prayer | Revelations From The Road

Principals of Prayer – Part 2

April 6, 2014 by Bill Leave a Comment

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

“How Not To Pray”

1. Don’t pray to be seen or heard – Remember, you’re speaking with God not so others will see or hear you. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” Matthew 6:5
2. Don’t speak “vain repetitions” – Use words you normally use when talking. Changing your tone of voice or using phrases repeated over and over is not prayer. Jesus said this is, “much speaking”, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Matthew 6:7. Be sincere.
3. Don’t get into pride with your praying – If you think YOU’RE a good pray-er, or YOU have privileged access to the throne room, or YOUR prayers are something special, then the focus is on you and not on God. “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall”. Proverbs 16:18. You have a part but God does the work and gets the glory.
4. Don’t pray to statues, pictures, images, or people – This is idolatry. God told Moses that, while on the mountain, he only heard His voice, “but saw no similitude”, Deuteronomy 4:12, 15. Moses only heard God but didn’t see what God looked like. Pray to God only.
5. Don’t use God’s name carelessly – The third commandment. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7. Using God’s name in vain is not just saying the word “damn” with the name “God”. Any use of God’s name when you’re not talking to Him or about Him is using it in vain. Phrases like, “Oh my God!”, “Jesus Christ!” (as an exclamation), “Good God, did you see that!” or “God a-mighty” are all careless, vain, uses of the name of God and are prohibited.

Principles of Prayer – Part 1

March 9, 2014 by Bill Leave a Comment

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18.

Prayer is a foundation of the Christian faith. According to The Barna Research Group, 98% of born-again Christians pray in a given week and would agree prayer is important. One survey of evangelical leaders worldwide listed “Prayer: The need for more ongoing, passionate prayer in both personal and church life”, as the No. 1 issue facing the church today. The Bible contains 377 references to praise and 375 references to prayer. Prayer is important.

But, what is prayer? What is prayer not? How do we pray? Who do we pray to? Are there different kinds of prayer? Who can pray? Can we expect answers? These and many other questions concerning prayer will be answered in the coming weeks in this feature.

What is prayer? Prayer is communion with God, not just talking to God but with God. Prayer is talking and listening. If you’re talking with someone who is a lot smarter than you, wouldn’t you listen a lot more than you talk? Talk with God like you would a trusted friend; someone who truly cares for you because God does, (1 Peter 5:7). Be quiet and listen to what He has to say. He probably won’t speak in an audible voice but will speak into your spirit. Listen!
Who do we pray to? We should pray to God the Father. God said in Deuteronomy 5:7, “You shall have no other gods before me”. Jesus said, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” (John 16:23). And who can argue with Jesus’ own example of prayer, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9).

Have You Been Alone With God?

January 27, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given January 13, 2011

The times when I can think more clearly, concentrate on things, understanding what I’m reading or listening to, are when I’m by myself. I go to a quiet place, away from the TV, computer, others in the house, and do what I need to do. Otherwise, those things distract me and my mind is cluttered. Are you the same way?

God has a plan for each of us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11), so how do I find out what that plan is or have God explain it to me? I have to get alone with Him. God cannot get into the complexities or simplicity of His will concerning you until He gets alone with you. He did this many times with His disciples, “One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” (Luke 9:18). They had to get away from the crowds to learn from Jesus.

Sometimes, through sickness, rejection, or trouble you find yourself in a place where He is the only one you have to turn to and that’s the way He wants it; not for you to be sick or in trouble but to be alone with just you. He will then begin to answer your questions and explain His ways, (in small increments so you can understand), but you must be alone with Him…no distractions. However it is a much more desireable situation if you choose to get alone with Him instead of waiting until you’re forced to by the things I mentioned earlier.

Have you been alone with God lately? I mean, REALLY alone? Have you blocked off some time for Him and not allowed anything to interrupt? He’s waiting for you. It’s the desire of His heart to tell you about the wonderful, unimaginable plan He has for you. He’s always there but many times we don’t even notice Him. Make a quality decision right now that you will go somewhere and get alone with Him, maybe after you read this or later, but do it. Oh friend, you don’t know what’s in store for you. Comment and tell me about it.

Who Ya Gonna Call?

November 27, 2010 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given March 27, 2010

We are born with certain skills and talents or we attain them as we grow and mature. However, we do not know everything or have the skills to do all the things we need done on this earth. Mind you we don’t really need to know how to do some of the things we think we do but there are things we need fixed, built, advice on or help with. We don’t need to know how to do everything but it’s good to know who to call if you need help doing something you can’t do. Someone you know or know how to contact is an expert on what you need, such as a plumber, carpenter, computer tech, doctor or lawyer, and you know how to do things others may need your help with. It’s a sharing thing and I believe God made it that way. “And He gave some to be apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:11-12).

But we DO know someone who DOES know how to do everything. We know someone who made everything and knows how to fix it, even our bodies. We know someone who has all wisdom and all truth. And gthe great thing is that He put His Spirit into us and now we have access to all that knowledge. His Spirit will interact with our spirit and help us do all kinds of things and, if we ask, that inner Spirit will lead us into the truth. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13).

Yeah, we don’t have to know everything to get along in this world but we do need to know the One who does. Do you know Him? Click on the video link to the left please.

Ask, Seek, Knock

July 9, 2010 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given May 28, 2010

Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Most of us a familiar with that verse. But God showed me something different this morning.
Ask – Pray and it will be given to you but probably not while you’re sitting on the couch or recliner.
Seek – After you pray, look for your answer; get up and go after it asking God for guidance as yu go.
Knock – Do something. Don’t just stand in front of the door and wait for it to open. Take your answer, it’s already been given to you.

I guess the point the Holy Spirit was making to me was to take charge of YOUR part in God’s plan. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22. When we pray, many times, God has something for us to do. We order something but we have to go to the post office or the mail box to get it. We pray for a job but we have to apply for it first, that’s our part. And many times when we ask for somethig of God, He will remind us of something He had already asked us to do. “Dad, can I have $20.00 to go out with my friends?” “Well Son, have you taken out the trash and picked up that pile of limbs like I asked you this morning?” Do you see what I mean? Let’s be active in our prayer life Ask but then go Seek and Knock.