Category Archives: How to Pray

We all need help how to connect with God in prayer.

Words to Listen To!

Hearing God’s Word: Psalm 119

Flower Near Vineyard in Washington

I look this photo with the standard lens, no special setup, standard sunlight.

I would like to take some time, now, to go through Psalm 119, the longest Psalm in the Old Testament. There is one thing that really stands out in this Psalm and that is the phrase, “The Word of the Lord”, referring to what God has written in the Bible, and also what God speaks to us. I want to go through Psalm 119. I will bring a few things out and give you some brief commentary. The first place in that psalm where the word, “word” appears is in verse 9. It says, “How shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” How do we cleanse our way or how do we know the right way to go? We know the right way to go by the Word of the Lord.

Then we can go on to verse 11 which says, “Thy word I have hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.” In other words, how do we keep from sin? We do that by putting or hiding God’s Word in our heart. It’s much better for our minds and hearts to be filled with God’s Word than with other kinds of things, and this will keep us from sin.

God Speaks to Samuel

God Speaks to Samuel

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, Oregon

Let’s read from the third chapter of I Samuel 3:1, “Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli, and the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.” It is interesting that the writer would say that the Word of the LORD was rare. God was not speaking much in that day because the hearts of the people were far from Him. I have heard people comment, “It doesn’t seem like the Lord is speaking, and when I read the Word it’s not living and real to me.” Number one, when our hearts are not open to God and the things of God, and we really don’t want to listen, then God doesn’t speak that much. Secondly, when God knows we aren’t going to obey what He says, He is not obligated to speak to us.

God’s Word was rare in those days because the priesthood was polluted and the people were being led astray. God began to speak to Samuel, but Samuel didn’t yet know the Lord in a real way. God called to Samuel, “Samuel, Samuel”. Samuel said, “Here am I”, but he thought it was Eli who was speaking to him. The Lord was speaking to Samuel, yet Samuel didn’t recognize it was the Lord speaking to him. The Lord continued to call out to Samuel, and Samuel kept going to Eli asking, “Didn’t you call me?” Finally Eli got the picture that it was probably the Lord who was calling Samuel. He instructed Samuel, “Samuel, if you hear that again, it must be the Lord speaking to you, so just say, ‘Speak Lord, Thy servant hears’.” God called Samuel again and Samuel responded as Eli had instructed him, “Speak Lord, Thy servant hears.”

Samuel was telling the Lord that he was ready to listen to what He had to say. He was saying, “Speak, Lord. I am Your servant. I am here to do whatever You want me to do.” I believe those are the two conditions for hearing God speak. Number one, you need an ear to hear, and number two, a heart to obey and to do what God wants done. Samuel did not know the Lord, but he was in the process of learning to recognize the voice of God. When Samuel said, “Speak, Lord, for Thy Servant hears”, this indicated he had an ear to hear, and a heart to obey what God was speaking to Him.

His Loving Kindness is Eternal

Sunset Over Water

The best Bible verse on this subject is: 1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good; For his lovingkindness endures for ever. Our kindness and love seems to have limits, but God does not have limits. He is God, the creator of the heavens and earth and is full of energy.

Prayer, Vine and Branches

Prayer, Vine and Branches – Jesus’ Instructions on Prayer in John 15

Grape Vines in Washington State

Look at vines, branches and prayer in in John 15, chapters 14, 15, 16, and 17. In those four chapters, Jesus was trying to comfort His disciples. Right in the middle of that, in chapter 15, Jesus was talking about abiding. He was talking about how we need to be like branches on a vine. He was the true vine. Some people say this describes kind of an organic, living and real relationship between Jesus and us, or between us and the Father. Without getting into the rest of the context, there, John 15:7 says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” That seems kind of like a blank check where you can expect God to do anything you ask of Him. Some people look at that verse and they wonder why God doesn’t answer when they pray for something. There is a condition in this verse, though. It says, “If you abide in Me and My words aide in you”. The “asking”is prayer.

Grape Vines in Eastern Washington

The first condition, there, is, “If you abide in Me… “ Without getting into the context,there, one way to abide is to stay in the Lord, to rest in the Lord, or to remain in the Lord. I would even say it means to do the things God wants you to do, to obey the Lord. He says, “If you abide in Me”. Then He says, “And if My words abide in you”. This passage in the book of John says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you”, you can ask whatever you will and I will do it. What words is He talking about when Jesus says, “And My words abide in you”? I believe He is specifically talking about the word He is speaking. I believe it also has to include the words of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Grape Vines in Eastern Washington

The video this text is taken from is on Drew’s YouTube channel. This portion is at YouTube.

God’s Strength – Paul’s Secret

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.

Mountain Peak with Snow, Leavenworth, Washington

The big secret to confidence and peace of mind is trusting God no matter what “mountains” we face in life. This is easier said than done, of course, but we can learn to turn our up-and-down feelings over to God, and depend upon Him every day. God may, or may not bless what we do, but His strength, grace, and wisdom are always available for us to tap in to.

The Apostle Paul went through many trials and difficulties, but he learned the secret of trusting God and relying on His strength. Paul’s sufficiency was found in Jesus Christ!

This verse is a great encouraging Bible verse.

Morning Prayer Sets the Direction for the Day

Morning Prayer Sets the Direction for the Day.

Boat on the Sea of Galilee, Israel

A great Bible verse is Mark 1:35, “and rising in the morning long before day, he went out and went away into a desert place, and there prayed“. The Lord Jesus spent time in the morning in prayer to get himself in alignment with God, the Father. Jesus also prayed that the whole day would be in the Father’s will, purpose and direction. His morning time set the direction for the whole day.

From the context of this passage we can discern that Jesus probably prayed in the region of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. The above picture was taken from another boat on Sea of Galilee.

How do we know Jesus prayed this way? Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. This is a portion from the familiar Lord’s Prayer.

God Answers Hannah’s Prayer

God Answers Prayer

Ancient Olive Tree in Jerusalem, Israel

Hannah prayed this prayer in Shiloh, a city in Samaria, Israel.

God Answers Hannah’s Prayer
Verse 21, “Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.” Hannah named her son, Samuel. The name, Samuel, means, “Asked of God”. I would even say Hannah named Samuel after her prayer. I asked God for something and God answered my prayer. Samuel is his name, which means, “God answers prayer”.

Hannah Fulfills Her Vow to the Lord
After the child had been weaned, Hannah went on to say that she would bring him to appear in the presence of the Lord that he might abide there forever. In other words, Hannah kept her promise. In verse 23 we read that Hannah’s husband said, “And may the Lord establish His word.” Hannah had been praying that God would establish the words of Samuel. Then in I Samuel 1:26 Hannah said, “…Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.” She brought Samuel to the Lord and spoke to Eli. Verse 27, “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.” In other words, Hannah gave him to the Lord and they worshipped the Lord.

Hannah’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
Hannah begins to pray. The whole prayer is quite good. I will not read the whole thing, just portions of it. I Samuel 1:27, “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.” She really experienced the Lord being her Rock. If you read the psalms of David you will often see him talking about being on a Rock, meaning he is in a secure place with the Lord. When you are in God’s presence, you are really secure.

Hannah prayed this prayer in Shiloh, a city in Samaria, Israel.

Trunk of Ancient Olive Tree in Jerusalem, Israel

Picking up Hannah’s prayer again in I Samuel 2:3, “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and He hath set the world upon them. 9 He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.” Notice it’s not by might, but by prayer. Verse 10 ”The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall He thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and He shall give strength unto His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Hannah asked God for something and God answered her prayer. Samuel is his name, which means, “God answers prayer”.

Trees in the Bible

There are many places in the Bible that talk about trees. Let’s start with the two most significant. This picture is one of the most beautiful trees I photographed while in Israel about two years ago. Over 100 Bible verses mention or use, the word “tree“.

Beautiful Tree in Israel, Near the Sea of Galilee

Psalms 52:8, But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

Psalms 104:16, The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted.

Isaiah 55:12, … shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Galatians 3:13, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

The tree of life is first mentioned in Genesis chapter 2. Then the last mention is in the last book of the Bible, Revelation chapter 22. Genesis 2:9, And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; and the tree of life, in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Revelation 22:2, In the midst of its street, and of the river, on this side and on that side, the tree of life, producing twelve fruits, in each month yielding its fruit; and the leaves of the tree for healing of the nations.

The next passage I want to talk about is John 15:1-2, where the word “tree” is not mentioned, but John does use the word, “vine”. To me the words “tree” and “vine” are closely related. John 15:1-2. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John uses the words vine, vinedresser, branch and fruit.

To me the vine and tree indicates that God wants us to have an intimate close relationship with Him so that our Christan life flows out of His life. More about this later. But in John 15:7 is a great Bible verse on prayer, “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall come to pass to you”.

John 15:16, You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and have set you that ye should go and that ye should bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide, that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Notice the relationship between “tree“and “fruit” in Matthew. Matthew 12:33, Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.

Here are some more great Bible verses which contain the word “tree“.

Revelation 22:19, And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

Revelation 2:7, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Two Beautiful Trees, Chorazin, Israel

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