How is your prayer life

The power of prayer is very important to us as children of God. Weread in the Bible that prayer is the master key; Jesus started withprayer and ended with Prayer; through prayer we communicatewith God. Prayer enables us to enter a new dimension with theSpirit of God. It is through prayer that our request can be known toGod.

How is your prayer life? Do you pray regularly or pray only whenyou have problems? The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17(KJV)"Pray without ceasing." What does that mean? It means having thehabit of praying in all occasions, at all times, for all things, and inevery season. We read in Ephesians 6:18(NIV), "And pray in theSpirit, on all occasions with the kinds of prayers and request. Withall this in mind, be alert and always keep on the praying for all thesaints." The Bible also emphasizes in Romans 12:12(KJV), that weare to continue instantly in prayer.

As children of God, we need to know how to pray with power. Wehave to engage in prayers that are beyond the ordinary and chargedby the Holy Spirit. God wants us to enter into the prayer thatsupersedes our natural mind and moves into the supernatural totake hold of the impossible, to demolish Satan's strongholds in ourlives and our family. When praying, we must pray with boldnessand with the power of His authority.

The words we use for our prayers have to be spoken with authority,and must be vested in the promises of God as the Spirit reveals to you.While praying, we should bring ourselves into complete submissionand yield to the Holy Spirit. This allows us to hear the audible voiceof God speaking to us and giving us instructions and directions;through this, God will take us to a new dimension of power andauthority in prayer. We must go deep into the realm of the Spirit,not only to bind the power over the enemy, but also to destroy hisstronghold. The Bible says in Matthew 18:18(NIV), "I tell you thetruth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, andwhatever you loose on earth is loose in heaven."

Prayer reveals to you the Spirit's powers and the root causes of thebattles you are facing. Your battle is not against any sickness theenemy put on your body. Your battle is not with your husband,wife, child, family member, boss, fellow employee, financialcondition, or overdue bills. According to Ephesians 6:12(KJV), "Forwe wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities,against powers, against the rulers of darkness of the world, againstspiritual wickedness in high places." You should recognize that thebattle is not physical but spiritual, and if you know your prayer lifeis weak, you need a change in your pray life.

We read in Romans 8:26(NIV), "In the same way, the Spirit helpsus in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for,but the Holy Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that wordscannot express." We need to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us howto pray, as we read in Luke 11:1 (KJV), "Lord, teach us to pray."When the Holy Spirit teaches you how to pray, your prayer will bepure, righteous, and full of the Spirit.

I encourage you to give yourself to prayer according to1 Corinthians 7:5(NIV): "Devote yourselves to prayer." This bringsus to the type of prayer we can pray for different situations.

Forty types of prayer:

1. Prayer of confidence to face the enemy Psalm 3:18; 108:1-3;27:1-4.

2. Prayer for mercy during trouble Psalm 136:1-26; 5:1-13;36:1-12; 39:4-13.

3. Prayer for God to hear your cry and act Psalm 3:4; 10:1-18;17:1-15; 80:1-19.

4. Prayer for deliverance Psalm 9:1-20; 31: 1-24; 116:1-19;86:1-17; 120:1-7; 69:1-36; 70:1-5; 54:1-7.

5. Prayer of appeal for God's presence and keys to enteringGod's presence Psalm 15:1-5.

6. Prayer of praise Psalm 22:22-31; 48:1-14.

7. Prayer of thanksgiving Psalm 103:1-22; 111:1-10;50:23;107:1-43; 149:1-9; 87:1-7; 52:9; 145:1-21; 92:1-15;89:1-18;81: 1-16.

8. Prayer for guidance and protection Psalm 25:1-25; 23:1-6;121:1-8; 125:1-5; 33:1-22; 140:1-13.

9. Prayer of forgiveness Psalm 51:1-19; 66:18.

10. Prayer to call upon God in distress Psalm 18:1-50; 143:1-12;109:1-31; 86:7; 80:1-19; 56:1-13; 50:14-15; 39:4-13; 32:1.11.

11. Prayer for strength in fasting Psalm 27:14; 109:24; 69:10-11.

12. Prayer of a warrior Psalm 144:1-15; 35:1-28; 91:1-16;18:1-50.

13. Prayer for salvation Psalm 119:145-152.

14. Prayer for comfort Psalm 119:81-88.

15. Prayer for peace Psalm 122:1-9; 119:161-168.

16. Prayer for understanding Psalm 119:169-176.

17. Prayer for the humble Psalm 131:1-3.

18. Prayer regarding oppression Psalm 12:1-8.

19. Prayer for promotion Psalm 75:1-10; 41:1-13; 37:34.

20. Prayer for restoration Psalm 147:1-20.

21. Prayer for proper conduct in the midst of trials Psalm141:1.10.

22. Prayer of a troubled heart Psalm 61:1-8; 39:4-13.

23. Prayer for the victory power of God Psalm 76:1-12; 59:1-17;59:1-17.

24. Prayer while waiting on the Lord Psalm 130:1-8; 27:4;37:34.

25. Prayer in a time of betrayal Psalm 55:12-14; 41:9-10.

26. Prayer for the nations Psalm 67:1-7.

27. Prayer in the face of death Psalm 88:1-18.

28. Prayer of praise for God's deliverance and power Psalm124:1-8.

29. Prayer to appeal for remembrance Psalm 132:1-18.

30. Prayer expressing trust in God Psalm 146:1-10.

31. Prayer of a believing heart Psalm 139:1-24.

32. Prayer while going through suffering Psalm 38:1:22;74:1-23.

33. Prayer in obedience of God's command to seek HimPsalm 27:8.

34. Prayer for fair judgment Psalm 26:12.

35. Prayer declaring the presence of God in times of calamityPsalm 46:1-11; 56:1-.13

36. Prayer for punishment of the wicked Psalm 58:1-11.

37. Prayer to plead for relief Psalm 74:1-23.

38. Prayer to praise the Creator and celebrate the greatness ofGod Psalm 29:1-4; 135:1-21.

39. Prayer for God's mercy Psalm 36:1-12; 85:1-13.

40. Prayer for God's blessings Psalm 30:1-12.

What can cure your worries?

Why are you worried? Why do you allow your heart to be filledwith sorrow and anxiety? The Bible says in Mathews 6:25-34(NIV),Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eator drink: or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life moreimportant than food, and the body more important than clothes?Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow or reap or store away inbarns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not muchmore valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a singlehour to his life? Why do you worry saying, what shall we eat? Orwhat shall we drink? Or what shall we wear?

For your heavenly father knows that you need them. But seek firsthis kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will begiven to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, fortomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble ofits own. Why are you carrying the troubles of tomorrow throughworries?

Real and imagined worries attack our minds daily. Pressures andstress on every side are an attempt to discourage and defeat us.But we have an assurance from the Bible in Mathew 6:30 that theFather knows before we ask. Jesus told us to seek above the fillingof our needs, the release of blessings into our lives and answersto our problems through God's supernatural intervention on ourbehalf. When you do it this way, Jesus says, your needs will be filledaccording to His righteousness.

When you desire God's righteousness through Christ Jesus to bereflected in your words and actions, when you seek to execute Hisplan instead of your own plan, and when your primary goal is forthe fulfillment of His kingdom within your heart and life, worrywill cease to bind and control you. God will be freed to move tomeet your needs.

Worries cannot solve your problem; instead, worries affect yourhealth. And after the problem is solved, you are still battling withthe health issue; which means you have allowed the problem toaffect your health negatively through worries. Worries show signof doubting God. Exhibiting the attitude of worrying brings nopositive result. So why do you worry instead of putting your trustin God?

You should act as a child of God in order to allow the Holy Spiritthe freedom to replace the worry that is keeping you awake nightafter night with the fullness of God and fullness of life of Hiskingdom. God wants you to be freed from those worries. He wantsyou to walk in financial freedom and in victory where there isno room for worries because you know God will supernaturallyprovide your needs. Have an attitude of releasing your faith insteadof worrying.

Worries are signs that you have not relinquished your needs intoGod's hand. They also show that you are trying to work out yourproblems by yourself. As long as you are worried, you cannot goafter your Father and ask in faith. Worries give birth to fear anddoubt, and a doubtful person cannot receive from God (James:6-7). They destroy health and affect the body physically andemotionally.

God is the author and finisher of your faith. He knows you morethan you know yourself. Put your trust in Him, have faith in hisworks, walk with Him in holiness and truth, and take your requestto him through prayer and fasting. Philippians 4:19(NIV), "And myGod will supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory inChrist Jesus." Our Lord God can do more than you expect. As youwalk your path, let God crown your effort. Do not worry.

He is able

What are your expectations? What are your desires? What have youbeen working on to receive from God? The good news is that Godis able to accomplish your goals or desires much more than youexpect. He is our God. He knows us more than we know ourselvesand can see whatever we are going through or what we need. Weread in 2Chronicles 25:9(KJV), "The Lord is able to give thee muchmore than this."

As a child of God, you have to exercise faith. Remember, faith isa fact, but faith is also an act. Faith does not come alive until youput it into action; and before you can move into action, you mustexercise your will. Your faith makes you to expect what you needfrom God. The Bible says in Matthew 9:28(NIV) "When He hadgone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, doyou believe that I am able to do this? "Yes, Lord," they replied. Thenhe touched their eyes and said, "according to your faith will it bedone to you"; and their sights were restored.

My question to you is, do you believe God is able to meet your needs?Your answer to this question will bring your miracle because you mustbe able to recognize the power and the authority in our Lord JesusChrist and that nothing is impossible for Him to do for you. Throughthe exercise of faith, we have the same authority that is in our LordJesus Christ and with the power of the Holy Spirit that is flowingthrough us, we can see all our goals and heart's desires accomplished.

We only need to ask. The Bible says in Matthew 7:7-8(NASB), "Ask,and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and itshall be opened. For every one that asked received and to him thatknocked it shall be open to you." God also promised us in John14:14(NASB), "If you shall ask me anything in my name, I will doit." In the areas of your life where you are looking unto God, believeHe is able to do abundantly and exceedingly.

God's giving to His children never stops. His giving is unlimitedand goes far beyond what we can ever comprehend with ournatural mind. He will do exceedingly and abundantly above allthat we ask or think (Ephesians 3.20). The Bible says in Romans4:20-21, "He staggers not at the promise of God through unbelief;but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. And being fullypersuaded that, what he had promised, he was able to perform."

You have to look at God as your source of total supply, and neverlimit what God can do. The question before you today is this: willour mighty God, who gave us His only son, not freely give you allthings? The answer is yes, He is able to give all things. You knowwhat you want or what you are going through; now follow the stepsto receive what you need from God.

Ways to receive from God:

• Ask God to forgive you in any areas you have limited Him.

• Have the will to receive from God (no matter how difficultit looks).

• Have a strong faith and trust in God that He is able. Neverlimit God's power in what He can do for you.

• Start praising and thanking Him for your heart's desires,even before you receive them.

• Sow a seed of faith toward your expectations.

• Recognize Him as the source of your total supply.

• Locate a word in the Bible that focuses on your area of needand quote it daily.

• Let your request be known to God with prayer and fasting.

• Allow peace in your mind and have a positive attitude.

I join my faith with you, and I pray that God will answer all yourheart's desires according to His will for you, amen.

See yourself as blessed

It is common to hear people speak about the riches of others andabout themselves as being poor using their usual words, "I ammanaging." Do you know that we are blessed in different ways byGod? Some blessings are visible and some are invisible.

Visible blessings can be categorized as riches and wealth throughbusiness, job, sport, and music, to mention a few. Invisible blessingsare your ideas, the creative works of your hand, your talents, andunseen opportunities. A lot of people look at themselves as poorand praise others with riches instead of working at recognizingtheir personal talents.

The Bible says in Mathews 25:14-15(NASB), "For it is just like aman about to go on a journey, who called his individual slavesand entrusted his possession to them, to one he gave five talentsto another, two, and to another one, each according to his ability,and he went on his journey." However, in this passage we found outthat some used their talents, some started and stop on the way, andsome never used or even touched their talents.

My question is, which group do you belong to in the above story?Check yourself and find the ideas in you that you have not utilizedand tell me if you are not blessed. Use the time you spend onspeaking against yourself and praising the wealthy people to detectyour potentials. It is never too late to start. The end justifies themeans. Therefore, brainstorm on your talents, interests and hobbiesyou liked as a child and as an adult. You could activate your talentsby starting somewhere with the financial resources you have orlook for divine helpers who believe in your ideas. You also have toinclude God in your endeavors, allowing Him to direct your steps.When you use your talents and involve God in your life, the resultis God's abundant blessings.

Do not condemn yourself

Are you condemning yourself for your past actions or allowingothers to condemn you? If you forsake your past sinful ways andyou are doing God's will sincerely, I have a good news for you.The Bible says in Romans 8:1(NASB), "Therefore, there is nowno condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Why do youstill condemn yourself when you have been set free? As we read inRomans 8:2(NASB) "For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesushas set you free from the law of sin and of death." Do not put yourmind on those things that are flesh, but let the Spirit of God leadyou. I want to encourage you that God does not judge the way wejudge. He looks at the heart and qualifies the unqualified.

If we look at some biblical examples, we see that those wecondemned for sinful actions against God were those God forgaveand used to do exploit for Him. For example, Jacob cheated andlied; Noah was a drunkard; Saul, whose name was changed to Paul,murdered people; Elijah was depressed; Thomas doubted; Davidwas involved in adultery; Abraham and Sarah were impatient; andJonah disobeyed God. There is a saying that God does not thinkthe way human beings think. Stop condemning yourself and getyourself ready to do His will so God can use you.