Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer (Daniel 10:21).
Humble yourself and pray because God is big. He is strong. He is mighty.
Hurt leads to anger.
Anger, unchecked, leads to bitterness.
Bitterness destroys families.
Through prayer I can
Get rid of all bitterness (Ephesians 4:31).
How?
I focus on God’s forgiveness.
I hurt Him.
He loves me.
As I pray
I choose to forgive
just as God through Christ
has forgiven me (Ephesians 4:32).
God’s perspective on prayer is different than mine.
God longs for me to pray because he loves me.
Life disappointed her, but she’s a woman of prayer. On her darkest days, she said she prayed over and over again, “Lord, I trust you. Lord, I love you.”
Pray because you believe.
Believe because you pray.
Here’s a picture of the God to whom we pray: The Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white a snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him; many millions stood to attend him. Then the court began its sessions, and the books were opened (Daniel 7:9-10).
Seeing God as Judge influences my prayers:
I’m overwhelmed. I fall at his feet. He says, do not be afraid (Revelation 1:17).
I’m amazed He pays so much attention to me. His ears are attentive to my cry (Psalm 34:15).
I’m confident that the Judge of all the earth will always do right (Genesis 25:18). He’s not afraid to say no to me.
I’m filled with praise. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth (Psalm 57:11).
I want to worship and obey. One day all rulers will (Daniel 7:27).
A missionary couple reqularly emails prayer requests to their supporters. I asked what they’ve noticed when people pray for them. I thought they’d speak of specific answers, but they didn’t. Without hesitation they both answered, “We feel peace.”
After our conversation I remembered this verse: Present your requests to God and you will experience God’s peace (from Philippians 4:6-7).
God does what he says he’ll do.
He was proud, but because God humbled him, he learned to honor God through prayer.
When his sanity returned, Nebuchadnezzar looked up to heaven and worshiped:
His rule is everlasting,
and his kingdom is eternal.
All the people of the earth
are nothing compared to him.
He does as he pleases
among the angels of heaven
and among the people of earth.
No one can stop him or say to him,
‘What do you mean by doing these things?’
(from Daniel 4:34-35)
