Daily Bread_August 6, 2013

Title: The Potential and Power of Prayer

Text:

Philippians 4:6-7 (HCSB)
⁶ Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Observation:

We only have to look at the life and ministry of Jesus to see the importance he attached to prayer. The scripture records numerous instances where Jesus prayed. I ask myself the question, If Jesus had to pray, then what about me?

Mark 1:35 (HCSB)
³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there.

I believe that we do ourselves the most good when we saturate our prayers with praise and thanksgiving to God. I have also discovered that praying for others more than we pray for ourselves also results in getting my needs met without me even asking. However, we should not neglect praying for ourselves because Jesus prayed for himself. Notice how Jesus set the example for prayer in John chapter 17.

John 17:1-5 (HCSB)
¹ Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You,
² for You gave Him authority over all flesh; so He may give eternal life to all You have given Him.
³ This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent—Jesus Christ.
⁴ I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.
⁵ Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.

Prayer is the means that God has provided for His people to communicate with Him. It is through prayer and the Word of God that God's people are able to align our will with God's will. It is the means by which we get the power to fulfill our purpose, and reach our potential.

Who wouldn't want to exchange worry for the peace of God? You can have it when you pray; Prayer is the key to God's storehouse. There is no scarcity in God's storehouse; nothing you need is ever out of stock.

"What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!"

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/789#ixzz2bByM6HRr

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father,  I extol You, my God, O King, I bless Your name, and give You the praise that You alone are worthy of.

Father God, I am so grateful for the potential and the power of prayer. Father, Your love is so amazing, and Your cup of grace, mercy and forgiveness is bottomless.

Father God, I will bless Your name forever and ever; every day I will bless You, and never cease to cast all my cares upon You. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/