THOU ART WITH ME

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psalms 23:4


Look at this picture and you can see where this driver broke through the guardrail, on the right side of the culvert, where the people are standing on the road, pointing.

The pick-up was traveling just outside Flagstaff, Arizona on U.S. Highway 100 doing about 75 mph. From right to left when it crashed through the guardrail. It flipped end-over-end bounced off and across the culvert outlet, and landed right side up on the left side of the culvert, facing the opposite direction from which the driver was traveling. The 22-year-old driver and his 18-year-old passenger were unhurt except for minor cuts (Thy Rod) and bruises (Thy Staff).

Okay, maybe I went a little overboard (in your eyes, not mine) with the rod and staff... but it looks so good. Yes, I know that the rod is used for protection or defense and the staff is for guidance, for steadiness. I also know that shepherds carried them at all times. The staff was a long crooked stick. When a sheep showed signs of straying, he would stretch out and pull it back with the crook.

Surely, we are the sheep and God is the Shepherd. And as you can see by the picture above, the Shepherd protected His sheep from dangers seen and unseen. If you're wondering why I would say something like that...

Please look at the second picture below...
























(Click the picture for a closer view)


My dear brother's and sisters in Christ, if God isn’t done with you, God isn’t done with you…

THE END .......

IT IS WRITTEN...

Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down.

For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in there hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’[c]”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’[e]”

Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.

My dear brother and sisters in Christ, just as the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness; he will do the same to us during the wilderness moments in this walk of faith. If he hasn’t already, either you’re lying to yourself or you haven’t been living long enough. Just keep on living.

Notice how each and every time Jesus was tempted, He used the power of God’s Word to defeat that temptation. Jesus never told God how big His storms were but instead, He told His storms how big God is.

Beloved, God speaks in every line and His Word is everything to me, therefore I know that in the very first chapter of the book of John and in the very first verse God’s Word says "For in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jump all the way up to the fourteenth verse and it says, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Therefore it always amazes me how foolish the devil was by trying to use the Word to tempt the Word.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever more, therefore we must realize that His Word can and will do the same for us today when are tempted by the devil. Bothers and sisters, just as Jesus used the power of God’s Word to defeat temptation then, we must used the power of God’s Word now to defeat temptation today. Look at your storm and tell it with and through the power of God’s Word, how big God is. Tell it, Storm... "It is written", trails, "It is written", tribulations, “It is written”. Whatever the devil has the audacity to bring your way, tell him, “It is written”.

Tell your storms when they make you feel weak, “It is written”
Revelation 19:6 says: God is omnipotent / all-powerful

Tell your storms when they make you feeling down” It is written”
Matthews 8:5-10; 28:18 says: Jesus has Power and Authority over all things

Tell your storms when they make you feel powerless, “It is written”
I John 4:4 says: God is more powerful than satan

Tell your storms when they bring darkness into your life, “It is written”
Genesis chapters 1 & 2 say: God created all things just by saying “Let there be”

Tell your storms when they make you feel your future plans seem dim, “It is written”
Duet.31:8; Acts 2:23 says: God plans & knows all things ahead of time

Tell your storms when they make you feel a failure, “It is written”
Job 42:1, 2; Proverbs 21:30, 31; & Psalm 33:10, 11, says: God’s plans always succeed

Tell your storms when they tell you that there is no answer. “It is written”
Psalm 33:13, 14 & Proverbs 15:3 says: God sees and knows all (He is Sovereign)

Tell your storms when they make you feel poor, “It is written”
I Chron. 29:11, 12 say: God owns all in Heaven and on Earth

Tell your storms when they make you feel incomplete, “It is written”
Isaiah 46:11 says: what God says & plans He will do

Tell your storms when they make you feel that it’s impossible, “It is written”
Luke 1:37 says: nothing is impossible for God

Tell your storms when they tell you things will be difficult, “It is written”
Jeremiah 32:17 says: there is nothing too hard for God

Tell your storms when they make you feel out of control, “It is written”
Job 38-41; 42:1, 2 says: God created and controls all things

Tell your storms when they look big and overwhelming, “It is written”
Isaiah 40:12-31 says: nothing can match God’s awesome size, power, wisdom, & strength.

USE GOD'S WORD IN PRAYER

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God's Word is full of prayers that are after God's own heart and according to His will. God's word is a spiritual weapon ("Sword of the Spirit", Ephesians 6) 1 john 5:14, 15 (expect answers when you pray according to god's heart & will, and have a right relationship with him).

Here are some examples from scripture:

"GIVE ME A HEART TO KNOW YOU "
JEREMIAH 24:7

"LET US KNOW THE TRUTH AND SET US FREE."
JOHN 8:32

"OPEN MY EYES THAT I MAY SEE WONDERFUL THINGS IN YOUR LAW."
PSALM 119:18

"CREATE IN ME A PURE HEART, O GOD, AND RENEW A STEADFAST SPIRIT WITHIN ME." PSALM 51:10

"CLEANSE THOU ME FROM SECRET FAULTS." ("FORGIVE MY HIDDEN FAULTS.")
PSALM 19:12

"I DO BELIEVE; HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF."
MARK 9:24

"HEAR MY VOICE WHEN I CALL, O LORD; BE MERCIFUL TO ME & ANSWER ME."
PSALM 27:7

"... YOUR FACE LORD I WILL SEEK."
PSALM 27:8

"TEACH ME YOUR WAY, O LORD; LEAD ME IN A STRAIGHT PATH."
PSALM 27:11

"TEACH ME YOUR WAYS, SO I MAY KNOW YOU & CONTINUE TO FIND FAVOR WITH YOU." EXODUS 33:13

" LORD, BE MY FIRST LOVE."
REVELATION 2:4

" NOT MY WILL, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE."
LUKE 22:42

OTHER PRAYERS:

FOR A BROKEN & HUMBLE SPIRIT
PSALM 51:17

FOR A SERVANT'S HEART
MARK 10:44-45

TO BE ALERT TO SATAN'S ATTACKS & WAYS
1 JOHN 4:4

TO BE CONFORMED TO JESUS' LIKENESS
ROMANS 8:29

TO BE ONE WITH GOD LIKE JESUS IS
JOHN 17:22

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. COLOSSIANS 1:9-12

Spiritual Gifts

My dear brothers and sisters of Christ, all of us Christians and lovers of the Lord have been given at least one spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit and many of us have several spiritual gifts, with typically one dominant gift; this group of gifts is called a gift cluster. The purpose of spiritual gifts is to unify us in our faith, build each other up, and to produce growth within the church, both numerical and spiritual. Spiritual gifts are to be used out of love for God and for others, and in service for God and to others. Not for self glorification nor appointment.

Here is a list of gifts with Biblical References as follow:

Spiritual Gifts

Administration: the gift that enables a believer to formulate, direct, and carry out plans necessary to fulfill a purpose.

Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:28, Acts 14:23

Discernment: the Holy Spirit given ability to distinguish whether someone or something is of God or not of God.

Biblical References: John 16:6-15, Romans 9:1, I Corinthians 2:9-16, 12:10

Exhortation: The Holy Spirit produced ability to challenge, strengthen, encourage, and comfort believers.

Biblical References: John 14:1, II Timothy 1:16-18, III John 5-8

Faith: the Holy Spirit given ability to trust God where others will not, and to see something that God wants done and sustain unwavering confidence that God will do it regardless of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Biblical References: Genesis 12:1-4a, Mark 5:25-34, I Thessalonians 1:8-10

Giving: the gift that enables a believer to recognize God's blessings and to respond to those blessings by generously and sacrificially giving of one's resources (time, talent, and treasure).

Biblical References: Luke 21:1-4, Romans 12:8, II Corinthians 9:6-15

Knowledge: the gift that drives a person to learn, analyze and uncover new insights with regard to the Bible and faith.

Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:8; I Corinthians 14:6, Romans 12:2

Leadership: the gift that gives a believer the confidence to step forward, give direction and provide motivation to fulfill a dream or complete a task.

Biblical References: Romans 12:8, John 21:15-17, II Timothy 4:1-5

Mercy: the Holy Spirit given ability to see those who are in misery, have pity on them, and promptly & cheerfully seek to relieve them of their need.

Biblical References: Matthew 25:34-36, Luke 7:12-15, 10:30-37; Romans 12:8

Prophecy: an ability given by God's Holy Spirit to proclaim God's truth publicly and to apply it practically, with a view to correction and edification.

Biblical References: Romans 12:6, I Corinthians 12:10, 14:1,3

Service/ Helps: the gift that enables a believer to work gladly behind the scenes in order that God's work is fulfilled.

Biblical References: Luke 23:50-54, Romans 12:7, 16:1-16, Philippians 2:19-23

Teaching: the Holy Spirit produced ability to effectively explain God's word and apply it.

Biblical References: Matthew 5:1-12, Acts 18:24-48, Romans 12:7, I Corinthians 12:28

Wisdom: skilled in the application of Biblical truth; is able to take God's Word and apply it to everyday situations.

Biblical References: I Corinthians 2:6-13, James 3:13-18, II Chronicles 1:7-11

Overlooked By Everyone Else

“After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart, he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22 (NIV)

Sometimes I wake up on Monday mornings a little grumpy. Time to do it all again. I’ll buy food that gets eaten. I’ll wash clothes that get dirty again. I’ll sweep floors that an hour later will be littered with crumbs.

Is there more to all this than just doing the tasks of everyday life?

Before I jumped into the normal routine this morning, I sat with Jesus. And I found some big truths as I took a little glance into David’s life. Despite how others saw him, his own propensity to sin, and lack of position in his own family, David had the sweet reassurance of God and that was enough.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

To his older brothers, David was a pest. To his father, Jesse, he was just the youngest son. To on-lookers, he was just a shepherd boy. But to God, he was the one destined to be king. And not just any king. His lineage was the one from whom Jesus would come.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

Even how David was anointed to be the future king is a telling story. In 1 Samuel 16, God tells Samuel that He has rejected Saul as king and chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be the replacement. Think of the list of qualifications that must have run through Samuel’s mind for such a position: tall, smart, articulate, brave, groomed, well mannered, a natural born leader. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his outward appearance or his height, for I have rejected him (meaning Saul who had these qualities). The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (verse 7).

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

Samuel had Jesse line up all of his sons before him. All of them were to be looked at. Yet, Jesse doesn’t call David in from tending sheep. Was this an oversight? An assumption? A judgment call? A necessity? A deliberate choice?

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

Samuel passes on each of Jesse’s sons and then asks, “Are these all the sons you have?”I imagine Jesse with a quizzical expression replying, “There is still the youngest but he is tending sheep.” Surely one who spends his time taking care of animals is not the one to take care of a nation.

Overlooked by everyone else. Handpicked by God.

As soon as Samuel saw him, he knew he was the one. David was anointed to become king. But he was not immediately ushered to the throne. It was years before David would be recognized by the world.

So, where did he go after being anointed as king?

To a refining school?

A government academy?

Military training?

Nope.

He went back out into the fields and continued to shepherd his flock. A king doing lowly tasks. A king whose character was being refined in the fields of everyday life to prepare him for his calling.

How like us. In the midst of smelly laundry, dirty dishes, snotty noses, misplaced keys, overdue library books, bills, and that birthday gift that still needs to be mailed to grandma – there is training there.

There is character building.

There is attitude shaping. There is soul defining.

There is heart grounding. All of which must take place for us to become what God intends.

Ever feel overlooked by the world?

Take heart, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ- we are handpicked by God.

I am not just doing tasks.

I am building a legacy.

I am shaping God’s kingdom.

I am in the process of not only discovering my calling but that of my family as well. And I don’t know about you, but it sure does make me look at my everyday tasks… even the smelly laundry in a whole different light.

Dear Lord, thank you that even when I feel overlooked, I can rest in the fact that I am handpicked by You. Help me to live my life for an audience of One. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


Application Steps: Write down a list of qualities that you sense God is developing in you. Next write down why God might need to develop you in this way.

Reflections: Are there any tasks that you particularly struggle with not wanting to do? Ask God for a new perspective and spend time listening for His voice while you do this job.

Power Verses: Psalm 28:7a “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.” (NIV)

2 Samuel 7:22, “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” (NIV)

Thank you so much sister Lysa TerKeurst for blessing me with your words of encouragement. God bless you always.

Essential Administrative Practices for Every Church

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, here are some important financial practices, policies & procedures that will strengthen your organization.

1. All accounting functions should be handled by qualified, competent personnel.

• Hire an accountant, not a bookkeeper. Today’s tax laws are very complex and require specialized knowledge to ensure compliance.

• Assign individuals or groups to tasks that don’t require specialized knowledge (counting, bank deposits, etc.) and outline these individuals or groups in the church’s organizational chart.

• The pastor should NOT handle money or sign checks.

2. Your church should have a written, up-to-date accounting procedures manual.

• The accounting procedure manual must establish accounting procedures and responsibilities.

3. Record Keeping and Check Signing should be kept separate.

• The separation of the duties is essential to a successful internal financial control system and will reduce the risk of misappropriation of funds.

• Record keeping and check writing responsibilities must be kept separate.

4. Accounting facilities should be kept locked at all times..

• Securing the premises to safeguard the church’s assets is just good common sense.

5. Accounting records should be safeguarded at all times.

• Special care should be exercised over the storage of accounting records. Make sure historical records are not destroyed, altered, or tampered with. Purge and shred historical records when allowable by law.

6. Quarterly internal audit by special committee operational.

• An internal audit committee is usually made up of members with accounting or business backgrounds. Their responsibility is to regularly review the accounting records.

7. Annual external audit of accounting records, practices and procedures

• An annual professional audit offers the church several advantages. First, knowledge of an annual inspection is a natural deterrent to embezzlement. Second, it is critical when applying for most funding.

8. All personnel must be screened.

• Amazingly enough, 70 percent of all embezzlers are repeat offender.

9. All employees who have access to cash should be bonded

• A fidelity bond provides insurance protection for the church if there is any lapse in the integrity of the accounting system. Various types of fidelity bonds can be purchased. Blanket bonds can cover the entire staff without people’s names or the positions they hold being listed.

Thank you Urban Awareness USA, for blessing me and many others with these "Nine Essential Administrative Practices for Every Church"

Will You Pray For Me?

As I was washing laundry early one morning, I started thinking about how many times people would ask me to pray for them and I would say no problem. However, it was a problem as I would become so consumed with my own life and with the things that I was doing that I totally forgot to pray for that person's situation. The truth is all too often we are so busy with our own day to day operations that we may forget to pray for someone else who may be in need. When you make a promise to pray for someone you are committing yourself to agreeing with that person that the Creator will change that person's situations. Well if you do not know what to pray for then how can you pray for that person?

Generic prayers are cute and dandy as they cover the surface of a person's needs. Yet when you take the time out to find out what the person needs prayer for you are able to pray specifically to the Creator on how to intervene on that person's behalf. What good is it to pray a generic prayer for a person to have financial blessings when that person does not have a job? Rather than asking the Creator to provide that person with financial blessings, pray that the Creator will provide the person with a job that will fit the person's individual skills, will have the right interviewer who will see the person beyond the resume, pay all of the bills on time, and always have money left in the bank account to help someone else. You see when you pray and come into agreement with the person who asked you to pray for them or with them, the Creator specifically knows that when there are two or more individuals coming together in agreement those changes can be made as there is unity in communal prayer.

It is so awesome to know that your prayers for someone else can make a difference not only in that person's life but your own as well as when you take the time to pray for one person that person will take the time to pray for you. One strategy I am learning to use when people ask me to pray for them is to ask them if they have time right now for prayer. That way the need is still fresh in my mind and it is less difficult for me to forget about praying if the person is on the phone or right there in front of me. You would be surprised how many times that I have prayed for a situation for someone and the next day or following week the Creator intervened within that person's life far beyond what either parties would have ever imagined. The best prayers are the on time prayers!

So the next time someone asks you to pray for them make sure you have a firm grasp for the need. Then take a few minutes just to say a prayer for them. You do not have to say a 10 hour prayer to be heard by the Creator. I have personally found that the best prayers are short, sweet, and to the point. Why you might ask? Your focus is on the other person's needs and not on your own. Make the time today to commit to yourself that when someone asks you to pray for them you will do it TODAY and not wait till tomorrow or forget about it completely as if you wait, your prayers may be too late.

Sister April Lisbon-Peoples, I thank you so much for opening my eyes to better praying commitment in my everyday prayers.

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Sister April Lisbon-Peoples is a growth and development coach who enjoys inspiring her clients to find their life's purpose through becoming visionaries. She is the founder and CEO of Running Your Race, a coaching practice designed for individuals who are ready to awaken their visions and create their destiny.

April has written various articles focusing on elevating and motivating people as they aim towards reaching their highest potential. She aspires to help her clients live their dreams while gaining and maintaining a level of healthy success. So if you are ready to fly like the eagles and see your vision come to past, then visit her at [http://www.creatingmyvision.com] or e-mail her at creatingvision@gmail.com

Attributes of God

Holy
Psalms 22:3; 93:5; 30:4; 5:5a; 99:5
Isaiah 6:3; 57:15
Hebrews 12:10
I John 1:5
Revelation 4:8; 15:4

Immutable
Numbers 23:19
Psalm 119:89,90
Malachi 3:6
Hebrews 1:10-12
James 1:17

Sovereign
Psalms 89:5-8; 103:19; 135:6
Proverbs 19:21
Ecclesiastes 3:14
Isaiah 40:15,17,22,23; 46:9,10
Daniel 2:21; 4:35
Ephesians 1:11

Wisdom & Knowledge
Job 9:2-4; 12:13; 36:5
Psalms 7:11; 34:15-16; 90:8;
103:14; 104:24; 139; 147:5
Proverbs 3:19; 21:30
Isaiah 40:26,28; 46:10
Daniel 2:20
Romans 11:33-36
Hebrews 4:13

Loving
Psalms 23:6; 33:5; 36:5-9;
51:1;52:1; 59:16; 86:5; 90:14 103:8,11; 107:43; 136:1; 145:8
Proverbs 16:6
Jeremiah 9:24
Lamentations 3:32,33

Power
Exodus 15:11
I Chronicles 20:6; 29:11-13
Job 38:4
Psalms 33:6; 50:1; 62:11
Nahum 1:3a
Ephesians 3:20,21
I Timothy 6:15,16
Hebrews 1:3

Righteous
Job 36:3
Psalms 7:17; 11:7; 23:3; 35:28;
36:6;45:6; 48:10; 65:5; 71:15,
16,19; 85:11-13; 89:14,16; 96:13; 97:6; 98:2; 103:6; 111:3; 119:142,
172;145:7
Isaiah 5:16; 45:24; 51:5,6; 61:10
Jeremiah 23:6
Hosea 2:19

Faithfulness & Provision
Deuteronomy 7:9
II Chronicles 16:9
Psalm 23; 27; 36; 37; 65; 68; 89:8; 92:1,2; 119:138
Lamentations 3:22,23
I Thessalonians 5:24
II Timothy 2:13
Hebrews 10:23
I Peter 4:19

Psalm of Praise
Psalm 24:7-10
Psalm 28:6,7
Psalm 30:4
Psalm 34:1-3
Psalm 50:23
Psalm 56:10-12
Psalm 63:3-6
Psalm 69;30, 34
Psalm 75:1
Psalm 86:12
Psalm 92:1,2
Psalm 103
Psalm 111
Psalm 113
Psalm 117
Psalms 145-150

Other Passages of Praise
I Chronicles 16:31, 34, 36
Isaiah 25:1, 38:18
Daniel 2:20,23
Acts 2:46,47
Romans 11:36
I Corinthians 15:57
Ephesians 1:3; 5:19
I Timothy 1:17
Hebrews 13:15
I Peter 2:9;4:11

Portions of Promises
II Chronicles 7:14
Psalm 6:9; 10:17; 37:3-5;
55:1,16,17,22; 84:11; 108:13;
Proverbs 3:5,6
Isaiah 65:24; 41:10
Jeremiah 29:12,13; 33:3
Matthew 7:7,8; 21:22
Romans 8:26
Ephesians 3:20,21
Hebrews 11:6
James 1:5-7; 5:16
I John 5:14,15; 3:22

Steps to Powerful Prayer

1. Worship. Praise brings us into God's presence and forces Satan to flee. "Enter Into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks and Praise to His name." Psalm 100:4

2. Be still and know that He is God. Psalm 46:10 Take time to clear your mind of Everything and focus on God.

3. Confess your sins and cover them with the blood of Jesus. 1 John 1:9

4. Submit to God with your whole being.
Search your heart for areas that you are still holding on to. Have you given Him everything, including your choice of career, spouse, friends, school lifestyle? Tell Him that you are holding nothing back. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time." 1 Peter 5:6

5. Believe that God will hear and answer.
"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

6. Do battle in the spiritual world. Pray on the spiritual armor from Ephesians 6. Take back the victory, joy and power Satan has tried to steal from you. "For Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the Authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

7. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
We often talk to God and don't wait for a response. Let your Father talk to you today. "No eye has seen, no ear has Heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him- But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit." 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10.

8. Ask God to tell you what to pray about.
Be willing to put your desires aside and Pray about what God brings to your mind. "I will do whatever you ask in My Name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for Anything in My name, and I will do it." John 14:13, 14.

9. Join together in agreement with other believers. Pray with a prayer partner, Meeting regularly to pray and share what God is doing in your life. Commit to Pray for one another. "If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, It will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come Together in My name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:19, 20.

10. Keep on asking until the answer comes!
He will answer our prayers, but He works on His timetable, not ours. "Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep On seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7.

11. Praise the Lord that He has heard you and He will answer you according to His Will. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask According to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever We ask-we know that we have what we asked of Him. 1 John 5:14,15.

12. Act on what God has revealed to you in prayer. God will entrust you with big Things only after you have been responsible and obedient with the little things. "Do whatever He tells you." John 2:5. Call unto Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

Biblilcal Guidelines for Effectual Prayer

1. PRAY OBEDIENTLY. Fear God and be righteous in conduct before Him and His Word.

Psalm 34:15 Psalm 84:11 I John 3:22 Psalm 66:18 Proverbs 15:8 Proverbs 28:9 John 9:31 I Peter 3:7 Psalm 18:25-26 Matthew 7:2

2. PRAY GLORIOUSLY. Delight in God and glory in His person, nature, and mighty works.

Psalm 37:4 Job 22:21 Isaiah 58:14 Job 34:9

3. PRAY BOLDLY. Be aggressive and confident with God as His dear child and in Christ.

Hebrews 4:16 Heb 10:18-22 Genesis 18:27 Genesis 32:26 II Kings 2:9-10 Exodus 33:12-23 Joshua 10:12

4. PRAY FERVENTLY. Be sincere, passionate, and extremely earnest in soul during prayer.

James 5:16 Luke 22:44 I Samuel 1:10 Jeremiah 29:13 I Corinthians 7:5 Matthew 17:20-21 Exodus 32:32 Hebrews 5:7 Mark 1:35 Psalm 55:17

5. PRAY FAITHFULLY. Be fully persuaded in your mind that God is able to do anything.

Hebrews 11:6 James 1:6-8 I Timothy 2:8 Matthew 21:22 Ephesians 3:20-21 Jeremiah 33:2-3 Philippians 4:6-7

6. PRAY PERSISTENTLY. Be patient and diligent to continue in prayer without ceasing.

I Thess 5:17 Matt 15:22-28 Luke 11:5-8 Luke 18:1-8 Colossians 4:2 Romans 12:12 Ephesians 6:18

7. PRAY INTELLIGENTLY. Know God, His promises, and godly reasoning with Him.

I Cor 14:15 Numb 14:17-20 Eccl 5:1-7 II Samuel 7:27 II Chron 14:11 Psalm 6:5 Jeremiah 18:20 Matthew 6:5-6 I John 5:14-15 Matthew 18:19

8. PRAY SUBMISSIVELY. Be submissive to God’s will regardless of your own desires.

James 4:15 Matthew 26:39 II Sam 12:22-23 Deut 3:23-27

9. PRAY SPIRITUALLY. Keep yourself in the Spirit and pray as the Spirit moved others.

Jude 1:20 Ephesians 6:18 Romans 8:26-27 Isaiah 63:10

10. PRAY ACTIVELY. Be ready and willing to do all that you can reasonably do for yourself.

Luke 4:12 Matthew 7:7-8 Acts 2:23 II Samuel 15:31

POWERFUL PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I bow in worship and praise before you.

I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as my protection. I surrender myself completely and unreservedly in every area of my life to You.

I take a stand against all the workings of Satan, that would hinder me in my prayer life.

I address myself only to the True and Living God and refuse any involvement of Satan in my prayer.

Satan, I command you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to leave my presence with all your demons.

I bring the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ between us. It surrounds me like a mighty wall that you cannot penetrate.

Heavenly Father, I worship You and give You praise. I recognize that You are worthy to receive all glory and honor and praise. I renew my allegiance to You and pray that the blessed Holy Spirit would enable me in this time of prayer.

I am thankful, Heavenly Father, that You have loved me from past eternity and that You sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to die as my substitute. I am thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ came as my representative and that through Him You have completely forgiven me; You have adopted me into your family; You have assumed all responsibility for me; You have given me eternal life; You have given me the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ so I am now justified.

I am thankful that in Him, you have made me complete, and that You have offered Yourself to me to be my daily help and strength. Heavenly Father, open my eyes that I might see how great You are and how complete Your provision is for this day. I am thankful that the victory the Lord Jesus Christ won for me on the Cross and in His resurrection has been given to me and that I am seated with the Lord Jesus Christ in the heavenlies.


I take my place with Him in he heavenlies and recognize by faith that all wicked spirits and Satan himself are under my feet. I declare, therefore, that satan and his wicked spirits are subject to me in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for the Armour You have provided. I put on the Girdle of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Sandals of Peace and the Helmet of Salvation.

I lift up the Shield of Faith against all the fiery darts of the enemy; and I take in my hand the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. I choose to use Your Word against all the forces of evil in my life.

I put on this Armor and live and pray in complete dependence upon You, blessed Holy Spirit. I am grateful, Heavenly Father, that the Lord Jesus Christ spoiled all principalities and powers and made a show of them openly and triumphed over them in Himself.

I claim all that victory for my life today. I reject all the insinuations, and accusations, and the temptations of Satan.

I affirm that the Word of God is true and I choose to live today in the light of God's Word. I choose, Heavenly Father, to live in obedience to You and in fellowship with Yourself.

Open my eyes and show me the areas of my life that do not please You. Work in me to cleanse me from all ground that would give satan a foothold against me.

I do in every way stand into all that it means to be Your adopted child and I welcome all the ministry of the Holy Spirit. By faith and in dependence upon You, I put off the fleshly works of the evil one and stand into all the victory of the crucifixion where the Lord Jesus Christ provided cleansing from the old nature.

I put on Your holiness and stand into all the victory of the resurrection and the provision He has made for me to live above sin. Therefore, today I put off all forms of selfishness and put on the new nature with its love.

I put off all forms of fear and put on the new nature with its courage. I put off all forms of weakness and put on the new nature with its strength. I put off all forms of lust and put on the new nature with its righteousness, purity, and honesty.

I trust You to show me how to make this practical in my daily life.

In every way I stand into the victory of the ascension and glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, whereby all the principalities and powers were made subject to Him.

I claim my place in Christ as victorious with Him over all the enemies of my soul. Blessed Holy Spirit, I pray that You would fill me. Come into my life, break down every idol and cast out every foe.

I am thankful, Heavenly Father, for the expression of Your will for my daily life as You have shown me in Your Word.

I, therefore, claim all the will of God for today.

I am thankful that You have blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

I am thankful that You have begotten me unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

I am thankful that You have made a provision so that today I can live filled with the Spirit of God with love and joy and peace, with long-suffering, gentleness and goodness, with meekness, faithfulness and self-control in my life.

I recognize that this is Your will for me and I therefore reject and resist all the endeavours of Satan and his wicked spirits to rob me of the will of God.

I refuse in this day to believe my feelings and I hold up the Shield of Faith against all the accusations and distortion and insinuations that Satan would put into my mind.

I claim the fullness of the will of God for my life today.

In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I completely surrender myself to You, Heavenly Father, as a living sacrifice.

I choose not to be conformed to this world.

I choose to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, and I pray that You would show me Your will and enable me to walk in all the fullness of Your will today.

I am thankful, Heavenly Father, that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, to the casting down of imagination and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring every thought into obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, in my own life today I tear down the strongholds of Satan and smash the plans of Satan that have been formed against me. I tear down the strongholds of Satan against my mind, and I surrender my mind to You, blessed Holy Spirit.

I affirm, Heavenly Father, that You have not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.

I break and smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my emotions today and I give my emotions to you.

I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my will today.

I give my will to You and choose to make the right decisions of faith.

I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my body today.

I give my body to You recognizing that I am your temple.

I rejoice in Your mercy and goodness.


Heavenly Father, I pray that now and through this day You would strengthen and enlighten me. Show me the way Satan is hindering and tempting and lying and distorting the truth in my life. Enable me to be the kind of person that would please You. Enable me to be aggressive in prayer and faith. Enable me to be aggressive mentally, to think about and practice Your Word, and to give You Your rightful place in my life.

Again, I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and pray that You, blessed Holy Spirit, would bring all the work of the crucifixion, all the work of the resurrection, all the work of the glorification, and all the work of Pentecost into my life today.

I surrender myself to You. I refuse to be discouraged. You are the God of all hope. You have proven Your power by resurrecting Jesus Christ from the dead, and I claim in every way this victory over all the satanic forces in my life. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving and praise to You, alone. Amen.