When You Pray

Every new victory which a soul gains is the effect of prevailing and fervent prayer.
Looking to Christ, just saying His name, often suffices to overcome the wicked one.
Remember he always sees our vulnerable areas and weaknesses; he will walk by often.
The Bible says he roams the earth seeking whom he may devour; enticing “Come”.
Satan even endeavored to entice Christ to bow down and serve him; he the seducer.
Learn to sense his presence, but recognize and love the Holy Spirit; he is the protector.

God’s command to pray without ceasing is given to us because we all need His grace,
And strength to protect us from the evil one, for he loves to destroy your testimony.
When witnessing make a beeline for the cross and the Savior who rose from the dead.
Christ is the only one who was crucified and rose from the dead, He is part of history.
God wants to urge us on, not give up and stop praying; He sees the path ahead of us.
Prayer is a two-way conversation, not a “Give me” “get me” list, that is just saying to Him,
“We want, or need, help us to do, this or that”; Remember Jesus commended Mary because
She simply sat at His feet and learned of Him, we find it so hard to just praise and meditate.
Upon His word, and to thank Him, learning to wait on Him; hard to say “Thank You” when
Nothing has occurred; we want instant everything, especially for our family and their needs.
The Holy Spirit will speak to us, give us reassurance that we are heard and can rest in Him.
We wonder how anyone can pray for an hour when what we have to say lasts mere minutes.
Why do we become so formal when praising, thanking, or just talking to our heavenly Father?
Could it be because we do not talk to Him very often? So, He has become a stranger to us?
He says in His word that He delights in hearing from us, reflecting on those upon words that
He tells us, His followers, should leave a lump in our throat and tears in our eyes so much
Does He love us that He delights when we talk to him, and I am sure takes heed to our words.
If a request from us is not to our benefit or our support, He is wise enough to say no to us.
Or if more time has to elapse in order to answer that prayer request with a yes, or a further wait.
We have to accept that our Father knows best, and pray with His will in mind and not our own.

• James 5:14 – 17 ~ Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And make the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well, The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

• Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”

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Satan's Instructions

I dreamt last night I overhead a conversation.
Between Satan and his motley congregation.
He was sending them out, his anointed few,
And I‘ll repeat the dream now here to you.

Christmas is here, and I’m depending upon you,
Stand tall, take note, all my motley young crew.
I need help at this season, so you must not rest.
I am instructing you now to each do your best.

The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye.
A vision, a want, and a dream, and a sigh.
Cause them to covet and fill every mind.
With pride, and pleasures of every kind.

And go to the saints ... the more saintlier few,
Tempt them with feasts, and tempt them with brew.
Let them all party and visit and forget even why.
Fill each man with dissension and create a new lie.

To live life to the fullest, there’s no future just present.
Use each moment for self, and everything pleasant.
Don’t forget I am powerful, don’t forget I am strong.
I know the character of man, and I’m seldom far wrong!

If you find a man lax and weary in well doing,
It’s a signal to you to draw close and start brewing.
Talk about parties, and Santa, talk about toys.
Use your finest of wits, and your sneakiest of ploys.

Talk about famine, talk about climate change and war.
Make them think they are sitting by death’s very door.
Make them forget and lust, and fill them with greed.
Fill them with “wants” that they think they all need.

Bring on depression, and remember the fears
Bring on the worry, and bring on the tears.
Don’t talk about meekness, don’t talk about sin.
Don’t consider the world, the state they are in.

And whatever you do, don’t mention the child!
Don’t talk of that garden that I once defiled.
Not a word of the Saviour, don’t speak of His plan,
To redeem a lost world and to save fallen man.

So go quickly now, for the season is here.
The time for festivities and for good cheer.
And I heard him exclaim e’re he walked out of sight
Merry Xmas to all, now go and show them your might.

I Peter 5 : 8 - 9 “Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil walks about like
a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in this world.”

Only Once

Christ only needs to forgive someone one time, one for all, believe it.
To resent you have to do it all day, every day, all the time to commit.
To carry resentment in your heart, let it fester, and soon it will grow.
It may destroy your crops or fruit, but be sure in your life it will show.
Others the way to Christ by how you live, and God Himself will know,
That your righteousness is but filthy rags, if you fail to forgive anyone.
Rich or poor, agnostic or heathen, Jesus said if he would find but one
He would go into the fields, find that lost sheep and bid him come in.
Every person has that chance for the Saviour to forgive him his sin.

When you harbour resentment, your walk with God will not grow.
If you remember offences, hoard them in your heart you will show..
Bitterness to others when you talk, it will stunt your Christian walk.
Health problems will pursue you if you spread gossip when you talk.
Until you decide to give your resentment up to God and say, “Lord,
I do not want this poison living inside me this way please forgive me.
For what I pour out on others will destroy this vessel, and I will be
Rotting from deep within me; and Satan will start to exult with glee.
I will become a slave to bitterness and hate and I will never be free.

If you forgive and forget, even if the offended person does not forgive you.
You will feel such release when you forgive, it is the greatest thing to do.
God desires that you rid all vengeance heaped on people from your life.
It is the only way to let His love shine through; it will release all strife.
To forgive is like removing a boulder from your own shoulder, your life.
You will learn, as you grow closer to God, and as you get older and mature.
God’s way is the only way, don’t run from Him and to hide, make a detour.
God delights in helping us, His Spirit also works deep inside and will abide.
Carry resentment in your heart, it destroys others but it also destroys you

• Matthew 6:14 ~ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins your Father will not forgive your sin.
• Mark 11:25 ~ And when you stand praying , if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
• I John 1:5 ~ This is the message we have heard from Him, and declare to you. God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on LOVE, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

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Consistency

Tap into God’s strength each and every single day.
Start out each morning do not neglect to pray.
Being consistent makes it easier to be resistant.
And Satan and his angels are very persistent.
If you are not on your guard they will attack.
His ways are wily, so be careful, watch your back
Don’t try to tell me there is no Satanic force,
For I have felt his presence and I used my voice.
The moment I sense his interference I then attack.
I tell Him “My God protects me, don’t come back!"

The forces of darkness know our weakest points.
Determined to attack they start work on our hearts.
Satan, the strongest tempter comes around to seek
Our human frailties his arrows can destroy the weak.
If you area trusting God to protect you He will see more
They point them out to you for faith is at the core.
Negate God’s power when it can not only protect but guide.
They see inconsistencies in your walk and draw you aside.
Consistent rhymes with resistant, it tells you what to do.
Resist the devil, quote scripture, and he will flee from you.

He was left here on earth; command him to leave; have faith.
God tells us to have faith, this gives you time to take a breath.
The Spirit was left on this earth to be our adviser and guide..
You need commitment, determine to always follow through.
Walk close to God`s side for the Spirit is always with you.
Burdens are shared in prayer, in fact, leave them all there.
Commitment done consistently over time require much prayer.
Whenever you identify an area that needs improvement, pray.
God gives us a strength that is not of this world but will stay,
The Holy Spirit guides and protects us and shows the way.

You can see it clearly now, we are an equation, simple math.
Be consistent, be resistant to Satan and his cohorts on the path.
Consistency done over time equals success, and more strength.
God is greater than you and I, He knows you need His strength.
The only way to use God’s word is to read it, and be consistent.
When you are shown an area that needs improvement trust, and ask
The Holy Spirit is your guide as you set about your personal task.
Day in and day out this leads to real changes and not led by you.
We grow and we know that He loves us, He told us what to do.
Don’t negate God’s power, it not only protects you it is your guide.


THOUGHT: Christians know their own personal weaknesses, but forget to ask God to
pour out His Spirit upon you. Consistency and being resistant are jobs you can pray for and do.
Satan roars like a lion, but he is not always in your jungle. He is a fallen angel and you can always
pray to the Father to turn your heart towards Him.

• 1 John 4:4 ~ You belong to God dear children and ask Him to point out Satan’s ways, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in this world.

FURTHER THOUGHTS

• 1 John 4:4 ~ You belong to God Every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
• Psalm 91:15 ~ When they call upon me, I will answer: I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them.
• Isaiah 65:24 ~ I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs I will go ahead and answer their prayers.
• James 5:16 ~ The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
• Mark 10:27 ~ Humanly speaking, it is impossible, but not with God. Everything is possible with God.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9 ~ My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.
• Psalm 37:5 ~ Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him and He will help you.

Lent

Lent is heart preparation, a desire for a deeper connection.
Prioritize, give up those needless things, that on reflection
Are time wasters, in our lives, yet we are all drawn to them,
And away from the real needs of others, and begin again.
Seek God, put Him first, remembering what He did for us.
Don’t procrastinate, don’t blame work, we all do that alas!

It is focusing our minds upon on a revival in our heart.
The Spirit urges us to reach out in prayer and make a start,
Seek a deeper walk with Jesus, and set our thoughts apart.
Read God’s word, as if hungry, reflect on each meaning.
Learn more, memorize scripture, and you start winning.
The fight against Satan, I tell you this, for it is a warning.

Lent reflects upon earthly longings that often shackle us.
God says, “Where our treasures are, there is our hearts also.”
Lent is observed for forty days, the time Jesus was tempted
In the wilderness by Satan, and so today we are reminded
We know Lent is part of the Passover because our lamb,
Jesus Christ was sacrificed, at a time of Jewish forgiveness.

• John 18, 27, 28 & 29 ~ The Jews did not enter the palace. The Practeriium. This was the Roman headquarters, the barracks, used as a dwelling place for the Gentiles that were unclean. The Jewish authorities would not enter lest they be defiled themselves for the coming Passover. Yet these priests or Sanhedrin went to see the murder of Jesus committed without fearing defilement.
• JESUS SPEAKING: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You hypocritical! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs. Which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside, you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
• Verse 29 ~ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the Prophets and decorate the graces of the righteous”
• The Feast of the Passover began the next day, Saturday. The Jews were to be of generous spirit. After confessing their sins they found an unblemished lamb and slaughtered it as in the Old Testament.
• I Corinthians 5:7 ~ “Get rid of the old yeast, that you may be a new batch without yeast – as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.”

Consistent

Tap into God’s power every morning.
Praise first, be thankful, count blessings.
Don’t hide your weaknesses from God,
He knows them already, He loves you now!
No conditions, but God does say we are to
Confess our sins to Him; know we are forgiven.
Drop them, once told or confessed you find rest.
He promised to make us strong, and He will.

Think of things you do consistently, each day.
Cleaning your teeth, and washing your face.
That is the discipline of consistency God asks
Of us; He cannot look upon sin, get rid of it!
God will point them out; they will discourage you.
He promised to make us strong, and He will!
Prevailing prayer is the talks we have with God.
Consistent rhymes with resistant, God will tell you.

Don’t negate God’s power, He knows Satan well.
He knows the wiles of the devil better than we do.
The Word says resist the Devil, He will flee from us!
Being consistent is easier than resistant, you have a guide.
Confess your worries, leave your burdens with the Lord.
That bag of worries is weighing you down, it ties you up!
From living God’s way, it cripples you, saps your strength

When you pray, tell God your burdens He knows them anyway.
Do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
If you place all your worries at Jesus’ feet and then pick
Them up again, that is the yoke of slavery He tells us about.
Like a dog worrying a bone, you will never gain victory.
All our anxieties, all our cares, bring them to the mercy seat
Leave them there; don’t pick them up again, like a millstone
They will hang around your neck and eventually drown you.


Luke 24:15-24

As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. 

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

Jesus Followers - in 2019

As a Jesus follower He should be your guide for 2019
That habit, or pastime should be what controls your life.
Sin is anything that hurts you, or others around you.
Sin kills things, your health, peace, your relationships.
Relationships with others or your relationship with God.
Obedience makes things right, even when it is difficult.
Sin can take control over your soul, ruin your life too.
Anything that is not good for you, or for him or for her

Your body is a temple when surrendered to the Holy Spirit.
You are not your own, you were paid for with great price.
God’s son, Jesus Christ was sent to pay the price for sin.
We have to confess to the Lord; His Spirit dwells within.
He never said it would be easy, He said He would guide.
Give up anything that is holding you back; “Drop it now!
Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and
Looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

That may sound like some regret, or a change of heart.
But a true awakening to the things of God remains firm.
Nothing is worth living in disfavour with God, I know
Because when I live my life my own way I surely pay.
The most miserable man is one that seeks his own way.
To be an overcomer means to give up things that we know
Will offend our Father, if we love Him best, we confess
Quickly and, make a brand new start with a clean heart.

JUST REMEMBER THIS; WHAT TIES YOU DOWN, KEEPS YOU DOWN.
DROP IT! NOTHING IN THIS WORLD IS WORTH LOSING FAVOUR WITH GOD. HE LOVES YOU JUST AS YOU ARE. IN 2019. PRAY, AND SET YOURSELF GOALS, FOLLOW THROUGH
Romans 6:16 & 17 ~ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to GOD, obey Him as slaves, (you are slaves to the one whom you obey). Whether you are slaves to sin,
which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness and life everlasting. But thanks be to God that though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly
obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.