Jesus Is
LORD!

"Changing Blanchard
one Life at a time."

PRAY TODAY

PRAYER OF NATIONAL REPENTANCE

Rev. Joe Wright prayed this pray to open the session of the Kansas Senate in January, 1996.

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good", but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritural equilibrium and reversed our values. We confess that,

   We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism;
   We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism;
   We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle;
   We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery;
   We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare;
   We have killed our unborn and called it choice;
   We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable;
   We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem;
   We have abused power and called it politics;
   We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition;
   We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression;
   We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

      Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent; to direct us to the center of Your will and to openly ask these things in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."

HEART OF PRAYER

LUKE 11:1 “AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT AS HE(JESUS) WAS PRAYING IN A CERTAIN PLACE, WHEN HE CEASED, ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES SAID UNTO HIM, LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY, AS JOHN ALSO TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES.”

In my own walk with Christ, I have sought to study the Bible, in order to gain understanding of God’s will. We are instructed to study, teach and obey the great truths of God’s word. This is a constant process of questioning and searching for answers that will guide us in our daily lives. There are many books, which have been written, to assist in practical Bible study. Some of these books can certainly be helpful in developing a consistent Bible study method.

With this being said, the most important aspect of Biblical understanding and practical application, is our pray life. The disciples recognized this in the daily example set by Jesus. They didn’t ask what method of study to use in order to understand more clearly the Scriptures. It was apparent to them that the effective works of Jesus were directly connected to His pray life. Because of this they asked, “ Lord, teach us to pray.” I have often heard it said, that if Christ needed to maintain such a habitual and fervent pray life, how much greater is our need today to do the same.

“HE WHO PRAYS AS HE OUGHT WILL ENDEAVOR TO LIVE AS HE PRAYS.”    -JOHN OWEN

Looking at the model pray that Jesus gave in response to the Disciple’s request. It is clear that the focus is intended to yield submission to God the Father. LUKE 11:2-4

“AND HE (JESUS) SAID UNTO THEM, WHEN YE PRAY SAY, OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN , HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME . THY WILL BE DONE, AS IN HEAVEN, SO IN EARTH. GIVE US DAY BY DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. AND FORGIVE US OUR SINS; AS WE ALSO FORGIVE EVERY ONE THAT IS INDEBTED TO US. AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION; BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.”

God the Father is to be exalted and reverenced (Hallowed), because of His Divine nature and power. If we truly acknowledge and believe in God’s supreme abilities, we will seek Him for our needs. The focus is not on our particular needs, but our surrender and relationship to God, as our Heavenly Father. Just as Jesus depended on the guidance of the Father, so must we continually recognize His authority and be obedient. Praying is an exercise in simple trust or faith.

IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD YOU WILL PRAY. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE GOD IS REALLY REAL, WHY BOTHER TO PRAY

1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 PAUL SAID " PRAY WITHOUT CEASING." WHY WOULD YOU PRAY CONTINUALLY IF YOU DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT GOD WAS ALL KNOWING , ALL POWERFUL, AND INFINITE IN EVERY WAY? SO IF WE SAY WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE IS REAL, WHY ARE WE NOT COMMUNING WITH HIM IN CONSTANT SUPPLICATION AND PRAY ? E.M. BOUNDS SAID "IT IS BETTER TO LET THE WORK GO BY DEFAULT, THAN TO LET THE PRAYING GO BY NEGLECT." TAKE THE TIME TO PRAY. IF JESUS , GOD IN THE FLESH, PRAYED REGULARLY WHILE HEAR ON EARTH. HOW MUCH GREATER IS OUR NEED TO SEEK GOD IN PRAYER. PHILIPPIANS 4:6 " BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING; BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE KNOWN UNTO GOD."

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