Then shall ye call upon me,
and ye shall go and pray unto me,
and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me,
when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12-13
and ye shall go and pray unto me,
and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me,
when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12-13
I have had it on my heart lately that more of my time needs to be spent in prayer. Especially for my family, church family, and friends. God puts people into our lives for a reason - some permanently such as family members, and others just for a season. He wants us to make prayer a part of everyday life and wants us to pray for others, as well as ourselves. I have stopped looking at my prayer life as a discipline and have asked God to give me a desire for prayer and a heart for prayer. I recently heard mentioned in a Bible study, that we might be the only ones praying for our family and friends, and never thought of it from that perspective.
How can we obtain a heart for prayer?
By seeking God through his word, the Bible, and through prayer.
….seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Deuteronomy 4:29
….seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Deuteronomy 4:29
…..the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts, if thou seek him, he will be found of thee.
1 Chronicles 28:9
1 Chronicles 28:9
….He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
There’s a wonderful hymn written in the 1800’s titled SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER. You can find more information about this at Wordwise Hymns. Here’s the first verse.
Hebrews 11:6
There’s a wonderful hymn written in the 1800’s titled SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER. You can find more information about this at Wordwise Hymns. Here’s the first verse.
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
There are countless verses on the subject of prayer. The topic today merely touches the surface. I’ll be seeking the Lord this week through prayer and asking for him to strengthen my desire to have a heart for prayer. I’d love to hear from you if you’re going to join me in seeking this as well.
A beautiful post. I so enjoy the way you present your posts! I would love it if you check out my Bloggers Prayer Project and perhaps consider it. As God leads. In His Grace, Dawn
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Abby!! Thank you for such a great message and scripture!! How is your husband doing? xo Heather
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ReplyDeleteI'll be back to visit these wonderful links. I can tell that they will be fabulous. I enjoyed singing Sweet Hour of Prayer just now. I hadn't forgotten it, though I haven't sung it for years and years.
ReplyDeleteThinking of anything as "discipline" probably doesn't help. =D Yes, perhaps we can think of these disciplines as great privileges. That may help.
Thank you for giving me much food for thought this morning!
Prayer is always a struggle for me to settle down and just DO IT!! I will ask God, as you suggest, to give me a heart and an attitude for prayer, considering it a privilege and not a discipline. Tnx, Abby. h, sth, Spruce Head,ME.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Has anyone considered reading C.S.Lewis' The Screwtape Letters? It's an incredible reminder of how the enemy distracts us so easily and what simple warfare he uses to do so. It is readily found online.
Hi Abby! Your layout is just beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us at Word Art Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think that having direct access to God through prayer is one of our greatest gifts in life, and I feel so badly for those who don't realize we can go directly to Him. And....that He WANTS us to ask Him for things. What an incredible blessing, and thanks for reminding us how blessed we are to have that precious gift. I am blessed to know you, a friend who prays, and I am always here to pray for you as well. God is SO GOOD!
Hugs,
Karen
Love your scrapbook page Abby! Also, excellent post re: prayer and yes indeed, those whom God places in our lives may only have us to pray for them! Very good and humbling point.
ReplyDeleteYet another reminder/affirmation exactly at the right moment! I am responding a little late on this, but read it as soon as it was posted.
ReplyDeleteYour vintage graphics and scrapbook page are sooo pretty!
Hi Abby, your layout is beautiful. Thank you for the reminder as I need to pray more for my family and the people that come into my life for just an instance. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're doing well.
hugs
Your blog is great and filled with Beauty. Congrats :-) Hugs!
ReplyDeleteVintage Collages
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Abby, I've attempted to put your link button in my blog, but it doesn't work :-( I don't know the reason. I'm going to add your link to my blogs list, ok? Hugs!!
ReplyDeleteVintage Collages
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Inspiring words Abby as I have learned to expect from you!
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of the child and the dog praying!
Keep on spreading the sunshine!
Blessings,
Thanks, Abby for your encouraging and timely words again. Blessings on your weekend! B
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute. Love the colors and the vintage look of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for playing along with WAW.
Wendy
It is so true that the time spent in prayer with the Lord Jesus can never be underestimated! I to seek to have a heart for prayer and your post is such an encouragement to me in this!
ReplyDeleteHi Abby, sorry there are two of me, the first one wasn't working right so I tried again....please delete on of them. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you sister Abby -for the reminder to have a heart for prayer. Our Lord so wants our attention on others. We are living in a time when people's faith is at it's lowest.
ReplyDeleteI take on your challenge this week -that God will direct my prayers and my heart will be softened to notice what others need.
Thanks for playing with us @ WAW.
Abby, I am so blessed that you choose to share a scrapbook page this week. Although I love cards, it's so encouraging to see a scrapbook page that incorporates the Word from time to time. Thanks so much for linking it to Word Art Wednesday. Thanks for the teaching on prayer as well. My prayer life is still a work in progress. It's not where I'd like it to be, but praise God that it's not what it used to be.
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