Prayer, Breathing God
Prayer causes our hearts to breathe to the pulse of God. It is a joyful reply to God’s invitation to know him directly. We find, through prayer, miraculous access to the altar of God; a pathway to direct and loving relationship.
“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Martin Luther
“God instituted prayer in order to lend to His creatures the dignity of causality.” But not only prayer; whenever we act at all He lends us that dignity. … This is how (no light matter) God makes something—indeed, makes gods—out of nothing.”
Pascal
“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is a spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” Charles Spurgeon
“Let no one profess to trust in God, and yet lay up for future wants, otherwise the Lord will first send him to the hoard he has amassed before He can answer the prayer for more.” George Muller
“Prayer is beyond any question the highest activity of the human soul. Man is at his greatest and highest when upon his knees he comes face to face with God.”
“I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”
C.S. Lewis
“We must lay before him what is in us; not what ought to be in us.”
C.S. Lewis
“Prayer is continuing a conversation that God has started through his Word and his grace, which eventually becomes a full encounter with him.” “To fail to pray, then, is not to merely break some religious rule—it is a failure to treat God as God.”
Tim Keller
Some Highlights of Resources on Prayer from BELOVED:
The Puritan Approach to Worship by J.I. Packer
Prayer in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ” by Dr. John F. Walvoord
Praying in The Spirit, by Dr. Michael A. Milton (what it is and why is it important)
The Hidden Life of Prayer, from David MacIntyre (the Inner Sanctuary)
Tim Keller on Practical Theology
Praying The Lord’s Prayer from Tim Keller
Revival and the Holy Spirit Martin Lloyd-Jones
The Power of Prayer from R.A. Torrey
A Breathing After God, by Richard Sibbes, Theologian (1577–1635)
Four Truths about Prayer, from John Piper
Praying in the Name of Jesus, by O. Hallesby, Ph.D (Prayer, the Spirit of Prayer, Presence of God)
The Secrets of Answered Prayer by John F. Walvoord
Four Steps of Prayer which are the following four elements in sequence:
This process referred to with the initials A.C.T.S. is the basis of many Christian Prayers.
1. Praise / Adoration
Our personal prayer times will be enriched as we contemplate the Character and Names and Attributes of our mighty and wonderful God in Praise and Adoration.
2. Confession
In Confession, we humble ourselves before him in order to be cleansed of sin and made worthy to enter his throne room as beloved children.
3. Thanksgiving
In Thanksgiving, we remember all that God has been doing in our lives and celebrate his Faithfulness.
4. Intercession / Supplication
In Supplication and Intercession, we are participating in the plans and purposes of God for the world, for our families and friends, for the lost, and for his kingdom.
Romans 8:26 “Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. “
When we pray, we need an Intercessor. We need the Holy Spirit of God.
The Spirit is our Helper (Luke:11:1) and when we don’t know how we should pray John 14:16 “the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Resources for Prayer Enrichment:
Pray in The Spirit from Martin Lloyd Jones
The Spirit’s Intercession from Ligonier.org
Intercessory Prayer from The Gospel Coalition
Pray the Scriptures: Ligonier Ministries
Praying using Scripture; The Gospel Coalition
Intercession of Gods Promises in Prayer from Desiring God; a book
Ligonier.org The Works of R.C. Sproul
Six Ways to Hinder Your Prayer
Prayer from the Online Biblical Library
The Prayer Foundation, George Mueller
Bob Hostetler, One Prayer a Day
International House of Prayer, Prayer Room
five top resources from Christianity today for Prayer
I BELIEVE.com Inspirational site (with feed) for women
Articles on Prayer on the BELOVED site
And So We Pray, from L.Willows (Alexandria Presbyterian Church)
The Lord is my Sheperd Psalm 23 with Commentary by Charles H. Spurgeon
The Power of Prayer from R.A. Torrey
Four Truths about Prayer, from John Piper
Go to God for Strength in Difficult Times; Bible Scripture for prayer and inspiration
Rejoice in Hope, Be Patient in Tribulation, Be Constant in Prayer by John Piper
Go to God for Strength in Difficult Times; Bible Scripture for prayer and inspiration
Drawing Near to God, The Saint’s Happiness by Richard Sibbes
Draw Near to God Through Prayer; John Calvin’s “Rules of Prayer”
Rejoice in Hope, Be Patient in Tribulation, Be Constant in Prayer by John Piper
Conforming to God’s Holiness from Ligonier Ministries of RC Sproul
Is Anything Too Hard For The Lord? Sermon from C.H.Spurgeon, 1888 Metropolitan Tabernacle
The Spiritual Disciplines from Dallas Willard Introduction from The Beloved
The Name of Jesus by Kevin DeYoung from Ligonier Ministries
Christ in you, the hope of glory, magnificent commentary of life sanctified
Christian Life is more than just ‘Jesus and me.’ But not less. from David Mathis
Conforming to God’s Holiness from Ligonier Ministries of RC Sproul
To Live Upon God That is Invisible, suffering and service of John Bunyan by John Piper
Godly Meditation – A Duty for All Believers by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon
Devotion and Prayer, Psalm 42:11
Prayer in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ” by Dr. John F. Walvoord
About Prayer from L. Willows
True Contentment; The Long View of Heart, from L.Willows
Grace Floods to Its Fullness a worship poem from L.Willows
Giving the Gift of Encouragement
What is Honor in the Bible?”, from L.Willows with Prayer to Honor God
Take Heart, be Strong, do not Give Up, Scripture to Inspire, Prayer to Begin Again from L.Willows
Living the Values of a Turned Heart, Scripture, word and prayer from L.Willows
Finding Peace amidst the chaos of this world; Scripture and Prayer, from L.Willows
Encouraged by Grace, Scripture and prayer from L.Willows
Faith Stays! Bold Humility, Notes and Scripture”, from L.Willows
Seeking Peace and Trusting God from L.Willows; Isaiah 26:3 and Prayer for Peace
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