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"God’s Word nourishes
your prayer, strengthens your prayer, and warms your
heart and fires your spirit as you pray. You cannot
have a strong spiritual life apart from constant
feeding upon and assimilating God’s Word. Spiritual
growth depends upon daily spiritual food. Earnest,
even forceful praying, if not nourished on God’s
Word, may be weak and flabby." (Duewel, Mighty
Prevailing Prayer, p. 290.). |
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"Little of the Word with little
prayer is death to the spiritual life. Much of the
Word with little prayer gives a sickly life. Much
prayer with little of the Word gives more life, but
without steadfastness. A full measure of the Word
and prayer each day gives a healthy and powerful
life." (Andrew Murray, Prayer Life, p. 88.) |
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"THE WORD OF
GOD IS THE FOOD THAT MAKES YOU STRONG TO PRAY"
Prayer is a
concept designed especially for human beings. No other
beings have need of prayer. Jesus, the Son of God intercedes
for us with His Father in heaven but He intercedes face to
face. The angels live in God’s presence.
But
humanity, since the sin of Adam and Eve, is no longer able
to communicate face to face with God. Because of God’s
foreknowledge He had a plan ready to put in place
immediately. The Bible tells us that the Son of God was the
Savior from the foundation of the world. Through faith in a
coming Redeemer, prayer--heart to heart communication with
God, in place of face to face--was instituted at the gate of
Eden to make it possible for Adam and Eve and their
descendants to speak with God.
When the
Son of God became a human being and lived among us His means
of communication with His heavenly Father was through
prayer. Because of the record of His prayer life we are
better able to understand the power of prayer.
But
sometimes we find it hard to find words to pray. God has
made it easy for us by giving us scripture examples, the
very words of prayer. "The more constantly you feed on the
word, the richer and deeper your life of prayer becomes. The
Word of God is the food that makes you strong to pray."
(Wesley L. Duewel, Mighty Prevailing Prayer, p. 290.) |
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"For the Word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the
thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation
is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid
bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
(Hebrews 4:12,13.) |
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"God’s Word to the holy men of Old Testament
times was intended to reveal God and to offer a route of
access to the Heavenly Father. Of Jesus’ birth it was
declared, ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we
beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the
Father, full of grace and truth’ (John 1:14). The written
Word became the living Word, but the purpose of the Word
remained the same--access to God. Christ is the Word
incarnate; the Bible is the Word codified." Judson Cornwall,
Praying the Scriptures, p.10 |
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". .
.The Word was given, both in written and living form, to
return us to a personal relationship with almighty God. Such
a relationship, of course, demands communication, and prayer
is communication with God. The Bible, then, is a textbook on
prayer. It teaches us the need to pray, the nature of prayer
and the rewards of prayer. This is well-known. What seems to
have been forgotten by some of today’s generation is that
the Bible can also become the very prayer we need to pray."
( Judson Cornwall, Praying the Scriptures, pp. 10, 11.) |
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"In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. . .
. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among
us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and
Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and
truth." (John 1:1, 2, 14.) |
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"Praying becomes more meaningful when we
allow the Scriptures to open our eyes, unveil our hearts and
illuminate God’s will. It ceases to be small talk and
becomes smart talk. It moves from merely expressing feelings
to expressing God’s will and our submission to that will.
When God’s word to us is mingled with our word to God, we
have a meaningful dialogue that genuinely communicates.
This, in itself, is sufficient to increase our prayers."
(Judson Cornwall, Praying the Scriptures, p. 104.) |
| "There is
no greater source of the expressed will of God than the
Scriptures. As we bring them into our prayer lives, we are
far more likely to pray according to the will of God than
when we merely pray out of our minds and emotions." (Judson
Cornwall, Praying the Scriptures, p. 104.) |
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"Worship. In two
thousand years we haven’t worked out the kinks. We still
struggle over Scripture. We don’t know when to kneel. We
don’t know when to stand. We don’t know how to pray.
"Worship is a
daunting task.
"For that reason,
God gave us the Psalms--a praise book for God’s people. The
Psalms could be titled God’s Book of Common Prayer.
This collection of hymns and petitions are strung together
by one thread--a heart hungry for God.
"Some are defiant.
Others are reverent. Some are to be sung. Others are to be
prayed. Some are intensely personal. Others are written as
though the whole world would use them. Some were penned in
caves, others in temples.
"But all have one
purpose--to give us the words to say when we stand before
God.
"The very variety
should remind us that worship is personal. No secret formula
exists. What moves you may stymie another. Each worships
differently. But each should worship.
"This book (the
Psalms) will help you do just that.
"Here is a hint.
Don’t just read the prayers of these saints, pray them.
Experience their energy. Imitate their honesty. Enjoy their
creativity. Let these souls lead you to worship.
"And let’s
remember. The language of worship is not polished, perfect,
or advanced. It’s just honest." ( The Inspirational Study
Bible, Max Lucado, General Editor, The Introduction to
the Book of Psalms, p. 607). |
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Contacts: John
and Carrol Shewmake
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