Poorly Dressed Beggar...

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Imagine that your prayer is a poorly dressed beggar!

"Imagine that your prayer is a poorly dressed beggar reeking of alcohol and body odor, stumbling toward the palace of the great king. You have become your prayer. As you shuffle toward the barred gate, the guards stiffen. Your smell has preceded you. You stammer out a message for the great king: " I want to see the king".

Your words are barely intelligible, but you whisper one final word , 'Jesus , I come in the name of Jesus.' At the name of Jesus, as if by magic, the palace comes alive. The guards snap to attention, bowing low in front of you. Lights come on, and the door flies open. You are ushered into the palace and down a long hallway into the throne room of the great king, who comes running to you and wraps you in his arms.

The name of Jesus gives my prayers royal access. They get through. Jesus isn't just the Savior of my soul. He's also the Savior of my prayers. My prayers come before the throne of God as the prayers of Jesus, 'Asking in Jesus' name' isn't another thing I have to get right so my prayers are perfect. It is one more gift of God because my prayers are so imperfect. "

by: Paul Miller 'A Prayer Life'

Needing Help with Praying?

This morning I woke up and wanted to pray - but my tongue seemed tied. You know when you want to say something, but can't seem to find the right words?

Well, you may not have that problem - but if you do, I have come across a wonderful tool to assist you. Especially in your prayer life. There is a wonderful and helpful book entitled: 'The Valley of Vision" 'A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions'. Click HERE and you can order yourself a copy.

This is the prayer I audibly prayed this morning:

O Thou that hearest my prayer,
Teach me to pray,

I confess that in religious exercises
the language of my lips and the feelings of my heart
have not always agreed,
that I have frequently taken carelessly upon my tongue
a name never pronounced above without reverence and
humility,
that I have often desired things which would have injured me,
that I have depreciated some of my chief mercies,
that I have erred both on the side of my hopes and also of my
fears,
that I am unfit to choose for myself,
for it is not in me to direct my steps.

Let thy Spirit help my infirmities,
for I know not what to pray for as I ought.

Let him produce in me wise desires by which I may ask right things,
then I shall know thou hearest me.

May I never be importunate for temporal blessings,
but always refer them to thy fatherly goodness,
for thou knowest what I need before I ask;

May I never think I prosper unless my soul prospers,
or that I am rich unless rich toward thee,
or that I am wise unless wise unto salvation.

May I seek first thy kingdom and its righteousness.

May I value things in relation to eternity.

May my spiritual welfare be my chief solicitude.
May I be poor, afflicted, despised and have thy blessing,
rather than be successful in enterprise,
or have more than my heart can wish,
or be admired by my fellow-men,
if thereby these things make me forget thee.

May I regard the world as dreams, lies, vanities, vexation of spirit,
and desire to depart from it.

And may I see my happiness in thy favour, image, presence, service.

In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Prayer

As a husband and a father do you model prayer? Are you found praying by your wife or children? I am grateful for my wife who will initiate praying with me and our children. I am thankful too for her expression and confession that she likes it when I lead her and the children in prayer.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I find that prayer is something that get's talked about more than it actually get's done. We (I) get too busy or distracted to fulfill the commitment we (I) made to pray for that brother or sister who requested prayer!

Recently, I have come across some verses in Scripture that have encouraged me to prayer. I trust you too will be encouraged to be a man who prays & leads & models for his family, how and why we pray.

Isaiah 65:24
"Before they call I will answer, while they are speaking I will hear," says the Lord.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks received; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

1 John 3:21-22
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

1 Thessoalonians 5:17
Pray continually!

Psalms 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call on him to all who call on him in truth.

Psalms 55:16-17
I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress and he hears my voice.

Matthew 6:6
When you pray, go to your room , close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Jeremiah 29:12-14
"You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord.

Men, lets be husbands and fathers who our praying to our Father in Heaven!