James 15:13-18
Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven — healed inside and out.
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't — not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I heard it again the other day… someone asked a friend to pray for them because “You have a direct line” to God. When will we develop faith in our own prayers? When will we begin to believe that God is waiting to hear from us… and to give us the answers we need… if not exactly those that we desire?
Never doubt God’s willingness or ability to answer your prayers. To say, “I’ve prayed for healing, but I don’t believe I will ever be well,” means you have not released the miracle action of God’s word and will for your life. When we pray, “Lord if You can hear me… I need help,” we are not fully operating in faith that God always hears our prayers. We are not truly surrendering to His will and believing that He will answer. We are operating in doubt instead of faith.
When we ask someone else to join us in corporate prayer, that is one thing… but when we ask them to pray for us because we feel their prayers are more effective, we have to ask ourselves, “Why is this?” Could it be that their prayers seem to be answered more often because they believe God for His answers? Is it possible that we lack the measure of faith that these people have? Wouldn’t it be better for us to develop faith in our own prayers rather than to depend so much on the intercession of others?
God wants us to experience the fullness of joy in Him. In order to do this, we must know what His word promises… we must come to Him with a grateful heart and ask Him to meet our needs. Remember the “protocol” of prayer… come into the presence of God with thanksgiving… approach Him with a grateful heart. Enter into God’s presence by way of the covenant He established with us through the blood of Jesus on the cross. God has agreed to hear our prayers and answer them. Recognize the full meaning of this covenant. Realize that God will always deliver on His promises… you can count on Him to hear you and answer, according to His will.
You may get tired of hearing people offer prayer as the solution to whatever challenges you face. It may seem trite or hollow… and in some cases, it is. People glibly toss out, “I’ll pray for you” and often fail to carry through with effective, fervent, faith-filled intercessions. By the same token, so many of our own prayers are little more than an empty waste of breath. We don’t back them up with God’s Word and promises – and we don’t really believe He will answer us. The time has come for us to pray effectively and stop short-circuiting our own prayers. Prayer does change things…God does answer. It’s up to us to ask the right things in the right way… and operate in faith that He will deliver exactly what we need.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label healing prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healing prayer. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 11, 2011
Psalm 111:1-4
Shout praises to the LORD! With all my heart I will thank the LORD when his people meet. The LORD has done many wonderful things! Everyone who is pleased with God's marvelous deeds will keep them in mind. Everything the LORD does is glorious and majestic, and his power to bring justice will never end. The LORD God is famous for his wonderful deeds, and he is kind and merciful.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You may feel like this is a strange scripture passage to share on a day when we commemorate the 10th anniversary of one of the most horrific events in our nation’s history. But even in the midst of such mind-boggling devastation, God was there. And if you ask family members of some of the victims, they will tell you that the love and support – and prayers – of people they didn’t even know have strengthened them and reminded them of God’s kindness, mercy, and power. And for that, they shout praises to the LORD!
I have had the honor of corresponding with the families of two victims of 9/11 over the last decade. Joe Henry was the son of Ed and Alice. Ed and Joe’s brother were NYC firefighters, too… just like his grandfather had been. In fact, Ed suffered a serious back injury at the Twin Towers, where Joe died. Imagine the gut-wrenching despair of Alice as she tended to her husband while grieving the loss of her 24-year-old son, whose body was never recovered.
Imagine the devastation of Veronica Squef, wife of NYC Firefighter Keith Glascoe, as she sat with her two babies, Nolan and Owen… pregnant with their third child… and grieved for her husband who had perished. Consider what it must have been like for her, and dozens of other mothers, to deliver babies whose daddies were gone in a split second with the dust and rubble of Ground Zero.
I know in my heart that these two families, along with countless others, could not have survived these last ten years without God’s wonderful deeds… His kindness, mercy, and power. I know that they have made it through dozens of days on the wings of prayers lifted by people like you and me… and God’s answers. And I know that if they can survive this horrible event and hold their heads up… walk with joy and confidence in a future filled with God’s bright promises… then so can we!
Today, as we pause to remember the events of 9/11/2001, let us also give thanks to God, who is bigger than even the worst day of our lives. Give Him glory for bringing perfect justice… according to His will and timing. Praise Him for equipping us to endure what seems impossible to handle… and for showing us how to move forward with our lives through His grace. God bless all who were directly – and indirectly – affected by the events of September 11, 2001… and may God bless each of us as we strive to operate in His power, mercy and grace.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Shout praises to the LORD! With all my heart I will thank the LORD when his people meet. The LORD has done many wonderful things! Everyone who is pleased with God's marvelous deeds will keep them in mind. Everything the LORD does is glorious and majestic, and his power to bring justice will never end. The LORD God is famous for his wonderful deeds, and he is kind and merciful.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You may feel like this is a strange scripture passage to share on a day when we commemorate the 10th anniversary of one of the most horrific events in our nation’s history. But even in the midst of such mind-boggling devastation, God was there. And if you ask family members of some of the victims, they will tell you that the love and support – and prayers – of people they didn’t even know have strengthened them and reminded them of God’s kindness, mercy, and power. And for that, they shout praises to the LORD!
I have had the honor of corresponding with the families of two victims of 9/11 over the last decade. Joe Henry was the son of Ed and Alice. Ed and Joe’s brother were NYC firefighters, too… just like his grandfather had been. In fact, Ed suffered a serious back injury at the Twin Towers, where Joe died. Imagine the gut-wrenching despair of Alice as she tended to her husband while grieving the loss of her 24-year-old son, whose body was never recovered.
Imagine the devastation of Veronica Squef, wife of NYC Firefighter Keith Glascoe, as she sat with her two babies, Nolan and Owen… pregnant with their third child… and grieved for her husband who had perished. Consider what it must have been like for her, and dozens of other mothers, to deliver babies whose daddies were gone in a split second with the dust and rubble of Ground Zero.
I know in my heart that these two families, along with countless others, could not have survived these last ten years without God’s wonderful deeds… His kindness, mercy, and power. I know that they have made it through dozens of days on the wings of prayers lifted by people like you and me… and God’s answers. And I know that if they can survive this horrible event and hold their heads up… walk with joy and confidence in a future filled with God’s bright promises… then so can we!
Today, as we pause to remember the events of 9/11/2001, let us also give thanks to God, who is bigger than even the worst day of our lives. Give Him glory for bringing perfect justice… according to His will and timing. Praise Him for equipping us to endure what seems impossible to handle… and for showing us how to move forward with our lives through His grace. God bless all who were directly – and indirectly – affected by the events of September 11, 2001… and may God bless each of us as we strive to operate in His power, mercy and grace.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 5, 2011
Psalm 103:3-6
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.
God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I am on the list to receive prayer requests from my mother’s church, my Emmaus community, and my own church. I also see needs expressed on Facebook and receive requests from friends and family members as special prayer concerns arise. Some days, the list of expressed needs is quite lengthy, and the burdens can become rather daunting. So many people are hurting in one way or another… illness… grief and loss…the challenges of aging…the challenges of youth and being a teenager, heading off to college or becoming an adult…economic woes… sin… we all have a laundry list of things to talk with God about each and every day. And then we turn on the television and hear the news of incomprehensible suffering in Third World countries… and we can’t help but be overwhelmed at times.
The GOOD NEWS is that God has answers! Many of them are outlined in Psalm 103…and I really love how this translation enumerates them. He heals diseases… every one of them! He saves you from hell… wraps you in goodness…renews your youth. Best of all, He makes everything right! I don’t know about you... but for me, this is fantastic news! I am moved to tears to think of this incredible love and protection… to know that God really is listening to my prayers and meeting my needs.
I don’t know what you are enduring today. You may be ill or have family members who are sick… you may be facing major challenges, such as a new school, a new job, or moving to a new city. You may have suffered a major loss – a loved one, a relationship change, or even the death of a beloved pet. You may feel old and tired… discouraged, depressed, or disappointed. You may have a heavy burden of sin that you are carrying like a backpack filled with rocks. But all of this and so much more matters to God… and He is ready to make things right.
Will you get instant relief? Possibly… although God’s timing is not always as quick as we would like. Will you feel God’s presence? Yes… if you maintain close contact with Him and truly seek Him on a regular basis. Will things get better? Absolutely! It may take awhile…but keep praying and believing. Keep trusting God to meet your every need. Don’t hesitate to ask fellow believers to pray for you – and with you. It is an honor and a blessing to pray for others, and there is tremendous power in corporate prayer. Flood the “airwaves” today with prayer and praise… let God set you back on your feet – and make things right for you and those you love.
©2011 Debbie Robus
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.
God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I am on the list to receive prayer requests from my mother’s church, my Emmaus community, and my own church. I also see needs expressed on Facebook and receive requests from friends and family members as special prayer concerns arise. Some days, the list of expressed needs is quite lengthy, and the burdens can become rather daunting. So many people are hurting in one way or another… illness… grief and loss…the challenges of aging…the challenges of youth and being a teenager, heading off to college or becoming an adult…economic woes… sin… we all have a laundry list of things to talk with God about each and every day. And then we turn on the television and hear the news of incomprehensible suffering in Third World countries… and we can’t help but be overwhelmed at times.
The GOOD NEWS is that God has answers! Many of them are outlined in Psalm 103…and I really love how this translation enumerates them. He heals diseases… every one of them! He saves you from hell… wraps you in goodness…renews your youth. Best of all, He makes everything right! I don’t know about you... but for me, this is fantastic news! I am moved to tears to think of this incredible love and protection… to know that God really is listening to my prayers and meeting my needs.
I don’t know what you are enduring today. You may be ill or have family members who are sick… you may be facing major challenges, such as a new school, a new job, or moving to a new city. You may have suffered a major loss – a loved one, a relationship change, or even the death of a beloved pet. You may feel old and tired… discouraged, depressed, or disappointed. You may have a heavy burden of sin that you are carrying like a backpack filled with rocks. But all of this and so much more matters to God… and He is ready to make things right.
Will you get instant relief? Possibly… although God’s timing is not always as quick as we would like. Will you feel God’s presence? Yes… if you maintain close contact with Him and truly seek Him on a regular basis. Will things get better? Absolutely! It may take awhile…but keep praying and believing. Keep trusting God to meet your every need. Don’t hesitate to ask fellow believers to pray for you – and with you. It is an honor and a blessing to pray for others, and there is tremendous power in corporate prayer. Flood the “airwaves” today with prayer and praise… let God set you back on your feet – and make things right for you and those you love.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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