USA Wall of Prayer

I Simply Come by Margot Cioccio

2009-04-17T21:50:00.001-07:00

There are plenty of days that I am not much of a prayer warrior but I am more of a child spending time with my Father.

This is a song I wrote inspired by one of my prayer times. I pray it will bless you and stir you to spend time with Him. Not for some great prayer cause but simply just to be with the lover of your soul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-2zEeCkMAw

National Day of Prayer

2009-04-02T17:12:00.000-07:00

This came in my e-mail today from Focus on the Family. I pass it along just in case you did not have this info. I love the theme for this year.
Prayer America's HOPE.
They even have a video contest - maybe it is time to dust off those cameras.

Here is the link to the official National Day of Prayer website. http://www.ndptf.org/about/index.cfm

Shirley Dobson had the following to say.

"Greetings from the National Day of Prayer Task Force!

As Chairman, I want to encourage you to mark Thursday, May 7th on your calendar and take time to pray for our country on that day.

Our theme for this year's National Day of Prayer is Prayer…America's Hope! It's based on Psalm 33:22, which says, "May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You."

This is an extremely critical time in America's history. From economic pressures, to the ongoing threat of terrorism, to the unraveling of our culture's moral fabric, many people are dealing with a deep sense of uncertainty and apprehension. "

For All Those in Authority

2009-04-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

1 Timothy 2
¹I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— ²for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

I came across this letter from President Obama to his daughters. I wanted to include the link to it. It contains a really nice family photo as well. It reminds me that we have a family in our White House currently - I'm sure they need our prayers. http://imagine.sg/2009/01/barack-obamas-letter-to-his-daughters/

I also realize there are other sites that are encouraging prayer for our nation. The more prayer the better. I am not big into politics and so this USA Wall of Prayer site will not have that edge to it. I am more interested encouraging us all to return spending time at the feet of Jesus.
When we abide in Jesus we are able to bear much fruit and make a difference.

The following link is to a very nice site that has very specific prayer needs for the Obama's and our nation and our troops. http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/
You may find it to be a wonderful resource as you are praying. As I find helpful resources I will post the links for you.

May the Lord Bless Your Prayer Time,
Margot

Thomas Jefferson's Prayer

2009-04-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

Today I was wondering about what some of the presidents of our country prayed during their time in office. I was going to post one that I found, presumably from George Washington's prayer journal but there seems to be some controversy surrounding it. So instead I have ordered a book called George Washington's Sacred Fire by Peter Lillback.
For now I will post a Thomas Jefferson prayer that does not seem as debated regarding its authenticity

Thomas Jefferson - Prayers for America

"Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage, we humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.

Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.

In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Thomas Jefferson, The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson

Trust

2009-04-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

I do not know at this point what God may do with this blog it is a step of faith. I trust that as God has motivated me to set the site up he will draw in those he wants to participate.

I have had such burden to encourage people to pray and this seemed like a small way to involve more people in praying for our country. It is not my aim that you would become religious but that they would realize that if we do not abide in Jesus - we don't bear lasting fruit.

Truly it is clear that our nation is in need of healing. I hope you will join me in praying and in believing that prayer can still make a difference in this land. In any case it can not possibly hurt to encourage one another to pray.

I wonder are we so busy that we are falling short in the area of prayer. We can be so busy doing for Jesus like the folks in Matthew 7: 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Yikes, that passage makes me shudder a wee bit. I know I spent many years in ministry doing cool stuff for Jesus backed by very little prayer. I wondered why we would get so beat up all the time. Yes we prayed some but our focus was serving not abiding in Jesus. We were so busy - who had time to pray. Maybe that is you today. I'm not going to go so far as to say that it was all wood, hay and stubble. I know my perspective has changed greatly in recent years. To the point where my public ministry is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the secret or hidden part of my relationship with Jesus.

I think most of us are wired to be "men and women of action" and the idea of taking time to pray and be quiet in God's presence is kind of a big stretch for us. I don't think Jesus just wants to be the big boss who we come to for the next job. He wants us to know him and be known by him. I have found intimacy is not possible with those we do not spend time with. So it is true of our relationship with Jesus as well. I think that when we do spend time in the Lords presence we will hear God call us and inspire us to do things much like Isaiah heard God's calling and responded "here I am, send me"

The word says in 2 Chronicles7:14 "IF" which means we have a choice to humble our selves and pray and turn from our wicked ways. I believe it takes humility to even bother to do something like pray. We can't know for sure that it is doing any thing. We have to trust and have faith.
Back to 2 Chronicles 7:14 ... then God will heal our land. I know some folks operate like we are on the planet Titanic and some how think there is no point in praying cause the ship is gonna sink. That if things get really bad that it will somehow hasten the Lords return.
In Luke 19:13 based on the parable we are in directly told by Jesus to occupy till he comes.
I don't want to step on anyones end time toes and like the the wise Mr. Winky Pratney once said when asked about his end times views. He said simply "I agree with my friends"
All that leads me to simply say what ever your views - we need to be praying.

1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

I leave you with two quotes.

"We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity, but we accomplish little; many services but few conversions; much machinery but few results." - R. A. Torrey

"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray." - Samuel Chadwick

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Prayer Quotes

2009-04-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

The following are some wonderful quotes I found today about prayer. I hope they speak to you as they have to me today. Above all I hope the inspire you to really pray. I put my favorite two here at the top.

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"Prayer does not enable us to do a greater work for God. Prayer is a greater work for God." - Thomas Chalmers

"The Church has not yet touched the fringe of the possibilities of intercessory prayer. Her largest victories will be witnessed when individual Christians everywhere come to recognize their priesthood unto God and day by day give themselves unto prayer." – John R. Mott

"We must wake ourselves up! Or somebody else will take our place, and bear our cross, and thereby rob us of our crown." - William Booth

"Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him.” –James Hudson Taylor

“Wise leaders should have known that the human heart cannot exist in a vacuum. If Christians are forbidden to enjoy the wine of the Spirit they will turn to the wine of the flesh....Christ died for our hearts and the Holy Spirit wants to come and satisfy them." - A. W. Tozer

"A man can not lead others where he is not willing to go himself. Therefore, beware of the prayerless church leader who no longer readily admits his own need for more of the person and power of Jesus Christ. Only a seeking, praying heart can truly encourage spiritual HUNGER in others!" – David Smithers

"He can do all things who prays well. All soul-winners have conquered on their knees. Wherever the secret of prevailing prayer is found, something supernatural will come to pass." - G. F. Oliver

"Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all." - D. L. Moody

"The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel."-Thomas Watson