Jesus, I Want to Love You Part 5预览

PRIVATE, POWER-FILLED PRAYER

When someone says something that really hurts your feelings; when you totally drop the ball; when you are overcome with fear; after one failure after another; as you deal with feelings of inadequacy; remember, Jesus is there. He hears every word, every whimper, and every moan. We have a place to run at any hour, with any need. There is never a time when He isn’t fully available to us, ready to comfort, ready to supply, and ready to guide us (Heb. 4:15-16).

Jesus commands us to pray in secret. If we are going to be light in the world we have to have persistent, personal, and private prayer in place. We must hide ourselves in our prayer closet and separate ourselves from the world around us long enough and purposefully enough to be filled with the Lord and be able to have an impact on our world, rather than it having an impact on us. We must be diligent and bold to plead for our family, for others, and for our own need, even though apart from Him we are only dust and ashes! Our most efficient and effective work is accomplished in prayer. What a responsibility. What a high calling.

PRAISE HIM

God, you are God above all things and over all things. You are the ultimate authority, in control of everything, and the One to whom we should go for everything. Lord, we praise you because you have given us access to your power through prayer. (Deut. 4:7)

ADMIT YOUR SIN

How we need these reminders, Lord. Please forgive us for our disobedience and our prayerlessness. Help me to trust You with my heart and invite You to search it through and through. (Deut. 4:5-9, James 5:16)

Lord, I admit that I . . .

THANK HIM

Thank you, Lord, for the many times you have shown compassion towards me when I least deserved it. (2 Chron. 30:9, Isa. 54:10)

ASK HIM

Lord, I pray that you would soften my heart toward you, that you would breathe on me and give me your heart and mind to pray for myself, my family, and those in my world and beyond. Help me to do my part to pray. (Ex. 33:13, 18; Ex. 34:9)