Prayer is Intentional

Prayer is not just talking to God or just communicating to God. Prayer is a definite message with words to God based on what the Spirit is praying. See Romans 8:26 where the “Spirit helps” us pray with words.

Our talking may or may not be the Spirit’s words. Communication indicates a two way communication, but when God speaks to us the Bible does not call this prayer, the Bible calls this illumination or revelation.

You may want to view a John Piper short video on this topic.

So in prayer, try to listen to God’s speaking to know how to pray.  And yes, this is hard to do.

Little Spokane River Area

Little Spokane River Area

New Zealand

New Zealand!  No I have not been there, these pictures are from Brian Chapaitis.

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Milford Sound, New Zealand

He and his wife are enjoying and serving the people of Papua New Guinea. Their web site is at: bchapaitis.org

Tasman River Valley, New Zealand

Tasman River Valley, New Zealand

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. — Psalm 16:11

Faith and Courage

Courage, which is the ability to face anything, comes from God. Courage comes from God, Faith comes from God. The best Bible verse for this is:  Joshua 1:6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. So never give up, God loves you. Sometimes we need to fight through and trust The Lord.  The secret of victory over fear is very simple – it is trusting Jesus.

Courage and Prayer

Courage, the ability to face anything, comes from God.

American Buffalo Bison in Idaho

American Buffalo (Bison), Parent getting the Young one to Dinner

Courage is the ability to face and confront fear, pain, danger, and sometimes uncertainty or opposition. Courage may be the ability to do the right thing in the face of popular opposition, defeat, failure or discouragement. Courage may be the ability to change directions or keep on the same path. Courage sometimes speaks, and sometimes is silent.   The best verse on this is: Joshua 1:5-6 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

American Buffalo Bison in Idaho

American Buffalo Bison in Idaho, Going to Dinner

Sometimes we are ignorant of what kind of prayer or the exact words we should pray. But the Spirit helps us to pray.  The best Bible verse for this is Romans 8:26   Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Sometimes prayers are just feelings with no words or it’s hard to figure out what the words need to be. So the Spirit helps us to pray because we are weak and do not know what to pray. So let the Spirit help us pray.

The next verse tells us that His prayer is according to the will of God.  Romans 8:27 He who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

American Buffalo Bison in Idaho

American Buffalo Bison in Idaho

Then verse 29 tells us what is the will of God, that is that we would be confirmed to the image of Christ.  Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.

These Buffalo photo’s were from two locations in Idaho, we will try to get closer next time. The rancher said there are more afraid of us, but I am not sure on taking chances.

buffalo bison

Buffalo Bison, wondering about more Dinner


 

Courage comes from God

Courage is the ability to face and confront fear, pain, danger, and sometimes uncertainty or opposition. Courage may be the ability to do the right thing in the face of popular opposition, defeat, failure or discouragement. Courage may be the ability to change directions or keep on the same path. Courage sometimes speaks, and sometimes is silent.

Joshua 1:5-6 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

The Spirit Helps Us Pray

Sometimes we are ignorant of what kind of prayer or the exact words we should pray. But the Spirit helps us to pray.  The best Bible verse for this is Romans 8:26   Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Sometimes prayers are just feelings with no words or it’s hard to figure out what the words need to be. So the Spirit helps us to pray because we are weak and do not know what to pray. So let the Spirit help us pray.

The next verse tells us that His prayer is according to the will of God.  Romans 8:27 He who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

then verse 29 tells us what is the will of God, that is that we would be confirmed to the image of Christ.  Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.

Prayer or Bible Study

Which is more important, your left foot or your right foot. There may be some debate on this, but I personally prefer BOTH. So with my time, is it prayer or Bible Study or teaching or preaching or writing or coordinating? And the winner is, we need all of them. Just like my body as Paul talked about in First Corithians, we need all the members and we need all the functions in the body of Christ.

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Multnomah Falls, Oregon