21 Days of Prayer - Day #19 August 26, 2021 Focus - A Pattern of Prayer

21 Days of Prayer - Day #19 August 26, 2021 Focus - A Pattern of Prayer

1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

This is John the gospel writer who boldly and confidently knew he was loved by God. He called himself, “the disciple that Jesus loved.”

What do we glean from this verse?  God is listening and He is answering.

It’s so easy to get lost in the tension of this crazy world (pandemics, tension overseas). But we can still have confidence - God hears us and desires to answer us.

Prayer reminding God of how great my issues are; but are reminding my problems of how great my God is.

John 16:33 (NLT)  this is God’s view of things.

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

There is a pattern of prayer for us to help us gain confidence.  Here are three basic steps.

Get Closer to Jesus.

Having a private time of worship, getting closer, having a conversation with Him.  James 4 says if we draw near to Him, He draws near to us.

Pray for God’s Agenda.

When we pray according to His will, He hears us. His Agenda is the lost and the prayerful needs of the world.  

Psalm 34 - The Lord is close to the broken hearted.

Ask for the Impossible.

Whatever we ask, we have.  It’s a promise from the Lord that we can stand on.

Pray bold prayers. Maybe our prayers have been “too nice.”  Today let’s pray and ask for crazy things, bold things.

Maybe pray for those crazy friends that they might receive Christ. Pray for those that have tremendous medical needs. Pray that the Lord might bring them through with healing.

Let’s pray bold prayers.

Remember, God is listening and He is answering.

21 Days of Prayer - Day #18 August 25, 2021 Focus - Knowing God

21 Days of Prayer - Day #18 August 25, 2021 Focus - Knowing God

Daniel 11:32 (NKJV)

32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall [a]corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

There’s a phrase that says “it’s not what you know, but who you know.”  The idea is that there are connections with people that are more valuable than skills to get ahead.

But this can be a positive statement, because we can be a people that “know their God.” The idea of “knowing God” is about “intimately, experientially knowing someone, not just with the head but with the heart.”

Jesus says - John 17:3 (NKJV)

3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

The essence of eternal life is having an intimate growing knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

So today, let’s pray 3 simple things.

I want to Know Your Ways.

Proverbs 16:25 (KNKV)

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

If man’s way is a way of death and If God’s ways are higher than what is the answer?

Psalm 25:4 (NKJV)

Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.

As we get to know Him more, He teaches us His ways over and above our thought out directions.   

I want to Know Your Voice

John 10:27 (NKJV)

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

WE might want to ask God “God I want to hear your voice over all the competing voices in life.”

As we still our voices and listen to His voice, we gain clarity for what God has for us.

I want to know your power.

Philippians 3:10-11 (NLT)

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Our prayer should be, “Holy Spirit fill us and lead us to do what we cannot do.”

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NLT)

This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,

    or the powerful boast in their power,   or the rich boast in their riches.

24 But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone:

that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord

    who demonstrates unfailing love  and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,and that I delight in these things.  I, the Lord, have spoken!

21 Days of Prayer - Day #17 August 24, 2021 Focus - Pray Continually

21 Days of Prayer - Day #17 August 24, 2021 Focus - Pray Continually 

We want to continue to be people of prayer beyond the 21 days that we are focused on.

The scripture is full of prayer teaching passages.  So here is today’s passage.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Pray Continually - or perhaps simply - Pray all the time.

People try to figure out God’s will for their lives.  Well one thing we know for today, it is God’s will to be joyful, thankful and prayerful.

Prayer is an important lifestyle. One person said, “prayer is the realization of a great relationship between believers and God the Father.”

So we pray all the time. Prayer is simply talking to God - continually. It is the “secret sauce” of our churches, of marriage, of parenting. Continually talking / communicating.

21 Days of Prayer is an effective tool for this. 21 Days of prayer is not the fire of our spiritual life; rather, it ignites the fire of our spiritual passions and growth. 

John 15:15-16 (NIV)

15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

We are called Jesus’ friends.  

I talk to my friends all the time and that is the way it should be with Jesus. We can talk with Jesus - we can ask Him anything because He’s not some distant person, He is our Savior, Lord and friend. 

Let’s then pray continually. Let’s talk to God all the  time.  Praying all the time should be our standard - our new normal.