Sold Out!

Lately, the Lord has been leading me to think about systematic prayer. Some things are so important that we should pray about them daily; but it can be hard to remember to do so as other priorities take over. I feel strongly about many issues like hunger, homelessness, unjust persecution, and human trafficking. As I was considering these before the Lord, I was impressed with a system that I could incorporate into my daily activities and use to succeed in active, regular prayer.

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7

Here are some examples I pray and the system I developed. I hope will encourage you in your quest for systematic prayer.

The Hungry: As I give thanks for my food at mealtime, I pray for the hungry.

• I pray that the Lord will fill them with good things, and provide a daily portion.
• I pray that He would ease the pain of hunger, and bring compassionate people who are willing to share their abundance into the lives of the hungry.

The Homeless: As I lay my head down to sleep at night, I pray for the homeless.

• I pray that God will supernaturally keep them warm in the cold and provide shade in the heat.
• I pray that He will provide safe places where they may lay their heads and that the Lord will give them rest.

The Persecuted: After morning Bible reading, I pray for the persecuted church.

• I pray that the Lord will show Himself in a powerful way to give them strength to endure, to overcome fear, ease their suffering and remain steadfast until the end.
• I pray that their testimony will be strong, that their suffering will not be in vain, and that their tormentors will encounter Jesus and be converted.

The Trafficked: As I am driving in my car, I pray for those that are trafficked and forced into slavery.

• I pray that God will comfort the sex slaves, that He sees their tears and dries them.
• I pray especially for the children, that God will show His mercy.
• I pray that as they are defiled Jesus will wash them in His love and show Himself in an intimate way.
• I also pray that they will be visible to those who will help them to escape.

I would love to hear your system of prayer, so please comment below!

Debbie

While driving down 140 W toward Oklahoma City, Howie was overwhelmed with tiredness and asked me to drive. I immediately thought of the last time that happened to him. We were in Texas when the engine blew on our Sprinter van shortly after I took over the wheel. With this in mind, I began to pray.

Broken down on a lonely Texas road

Traffic was heavy and we entered a construction zone, funneling traffic down to one lane. I was behind a truck with a car in tow. I was following about four car lengths behind the vehicle at 35mph. when the Lord said to me, “Don’t follow so closely”. Immediately I applied the brakes and dropped back, just as the wheel broke off the car in tow, leaving it rolling down the lane and the fender in the center of the lane. Sparks flew as the axle dragged along the highway.

I praise God for his guardianship in giving me a warning, though it didn’t at the time make sense to follow, I did. With a line of vehicles following closely behind me, it could have been a real mess, but because I followed the Lords instruction there was no accident.

Often I am asked how the Lord speaks to me. I describe it as a strong thought that crosses my mind, always something I was not thinking about, and seemingly out of the blue. When I am in doubt, I simply ask “Lord, is that you”? He has always given me an immediate answer if it is “Yes”. If I don’t hear an answer, I assume it was not Him, or check my heart to see if I am harboring sin that obscures His voice.

I am reminded of the scripture that I read the evening I was baptized. It is Jesus speaking and found in the Gospel of John. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

There is another verse I am reminded of found in 1Kings where God spoke to Elijah. “And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:12

Listening for the Lords voice requires a quieting of our own. Some people have a very hard time quieting their thoughts, but with practice it can become quite natural.

So Lord, teach us to quiet our mind, still our own voice and show us how to wait on you.

Act 17:26

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth,

and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.

Eph 4:3

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Peace to you from Debbie and Howie!

Using the Vines Expository Dictionary can help create a more dynamic Bible Study experience.

The first man to disciple Howie and I, Eric Walton, put an emphasis on three tools for use during personal devotions:

• A Thompson Chain Reference Bible,
• The Strongs Exhaustive Concordance
• Vines Expository Dictionary.

This morning I was thinking about the verses found in 2 Peter that tell us how to bear fruit in our Christian lives.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.   2Pet. 1:5-8

Have you ever noticed how most people are eager to add to their faith knowledge?  But Peter tells us to add to our faith virtue. Virtue should come after faith and before adding knowledge.

So what is virtue?

arete (G703) properly denotes whatever procures preeminent estimation for a person or thing; hence, “intrinsic eminence, moral goodness, virtue,” Vines.  Wow! That is a mouthful.

Let’s define procure, preeminent and estimation then plug them in with common language.
To procure is to obtain and preeminent means superior in excellence; distinguished for something   commendable or honorable. Estimation is an opinion or judgment of the worth or a favorable opinion. Derived from Websters

Let’s rework this with some easier definition. We should add to our faith Virtue, which simply is the obtaining that which is excellent and honorable and having a judgment of worth. To me that seems like a very lofty goal to obtain, especially right after faith and before knowledge.   So how do we do that?

Comments and thoughts invited!

Debbie

More on Virtue from Vines:

arete (G703) properly denotes whatever procures preeminent estimation for a person or thing; hence, “intrinsic eminence, moral goodness, virtue,” (a)  of God, 1Pe_2:9, “excellencies” (KJV, “praises”); here the original and general sense seems to be blended with the impression made on others, i.e., renown, excellence or praise (Hort); in 2Pe_1:3, “(by His own glory and) virtue,” RV (instrumental dative), i.e., the manifestation of His divine power; this significance is frequently illustrated in the papyri and was evidently common in current Greek speech; (b) of any particular moral excellence, Phi_4:8; 2Pe_1:5 (twice), where virtue is enjoined as an essential quality in the exercise of faith, RV, “(in your faith supply) virtue.”