Power in Prayer, By Kaitlyn F.

Power in Prayer

By Kaitlyn F.

To live a Christian life style, prayer is something that is often practiced. But how many of us believe in what we pray? We all say the short little prayers when we are struggling, but many of us fall into the trap of thinking that nothing will come from it. Prayer is communicating with someone who "isn’t there." It is easy to believe that we aren’t being heard, or that God isn’t doing anything about our prayers. But the Bible mentions many times about the power of prayer. 

James 5:15 says, “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”

Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

John 15:7 says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” 

These three verses are just a glimpse of how important prayer is. God does hear you, and he does want to know about you, what you are feeling, your struggles, your successes; he wants all of it. So if you are struggling in prayer, or if you doubt if God is really listening, take these three verses and all others in the Bible to heart, and believe in what the Bible say is the truth.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, By Trish M.

Thank You, Lord Jesus

By Trish M.

Hello beautiful sisters in spirit. I just want to greet you all in the mighty name of Jesus Christ and start off by quoting a song as per usual . This song says “ He paid a debt he did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay, I needed someone to wash my sins away and now I sing a brand new song, amazing grace , How sweet the sound, Christ Jesus Paid the debt that I could never pay” .

Think about it. 

We were born from/of sin which was original sin by Adam and Eve. We are all sinners, every single one of us and the word of God says that sin is punishable by death. Basically someone had to die or else we would all die. Jesus himself, the lion of Judah, the son of God died just for you and me.

When I think about this, I start to cry because how incredible is it that thousands of years before you were born, somebody loved you enough to let themselves be crucified. Someone cared about you enough to give up their life for you. This is a very big deal.

I would just like to encourage you to repeat this prayer thanking Lord Jesus for dying for you.

A prayer of thanks:

Lord Jesus, I love you. Jesus you are a wonderful king, I exalt your mighty name for there is no one else like you. Jesus I just want to thank you for dying on the cross for me, my family, my friends, everybody before me and everybody after me. Jesus Christ, what you did as the ultimate gift of love and I just want to love you back. You are the Messiah, you are the mighty Savior. Thank you once again.

Amen.

Prayer Every Day, By Christina V.

Prayer Every Day 

By Christina V.

"The effective prayer of a righteous [person] can accomplish much," James 5:16b (NASB).

Prayer is a very important part of being a Christian. It is how we talk to God and is discussed all throughout the Bible.  

"Pray constantly," 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (HCBS).  

"At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice; at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly," Psalms 5:3 (HCBS). 

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us," 1 John 5:14 (NKJV). 

These verses are only a small portion of all the verses in the Bible about prayer. In the beginning of 1 Samuel, we read about Hannah praying fervently for a child and God answers and she gives birth to Samuel. In the New Testament, Jesus prays before meals and prays in the Garden of Gethsemane before He is crucified. 

Prayer is a way to praise God. In the book of Psalms there are prayers of rejoicing and thanksgiving and prayers for protection and forgiveness. David spends a huge majority of his life talking to God. 

Jesus gives us a model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, "Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy. May Your kingdom come soon, may Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one," (NLT). The New King James Version, among other versions, includes at the closing, "But Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen."  

Take time out of your day to pray, thanking God for His blessings, asking Him to keep you safe, praying for others' needs, and the list can go on and on. Do not get so caught up in your daily life and routine that you forget to spend time in prayer. God does not forget about us and we should not forget about Him either.

Prayer: Time to Show Off? By Jemima S.

Prayer: Time to Show Off?

 By Jemima S.

So many of us think that prayer is a talent show; time to show off. So really what do you think prayer really is? Do you think:

a)    It’s a time to show your fancy English skills and use words  like ‘phenomenal’ or ‘diabolical’ (diabolical is actually word for something bad so don’t use it in a prayer!!!!!)

b)     You don’t even care you just want to go and watch ‘Friends’ and eat fries.

c)    You think it’s a time to talk to your Dad who’s in Heaven and you just wanna tell him how much you love him!!

Well if you pick c you are definitely on the right track!! But if you pick a or b we need to have a little chat.......

Prayer is talking to God. You can talk to him as if he’s there and He will listen. Not like when you tell a friend that you’re not feeling great today and they carry on talking about what went on in ‘American Idol’ last night. Or your guy friend you tell him that you and your parents had an argument and he tells you to get a life or that parents are useless. SOO NOT HELPING!!!!!

Well God isn’t like any of your friends he your closest friend and he always listens. Now that doesn’t ,with a capital D O E S N ‘ T, mean that when you pray that the first thing you do is ask God for some new Gucci shoes...... I’m not saying Gucci isn’t fantabulous, IT IS!! I’m  saying that there is a way to speak to God you have to be respectful. Not like: “ Hey God I want a new phone (I’d prefer an iphone or a HTC), new jeans denim please ermm..........what else oh yeah !A new........” I don’t think God would appreciate that you would be treating Him like a gift stall I want this I want that.............ENOUGH already!!!

In Matthew 6:5-15 it says: When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites. They love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners and pray loudly. They want people to see them pray. I tell you the truth. They already have their full reward.. When you pray, you should go into your room and close the door. Then pray to your Father who cannot be seen. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you. And when you pray, don’t be like those people who don’t know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing. They think that God will hear them because of the many things they say. Don’t be like them. Your Father knows the things you need before you ask him. So when you pray you should pray like this:

"Our Father in Heaven,

We pray that your name will always be kept holy.

We pray that your kingdom will come.

We pray that what you want will be done here on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us the food we need for each day.

Forgive the sins we have done just as we forgive those who did wrong to us.

Do not cause us to be tested;

But save us from the Evil One"

Yes, if you forgive others for things they do wrong, then your Father in Heaven will also forgive you for the things you do wrong. But if you do not forgive the wrong of others, then your Father in heaven will not forgive the wrongs you do.

My mum always said that you pray in stages.

Stage One: Acknowledgment/Adoration

You need to acknowledge that He is Jesus your LORD and Saviour. Or adore Him by worshipping Him, “You are King of Kings..... I lift you up and bless your Holy name...” in your own unique way!!

Stage Two: Confession

Confess your sins (the ones you can remember don’t spend all day trying to remember a sin!!) and also confess that He is Lord.

Stage Three: Thanksgiving

You have so many things to be thankful about. You’re breathing right now. You have clothes to wear shoes on your feet you are living. Did you know that we are exactly the right distance away from the sun if we were a bit closer the earth would shrivel up or vice-versa if we were a bit further away the earth would freeze like a Popsicle!!!!!!!!! Also thank Him for what He is doing in your life, your parents’ and siblings’ lives etc.

Stage Four: Supplication

This is the time to request the desires of your heart. Go on - He is listening. But don’t make it all about you you you and guess what YOU!! Pray about your friend who has the flu or the old lady down the road who doesn’t know the Lord.

Hopefully you’ve sussed out that it’s an anagram. ACTS

Acknowledgement/Adoration

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication

Some of you may be thinking, “doesn’t she like simultaneous prayer????” Well actually, that’s my preferred type of prayer. For those of you who are thinking, “What in the world is that???” Well...................

Simultaneous prayer is when you just pray. No boundaries just worshipping Him. No set order, just talking, worshipping and praising Him!!

But praying in order is good as well! I’m not totally dissing ordered prayer. That’s how JC (Jesus Christ) taught His disciples to pray.

So now we know more about praying! What are you waiting for???

Phoning to Heaven, By CJ

Phoning to Heaven

By CJ

The other day I talked to one of my best friends that I haven't talk to in a very long time - over a year. I didn't have time to talk to her before. We had lost connection and finally started talking to each other again, because she needed my help. I thought of an analogy that ties God to this. (I think you'll understand this, it has modern technology).

Saying a prayer is like a phone call to God. You praised Him and talked to Him and loved him. Next, you started to do bad stuff, and grow apart from God. The signal finally broke and the call was over. You didn't have time for Him and brushed Him off. You had to go get your nails done or watch a movie you know shouldn't. Then, the bad stuff starts rolling in. You need to get help from a friend that has helped you before. You reach for a way out of the darkness, out of the no signal zone. But you have to take the first step toward the signal; A step towards God. You call Him and He picks up, out of mercy. He helps you get back your signal, and helps grow stronger. His love and mercy is so powerful, that you can get signal; even in the shadiest spot in back of the woods.

Stay connected with God!

Misread Holiday, Leah F.

Misread Holiday

Leah F.

Thanksgiving! A time for turkey, mashed potatoes, and family visiting. Christmas! A time for opening presents, Santa Clause, and getting a big tree. Easter! A time for egg hunts, jelly beans, and the Easter Bunny. You know what these sentences are talking about don't you? We really don't seem to get sometimes that holidays are for different things than candy and presents. Today I will just be focused about Thanksgiving, but the words I say should be put to all holidays!

Thanksgiving is supposed to be about... giving thanks! :P The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621, when the pilgrims had a big feast with some of the native Americans. They were celebrating the first successful harvest, and that they had survived their first winter. But their Thanksgiving wasn't just one sit down, but a whole week of feasts!

Does your family give a prayer of thanks before every meal? Well, during Thanksgiving, that definitely what you should be doing! Psalm 95:2-3 says "Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods." During Thanksgiving, we should be thanking God for how great he is, and all that he has done for us. Psalm 100:4 says "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." The Bible talks a lot about how we should thank God for everything he has done. Psalm 145:7 also says, "They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness."

So sing to the Lord and praise him! Thank God for what he has done for you, even thank him for making you. You have no idea what blessings he has set upon you, so be happy an give thanks!

Boredom, By Beatrix C.

Boredom

By Beatrix C.

Raise your hand if summer has actually been boring. (You can do it in your head if you want.) Raise your hand if you miss school. And finally, raise your hand if you wish school was all year round with breaks in between.

I have raised my hand for all 3 of them. I am truly bored. I miss school. school gave me something to do. At home its like: ...........cricket, cricket.........cricket, cricket...... I mean occasionally, we go to Hawaiian Falls. (We are today.) But when I get home: ...........cricket, cricket.........cricket, cricket...... I think you get the picture. There is absolutely nothing to do. So I thought, anyways. There is always talking to God. Reading the Bible. Singing praising songs to Him. And lately I've been doing a few of those things. It works. I'm not bored.

I mean how can you be bored when you're in God's presence? There are still chores to do (which I dread most of the time). Some of the chores are actually fun to do. Like washing the car, cleaning up my room. (The reason why cleaning up my room isn't boring is because I find lots of stuff I've "lost" in the past, :P)

Anyways, if you're ever bored, just go talk to God. Sing to Him, pray to Him. Or when you're actually doing fun stuff, invite Him to be with you. You know, like in your head or just plain out loud say: God, why don't you join me? Sure He's already there. He's everywhere. But to invite Him. To let Him know you want Him to be there, when you're doing something that doesn't really focus on God, well I guess it would make Him smile. To know that you want to be with Him. :)

:P Chow!