Speech On Good Seed Is Wasted

I wholeheartedly believe that prayer is a superior method of healing and guidance. When I talk to God through prayer, even if nothing immediate happens, I feel relieved and less burdened about issues I cannot control. I accept that sometimes you must be patient and that sometimes it may feel like you are on the wrong path, but as long as I keep praying for guidance, I know I will receive it (Matthew 7:7). The Lord has been a constant in my life and has provided me with many opportunities, some of which I never have fathomed and I praise him every day. Just as McMinn (2011) discusses, prayer is about petition and about worship and that prayer humbles us and “from this position of humility, we can see God’s will more clearly, and God grants us our deepest desires” (NUMBER).

Things aren't right here on planet Earth. We all know this. Sickness, poverty, injustice, and oppression are not God's intention or design. Many of our prayers will be devoted to fixing what is wrong in our bodies, our finances, our relationships, our world. The children of God continue to pray, even though many wrongs have not yet been corrected. Does it do any good? Does all this praying have any traction with God?

Prayer is an essential to any kind of religious faith. Over the years and years of believing in a higher power,

For Christians this can be a very important technique and can help to bring gratitude to one's life. "There are 2 types of prayers, praise/adoration and gratitude/thanksgiving. Gratitude has been linked with a host of positive psychological variable, including life satisfaction, vitality, subjective happiness, optimism, hope, and the belief that life is comprehensible and meaningful (Schneller & Swenson, 2013)". It is safe to say that you cannot just pray when you need something and expect a positive outcome in the long run. Your relationship with God is something that should grow over time just like any other

If we pray without unceasing, it will help to protect us from evil. We are always in danger of being tempted. Luther teaches us that in the Lord ’s Prayer it says, “and lead us not into temptation.” So we say””keep us fit and alert, eager and diligent in thy work and service….” There is no position in life in which we may not be assaulted by the enemy. Therefore pray without ceasing. If a man who is going along a dark road where he knows that there are robbers, he will equip himself with weapons. He may have a sword with him in his hand to let the robbers know that he is ready for them. So as Christian, we pray without ceasing - carry our sword which is prayer. As we are tempted without ceasing, so we should pray without ceasing.

Prayer is the beginning and foundation of this journey, through which we come to know our Deliverer, through whom we know ourselves. Let the prayer of the Church and personal devotion stir the soil of the soul, so that the seeds of grace take root deep within, assuring plentiful fruit flowing from your baptismal faith. Through this relationship with Christ, we will be able to notice the weeds of greed sown by the world that need unrooted. Prayer is the means by which we are taken out of the culture of sinful worldliness toward the culture of the baptized. Prayer harvests faith that the unseen God will bring to completion the work He has began in you, which in turn helps us to be in the world, but not of it. From this foundation of faith, nourished by prayer, we leave the iniquitous and sinful culture of the world, to live out our baptism.

A JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF GOD WITH TERESA OF AVILA Introduction The interior Castle by Teresa of Avila is one of the most well known and much- treasured books on mysticism and spirituality. Though hundreds of years have passed since it was written, Christians today still find in it a rich source of help and guidance in their journey towards a deeper union with God. Written towards the end of her life, Teresa could draw from her own long experience of her spiritual journey towards perfection and what immediately stands out in this book is the simple yet lively temperament of this humble nun whose main aim in life was growing in union with God and helping others do the same. About the author Born in Avila to a Catholic

W. Pink defines the design of prayer in his book, The Sovereignty of God, by saying, "Not that God's will may be altered, but that it may be accomplished in His own good time and way. It is because God has promised certain things, that we can ask for them with the full assurance of faith" (172). In prayer, Christians recognize the importance of how Christ is the sustainer and ruler of all things by fully depending on him. They show this submission by putting their faith and trust in Christ when they ask him for things. Many people in prayer, Christian or not, usually ask for safety throughout travels, for healing when a loved one or themselves are sick, for comfort through hard times, for wisdom and discernment in making a decision, etc. What people do not realize is that they are simply proving the very fact that Christ is completely sovereign and in control of everything when they ask him to keep them safe, or to heal them or their loved one, or to comfort them when they are going through a trial, or to give them the wisdom in making any decision. By stating and asking those things, they are unknowingly acknowledging He is in control of every single one of those

Christopher Raines, I appreciate your emphasis upon prayer. It is something I myself often emphasize while talking with others and think it is a critical aspect of the Christian’s life, both leader and follower. I often see posts on Facebook and hear people saying things like “I’ll pray for you” or “I’m praying”, and while I appreciate the sentiment it is often only that, a sentiment. Saying “I’ll pray for you” has, for many, become just a nice though, what they are really saying is “I’m thinking about you” but prayer is much more than sentiment.

As Christians, we are told that “You can get anything—anything you ask for in prayer—if you believe” (Matthew 21:22 LB). Shouldn’t we encourage our

The Bible says that the fervent effectual prayers of righteous people avail much. In the same passage we are given the example of Elijah. He prayed that it would be no rain and his prayer was answered. It did not rain for three years and six months. One again, he prayed that it would rain and his prayer was answered – how awesome. We are told that he was just like us. In other words, although he was a great prophet, we have just as great of a standing before the Lord when it comes to having our prayers answered. We can be like Elijah, being righteous and praying earnestly and see our prayers answered. Jubilee Music Enrichment needs righteous partners to diligently pray for this ministry as we commence programs in our new building. We can see

Action must go hand in hand with prayer and prayer must go hand in hand with action and one without the other simply does NOT work! This concept is found directly in the Talmud, please see Mesechet Nidda 70b.

When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him (Matthew 5:7, NLT). In Matthew 5:9:15 He gives us the model prayer: • Our Father-we pray to the Father • Hollowed be thou name-worship • Your kingdom come-praying that His kingdom be established, and that His will be done on the earth as it is in heaven.

Thank you for your post on Dave Earley’s thoughts on “fleece” praying and its relevancy in the Church Age today. In order to understand the relevancy of “fleece” praying, believers must understand the purpose of praying. Richard J. Foster shares, “Of all spiritual disciplines, prayer is the most central because it ushers us into perpetual communion with the Father” (1998, 33). Prayer is a communication with our heavenly Father. Jesus shared with the disciples a simple, but powerful interactive prayer with his disciples. He stated, “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done…” (Matt. 6:9). I agree with you wholeheartedly, “God will not answer prayers that are not a part of his will

Having been a Christian for many years I thought that I had a fair knowledge of what it meant to pray. I was amazed and humbled by the idea that through Jesus’ restorative act on the cross I am able to come into God’s presence - and not only come but be welcomed and even longed for. I believed that prayer is a powerful tool to petition God , a vehicle to praise Him , and an instrument to increase our intimacy with Him . I understood that people pray in a variety of ways, based on the teaching they have received, their experience, and even their personality. Most commonly, I engaged in prayer as a conversation with God.