A TRUE BELIEVER

 Job 1:20-22 (HCSB) 
²⁰  Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,
²¹  saying: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh.
²²  Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.

Prayer Warriors,

Job was a man of integrity, a man who loved the Lord, not because of what he had but we know from scripture when everything was taken away, He would not curse God. He fell to his face and worshiped Him. No man has suffered as much as Job, except for our Savior Jesus Christ. 
It said, " In all of this Job did not sin or blame God." I love what MacArthur said,

21. Instead of cursing, he blessed the name of Jehovah. Job’s submissive response disproved the adversary’s accusations (1:9–11). So far, Job was what God claimed him to be, a true believer with faith that cannot be broken (v. 8).

MacArthur, J. (2006; 2008). MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Job 1:20). Thomas Nelson Publishers; Nashville, TN.

I pray that in all we may go through in life, with love ones, work, neighbors.......I pray that we would be blameless in the eyes of our Lord. We would be women of integrity, even when we don't understand! Women of prayer, who persevere in time of trouble. Prayer Warriors that put on the full armor daily, ready for battle. If we've been in a pity party and I know how to do that real good! Remember His promises. 

Let us be, who He claims us to be, a true believer with a faith that cannot be broken! 

Blessings,

Christina

Humility

Humility is an indispensable requisite of true prayer. It must be an attribute, a characteristic of prayer. Humility must be in the praying character as light is in the sun. Prayer has no beginning, no ending, no being, without humility. As a ship is made for the sea, so prayer is made for humility, and so humility is made for prayer.

The Complete Works of E. M. Bounds .

Philippians 2:6-8 (HCSB)
⁶  who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.
⁷  Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,
⁸  He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

Prayer Warriors,

It's amazing, when you think about it, that the God of the universe would come and take on a human body. It said, " He emptied Himself and to the form of a slave." Jesus, whom willingly  limited himself to the likeness of man. Yet still God, he choose to come as a baby dependent on  another human being. He set His rights aside, He now was subject to time, place and human limitations. 
God, who existed before the foundations of the world.

He humbled himself even unto death. I remember thinking to myself, well the Lord had to die. He created us and man sinned so He was our only way out. Oh, how I was mistaken. I truly didn't understand the cross. Yes, He was the only one that could pay that price, a perfect lamb but He still didn't have to do it. I was the one that had sinned, and still does and yet He went willingly, lovingly so that I, you could have eternal life.

When we come to Him in prayer in humility, may we empty ourselves of are pride because if never answers another prayer, He has already done enough! 

Blessings,
Christina  

Trust

The trust which our Lord taught as a condition of effectual prayer, is not of the head but of the heart. It is trust which “doubter not in his heart.” Such trust has the Divine assurance that it shall be honored with large and satisfying answers. The strong promise of our Lord brings faith down to the present, and counts on a present answer.

Do we believe, without a doubt? When we pray, do we believe, not that we shall receive the things for which we ask on a future day, but that we receive them, then and there? Such is the teaching of this inspiring Scripture. How we need to pray, “Lord, increase our faith,” until doubt be gone, and implicit trust claims the promised blessings, as its very own.

This is no easy condition. It is reached only after many a failure, after much praying, after many waiting, after much trial of faith. May our faith so increase until we realize and receive all the fullness there is in that Name which guarantees to do so much.

Our Lord puts trust as the very foundation of praying. The background of prayer is trust. The whole issuance of Christ’s ministry and work was dependent on implicit trust in His Father. The center of trust is God. Mountains of difficulties, and all other hindrances to prayer are moved out of the way by trust and his virile henchman, faith. When trust is perfect and without doubt, prayer is simply the outstretched hand, ready to receive. Trust perfected, is prayer perfected. Trust looks to receive the thing asked for—and gets it. Trust is not a belief that God can bless, that He will bless, but that He does bless, here and now. Trust always operates in the present tense. Hope looks toward the future. Trust looks to the present. Hope expects. Trust possesses. Trust receives what prayer acquires. So that what prayer needs, at all times, is abiding and abundant trust.

The Complete Works of E. M. Bounds .

Prayer Warriors,

I love the words of  E. M. Bounds in how he brings trust and prayer together. Yes, it is with much prayers and waiting that I realize,  that I forgot to bring trust into my prayers. How I know, its because when I walked away, I say to myself, " I hope he answers that." or " That's OK if he doesn't." I've already lost trust in one I'm praying to.

 Proverbs 3:5 (HCSB) 
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 

I pray that we would ask the Lord to increase our faith, so we can trust in Him with all our hearts. Lean not, on what is going on in our lives, the trails we face, or relationships that are or have been destructive but TRUST in our Lord. The one who redeems, restores, renews. He has saved, changed and transformed lives and He will continue to do so. Trust in the one who holds heaven and earth in the palm of His hands. 

Blessing,

Christina

Faith + Forgiveness = A good prayer life

22 Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. 23 I assure you: If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, all the things you pray and ask for — believe that you have received them, and you will have them. 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing. 26 But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing. ”  Mark 11:22

Prayer Warriors,
       
Oh, how God speaks to us through his word. When I read this verse, I see my struggles in faith and forgiveness, so as I ponder on the words of Christ. I'm having to look up and say, "Speak to my heart and show me where I fall short."In this scripture He brings faith, prayer, and forgiveness together.

        
Faith, believing what I'm praying and yet at times I walk away with a doubtful heart. My prayers lately have been asking the Holy Spirit to input a faith were I'm not like the sea going back and forth. 

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5 

You see, our faith is only good in the one we put our faith in. When fear wants to take over my faith, I have to look to the truth of who He is. 

3 For Your faithful love is before my eyes,and I live by Your truth. Psalm 26:3 

When everything around me says something else, my eyes have to be fix on Him. Faith is our christian walk and we have to walk daily in it.

        
Forgiveness, why with prayer? He wants to get to the heart, He wants to dig down deep in my your soul. It's not just about coming to him about my situations but He's wanting me to examine my heart and forgiveness is a good start. 

39 may You hear their prayer and petitions in heaven,

Your dwelling place,

and uphold their cause. 

May You forgive Your people

who sinned against You.

40 Now, my God,

please let Your eyes be open

and Your ears attentive

to the prayer of this place. 2 Chronicles 6: 39-40

When I come to Him in prayer,  a cleansing needs to take place in my heart. He is ready and willing to wash my sins away, a sinless man, who knew no sin. Yet, in my mind, I will find reasons why I can't forgive my enemy or my brother or sister in Christ. It might not be something I speak out loud but deep down in my soul I feel I just don't want to forgive.

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times? ” 22“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven. Matthew 18:21-22

I need to be forgiven daily of my sins, so I need to forgive daily. God help me not to hold on to bitterness of the past, or whats going on the present or even in the future, of not wanting to forgive. Truly forgive. I don't want my prayers to be hindered. 

                                            Blessings,

                                            Christina 

Prayer is the proof of love, and love is produced by prayer!

Romans 10:1 (HCSB)
¹  Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation! 


Prayer Warriors,

         Today the Lord was speaking to my heart about my Love for people and what this looks like! Paul loved his fellow Jews, how he desired to see them saved. He even said, in  Romans 9:3 (HCSB) ³  For I could almost wish to be cursed and cut off from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my own flesh and blood. He was willing to go to hell, for their salvation. That they would come know Jesus Christ. They hated him, stoned him, beat him and threw him in jail.  Amazing, how could a man say this about his enemies?

           
           Prayers to God. Paul's prayers to His God was not just about changing the situation or the circumstance or even the other person but it was about changing His heart. God has put people in our lives to mold us and shape our Christian walk. Yes, even our enemies! It my be the prodigal son or daughter that you just wish would just come to their senses. The hurts we've experience from our spouses, mothers, or family members etc.... help shape the people we are. Jesus uses it all, everything we go through and who we go through it with.

                       
            I have to remind myself that it was my sin, put Jesus on the cross. Sometimes we generalize it and say" He died for all sins"  and He did but I need to see the cross and say"He died for my sins". My sin put Him on the cross. Jesus the Lamb of God who took our place, sits in heaven and prays and intercedes for you and me. Paul understood this, that's why he could pray for the one's who were persecuting him because at one time he was the one doing the persecuting. If God could transform a man like Paul and a sinner like me, then no one is out of the reach of God! I pray that God would produce that kind of love, His love, in you and me.

                                                        Blessing,

                                                               Christina 

Who do you say I am?

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is? ” 

14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 

15“But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am? ”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God! ” 

17 And Jesus responded, “Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven. Matthew 16:15-17

Prayer Warriors,

  

        We will celebrate Easter and celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I wonder how many of us really do understand the cross and what He did. I know there so much to it and you can study it endlessly but if your Father in heaven hasn't brought revelation through the Spirit, can we truly understand who He really is! Peter understood only because the Father had reveled to him. How many Christians are sitting in churches and don't really understand who He is? 

        We have to pray everyday that the Holy Spirit would open our eyes to the unseen things ( spiritual realm) He the Father would give us revelation of who He is. Pray for our children and our love ones that the Holy Spirit would draw them to the Father and He would revel His son Jesus Christ. Then I believe something will take place down deep in the hearts of adult children, husbands, mothers, family, country.

         Communion is one of the ways that the Lord has really used in my family lives to revel more of who He is. He said, "Do it as often as you remember me." We do it as a family at home or My Husband and I will do it together or just my Lord and me. I want to know more and more of Him, so every time I take the bread and the juice, He washes all my sin's away, cleanses me from head to toe. He is on my mind and my family and the cross because it's all about what He did for us 2000 years ago! 

                                       Blessings,

                                              Christina   

Ephesians 6:18 (HCSB)
¹⁸  Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 

Prayer Warriors:

Pray always. This obviously does not mean "always saying prayers." We are not heard for our "much speaking" (Matt. 6:7). "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thes. 5:17) says to us, "Always be in communion with the Lord. Keep the receiver off the hook!" Never have to say when you pray, "Lord, we come into Thy presence," because you never left His presence! A Christian must "pray always" because he is always subject to temptations and attacks of the devil. A surprise attack has defeated more than one believer who forgot to "pray without ceasing."
Pray with all prayer. There is more than one kind of praying: prayer, supplication, intercession, thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1). The believer who prays only to ask for things is missing out on blessings that come with intercessions and giving of thanks. In fact, thanksgiving is a great prayer weapon for defeating Satan. "Praise changes things" as much as "prayer changes things." Intercession for others can bring victory to our own lives. "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends" (Job 42:10).
Pray in the Spirit The Bible formula is that we pray to the Father, through the Son, and in the Spirit. Romans 8:26-27 tells us that only in the Spirit's power can we pray in the will of God. Otherwise, our praying could be selfish and out of the will of God. In the Old Testament tabernacle, there was a small golden altar standing before the veil, and here the priest burned the incense (Ex. 30:1-10; Luke 1:1-11). The incense is a picture of prayer. It had to be mixed according to God's plan and could not be counterfeited by man. The fire on the altar is a picture of the Holy Spirit, for it is He who takes our prayers and "ignites" them in the will of God. It is possible to pray fervently in the flesh and never get through to God. It is also possible to pray quietly in the Spirit and see God's hand do great things.
Pray with your eyes open. Watching means "keeping on the alert." The phrase "watch and pray" occurs often in the Bible. When Nehemiah was repairing the walls of Jerusalem, and the enemy was trying to stop the work, Nehemiah defeated the enemy by watching and praying. "Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch" (Neh. 4:9). "Watch and pray" is the secret of victory over the world (Mark 13:33), the flesh (Mark 14:38), and the devil (Eph. 6:18). Peter went to sleep when he should have been praying, and the result was victory for Satan (Mark 14:29-31, 67-72). God expects us to use our God-given senses, led by the Spirit, so that we detect Satan when he is beginning to work.
Keep on praying. The word perseverance simply means "to stick to it and not quit." The early believers prayed this way (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 6:4); and we also should pray this way (Rom. 12:12). Perseverance in prayer does not mean we are trying to twist God's arm, but rather that we are deeply concerned and burdened and cannot rest until we get God's answer. As Robert Law puts it, "Prayer is not getting man's will done in heaven; it is getting God's will done on earth" (Tests of Life, [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1968]). Most of us quit praying just before God is about to give the victory. Not everybody is so constituted that he can sincerely spend a whole night in prayer, but all of us can persevere in prayer far more than we do. The early church prayed without ceasing when Peter was in prison and, at the last moment, God gave them their answer (Acts 12:1-19). Keep on praying until the Spirit stops you or the Father answers you. Just about the time you feel like quitting, God will give the answer.
Pray for all the saints. The Lord's Prayer begins with "Our Father"—not "My Father." We pray as part of a great family that is also talking to God, and we ought to pray for the other members of the family. Even Paul asked for the prayer support of the Ephesians—and he had been to the third heaven and back. If Paul needed the prayers of the saints, how much more do you and I need them! If my prayers help another believer defeat Satan, then that victory will help me too. Note that Paul did not ask them to pray for his comfort or safety, but for the effectiveness of his witness and ministry.

Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) - New Testament - The Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament, Volume 2.