Prayer is one of the best opportunities we have, as Christians, to help others. Prayer is the pouring out of our souls to the Father, showing our dependance on power.
James tells the brethren that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5.16; ESV) As follower of Christ, we know that God hears our prayers, and His ears are open to our words (1 Peter 3.12).
Below are a few areas you might include in your prayers to God this week.
Your congregation – We are brothers and sisters in Christ and need each other’s support.
Your elders – Yourshepherds are the stewards of the flock of God overseeing our souls.
Your deacons – Your deacons serve in many ways many people never see.
Your ministers – Your Ministers need your prayers as we stand before you each week.
Your City and Region – Pray for our area as we seek to share the message of Christ.
The Unfaithful – There are many who have stopped attending and they need our prayers.
Those Seeking – There are those in our community which are seeking to find Christ. Pray for them and pray that God will provide us the opportunity to share the message with them.
The Grieving – This time of year brings grieving hearts as we remember people and memories of the past.
In his book, Praying Over God’s Promises, Tom Yeakley shares his family’s tradition of making butter during the Thanksgiving holiday. Most families have traditions during the holidays, but I would not imagine many have a tradition of making butter.
As the Thanksgiving holiday draws near, the family begins the tradition practice of making homemade butter for Thanksgiving dinner. The process is simple and unique. The cream is placed in a jar with the lid sealed tight and everyone takes turns shaking the jar. As the shaking process continues, several family members get tired because it seems like the cream will never turn to butter.
Then it happens. Almost in the blink of an eye, the cream begins to gel into a lump of butter. When the results of all the shaking occur, the delight in seeing the year’s “Thanksgiving butter” creates a smile.
Much of what we are thankful for is like the process of making homemade butter. Great things take patience and actions to see the result. We will not see the result when we first begin, but as Paul said, “…let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6.9)
Paul’s words in Philippians 3 also remind us, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
But, what about those results we are still, after progressing, are not seeing yet? Are you praying while you are “shaking the jar?”
Allow me to share with you four ways to discard your life of spiritual negativity. While these four ways might now work for everyone, they will work for someone. One of these ways might be the start to the process you need to live a joyful life for the Father.
Just Stop
This is hard, yet for many, it is easy. When you realize your thoughts and words, you become a better person. Consider Paul’s words in Philippians 4.8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
We know our thoughts come out in our speech (Matthew 15.11, 18). Let us be sure our thoughts are right, so our speech will be right. For many, just stop being negative.
Stop Living in the Past
While we know the words of Paul in Philippians 3.12-15, many will choose to focus on a past life instead of pressing forward. Remember, God has plans for us, just as He did Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29.11) The past is behind us for a reason; let us move forward in the righteousness of God. (1 John 4.4)
Talk with God
Have you talked with God (prayed) about being a more positive, joyful person? Paul writes a list of attributes of a Christian in Romans 12. Consider Romans 12.12 where Paul says, “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer…” It would be worth noting that joy and prayer are attributes of a Christian.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
This is probably the one most people need. We need surrounded by those of like-mind and like-faith. We need people in our life to encourage us. (See Hebrews 3.13)
Every now and then, I believe it does the mind good to step out of our comfort zones and think. We can think about many things, but today, I want to challenge you with a few questions regarding spiritual matters. Consider these questions to be about encouragement and action.
These are intended to be thought about for a little while. I call them, “Questions to Ponder.” The word “ponder” is defined as, “think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.”
I would ask that you ponder these questions, then decide to act.
Who have you encouraged this week from your spiritual family?
When is the last time you read your Bible for 15 minutes?
How have you grown in your spiritual life this week?
Where will you be on Sunday morning?
Who was not here on Sunday that you sent a message too?
Are your friends encouraging you to be a better Christian?
Are you a Christian?
Is there someone you need say, “Thank you” to, because of their spiritual support?
What are your plans to grow spiritually in October?
What are your plans on December 12, 2021?
Sometimes, the right question, at the right time, can make us think outside of our normal routine. Consider what we can do today to make a better life in the future. What are your answers to those questions?
An ancient story is told of a little boy, a shipwreck and a rock:
During a furious storm at sea, a ship capsized and broke into pieces. The only survivor was a little boy who was swept by the waves onto a rock. He sat there all night long until, the next morning, he was spotted and rescued.
“Did you tremble while you were on the rock during the night?” someone later asked him.
“Yes,” said the boy. “I trembled all night—but the rock didn’t.”
At least 18 times in the book of Psalms, God is called a “Rock.” Each time, the psalmist is referring to God as his boulder, large rock, a place of refuge, or a fortress. The Hebrew words, “tsoor” and “sehlah,” bring the meanings of a stronghold of protection, but also an immovable strength.
Just as the boy in the story, are you holding onto your Rock? Is God your refuge? Your fortress? Your protection?
The Psalmist says, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalms 18:2)
Do you feel the same?
The world is a hard place to live. Sin is prevalent and we can allow the current events of the world to cause us to lose focus on our Heavenly home. One of the keys to staying faithful in a troubled world is to hold fast to our Rock.
Every week people ask us to pray for them and their situations. Whether it is on a Sunday, a Wednesday, or just a normal day throughout the week, people want us to pray for them. People know prayer works. They have seen it with their eyes, and they know the power of prayer mentioned in the scriptures,
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)
While we pray for others, do we also pray for ourselves?
When others ask us to pray for them, we take time to petition God on their behalf. However, do you take time and pray for yourself?
Let us not forget we need to pray for ourselves. Even Jesus, in John 17, prayed for Himself, that He might glorify the Father. Jesus needed strength, and especially in his final hours.
You and I also need the strength of God in our lives. Praying for others is a good trait of a Christian life, but we must not forget that we need the strength and wisdom God provides. (Psalm 34.4; James 1.5)
Charles Spurgeon was once quoted as saying, “I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to Him.”
We must pray for others, but we must pray for ourselves, our strength, and our faith so we may be able to continue. Remember the words of Paul,
“…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
