"Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." (Luke 18:1, NIV--from yesterday's Gospel reading)
"...not give up," is also translated, "not lose heart." Regardless, if we, "lose heart," we will, "give up." I can tell you, however, that I have been praying more intensely in the past month than I can remember. I don't necessarily know why, but there it is. We are in very perilous times.
I have heard the term over the years, "seasoned intercessors." I don't know what that means. Does it mean they have been interceding longer, have some sort of inside track on intercession? Does it mean they are "better at it" than others? Does it mean they have some special "inside track" to "the Presence"? Are there some sort of seminars in which the "experts" can inform the lessers on how to do intercession? Are their prayers more readily answered than others? All of this can lead the Church to "full-time intercessors," paid pray-ers.
Personally, I don't think we who engage in "intercession" are special, more spiritual, or get more prayers "answered." We are just doing what our Lord Jesus Christ commanded all of us, "....always pray and never give up." The fact that we all have some people and "things" for which we once prayed and no longer pray reveals this give-up-itis in us all. In preparation for the CA meetings, I have been going over some of the great, "God-Breathed," prayers of the Bible, prayers which, I can tell you, I pray with more "fervency" than any others.
I highly recommend, for example, Psalm 83. Read it; pray it, then think of your situation, the situation of your family, work, nation, and pray it again. Remember that the whole motivation for such praying is revealed within the Psalm, "....so that they will seek Your Name....That they may know that You, Whose Name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I need your grace and power to do, "the work of ministry/service." Amen.
*****************
* If you want to know what Trump really said in his speech last night, read a great article at: jhs58.blogspot.com
"...not give up," is also translated, "not lose heart." Regardless, if we, "lose heart," we will, "give up." I can tell you, however, that I have been praying more intensely in the past month than I can remember. I don't necessarily know why, but there it is. We are in very perilous times.
I have heard the term over the years, "seasoned intercessors." I don't know what that means. Does it mean they have been interceding longer, have some sort of inside track on intercession? Does it mean they are "better at it" than others? Does it mean they have some special "inside track" to "the Presence"? Are there some sort of seminars in which the "experts" can inform the lessers on how to do intercession? Are their prayers more readily answered than others? All of this can lead the Church to "full-time intercessors," paid pray-ers.
Personally, I don't think we who engage in "intercession" are special, more spiritual, or get more prayers "answered." We are just doing what our Lord Jesus Christ commanded all of us, "....always pray and never give up." The fact that we all have some people and "things" for which we once prayed and no longer pray reveals this give-up-itis in us all. In preparation for the CA meetings, I have been going over some of the great, "God-Breathed," prayers of the Bible, prayers which, I can tell you, I pray with more "fervency" than any others.
I highly recommend, for example, Psalm 83. Read it; pray it, then think of your situation, the situation of your family, work, nation, and pray it again. Remember that the whole motivation for such praying is revealed within the Psalm, "....so that they will seek Your Name....That they may know that You, Whose Name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I need your grace and power to do, "the work of ministry/service." Amen.
*****************
* If you want to know what Trump really said in his speech last night, read a great article at: jhs58.blogspot.com
* Three event prayer request:
9/4: Preaching in our local church
9/9-18: Meetings in CA
10/4-27: Berlin Mission
9/4: Preaching in our local church
9/9-18: Meetings in CA
10/4-27: Berlin Mission
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
