(written by Marci Alborghetti from OurPrayer.org)

The last time I visited my good friend Gwen in Key West, she told me, “I’ve been pursuing peace for a long time. What I’ve finally realized is that peace isn’t something to pursue, it’s something to grow inside myself. Now I don’t have to stop whatever I’m doing to pray. I feel that every moment of my life is a prayer.”

As Gwen continued to talk, I realized that “living prayer” was more a way of life than a formal prayer. And I understood that living prayer was the next step toward complete trust. In saying that her life was a prayer, Gwen meant that everything she did, every thought she had, every word she spoke, grew out of her sense that God was with her. Gwen’s living prayer was the result of many years of praying and searching. Those of us who haven’t yet experienced that level of prayer can at least dedicate a particular period of time to try living prayer.

The process may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but it can teach you a new way to be close to God, even if you’re not able to continue it indefinitely. However, if you do commit yourself to this kind of prayer, you may find it becoming more natural and easy every day.It’s important to know that living prayer won’t be the answer to all your problems. Gwen’s life isn’t perfect. Like everyone else, those who practice living prayer sometimes feel down, discouraged and as if they’ve failed. But living prayer isn’t about living in a dream world where everything is exactly right. Living prayer is about living always in the presence of God.

A day of living prayer, whether expressed in words or thoughts or both, might go something like this:

Wake up and thank God for your day, for your life. Ask for help as you face the day’s challenges.Thank God that you are able to get up and start the day. Ask His help in dealing with your aches, pains and other health problems.

As you eat your breakfast, savor the taste even if you’re in a hurry, thanking God for food and drink. Pray for those who are hungry, and ask God to help you to help meet the needs of all of His children.

As you begin your daily work, whether it’s at home or elsewhere, manual or mental, thank God for your colleagues and family members, even those who irritate or frustrate you. If you work alone, give thanks for the peace of solitude. Offer your labor to God, asking Him to help you to perform it well. Pray particularly for anyone you will meet today who is likely to be difficult and for the grace to handle the situation.

As you interact with the people around you, pray for them and pray that you will be a good influence in their lives. Offer special thanks for those who have a positive influence on you.

As you notice the weather, thank God for the miracle of nature, for good weather and for shelter in bad weather.

When you read or hear the news of the day, thank God for the peace and stability in your life. Pray for those who have no peace, and that world and local leaders will be guided by the Lord.

When you break for lunch, gratefully taste whatever food and drink you have, thanking God for the chance to rest. Praise Him for the flowers, the trees, the snowflakes or whatever of His good creation you encounter.

If you have time for exercise during the day, ask God for a healing, healthy workout and thank Him for your body.

When you return to work, recommit yourself and thank God again for the opportunity and ability to work.

When you’re returning home from work, offer thanks for your transportation whether it’s a car, bike, train, subway or your own feet. Pray for the safety of all who are traveling.

Begin your evening by praising God for time to eat, rest or complete any of the day’s unfinished work. Give thanks for those you’re enjoying your evening with. If you’re alone, remember that God is with you and thank Him for His presence. Pray for the people you know who are troubled and for patience with them.

At dinner, enjoy your meal slowly, praising God again for His provision. As you finish your chores, thank Him for the chance to get them done and for rest from labor.

If you read before going to bed, thank God for eyes to see and a mind to discern. If you watch television or a movie, thank God for the time and technology that allows you to enjoy them.

As you lie down to sleep, thank God for the day. Ask for forgiveness for your failures and mistakes, thank Him for your successes and ask Him for healing rest. Occasionally God blesses those of us who are on the path but have not yet arrived at the place of trust with a glimpse of what it is like to live prayer, to live in Him. If we are ready for these glimmers, if we can accept them, they can prove to be breathtaking catalysts for our journey.

(visit Christian Prayer Center @ christianprayercenter.com)

If you or a family member is need of prayer, the Lord shall hear your request through the prayers of the entire Christian Prayer Center. You are not walking a lonely course, but rather holding hands with those who care. Christ loves everyone and is filled with happiness when they are praying together online or in church.

Healing is a long process that begins with prayer and faith. The Bible tells us what we must do, and we must have the strength to come together in Holy worship. Submit a prayer and read the prayers of those who are in need of help and guidance. Jesus loves us all. It is our religion that binds us together as humans on this Earth. God Blesses.

Do some personal assessment by asking yourself this question: When I decide I want to spend time with the God of the Universe, do I come to Him with absolute certainty and confidence that the specific things I ask for will be given?

Some of you don’t know if you can pray that way. Others might think this is a trick question, but it’s not. God wants you to have absolute confidence before Him, to pray specific things in such a way that you know He will answer.

Look at 1 John 5:13-15. “I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of Him.”

The first thing to notice is the context. Verses 11-12 tell us that “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” The message here is to God’s children, to those who believe in the Name of the Son of God. The phrase “So that you may know that you have eternal life,” lets us know this letter is written to give assurance to people who are really in God’s family.

A second issue we need to address concerns how to pray in order to know God hears our prayers. The short phrase in verse fourteen gives a condition: “if we pray according to the will of God.” If you or I pray anything according to His will, meaning that it’s God’s desire and intention, then He plans to fulfill it.

Stemming logically from the idea of praying according to God’s will, the third issue this passage addresses is “How do we know God’s will?” At this point I hope you’re thinking, “Hmm, I pray a lot of vague prayers.” I think sometimes that instead of praying in faith we usually pray in hope. For example, I’ll pray, “Oh, God, I hope this happens. Oh, God, this is a good desire. Oh, God, it would be nice if You did that.” But that’s not the way Jesus told us to pray. He said when you come asking in faith, “believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).

One thing I’ve learned as I’ve studied prayer is that the great men and great women of God have an open Bible before them as they pray. They don’t go before God thinking, “Let’s see, I need to read three chapters today to keep up with my program.” No, as they read they pray, “God show me Your will for me; show me Your will for my family; show me Your will for the future.” They ask God specifically according to His promises, and God comes through for them.

A few examples of how to pray according to the will of God and according to His promises will help us out here. First, by the promises. Suppose someone has a significant decision to make or a big problem to solve. It may be a situation in your marriage that you need to address with your spouse. You’re concerned your spouse will be offended or hurt, maybe even angry when you try to address this issue. “Would You give me wisdom about how and what to say in this situation, God?”

Perhaps it’s a situation involving one of your children. Emotionally you feel yourself backing off, when in reality you need to move into the situation and speak the truth. You know there may be fireworks, so you need God to give you wisdom about how to approach your child.

Or there may be a job situation. It could be with your supervisor or, if you’re the employer, it could be with someone who works for you. You need wisdom about how to intervene in this delicate situation and also to know God’s will so that He can work.

In situations like these we either need to know what to do, or we need to know how to do it. Basically it boils down to the fact that we need wisdom from God. The Biblical definition of wisdom is the ability and the skill to understand God’s design for life and then find our part in it so it works. The good news is that if you need wisdom, God has promised to give it.

The Holy Spirit wants to teach you to pray specifically. He wants to give you the hope and certainty to pray with confidence. Start with yourself. Is there a promise God wants you to claim? Is there an area in which you need wisdom and direction for change? Whatever you really need from God, come and take His yoke.

Excerpted from the booklet, How to Pray with Confidence Before God, by Chip Ingram. Copyright 2004, by Chip Ingram. All rights reserved.

Chip Ingram is Teaching Pastor of Living on the Edge, a national radio ministry.

(devotional by Chip Ingram from Christianity.com)

(from OurPrayer.org)

Death—it affects all of us at one time or another. If you are dealing with the loss of a loved one, take comfort from Psalm 23. Read it prayerfully, thinking about these things:

The Lord is my shepherd. He takes good care of you and those you love. Jesus is the true Good Shepherd (John 10:11). He promises, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).

I shall not want. A little girl who was trying to repeat the 23rd Psalm from memory said, “The Lord is my shepherd; that’s all I want.” She had the essence of what it means!

He maketh me to lie down. Each one of us must eventually lie down in the last sleep. But is it the Lord who brings us to that final rest.

He leadeth me. Whatever happens, God is with us. His loving hand is always in control.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. When death touches us, there is nothing to fear. Our end here is our blessed beginning in heavenly communion with Jesus.

I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen!