Four Steps of Prayer: Prayer 101

Before I begin, I'd like to share something to help ease your mind and heart about prayer.  I desire to "bust some myths" about prayer. In Mary Southerland's 5 week study, "Laugh More ... Live Better" on Joy, she writes about pray producing joy:

1. Let go of worry about praying a 'right' way.
2. There is no 'right' posture or place for prayer.
3. Prayer helps us 'tune in' to the presence of God.

Its hard to talk with God when we are anticipating how He's going to answer our prayer, when He's going to answer, or dictate instruction on how and when to answer us. When we try to use God like our "magic genie in the lamp", we become frustrated with God and say "I prayed to You and You didn't answer me!" or "You didn't do what I thought needed to be done!" When our prayer focus is on "I" and not Him, we loose some of our joy. This is the purpose of the Four Steps Of Prayer. Its a guide. Its ONLY a guide! It guides me (and hopefully you) in placing my focus on Who my focus should be on: God.

Here is the Four Steps used by Moms In Prayer International:

1. Praise
2. Confession
3. Thanksgiving
4. Intercession

In Southerland's study and in the booklet people receive when attending The Emmaus Walk, both use ACTS:

1. Adoration
2. Confession
3. Thanksgiving
4. Supplication

Both mean the same thing!  We'll now pick them apart one by one.

Praise/Adoration

Begin your prayer with giving God praise for who He IS!  Enter into His presence focusing on God's name(s), character, or an attribute. 

Giving God praise, "exalts God and gives Him glory", "helps us focus on God and not our situation", "brings about an awareness of God's Presence", "dispels the enemy's power".  (Taken from the Moms In Prayer Booklet).

God is: love, good, faithful, justice, light, the rock, fortress, shield, strength, joy (just to name a few)
For more praise helps, visiting Moms In Prayer website www.momsinprayer.org and click on "Leader's Corner" then click on "Prayer Sheets".  On the right side will be more links, click on "Attributes of God" and a PDF will open!  Feel free to print!

As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 2 Chronicles 20:22

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. Psalm 22:3
 

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3
 

Confession

This part of the prayer allows you to clear your heart and mind before God. Confess sins, to become humbled, to ask Him to search you. It's about surrendering your will for His will. It's us realizing we ARE human with human frailties and asking God to give us the strength, to empower us with His Holy Spirit  to do what He is desiring us to do. 

Now, I hear you! "Vivian, I'm a Christian. Jesus lives in my heart. I don't sin everyday. Why do I need to this time of confession?"

Let me tell you a story. I walk the local mall. One day, I saw this lady who had come from one of the restaurants. She was loaded down with all kinds of cooking supplies. Oil, flour, eggs. Two large "trays" of eggs. I heard this voice "Offer her help in carrying the eggs." I stopped walking; a brief pause. I continued. The Voice:  Offer her help in carrying the eggs. I paused. She was closer to the door. I kept going. One more time the Voice: Offer her help in carrying the eggs. I almost went to help! Then I rationalized "She'd probably say 'no' anyway." The Voice, "It's the offer that counts." I kept going. My heart felt heavy! So I prayed "Lord, help her get to the car without breaking all those eggs." The Voice: THAT! Was YOUR task!

I cried! 

Sometimes we see sin as: adultery, lying, taking God's name in vain, murder, stealing. Sin IS disobedience! I knew in my heart I had ignored God's Spirit prompting me to offer the lady help. I kept on walking just like the people in Jesus's story "The Good Samaritan". 

 
Confession isn't always about a "sin" BUT it is always about surrender, yielding. It's about living in submission to God's perfect will! It's about asking Him to "search my heart" and being humbled before Him.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Thanksgiving

Giving God credit and thanking Him for what He has done, is doing in our lives. 

Sounds simple doesn't it? NOPE!

The most miserable people are the ones who are the most ungrateful. Ingratitude breeds resentment, jealousy. Discontent with everything God has given them! 

Stopping to count our blessings and give God an offering of thanks begins to change us! Contentment. Joy. Realizing how blessed I am inspite of how little I have. 

 

What has God blessed you with? Name family members by name, friends by name, things He has provided (home, vehicle, food, clothes, etc.). Thank Him for His ultimate gift to you! Jesus! Thank Him for paying the price Sin demanded. Thank Him for the sunshine and the rain. Thank Him for your struggles! 

What? 

You read right! Say "Lord, I don't know why I am going through this BUT I thank You for the chance to be a witness to others about Your faithfulness to me."

To be honest, I think this part of prayer has changed me more than "Confession" has changed me. It's so easy to focus on what we don't have than it is to give thanks for what we do have. I heard a joke once about the man with 6 kids and he man with 6 million dollars. The question is "Who's content, the man with 6 kids or the man with $6 million?" The answer is "The man with 6 kids because he doesn't want any more!" The point is the man is content with 6 kids for many reasons! (Hahaha) The man with $6 million isn't satisfied because he always wants MORE! 

God HAS given you GOOD gifts! Give Him thanks! (Trust me ... It takes a few days before the light bulb pops over your head IF you are a person who has mostly focused on the "I have nots".)

Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me. Psalm 50:23a
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Supplication/Intercession

Praying for others.

Intercession:

Standing in the "gap" for someone who doesn't know Christ. Standing in the "gap" for someone who is broken hearted and can't pray for him/herself. Standing in the gap for a school, community, etc.  

Supplication:

Lifting up needs of other people. Supplication "is the combination of intercession and petition" (Worship Booklet for Pilgrams; Walk to Emmaus 3rd Edition pg 46). It is "asking God to meet the needs of other people" (Laugh More study).

He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. Isaiah 59:16

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18

This is a HUGE amount to take in!  If you notice, praying takes the focus off of "me" and puts it on God and others.  It is about what God desires instead of what "I" desire.  It's about what others need instead of what "I" need.  Is it ok to tell God "my" needs?  YES!

Prayer 102 will focus on "Praying the Scriptures".  Again, there is no "right" way to pray!  Just be open and honest with God!  No sense in trying to hide what is on your mind and heart because He already knows it. :)
 

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Gentle Shepherd. Holy One.  Lord my God. You are my Comforter!

 

Make me a blessing to someone today. I so desire to say "yes" to You, God.  May my heart be filled with Your love and compassion. Not just filled, but overflowing.

 

Jesus, thank You for (name someone you are thankful for) because (and why).

 

Jesus, Loving Lord, we lift ______ to the Father in Your name.  You said, "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted."  Comfort ____.  No matter the reason for his/her mourning, hold ____ close to You!  Again, may we each be used by You today.  May we be the arms You choose to use to comfort someone.  We pray Your will be done in our lives. Amen

 

Matthew 5:4  Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.

My Strength, My Fortress

O Lord, my strength and my fortress, You are my refuge in times of distress.  You are my Safe House when storms rage against me!

 

Father, I want to seek you with all my heart! Each day, I desire to be filled with Your Holy Spirit!

Thank You for this walk with  You this week! You are very easy to talk to!  Thank You for making it easy for us to approach You!

Jesus, in Your name, we pray ____ will not possess false gods that won't do him/her any good!  ____ can only find refuge in You and in You alone!  Only You can be the strength ____ needs to face the trials of daily living.  We pray Your will be done in all our lives! Amen

Jeremiah 16:19

Lord, my strength and my fortress,
    my refuge in time of distress,
to you the nations will come
    from the ends of the earth and say,
“Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods,
    worthless idols that did them no good.

O My Strength, My Fortress!

O my Strength, I will sing praises to You, O my God! You are my Fortress, my loving God!!

 

Lord Jesus, may I sing of Your strength in the morning! Seeking You first before anything else is done day by day!

 

Thank You for  (think of something about your job, daily task, or something that you really have to do but would rather be somewhere else: think of something to be thankful to God about it) . 

 

(Here is mine! Thank You for the people I work around! Each one has been used by You in some way to show me Your love. Thank You!!)

 

Jesus, our Fortress, we pray ______ will sing of Your strength and love! May _____ know You as his/her fortress and take refuge in You in times of trouble.  Jesus, we pray a special blessing over (think of a school to pray for) today.  Be the Refuge for each student there today!  may the teachers and staff feel Your mantel of protection all around them.  In Your Holy name we pray Your will be done in our community. Amen

 

Psalm 59:16-17
But I will sing of your strength,
    in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
    my refuge in times of trouble.
You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
    you, God, are my fortress,
    my God on whom I can rely.

God Is My Fortress

God, You are my Fortress! You are my Stronghold! In You, I am delivered from my enemy. You are my Savior! You are my Deliverer!

Lord, I want to make the choice to seek You today! I want to seek You with all my heart! Sweet Holy Spirit, I need Your strength to aide me in making this choice! I can't do it on my own!!

Jesus, I have so much be thankful for! Your love is so amazing!! My heart is filled with joy when I realize how You have blessed me and I begin to count the ways!! THANK YOU!!

Lord Jesus, we come together today on behalf of _____. May _____ seek You and find You. May ____ seek You with all of his/her heart. When ____ finds You have been with him/her the whole time, may he/she give You praise for being his/her Savior!! In Your wonderful name, Jesus, we pray. Amen

(Do you see a theme with God's character? He's stable. He's safe. He's constant and consistent!)

Psalm 18:1-3

I love you, Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and I have been saved from my enemies.

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jesus, the Spiritual Rock

Jesus, You are the mobile iRock! U go where ever I go! You sustain me with Your living water that flows from You!

Jesus, I so desire You! I desire to live totally surrendered to You! I can't do it on my own. I pray Your Spirit will empower me to love You with ALL my heart, ALL my soul, ALL my strength.

Jesus, thank You for being my spiritual water! You are the source of my refreshing drink! Thank You for cooling my soul's thirst!

Jesus, we join together in prayer for ____. In Your name we pray ____ will consume the spiritual drink that flows from You -- the Spiritual Rock. Go with ____ everywhere he/she goes sustaining him/her. May Your will be done in our lives. Amen

1 Corinthians 10:4 

and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Deuteronomy 6:5

Love the Lord your God with all your heartand with all your soul and with all your strength.

Jesus, the Solid Foundation

Prayer Request: Warren County Schools begin today! Be in prayer for Jonas and Christopher W as they prepare to leave for college over the next couple of weeks.

Jesus, You are the solid foundation! Your teachings are my anchor in time of storms. I cannot be washed away for I am staked firmly in You! In You, the Solid Rock, I will trust my life!

Jesus, I so desire to love You with all my strength! Mental. Physical. Spiritual. May I change my life style to do so!

Jesus, thank You for each of these ladies who join me in prayer each day.  Thank You for the desire You have planted in us to want to know You better!  You are so sweet! Being in Your presence is better than "key lime pie"! (Change to your favorite treat!)

We pray, Jesus, _____ will be a wise person and build his/her life in You!  When the floods come ____ will be established in You and won't be washed away. In Your name we pray, Amen

Matthew 7:24-25

²⁴ “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. ²⁵ Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.

Deuteronomy 6:5

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

My Rock, My Refuge!

Prayer: For the Barren County/Glasgow schools starting today!
 
Think of two people your and thankful for and why. :)
 
O Lord, my God! You alone are my Rock! You alone are my Salvation! You are my Fortress where I wait quietly before You. My sweet Refuge!
 
My Jesus, sometimes I am shaken. When the bills pile up around me; the car fails to start; I study and still don't make the grade ... When things seem bleak because I can't see how You are using "this" for Your glory, yeah, I worry. I become anxious. Jesus, I don't want to be shaken! Give me the grace I need to get through each trial. May I truly discover You are my Refuge!
 
I have an offering of Thanks! I am thankful to You for 1) ______________ because ____________;   2)___________ because _____________. 
 
(Here's mine! To share ... 1) my mother because she has always been supportive of me; 2) my sister, Jane, because You used her to bless my children in so many ways. I'm so thankful for these two wonderful women!! They are precious gifts from You!!)
 
Jesus, we pray together for _____.  We pray Your Spirit will lead ____ to wait quietly before You. May ___ come to know You as his/her refuge! May ___ and us trust You at all times. May we each pour out our hearts to You daily for those You are seeking to save. In Your name, Jesus, Amen
 
Psalm 62:1-8
¹ I wait quietly before God,
    for my victory comes from him.
² He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will never be shaken.
³ So many enemies against one man—
    all of them trying to kill me.
To them I’m just a broken-down wall
    or a tottering fence.
⁴ They plan to topple me from my high position.
    They delight in telling lies about me.
They praise me to my face
    but curse me in their hearts. Interlude

⁵ Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
    for my hope is in him.
⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will not be shaken.
⁷ My victory and honor come from God alone.
    He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
⁸ O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge. Interlude

 

God The Living Rock

Special Request: Bowling Green City schools start today! Barren County on Wednesday, Warren County on Thursday. Please keep our schools in prayer!

For those NOT in the area I mentioned, think about the school systems in your area. Lift them up in prayer!
----

Praise be to God, for He lives! Praise to You, my Rock! You are the Rock of my Salvation! May You be exalted for eternity!

Lord, may I love You with all my soul! My soul represents my whole being.  Jesus, may I love You with all that I am!

Jesus, as I think of all the wonderful things You have blessed me with, my hearts swells! Thank You for Your timely provision! Thank You for ALWAYS being with me!

Jesus, may ______ love You with all his/her soul. Be ______'s Rock of Salvation! We join together in praying for _______. May we not give up hope on a single soul!  You didn't give up on us! May we be about Your kingdom's work. Give us strength and courage needed to do Your will in Earth as it is done in Heaven. In Your name, Jesus Amen

2 Samuel 22:47
“The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!  May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!

Deuteronomy 6:5
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

There Is No Rock Like Our God!

In today's prayer, there will be a blank in the Thanksgiving section. Think about a person or people, or thing(s) and put those in that blank! 

My heart rejoices in You, Lord! You make me strong! No one is holy like You! There is no one who compares to You!! There is no Rock like our God!

Lord, I desire to love You with all my heart. May my heart beat to the rhythm of Your heart. May my heart be a heart filled with gratitude!

Thank You, Jesus, for ___________________! You desire good for me and these are certainly GOOD gifts! Thank You for being so generous! 

Lord Jesus, we join each other in prayer today. Even though we don't know the names we are putting into the blanks, we join together in agreement for those we love and for the ones we don't like. Each name IS precious to You! In Your name, Jesus, we pray ____ will love You with all his/her heart. May _____'s heart beat to the song You desire. Be ____'s firm foundation! For there is no one else who can compare to You! You are solid and reliable! As we go about our day, may Your Spirit bring to our minds others You desire us to pray for. In Your name, Jesus, Amen

1 Samuel 2:1-2

Then Hannah prayed:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

Deuteronomy 6:5 (We'll use this one a few days!)

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

Jesus the Compassionate Shepherd

Jesus,

You had compassion on me! You saw me as someone lost, confused, and helpless. Seeing me in such a state, You took pity on me! You wanted to help me! You are COMPASSIONATE!

Lord, I want to see people the exact same way! I pray Your Holy Spirit will give me eyes to see past a person's faults and love them as You love them. May my heart be filled with sympathy and may I be an encourager.

I thank You, Jesus, that Your love knows no limit and Your grace can't be measured. Thank You for becoming my Shepherd! "I once was lost but now I'm found," THANK YOU!

Jesus, _____ lives in a dark world, be his/her Shepherd.  May _____ not be confused and helpless because of Your unfailing love and deep compassion for him/her.  Lord, there are many lost in need of compassion! May we be the ones You use to show compassion! As a new school year begins, use each of us to be Your love to these kids. May we pray for them without fail! Lord, love each mother's child as if he/she the only one on Earth!  Be with the sons/daughters in the military. Wrap Your arms of compassion around their mothers.  Be with the sons/daughters who are homeless, lost, broken, held captive by mental illness, trapped by Satan's lies that they'll never be worth loving; YOUR heart breaks for these!! May we be Your compassion! In Your name, Jesus. Amen

References: "Amazing Grace" and a quote by Augustine "God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us"

Scripture Reference: Matthew 9:36

(NLT) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

(NKJV) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

 

God is Patient (Thank Him So!!)

My Very Patient God,

You ARE Amazing! You are not a dictator who forces me into Your service. You are filled with unfailing love. Like a kind love, You wait for me to come to You.

Lord, forgive me for trusting in things of this world. (Think of what you trust in because this is about to become very Vivian!) For me, food, especially sugary food, has been my comfort. The chocolate god has always proven a quick fix to anxiety, anger, frustration, stress. I want this to change! You are the faithful God! I so desire to learn to wait for Your help. May Your Spirit guide me in these times of human weakness to pray, to wait on You!

 

Thank You for being so compassionate!  Thank You for Your love!! Love that doesn't demand anything of me, and that waits for me to realize You are the best choice! Thank You for Your kindness! Thank You for Your patience!

Lord, show _____ Your love and compassion. We pray _____ will wait for Your help and learn to trust You! Lord Jesus, may we as Your Body trust You and wait for You!  May we seek Your guidance over each detail of our lives. May we love as You have loved us. May we show compassion to each other as You are compassion. May we each live surrendered to Your perfect will. In Your name, Jesus, Amen

Scripture Reference: Isaiah 30:18

(NLT) So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.

(NKJV) Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

God is Good to ALL His Creation!

God of Heaven and Earth,

You are compassionate and merciful! You are good to everyone, both sinner and saint. You shower compassion on ALL Your creation!

 

Lord, forgive me for judging o harshly the people I encounter. No matter who they are or what they have done, You love them and desire a relationship with them!  Even the ones on the news, I do not desire to judge them. Only You are the righteous Judge! May my heart be dead to self righteousness and alive with Your compassion!

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me compassion!  When I think about the cross, THAT should have been me!! The Law demands a blood sacrifice; it demands death! You gave up Your throne. You gave up being omnipotent. You gave up command of Heaven's Army. For what? For me! You were mocked. Hunted down. You walked dusty roads. Then You were tortured. Nailed to a wooden cross like a criminal. You were (are) innocent!  I am the guilty one! I'm the criminal! You took my place! Thank You for Your compassion!

Father, be good to _____.  We know You will!! Show Your compassion on _____, for he/she is Your creation!  Oh, God! May we each be instruments of Your compassion.  May we be a light to those stumbling around in darkness.  May we be joy makers to those who are drowning in sorrow.  May we be Your arms of love to everyone! May we be Jesus to someone today.  In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 145:8-9 (NLT)

 

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.  The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.

  

God is Slow to Anger!

AGod, You are Compassionate!

You are merciful! You are slow to anger.  When You finally arrive at "I Am mad", You don't stay that way forever! You are filled with unfailing love and You do not constantly accuse me! Your compassion is AMAZING!

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray Your Holy Spirit searches me through out this day. Take in consideration my actions and words.  Do they testify to You being the compassionate God?  Does my attitude reflect the mercy You have shown me? Lord, judge me accordingly and correct me. I desire to be a woman who shows compassion.

Thank You for not dealing with me harshly! You do not punish me for all my sins!!  Thank You for Your grace covering the things I do out of ignorance; the things I don't do out of fear. You recognize I am human with many weaknesses: tired, hunger, illness, etc. Thank You for being so gentle and tender with me!!

Lord, we come to You on behalf of _____.  Lord, be compassionate with _____ and slow to anger with him/her.  Do not punish _____ for his/her actions nor deal harshly with him/her. Shower _____ with Your unfailing love which will draw _____ to trust You. We know this IS Your will! You don't desire a single member of the human race to be lost for eternity. It breaks Your heart when a soul refuses Your love.  Lord, may we be Your hands of compassion! In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 103:8-14 (NLT)

The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
 He will not constantly accuse us,
 nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
    he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
    as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to his children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
    he remembers we are only dust.

God Is Compassionate

God, You are Compassionate!

You are God of forgiveness, who is gracious with Your mercy! You are slow to anger and rich in unfailing love!

God of Heaven, forgive me when I am proud and stubborn! I know there have been times when I haven't paid attention to Your commands and have flirted with the very sin You have rescued me from. Lord Jesus, melt my heart with Your compassion. Sweet Holy Spirit, remind me of what God has done for me and whisper His goodness in my heart's ear. I do desire to be surrendered to the One who protects me to show me His love!

Lord Jesus, thank You for not abandoning me! Even when I choose my way, You go with me to guide me back to the path God desires me to take.  I have one time ... Oh, okay ... I have several times in mind of when I know You were present rescuing me from my own stupidity! THANK YOU!

Sweet Jesus, in Your great mercy, do not abandon _____. Send Your Holy Spirit to instruct _____ in God's ways. Do not stop protecting _____ but continue to sustain him/her. Jesus, there are many physical needs we lift to You as well as spiritual. We trust each of the people we love into Your loving care.  Your love; Your compassion out way ours for them. We join together in Your name, Jesus, praying for on another's burdens and concerns. We pray God's will be done in us and through us today. Amen

Scripture Reference: Nehemiah 9:16-21 (NLT)

“But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands.  They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them,  even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, ‘This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!’ They committed terrible blasphemies.

 “But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst.  For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!

What I've Learned Since .....

I'm not one to linger in a book study for ages.  I get bored easy especially if I have already read the book and took something from it. Does that make sense?  However, I knew this particular book "I'm Not Good Enough" and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves" by Sharon Jaynes was a needed study.  We started in February and ended this month. Now you are thinking, "Vivian, that's 6 months!" Well, yes, but Girlfriends only meet twice a month! That is only 12 weeks! And there were a couple of times we didn't meet. So, about 10 weeks worth.

I'm glad we did it!  It maybe a study we revisit every couple of years.  It's not just for women! Even though the book is written for women, I believe I could do this study with families or in a group of mixed gender.  Cover it in brown paper so the men can't see the title (LOL) and print up the Lies and the Truth along with a few key notes to pass out.  If Girlfriends revisit it in a couple of years or so, that's how I'll do it.

It's been a learning experience for me.  I've watched spiritual growth in several women AND that has been a joy!  There's been meetings when it was just me and one other lady.  There's been meetings when there would be 7 or 10 of us.  From this I've learned we shouldn't meet when Spring break is taking place, Summer shouldn't have a deep study more of a devotional and do more fun things, homes get bigger responses than meeting out in restaurants and coffee shops, our church Family Ministry Center (FMC) gets a bigger response than restaurants and coffee shops, Homes vs FMC there is a tie.  Our FMC is a house. People are more comfortable in houses, women are more comfortable in houses.  There is less noise in houses or "Sunday School" rooms because ... here's why we had to leave our dear Starbucks ... LOUD music! We were meeting at 5:30 PM. I kid you NOT that music was turned up around 6 PM. It seemed louder!  There weren't more people in there either. So I don't know if that is a ploy to get people to leave so more can come in or what but its a shame there aren't more coffee shops around that don't play music.   Oh, we aren't the only ones who had this problem! My Pastor has a men's group called Man to Man. They were meeting at Chic-fil-A on Saturday mornings. Couldn't hear each other! So, they moved to the church's kitchen.  Now, Chic-Fil-A does have a children's play place ... So, I really don't know what those guys were thinking! LOL  Anyway, as Girlfriends approach it's 1 year in September, I have learned a thing or two. :) I'm looking forward to learning more!!

With the Moms In Prayer Group, the only time numbers count is when there is only one. LOL Our main prayer target is Bowling Green High School. BGHS is in our church's neighborhood.  We started our chapter in January. Sometime in May, I over heard a conversation that made my heart LEAP with Joy! For the 2012-13 school year the police were NOT called to the school for any felony!! However, on the heals of that news, learned another school police had to go to 6 times!! We also pray for the schools our individual children attend. Like mine will be at Drakes Creek and Greenwood; another lady's will be at TC Cherry.  If moms come with children who are grown, we pray over their children's needs: work, family, etc. It's not for only young children! Its for all moms with children at different stages in life!  In Bowling Green, KY there are 3 registered Moms In Prayer groups.  I highly encourage moms to get connected to a Moms In Prayer group!! PRAYER is the BATTLE!

The Prayer Squad grew out of the Moms In Prayer! It's actually women in training to learn to pray. Now, there is NOT any one way to pray.  Sometimes, people don't realize there is a better way of praying.  Prayer isn't about getting that lousy husband to pick up his socks, it's about the praying wife's attitude toward her husband.  Prayer isn't about trying to get that lazy kid to do the homework, but about the praying mom's attitude and insight into her child.  Prayer isn't about getting God to do what I want but about me doing what God wants.  Prayer changes the heart of the person praying!  Sometimes we need to change the way we are praying. A good place to start is with scripture! Praying using scripture teaches us God's will! Praying His words back to Him aligns us with His will.  We aren't left guessing what His will is when we pray scripture prayers. Something begins to change in us! "Oh, this is what God is like!" or "Oh, this is what God desires for me and my family!" or "Oh, I didn't realize how deep God's love runs!" ... I could go on and on!  You should have seen me the week we did "God Is Good" and the one "God Is Just" ... Those two GOT me!  AMAZING!  I could spend a life time on those two attributes of God and still never fully understand His goodness and His justice!!  His good and our good; His justice and our justice ARE totally different!  What He desires of us and what we demand of each other are in conflict! I bold and underlined those two words for a reason. God desires and we demand.  Because God is Love, He doesn't "demand" His way. He commands His way leaving us the choice and then loves us when we don't choose His way. We demand things of other people and of God, then when it doesn't go our way "Well, so-in-so doesn't deserve my time of day!"  See the difference?  Again, I could spend every blog on this one subject and never touch it in the way it should be done. It's so deep! It's so vast!

So, here's where I'm at. The things I've learned since September 2012!  Looking forward to next week!!

God Rejoices Over Me!

Lord God, The Mighty to Save! You live with me! You delight in me with gladness and You calm my fears with Your love!! You rejoice over me with joyful song!

Lord, I have done nothing to deserve such attention from You. Your love for me is so amazing! Father, I just don't understand it but I don't need to. Search me today! I desire to be pleasing to You, the One who loves me so ... I desire to be obedient to You in response to this great love You have for me!

Thank You, Jesus, for being my Mighty Savior! I know some scripture points to You as saving in physical battles and healing from physical illnesses. I can live with the physical as long as You are with me!! I'm more grateful for the spiritual war You won for my soul! You saved me from the chains of sin! You ransomed me! You rescued me! You rejoice because I am Your's! Thank You for claiming me as Your own!

Lord, live with ____ and be his/her Mighty Savior! Delight in ____ with gladness, calm all ____'s fears with Your love. May ____ know You are the true Source of his/her joy, for You are Joy! It is our prayer that we be Your ambassadors of joy! May we each live our lives in a way that shows You are living with us. We desire Your will for our lives! In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen

Scripture Reference: Zephaniah 3:17

For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Jesus the Source of Joy!

Lord Jesus, You fulfilled the psalmist prayer request! "Send out Your light and Your truth" for You at the light and You are the truth! "Let them guide me and lead me to Your holy mountain, to the place You live." You are the Way to the Father!

Why do I become so discouraged? Why do I allow my heart to be so sad? Forgive me for giving up hope the moment disaster comes my way! I desire to trust You completely!

Thank You, Jesus, for being my guiding light to God! Thank You for being the Way to God! Without You I would not have access to God! You are the Source of ALL my Joy! I will praise You and thank You with all I have!

Jesus, we pray Your Holy Spirit will reveal to ____ You are the way, the truth, and the life. May _____ know in his/her heart You are the only he/she can come to the Father. We pray _____ will understand in his/her heart that You are the only Source of Joy! Lord Jesus, may we be living examples of what Your joy can do! Your joy is peace of mind and heart. When troubles assail us, may we show we trust You and our hope is placed in You. In Your name, Jesus, we pray the Father's will be done through us. Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 43:3-5; John 8:12; 14:6

Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the altar of God,  to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp,  O God, my God! Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—   my Savior and my God!

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Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

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Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Joy Comes In the Morning after Mourning

My God, I cry out to You and You answer me! I ask for help and You come to my aide! I will exalt You for You keep me from falling in to despair!  You are faithful to rescue! You are faithful to forgive!

Lord You are angry for only a brief moment. When I ask for forgiveness, not only do You show mercy, You forget my crime by not keeping a record of wrongs.  Lord, I do not want to sin by letting anger control me. I'm going to get angry! However, I don't want to stay angry. I want to let to and give You the cause. I want to forgive others as You have forgiven me.

Lord Jesus, I'm so thankful to You for turning God's wrath away from me! You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing! God's favor is upon me because of Your obedience! I WILL give You thanks as long as I live!

Sweet Lord, weeping may last through the night but JOY comes in the morning! We pray You'll turn  ___'s mourning into joyful dancing! Clothe ___ in joy! Lord, give ___ greater joy than a farmer has when harvesting an abundant crop! Lord Jesus, we pray each will know the joy that brings us peace to lie down and sleep in Your safety. May we make sacrifices in the right spirit and trust in U for ALL provision. In Your name we pray, Amen

Scripture Reference: Psalm 4:1,3-5,7-8; 30:1-5,11-12

Answer me when I call to you,
    O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
    Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

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You can be sure of this:

  The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him. Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the Lord.

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You have given me greater joy
    than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

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I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.   You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.You kept me from falling into the pit of death. Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!  Praise his holy name.For his anger lasts only a moment,but his favor lasts a lifetime!Weeping may last through the night,  but joy comes with the morning.

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You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
    You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!