She Needs Prayer

Sharon Snavely (administrator of the Assembly of God Blogs-blogring) has a mother in the hospital that has been losing blood and having emergency surgery for the past three days. She is 67 years old and on medications for her heart that complicates all this. She has literally been fighting for her life. Please pray. To read more go here and Jenni (Sharon's sister) will fill you in with her blog. Pray for Sharon and her dad for strength and peace through this. Pray, pray, pray. God will fix her, help it be today!

Hindrences

Alright, this was copied mostly from an email, then edited, and posted much later than the post time. It is funny how God puts the puzzle pieces together when I am 'writing in the Spirit'. This is the second time I've received clarity when I was writing an email to encourage another. God moves in mysterious ways and ways we know not of. He moves when we don't expect it. He's moving when we don't realize it. While we're spinning our wheels, His plan is moving right on schedule.
Anyways, here's my epiphany:

I have been reading other blogs and talking to relatives. In doing that I have had numerous prayer requests come in and the blahs of not wanting to pray or feelings like God would not even listen because of my lack of effort in my relationship with Him lately. Well after some prayer and thought about it. I realized it was an attack to stop me from praying! My job as a Christian is to encourage and pray. Praying is way harder than encouraging for me when I am less than motivated. My prayers are important and God hears them and He answers them. Lately He's answered many of them. The enemy wants that to stop so he's turned up the heat and weakened me spiritually and physically.
When our eyes are on other stuff rather than Jesus, our perspective is skewed and the devil has ground to emphasize the wrong stuff while we are 'confused' about what we perceive as the truth around us. We tend to believe the lies because they are familiar.

Rom. 12:2-3 'Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.'

We become untransformed when we get the 'don't feel like its'. I guess the answer to being blah about God is to pray. Act on the mustard seed faith you still have and trust He will respond. The other answer or additional answer is to read His word. I am amazed at what a 'David heart' does to the hand of God. It moves in your life like you know it can but still you don't expect it to. For some reason we have it ingrained in us that we are not worthy and He is hindered by our imperfection.
I was even getting life threatening requests. How can you not pray when you get a request like that? The verse that says 'your prayers will be hindered' comes to mind for why we think God won't answer us. I need to investigate this further!

Funny how when you cry out for help from God and others, He answers you and gives you peace.

James 5:16 'Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.'
I was praying because they needed prayer and this is what I do. I might not have felt like it but I did it anyways believing God heard and answered my prayers. In this action God was confirming my gift and showing me I need to pray because He will answer those prayers. When my job is to pray, God gives opportunities to pray.
I almost forgot tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer. Pray. Pray in numbers. God answers group prayers. The more crying out to Him the faster He moves.

Quiet Time

Alright, I'm going to be open and honest here hoping I get some advice. I spent a great deal of time away from the Lord the past two years. I realize that the best way to stay close to the Lord is to spend time with Him. This is also the best way to hear His voice and be led by Him throughout the day. I pray better and know when and how to pray. Life is super when this is happening.
Now when this is not happening, life is difficult and you tend to become self-centered. I have found that it is easier to fall from temptation at this time also. I really hate living this way...good for a couple weeks and blah for the next. I love the Lord with my whole heart and strive to be like Him in every way. How do I keep from not reading the Bible, using time as an excuse for not spending time with Him, and not falling into temptation. I can become so easily entangled when I just don't feel like fighting against every thing that comes against me.
So, how do you spend time with God? How do you keep from letting time get in the way? How do you fight the 'I don't feel like it'? I want to be like David- A man after God's own heart. I fail too often. I want the Holy Spirit to rise up within me and fight off all evil. He will never leave me or forsake me. I will prevail in my pursuit of His kingdom. However consistency is what I strive for now. To live for Jesus in every step, thought, and breath. My heart aches to be in His presence.

Prayer Kick

I am on a prayer kick! God is so awesome! I talked face to face with my friend today about his dad and their time together. God has started something there. We'll get to see his salvation before too long! Victory was the battle cry heard when my friend left for home. He was fighting even going because he wasn't sure if it was right. He talked to someone to encourage him and followed his heart. The door was open to share with his dad and he felt much ground was covered or recovered to build on their relationship.
We had mentioned prayer and how people see it as a token or a last resort. It is so much more than that! It is a weapon. It is a weapon against our enemy that gives us an advantage before we even start to fight. We have favor and wisdom to act and react to attacks and surprises. Prayer is our confidence that the Lord fights our battles for us. Prayer is our hope where there is no hope.
Prayer should be the first thing we do. I Thess. 5: 17- 'pray continually.' Prayer should be done all the time. Prayer is also communion with God. As we live out our day we need to reconnect directly to God for direction and help.
Well, I heard on Focus on the Family and our Pastor that the national day of prayer is next Thursday, May first. It is important that God's people gather together and pray. Prayer in union with other Christians is powerful. This year is a vital year for elections and rulings in state and federal courts. We need to influence our political system through communication with our representatives and our God. God appoints our leaders and can control their decisions. By praying, as a body especially, we can influence our leaders. Please make an effort to find a place that will pray May 1st. Then go and pray. God hears our prayers and answers them.