The simple truth is that doing life on our own power is impossible. Even Jesus, the Son of God, took time to get away alone to pray – often. Everywhere He went, people pressed Him to be healed, to cast out a demon, to restore sight, to walk again. They listened as He taught them. They wanted to see another miracle. By going to remote places to be alone, He could pray without interruptions. If Jesus found it necessary to have the connection to God through prayer, than how much more do we need to find that connection also? As Jesus’ earthly ministry came to an end, He would face persecution, trails, heartache, and intense physical suffering. Through continual prayer, He found strength for the task set before Him. It is also the same way that we find our strength for the task that God has for us. Hebrews 4:16 tells us to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

As vital as prayer is to the Christian life, for many people it seems intimidating and if asked to pray out loud in a group, all of sudden we act like someone has asked the impossible of us. Our palms start to sweat, our hearts begin to race, and our mouths forget how to form words. There is no “magic formula” to prayer. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to pray. Prayer is nothing more than talking with God. It’s a sharing of your heart with Him. It isn’t some magical meditation. It’s about our souls communicating with God. It can be a desperate cry or a silent petition. It can be done at any moment of any day – in fact, Paul taught us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In Exodus 32:11 prayer occurs as seeking God’s favor. In 1 Samuel 1:15, we find prayer as an outpouring of one’s soul to God. In 2 Chronicles 32:20, prayer is a cry to heaven. Psalm 73:28 describes prayer as drawing near to God. There isn’t anything we can’t take to our heavenly Father in prayer. Paul wrote that we are to be anxious about nothing but that in every situation we are to bring our requests to God (Philippians 4:6-7).  Through prayer we can offer praise and thanksgiving to God. We can tell Him of our love for Him. We can bask in His presence as we tell Him about every nuance of our lives. We can ask Him for wisdom, guidance, healing, forgiveness. However, all prayers need to offered in faith (James 1:6), in the name of Jesus (John 16:23), and in the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26).

Prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. We need to make sure that we set aside time every day to spend in prayer, pouring out our hearts to God, seeking His wisdom, asking for His forgiveness and grace, confessing our sins, and interceding for others. If prayer is not part of your daily life or if you are looking to strengthen your prayer life try one of these resources:

(These links will open a new page to ChristianBook.com. Wellspring is an affiliate of Christian Book and receives an 8% commission for any purchase made through these links. All commissions are used to further the ministry of Wellspring Christian Ministries. The commission does not change the price of any item.)

Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan for Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer

By Priscilla Shirer / B&H Books

Satan isn’t your enemy in an impersonal way; he specifically wants to destroy you! In her book, Fervent, author Priscilla Shirer brings her recent debut role in War Room into the lives of real women to show them how to renew their passion, refocus their identity, deal with regrets, defeat temptation, weather fears, and uproot bitterness. Fervent is a woman’s battle plan for serious, specific, and strategic prayer.

Before Amen Paperback

By Max Lucado / Thomas Nelson

Do you wish you prayed more—with more fire, faith, and fervency? Embarking on a journey to the very heart of biblical petition, Lucado explores the quotable, repeatable, portable prayer that Jesus gave his first followers when they struggled with this spiritual discipline. Discover how to have a heartfelt dialogue with God—and let the conversation begin! 192 pages, softcover from Nelson.

Battle Plan for Prayer (Bible Study Book)

By Alex Kendrick / Lifeway Church Resources

Develop a deeper walk with God as you seek the Lord for your battles first. The Battle Plan for Prayer Bible Study equips believers to create their own prayer strategy and be specific and strategic in prayer. This study features teaching by Alex and Stephen Kendrick on the topics of: what prayer is and is not, why God wants us to pray, specific areas of prayer, specific strategies for prayer, and more. The Bible Study book includes a Video Notes Section, Group Discussion Questions, and 5 days of homework for each week’s session.

Jesus, thank you for the gift of prayer. Thank you that you are interested in every aspect of our lives and that we can trust you to do only what’s in our best interest. Thank you for always hearing our prayers and that You are constantly as work in our lives even when we can’t see You at work. 

#Jesusprayedoften #dontdolifealone

Join us in 52 days of prayer as each day we pray for a different state. Commit to one day of fasting on the day we unite in prayer for your state. On the day we pray for your state, get a group of your Christian family and friends together via phone or video conference and lead a prayer meeting for your sate. As you pray each day pray for the following:

1. Pray for God to remove the Coronavirus from that state. We will pray for states in order of most affected to least affected as reported on the World Health Organization Website.
2. Pray for God to heal each person who has the virus in the state for which we are praying
3. Pray for the family members who have lost loved ones due to the virus. Ask God to comfort them and to make His presence known to them.
4. Pray for God to humble the hearts of His people and that they will seek His face with all their heart, mind, and soul
5. Pray for repentant hearts that will confess any sin and to be willing to turn from sin and set their minds on Christ 
6. Ask God to hear us from Heaven, to forgive our sin (both individually and nationally) and heal our land
7. Invite God to be Lord in our nation, our government, and in our homes

Download the 52 day prayer guide by clicking the image below: The prayer guide is available for free download to individuals and churches and may be reproduced in any quantity both printed and electronically through websites, email, social media, apps, or any other method. 

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #judgement #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM

Don’t forget to learn this week’s memory verse:

Memorize and hide in your heart one memory verse each week in 2020. If you didn’t start the challenge at the beginning of the year, just jump in now and be sure to sign up to get our weekly Memory verse in your email so you don’t miss a week.

In 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  For the past few  weeks, we have been focusing on repentance. This week, we look at the spiritual transformation that takes place when we surrender our heart to God.

This week’s memory verse:

2 Chronicles 20:9

 ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ 

Meditate and apply:

Will you commit to praying with us in 2020 that God will revive His people, renew our faith, and redeem our land? We feel such an urgency and desperation for revival. If God is moving your heart for revival, write your revival prayer in the comments along with your state or country. 

#Chronovirus #fastandpray #judgement #repentance #revivalin2020 #WCM

• Keeps drinks hot or cold for hours
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• Sweat-free
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• Boxed
• Faith over fear. Psalm 118:6trending design graphics on teal tumbler

Nope Not Today Satan Stainless Steel Tumbler, Pink By Kerusso Activewear Steel tumbler with sipper lid, 10 ounce capacity for a generous cup of coffee plus your favorite add-ins Dual-walled stainless steel tumbler Keeps drinks hot or cold for hours Slide lid Sweat-free Hand wash Boxed Nope. Not today satan. . Trending graphics on hot pink tumbler

Faith Over Fear Cap, Denim By Kerusso Activewear When God is for us, no person, and no challenge, can stop us in our tracks. Because of our faith, we don’t have to give in to fear — it’s that simple. Wear this stylish Christian cap from Kerusso’s grace & truth® collection to share this brave message with those who don’t yet know the Lord. Cool baseball cap in blue denim with embroidered Scripture reference from Psalm 56:4 in tan. Front: Faith Over Fear Visor: Psalm 56:4 Side: grace & truth Cotton Twill for durability Top stitching and embroidery Mid-profile, 6-panel cap with pre-curved visor Adjustable velcro closure One size fits most

God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage

By Julia M. Bruce / WestBow Press
There’s no doubt that marriage is hard work. Yet it can also be one of the most fulfilling relationships you can experience, outside of your relationship with God. However, many marriages leave God outside of the relationship. Godly marriages do not happen without cultivating it, investing in it, and putting God first in your individual lives and in your marriage.
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on
• Conversation Starters
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
• Romance Builders
• Relationship Builders
• Personal reflections
• Date ideas
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples