Keep Us Thankful in Prayer

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

We know that we’re not to worry, but to trust God (John 14:1). The answer to living this way is to not let our minds drift into worry or anxiety. Let’s pray that God will give us a special sensitivity to worry, so that we can immediately turn our anxious thoughts to prayer. We can and should seek God’s help (Matthew 7:7-9; James 4:2-3), praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but always with thanksgiving. We’re to thank God in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and for everything (Ephesians 5:20).

Why? Because when we pray this way, we put our focus on God and not on our problems. Such prayer indicates our faith in Him, which pleases Him (Hebrews 11:6). Constant prayer helps us fix our eyes on Jesus, and reminds us of what is really important—things that are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18), fruit that lasts (John 15:16), treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). This is not positive thinking, but living by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Such faith carries its own reward—the peace of God which guards our hearts and minds, the peace that comes from Christ Himself (John 14:27). What a powerful witness we can be to the world when the peace of God rules in our hearts (Colossians 3:15); it’s one of the ways we demonstrate that we are in the world but not of the world (John 17:15-16).

Grace and peace to us all!

May Christ Be Glorified in Us

We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you…. (2 Thessalonians 1:12)

The Apostle Paul prayed this verse for the Thessalonians, and we pray it for ourselves because our most powerful and effective witness to the world is Christ in us, our hope of glory (Colossians 1:17). Those in the world around us need to see Him as the anchor of our soul (Hebrews 6:19), our new life (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christ, the light of the world (John 8:12), should radiate from us (Matthew 5:14). The fruit of His Spirit should flow from us like rivers of living water (John 7:38).

When it is His life and power that fills us, everything we do attracts people to Him:

"And so we keep on praying for you, that our God will make you the kind of children he wants to have—will make you as good as you wish you could be!—rewarding your faith with his power. Then everyone will be praising the name of the Lord Jesus Christ because of the results they see in you…." (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, TLB)

Are people seeing the results of Christ’s life in us? Is He evident in our lives, not just on mission trips or in other areas of service, but all the time? Shouldn’t we be praying that He is? Because when He is, His presence and power ignites our lives and everything we do has Kingdom value. When He is glorified in us, He can transform our families, our relationships, our ministry and service.

May others praise the name of the Lord Jesus because of the results they see in us!

May God Strengthen Us with His Power

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge....(Ephesians 3:17-19)

Why should we ask God to strengthen us with His power? Certainly one reason is that Jesus promised His disciples that they would be clothed with power from on high, that the Spirit would impart His power for witnessing (Luke 24:45-49). We rely on that power as we go forward in obedience to His Great Commission (Matthew 28:20).

But we need the Spirit's power for more than ministry. This is something Paul realized and prayed for the Ephesians. He asked God to strengthen them with power through the indwelling Spirit so they would grasp the width, length, breadth and height of Christ’s love and would “know [personally experience, in increasing measure] this love that surpasses knowledge….” (Ephesians 3:14-19, italics added)

Is this a surprising thought, that we would need the Spirit’s power to grasp and experience the enormity of Christ’s love? Why would that matter to Paul? Why should it matter to us? Perhaps because our call is not to ministry, but to Christ, to a love relationship and personal fellowship with Jesus.

Some of us may never have known unconditional human love, and find it difficult to relate to such love from Christ. Though we may intellectually understand divine love, it is only the Spirit’s power within that can make that love real in our experience. We don’t serve a distant and uncaring King, but the lover of our souls. How much greater is our service when His love fills our hearts—how much farther we can run, how much higher we can climb, how much more joy can we experience.

Let us pray that God will strengthen us with His power to know, to experience, Christ’s love.

Keep us faithful to pray for each other.

Keep us faithful to pray for each other. (Ephesians 6:18)

Why should we this verse for one another? Because even though we know it’s important to pray for each other if we’re honest, most of us will admit that we have little time or energy for prayer. The time that we do have is likely to be first of all focused on the needs and circumstances of our families and those who are personally close to us, and rightfully so.

But just as Paul so frequently asked for prayer for his ministry and service from those who served with him, we need one another’s prayers too. He exhorted them—and he exhorts us—to “pray always for all of the saints” (Ephesians 6:18), and he lived that way. He prayed for his fellow workers:
…constantly (2 Thessalonians 1:11),
…thoughtfully, specifically (1 Corinthians 14:15),
…earnestly day and night (1 Thessalonians 3:10),
…with joy (Philippians 1:3-5),
…with thanksgiving (Colossians 1:3).

Paul knew that people who were serving with him were in need of much prayer, as he was. They were all spending themselves for God’s kingdom, busily leading people to Christ, planting churches, discipling believers. Paul and his fellow workers needed constant, thoughtful, earnest on-going prayer for one another.

Do we need it any less?

May we trust in the Lord. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV)

Why does this verse make such a powerful and essential prayer? Because we need God to direct our paths!

We live in tumultuous times, often confused with several choices before us, not clear on the direction we should take. In such times without realizing it, we can begin to trust in our own effort and energy, our own common sense and experience. We wouldn’t put it that way, but what’s the evidence of our lives? Are we ever scrambling to meet deadlines with too much to do, charging forward to do the next thing, leaning on past experience, the way we’ve “always done it”? In our haste, we may fail to be still (Psalm 46:10), to seek the Lord (Jeremiah 29:13).

This verse goes on to say that in all our ways we are to acknowledge the Lord. This means more than acknowledging His presence. The root word is yada, meaning to know God through personal experience. Whose path does the Lord direct? The one who trusts Him with all his heart, leans not on his own understanding, who knows and lives in a close personal relationship with Him.

Lord, may our trust in You never waiver!

May We Not Grow Weary in Doing Good

Help us not to grow weary in doing good…. (Galatians 6:9)

Why this verse? Because the rest of this verse promises “we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up”! We all need to remember this when we’re worn out, when things don’t seem to go right, when we can’t see our way clearly: if we keep on, we’ll reap a harvest!

In those times when we want to give up, we come to our God “who is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8) In all things at all times, having all that we need, we will abound. What a wonderful old-fashioned word, brimming with energy.

Be encouraged when you feel overwhelmed, for our Lord promises “He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” (Hebrews 6:10) And, “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 9:10)

Our Lord supplies what we need, and He brings in the harvest. He doesn’t forget our hard work and the love we have shown Him as we help His people. What wonderful promises for those who don’t grow weary in doing good.

Help Us to Pursue Righteousness

Our prayer for each other: Father, help us to pursue righteousness. (1 Timothy 6:11)

Why this verse? Because there are so many promises related to righteousness! Scripture tells us the Lord loves righteousness and those who pursue it (Psalm 33:5; Proverbs 15:9). He watches over the way of the righteous (Psalm 1:6), His eyes are on them, His ears are attentive to their cry and He hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:15, 17) And when we seek Him and His righteousness, He meets our needs (Matthew 6:33).

It’s true that we are righteous in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), that our righteousness comes by faith (Romans 9:30). But it’s practical righteousness that we’re to pursue, choosing to live upright lives, setting our hearts to conform to God’s will in thought and deed. We pursue right living, as best we can in His strength (Philippians 4:13). When we fail, we confess our sin, and God in His mercy cleanses us of our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Let’s pray for ourselves and our loved ones that we will pursue righteousness, for the prayer of the righteous pleases God; He hears their prayers (Proverbs 15:8, 29). Those who sow righteousness, reap a sure reward (Proverbs 11:18).

Father, help us to pursue righteousness—in Your strength and by Your grace.

Worship and Obey--and the Lord Will Provide

Help us to worship and obey You (Genesis 22:4, 18).

This is an important prayer for those in need of God’s provision because God revealed Himself to Abraham as Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14). Context in Scripture is always important, and when we look at Genesis 22 we find that Abraham was a man of worship, who by this time in his life obeyed the Lord immediately and without question.

God had told Abraham to take Isaac, his “only son whom he loved” and sacrifice him on Mt. Moriah. Abraham didn’t hesitate. Even as Abraham raised the knife to slay his son, the angel of the Lord stopped him. Abraham saw a ram caught in the thicket—God’s provision for the sacrifice. It was there that God identified Himself as Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord Will Provide.

What is the lesson for us? Certainly this gives us a glimpse of God giving His only beloved Son as a sacrifice for us, once for all. But it is also a picture of our God who wants to provide for our every need. He is our Provider! However, in context, to whom did God reveal Himself as Jehovah-Jireh? To Abraham, a man who worshiped and obeyed Him.

God can provide anything to anyone. But doesn’t it make sense that if we want to be certain of His provision, we should be those who worship and obey Him as Abraham did?

Help Us Agree in Payer

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)

Father, help us to agree in prayer. Why is this such a strong prayer? Because there is such power in agreement. God promises when we agree, He will do whatever we ask!

In the context of this passage, it’s clear that this is not a blank check. The preceding verses (Matthew 18:15-28), show Jesus teaching his disciples about church discipline. Thus this promise rests on a principle: that when we come together and pray in agreement about church or kingdom business, God will do whatever we ask.

When we pray Scripture, we are praying for God’s will and kingdom purpose in the world. Every time we pray for the lost to be saved (1 Timothy 2:1-6), the prodigals to return (Luke 15:11-31), the immature to grow in Christ (Hebrews 6:1), the mature believers to lead and disciple others (Hebrews 5:12-14), we’re praying for God’s kingdom business. His will is that we live rightly in His kingdom (Matthew 5:6), to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13, 14) and to advance that kingdom in the world (Matthew 28:20).

What will the effect be when we pray God’s Word in agreement for our families and others we serve? If we all pray the same brief Scripture prayer as often as we can over a week’s time, will that not lead to God’s working powerfully in our lives and the lives of those we know and love? What is His promise?

Lord, help us to pray in agreement!

God’s Word Is Living and Active in Our Prayers

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Why pray this verse? Because God’s Word is not only living and active as we read His Word daily, exposing our hearts, thoughts, and attitudes to His truth, but it is equally so as we include it in our prayers.

Are you praying for someone who is failing to see or submit to the truth of God’s word? Pray the Word. Let it begin to penetrate his heart to judge his thoughts and attitudes. Are you praying for someone to grow in Christ? Pray the Word. Let it do a holy, sanctifying work in his life.

Every time we pray the Scriptures, we are praying God’s living and active truth into a life. When we pray its precepts, principles and promises, we are releasing God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). God will use such prayers to accomplish His desires and purposes (Isaiah 55:11) in His time and in His way.

Lord, fill our prayers with Your living and active Word.

Help Us to Pray Your Word

Pray this often for yourself and your loved ones: Father, help us to pray Your Word. (Isaiah 55:11)

…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Why pray this verse? Because God’s Word achieves His purpose. We understand that this is true as we read and obey His Word. But consider also that when we pray His Word, it will not return empty, but will accomplish His purpose.

Our prayer for all of us is that we will pray Scriptures for ourselves and each other that will help us grow into the people we want to be—disciples of Christ, lovers of the Word, those who live surrendered and Spirit-filled lives, that we will become people of prayer. May the Lord help us to pray meaningful prayers, prayers that make a difference in our lives and the lives of those for whom we pray.

Praying the Will of God

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask —we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Why this verse? Because God promises when we pray His will, He’ll answer. Most of us feel we don’t have enough time for prayer. But even one minute is enough time to pray a powerful prayer, if we pray a prayer we know God will answer. The best way to do that is to pray God’s Word, which expresses His will. In 60 seconds or less it’s easy to paraphrase as many as 10-15 verses in our own words.

The better we know the Word, the more we naturally include it in our prayers. But those who are just beginning to learn the Bible can still pray powerful prayers, using verses they write down for themselves, or that have been provided in written prayers such as this:

“Help each of us who serve with e3 to love You with all our heart, to love our neighbors as ourselves, to love each other as Christ loves His disciples. May we live with clean hands and pure hearts, surrendering ourselves to You, abiding in Christ, and living in His love and in Your presence. Teach us to hear Your voice, to follow You, to trust You and not worry.” (Matthew 37:27, 28; John 10:38; Psalm 24:4; Romans 12:1-2; John 5:7-8, 9; Psalm 91:1-2; John 10:4-5; 14:1)

This prayer has 14 verses and can be prayed in less than a minute. Read it again, and ask yourself, would I like these things to be true for me and those I love? Then pray it. Pray it now, pray it often. He will answer—not overnight, but beginning right away—because these verses express His will and He promises to answer. Lord, help us to pray Your will.

Fix our eyes on Jesus--is this a practical prayer?

With so many details to keep up with, with so much to think through, how can we possibly fix our eyes—our mind—on Jesus? Perhaps the better question is, Is our mind fixed—or is it often fluid, scattered, unfocused, distracted, drifting? So full we can’t concentrate? Overloaded with things to do? Too many details to remember? Plans to make? Worries? Anxious thoughts?

How do you set your thoughts on Jesus in the midst of so much pressure and responsibility? Begin your days with worship. Even a brief prayer, early in the day, that worships Christ specifically by His names and attributes will help set your mind toward Him. Then, as you move through your day, when you find yourself thinking of all that you have to do and the consequences of not getting it done, fix your mind, set your thoughts on Jesus.

Focus on Jesus as your Shepherd who promises you will not want. Remind yourself that He will give you rest, renewal, protection. (Psalm 23). He promises to lead you, so talk to Him about your schedule, ask Him what to do next. Ask Him to anoint your conversations and give you wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:24). Acknowledge that He is your Wonderful Counselor and your Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Thank Him for His faithfulness (1 Corinthians 1:9).

We can’t hold two thoughts at once. Isn’t it better to focus on Jesus during those times when our minds have a tendency to drift—and worry?

Why should we pray that we’ll seek the Lord?

We should be eager to pray this verse because it’s part of a powerful promise: “…those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:10) Wouldn’t you like assurance that you, your family, your ministry will have that all you need?

But how do we seek the Lord in the midst of today’s busyness and pressure? Perhaps the better question is: With a promise like this, how can we afford not to seek Him no matter how busy we are? We must seek Him in the midst of life as it is.

We must be consistently in the Word and prayer, but we don’t have to spend a long time every day. If our hearts are right with God, and we are honestly seeking to know Him, He will honor even ten minutes a day spent seeking Him. If that’s not how we’re living now, shouldn’t we challenge ourselves to make seeking Him our priority? What have we got to lose?

Can we agree about anything and know God will answer?

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:19)

When Jesus promises that if two of us agree about anything we ask for, it will be done by our Father in heaven, it may sound like a blank check, but when we consider the context of this promise, we see that it is not.

In context (Matthew 18:15-20), this promise follows verses in which Jesus had just taught His followers how to handle conflicts in the church. In principle, He was referring to our life in the kingdom—saying in effect, when we come with our hearts united in agreement on church or kingdom business, what we ask will be done by our Father in heaven.

When we pray together for what we need to serve God and His kingdom purpose, He will provide. We add further weight to our payers when we pray according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). How do we know His will? We pray His Word, standing on the principles and promises of Scripture. This gives us even more confidence that our prayers will be heard and answered, because we have His promise that His Word will accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 55:11)!



Think how powerful corporate prayer is when it rests on these promises!

Why does praying together add power to our prayers?

There is power in unity! When soldiers march across a foot bridge, they break cadence because the force generated by their unified marching can bring down a bridge. Apply that same idea to the spiritual world, and you can see why there is power in united prayer—just as physical force is exerted when soldiers march in step, spiritual power is released when God’s people come with one heart and purpose, praying in cadence.

Such power in unity is strongest when God’s people (couples, families, small groups, churches, ministries) pray the same scriptures, for the same needs. Such praying rests on two significant promises:

1)...so My word that comes from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish My purpose…. (Isaiah 55:11a)

2) Now this is the confidence we have before Him: whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for. (1 John 5:14-15)

The most certain way to pray God’s will is to pray His Word, and it will accomplish His purpose. When we pray scripture in unity, our prayers exert a strong spiritual force that is magnified as we continue. So let's pray God's Word in unity!

Three Quick—but Effective Ways to Pray over a List

Specific, detailed prayers are wonderful when we have time, but brief prayers can be both specific yet brief and powerful. Consider grouping prayer requests together by topic, such as our attached list of e3 Mission Teams who will serve in July.

One brief Scripture prayer can encompasses each team and powerfully lay hold of God’s promises: 1) that His Word will accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 55:11); 2) that and we can have what we ask when we pray His will (1 John 5:14-15); 3)and when many pray in agreement and can have what we ask (Matthew 18:19).

We can pray in agreement as Paul prayed for the Ephesians, specific requests but no names or details (Ephesians 1:9-11; 3:14-19), or we may add information as we have time. Here are three effective ways to pray through the list:

1) Father, I’m praying for all these e3 mission teams….

2) Father, I’m praying for all these e3 mission teams, led by…. Gary, Darla; Donald, Mary, Frances …and so on through list of first names.

3) Father, I’m praying for all these e3 mission teams….July 10-20, led by Gary and Darla—to Romania; July 11-19, led by Donald, Mary and Frances—to Ecuador ...and so on through the list.

This principle will work for any list of prayer requests, and will enable you to pray effectively for many people in a brief time.

Why is it important to know the Lord intimately?

Why is it important for us to know the Lord in an intimate, personal way? If God loves His children perfectly, and if there is nothing we can do to make Him love us more—or less—why is having a personal relationship with Him so important? Why is it not enough to live as good a life as we can, and let it go at that?

Because if we do, we miss so much. God doesn’t have favorites, but He does have intimates. We see that in Martha and Mary—Martha, busy in the kitchen; Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). In John 11, we hear that their brother, Lazarus, had died. Jesus was away, and as He returned, Martha went out to Him and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21) Then Jesus answered her, “Your brother will rise again. ...I am the resurrection and the life....” (John 11:23, 25)

Then Mary went to Him. She fell at His feet—“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32) Same words. Different response: “When Jesus saw her weeping...He was deeply moved in spirit... and He wept...” (John 11:33, 35) He went to the tomb and raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11: 38-44).

Martha got a theological response. Mary got an emotional response, and a miracle. Which sister knew and loved Jesus in a more personal way? When we pray, how do we want Him to respond to us?

Why pray the Scriptures for each other?

Praying that our faith will grow more and more, and the love that we have for each other will increase (2 Thessalonians 1:3) doesn’t sound like spiritual warfare prayer, does it?

But any Scripture can be a warfare prayer. In Ephesians 6:10-18, the Apostle Paul says we are in a battle against the powers of darkness. Our assignment is to stand our ground and pray. We’re to put on the full armor of God and wield our weapon—the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Not the whole Bible as one weapon, but the Bible as an arsenal of weapons, every verse a different sword!

As we pray God’s Word for each other, our prayers are able to defeat Satan. It’s not the prayers, but the promises behind them. God has promised that we’ll have what we ask, when we pray according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). His Word is His will. He has also promised that His Word will accomplish its purpose (Isaiah 55:11), that it is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and sharper than a double-edged sword. A simple prayer such as “help our faith to grow more and more, and our love for each other to increase” becomes a powerful weapon against Satan because of God’s promises. Such a prayer will defeat evil spirits seeking to discourage our faith or disrupt our relationships and give us victory.

What kind of relationship does the Lord want with us?

Jesus gave the answer in John 14, where we read: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21)

Jesus is describing a love relationship in which He reveals Who He is, allowing us to know Him in a highly personal way. To whom does He reveal Himself? To whoever obeys. When I obey, I’m expressing my love to Him, and He is free to express His love in and through and to me. All in response to the choices I’m making—choosing to spend time with Him, in prayer and in His Word, choosing to neither grieve nor quench His Holy Spirit within me.

In Experiencing God authors Henry Blackaby and Claude King write, “Everything in your Christian life, everything about knowing the Lord and experiencing Him, everything about knowing His will, depends on the quality of your love relationship to God.” [Henry Blackaby, Claude King, Experiencing God, p.44]

Our Lord wants to have a personal, love relationship with us, one in which we learn to live the abiding life, to discern the prompting of His Spirit, to be confident that we know and do His will. Everything in our Christian life depends on it.

Our prayer—Lord, we not only want to tell You we love You, but we want to show You by the way we live. We need Your help, and we ask for it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

How much of a personal relationship with the Lord do we want?

How much of a personal relationship with the Lord do we want? The closeness of our relationship with Him, the quality of our relationship with Him depends on us.

We know the Lord lives in us, if we are His children, and that makes the relationship possible. Jesus told us in John 14, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. ...You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ...on that day, you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:16-20, italics added)

Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, lives in us—yet the degree to which we know Him, love Him, experience Him as person on a continuing basis, is up to us. He doesn’t force Himself on us at the moment of salvation, or at any other time in our Christian life. We choose whether or not to spend time with Him, in prayer and in His Word—and that creates the foundation of our love relationship with Him.

We choose whether or not to be in fellowship with Him, as we decide whether or not to confess our sins on a regular basis. Isaiah 59:2 tells us: “Your iniquities—[your unconfessed sins]—have separated you from your God.” The choice is ours.

Our prayer: Lord, help us to recognize and choose to confess every sin as You bring it to mind, so that our relationship with You is not hindered. In Jesus’ name, amen.

How do we bring our thoughts captive to Christ?

“May we bring every thought captive to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

We discipline ourselves, asking God’s help to become aware of negative or sinful thoughts, and we replace them with thoughts and prayers from the truth from God’s Word. For example--

• if frightened, we find refuge in Him (Psalm 57:1),
• if worried, we find peace in Him (Philippians 4:6-7),
• if confused, we find direction in Him (Psalm 32:8),
• if weak, we find strength in Him (Isaiah 40:29),
• if in sin, we find mercy in Him (1 John 1:9),
• if tempted, we find victory in Him (1 Corinthians 10:13),
• if grieved, we find comfort in Him (Psalm 34:18),
• if our world is falling apart, we find stability in Him (Isaiah 28:16),
• if lonely, we find company with Him (Matthew 28:20),
• if lacking confidence, we find encouragement in Him (Psalm 3:3),
• if tired, we find our rest in Him (Matthew 11:28),
• if under attack, we find our stronghold in Him (Psalm 9:9),
• if overwhelmed, we find our help in Him (Psalm 33:20),
• if about to give up, we find our hope in Him (Psalm 71:5),
• if troubles come, we find our refuge in Him (Psalm 57:1).


Let every affirming thought become a prayer!

What has the Lord been saying to you?

Lord, teach us to hear Your voice. (John 10:4-5)

When we don’t have a ready answer to this question, we should ask ourselves why, because Jesus promises that His sheep will hear and recognize His voice. And in Mark we read that “when He was alone with His own disciples, He explained everything” (Mark 4:34). Whatever He did with His disciples then, He is willing to do with us today, just as whatever He taught His disciples is for us as well. If we spend time alone with Him, He will explain things to us.

When you seek Jesus’ guidance, do you ever wonder if you are hearing His voice, or if it is your own bright idea—or even Satan trying to mislead you? We needn’t be concerned about this, because Jesus promises that we will recognize His voice: “…[the shepherd’s] sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger…because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.” (John 10:4-5, italics added)

Jesus doesn’t speaking audibly to most of us, but some would say He speaks much louder than that! Through His Spirit He speaks to our hearts, principally through His Word, through prayer, other godly people, and circumstances. He is our Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6), willing to give us His counsel—but we must cultivate a listening ear (Mark 4:9).

Learning to hear our Shepherd’s voice comes through our daily experience of spending time with Him, coming to know Him (John 17:3), becoming deeply and intimately acquainted with Him (John 10:14), enjoying the fellowship of spiritual intimacy (1 John 1:3). This doesn’t happen in the busyness of our service, but as we sit at His feet (Luke 10:38-42). It’s a daily choice we make.

Do we share Paul’s passion to know the Lord? Should we?

The Apostle Paul’s passion to know the Lord, to live in a close, personal relationship with God, was the driving force of his life and service. The full meaning of the word “know” in the Greek helps us better understand the kind of relationship with the Lord that is essential for us…

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly]…. (Philippians 3:10a, AMP, italics added)….

Jesus uses the same Greek word, ginosko, in describing how He knows us and we’re to know Him—in describing how we must know Him:

“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me….” (John 10:14, italics added)

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:22-23, italics added)

How do we develop such a relationship?

Through spending daily time alone with God in prayer (Matthew 6:6, 9-13). As we spend time alone with God in prayer, He welcomes us into a personal relationship of growing spiritual intimacy, one in which we not only sense His presence and speak to Him as we move through our days, but also learn to hear His voice:

...the sheep follow [the shepherd], for they know his voice. (John 10:4-5, italics added)

Daily consistency is the important thing. Our prayer time does not have to be for a long period of time, but spending some time with God every day is not an option if we want to know God in a personal way. God will honor even a few minutes a day if we devote them to Him, reading His Word and praying as Jesus taught.

from e3 Ignite Your Prayer Life Prayer Journal, pp. 4-5

How many letters to raise support should I send?

Jesus made it clear He will provide for those He sends out on mission when He sent out the 72 with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and told them to look for those who would take care of their needs (Luke 10:1-8). He Himself, and the twelve who were with Him, were supported by the women who traveled with them (Luke 8:1-3). He sent His disciples specifically to the man who was preparing the upper room for Him (Mark 14:13-16), and even after His death His body was laid to rest in a tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-60).

We who serve in ministry are to be responsible to do our part, as the 72 were instructed to seek out men of peace who would supply their needs. But clearly, those who provided them food and shelter on their mission journey had hearts that had been prepared to be generous when asked.

Surely all who give themselves to the mission call of the Lord of the Harvest can stand on His promise to supply their needs, even as the Apostle Paul did:

"Not that I [the Apostle Paul] am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." (Philippians 4:17-18)

The next verse, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19) includes the promise for those who give. There is certainly the sense that all who go on staff with e3 or join our mission teams are giving to God’s kingdom work. When we answer His call, will He fail to meet all our needs?

Is it necessary to excel in the grace of giving?

Only if we want to experience some wonderful blessings! God promises that when we give, we will receive—“a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)

Think of this. The word translated “excel” means to abound, even “super-abound” in giving, to give in excess, the idea of holding back nothing. One translation says “to be eager to give, and to give more generously than anyone else.”

When the apostle Paul tells the Corinthians to “excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7), he is laying down an important kingdom principle: we should be generous givers. This is fairly easy when things are going well, but when finances are tight, many of us are tempted to delay or scale down our financial giving, even our tithe. It’s our choice, but if we do, we may miss out on some of God’s most generous blessings:

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’” (Malachi 3:10, italics added)

“…I [Paul] am amply supplied, now that I have received…the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:18-19, italics added)

Our God is a giving God who honors His promises when we live by His principles. May He give us the courage to excel in the grace of giving.

If the Spirit lives in us, why would Paul command us to be filled with the Spirit?

We are promised that the Holy Spirit is gift to all believers (Acts 2:38-39)—He lives in us (John 14:16-17). Why then are we commanded to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) as though it is our responsibility? And how do we go about it?


Paul is very clear about this when he tells us to surrender our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2) and to put off the old self and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24), and when Jesus said we must abide (live, remain) in Him, our true vine (John 15:5). The Holy Spirit surely lives in us from the moment we are born again, but He cannot fill us until we begin to live a life of surrender and submission to our Lord, intentionally turning from our old, sin-filled lifestyles and determine to live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). How can our true vine fill us with His life if we have unconfessed sin or are full of self?


How can we be Spirit-filled if grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) or quench His presence within us (1 Thessalonians 5:19)? He is grieved with we sin by doing what we know we should not do, when we ignore is gentle conviction of sin and fail to confess and be forgiven (1 John 1:9). He is quenched when we fail to do what we know we should do (James 4:17), when we ignore His leading (Romans 8:14).


How can we be sure we are emptied of sin and self and our old ways so that the Spirit can fill us each day? Jesus said we should spend time alone with God every day (Matthew 6:6), and in that time, we should surrender (Matthew 6:10) and confess our sins (Matthew 6:12). We do this not by spending a lot of time every day, but by praying with intention and purpose for at least a brief time each day, laying our hearts open before the Lord (Psalm 139:23-24). If He shows us anything we must deal with, we simply confess or let go and ask for a fresh filling of His Spirit. He desires to give us the Spirit more than anything else (Luke 11:13)!

How well do you hear God’s voice?

If Jesus promised that His sheep will hear His voice, and recognize that it’s Him (John 10:4-5). This should be our experience today. He doesn’t speak audibly to most of us, but He does speak clearly to our heart—if we’re listening.

When Jesus began to teach His disciples about prayer, He told them to go into a room (Matthew 6:6), the word He used was tameion which is sometimes translated “closet.” In the Greek of His day, tameion referred to a bedroom, the most private room of a home where intimacy developed between husband and wife. Jesus didn’t mean we must go into a bedroom or closet, but that we should follow His example and find time to be alone, in solitude with God (Matthew 14:23). By using the word tameion, Jesus is telling us that when we find such uninterrupted time to be alone with God, we can develop a relationship of intimacy with Him, intimacy of the heart and soul.

Quiet time alone with God provides an atmosphere in which we can best hear His voice, most often as we are prayerfully reading His Word. It doesn’t matter where or when we have this time, but we must make it a daily priority if we want to develop the communion of an intimate personal relationship with Him. Our service for Him, no matter how energetic and demanding, is no substitute. There is no substitute.

Does God hear every prayer?

“Help us to live with clean hands and pure hearts.” (James 4:8)

We would like to think God hears every prayer, but the Bible makes plain that’s not always so. There are times when God may choose not to listen, when He pays no attention to our prayers. Isaiah tells us our iniquities (unconfessed sins) separate us from God so that He will not hear (Isaiah 59:2). David says, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened….” (Psalm 66:18) Unconfessed sins, sins that we cherish or hold onto, separate us from close, personal fellowship with God.

James puts it this way: “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts….” (James 4:8) Isaiah, David, and James all address the impact of unconfessed sins on our prayer lives. We must take initiative to confess our sins and be forgiven (1 John 1:9), to wash our hands and purify our hearts if we want God to hear our prayers and have personal fellowship with us.

That’s why this is such a significant verse to pray. Can anything be more important to us than having our prayers heard (Psalm 65:1) and walking in close fellowship with God (1 John 1:3)?

Do you have any needs in your life?

“May we seek Your kingdom and righteousness first in our lives.” (Matthew 6:33)

Why, with so many practical, material needs always present in our lives, would we choose to suggest we pray this verse for each other, about seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness rather than His provision?

What makes this one simple verse a powerful and effective prayer?

Apart from the fact that this is the way we should all be living, the last half of this verse is a wonderful promise. It says when we seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first in our lives “all these things will be given” to us as well.

What things? In the context of this passage, in Matthew 6:25-32 Jesus is saying we should not worry about the basic necessities of life—what we’ll eat, what we’ll wear. Instead, we should seek God’s kingdom and righteousness before everything else, and what we need to meet our needs will be given to us.

If you want to strengthen this brief prayer even more, add “May they seek You and Your kingdom and righteousness first in our lives,” because those who seek the LORD lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10, italics added).

What makes Psalm 91:1 a powerful and effective prayer?

Psalm 91 is a psalm full of promises, but it also has conditions attached to those promises. Choosing to live in the shelter of God’s presence is the primary condition, and it is repeated in verse 9, “If you make the Most High your dwelling….”

This psalm is clearly for those who are living in God’s presence or “dwelling in the secret place” with Him (KJV). We’re living in His presence when we intentionally turn our minds toward Him throughout the day (Colossians 3:2; Hebrews 12:2). As we do, we are assured that we will rest in His shadow, be covered with His feathers and find refuge beneath His wings (vv. 1, 4). As we choose to live in His presence, He will command His angels to guard us (v. 9, 11).

This verse makes a powerful and effective prayer because God promises to answer when we pray His will, and as He answers this particular prayer, the promises of this psalm will be meant for us.