More on “Living a Life of Prayer”

 

The message in this cartoon sure didn’t work out that way for me!  Ah well…. 

 

“The Swiss have an interesting army. Five hundred years without a war. Pretty impressive. Also, pretty lucky for them. Ever see that little Swiss Army knife they have to fight with? Not much of a weapon there. Corkscrews. Bottle openers. “Come on, buddy, let’s go. You get past me, the guy in back of me, he’s got a spoon. Back off. I’ve got the toe clippers right here.” 
—Jerry Seinfeld

 

 Everything you have on your car has a very specific function with the exception of one thing: the instrument panel dimmer switch. Why was this invented? Are people’s eyes too sensitive for the five-watt bulb behind the speedometer? It’s like, “Oh, don’t worry about those oncoming headlights, but this odometer light — it’s burning my retina.” 
—Wayne Federman

 

Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant? I’m halfway through my fish burger and I realize, “Oh…, I could be eating a slow learner.” 
—Lynda Montgomery

 

 

 

 

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Below are some notes that I received from friends that are leading a Bible Study on Living a Life of Prayer by Jennifer Dean.  I hope these thoughts are a blessing to you too.  A great big thank you to all who share with me some of the things God is teaching you too.  I absolutely love it when people do that!   I am very grateful for all the prayers and for the input you guys have in my life.

 

“We had a good Bible Study this evening studying chapter 3 on the Necessity of Prayer.  Just a recap of some of the things we discussed:-Andrew Murray said: “God’s intense longing to bless seems in some sense to be graciously limited by His dependence on the intercession that rises from earth.”  We talked about whether God is limited in what He can do depending on whether we pray or not.  We decided that He willingly decided to include us in the equation of what happens and has allowed us the privilege of being part of what happens on earth through prayer.  God is not ‘needy’ in that He needs us.  According to Jennifer , God needs us because He chose to.”His sovereign decree is the His specific, intervening will in any situation will be released onto the earth by means of prayer.”  James 4:2 says we have not because we ask not.She gives a picture of the needs on earth and God’s will in heaven. “Sin caused a gap between what God has prepared and is ready to release and what is happening on the earth.  Prayer bridges that gap.”  Another picture was of a dry cell representing the power of God ready and waiting to be released and a light bulb representing the need on earth.  The power flows toward the need through a circuit but there is a gap there.  We are the conductor (like silver) or intercessor the stands in the gap and gets the power to the need on earth.Daniel 9 talks about Daniel and how he read in the Scriptures that God said the people would be in captivity 70 years.  It was the 70th year so instead of just waiting for the captivity to end Daniel prayed that God’s will (which he already knew was for them to be in captivity 70 years) would be done on earth.  Daniel fasted and prayed 21 days until an angel gave Daniel understanding.  We discussed prayer and fasting a little.Lastly, Jennifer brings out that prayer is not a passive activity.  “Prayer is the work. Prayer is the most aggressive, offensive, pro-active, invasive work you can ever engage in.” 

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Many would describe Her2 positive cancer as “aggressive, offensive, invasive”.  It was good for me to see those adjectives attached to prayer with different implications , along with it being “work” and “proactive”.  Prayer changes things and I think I underestimate how powerful it really is. The cancer, the arm problems after surgery, the treatments, the side effects,  the disappointments along the way often have had me crying out to God to a depth and in surrender I don’t think I have ever experienced prior to all this so that’s been a beautiful thing in my life attached to all this. 

Thank you guys for interceding on my behalf and cheering me along as we watch God work and see His Fingerprints. 

 

 Lord, every single good gift comes from You…  

(From James 1:7)   One Thousand Gifts   http://www.aholyexperience.com/

 

379. The truth is intercessory prayer to my great God is powerful beyond my wildest imagination and expectation.  (“Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly ABOVE all I could ask or think…”)  Help me, Lord not to be lazy in prayer!  Help me, Father  to turn all my concerns into one big prayer and stop wasting time worrying.  Please forgive me for my anxious thoughts!   Help me to be a prayer warrior for the needs of others as well as myself.  I want to personally see You move the mountains that You want to move them through prayer!

380. This afternoon I have a very fun adventure I’ve been invited to: the gift of pampering with fellow breast cancer survirors: a manicure, pedicure, and my wig styled.  I’ll be attending the kid’s speech and debate club with them tonite in style. 🙂

 

Paula