Prayer Topics month of September

Sep 14, 2011 by

Hi Gap Sisters,

I know it has been awhile since I blogged. Sorry! Life is so busy right now! I wanted to give you a few tools to keep going with our Prayer Topics that we have been doing for the month of September. First of all, remember to try to prepare for Fret Free Friday. Here is the lame YouTube video I made to explain it: Fret Free Friday Pep Talk

Remember we discussed our first week that one of the biggest hindrances to an effective prayer time is the “Wandering Mind”? In class, you were all able to help define some of the ways to overcome that wandering mind. Here is the list:

1. Have a regular Prayer Appointment…keep the time, place and routine fairly regular.

2. Make a LIST

3. Train your mind to BE STILL

4. Pray out loud

5. Journal

6. Breathe…even say out loud the name “Jesus” in order to shut out distractions

7. Have a posture of prayer. We erroneously said there is no mention in scripture of sitting and praying but there is! Here is a list taken from the following article online: Prayer Positions in Scripture

1. Eyes open – John 11:41 / John 17:1

2. Tears shed – 1 Samuel 1:7-10/ Psalm 126:5-6

3. Shout/applaud/cheer – Ezra 3:11-14/ Ps 47:1

4. Sing – Psalm 100:4/ Ephesians 5:19

5. Loud voice – Acts 7:60

6. Unison – (Homo-thumadon) rush together making same noise – Acts 4:24

7. Speak to obstacle – Joshua 10:12 “Sun stand still”/ Mat. 21:21

8. Speak with no sound – I Samuel 1:7-10

9. Say “Amen” to others prayers – I Cor. 14:16

10. Fast – 2 Samuel 12:16/ Isaiah 58:6

11. Stand up – Nehemiah 9:3-5

12. Kneel – Eph. 3:14/ Philip.2:9-11

13. Lay down on bed – 2 Kings 20:2

14. Lay face on ground – 2 Chronicles 7:3

15. Walk (pace) – 2 Kings 4:33-35

16. Squat/bow down 1 Kings 18:42/ Ps. 95:6

17. Dance – 2 Samuel 6:14-16

18. Walk away be restored – Mat. 5:23-24

19. Sackcoth & Ashes – 2 Kings 19:1

20. Sit – Mt. 26:36 / Mark 14:32,37-38

21. Bow head – Isaiah 58:5

22. Raise hands in praise – Psalm 134:2/ 143:6

23. Raise hands in authority – Exodus 17 8-15/Heb.12:11-12

24. Touch together the thing – Mat. 18:19 (sumphoneo)

25. Lift hand in blessing – Luke 24:50

26. Lay hands on (for commisioning) – Hebrews 6:2/ 1 Tim. 4:14

27. Anoint – Mark 6:13/ James 5:13-15

28. Spread it before the Lord – 2 Kings 19:14-15

Please read the scriptures for Matthew 26:36 and Mark 14:32, 27-38 to see what happened when they SAT though…(they fell asleep!) So consider trying some of the other postures of prayer.

Here is the link to the document which has the alphabetical listing of the adoration names of God: Adoration Names of God ABC List

This past Sunday we talked about daily Communion and how this can help us “keep a short list” with God as far as stuff that would clutter our lives as we try to adore Him. We are trying to lay down our lives daily and die to SELF so that Christ can be glorified.

We talked about how full of grace God is as He points out our shortcomings though. We made a vow to acknowledge Romans 8:1 as TRUTH every time we confess our sins…it says, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” And also, we will rejoice in 1 John 1:9 which says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

So as we prepare for another Fret Free Friday, we are again asking the Lord to give us the name or characteristic that belongs to Him that HE wants us to adore about Him this week. We daily take communion letting Him show us anything that is not to His liking in our lives and we agree with Him on it. We hate and forsake those things and ask Him for help to give up those pet sins or things He points out and then we turn our focus back to Him and we run to His word. We follow the trail of the attribute so that on Friday we are totally ready to worship Him.

Keep going, sweet Gap Sisters! Even if this all seems so foreign or superficial, remember that this is the father of lies trying to mock your sincere steps of faith. RESIST him so that he will flee from you. FIX YOUR MIND on the author and FINISHER of your faith so that JESUS will work those acts of righteousness in you.

I am plodding along with you, girls. We can DO THIS!