The next 21 days we will be posting experts from my book "Good Morning Lord" To help people get started on 21 days of prayer and fasting that my church does I thought this would be fun! Let's get started.
A Reason to Pray – Why Should I Pray?
As you embark on this journey you will need to ask yourself;
“Why do I want to pray?”
People pray for several reasons, to get healing, to get
salvation, to find hope, to seek God for a closer walk with Him. Why would you
want to pray each day?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
tells us that we should:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything
give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Why? It is the will of God in Christ for us. That is the
first reason to pray. Habakkuk 3 tells us more. The prayer was sung by Habakkuk
himself and in it he shares reasons to pray. If for no other reason we should
pray the prayer of thanks giving to God for all that He has done.
Prayer is after all, merely talking to God. If that sounded
as if I downplayed the whole thing I did not intend to. We talk to God, share
our daily desires, thanks, and praise Him for things He has already done and
will do in the future. How many times a week do you talk too your best friend?
You want to tell him everything; God wants you to share the whole lot with Him
in prayer. He wants you to take the time to spend visiting with Him as often as
you can. In this book we will be getting you started in a routine of prayer
life, but my hope and prayer is that it will only be the beginning of a better
fellowship with God; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit long to hear from you
today.
Habakkuk 3
Habakkuk’s Prayer
1 This prayer
was sung by the prophet Habakkuk[a]:
2 I have heard all about you, Lord.
I am filled with awe by your amazing works.
In this time of our deep need,
help us again as you did in years gone by.
And in your anger,
remember your mercy…
17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my
salvation!
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,[e]
able to tread upon the heights.
God is with us in the good and the bad things that we go through,
this portion of the Word shows us a visual of things God has been through with
Habakkuk.
If you still need inspiration for prayer you could begin by
looking to the hills.
In my kitchen the window points westward and in the distance
there are hills. Often while doing dishes I will be lost in prayer because I
look to the hills. I will also recite to myself the following scripture.
I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my
help? My help comes from the
LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm
121:1-2
Even if I have a ton of dishes to do this will lift my spirit
because I have chosen to communicate with my God. So if for no other reason
than to communicate with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; pray.
Let’s get started!
We will start each day this week as soon as you awake. I
want you to reach for this book and begin your journey. Begin each day by reading the scripture. Then
read it again and make it personal.
Start your prayers with; “Good morning Lord” then continue
with the directed prayers for now and then eventually you will come up with
your own reasons for personal prayers as you get in the habit of prayer.
Use the note paper provided at the end of each day’s
reading, if you wish to write out the portion of scripture you just read that
you wish to make your personal prayers, or highlight the verses in the prayer
scriptures read.
This is only the beginning.
Be blessed today and think on what you read, and what you
prayed.
Why do I pray?
“I pray because it helps me feel connected to God. I pray not only
because I need things of my heavenly Father, but also because He is my friend
and like any friend we need to have a conversation to stay connected. So I read
my bible to hear God, and I pray so He can hear Me. I pray also because I like
it, I like the warm fuzzy feeling I get after a good conversation with God, and
I like knowing that when no one else understands me and my needs God
understands, He hears my prayers and will often send just the right person to
help me get through whatever it is I am struggling with.” Jaynessa Campbell ~ Homeschool Mom