Prayers

Abraham Lincoln said, "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go.  My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day."

“Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense regardless of how it turns out.” ~Vaclav Havel

 I love the quote above because I believe that God is in control and his plan is better than we could ever imagine. Jeremiah 29:11

Here are some of the prayers I want to remember:

Billy Graham:
"Pray that I will finish the race."  - This has become a daily prayer for me and my loved ones!  "Lord, I pray that we will run the race to win and finish strong!"

Ravi Zacharias:
"Please pray that the Lord will guide, guard, and provide."

"Dear Lord, what would you like to say to this person through me?"  I pray that I will be willing to be God's voice, hands and feet each day.

Naomi Zacharias:
"We have only one Savior whose act of love sustains us every day, and it is our God-given privilege to strive to be his hands and feet through our own daily offerings - whether it be our service, our compassion, our pride , our skills, our investment.  In doing so, we serve to bring the nativity out of the attic and into the center of both suffering and celebration of humanity, exactly where it belongs through all the seasons of life."

Saint Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace!

Where there is hatred-let me sow love

Where there is injury-pardon

Where there is doubt-faith

Where there is despair-hope

Where there is darkness-light

Where there is sadness-joy

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled-as to console

To be understood-as to understand

To be loved-as to love

   for

It is in giving that we receive

It is in pardoning-that we are pardoned

It is in dying-that we are born to eternal life.


A Valentine Prayer

O Lord, I ask before  I start,
As Valentine's comes round,
That I may find within my heart
Its meaning deep, profound.

I ask Thee, Lord, that I may find
Some place where there is need.
Where I can be a little kind
And plant a friendly seed.

I ask Thee, Lord, that I might give
A little bit of love
To those I've felt I can't forgive
As Thou dost from above.

I ask Thee, Lord, to be my guide,
Grant patience, courage too
That I may e'er with Thee abide
In all I try to do.
~Gertrude Rudberg

"Use me, God.

Show me how to take

who I am,

who I want to be,

and what I can do, 

and use it

for a purpose

greater than myself."

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Rick Warren:

"God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure that I spend time loving you and loving other people - because that's what life is all about.  I don't want to waste this day."

Taken from I Thessalonians 3:12-13:

"May the Lord make our love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else.  May he strengthen you"r hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with his holy ones.

If you have not read the classic Christian books by Brother Andrew you have a treat in store for you!  The God Smuggler and The Calling are inspirational as we see God's power and learn to be used by Him.  Here are some prayers from The Calling:

Ten P's --Ten Prayers

1. Prophetic                                                                                                                                     "Lord, cause me to hear your prophetic Word for my life today.  And lead me to the places and people who need to receive that Word-even at the risk of being thought a fool."

2.  Planning
"Lord, help me to accept your prophetic Word today and plan my life based on it.  Allow me to take the initiative in advancing your kingdom and keep that initiative even in enemy territory."

3.  Prayer
"Lord, as I plan my life of service to you, I pray for the working out of your will in my situation, and I pray against every evil force that opposes your will."

4.  Preparation
"Lord, make me the proper tool in your hand.  Cause me to grow in my relationship with you so that when opportunities arise to reap your harvest, I will be completely prepared."

5.  Penetration
"Lord, help me to do something for you today that I have never done before."

6.  Presence
"Lord, show me how I can bring your presence to the places it is needed most, simply by being there myself."

7.  Profile
"Lord, help me to live in such a way that your presence in my life is seen by others.  Make me to be a blessing to someone today."

8.  Permanence
"Lord, you have called me for a purpose.  Whenever you lead me, help me to stay there and serve your faithfully."

9.  Proclamation
"Lord, thank you that even though I'm in the midst of a spiritual battle, the victory is already yours.  Help me to proclaim the victory today."

10.  Power
"Lord, help me to surrender to your power and your greater purpose for my life."

"Lord, I pray that I will be listening and prepared when you call me to stand for You."