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If you want to write a prayer letter to God, spend some time meditating to think about what you want your prayer to say. Open your letter by thanking God for the things you have in your life, followed by praise for him. When you reach the purpose of your prayer, focus on one topic at a time, expressing exactly what you want to say to God before you move on to the next subject. Remember, praying is a very personal experience, and there is no one right way to write a prayer letter.` Keep reading to learn how to address your letter if you want to mail it to God. Did this summary help you?Praying is a way to access or talk to God. It is a ritual practiced by many people and various religions. Whether you are Christian or Muslim, you may like to thank God for being there for you, ask him for enlightenment or salvation, praise him. Even if you find yourself stuck on how to pray to God, there are some easy things to do to help yourself out. Praying to God is just simply talking to him, so it may help you get some perspective on prayer if you write your prayers in a letter to God instead. Here Paul relates the reality of fearing for his life under severe persecution as he proclaimed the gospel in Asia. He was convinced that God alone could have delivered him from certain death. He even gives the reason for God allowing such a close call with death. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b) Therefore, “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18).Next, Paul specifically gives all credit to God for his rescue. He also affirms that God’s purpose in causing him to rely on God rather than himself had been effective.

Interestingly, though many say they believe all this, something still keeps them from praying as they ought to. As encouragement to earnest, expectant prayer, I offer this brief study.

Jacky Duncan is pastor of The Church at Canoe Creek. Worship is at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 5038 Rainbow Drive, Rainbow City. Email [email protected] or call 256-570-0465 for more information.Let’s consider one potent example of effective prayer. In one of Paul’s letters to the church at Corinth he explains the deadly perils he frequently experienced and sought the prayers of the church. First, the situation: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.” (II Corinthians 1:8–9a) Most of Paul’s recorded prayer requests center on his being protected and emboldened to proclaim Christ despite deadly opposition. Several requests concern his desire to visit certain groups of believers to minister to them for their good. All his prayer requests were selfless and Kingdom-centered.

Scripture teaches some prerequisites for granted requests, such as faith, patience, obedience, unselfishness and submission to God’s greater wisdom and purposes. Failure to practice these can cause the Lord to not grant our requests. However, we must not allow undue emphasis on such things to hinder our sincere, consistent praying.

Jesus makes many appeals to us to pray, and many promises to grant requests that are according to God’s purposes and promises. So, yes, prayer works! God grants prayer requests, especially those that advance Christ’s Kingdom and mature His people.Does prayer work? Does prayer move God to act? This may sound like a “duh” question, but it isn’t. Some believe that, since God is sovereign and does what He pleases, prayer has no real effect. This promotes generalized praying and can reduce prayer to a mere ceremonial exercise.

“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.” (Verses 10–11a).The LORD is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; he keeps me alive. He guides me in proper paths for the sake of his good name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me. Your rod and your staff — they protect me. You set a table for me right in front of my enemies. You bathe my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over! Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the LORD’s house as long as I live. I pray you would move the Spirit more boldly in my life. I know that any sin can grieve and diminish the voice of the Spirit, and I pray against the temptation to sin. Help me crave your presence more than I crave sin. Help me grow in the fruit of the Spirit and so walk closer with Yourself. I pray for guidance from your Spirit — let your will and promises always be a meditation of my heart. Olivia Muenter is a freelance writer and former fashion and beauty editor who writes about fashion, beauty, lifestyle, relationships, travel, home decor, and more for Woman’s Day and beyond. Her work has appeared in Bustle, Refinery 29, Glamour, Byrdie, Apartment Therapy, Philadelphia Magazine, and more. When she’s not reading (or talking about reading on Bad on Paper, the bookish podcast she co-hosts), you can find Olivia working on her first novel, curating the perfect playlist, or shopping online.Grant me tenacious winsome courage as I go through this day. When I am tempted to give up, help me to keep going. Grant me a cheerful spirit when things don’t go my way. And give me the courage to do whatever needs to be done.

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; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I pray to You my Father above, that You influence all decisions I, my family, and my friends make today. You’re our pillar of support and we want You to support us throughout the day by giving us the capacity. God, we need You to back all actions and decisions that surround us today. Let positivity follow us, oh Lord. And allow us the wisdom to avoid any negative occurrence in our time of need. We thank You, Lord, for gracing us with Your presence.Please give me a measure of your love today; give me the strength to endure this trial. Thank you for your love for me that never ends! And thank you for the crown of joy that awaits me forever in your Kingdom! As I go to work today, let me work by Your words, oh Lord. I want You to be my Rock and my Fortress and protect from all challenges that I might face today. From going to my workplace to the work itself and even leaving it, Lord, guide my actions and allow me great success. Walk with my decisions, Father, so that I may reap the fruits of my labour. I exalt Your name for the performed miracles and in Jesus’ name, I pray. Help me love the life I live right now. Show me the good things I often overlook and help me be content with what I have. Forgive me when I compare myself to others, forgive me for longing for things outside of You and Your kingdom. Thank You for loving me right where I am, right as I am. Help me keep my eyes on You. I ask for your guidance today as I set out for better opportunities than yesterday. Do not let me stray from my path for You’re my shepherd, oh Lord. Let Your staff prevent me from any error and let Your eyes watch over me and protect me from all danger. You’re the only God and no matter is too big for You Lord. So, let flattened all issues that may plague my day. I am weary and don’t know when this “race” will end in my life. I feel like I’ve been running forever, trying to outrun this trial. Help me to stop trying to outrun my pain but rather run with endurance the race you have set before me. I know that because of you I am ultimately a victor over the trials in my life. I know that nothing in this world can separate me from your steadfast love.

Some people of faith might not want to admit it, but most can probably remember a time when reciting a daily prayer or two was not exactly a part of their everyday routine. For many, daily prayer is something they turn to when life becomes stressful, difficult, or saddening. It can be easy to forget about the habit when life is busy or when everything is going well. But having a daily habit of healing through prayer is a great way to stay grounded in your faith on a day-to-day basis and prioritize reflective time between you and God. Reading a prayer for today will not only help you feel closer to God, but can also relieve daily stress and anxiety.Father in heaven, I stand before You today in Your omnipotent presence to ask that You grant me strength. I want You to give me the strength to power through all of the tasks today — whether little or big. It is by Your will that I live oh Lord. And I know it is also by Your will I will not go weak today. I will not go lazy nor will I will fail to do all things set before me because You strengthen me. Thank You for Your everlasting presence Lord and in Jesus’ name, I pray.Lord, thank you for your abundant, abounding grace. Thank you that we don’t have to earn a drop of the mighty river of grace that flows freely for us today. Thank you for the unexpected, unmerited favor you’ve showered on my life. Help me put myself in the path of your love and grace. Help me not neglect the disciplines I need to meet with you regularly and to drink from the water of life. Thank you for your rich love. Amen.

O My God, relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.

Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

I don’t know who or what will cross my path today. But I do know that You are my Rock and my Fortress. You are my Shield and my Strong Tower. Help me to anchor myself to You today. Teach me how to stand strong in You and choose only Your way today. Help me walk by Your truth and not my feelings. Help me to embrace anything that comes my way as an opportunity to see You at work and as an opportunity to point others to You. Thank You that You love me and nothing can ever take that away from me! Even if I fail today and fall short, You whisper Your unconditional love deep into my soul and remind me that Your mercies are new every morning. That truly amazes me, Lord. Thank You for meeting with me today. Would You wake me again tomorrow with the same sweet whisper of Your love? I can’t wait to meet with You again.Good morning, Lord! Today’s a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures I may have experienced. It’s a good day to be glad and give thanks, and I do, Lord. Thank you for today, a new opportunity to love, give, and be all that you want me to be. Amen.

But if it’s been a while since you read Bible scripture, finding a place to start can feel overwhelming. That’s why it’s helpful to have some short go-to Bible verses and prayers that can provide guidance and strength through every season of your life, whether you pray every day, week, month, or barely at all. The most important thing to remember, though, is that no matter how often you pray, God is always ready to listen.\n\t\t\tPlease note: Users who are either banned, already invited, members or blocked receiving invitations to this group will not show in this listing.\t\t

Right here on this website portal is a supportive online community from many nations who pray for each other, prophesy encouraging words from the heart of God and cheer one another on! We invite you to join many others on this portal who have received a powerful encounter with Jesus so we can help you encounter God’s love and power and receive breakthrough in your life.that Father God would “unveil within you the unlimited riches of His glory and favour until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with His divine might and explosive power. Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Jesus Christ will be released deep inside you and the resting place of His love will become the very source and root of your life. Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences – the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Jesus Christ in all its dimensions… Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you… He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, as His miraculous power constantly energizes you!” (Ephesians 3:16-20 TPT).

We’re just human. We’re not God. We have no power to cast out devils, but God has. The good news is that we’re hooked up to the One who has all power. Our job is to believe the Word and to agree with people for their needs to be met and to pray for them this sinner’s prayer:O God, be merciful to me. God, I have sinned. I ask You to forgive me. I repent. I turn my back on sin. I renounce the devil and all of his works. I turn from it and I turn toward You, O God. Forgive me. Cleanse me. Create in me a new heart. Wash me whiter than snow. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen and amen.

I put out my hand and said, “I rebuke you, you bad spirit. In the name of Jesus, you come out!” Suddenly the boy’s eyes went back to normal shape and his tongue went limp and went back into his mouth. He looked around as if to say, “What happened?” I put my arms around him and said, “Son, let me lead you to Jesus.” He prayed the sinner’s prayer and his life was transformed.I once was preaching in Jamaica in a great crusade, and on one particular night thousands of people had gathered in a stadium in Kingston. After the service was over, I went out to get in my car to go back to the hotel, and some men brought a demon-possessed young man to me. Two men were holding him on either side. When I got near to him, I could see that his eyes were like slits. His pupils were not round; they looked as you would expect a snake’s eyes to look. His tongue was darting in and out of his mouth. When he came closer, he doubled up his fist to hit me, and the Spirit of the Lord spoke to my heart: He won’t hit you because none of those evil spirits will have any power over you.

Please pray for “total restoration” in my finances, marital relationship, and maintaining faith! I’ve been diligently and prayerfully seeking God and in need of prayers of agreement! Special prayer for God’s hedge of protection around my 3 the adult children! Thank you!When you send your prayer requests, they are sent directly to our Ministry for us to stand in prayerful agreement with you. It is my prayer right now that you see God’s supernatural power at work in your life.

If you experience any technical difficulty with the form below, please try clearing your browser cache, clearing cookies for megapraiseministries.com and/or using a different, current browser. Thank you!In Colossians 3, there is a description of what it means to clothe yourself with Christ. In practical terms, it means choosing to adopt His qualities as your own in a permanent way that demonstrates you have been changed forever by knowing Him and giving the Holy Spirit control of your life.

Father, please help me remember Your great love for me. Show me how I can demonstrate and communicate my faith in You and Your love to the people I live, work and play alongside every day. But help me to also notice those people who are on the fringes of my community and world, and give me the courage to reach out to, learn from and love them in tangible ways.Obeying God is living according to His perfect design for your life rather than being ruled by the world, your flesh or the devil. If you want to overcome the things that tempt you to disobey God, it helps to think of your faith in terms of a loving relationship. The outcomes of your choices will either nurture or damage it. “The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.” (1 Timothy 2:1-3, The Message) Whether or not you live in a community as significant as Ephesus, if you are a Christian and the people around you know that, the way you live is being noticed too.Paul knew that for a community to live this way, it would need a level of unity that does not come naturally. He knew the people he was writing to well enough to know the internal disputes and rivalries that could easily undermine their witness for Jesus. So he calls them to live lives characterized by humility, and he does so by describing the humility of Jesus, the man who deserved honor above all others.

He promised there was no need to fear because His Holy Spirit was going to come and live within them, guiding and comforting them and giving them the strength they needed. But they would need to choose to obey His teaching as a demonstration of their trust in God every day.

As you pray, try to develop the habit of setting aside time to talk with God about other people. Share your concerns for them because He cares. One of the most practical ways you can help anyone is to invite God into their present situation.

The difference between those listening to Jesus in person and us today is that we now read these statements through the lens of His death and resurrection. We know that purity is not something we achieve through sticking rigidly to religious rules. It develops as we depend on Him to help us live in obedience to His standards, moment by moment.

What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? Learn how you can know God personally.This chapter in the Book of Romans encourages everyone to be aware of the truth that all believers are precious members of the body of Christ and no one has a higher status in the eyes of God than anyone else.

So in His final conversation with them before He was taken to be crucified, Jesus made sure to teach them about looking at life from an eternal perspective, the way God does. They would face many days that would feel like defeat unless they entered them already knowing that victory was ultimately theirs because of Jesus.

Enemies come in various forms, some seemingly greater than others. For the crowds listening to Jesus, the word “enemy” would have triggered thoughts both of feuds within their own communities and families and of external threats to their very way of life and integrity as the nation of Israel.“Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. … As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.” (John 15:4-5, 9-10) In fact, loving your neighbor stands beside loving God as one of the greatest commandments God has given, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 22. After a similar verse in Luke 10, Jesus explains it further with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. In this famous story, Jesus defines who your neighbor is. In any Christian community, some members will have more visible responsibilities while others tend to go unnoticed. Some will have titles, like elder or deacon, while others won’t and may think their contribution is somehow less significant because of that.

If you want to live a life that points people toward Jesus, you need His strength to grow beyond normal human patterns of behavior like holding grudges and unforgiveness. Your motivation is not just because people are watching but because Jesus calls you as His follower to forgive others as He forgives you. This is not normal or easy by any stretch of the imagination, but as you ask God to help you do this, people will see and experience His love and forgiveness through you.Father, whether I’m aware of it or not, I know there are people in my life I feel angry toward or hurt by. Give me the humility I need to forgive them, love them and pray for them without expecting or needing anything in return.

It is easy to let your walk with Jesus turn into a list of moral dos and don’ts to try to earn or keep God’s love and approval of you. But living that way is exhausting, impossible and not the hope that the Bible teaches about a relationship with God through Christ.Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi to ensure they had the right priorities as a community of Jesus followers. He knew that their unity was under threat because of the fierce opposition they faced for their beliefs. He wrote the letter from prison, where he had been placed for preaching the gospel.The part of the Bible that the verse above is from is full of strong warnings about judging others or treating them with contempt because they do not follow God in exactly the way you do. One day we will all face God. Understanding how much grace He has shown you will come with an understanding of how little you deserved it.

These verses can serve as a prompt to think about the broader communities you are a part of, such as your city and your nation. The Christians in Jesus’ time were living under the authority and overwhelming power of the Roman Empire.You are loved, saved and accepted by God because of your faith in Jesus, which is a gift that you can’t take credit for. Every day, you need to be reminded of — and remain in — God’s great love for you (Ephesians 3:14-21) and remember that His love is a gift you accept and cannot earn. The letter to the Romans teaches us about the change that happens in you when you become a Christian and the change God continues to bring about in you. As you spend time in God’s Word and talk with Him in prayer, He shapes your perspective on what is most valuable, on your purpose in life and on the pathway to peace and joy. “In this world,” Jesus said, “you will have trouble.” You may be experiencing sickness, the death of a person you love or family conflicts. But embracing Jesus’ victory can give you the hope and courage to face life’s challenges.The instructions in this passage of Scripture about how to give are set in the context of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, as well as the sacrifices made in the Temple that preceded it. Both are acts of devotion and worship to God.

When you pray, ask God to remind you as often as He needs to that while you may be concerned about someone else’s way of living, you are ultimately responsible for your own.

As you pray, ask God whether you need Him to grant you more humility because of the perceived status you hold in your community or whether, in fact, you need to recognize your own contribution and value to others more clearly.

When you pray, you want to be confident that the One you bring your deepest hopes, ambitions, regrets and fears to can be trusted with them. Since God created all things through and for Himself, He alone has the power to hear all our prayers and answer them. So it is appropriate and important when you pray to start by acknowledging Who you are talking with and what makes Him unique.But Jesus takes it a step further, presenting a person who crossed the barriers between people who were not alike — who were even considered enemies — as the example of how to love. He is calling you to love not just those you choose to be a part of your life but everyone you come across.

If you’re going to thrive and experience the fullness of your relationship with God, you need to daily be reminded of what that identity and acceptance are based on: His love for you. Apart from Him and that love, you can do nothing.Kindness to the degree demonstrated by Jesus as He lived among people who would ultimately betray Him is counter-cultural in any culture. This radical kindness, including loving enemies, stands out to people and provokes them to ask why you would choose to live this way. If you’re looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru’s ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. Thank You, God, for pursuing me before I took You seriously. Please show _______ how much You love them in a way they can understand, and use me to invite _______ into a relationship with You. Show me how to care for them and show them Your love. Help me to trust in Your perfect timing, God, and not give up.Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world.

Now here comes Jesus, telling them that loving God and loving others requires them to do the opposite of what comes naturally: to love those enemies. His teaching is completely consistent with what God was demonstrating through the life of Jesus Himself. He came to earth to rescue God’s enemies to their heavenly Father by giving of His own life for them in every way He could — including suffering and death.But everyone goes through times when praying feels like walking uphill. So we’ve created this list of things you can pray for when you need a little inspiration. Each item on the list comes with a verse from the Bible to shape your thinking and an example of how you might pray in response.

All of this is vital when it comes to having the right attitude as you pray for people who do not yet know Jesus. In today’s culture, everyone is used to receiving fast or immediate responses to most of our requests or needs. God may not always answer you with the speed you would like, but that is because He knows everything that will happen over the course of your life and the lives of the people you care about. God’s timing is perfect, and He knows when you need to persevere in prayer for someone you are desperate to see come to know Him.Jesus, help me to remember that You love me and that I need You and Your love every day. Thank You that who I am and how You feel about me is based on who You are and Your love for me. Thank You that I cannot earn Your love and acceptance, but because of what Jesus has done for me and the faith You’ve given me in Him, I have it. Help me to live differently because I am perfectly loved by You. “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5) Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach.This verse is the sixth of what are known as the Beatitudes. Jesus made these simple statements intending that they would be memorized by His listeners. That’s why each beatitude is concise and all of them follow a similar pattern.

Father God, I know You care deeply about the people in my life. Right now _______ is struggling with _______. I want them to know You love them and are ready to help them through this time.Kindness is one of the qualities of Christ listed in this verse. Why is this so important? Perhaps because God knows it is contrary to your human nature, which inclines you to put yourself first.

It’s very easy, when you pray, to get bogged down in talking with God about all the things going on in your own life. This verse reminds you that, as a Christian, you have the opportunity and the responsibility to pray for the people you care about, and even for people you have never met.Paul wrote these words to the church in Ephesus — a church where he had spent a great deal of time as a missionary. He was acutely aware that their way of living was being observed. Ephesus was an ancient port city, once thought of as the most important city in Greece. As people from other nations passed through the city every day, it’s fair to say the world was watching how this community of Jesus followers related to one another and to others.The Christian faith can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. That’s because there are things that are determined to get in our way. But those things ultimately have no power. Here is an in-depth look at spiritual warfare.It’s important to remember that you don’t have all the time in the world to address the issues in your life and community. But at the same time, God works on a very different timeline than you do.

God demonstrates His love for you in all sorts of ways. This verse reminds you that when you pray, it is good to regularly come back to thanking God for His ultimate act of love. Without His willingness to let Jesus die on the cross, your relationship with God would not be possible.

God calls us to pray for our leaders — that they would submit to His leadership for the sake of His will being done and for the advancement of His kingdom.You are not alone. For many Christians, prayer can sometimes feel dry or stale. Prayer is talking with someone who loves you deeply and knows you intimately, so it might be hard to admit or deal with when the conversation has seemed to dry up. Part of the problem can also be the temptation to see prayer as talking to God rather than talking with Him.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45)Naturally, His disciples were afraid at the thought of ever being without Jesus. How would they remember all His teaching? How would they live if He wasn’t there to guide them?

Thank You, God, that You loved the whole entire world. Thank You that You loved me before I loved You and You were willing to demonstrate Your love by making the ultimate sacrifice for me — Your death on a cross. Thank You for giving me the gift of eternal life.There is no clearer or more simple way to start to love someone in your life than to approach God on their behalf. Perhaps you could make a list of people in your life whom you are praying for or want to pray for. Look over your list. Are the people on it mostly like you in ways that make you feel safe being in relationship with them?

Some of the content on character traits was adapted from Anne Arkins and Gary Harrell, “While They Are Sleeping: 12 Character Traits to Pray for the Children You Love” (Little Rock: FamilyLife Publishing, 2010).When you pray for humility, be prepared for God to reveal prideful behavior in your life and for Him to ask you to humble yourself in very practical ways. He may, for example, prompt you to apologize to someone you feel you deserve an apology from yourself. Or He may challenge you to forgive someone you find it hard to forgive.

The only reason you can love God, yourself or those around you is that God loved you first. He made a way for you to have a relationship with Him and experience His love so you can be changed by it and love others as a result.In Philippians 1, Paul implores the members of the church in Philippi to live lives worthy of the gospel of Christ. This involves both believing in Him and willingly enduring suffering for the sake of the gospel.

In our time, this command is as relevant as ever. It’s easy to pray for political and cultural leaders you already agree with. But are you willing to bridge the divides in our culture by praying for those you disagree with? The way you think often determines the way you act. The church God has built to bring about change in the world always faces the danger of being corrupted by the widely accepted ways of doing things in the culture around it. If you are a Christian, you know that there are ways of living that please God and other ways that displease Him. God determines right from wrong and has the authority to judge anyone. It’s often tempting to try to look at the lives of other believers and find fault to try and distract us from or make us feel better about our own behavior, but Jesus commands us not to judge others (Matthew 7:1-20).John 3:16 is part of a conversation between Jesus and a religious teacher named Nicodemus. It comes at a moment in their conversation when Jesus is trying to help Nicodemus understand what it means to be born again, or become a Christian, by trusting in Him. In Jesus’s explanation, one word captures the essential character of God, and that word is “love.”

Jesus knew exactly when He was going to die. As He saw that day approaching, He dedicated more and more of His time to instructing His closest followers, His disciples, about how they were to live because they would be the founders of His church. A large section of the Gospel of John is dedicated to telling us what Jesus told them.“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)It’s tempting to simply think of the people you like — who are like you or physically close to you — as your neighbors, and God definitely wants you to love and pray for them.

So as you pray for people you hope will know and experience God’s perfect love, it’s vital that you learn to trust in God and His timetable rather than insisting He work on yours. Otherwise, you are likely to become frustrated and even bitter about what you wrongly see as unanswered prayers.When you pray about giving, it’s easy to think mostly about money or tangible possessions. But really, God invites you to be conscious of whatever is most valuable to you, and that might be time, money, energy or even your reputation. He waits patiently for you to recognize anything you might value more than Him, even subconsciously. Daily prayer is an essential practice for Christians. Whether you pray regularly or are trying to build the habit, these prompts are a helpful starting place. God, please renew my mind so that I will know what You are calling me to do. Help me to do the right thing rather than the accepted or “normal” thing. As I read Your word, remind me of who I am, who You are and what my purpose here on earth is.

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)For followers of Jesus, it’s important to have a sense of urgency and not take for granted that God gives everyone their time on earth as a chance to come to know Him. The author of the passage above, Peter, was warning the people he was writing to that human history as they knew it would come to an end when Jesus returns.“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

Supernatural Life Church proclaims the truth of God’s Word in Pentecostal and dynamic power in order to praise and worship the Lord, edify the Church, and evangelize the Word to the world… read morePrayer does not have to be a hidden secret. He is always there to protect and guide us and prepared to listen. God hears prayers that are offered by His children.