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The Prophet Hosea, whose name means Salvation, has given us an amazing outline for prayer: “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you” (Hosea 10:12). Use these scriptural prayer points from Hosea to pray for yourself, your family, church, community and nation: • Sow righteousness for yourselves 2 Corinthians 9:6 – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” Galatians 6:7-8 – “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Pray : Father, my heart longs to move from sinfulness to righteousness. I know that I am made righteous by Jesus, but I also know that in the economy of Your Kingdom, I will reap what I sow – emotionally and spiritually. Please help me to sow good things generously. Use me to sow what please the Holy Spirit and not myself. May my church be known in the community as a generous body of believers who care for others passionately, and who demonstrate the life of Christ with our words and our actions. Help our nation to return to righteousness in the powerful Name of Jesus! Lord, You will not be mocked by those who malign You and who do not call upon Your Name. Restore integrity and uprightness and wisdom and kindness to our culture so that You will be glorified in the midst of Your people. Turn the hearts of those who will not bow before You so that many will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. • Reap the fruit of unfailing love 1 Corinthians 13:8 – “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” Psalm 33:5 – “The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” Holy God, when we sow the righteousness of Jesus, Your Word says we will reap the fruit of unfailing love. We know that Your love never fails even when other spiritual things cease to exist. May my heart be focused upon sowing Your righteousness so that I continually reap the benefits of being Your child with an eternal purpose in a Kingdom that never ends. Your unfailing love needs to be seen in and through my church, Lord. Create a deep desire for the righteousness of Jesus to flow into our hearts and then out through our words and deeds so that You are glorified in our midst, and so that the fruit of Your unfailing love is a deeper intimacy with You and so that Your glory is made known! Father, I ask You to have mercy upon this nation as Your people cry out for Your unfailing love to be poured out into our culture. May Your people, Your Church, be known for the righteousness that brings the fruit of such love to every community and state across our land. • Break up your unplowed ground Jeremiah 4:3 – “The Lord is saying to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Plow up the hardness of your hearts; otherwise the good seed will be wasted among the thorns.’” Father, I bow before You in repentance! forgive me for the hardness of my heart, where the goodness and love of Your Spirit lies dormant and sits in the midst of thorns. Show me how to love the hard to love people in my life…even those I consider to be my “enemies.” You have said that our enemies are not flesh and blood; therefore, I am called to love everyone, no matter what they believe, say or do…no matter what they look like or how they live. Soften my heart to embrace the love of Jesus that You have so freely given me as a gift and allow me to sow it into the hearts of others. Lord, may my church/our church, have such fertile soil that only love can grow there. May the righteousness of Christ that we sow result in a crop that overflows with love into our community. Protect us from hardened hearts, the unplowed ground that cannot possibly bear any fruit for the sake of Your Kingdom. Grace-filled Savior, turn our nation back to Your heart. Replace hatred and ugliness and anger with love, beauty and peace. Use Your people to lead the way towards sowing righteousness in our land so that we are able to reap Your unfailing love in our broken culture. May the hard ground of unbelieving hearts become soft and pliable in Your hands so that our nation becomes a light for the rest of the nations. • Seek the Lord until He comes and showers righteousness upon you 1 Chronicles 16:10 – “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.” Deuteronomy 4:29 – “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Isaiah 55:6 – “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Lord Jesus, I glory in Your holy name! I want to be one who seeks You continually so that my heart will rejoice always. Your Word says that if I seek You with all of my heart and soul that I will find You. Help me to know what that looks like. Show me how to avoid distractions that keep me looking at and interacting with things that are less than all that You are! Father, You are near! You live IN me. Your kingdom is here and now and I want to be in the center of what You desire me to be and to do so that You receive the most glory! Holy Spirit, give me the wisdom to seek the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of God! All of the things I need in life should pale in comparison to Your goodness and greatness and glory! Thank You for the promise that if I seek You first, you will add what is needed. Lord, I ask for the desire to seek You until You shower righteousness upon me. Help me to learn to love You so completely that I will continue to seek You for the rest of my days here on earth.

Do you ever run out of words to describe our powerful, amazing Lord as you pray? The Bible has a well that never runs dry. We can dip into this wondrous source of praise and lift our voices together as a family to glorify God. Here are 31 days of prayers that offer praise to Him in a multitude of ways. As you begin to praise Him in prayer about His character and attributes, you will begin to see how Scripture becomes a vital part of your prayer vocabulary. Each day you can experience fresh, exciting prayers with which to worship Christ the King. Read each Scripture out loud together or take turns each day. Then, pray from your hearts what you have proclaimed, or use the example we have written for you. You may even wish to sing a hymn or chorus of praise together. May He be praised as we focus our attention on the One Who is worthy! DAY 1 PRAISE HIM FOR HE IS OUR SALVATION! “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him” (Exodus 15:2). Prayer:  Lord, You are our strength and our song! We praise You Jesus, because You have become our salvation! You are our God and we will praise and exalt You!  DAY 2 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS THE ONLY GOD! “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the Lord is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Prayer:   Gracious God, You are the Lord our God! You are the only ONE: Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the three in one! We will love You with all our hearts and all of our souls and with all of our strength! Teach us how to love You more and more!  DAY 3 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS FAITHFUL TO ALL HIS PROMISES! “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made” (Psalm 145:13). Prayer:  Powerful Jesus, Your kingdom will last forever and ever, through all generations. We give You praise today because You are always faithful to every promise and because You are loving toward everything You have made. Help us to be faithful to all of our promises too! DAY 4 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER GOD! “You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other…Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:35, 39). Prayer:  O Lord God in heaven–only You are God! Besides You there is no other! We acknowledge this wonderful fact and take it to heart today! Help us to know that there is nothing on earth that can ever take Your place. DAY 5 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE WE ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE! “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Ps. 139:14). “Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care” (Psalm 95:6-7). Prayer:  Heavenly Father, we praise You today because Your works are wonderful. Some of Your works live right in our home. We bow down in worship before You, our Lord and Maker, because You are our God! Help us to treat the bodies You have made with respect and care. DAY 6 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE HAS COMPASSION ON ALL HE HAS MADE! “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Psalm 145:8). “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion…” (Isaiah 30:18). Prayer:  Gracious God, we give You praise today because You are slow to anger and rich in love. You show us compassion because You have made us, and because You love us. Help us to show compassion to others in the same way.  DAY 7 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS PEACE! “So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace” (Judges 6:24). “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Prayer:  God of peace, You do not give as the world gives. Because You guard our hearts from trouble and fear, we praise Your name. Slow us down and quiet our hearts in the peace of Your presence so that we can live lives that please You. DAY 8 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS OUR ROCK AND OUR FORTRESS! He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior…” (2 Samuel 22:2-3). “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior” (2 Samuel 22:47)! Prayer:  We give You praise today, O Lord, because You are our Rock, our Fortress and our Deliverer! You will shield us from harm because You are our Refuge and our wonderful Savior! Help us to trust in Your ability to care for us always! DAY 9 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS GOOD! “Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant” (Psalm 135:3). “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8). “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:5). Prayer:  Father, we praise You because of Your goodness to us! It is a pleasant thing to sing praise to You because Your love goes on forever.  DAY 10 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS OUR STRENGTH! “…Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (Psalm 118:14). “O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God” (Psalm 59:17). Prayer:  O Lord our Strength, we sing praise to You! Thank You that Your joy is our strength, and that You are our song and our salvation! DAY 11 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS FAITHFUL! “For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does” (Psalm 33:4). “The living, the living–they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness” (Isaiah   38:19). Prayer:  Faithful Father, Your Word is right and true. We praise You because Your faithfulness continues through all generations. May we tell those in the generations to come that Your love and faithfulness endures forever! DAY 12 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE PROTECTS US FROM THE EVIL ONE! “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6). Prayer:  Faithful Father, we give You praise because You are our protector. Thank You that You strengthen us and give us confidence so that we do not need to be afraid. Help us to stand firm against evil men and against our enemy, the devil! DAY 13 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS MIGHTY! “Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might” (Psalm 21:13). “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: ‘The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things’” (Psalm 118:15)! “Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness” (Psalm 150:1-2). Prayer:  With shouts of joy we exalt You, heavenly Father, because You have done mighty things! We praise You in Your sanctuary and in Your mighty heavens. We will sing and praise Your might as You work in our lives! DAY 14 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HIS WAY IS PERFECT AND HIS WORD IS FLAWLESS! “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him” (2 Samuel 22:31). Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Your way is always perfect, and You never make a mistake! We give You praise because You allow people like us to do Your work on this earth! Guide us, Lord, as we take refuge in You, our strength and shield! May we honor Your flawless Word and be obedient to it always! DAY 15 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE CARRIES OUR BURDENS EVERY DAY! “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19). “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29). Prayer:  Holy Lord, our God and Savior, thank You that You make the heavy burdens in our lives easier to carry. Sometimes You even carry them Yourself so we don’t have to. We praise You for Your gentle, humble heart! DAY 16 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS HOLY! “Let them praise your great and awesome name—he is holy” (Psalm 99:3). “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness” (Psalm 29:2). Prayer:  Holy Lord God, we worship You because of Your great and awesome name. We praise You because of the splendor of Your holiness. DAY 17 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS CLOSE TO THE BROKENHEARTED! “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). Pray Together:   Holy Lord God, we worship You because of Your great and awesome name.  We praise You because of the splendor of Your holiness. Day 18 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE DOES MARVELOUS DEEDS! “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples” (1 Chronicles 16:24). “For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God” (Psalm 86:10). Pray Together:   Glorious Lord, we give You praise and declare Your glory to everyone!  You alone are God, and we want to see Your name announced in every people group on earth!  Use us to tell others about Your marvelous deeds! Day 19 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HIS GLORY IS GREAT! “Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom” (Psalm 145:3). “May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great” (Psalm 138:5). “Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name” (1 Chronicles 29:13). Pray Together:   O Lord, You are most worthy of our praise!  We will sing of Your glory!  Show us how to praise You in ways which honor You the most. Day 20 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE DOES NOT TREAT US AS OUR SINS DESERVE! “He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:9-10). Pray Together:   Gracious God, we are unworthy sinners who deserve death, and yet You continue to forgive our sins.  Even better than this, You forget our sins and allow us to start all over again, white as snow!  Give us strength to turn our backs on the things we do which cause You to be sad. Day 21 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE DIED AND WAS RAISED TO LIFE FOR US! “In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise’” (Rev. 5:12). “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). Pray Together:   We give You our worship, Worthy Lamb!  To You be all power and strength and honor and glory and praise!  Thank You for being the perfect sacrifice for us.  Help us to live lives which please You! Day 22 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS! “O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption” (Psalm 130:7). “Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me” (Psalm 66:20)! Pray Together:   Praise be to the God of hope, whose love is unfailing.  Lord, we love You because You hear and answer our prayers and because You give Your love to us freely and without any strings attached. Day 23 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS LORD OVER ALL THE NATIONS! “The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens” (Psalm 113:4). “May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you” (Psalm 67:3). “I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples” (Psalm 108:3). Pray Together:   We will sing of You among the peoples, O LORD!  May You be exalted over all of the nations, and Your glory above the heavens!  Help us to reach out to those who have yet to hear Your name, so that they can glorify You! Day 24 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS EVERLASTING! “Do you not know?  Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom” (Isaiah 40:28). Pray Together:   Everlasting Father, we can’t even begin to know everything about You!  Because You are the One who never grows tired, and because You understand all things – far beyond anything man can think or imagine, we lift up Your name in praise! Day 25 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HIS SPLENDOR IS ABOVE THE EARTH AND THE HEAVENS! “Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens” (Psalm 148:13). “They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works” (Psalm 145:5). Pray Together:   Glorious Lord, we worship You in the splendor of Your majesty!  We will meditate on Your wonderful works, for Your name alone is exalted above the earth and the heavens. Day 26 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE HEALS ALL OUR DISEASES! “Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise” (Jer. 17:14). “…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases…” (Psalm 103:3). Pray Together:   O God, You are the One we praise because You heal all of our diseases!  Thank You that we can call upon Your name when we need a touch from You!  Give us faith to trust in Your ability to care for us in all the circumstances of our lives. Day 27 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS THE LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS! “…but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings…” (Revelation 17:14). “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16). Pray Together:   We worship You, O King of kings and Lord of lords!  There is none like You, and we are honored to be called Your people.  Praise to our King Jesus Christ! Day 28 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS THE GOD WHO COMFORTS US! “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Cor. 1:3-4). Pray Together:   God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, thank You for comforting us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from You. We give you praise! Day 29 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE IS MERCIFUL! “As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11). “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Pray Together:   Compassionate Lord, we give You the highest praise for showing us Your endless mercy.  You want everyone on this earth to have an opportunity to come to You!  Help us to keep reaching out to those who need Christ.  May we show mercy to those who need to see You in us! Day 30 PRAISE HIM BECAUSE HE TURNS OUR DARKNESS INTO LIGHT! “…Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light” (Micah 7:8). “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28). Pray Together:   Holy Father, there are times in our lives when things are difficult.  We praise You because in the midst of darkness, You bring hope and light.  We worship You because You are that Light.  Keep the lamp burning brightly in our hearts! Day 31 PRAISE HIM FOR BEING THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS! “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). Pray Together:   Amazing Lord, You are the creator of all things.  You created the heavens and the earth, the visible and the invisible. You made us to praise You!  All You have made will worship You in spirit and in truth for You are worthy to be praised!

Praying Scripture is powerful and effective because: 1. Jesus is the Word.(John 1:1-2, 14) 2. It is the example of Jesus. (Matthew 4:1-11) 3. It is the example of the early Church.(Book of Acts; Acts 4:23-31) 4. His Word is His will. (Timothy 3:16-17) Scripture teaches us to know and fulfill God’s will. (John 5:14-15) Scripture teaches us God’s will for His Kingdom (Knowing what is on God’s heart). (John 6:38, John 14:10, John 13:34-35, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Matthew 9:37-38, John 17:20-26) Scripture teaches God’s will for our place in His Kingdom. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, Philippians 2:13, Isaiah 30:21, Isaiah 48:17, Psalm 86:11, Psalm 119:105, Romans 12:2) 5. God’s Word allows us to pray the blessings and purposes of God for ourselves and others. (1 Timothy 4:12, Numbers 6:24-26, 2 Thessalonians 3:5, 16; Romans 15:13, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) 6. Praying the Word gives us confidence and power in our prayer. (John 15:7, Matthew 21:22, 1 John 5:14-15) 7. The Word of God gives us a beautiful, full, rich vocabulary of prayer.  (Psalm 145 and the rest of the book of Psalms) 8. The Word of God helps us to keep our prayer lives fresh and exciting. (Hebrews 4:12, John 15:7) 9. The word of God is flawless. (Psalm 12:6, Psalm 18:30) 10. The Word of God will stand forever. (Luke 21:33, 1 Peter 1:25, Psalm 119:89) 11. Praying the Word of God helps us to develop an intimate relationship with Him and a desire to know Him better. (Psalm 63:1-8) 12. His Word reminds us to stay focused upon Him in prayer. (Psalm 141:8a, 2 Chronicles 20:12c) 13. Praying the Word, which is the sword of the Spirit, gives us authority to stand against the enemy. (Ephesians 6:10-18, Psalm 44:5, Psalm 8:2) 14. Praying the Word of God and hearing it prayed, builds our faith in God’s ability to hear and answer. (Romans 10:17, James 5:15) 15. Praying the Word of God allows the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. (Ephesians 6:17, John 14:26) 16. Praying the Word of God gives us an expression of confession for our sinful natures. (Luke 18:13) 17. Praying the Word of God protects us from sin. (Psalm 119:11) 18. Praying the Word helps us to pray about our own obedience to the Word. (Psalm 119:33-37, James 1:22) 19.  Praying the Word out loud brings blessing when we obey what we hear. (Luke 11:28) 20. His Word will always accomplish what He desires. (Isaiah 55:11) 21. The promises of His Word encourage and uplift us. (Joshua 1:5, Jeremiah 29:11-13) 22. Praying God’s Word is powerful because it is the TRUTH. (John 17:17, John 8:31-32, Psalm 33:4, Ephesians 1:13) 23. It pleases the heart of God to respond to prayers that delight Him, and we know that His Word gives Him pleasure. (1 John 3:21-22) 24. The boldness of praying the Word strengthens our witness to unbelievers.   (1 Peter 2:15, 1 Peter 3:15-16) 25. Praying the Word helps us to stand on a firm foundation. (Luke 6:47-48) 26. Praying the Word of God helps us to receive all that God has created with thankfulness and to set these things apart as holy. (1 Timothy 4:4-5, Psalm 33:6, 1 Chronicles 16:23-36) 27. We should pray Scripture SO THAT God is honored and glorified. (John 11:4, John 14:13, Psalm 145:10-12).If you would like to be discipled in praying the Word, we recommend  Pray the Word  to you.

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries For many years I have given myself to teaching and mobilizing prayer. Though it is a great privilege, it is also frustrating at times. For a very long time I felt that if Christians were just more committed, they would pray more. If they loved Jesus more, they would pray more. That led me to hit hard at levels of commitment in my teaching.But the Lord has recently been showing me that it isn’t commitment, it’s theology. Most of the pastors and church leaders that I teach and work with are completely committed. They are sold out for Jesus. They will do anything for Him. The lack of prayer in their lives has much more to do with theology than with lack of commitment. The American church, in particular, believes poorly concerning prayer. We look at prayer as a way of getting things from God. Or we look at it mainly as something that helps move us spiritually. Sometimes we even look at much prayer as in the realm of specialists, rather than for “regular” Christians. What will really transform our prayer lives is when we begin to believe what the Bible says about prayer. When we begin to see that prayer is the way God has chosen to accomplish His will on planet earth, we will move it to a more central place in our lives. Right theology on prayer moves it from somewhere on our “to do” list to an integral part of who we are as Christians. When we truly believe that prayer is about His kingdom come, His will be done…rather than “our” kingdom come, “our” will be done, our prayer lives will become purposeful and powerful. When we lean into His presence as the King of kings who created us for Himself, and who created prayer as the means through which we communicate with Him - then, the Holy Spirit becomes free to work in and through us to accomplish His purposes “on earth as it is in heaven.”

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries The Statue of Liberty loomed before us as we worshipped the Lord and prayed on board a small ship this past September 11. Prayer leaders from around the nation had  gathered to participate in Cry Out America. We were praying around New York harbor on this memorable 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that have so impacted our nation. As we slowed down nearest the shoreline where the new Freedom Towers are rising from the site of the former World Trade Center, I was asked to lead our group in a season of prayer. As faith-filled prayers ascended to the Throne of God, I was struck by the lack of fear. Though many warnings had been given about the possibility of terrorist attacks that day, the atmosphere was one of faith, not fear. There was also a determination that on this day the Church would respond with prayers that were about Heaven’s agenda for spiritual awakening in our nation. The time is over for prayers that are simply about our wants and wishes. It is time for the power of God to be released over this nation that returns the hearts of His people to the Lord! New York City was just one place where prayer for revival was occurring on September 11. We have since received reports of more than 2,500 different prayer events on that day that focused on spiritual awakening in the United States. That figure doesn’t begin to account for the thousands of individual congregations who that day, remembered Sept.11 by praying for a fresh move of the Spirit of God among the Church. Harvest Prayer Ministries is delighted to be among those who are leading the way in calling the Church to revival praying!

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries “But oh! God is in his holy Temple! Quiet everyone – a holy silence. Listen!” Habakkuk 2:20 MSG “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16 “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…” Psalm 37:7a Jesus frequently separated Himself from the busy, noisy life of His ministry to be alone in the Presence of His Father. Scripture teaches clearly how He repeatedly went to quiet, lonely places to pray. Jesus drew apart in order to hear from God and to be refreshed and renewed in the Presence of His Father. Because of this disciplined intimacy, Jesus was able to commune with God and discern His voice in the midst of the noise and activity around Him. If this was the regular rhythm of the life of Jesus, it should be so for us as well. Dallas Willard states, “God’s provision for us and for His work through us is adequate. We do not have to ‘make it happen.’ We must stop shouldering the burdens of ‘outcomes.’ These are safely in His hands. Someone insightfully said, ‘The greatest threat to devotion to Christ is service for Christ.’ Allowing service for Christ to steal our devotion to Him is a radical failure in personal soul care. But it is one from which the practice of communing with Christ in times of solitude and silence can deliver us.” If we can’t hear God in the silence, how can we ever hope to hear Him in the constant hammering din of everyday life? It is difficult to separate ourselves at times from all of the spiritual “do-ing” in order to take the time necessary to listen for His voice, no matter what form it takes (that’s entirely up to Him). Often, we make a perfunctory attempt to be still and know that He alone is God, when we are really consumed with wondering “how long is this going to take before I hear something?” Perhaps a key lesson within silence is to learn how to be content in the Presence of God whether He chooses to speak or not. A sweet memory came back to me while writing this. I remember one late night when my husband and I discovered it had started to snow. We turned out the lights and sat snuggled together on the couch just watching in perfect silence…no words were spoken. Simply being together in that moment was enough. Our purpose for silence must never be attached to an agenda in order to “get” something from God. Our intent is to simply be in His presence…and if we learn how to be content there…we will become in time, a prepared, consecrated vessel, ready to hear from Him when He chooses to speak. Silence teaches us contentment in waiting. Can the knowledge of His presence be sufficient in your everyday life? How do we make the transition from silence to carrying His Presence into whatever each day brings to us as Jesus did so seamlessly? Carving small moments of stillness into my day often helps…little mini Sabbaths of rest such as taking a walk, gazing out a window, putting on headphones to block out the noise around me, etc. There are creative ways to be still, but it is definitely a discipline that needs to be nurtured. “In a noise-polluted world, it is even difficult to hear ourselves think let alone try to be still and know God. Yet it seems essential for our spiritual life to seek some silence, no matter how busy we may be. Silence is not to be shunned as empty space, but to be befriended as fertile ground for intimacy with God.” Susan Muto

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:44). Several years ago, through the miracle of FaceTime and iPhones, I was able to see the 3-D photograph of a very special baby…my grandchild. At that moment, she weighed only about 12 ounces and was only 6 ½ inches long, but her senses were developing to the point where she could already hear noises outside the womb. Our God is an amazing Creator! I pondered the miracle that such a tiny baby can hear voices and sounds halfway through her development in the womb, and it occurred to me that perhaps the Father was already whispering His heart to hers. Scripture says that the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt at the sound of Mary’s voice (Luke 1:44). We, whom God created in His likeness, were formed for fellowship with Him. All of life in the womb is prayer, as Creator forms and then speaks to His beloved new child…His creation. We are predisposed to hear God’s voice from the earliest possible moment. Unfortunately, from the moment we are born, somehow the holy voice that fueled our souls is easily lost in a myriad of other voices and stimuli. Even in the womb there are many new sounds to begin listening to…the voices of our parents and siblings, television, traffic, music… much of it loud and frightening. What if our prayers provide the incubator that sustains our precious children from the moment we learn of their existence? What if we read and speak out the Word of God to them so that they always know and feel the security of the love and mercy of the Father through us?  Perhaps our own prayerful lives have a greater impact upon our little ones than we have ever realized! For most of us, prayer no longer seems as simple as breathing in and out and we have found ways to confine our prayers into segments of time rather than incorporate it into our everyday moment by moment living. Yet, there are some who find a way to give life to prayer in the midst of every moment. Brother Lawrence was just such a soul. He said, “I gave up all devotions and prayers that were not required and I devote myself exclusively to remaining always in his holy presence. I keep myself in his presence by simple attentiveness and a general loving awareness of God that I call ‘actual presence of God’ or better, a quiet and secret conversation of the soul with God that is lasting.” (Brother Lawrence,  The Practice of the Presence of God: Critical Edition,  53) I believe that children understand this Presence better than most…even before they can clearly articulate it. Yet, most of us do not have a clear awareness that the God of the Universe used to speak to us.  We were born into a life that either nurtured our relationship with the Father, or allowed it to fall into neglect until we were judged to be “mature enough” to comprehend how to have a relationship with the very One our hearts have always known. As parents and grandparents, perhaps we can learn how to reassess the prayer lives of the youngest in our midst, understanding that they may actually be more in tune with the voice of God and the rhythms of life within the kingdom than we have previously suspected. Perhaps Brother Lawrence has articulated exactly how Jesus came to His Father in and for all things… as a little child – simply living in His Presence and having soul conversations continually. I have no theological proof, but I am willing to assert that Jesus lived in such communion with God from His earliest moments. He knew the voice that fueled His passion and His ministry…the voice that had spoken life to Him. Are we not created in the image of this loving Father? My prayer for my unborn granddaughter was that she would hear and cherish the voice of God all the days of her life…that no external noise would ever quench the still small voice of her Heavenly Father! Perhaps if all of us prayed this way for our children, grandchildren and the children in our spheres of influence who are yet unborn, the upcoming generation will be so spiritually in tune that the world will once again be turned upside down.  As their young lives reflect the life of Jesus with every breath, His kingdom will be present to us all!  Oh come, Oh come Emmanuel – God with us! “His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50).

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries In a radio interview regarding revival in America I was asked, after many years of traveling and teaching on prayer in the Church, do I think things are better or worse. My answer? Both! That’s not intended to be a cute answer, but an accurate one. In so many ways, the Church in America is in trouble. Stagnant church growth, abysmal discipleship, poor prayer life, confused leadership, a blending in with our culture rather than a prophetic stand . . . and the list goes on. Yet, to paraphrase Dickens, “it is the worst of times; it is the best of times.” It is becoming the best of times because I am seeing a growing awareness of our desperate situation. Out of that awareness comes a realization that the critical need of our day is for revival! Revival never comes to a self-satisfied people. Revival never comes to a people who think they can fix things with another new program or strategy. Revival only comes to those who are at the end of themselves and are convinced that only God can bring what is necessary for the healing of the land. There is a rising tide of that holy desperation among all generations and in the Church today! If the Spirit of God is stirring within you regarding revival, then I encourage you to go to the  OneCry  website,  read or watch the video on the Declaration of Spiritual Emergency, and then join our team of intercessors by emailing us at onecryprayer@onecry.com . We are committing to pray daily, fervently, and faithfully for revival in our nation. May the Lord awaken His people to the presence of Christ in such a powerful way, that it overflows from our churches into the streets and neighborhoods of our nation.

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). I used to struggle uncomfortably with the command of God to be holy as He is holy…not because I didn’t believe it or think I could become more holy, but because I couldn’t imagine being holy in the same way that God is holy. I equated holiness with perfection, which only God is. Until I understood fully that the Christian life is a process of becoming holy through emulating the life of Jesus Christ, I fought the despair of never being able to attain what the command seemed to imply. A few years ago, a friend of ours gave us a copy of a book he had written, and in it I discovered what for me, was an incredible treasure about the holiness of God compared to the holiness of His people. In his book,  God Focus , Walter Price shared a fascinating insight. He stated that when comparing degrees or levels of holiness in English, we use the terms holy, holier and holiest. In Hebrew, there are no such words to describe different degrees of holiness; therefore, the word holy is repeated in order to give it higher levels of importance. For example,  “holy, holy, holy” equates to “holiest”. We, God’s children, can be holy, but only God is “holy, holy, holy.” Only God is “holiest.” I recall a sermon my husband, Dave, preached where he pointed out that holiness is a process that requires something of us, even as the Lord “makes” us holy: “Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy” (Leviticus 20:-8). To be consecrated means that we are set apart for a purpose…God’s kingdom purpose! If the Lord, who makes us holy, is to do so, we must first set ourselves apart from the standards of behavior that the world says is acceptable. We must keep His decrees and follow them, even if they are unpopular with the world. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, “…let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. We are to set ourselves apart because of our reverence for our Father. Therefore, my prayer for holiness must come from a heart of deeply felt worship, awe and desire. It is a realization that I will not be “zapped” with holiness simply because I ask my Father for it. With the life of Jesus as my model and the Holy Spirit as my teacher, I must pray for the strength to set myself apart and do what He has commanded. My prayer includes gratefulness that I am able to be in the process of holiness only because my Abba Father is holy, holy, holy!

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries Perhaps you struggle, as I often do, with what to give your spouse, children, or other loved ones on their birthdays or holidays! Have you considered the incredible gift of Blessing Prayer? Over the years, I have found much joy in being on the giving and the receiving end of prayers that bless. My younger sister gives me the incredible gift of one minute of prayer for each year of my life every birthday. She prays for me every other day as well, but her covenant to pray for me on my birthday is such a special blessing to me! Other than the gift of interceding for others, it is especially powerful to pray specific “blessing prayers” from Scripture over loved ones, missionaries, neighbors, coworkers, pastors and church leaders, and yes, even “enemies.” Not only has God commanded us to pray for others, He has given us multiple ways to do so that please His heart and agree with His kingdom purposes. Here are some of my favorite blessing prayers to pray for others: Romans 15:13 : “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” You can personalize your prayers as well. For example: God of Hope, may You fill my spouse/son/daughter, __________, with all joy and peace as he/she trusts in You, so that he/she may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12  – “We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5, 16  – “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance…Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” Hebrews 13:20-21  – “May the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 1:9-10  – “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” It is always good to pray blessings for others…what an incredible way to love them and to show that love! There are many creative ways to deliver these prayer blessings. Here are just a few: In Person!  I love to place my hand on someone’s head or shoulder and pray blessings over them. This is especially amazing to do with your children. One day, after praying the Aaronic blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 over my youngest son for the first 4 years of his life, he put his hand on my head and blessed me back…not only had he internalized the Scripture, he understood the power of blessing and wanted to offer it back to me as a gift. Special Occasions  – weddings, showers, new babies, birthdays, graduations, retirements and other celebrations give opportunities to bless people! Notes and Emails  – It only takes a few moments to change someone’s day through encouraging them with a written blessing, and the acknowledgment that you are praying this blessing for them. Pastors and missionaries are especially grateful for these blessings…and they always seem to arrive at just the right time when we allow the Holy Spirit to prompt us. Texts Or Calls  - Again, it only takes a moment to send a quick text to let someone know you are praying a blessing over them - or type in the blessing itself and send it. Calling someone is very personal and if/when the Holy Spirit brings someone to mind pay attention! It’s often because God wants to use you to bless and encourage someone by letting them hear your voice. You will be amazed how often people will tell you this was exactly what they needed. Blessing people is always appropriate! May our hearts be moved to bless others in prayer as we go about living a transformed everyday life!