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How to Pray Through Memory

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How to Pray Through Memory

by Kimberley Payne

Praying with a Memory

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And now, O Lord our God, who hast brought Thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast made Thee a name, as at this day (Daniel 9:15 NIV).

In the Bible, we see that Daniel was a righteous man who prayed regularly to God. He spent time reading the scriptures and talking with God.

Daniel knew that God kept His promises and fulfilled prophecies.

When Daniel prayed, he reminded God of the mighty acts He’d performed.

Has God moved in your life with answered prayer?

When you pray, do you rehearse the great acts that God has performed in the past as you ask for His intervention in the present?

Next time you make a request in prayer, start by recalling all that God has done in the past. Include His miracles from the Bible as well as from your own life.

Praying with a memory will help grow your faith.

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Has God moved in your life with answered prayer? (tweet this)

Do you know how to pray with a memory? (tweet this)

Kimberley Payne

Kimberley is a motivational speaker and author. Her writings relate raising a family, pursuing a healthy lifestyle, and everyday experiences to building a relationship with God. Through her work, Kimberley hopes to inspire people to live lives that glorify God. You can visit her website at www.kimberleypayne.com

ARE YOU READY FOR ACTION?

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Are You Ready for Action?

by Kimberley Payne

doing_homework

I remember the frustration experienced in my home because of homework. Each day my kids would return from school, we would argue over when and where and how to do their nightly assignments. The ordeal stressed us and caused family strife. I decided to take it to God in prayer. I hoped that God would change my children’s attitudes so that they would look forward to doing their homework. This, however, was not the case

I learned that although I can pray to God and ask Him to help,
I must also be willing to be part of the solution. Tweet this.

I cannot just pray and then throw up my hands and carry on with my day. I can ignore the fear and worry but I still need to be willing to take action. I believe it was Joyce Meyer who said, “Don’t react, act.”  So I don’t need to react with ranting, raving, whining and nagging. I must rely on God’s guidance and proceed with a solid plan to resolve this homework issue.

God often answers prayer through people. He can and will divinely interject but usually He uses people who are willing and obedient.

I can pray for wisdom and knowledge
but I must also act upon that knowledge and “do” something. Tweet this.

It is not enough for me to say, “Dear Lord, help my child to do homework” without listening for His answer and being open to His guidance.

Prayer and action go hand in hand (Nehemiah 4:17).

 We devised a homework system through listening to the wisdom of others and spending time in quiet reflection with God. I realize that although my plan is working well now, I may need to change it in the future. As our family’s needs change I can ask God for His guidance and His wisdom. Then I must be open and listen for it. God wants to answer our prayers but He wishes to work though His creation, not impose His will upon it.

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action” (1 Peter 1:13 NIV.)

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Kimberley Payne

Kimberley is a motivational speaker and author. Her writings relate raising a family, pursuing a healthy lifestyle, and everyday experiences to building a relationship with God. Through her work, Kimberley hopes to inspire people to live lives that glorify God. You can visit her website at www.kimberleypayne.com

WHY SHOULD GOD ANSWER MY PRAYER?

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Why Should God Answer My Prayer?

by Mark D. Roberts (reprinted with permission)

Why Should God Answer My Prayer?

Psalm 143:1-12

“Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my plea!
Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.”

In Psalm 143, David cries out to the Lord for help. He is being harassed by his enemies and is growing more and more discouraged. God alone will be able to deliver him and to direct his steps in the right direction. But why should the Lord respond to David’s pleas? What case can David make for God to listen to him and to help?

In situations like that of David, we are sometimes tempted to barter with God. “Bail me out this time, Lord,” we pray, “and I promise that I’ll serve you in the future.”

We might even try pointing to our good intentions or behavior: “You should help me, Father, because I have been faithful to you and have been living rightly.”

But in Psalm 143, David acknowledges that he has nothing in himself to persuade God to answer his prayers. The Lord alone provides the secure basis for answered prayer.

Thus David prays, “Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.” Not “Answer me because I am faithful and righteous,” but “Because you are faithful and righteous.”

To be sure, our faith matters to God. Jesus himself connects faith with answered prayer (for example, Mark 11:24). But beneath our faith, undergirding it and strengthening it, is the rock-solid faithfulness of God.

Thus, even when our confidence in the Lord falters, even when our behavior is anything but faithful, we still cry out to God. Our prayers depend, not upon ourselves, but upon our God who is faithful and righteous, gracious and merciful.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:

When you pray, how do you envision the God who hears your prayers? What in God’s character helps you to pray?

PRAYER:

Gracious God, thank you for the privilege of praying to you. I can so easily take this for granted. Yet, when I step back and think, I’m amazed that you allow me to speak with you, that you care about my thoughts and feelings, even that you invite my prayers.Yet I also thank you that I come before you in prayer, not because of my worthiness, but because of your unique worth. You, Lord, are indeed faithful and righteous. You are trustworthy and true. When I fail you, you never fail me.All praise be to you, O God, because you do indeed hear my plea! Amen.

Mark D. Roberts

Rev.Dr. Mark D. Roberts is Senior Advisor and Theologian-in-Residence of Foundations for Laity Renewal, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas and the parent organization of Laity Lodge. He has written several books, including his most recent: Can We Trust the Gospels? (Crossway, 2007)He blogs at  http://www.patheos.com/community/markdroberts, and writes a daily devotional for http://www.thehighcalling.org.

 

Why Should God Answer My Prayer?

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