James encouraged his listeners to pray at the end of his very practical letter to suffering, scattered believers: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him… Read More »
Whether we are experiencing a major trial, a “blah” day for no apparent reason, or anything in between, we are people who need comfort and encouragement. And if we are in need of encouragement, it is very likely that the people around us are too. Paul prayed such a prayer for the encouragement of the… Read More »
Last time, I began with an attempt to begin to answer the question, What are we really asking for when we pray for wisdom? We looked at definitions of wisdom, the source of wisdom, and the outcomes of wisdom. This time, we will look at some examples of praying for wisdom as well as a… Read More »
In continuing the Wednesday night lessons on prayer for our ladies, we studied examples of and a command to pray for wisdom. When I introduced the lesson, I asked what it is that we are really asking for when we pray for wisdom. Usually, I’m thinking: Please, Lord, tell me what to do! Help me… Read More »
Along with a friend in my church, I am teaching a ladies’ class on prayer on Wednesday nights. The general theme is “What to Pray for as We Ought.” So we’ve been looking at the patterns of prayer in both the Old and New Testaments. The verse that was the foundation for this study is… Read More »
Last time, we looked at enslaved Israel in Egypt, their cry to God for deliverance, and God’s hearing, seeing, and knowing their troubles. He responded with care because he remembered his promises to them, and he delivered them. Hundreds of years later, we see Judah, the more faithful of the divided nation of Israel, once… Read More »
Israel’s Cry for Deliverance After almost 400 years of slavery in Egypt, Israel is recorded to have groaned and cried out for help. During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up… Read More »
I pray for my husband but not nearly as much as I should. I pray generically for him to have grace and strength in life, and I pray for some certain situations or struggles that I know of. But it never seems quite adequate. Sometimes I just don’t know how to pray for my husband… Read More »
According to the National Weather Service, “Thunder is created when lightning passes through the air. The lightning discharge heats the air rapidly and causes it to expand. The temperature of the air in the lightning channel may reach as high as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun. Immediately after… Read More »
“There’s my prayer partner,” said an older lady at church to me. “I pray for you every day.” These words of faithful prayer on my behalf were so encouraging to me as you can imagine. What I was really suddenly struck with as I thought on her words, though, was the spiritual accountability for my… Read More »