When I am praying a scripture prayer, I find it helpful to meditate on the scripture throughout the day or at least, during the particular time that I have set aside for prayer, Bible reading, and meditation on scripture.
Meditation is just rolling the scripture over in your mind and heart--examining it to see how it will affect your situation as it takes place in your life. No sitting cross legged required! It gives you a chance to imagine or visualize how things will be when your life looks like the picture the scripture paints. Some people feel more comfortable with the term "ponder". Both terms are scriptural. God told Joshua to "meditate". David uses the term "meditations of my heart". Mary "pondered" the things she had been told concerning the birth of Jesus.
It gets your mind and heart quiet, so you can hear what God is saying to you, and when we truly hear God, that brings faith. Faith is the catalyst that brings the promise from the unseen into the seen.
Give it a try. Expect the Holy Spirit to teach you how. Till next time,
be Constant in Prayer,
Paula J
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Joy: Acts 13:52 Amp. Bible
Usually, as I read my Bible, I keep a look out for Word descriptions that paint a picture of what I'd like to be reality in my own life. So, when I came across Acts 13:52, it just kind of jumped out at me because I'd been thinking about this project of praying for our husbands. There's nothing worse than having to be around a grumpy or moody person. One who blows hot and then cold. And if he's your husband? Well, that would wear a person out, wouldn't it?
So, here's our first prayer. "Father, I thank you that my husband is continually filled [throughout his soul] with joy and the Holy Spirit according to Acts 13:52. In Jesus' name, Amen."
I phrased this prayer as if the answer is already a done deal. That's because I like to "call things that be not as though they were". Romans 4:17. It's the way God does things, and if it's good enough for Him, well, you see what I mean. Besides, if your husband already operates in joy and the Holy Spirit, then this prayer gives you an opportunity to be thankful on purpose.
A joyful, Holy Spirit filled husband. Who could want for more? Don't you just love it when your husband is happy? It seems to somehow build your own confidence. Things just go more smoothly for everyone in the household when your husband is joyful. It puts the whole family at ease. My husband tells this story about his childhood. When his dad came in from work and stopped to pet and speak to the dog, everyone looked forward to a pleasant evening. But if he passed the dog without saying anything, they knew that it would be a good idea to retire to their rooms as soon as possible. A joyful husband not only does himself good, he affects the atmosphere for the rest of the family. Even the dog!
If you will go ahead and read versese 50 and 51, you'll discover that the guys being described as full of joy in verse 52, had just been run out of town by the city big wigs. Talk about a bad day at work! But that's not what determined whether they had joy. They were exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit. Joy Regardless. That's the kind of joy we're praying for.
Be Constant in Prayer,
Paula J
So, here's our first prayer. "Father, I thank you that my husband is continually filled [throughout his soul] with joy and the Holy Spirit according to Acts 13:52. In Jesus' name, Amen."
I phrased this prayer as if the answer is already a done deal. That's because I like to "call things that be not as though they were". Romans 4:17. It's the way God does things, and if it's good enough for Him, well, you see what I mean. Besides, if your husband already operates in joy and the Holy Spirit, then this prayer gives you an opportunity to be thankful on purpose.
A joyful, Holy Spirit filled husband. Who could want for more? Don't you just love it when your husband is happy? It seems to somehow build your own confidence. Things just go more smoothly for everyone in the household when your husband is joyful. It puts the whole family at ease. My husband tells this story about his childhood. When his dad came in from work and stopped to pet and speak to the dog, everyone looked forward to a pleasant evening. But if he passed the dog without saying anything, they knew that it would be a good idea to retire to their rooms as soon as possible. A joyful husband not only does himself good, he affects the atmosphere for the rest of the family. Even the dog!
If you will go ahead and read versese 50 and 51, you'll discover that the guys being described as full of joy in verse 52, had just been run out of town by the city big wigs. Talk about a bad day at work! But that's not what determined whether they had joy. They were exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit. Joy Regardless. That's the kind of joy we're praying for.
Be Constant in Prayer,
Paula J
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Join Me In Prayer
The Holy Spirit has been urging me to gather my friends together to pray for our husbands. If this is something that seems right and necessary to you, please join me. Periodically, I will blog a prayer based on scripture that can be personalized for your husband. If the prayer is something you desire to come to pass, you can offer up that prayer as long as it seems good to you.
I do not know what is in store for our husbands,(sons, fathers, brothers) but I know that the Word says the Holy Spirit will tell us of things to come, and I believe that we will be praying our husbands into good position to be victorious in all those things to come.
Be Constant in Prayer,
Paula
I do not know what is in store for our husbands,(sons, fathers, brothers) but I know that the Word says the Holy Spirit will tell us of things to come, and I believe that we will be praying our husbands into good position to be victorious in all those things to come.
Be Constant in Prayer,
Paula
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)