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stop and pray



One of the things that bothers me the most is when Christians tell someone that they are praying for them.  Honestly, I believe that many of us have good intentions, but we have poor follow through.  Does this make us a liar?  That is something that ought to make us stop and rethink our commitment to pray for others.

Another issue is the fact that we pray for so many things, and after we have prayed we stop looking for or listening for the answer to what we prayed.  This is evidence that we value our prayers less and less all the time.  We need to be serious about prayer.

Fasting tells God that we mean business.  Prayer is the way we connect with God.  Prayer includes talking to God and listening to Him.  Prayer is the Christians way to seek guidance, to live connected to God and to follow the path God sets out for us.

That is why I suggest for our church family, especially for those taking part in the Daniel Fast for 2013, to stop and pray often.  When God brings prayer to your mind, stop and pray.  When you see a situation that troubles you, stop and pray.  When you see a need, stop and pray.  When our heart is heavy or we see ourselves falling into depression, stop and pray.  When you are excited about something or ready to celebrate, stop and pray.  All the time stop and pray.

Psalm 34:4
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I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

James 5:16
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Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

This may seem a bit simple, and it is.  We complicate Christianity often.  God desires us.  He wants our time and our attention.  He loves us.  He wants us to know Him and to be blessed by Him daily.  Prayer focuses us on God and opens us up to Him and what He has for us.  Believe what God says about prayer!

1 Peter 3:12
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The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.

1 Peter 4:7
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The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.

Jude 1:20
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But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,

Prayer changes things.  Often prayer changes us as we pray.  Therefore we should stop and pray many times a day.

1 Thessalonians 5:17
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Never stop praying.

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