Prayer

Prayer -- The very Best Gift

My website has ‘Gift Ideas’ - fun, of course!
I love giving gifts, but I consider praying for my redheads the VERY best gift I can give them. WHY?
I believe in it's power, without a doubt.

Few things bring more desperation, fervor, and level of passion in me than interceding to God for my kids and my spouse. I love my children and my family with my whole heart, but I also know God loves them more than I could ever comprehend...(same for your family)

I believe God wants the best for them and has special plans for their lives. I also know that I can’t be with them all the time to guide or protect...but He can. He’s proven Himself faithful to me time after time and I trust Him.

--- Maybe you're not a 'religious' person. Maybe you're not too sure about all this 'God stuff'... That's okay. I'm happy you took the time to visit and read these pages.

Regardless what you believe, you can still begin to SPEAK POSITIVE WORDS over others, your spouse, your child, or kids you know -- speak good things about them out loud to bless them and encourage them, praise them. Some people have never had family members or parents say good things about them or pray for them. (Maybe that's you. If so, imagine how wonderful it would have been to hear someone bless you, say positive things about you.)

It’s never too late start the process and speak positive blessings, even if results aren’t seen right away. Our words are containers that change things and people around us.

--- Maybe you are new at praying?
It's so simple, really. Just talk to God and tell Him what’s on your heart. He already knows anyway and longs to hear from you.
You can also start saying what God, our Creator, says and feels about you and your loved ones. Find a Bible translation you can understand easily and just speak out Bible verses, especially the Psalms or from the Gospels which are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. (Bible verses are found in the Old and New Testaments using chapter and verse numbers. So, Luke 1:2 means the book of Luke, chapter 1, verse 2.)

--- Maybe you do it already and are a believer in God.
I hope you’ll find this info helpful and encouragement to press on. Use Scriptures to be spoken aloud, spoken over yourself and/or your child (even when they're asleep), to bless them and expect the blessings!

---Perhaps you are a seasoned intercessor
An 'Intercessor' is someone who loves to pray, to strive on behalf others. This goes beyond the usual requests of God by most people because of the commitment. Similar to an intercessor who pleads on behalf of others in a court of law or dispute, so too a ‘spiritual intercessor’ is one who mediates for another in intercession before God. They are someone who makes contact with God as opposed to the many who simply dabble in it.

Intercession is hard work, endeavoring with strenuous zeal or agonizing, fervent and ongoing, struggling to exert yourself to overcome an obstacle. Like a marathon runner, intercessors must be intense, trained, fervent. God is looking for those who are willing to commit themselves to intercession because it CAN make a difference!

(I highly recommend the book 'Intercessory Prayer' by Dutch Sheets. Answered a lot of my own questions on whether it matters or makes a difference, why and how. Also has a study guide if you're interested.)

WHAT IS PRAYER?
Simply, its talking to God and letting Him talk to your heart in return. It's a 2-way conversation between you and your Creator, a relationship, a fellowship. When we spend time with God, loving Him and letting Him love us back and talk to our heart, then results happen.

WHY PRAY?
Asking and seeking God in this way changes things here on earth! Plus, God invites us to talk to Him. Interceding for your family is the most vital, unrelenting, frustrating, neglected, and rewarding assignment but with eternal consequences!

From Dutch Sheets' book on Intercession --
God chose from creation to work on earth through humans, not independent of them. God is sovereign and all powerful and yet chose to work through humans. Yes, even when God initiates, He needs us to ask because He set it up that way. His giving is connected to our asking. This responsibility is a privilege.
--- Embrace the awesome invitation to co-labor with God!!

HOW TO PRAY?
Invite and ask God (Holy Spirit) to help you do this, how, and what to ask for. Beyond that, there are SO many ways to talk to God -- out loud, silently, singing, alone or with others, with praise music, with dance, with sign language, standing, sitting, walking, lying down, with weeping and crying, with laughing, with sadness, and more.

-- As a Christian, I believe in praying to the Father, in the name of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, according to this Word the Bible. Thank Him, praise and thanksgiving always.

-- If you have one, then use your personal prayer language (speaking in tongues, in the Spirit).

-- Plan and schedule a time slot during your day just like important appointment OR just be flexible based on your schedule. Can be anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 hour or more.

-- Some use a diary or journal. You can use a small scrapbook or notebook and paste a photo of a specific person on each page with concerns you shared with God, how it was answered and date, Bible verses. Have family pages, extended family, other Christians, friends, etc. It can be simple or colorful, but keep it portable. You can cover a page or two just while standing in line or at a doctor's office!

-- Write God a letter. Tell him your concerns, how you see yourself and Him. Be honest. Listen and write down impressions and thoughts because they might be from Him!

-- Use music. Some enjoy praise or worship music as a way to pray and talk to God. It can be more contemporary worship songs, old hymns, or songs/melodies you make up yourself. Music can express feelings or thoughts in a way other forms of communication cannot.

WHEN TO PRAY?
Anytime. Day or night. When driving to work alone in your car, alone in the shower or bathtub, while doing dishes, when out for a walk or exercising, when listening to quiet music, relaxing in bed...You can even pray when standing in line at a grocery store, waiting in a doctor's office, or stopped in traffic. I find that often I find myself talking to God when my body is busy doing something routine, like chores or easy monotonous or repetitious activity that is not taxing... Seems to give me body a task and let my mind relax so I can focus. You can even pray yourself to sleep! Other people have their preferences that work for them...so will you.

WHERE TO PRAY?
Anywhere. Like mentioned above, we're all different but sometimes being alone in your car, bedroom, quiet place helps quiet our thoughts and focus. Sometimes it's nice to be with a group or in church service with music and worship. Some people have a favorite chair, a favorite spot outside, a favorite room in the house. See what works for you, try different spots to be alone with God.

WHO CAN PRAY?
Everyone. If you have breath, you can pray. Little children, toddlers, fathers, mothers, grandparents, sisters and brothers, kids, sons and daughters, friends and family, married or single. Even if you are not a parent, God may want you to pray for someone or children specifically. Perhaps no one else is interceding for them, for the helpless ones, those alone.. and you can make a difference!

WHAT TO PRAY?
Whatever is on your heart, thanksgiving and worship, everyday life, little details and big details. Nothing is too trivial or small to share with God.

It’s great to read and declare Bible Verses about his promises and His will, especially out loud so you can hear it. In the Old Testament book -- Isaiah 55:11, It says God's Word "will not return to Me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."(NIV translation)

Another great tactic is to personalize verses of Scripture by replacing the pronouns with the names of your kids, yourself, other people and speaking them aloud. (Example: Speak Psalm 23:3 -- "Thank you Lord that you guide my son, John, in paths of righteousness...") Verses we use change during seasons of life for us and our kids and family too.

Here are some things you can talk to God about for yourself, your spouse, and family: Against negative influence by peers, friends, co-workers. That they have wisdom to make right choices For protection and keep them safe (Psalm 91 good to speak over them, inserting their names!) For Godly goals For healing Salvation For future husband or wife For your own husband, wife, and your marriage For single people or yourself To stay out of trouble today Help me God to be a better parent and/or spouse! For Godly Wisdom For character (this comes through trials they go through!) For a spirit of excellence For humility and not be proud or arrogant For a desire to know God For direction and seek God's guidance as make decisions. For favor For discernment For respect toward authority For them to give their best to everything they attempt Ask God to let them see as He sees, be attracted to what pleases and glorifies Him, and be repelled by the things that displease Him ...THANK HIM for answering you and expect!...

FOR WOMEN ONLY:

"Birthing -- Through Prayer"
Many women today are asking, "Why was I created? Isn’t there more to being a woman than cooking, changing diapers, or going to the office each day?"
...This ‘something more’ is really a response to the living God and the stirring of His Spirit within women to fulfill His call on their life. ....Women know what it means to participate fully with the Creator to bring forth new life in the physical realm. What many aren’t aware of is that they also were created to actively participate in the bringing forth new life in the Spirit. (Genesis 3:16)

This birthing process is accomplished through interceding. Women were created with the special privilege and responsibility to pray their family, spouse, and loved ones into the kingdom of God. ...Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how, the key that will set the captives free, and the strongholds that need to be torn down....
Your husband, children, mother, father, loved ones were created by God and for His glory. Be encouraged – agree with God, stand with God until you see His will accomplished in their lives and their "birth" completed."
(Quote by Jane Hansen, previous Internat'l President of Women’s Aglow Fellowship)

"Quiz For Christian Wives" -- Want to improve your relationship with your mate? Consider taking this 1-page quiz and let God use it to teach you. Even if you are NOT a Christian, this can be used to improve your relationship with your spouse/mate. Can be adapted for men as well....CLICK HERE to view and print out the FREE one-page .pdf file.

(You need Adobe Reader to open .pdf files. If you don't have it on your computer, CLICK HERE to go to the Adobe website where you can download it for free.)

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