Books on Prayer

One of my goals for this year was to read six books on prayer. I figure that is one book every two months. I want to read books that challenge me to pray more, give me new ideas on how to prayer, and deepen my prayer life.

I want to share these books with you as I read them this year.

The Bible - I will just include that in the list. I am reading through that this year.

Enjoy your prayer life by Michael Reeves - This is a short book and easy to read, just 46 pages.

"Prayer the chief exercise of faith" - John Calvin

"If prayer is 'the chief exercise of faith', then of course everything -- the world, the flesh and the devil -- conspires against prayer."

No wonder prayer is hard work.

"It is the word of God, the gracious message of Christ that awakens faith and so prayer -- and so that must be the basic shape of our everyday communion with God."


Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney - This is a nice small hardback book. In this book the author walks you through how to pray the Bible beginning with the problem with our prayers and how praying the Bible is the solution. He gives you a method to do this.

This book really spoke to me as this reflects some of my thoughts. I have wanted to get behind a "shopping list" or giving God a "to do list" prayers. Learning to pray the Bible helps us to speak God's words back to him, we see God's heart.

I have a few more on the stack and I will share with you when I finish reading them.

Beth

The A-Z Praying for Missionaries - Part 3

This is Part 3 of A-Z Praying for Missionaries. Here is Part 1 and here is Part 2.

We are working through the alphabet with things to different things to pray about for missionaries. We are now at the end of the alphabet and that does require a bit of creativity.

P is for protection - Driving in some countries is not as safe as at home. Driving laws are not enforced or don't exist so it can be taking your safety in your own hands. Depending on where the missionary is living there can be other safety things that are not the same standards that they are used to at home.

Q is for quiet time - Pray that the quiet time will be a time of refreshing and renewing them.

R is for rest. It is easy to be busy and hard to rest. Pray that there will be times of rest so that they can be refreshed for service.

S is for strength - Pray that the missionary will have renewed strength. (Isaiah 40:31) You can easily get weary with day in and day out things. God promises to give strength so pray for strength.

T is for temptations - Pray against temptations. Pray that the missionary will not give in to temptations.

U is for unity - Pray for unity within the team they are working with. Pray for unity with the local churches. The enemy wants to pull teams and individuals to disunity. Pray that they will have love and unity.

V is for Visa - Visas can be difficult depending on the country. Pray for provision of a visa. Pray for funds for a visa. The cost of paperwork or traveling to get a visa and add up.

W is for Warfare - Spiritual warfare. We have an enemy and he will try to stop or discourage the spread of the gospel.

X is for excellence - it is easy to just do what needs to be done but we need to work with excellence as a goal.

Y is for yielding to the Lord - sometimes missionaries are in places that they know it is where God wants them but it might not be where they want to be. Pray that they will yield to the Lord trusting that the place he has them is the best place for them.

Z is for zeal - personal zeal for God and zeal for the calling. It can be tiring and difficult but the God and what he has called us to do can keep us motivated.

Partner in the work by praying.

When you pray for a missionary, drop a note/email/text/message however yo communicate with them. Let them know. It will encourage them.

Beth

The A to Z of Praying for Missionaries - Part 2

I shared about praying for missionaries starting at the beginning of the alphabet and going through giving some specific things for each letter. Part 1 can be found here.

H is for health - Pray for the health of the missionaries. Depending where they are living and serving there are so many different challenges to their health, malaria, food poisoning, air quality, and other things that are not the same as at home.

I is for intercultural living - So many of the teams include people from various countries not just your home country and host country. Pray that missionaries will understand the cultures but have a Biblical culture.

J is for joy - Joy in serving the Lord. It is easy to lose joy in what you are doing. The days get long, the burdens are heavy and joy slips away. Pray that each day will be filled with joy.

K is for knowledge - Knowledge comes from fearing the Lord (Proverbs 1:7) Pray that the missionary will have the knowledge from the Lord to share the Gospel is a relevant manner.

L is for Language - learning the language and culture is a long process which takes years, pray that the missionary will continue learning and be able to understand and speak in the heart language.

M is for mercy - God's mercy never comes to an end; it is new every morning. Pray that each day the missionary will know God's mercy in their own life. From God's mercy we are reminded of his faithfulness. Pray that they will be reminded of God's faithfulness.

N is for neighbours - Sometimes the greatest struggle can be those that are living so close. The ones with the dogs that bark all the time or leave their rubbish at your door. Pray that the missionary will have a relationship that shows Jesus.

O is for openness and opportunities - Pray that the people they meet with will be open to the gospel. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel.

Praying for missionaries is partnering with them in the work that God has called us to do. Your prayers are an essential part of the work.

Pray with focus. Pray beginning with A and work your way through the alphabet.


Beth

The A to Z of Praying for Missionaries - Part 1

Sometimes when I can't sleep I will pray through the alphabet. I will begin with A and see how far I set before I fall asleep. I have various themes that I follow. I thought I should share with you the theme of praying for missionaries. This is part one.

One of my favourite quotes about missions and prayer is from James Fraser, a missionary to the Lisu people of southwest China.

"I will not labor the point. You will see from what I am saying that I am not asking you just to give 'help' in prayer as a sort of sideline, but I am trying to roll the main responsibility of this prayer warfare on you. I want you to take the burden of these people upon your shoulders. I want you to wrestle with God for them."

Do we have that kind of thoughts when we are praying for missions?

The A to Z praying for missionaries will help you to focus your prayers.

A is for attitudes - Attitudes impact so much of life. It impacts how we look at things, how we respond. Pray that attitudes will be Christ-like.

B is for balance - Pray that each one will live with balance in their lives. The ministry can be unending, there is always one more person you could meet with or another Bible study to write but  yet we need to have balance.

C is for children - It can be children living with them or children away from home. Pray for the children that they will love and serve God. Pray that they will feel called by God to be part of the ministry.

D is for discernment - So many decisions need to be made and discernment is required. Listening to God's voice and knowing what he wants us to do each day.

E is for encouragement - Pray that the missionaries will be encouraged. If it is times of not much fruit, it can be discouraging. The missionary might even wonder if it is worth being there. Pray that they will be encouraged to continue on in the work that God has called them to do.

F is for faith for finances - (I know that is a double letter.) Many missionaries are faith based meaning that they rely on giving from churches and individuals. Pray that they will have faith to trust God for finances.

G is for grace - Missionaries need grace. We need to understand anew the grace that God gives us. We need to know the depth of grace that God gives us. We need to be able to give grace to those around us.

My desire is that this will help you to focus your prayers.

Part 2 is here.
Part 3 is here.

Beth

Praying with Confidence

Yes, I have written a number of things on prayer. I think that is because that is something that I am learning at this time. I am learning to pray more and hopefully those prayers are deeper prayers. I am excited to be in the final stages of writing Praying for the Heart.

Praying with Confidence

We can pray with confidence knowing that God hears us.

We can pray with confidence knowing that God cares.

We can pray with confidence knowing that God is able to work.

We can pray with confidence because of who God is.

Our confidence comes from who God is. We need to know him as a God who listens, cares, and is able to do the impossible.

Psalm 25 gives us a picture of who God is and what he wants to do for us as well as a picture of who we are and what we need to do.

God is trustworthy. He is the God of my salvation, a merciful God, loving and good, and a faithful God. When we think of all that God is we know we can pray with confidence.

The picture we see of who we are is not a pretty one. We are sinners, guilty, distressed, afflicted, and troubled. That is not the image we want for ourselves. We need to go back and look at who God is he is merciful and loving. There is hope for us.

This Psalm also gives us instructions as to what we are to do. We are to trust God, wait on the Lord, learn from God, keep his covenant and testimonies and fear God. When we are doing this things we will be knowing and growing our relationship with God and be able to pray with confidence.

We can pray with confidence.

Beth

Praying Prayers of Protection for Our Children

Our children need protection. We live in a fallen world with an enemy that wants to devour them and us. We need protection. Our children need protection and our prayers for protection are so necessary.

Like the knights of long ago that wore armour to protect them. The knights needed help putting on the armour. So as parents our prayers are the help to put on the armour.

So many battles and struggles begin in the heart and mind. While I do pray for physical protection, in this prayer my focus is on the heart and mind. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rules, against the authorities, against the cosmos powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (ESV) This is a spiritual battle and the enemy wants to devour and destroy. We need protection.

Pray a hedge of protection around your children. Job had a hedge of protection around him and that did protect him from the evil one.. (Job 1:10) Ask God to put a hedge of protection around your children.

As the attacks come, pray that the Lord will be the shield. (Psalm 27:7) The God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:7) God is the Rock of refuge. (Psalm 31:2)

Pray and trust God. Our responsibility is to pray, to train our children to pray for protection. We need to remember that God is faithful, commit your children to him. (Psalm 31:5)

We can pray this way because

• God is Jehovah-nissi, our refuge.
• Christ has died for us on the cross and we have victory through him
• the Holy Spirit lives within us

Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that you will put a hedge of protection around my children. I pray that you will build a strong wall to protect them from the fiery darts of the wicked one. Be their shield. I ask that you protect their hearts and minds, keeping out thoughts that should not be there and helping them to dwell on truth. Ask that they might know that you are a refuge where there is protection. Lord, I trust my children into your care for you are faithful. 
Amen

You can write your own prayer but this or a variation of this is often my prayer as I fall asleep at night. To help keep my mind focused on the prayer I will often visualise the wall being built like a strong castle. Maybe that image comes from living here in England and seeing castles all around. I encourage you to pray prayers of protection for your children.

Trust God he is faithful.

Beth

Praying for the Heart - A Humble Heart

A Humble Heart 

Someone who is humble is not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive, but in submission. 

“In humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)  Humility is displayed in how we view ourselves and how we think of others. A humble heart puts others first, but a proud heart looks down on others. A humble person values other people.

A humble person has a teachable spirit. (Psalm 25:9) That person is looking to learn from others and views every situation as an opportunity to learn.

A humble person has a listening heart. (Psalm 34:2) This demonstrates that each person is important and valued.

Paul, when writing to the Philippians, gives a list of his credentials. All the things that he could boast in but he did not boast rather he considered it rubbish, worth nothing. (Philippians 3:4-8) Paul calls himself the foremost sinner. (I Timothy 1:15)  In this way Paul displays his humility.

Christ is the ultimate example of humility in leaving heaven and coming to earth, taking on the form of a man. His death was a humble and obedient death. (Philippians 2:5-8)

A humble heart views others as God views them. A humble heart understands God’s grace.

Do you walk humbly before the Lord? Do you value what you can learn from others? You can practice humility by listening and learning from others, and from serving others.

Other posts in this series include:

Praying for a Wise Heart

Praying for a Repentant Heart

Praying for a Loving Heart

Praying for a Trusting Heart

Praying for a Courageous Heart

Praying for a Servant's Heart

Praying for a Truthful and Honest Heart

Praying for a Pure Heart

Beth

Praying for the Heart - A Wise Heart

A Wise Heart

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10)

We need wisdom for direction, for how to respond, in decisions we make, and so many other aspects of life. There are so many areas and times of the day in which we need wisdom. This is wisdom from the Lord and not man’s wisdom, which is foolishness. We need to learn to go to the source of wisdom. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;” (Proverbs 2:6)

Solomon is considered the wisest man that lived. So much of Proverbs is written about being wise.

Blessings come from wisdom (Proverbs 3:13). The wise will inherit honor (Proverbs 3:35).

The opposite of a wise heart is a foolish heart. We don’t want to consider ourselves foolish, but whenever we are not filled with the wisdom from above we are fools.

A wise heart knows the source of wisdom and seeks wisdom from God for all decisions of life.

What are some areas that you need wisdom? Do you seek wisdom from above?

Beth

Praying for the Heart - a Repentant Heart

Praying for a Repentant Heart

True repentance involves both conviction and confession. Conviction without confession is guilt, but it is the confession that takes away the guilt.

Repentance comes from realizing your own sin and the need to make things right. David wrote Psalm 51 after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba. David named it what it was—sin, transgression, and iniquity. He was admitting what he did. He called it what it was and did not excuse it by using a word like mistake, slip-up, or something else to reduce the severity of the offense.

David realized that his sin was against the Lord. (Psalm 51:4) He knew what delights God’s heart – truthfulness, being honest about our sin, not blaming others or excusing it. Then he asked for cleaning, to be washed. Then that repentance opened the way to restored joy. The relationship was restored and David was praising God.

Our repentance should come from a broken spirit, as we realize what happens as a result of our sin. God will not despise us.

David is called a man after God’s own heart. Yes, he sinned—but it is his repentant heart, his grief over his sin that set him apart as a man after God’s own heart. In our experience, too, repentance leads to a changed heart.

A repentant heart see God’s holiness and his own sin and knows that all he can do is repent. It is through humble confession that the relationship is restored.

Do you see God as holy? Do you understand how our sin breaks our relationship with God and others? Be assured that God delights to hear our confession.

Don't miss the others in this series.

Praying for a Courageous Heart

Praying for a Trusting Heart

Praying for a Loving Heart

Praying for a Truthful and Honest Heart

Praying for a Pure Heart 

Praying for a Servant's Heart

Beth

Praying for the Heart - A Courageous Heart

Pray for a Courageous Heart

Heroes are often courageous. Sometimes a hero is someone who steps in and does what no one else is doing. Courage is the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fears, or difficulty. The origin of the word comes from Old French corage meaning heart, innermost feelings, temper. Courage comes from within.

The spies were told to be courageous. They were facing a future full of unknowns, and they felt fear as went to spy out the Promised Land. They needed courage. The charge to Joshua as he was beginning the task of leading the people of Israel included “Be strong and courageous” as well as a promise that “the Lord is with you.”  (Joshua 1:9)

So a courageous heart is courageous in the things that God has called us to do. A courageous heart does not turn back because of fear, but follows God’s calling.

At times it takes courage to do hard things, to go against the crowd, to do what is right. Joseph of Arimathea took courage and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Daniel’s request to the king took courage. Esther needed courage to approach Ahasuerus asking to spare the lives of the Jews. Nehemiah had the courage to ask the king for time to go and help in rebuilding the walls. John the Baptist was preaching a message of repentance and called even the religious leaders to repent—and that took courage.

We need courage to obey God and go, to share the truth, to do what is right. The courage comes from the strength that God gives.

A courageous heart knows what God is asking him to do and trusts God for the strength to do it.

What are the hard things that God is asking you to do? We need courage for both big and little things.

The others in this series:

Praying for a Trusting Heart

Praying for a Truthful and Honest Heart

Praying for a Loving Heart

Praying for a Pure Heart

Praying for a Servant's Heart

Beth

Praying for the Heart - A Servant's Heart

Praying for a Servant's Heart

A servant is one who serves others. Servants need to obey, be loyal to the master or calling, be listening, and be faithful.

There are numerous examples of Jesus serving others while here on earth. Washing the disciples’ feet was an act of service. This required him to humble himself and get dirty. On two occasions Jesus fed the multitudes. He was meeting the needs of those around him.

Having a servant’s heart could require sacrifice. Christ came to serve, and for him that service meant giving up his life as a sacrifice. (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45) He was obedient in that act of service. (Philippians 2:5-7). He did something for us that we could not do for ourselves. A servant meets the needs of others, which might not be the same as their own needs.

We need to serve with the right heart attitude. Martha was distracted from Jesus while she was busy serving. (Luke 10:40) We need to guard that our service doesn’t distract us from worship.

Having a servant’s heart requires that we put aside our own selfish desires. Servants cannot be selfish.

There is not much written about Epaphroditus, but from the little we see in Scripture we know that he was serving Paul by meeting some of Paul’s needs. It was not easy for him, as during this time he became ill and Paul describes it as “near to death.” (Philippians 2:25-30) He is an example of a believer who has a servant’s heart.

A servant’s heart is a heart that is aware of the needs of those around him and uses his gifts and talents to meet those needs. A servant’s heart is marked by compassion, giving, and loving. A servant’s heart knows that his reward is not necessarily here on earth. 

Do you look for opportunities to serve others? It might be small areas or it might be big areas. Are you willing to get dirty to serve others?

For others in this series:

Praying for a Trusting Heart

Praying for a Truthful and Honest Heart

Praying for a Loving Heart

Praying for a Pure Heart

Beth

Praying for the Heart -- A Loving Heart

Praying for a Loving Heart

The love that is in our hearts flows from God. I John 4:7. As we understand and experience God’s love we will be able to love those around us.

God loved us unconditionally. While we were yet sinners he loved us. (Romans 5:8) Throughout his ministry here on earth Jesus interacted with sinners and showed them God’s love. We need to learn to love in this way.

God loves us unselfishly and sacrificially. He loved us so much that he sent Jesus to be the final sacrificial lamb. Are we willing to love with that kind of sacrifice?

God’s love is steadfast. It does not change, which can be a comfort to us. Both Moses and David write of God’s steadfast love (Exodus 34:6-7 and Psalm 36:5).

From our love will flow all the character qualities listed in I Corinthians 13. We will be patient, kind, not envying or boasting, not arrogant or rude, rejoicing in truth, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things and enduring all things.

We are to walk in love as Christ loved us. (Ephesians 5:2) Walking in love implies action, a steady continual giving of love.

A loving heart is one that knows and experiences God’s love. “Beloved, let us love one another for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” I john 4:7

Do you know and experience God’s love? Do you understand the depth of his love for you? Pray that you will have a deeper knowledge of God’s love.

Others in this series:

Praying for a Pure Heart

Praying for a Truthful and Honest Heart

Praying for a Trusting Heart

Beth

Praying for the Heart - A Pure Heart

Pray for a Pure Heart

Psalm 119:9 tells how to keep your way and heart pure: by guarding it according to God’s word. God’s standard is purity. God is pure. His Word is pure.

A pure heart is one that is marked by chastity. This has the idea of sexual purity. God desires us to be pure in this way as clearly stated in the Ten Commandments, “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)

Purity also includes our motives. It is easy to manipulate other people and situations to our advantage. When that happens, our motives are not pure. Our conduct needs to be pure in this way. There should be no question regarding our motives.

Joseph displays purity when he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, he fled. He remained pure. That cost him his job and his freedom. Later we see that God worked all of this to his good and there was a reward for his purity.

When we are living a pure life we will be blameless. Love, knowledge and discernment will all lead to a pure and blameless life.

If this is an area of struggle, remember David’s confession after his sin. Psalm 51 records the whole prayer but verse 10 is the plea for a clean or pure heart. God is faithful to forgive.

A pure heart strives to live as God desires, keeping sin confessed, motives pure, and behavior honoring. This comes from knowing God’s holiness and guarding our thoughts and actions.

Pray that you will remain pure in your thoughts and actions. Pray for others about this specifically. Satan would like nothing better than to cause us to sin in this area. Pray for a pure heart.

The others in this series:

A Trusting Heart
Truthful and Honest Heart

Beth

Praying for the Heart - A Truthful and Honest Heart

Pray for a Truthful and Honest Heart

The dictionary defines honest as free from fraud or deception; genuine, real; humble, reputable, respectable; creditable, praiseworthy; marked by integrity. The opposite of honest is deceitful. Honesty is about our actions, our behavior, and our motives.

Job was a man that vowed to continue living a life of integrity even with all he had been through he was striving to life a life of integrity. Those that walk in integrity will walk securely (Proverbs 10:9) A life was deceit will be full of twists as you try to continue that deceit. Ananias and Sapphira acted deceitfully. There was some truth to what they said but not the whole truth. Their deceit was punished. (Acts 5:1-11) God calls each of us to live a life of integrity. 

Truthful is referring to our words, words that are true, telling the truth. Paul writes to the Ephesians telling them to “speak the truth to one another”.  A lying tongue is one of the things that the Lord hates. (Proverbs 6:16-17)

We need to be truthful with ourselves. No one talks to you more than yourself, so the words that you say to yourself need to be full of truth.

A truthful and honest heart is one that understands God’s holiness and God’s standard of integrity and truth. A heart that listens to truth guards the thoughts and actions of the heart.

Do you tell yourself the truth? Pray that God’s truth will shine through in your heart. Pray that you actions will be marked by integrity.

Other Posts in this series:

Pray for a Trusting Heart

Beth

Praying for the Heart - A Trusting Heart

God’s concern is for our hearts. He does want just the outward actions but hearts that are surrendered to him. God desires a broken spirit and a contrite heart. (Psalm 51:17) It is the heart that determines our words, actions, behaviours, and so much more. The heart is our inner being from which flows all of life.

Real change comes from a heart that has been changed.

Pray for a Trusting Heart

A dictionary definition of trust is assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or truth of someone or something. The someone that we should be trusting is God.

Proverbs 3:5 simply tells us to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” When you are trusting with all your heart, you will not be depending on your own understanding but on God.

When he was still without offspring, Abraham was given a promise by God that from him would be a great nation.  Abraham afterwards demonstrated his trusting heart when God tested him and asked him to sacrifice Isaac. He trusted that God was able to do what he had promised.

The angel of the Lord came to Mary and told her that she would conceive and bear a son. She did wonder and question how that was to be, as she was a virgin. The angel gave her an answer and her response showed that her heart was trusting in God. She believed, as the angel had affirmed, “For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)  Mary had a heart of trusting God.

Sometimes it feels like trusting God is not enough and yet that is all we are to do.

A trusting heart knows God’s character. God is holy, just, faithful, our provider, and our healer. He loves us, cares for us, and so much more. Because of who God is we can trust him.  A trusting heart shows dependence on God.

Are you trusting in God, who he is and what he has promised? Maybe you are facing financial challenges—can you trust that God will provide? Maybe it is health issues—can you trust that God will be with you? Trust God is it enough. 

Beth