When You Pray...

And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. —Matthew 6:7

Jesus knew the power of a short, simple prayer and spoke the words of today's Scripture when He taught on prayer during the Sermon on the Mount.

At times we are led by the Holy Spirit to pray for long periods of time, but it is the sincerity of our prayers that is important, not their length. If God always wanted our prayers to be long and drawn out, I really believe He would have put only long, drawn-out prayers throughout the Bible.

Many of the examples of prayer in Scripture are short and concise. The enemy is the one who tells us that our prayers are never long enough. It is fine with God for us to pray using only a few words.

In fact, all the way through the Bible are some incredibly brief, but awesomely powerful prayers, just a few of which are listed below.

• Moses cried out for his sister: "Please heal her, O God, I pray!" (Num. 12:13 NKJV).
• The Psalmist pleaded: "Have mercy and be gracious unto me, O Lord, for I am in trouble" (Ps. 31:9).
• Elijah prayed: "O Lord my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him" (1 Kings 17:21 NKJV).
• Jesus said: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34 NKJV).

Love God Today: Remember what Jesus said: "…Do not heap up phrases…" Short prayers are powerful!

Joyce Meyer

10 Myths About Money & Giving - Tim Conway

Fasting to Be Seen Only by God

 Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,  so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 6 :16-19

Waiting for God's perfect timing...

Waiting for God – He Acts on our Behalf

Are you waiting for God? He acts on our behalf as we wait for Him. “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4). 

Waiting for God – He Strengthens Us

As you are waiting for God, He strengthens you. “But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings as eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). 

I once heard an illustration about how God strengthens us during trials. It went like this: “Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm; it simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life come upon us, we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us; we can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment into our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.”

Waiting for God – He Blesses Us

When waiting for God, He blesses you. “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him” (Isaiah 30:18). 

What does it mean to be blessed by God while we wait on Him? As we wait on God and His timing, He can accomplish so much in our hearts. Often we find new purpose in life, receive answers to prayer, see God work, increase our faith, and most often we see God’s perfect plan fulfilled in our situation.

 Remember, waiting is not wasted time!

Experiencing Manifestations of the Love of Christ - Tim Conway

God Knows You And He Has A Plan For Your Life

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