Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Effective Prayer: God calling...

Yesterday we learned about our foundation for prayer; that it should be based on the Word of God. God says to us that “Our house is to be a house of prayer”. For our own bodies and spirit, AND for our church.

 So let’s look at some scripture to start giving us a foundation for our study on prayer: Let's take 5 important passages of scripture and see what they all have in common.



1. Genesis 3:8-12  Adam and Eve in the Garden


8. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9. Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" 10. And he said, "I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself." 11. And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" 12. And the man said, "The woman whom Thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." 
 
2. Exodus 3:1-5 Moses and the burning bush
 
1. Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. 3. So Moses said, "I must turn aside now, and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up." 4. When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 5. Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."



3. 1 Samuel 3:4-11 The child Samuel.

4.That the LORD called Samuel; and he said, "Here I am." 5. Then he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, lie down again." So he went and lay down. 6. And the LORD called yet again, "Samuel!" So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he answered, "I did not call, my son, lie down again." 7. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. 8. So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. 9. And Eli said to Samuel, "Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for Thy servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10. Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Thy servant is listening." 11. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.


4. Jeremiah 1:4-12 Jeremiah

4. Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 5. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." 6. Then I said, "Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth." 7. But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. 8. "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. 9. Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10. "See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant." 11. And the word of the LORD came to me saying, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "I see a rod of an almond tree." 12. Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it."


5. Acts 9:1-6 Saul on the Damascus Road


1. Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2. and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3. And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4. and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5. And he said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He [said], "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6. but rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do."

I know that was a lot of scripture. But let's just look at these and think about the common denominator that they have. What do we see in general in these verses? What is the main concept that we see?  What is happening in these verses?

I know this is pretty basic. But I have not read this Bible Study in ten years, so God is really giving me some things to think about. And we all know each time we read scripture it brings something new to mind. I'm not trying to be a 3rd. grade teacher here, just want us to look at some foundational principles from God's Word.

Can you put yourself in the same place these people were? And if you would, what would (and is) God be saying to you? His great desire is to communicate with us.  When and how He communicates with us is through times of prayer. He gives each of us a "call". So are we listening, hearing, and then are we answering?

So, leave a comment and tell us what you are thinking. What has God been saying to you today?

 No grades here, just some group discussion!

Hope this is interesting for you.
There's a lot more where this came from.

love,
Debra

10 comments:

  1. You touched on something I didn't think about - I have been doing all the talking but not listening for God. And communication is supposed to go both ways.

    Please do keep it basic and simple - you are on the right path and you are giving us what God wants us to know. No need to apologize for the simplicity of the message.

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  2. Hi Rebecca, thank you for the "keep it simple" vote. I know that if we take one thought each day it's easier to keep in mind and our awareness is heightened in that area. I used to do all the talking, pleading, begging, etc., but as I have started praying throughout the day, keeping my mind and heart "tuned in". I have a higher level of communication. When you have time give everyone an update on little Annie. I know they'd want to know what is happening.
    Debra

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  3. Ditto! Rebecca. I was just thinking that too. I need to be better about listening to Him speak. Thanks Debra!

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  4. Hi Everyone, Rebecca left this comment early this morning on yesterday's post. I copied it for you all to read today. Please pray for her twin grandsons who have Cerebral Palsy.

    Rebecca has left a new comment on your post "Prayer 101, Laying the Foundation for Effective Pr...":

    Hello Debra
    I am late today... it has been a busy one. But I do have something to share and a request. As I have a half hour to work every morning - it is my time with the Lord, now sometimes it gets interrupted by someone cutting in front of me, it has also been a good lesson on tolerance.(somehow when I get behind the wheel I am less tolerant) Anyway the Lord spoke to me about praying with my daughter everytime I go over to work out with her. We just started this regiment and I had planned on at least 3 times per week. She has the twins that have CP and the Lord laid them upon my heart that morning, so I was praying and the Lord impressed upon me how special a mothers heart was to him and that He wanted us to pray over the twins together. I asked the Lord if there was something special and He said Pray for Sleep. So that evening when I went to my daughters I told my daughter what the Lord had said and she got big tears in her eyes, the the boys are not sleeping well and both her and her husband have had little sleep for a couple of weeks now. I didn't know that it was that bad. I knew they get up a couple of times a night to adjust them but lately it has been much more. So I am asking for prayer for the twins Luke and Zach. The Lord is faithful and I thank him for those precious boys and for my daughter and her husband. Also my husband is going into the hopital tomorrow for more tests on his heart and possibly a stint. If you could keep him in your prayers I would so appreciate it.
    Blessings to you.

    Posted by Rebecca to a day in the life at January 13, 2010 12:47 AM

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  5. We all could use a reminder to do more listening when it comes to our prayer time....sometimes I just sit in silence before the Lord...and come away feeling so strengthened and blessed just by being in his Holy presence...wonderful bible study...thanks so much for sharing....blessings

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  6. Dialogue. I love dialogue. To dialogue one needs to listen more than they speak.
    Thanks for the reminder.

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  7. I just have a minute so this will be short. I just wanted you to know that the word that I received today is TRUST and, is that ever huge for me today! Isn't Debra just to coolest, best, most obedient teacher ya'll have ever known? Thank-you for her, Jesus!

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  8. The common denominator for me is that God is SAYING something, sometimes dramatically, and the recipient of the message needs to LISTEN.

    I want to be a listener, but so often with the ones I love- even the Lord- I am not listening.

    I want to-

    Why is that?

    Laura

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  9. Seven times in the book of Revelation God's word tells us:
    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

    My prayer is that I would have an ear to hear.
    Blessings, GG

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  10. Shelley, I'm so glad you're here. Sitting before the Lord is such a "filling" place. Re-energizes us and gives us what we need. Wonderful point!

    Deb, yes, dialogue that's the key. Communication!

    Kitt, thank you, but you guys are such a blessing to me, I really look to you all as friends sitting together haveing a cup of coffee and just talking!

    Laura, seems to me God is preparing you for some awesome things. He certainly has your attention.

    GG, Great reminder, to open our ears to hear what the Spirit is saying!

    Love you all, my friends! You all give such great input.
    Debra

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