Changing our world through Prayer
During harvest time (also in the spiritual sense), the services of watchmen are essential. All over the world it is now harvest time, that is why we currently need watchmen – to watch over God’s harvest (Joh.17:12) and to protect it.
When you pray for God’s will for your life, there are a few important issues which you have to consider.
The year ahead will most certainly put choices before us – some up front and right in our faces, but others hidden, subtly wanting to lure us into worldliness. Let us make wise choices to benefit our spiritual growth.
The question many believers ask is: “What is God’s will?” The next question they ask is: “Why doesn’t God answer my prayer or why don’t I get an answer to my prayers?” This is the second part of our 2-part series.
The question many believers ask is: “What is God’s will?” The next question they ask is: “Why doesn’t God answer my prayer or why don’t I get an answer to my prayers?” This is the first in our 2-part series.
A prayer shield is a spiritual prayer covering of protection, intercession and blessing over individuals, families, etc. This is part of a series of five articles which focus on raising a prayer shield in different areas of life.
A prayer shield is a spiritual prayer covering of protection, intercession and blessing over individuals, families, etc. This is part of a series of five articles which focus on raising a prayer shield in different areas of life.
A prayer shield is a spiritual prayer covering of protection, intercession and blessing over individuals, families, etc. This is part of a series of five articles which focus on raising a prayer shield in different areas of life.
A prayer shield is a spiritual prayer covering of protection, intercession and blessing over individuals, families, etc. This is part two of a series of five articles which focus on raising a prayer shield in different areas of life.
A prayer shield is a spiritual prayer covering of protection, intercession and blessing over individuals, families, etc. This is part one of a series of five articles which focus on raising a prayer shield in different areas of life.
By the age of 18, more than 60% of teenagers have been drunk. Two hours of gaming has the same impact as snorting one line of cocaine. Will you pray for the protection of teenagers from destructive temptations?
Jesus…said to them, “Let the children come to Me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14).
There is power in hidden prayer. These are times that bring refreshing. Times alone with God. But what are the secrets to such a prayer life?
Many of us who run businesses feel like a one-armed wallpaper hanger at times and it’s easy to become too busy or too tired to pray.
There is great value in periodically evaluating the true state of our spiritual life and walk with Christ. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you prayerfully go through each of the questions provided in this article.
By using the prayers of the apostles from the New Testament as basis for our own prayers, we learn to pray like them. (Beskikbaar in Afrikaans).
Teach children to speak to God as if He is real (which He in fact is), and they will be speaking to Him a lot! Help them proclaim and pray Scripture over everyday issues.
Giving thanks to God as a daily habit, no matter the circumstances, is a very healthy spiritual discipline for every believer to cultivate.
When you wait for answers to prayer, do you question whether the way you pray is wrong or perhaps if God has forgotten about you? There are some conditions set out in Scripture when we pose our requests to the Lord.
Our heavenly Father desires for us to come boldly before His throne of grace and we can have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place.
God teaches us in Scripture that there are certain things that are of utmost importance for intercession. We could call them preconditions for prayer.
The desire for people to do something practical while praying for their community is a valid one. Not everyone likes sitting down and praying through a list. We have put together prayerwalking ideas that can be used to saturate communities with prayer.
Mental health has been stigmatised to the extent where people are ashamed to talk about depression, anxiety or contemplating suicide. Pray for those suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts, and let them know that they are not alone.
Desperate prayer is like someone drowning, gasping for air. It is to grasp at God with hope – on the basis of His character, His promises, the blood, the cross, His covenant, His invitation and His throne of grace.
We often forget God in the craziness of our busy lives. But God wants worshippers before workers; indeed the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the lost art of worship (A. W. Tozer).
Do you desire a deeper walk with the Lord? Through the Tabernacle in the Old Testament, God revealed to Moses how He wanted Israel to draw closer to Him. In Jesus Christ we have a New Testament model of how to draw near to God.
With the precious blood of Christ we were redeemed and our sins forgiven. We are now reconciled with our heavenly Father and have boldness to enter the Holiest place. Let us pour out thanksgiving to the Lord, our Saviour!
As women we are often under a lot of pressure and much is expected of us. Is your life creating a storm or are you like a haven?
We do not need to live close by to people and places in need of prayer, as we are connected virtually through so many means.
As sons and daughters of our heavenly Father, it is our joy to be obedient in praying for every matter near to His heart, however hard it may seem at the time.
How do we manage to give thanks to God after a year filled with seemingly unending challenges? G.K. Chesterton said: “When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted, or you take them with gratitude”.
Seeking Jesus’ face by praying His Word is one sure way to draw closer to Him – Jesus is the Living Word! (John 1:1) Let us pray through the I AM statements of Jesus and honour Him.
Taking a moment to reflect on your year allows you to see it from God’s perspective and helps you realign yourself with God’s purposes before the start of the new year. This will give you much peace and confidence in Him, whatever lies ahead in the next year.
Usually, one does not end up burnt out due to hard work alone. Burnout is also accompanied by emotional and spiritual fatigue, leaving a person so tired that they struggle to regain equilibrium.
Praying the ‘Our Father’ prayer can be likened to entering a spiritual house. In a sense, every part of the prayer can be viewed as a room of treasure to be explored. In this second article on the topic, we reflect on the last few facets of the ‘Our Father’ prayer.
Praying the ‘Our Father’ prayer can be likened to entering a spiritual house. In a sense, every part of the prayer can be viewed as a whole room of treasure to be explored in prayer. We reflect on each facet in two consecutive articles.
When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, he also told them how they should not pray. Clearly this is important to remember in our own prayer life.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by everyday challenges and life in general? Perhaps you feel that God may have forgotten you, or perhaps that your prayers are not reaching His heart and ear. What does the Lord expect from us when facing challenges?
Everyone is called to ministry, but only some are called to the ministry. How will you know if you are called to the ministry?
When you read the Psalms, you will often hear David say: “Lord, where are you? Why are you silent? Why don’t you speak to me?” What must we do in such times?
To bless others and to be a blessing to people should be an integral part of every believer’s character and conduct. That includes praying the blessing of the Lord over them.
Faith does not make room for ‘treading water’ and stagnant faith will cause your heart to harden and drift away from God. The Book of Hebrews urges readers to go on to maturity in their faith and to not remain spiritual babies.
The power of God works through men who consecrate their lives to God. This is the last article in our 3-part series exploring the characteristics of such men.
Connecting with God can easily be mistaken as having a specific ‘feeling’ or ‘experience’ when praying. Although that can serve as a great bonus, what can you do when you do not feel or experience anything?
The power of God works through men who consecrate their lives to God. In this 3-part series we explore the characteristics of such men. This is part two in the series.
Whether the past year was a “mountain top” or a “valley of despair” year for you, pause a moment to reflect.
We must pray for our first responders e.g. Police service, Fire and rescue service, Medical and Emergency response teams. Added to the tragic and devastating situations that they are exposed to, they are sometimes hindered to do their work with efficiency due to corruption, violence and mismanagement.
This series, Hear our Prayer, gives us a glimpse into the prayer lives of saints who have gone before us. In this prayer, Thomas à Kempis asks for the ability to rest in Jesus above all else.
This prayer by Andrew Murray speaks of the importance of making time to listen to God, rather than just speaking to Him.
Make a list of names and regularly pray for the unsaved, other Christians and the nations. Follow the Andrew Principle.
This series, Hear our Prayer, gives us a glimpse into the prayer lives of saints who have gone before us. May this prayer and hymn by Horatius Bonar inspire and encourage us to fill every part of our lives with praise.
In the series, Hear our Prayer, we look at prayers of saints who have gone before us. May this prayer of Spurgeon stir a desire for revival in your heart.
While people honestly want to spent time with God, they simply just do not know where to start and what to do. In this article we provide some practical guidelines to help you spend the desired time with the Lord.
It is important to understand that as priests of God, all Christians are now called to priestly intercession. Jesus is our great High Priest. As a priest, His role is that of intercessor and we would do well to emulate Him.
Is one prayer position better than another? Scripture does not really recommend a specific prayer position, but it does identify some distinct physical prayer positions of different people in the Bible.
‘Not all intercessors always use lists, but keeping a prayer list has both a Biblical basis and a practical significance for meaningful intercession’. – Dick Eastman
Take a moment to think about it. Are you specific in your requests to God? How about starting an “Impossible Prayers” list to pray?
The challenges of the past year have definitely brought many to a transition of some kind, including spiritual transition. How do I recognise whether I am in a transition right now? How do I respond to life during times of transition?
We have plenty of personal problems, friends and family that keep us on our knees, so we do not really go looking for more prayer material. But does God expect us to also pray for people we do not really know?
Violence and immorality are on the rise. Our society is pleasure mad. False prophets – “angels of light” – have already deceived many with their doctrines of demons. Even with these powerful warnings about the dangers of neglecting prayer, Christians still find it hard to pray.
Not all negative things in your life are due to demonic attacks. There are, however, some signs we can look out for which may indicate that we are indeed under demonic attack.
The Lord’s Prayer starts with: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name . . . ” Let us teach our children to hallow God’s name. He loves to hear children praise Him!
Laat ons dan ons oë vestig op ons Here Jesus Christus wanneer ons die simbole van die brood en die wyn neem tydens nagmaal. En laat ons onthou wat dit beteken dat sy liggaam vir ons gebreek is en sy bloed vir ons gestort is vir die vergifnis van sondes.
Let us fix our eyes on our Lord Jesus Christ when we take the symbols of bread and wine during communion, and remember what it means that His body was broken for us and His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.
After the elders and ministers had prayed and laid their hands on AW Towzer on the day of his ordination, he withdrew to meet his Saviour in the secret place. And in the silence, he went farther than his well-meaning brethren could take him.
Hannah could be called “the First Lady of Prayer”, because she’s the first woman whose petition is recorded in Scripture. Her story shows us how God uses deep human need as a springboard to accomplish his purposes. When he does this, believers receive answers they can hardly believe.
Without the power of the Holy Spirit, believers cannot live in victory and do the work God has given to us. We receive the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit by praying and asking God for it.
The Bible gives many promises to all believers. Here are 20 of those promises that you can pray.
A persevering personal intercessor can lift the pressure and burden from a spiritual worker. However, it is imperative to choose such a person wisely with God’s guidance. An unwise choice may do the spiritual worker more damage than good.
A personal intercessor is simply someone who undertakes to intercede for someone else’s personal needs. It need not be someone with a so-called ‘gift of intercession’.
Growing in the fruit of the Holy Spirit is how the character of Christ is formed in, and shown through, us! This is an invitation to pray through Galatians 5:22-26. Consider seriously praying this Scripture every morning over your life and the lives of your family members.
Christians are in danger of allowing things and people to become more important, to receive a greater priority in their lives, than God. In 1 John 5:21, the apostle John warns believers to keep themselves from idols. We need to deal with these in order to experience revival in our lives.
There are usually four sources of prayer burdens or prayer assignments. Not all prayer burdens are from the Holy Spirit and it is important not to commit to a prayer assignment without His consent.
Waiting on God is not a passive act. It is an active waiting filled with prayer, reading the Word, listening, discerning, evaluating, deep inner cleansing from sin and deep surrender to the King of kings.
George Müller said that he wanted to prove to Christians that God answers prayer. He used six guidelines to determine the will of God.
Every believer should examine themselves regularly for issues in their life that present obstacles to prayer.
Many people struggle to focus in prayer, and they are too embarrassed to admit it. After reading a few verses in the Bible, you might doze off without having really engaged in prayer in any meaningful way. We provide 10 ideas you can try to help you focus in prayer.
Sometimes we don’t ask the Lord for something because we think the matter is too trivial or we think it is too audacious. But one prayer can change your life entirely.
Let us pray the Word for the fulfilment of God’s purposes with creation.
Consider the things you are currently praying about. Why do you pray about them? Often we pray about the right things, but with the wrong motive.
Every believer can experience personal revival daily and in fact, should experience it.
Why is the church so powerless? Why does it have so little effect in the world? Why can’t the church succeed in taking the gospel to all the unreached nations? Why do people become converted but fail to grow to spiritual maturity?
The accounts of prayer in the Bible are the stories of individuals who laid hold of God and He performed miracles in answer to their prayers.
Determine your actual standing as far as your prayer life is concerned. Go through the questions one by one and check your own prayer life.
God’s presence is based on the Word, where God clearly states that He lives in us through the Holy Spirit. To live in the presence of God and to live in the reality of this presence is an act of faith.
Simple and meditative prayer takes you to deeper intimacy with God. This is how the church fathers, monks in monasteries, many of the early Christians, and Christians through the centuries learned to pray and to enter into a deeper relationship with God.
Met die kosbare bloed van Christus is ons losgekoop en ons sondes vergewe. Ons is nou versoen met ons hemelse Vader en kan met vrymoedigheid na Sy genadetroon gaan. Laat ons danksegging betuig teenoor die Here, ons Verlosser!
Most Christians will testify to having a thorn in the flesh. It may be present for a while, but also something you may have to deal with for the rest of your life. [Ook beskikbaar in Afrikaans.]
Don’t hide your sin. “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13. [Ook beskikbaar in Afrikaans.]
Moenie jou sonde wegsteek nie. “Wie sy sonde wegsteek, moet niks goeds te wagte wees nie; wie sy sonde bely en daarvan afsien, sal genade ontvang.” Spreuke 28:13. Also available in English.
Min of meer alle Christene kan getuig van ‘n doring in die vlees. ‘n Doring in die vlees kan iets wees wat vir ‘n leeftyd deel van jou lewe gaan wees – soms net vir ‘n bepaalde tyd. [Also available in English.]
The Cross of Jesus is at the centre of the whole struggle against the evil one, because Satan was conquered at the Cross.
If you keep a prayer journal, in time you will notice how God worked in your own and in other people’s lives and it will be a great testimony!
Dit is belangrik dat ons daagliks sal bid vir die vervulling en salwing met die Heilige Gees. Sy daaglikse en voordurende werking en leiding in ons is onontbeerlik.
Dick Eastman, in sy boek “The hour that changes the world”, doen aan die hand dat ‘n mens ‘n uur in 12 periodes van 5 minute elk indeel. Hier is ‘n opsomming van die 12 vorme van gebed. (Also available in English)
This is a practical guide on how to watch and pray for one hour, seeking God’s face. (Ps.27:8)
Riglyne vir individue en groepe In hierdie klein gids is daar 'n aantal afdelings waardeur jy daagliks kan bid. In elkeen van hulle is daar 'n groot rykdom van inligting. Laat die Heilige Gees toe om die dieptes van hierdie gedeeltes vir jou oop te sluit wanneer jy...
Hudson Taylor het gesê: "Ons (Christene) is bonatuurlike mense, weergebore deur 'n bonatuurlike geboorte, aangedryf deur 'n bonatuurlike krag en gevoed deur bonatuurlike voedsel, geleer deur 'n bonatuurlike leermeester uit 'n bonatuurlike Boek." E.W.Kenyon het gesê:...
Fasting is a laudable practice, and we have reason to lament it, that it is generally neglected among Christians. ~ Matthew Henry I wonder whether we have ever fasted? I wonder whether it has ever occurred to us that we ought to be considering the question of fasting?...
In his book, The hour that changes the world, Dick Eastman suggests that one divide an hour into 12 periods of 5 minutes each. After 5 minutes you change to another form of prayer. The following is Dick Eastman's groupings Praise and Worship Waiting on the Lord...