p.r.a.y.e.r.

“We must continue in prayer if we are to get an outpouring of the Spirit. Christ says there are some things we shall not get, unless we pray and fast, yes, 'prayer and fasting'. We must control the flesh and abstain from whatever hinders direct fellowship with God." - Andrew A. Bonar

"Oh! men and brethren, what would this heart feel if I could but believe that there were some among you who would go home and pray for a revival - men whose faith is large enough, and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here, as in the times of former generations." - C. H. Spurgeon

"A prayerless man is proud and independent, and any church that neglects corporate prayer is sadly no better. Only God's humble and needy children take the time to pray. Everyone else is just going through the motions and naively trusting in their own strength!" - David ~Smithers

"The evangelization of the word in this generation depends first of all upon a revival of prayer. Deeper than the need for men; deeper, far, than the need for money; aye, deep down at the bottom of our spiritless life is the need for the forgotten secret of prevailing, world-wide prayer." - Robert E. Speer

"I believe there is one thing for which God is very angry with our land, and for which His Holy Spirit is so little among us, and that is the neglect of united prayer; the appointed means of bringing down the Holy Spirit." - Brownlow North

"From the day of Pentecost, there has been not one great spiritual awakening in any land which has not begun in a union of prayer." - A. T. Pierson

"Revivals begin with God's own people; the Holy Spirit touches their heart anew, and gives them new fervor and compassion, and zeal, new light and life, and when He has thus come to you, He next goes forth to the valley of dry bones... Oh, what responsibility this lays on the Church of God! If you grieve Him away from yourselves, or hinder His visit, then the poor perishing world suffers sorely!" - Andrew A. Bonar

"Our prayers lay the track down on which God's power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails." - Watchman Nee

"Pray often; for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan." - John Bunyan

When you pray for anyone you tend to modify your personal attitude toward him. Norman Vincent Peale

I am praying for life and the regeneration of your spirit within you. I am praying for the newness of the Spirit to rest within and on you. I am praying that your heart would be open to the things of God: that you would have ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart that knows Gods’ love, will, grace, joy and power in a tangible way. I pray you would have a revelation of God’s love for you. Today I stand in the gap for you: my enemies and friends, and cry out to God on your behalf! That you may see Him, that you may know who you are as His child, and that through your weakness, His strength would be perfected in you. I pray you would develop the burden of prayer. Watchman Nee rightly stated, that if we have no burden, we will not pray. I pray that the Spirit would place the burden to pray on our hearts. Pray for those who hate us, pray for those who agitate us.. pray for those whom we love who are struggling in doubt and confusion. We are a prideful people.. so often we look at each other (at least I do) and think – if only this person weren’t so _______, I would be much happier! Is that really loving as Jesus loves? Is that really looking at someone with the eyes of LOVE, through and through? So often, we talk at great length about a problem and our frustration with it, then neglect to pray! How will anything change if we do not pray? Prayer is our partnership with the Spirit to see His will come to pass. Lately, I have been reminded of the importance of prayer.. it is so vital! The quote by Charles Spurgeon up above actually brings tears to my eyes because it resonnates so much within me.. God promises, if we, His people, would but humble ourselves and pray – what amazing transformation we would see in our lives and the lives of those around us! If we would only seek Gods’ face and turn from our sin (hardness of heart), God promises that He will hear from heaven, and forgive our sin and heal our land 2 Chronicles 7:14. THIS IS A PROMISE!!! Don’t we know that He means what He says? He means it! So I’m calling to you to pray – God is waiting on YOU to change your heart - not the person you feel frustrated with, or the person who you’re angry at. He wants us to pray for them… for when our hearts change, something in the Spirit shifts. In love and forgiveness, the Spirit is then free to move and work.. it is a beautiful thing. It releases joy when God shows us what He sees over that persons' life, the work He longs to do! Let's not stop Him.. let's run to Jesus, let's go, let's pray! :-)