:
    ~ Psalm 73 - "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."
    ~ Psalm 42 - "Why am I discouraged?  Why so sad? I will put my hope in God!"     ~ Jeremiah 31 - "... with unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."
    ~ Psalm 139 - "I could ask the darkness to hide me... But even in darkness I cannot hide from you."

The book of Psalms is filled with cries of joy, excitement, praise, despair and discouragment, all of them pointing to God as the giver of strength, peace and hope.

 Fear

        We all have fears - of failure, rejection, making wrong decisions, of being alone, of death.  Experiencing fear is normal, but when it paralyzes us, it shows that we're not sure whether God is really able to take care of us.
        God's Word is filled with antidotes to fear.  God is continually calling us to fear (reverence) Him, to put our trust in Him, to call out to Him in our times of trouble.
        He calms our fears, not by removing our difficulties, but by His promise to walk with us through them.

~  Philippians 4:6-7  "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

~  Psalms 91:1-2  "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  This I declare of the Lord;  He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;  He is my God and I am trusting Him."

~  Psalms 46:1-2  "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.  So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea."

~  Psalms 27:1-2  "The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid?  The Lord protects me from danger - so why should I tremble?"

~ Isaiah 41:10  "Don't be afraid, for I am with you.  Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you.  I will help you.  I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."

~  Isaiah 43:1-2  "But now... the Lord who created you says:  "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name;  you are mine.  When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you.  When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown!  When you walk through fires of oppression, you will not be burned up;  the flames will not consume you.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy one of Israel, your Saviour."

~  Romans 8:38-39  "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love.  Death can't and life can't.  The angels can't, and the demons can't, our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.  Where we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(all scripture quoted from the New Living Translation Bible)

We live in a time where we have busy lives. There is always something we need to tend to, be it family, meetings, or long days at the office.  It is too easy to forget to enjoy and appreciate the simple things... the things that really count!

God said in Psalm 46:10  "Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  God is sovereign.  His promises are true.  He holds us tenderly in His arms. Take a long, loving look at your wonderful Heavenly Father and rest in the warmth of His love.  There is nothing that will happen in your life that you cannot face with confidence and with the security that your Heavenly Father holds your hand and walks with you.  He knows the end from the beginning.

Jeremiah 32:17  ~  "Ah, Sovereign Lord,  You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for You!" 
1 Thess. 1:3  ~  "Lord God, cause my work to be produced by faith, my labor prompted by love, and my endurance inspired by hope in my Lord Jesus Christ."
Rom. 15:13  ~  "Lord, You are the God of hope.  Fill me with all joy and peace as I trust in you, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Psalm 19:8  ~  "Your precepts, O Lord, are right, giving joy to the heart.  Your commands are radiant, giving light to my eyes."
Psalm 21:6   ~  "Surely, Lord, You have granted me eternal blessings and made me glad with the joy of your presence."

Who Am I?

"I am worthless.  I am nothing if I'm not a teacher, lawyer, mother, doctor, ________.  I have no value unless I have these certain people as my friends, or unless I make alot of money." Some people even have the mistaken idea that they aren't good enough even for God.
While we may find temporary happiness and identity in people, position or riches, these things are just that, temporary.
In the Bible we find many verses that speak of our true identity - our true identity in Jesus Christ.

Rejoice in your identity in Christ 
        Galatians 2:20  "I have been crucified with You, and it is no longer I who live, but You who lives in me;  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in You, the son of God, who loved me and delivered Yourself up for me."

Rejoice in your adoption into the family of God
        Ephesians 1:5,6   "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.  And this gave him great pleasure.  So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son."

Rejoice knowing that you are God's masterpiece
        Ephesians 2:10   "For we are God's masterpiece.  He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Rejoice knowing that you have forgiveness from the penalty of sin because of Christ
        Romans 5:8    "God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

Rejoice knowing that we have access to God through Jesus
        Ephesians 3:12   "Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome."

Rejoice knowing that we have all we need for life and godliness
        2 Peter 1:3    "As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.  He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness."

Embracing Change

Unexpected changes and uncertainty.  They can catch us off guard and sometimes we are not sure what to do.  In times of uncertainty, doubt and discouragement can overcome us if we do not draw closer to God.  We need to remember that God is infinite in wisdom, completely sovereign and perfect in love.  Those times of change and uncertainties in our lives will ultimately be for God's glory and our good.

There will always be Seasons of Change in our lives but we can face them with confidence and hope because God has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."  (Hebrews 13:5)  Although life may be full of unexpected changes and uncertainty, we can stay anchored to the truth of God's Word, "I, the Lord, do not change."  Malachi 3:6

Praying scripture can help strengthen our faith in uncertain times...

Psalm 139:13 ~ "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."
Psalm 139:16 ~ "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them cam to be."
Psalm 62: 1-2 ~ "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation;  he is my fortress, I will not be shaken."
Psalm 62:5-8 ~ "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."
Ephesians 1:18-19 ~ "Oh, Father, I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which You have called me, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and Your incomparably great power for us who believe!"

When you are Single or Alone

At some point in our lives, all of us are single - not yet married, widowed, divorced, or by choice to remain single. Living single offers its own challenges, one of which is dealing with feelings of loneliness and isolation.  How do we acknowledge these very real feelings without being swallowed up by them? 

When we are feeling lonely or afraid, we must run to the Lord and cling to the promises found in His Word.

• God is always thinking about you...
  Psalm 139:17  "How precious are your thoughts about me, O God!  They are innumerable!"
• He is ready to carry the burdens you find hard to bear...
  Matthew 11:28  "Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
  Psalm 3:3  "But you, O Lord, are a shield aound me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high."
• He knows what our lives are like...
  Hebrews 4:14-16  "He understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin... let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it."
• God knows our fears...
  Deut. 31:8  "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the one who goes before you.  He will be with you;  He will neither fail you nor forsake you."
  Zephaniah  3:17  "He is a mighty Saviour.  He will rejoice over you with great gladness.  With His love, he will calm all your fears.  He will exult over you by singing a happy song."
• Our true identity is found in Jesus Christ...
  Colossians 3:1-4  "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven where Christ sits at God's right hand... for you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.  And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory."
• We may feel isolated and alone, but...
  Romans 8:39b  "Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."      

Praying for Salvation for Loved Ones

• Pray that the person's heart would be 'good soil' for the seeds of truth that are planted.  (Mark 4:8)
• Pray for the 'lifting of the veil' (2 Corinthians 4:3-4), so that the Word of God would be revealed to them.
• Pray that the root of pride in them be broken. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
• Pray that the person comes to true repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Romans 10:1 ~ "my heart's desire and prayer to God... is that they may be saved."
2 Peter 3:9 ~ "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
Luke 19:10 ~ "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." 
Matthew 16:15-17 ~ "Who do you say I am?"..."You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  "Jesus replied, "Blessed are you... for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven." 
Deut. 6:5 ~ "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

Continue Praying - Do not Lose Hope
"Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  1 Thess. 5:17