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There comes a moment when praying becomes a form of spiritual procrastination. It’s time to stop praying and start acting.
The title of the book of Acts says it all, doesn’t it? It’s not the book of Ideas or Words. It’s the book of Acts. And if we said less and did more, I believe we would have the same kind of impact the first-century church had.
If Christians believe that the image of God is in every person, why don’t we act like it? Why do we turn our eyes from the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the prostitutes?
When everything is said and done, God won’t say, “Well said, good and faithful servant.” He won’t say, “Well thought,” “well planned,” or even “well prayed.” There is only one commendation He will give: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
One of the great dangers we face spiritually is learning how and forgetting why. Call it familiarization. Call it habituation. Call it routinization. Call it whatever you want, but when we learn how and forget why, we start going through the motions spiritually.
It will radically change the way we think, the way we live, the way we love.
Words that are repeated throughout Scripture are repeated because they bear repeating.
A few years ago, I read one sentence that radically affected the way I pray: “God does not answer vague prayers.” I was immediately convicted by how vague my prayers were.
The more faith we have, the more specific our prayers will be. And the more specific our prayers are, the more glory God receives.
So instead of circling Jericho, we end up wandering in the wilderness. What is your Jericho?
A testimony is powerful, in part, because we cannot argue with it. It’s irrefutable and undeniable. A personal testimony is our secret weapon, and that’s why the enemy wants us to keep our testimony a secret. It’s not a testimony if we don’t share it with others.
If we want to change the world, we must spend a lot of time with Jesus.
We cannot live off of someone else’s experience forever. Secondhand faith is as dangerous as secondhand smoke.
Heaven will be populated because of our prayers. But the root of revival is prayer.
Our prayers have the potential to write and rewrite history.
We cannot worry about what we cannot do; we have to simply do what we can.
Oswald Chambers once wrote, “It is inbred in us87 that we have to do exceptional things for God; but we have not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things.” And if we do the ordinary, God will add an extra to it.
but she had a praying grandmother.
So grateful for praying grandmothers!
We have adopted the convenient theory that the Bible is a Book to be explained, whereas first and foremost it is a Book to be believed (and after that to be obeyed).
the purpose of prayer is not to get what you want; the goal of prayer is to discern what God wants, what God wills.
It’s not about doing great things for God; it’s about God doing great things in us.
Don’t just pray your words all the time; pray the Word of God because His word does not return to Him empty.97
Notice what the disciples didn’t ask. They didn’t say, “Lord, teach us to preach.” They didn’t say, “Teach us to lead,” or even, “Lord, teach us to disciple.” All of those endeavors are noble. But they have one request: “Lord, teach us to pray.”
If we change the way we pray, everything changes. It changes the way we work, the way we parent, and the way we lead.
It changes the way we prioritize and strategize. It changes the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we speak. Prayer cha...
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Wisdom is knowing how much you don’t know. So you have to start there and ask God to teach you.
Sometimes lyrics get in the way of worshiping God because someone else is mediating our praise. God wants to hear your voice, your words, your praise.
I have no idea what to say when I pray. And that’s OK. The first objective of prayer is praying about what to pray about. Prayer isn’t about outlining our agenda to God; it’s about getting into God’s presence and getting God’s agenda for us.
don’t be in such a hurry to get through the Bible that you don’t get the Bible through you.
It doesn’t matter what you do; prayer is the key to your business, your practice, your career. The anointing of God isn’t limited to pastors who preach. The favor of God is for everyone.
Don’t just brainstorm; praystorm.
Prayer is the difference between appointments and divine appointments. Prayer is the difference between good ideas and God-ideas. Prayer is the difference between the favor of God and the luck of the draw. Prayer is the difference between closed doors and open doors. Prayer is the difference between possible and impossible. Prayer is the difference between the best we can do and the best God can do.
