WOW! When I posted my Power of a Praying Friend blog in the wee hours of Friday morning, I had no idea that so many of you would join me. I hoped that 25-50 would commit to pray, but boy did God have bigger plans. As I write this post, there have been 335 comments with prayer requests and prayers for each other.
I LOVE praying for you and reading how you are praying for each other. It’s a beautiful thing to see women from all around the world gather in Jesus’ Name to encourage, support and carry each others’ burdens. My prayer is that your courageous renderings of your heart desires and personal needs will forge friendships despite miles that separate us because of God’s Spirit that connects us!
Today I wanted to share about the power of praying God’s Word. My prayers used to feel kind of flat. I didn’t really know what to say and I stumbled over my words a lot. I especially didn’t know what to pray when I was struggling or when friends were going through really hard times. I wanted my prayers to be filled with power, hope and faith to believe that the God I was talking to was big enough to accomplish the things I was asking for.
Soon after I became a Christian, a friend who was mentoring me taught me the power of praying God’s Word. She shared that when we pray God’s Word, we pray God’s will. I really liked that idea. It gave me a sense of confidence and God’s direction.
The Bible tells us that God’s Word is alive and active. When we pray in agreement with His Word, we pray in agreement with God’s will, expecting it to come alive in a specific situation and active in the person’s life that we’re praying for. Here are some verses that I like to pray for myself or for a friend:
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give ___________the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that ____________may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of _____________’s heart may be enlightened in order that ____________may know the hope to which he has called her, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, Ephesians 1:17-20
May the God of hope fill __________ with all joy and peace as ___________trusts in him, so that _______________may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
So, what is a verse you could pray for your prayer partner? If you want to find a verse on a specific topic, go to this page on BibleGateway and click on Keyword in the left margin, then type in a keyword you want to search on. (For instance, if I had typed in hope, the two verses listed above would have come up.) When you type in your keyword and hit enter, several verses will come up and you can choose the one that best fits. Then come back and post the verse and/or a prayer with that verse in the comments area below for your prayer partner.
Remember, there is no certain way to do it. What we want to do is get into the Word, and get the Word into us, and into our prayers so we can experience the power of Praying God’s Word together.
According to Random Integer Generator (Timestamp: 2008-07-23 00:43:32), the winner of the bookDear Jesus is #231 comment(C-Mom)
c-mom said…- Please pray that my husband will find God-centered, gainful employment soon. He has been out of work since November and he is feeling quite defeated at this time.
Pray that our family’s faith will remain strong and that we continue to trust in Him each day to deliver us through this situation. We pray that my husband will find a job that he will glorify Him through.
C-mom, I don’t have your email. So I hope you find this. If not, I’ll have RIG choose another winner on Wednesday. We would love to hear how God is answering our prayers, so be sure to let us know if you have a praise to share.
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faithful1, dear woman, you did not leave any contact information.
If you click on my name it will bring you to my blog and there you’ll find an email address. If you want to write, I will try to help you.
I am not particularly “qualified” or expert in your particular situation… but I am a very good “idea person” and I can help you find people who can help you.
I know that you could do the same with many of the lovely ladies who visit here.
If you aren’t ready to reveal yourself to others, maybe you could just re-post with the name of the city you’re in and maybe that would be a first step for someone who lives near you to refer you to a ministry that helps women in your situation.
NO WOMAN in your place knows what to do about it, until she knows. No woman being abused is not afraid, nor does she know what she could do to take care of herself apart from her abuser. That’s why there are ministries set up that point women just like you in the direction of real, meaningful help to respond to these acts of injustice being done to them.
God is just, and He cares about this even more than you do. I know that Jesus has suffered for these things you have suffered; because every wrong done to us is done first and foremost to Him. He has shared in your feelings of betrayal and abandonment.
Here are your prayers, based as closely as possible to the Scriptures shown, but changed to make it personal for YOU:
Lord, rescue faithful1 from oppression and violence, for precious is her blood in Your sight. – Psalm 72:14
But let faithful1 take refuge in You be glad; let her ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over her, that she who loves Your name may rejoice in You. – Psalm 5:11
‘Do not be afraid of [him], faithful1, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord. – Jeremiah 1:8
May it be a sign and witness to You, oh Lord Almighty, in the heart of faithful1. When she cries out to You, Lord, because of her oppressor, send her a savior and defender, and rescue her. – Isaiah 19:20
I LOVE THIS! How amazingly powerful and personal! I’ll be keeping this in mind during my quiet times with Him.
I also have a praise. Though I am still very tired, I have been able to sleep some the past few nights, and my cold is getting better, it is more allergies now than anything else, and as long as I continue to sleep, I think it will go away all together.
Also, HUGE praise… my counseling session went really well. I was scared going in, but God was there with me. I wasn’t overwhelmed by my emotions. I did grieve through the particular issue of an attempted date rape. But God gave me a visual image of help getting rid of the lies… actually putting them in a garbage can, taking it to the curb, and watching the garbage truck hauling it away. It was hard, but I was filled with such peace at the end. God really used the therapy that I do with my counselor to reinforce the truths that I am free, not trapped, and that I am worthwhile, not just good for sex alone… He is so good… and I know that He is guiding me through this whole process of healing.
I can’t tell you how grateful I am for you praying for me sisters. I just had to share what God did, and what He continues to do. I am still filled with peace, and in awe of what he has done. When I can get my words together in better order, I will be writing a post about it soon.
God bless you and thank you again so much for your prayers. I could tell I was being prayed for… I felt like I was carried through that counseling session!
Love to all,
Heather in WI
Janet from Batesville,
I have been praying that you would find new friends to support you and uphold you during this time, and that your other friends would contact you, and pray and support you as well, and that God woudl give you a huge sense of peace.
I also pray that the Lord will be your strength and your shield. That your heart would trust in Him and be helped. I pray that your heart will leap for joy and you will give thanks to Him in song (Psalm 28:7)
And Lord, may You the God of hope fill Janet will all joy and peace as she trusts in You, so that she may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
May God give you the strength you need to continue the tough love with your daughter, and fill you with peace and hope and joy, and give you the support you need, even if you don’t have friends following through visibly. Know that I am prayign for you every day.
May God bless you abundantly, more than you could ever ask or imagine…
Heather in WI
For Aaron and Hollie-
Lord, I pray that Aaron and Hollie would make love their aim, remind them that Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love is not selfish, it is not irritable, it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. Father reminded all married women of that today and bless their marriages. In Jesus name, Amen
As I have been thinking about prayer – another thought has come to mind. I agree we need to ask for prayers and provide others with the opportunity to intercede, but also was reminded of the importance of asking others if they need prayer.
It has taken me some time to willingly share requests with others, but I remember a time when my daughter was facing tests and I shared my worries with a friend and she simply asked, “Can I pray for you?” She could not have said anything more powerful…
Can I pray for you?
5 simple words
that say so much –
not just what we hear,
but how they make us feel.
They remind us that
Someone really cares
not just the one
who asked the question,
but the One with the answers.
They give us a sense of peace
during a time of doubt.
Not that they fix the problem
or heal the pain,
but they point us to
the One who will.
So as you step out there and share requests for others, don’t be afraid to offer your willingness to pray as well. It might be just be what they need, but are too afraid to ask.
Blessings to all, Jill
Please help! My husband is an abusive alcoholic, his spirit is under the control of a darkness and I don’t feel that I have the spiritual strength to battle it any longer. If it is God’s will that I leave, I am afraid because I cannot support my children and myself financially. I really want my husband to be sober and spiritually healthy, and our marriage to be as God intended a marriage to be. How do you know when it is time to just give up? I’m so weary from this constant spiritual battle. I feel like I am alone and my prayers aren’t strong enough.
For my prayer sister/friend Terri,
I have prayed everyday that God will give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in everything you do and ask of Him. Sister you are courages because Greater is He that is in you then he that is in the world. I will continue to pray that is my commitment to you and God. P.S. I am a stay at home mom, it not easy at times but God as provided all are needs. Be Bless, Maxine
Worst Election results. I can not believe Jagan won the elections. Some match fixing held. Re-polling must to chkre.Wocst Vijayamma she is like dummy and donkey.She suppose to stay inside house as she is Widow.
Meu pai gracioso, Deus já deve ter lhe concedido um belo lugar: cheio de energias positivas. Foi isso que o senhor nos transmitiu desde sempre: amor à vida e principalmente à s pessoas, pois o seu maior prazer era arrancar, através de suas brincadeiras inteligentes, um sorriso ou gargalhada de cada um que encontrava no seu caminho… sorte destes, pois sua marca pessoal de verdade e espontaneidade ficará em nossos corações… TE AMO PARA SEMPRE. Sua filha Léa.
So are these paces occasionally wrong or consistantly? Are they a big deal to the guy who is more interested in accurate milage? Seriously, lol, I’m a slow runner, accurate milage w/total time is more important to me…
Have you ever considered publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would enjoy your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.
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Dear God,
Help Ann’s friends to remember that you were there as a witness when they spoke their marriage vows. You, God, made marriage, and Your Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of their marriage. What do You desire from their marriage? Children of God! Help this wife to submit to her husband as she does to You, God, for the husbands are to be the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the Church. Help this husband to love his wife just as Christ loved the church. Help them to love and respect each other and to be united in each other, that their marriage may grow stronger and stronger. Amen.
For Schola in Kigali, Rwanda – I have been praying for financial breakthrough for you my friend! I pray expectingly! I pray dear Schola that “you shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light. That you shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. That you shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord your God is giving you!” Oh Lord I pray that as Schola gives, it will be given to her: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For with the same measure she uses, it wil be measured back to her! In Jesus’ mighty name!
You will continue to be in my prayers!!
Felicia from Georgia
Dear sister Amy
This is what i’m praying for you in this situation
Father Lord let Amy ,her dh’s and ex-husband always speak the truth in LOVE. So that they will all grow up into Him who is the head, that is Christ ( eph 4: 15)
Turn Your face towards them Lord and give them PEACE ( Numbers 6:^26)
“So do not Fear Amy my servant: do not be dismayed,Amy, declares The Lord, I will surely save you ( and the situation) out of a distant place.Amy you will again have peace and security, and no one ( no situation) will make you afraid.”( Jeremiah 30;10)
You are good Lord, You are faithfull. In You we put our trust..
Amen Amen Amen
Blessed day Amy
btw if you like to keep in touch this is my blog site http://www.revelife.com/godsown
Diane,
I have continued to pray for you and your sister. My desire for you, is that inspite of your situation, while you focus on the Lord, He will bring you peace.
This is my scripture for you:
2 Samuel 22
David’s Song of Praise
David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. 2 He sang:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
3 my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
He is my refuge, my savior,
the one who saves me from violence.
4 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.
Please continue to read the rest fr. your bible or Biblegateway.com
I also had written you a second message over the weekend, not knowing we would be encouraged to do this. This scripture has also spoken to me re. my brother. This is God’s living word for all of us.
God bless you all
Kathie of CA
To Alicia in Claremont,NC – I have been praying for your mom throughout each day.
Isahiah 41:10 – Fear not for I am with Alicia’s mom. Do not be afraid for I am her God. I will strengthen her, I will help her. I will uphold her with my righteous right hand. – Psalm 28:7 – The LORD is her strength and her shield; her heart will trust in Him, and she will be helped.
In the powerful Name of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ.
———-
To Lelia who is praying for me, thank you sister. Here is my prayer for you also.
Proverbs 31: – Lord make Lelia a wife of noble character whose
husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value. She will bring him good all the days of her life. Help Lelia to work with eager hands, bringing in food and preparing meals for her family.
Motivate Lelia to set about her work vigorously and make her strong for her tasks. Keep her from fear for her household as she sees that they have clothes, and food and love. Cloth Lelia with strength and dignity. Let her speak with wisdom, and give faithful instruction to her family as she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Let Lelia’s children arise and call her blessed; her husband also. Let her works bring her praise as she serves you O God. In Christ.
Lilia,
No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you, Lilia will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17)
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;may your love and your truth always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. (Psalm 40:11-12)
For your daughter Erin:
May Erin see that “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God” (John 3:20-21)
Tammy,
I pray right now for Lana, your daughter. I pray that God would comfort her. That He would guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus and protect her from bitterness and anger. I pray that in the midst of all of this strife that she would feel and know the peace that passes understanding. I pray that God would supernaturally cause her to be healthy and without issue while she is without benefits. He is a father to the fatherless. I pray that He would fill that gap now for Lana.
I pray for you as well Tammy. I pray that God would bind up your broken heart. That He would reveal Himself in new and powerful ways. That He would also guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus and keep you from bitterness and anger and keep your health.
I pray Job 8:21 over you both. That “He (God) would yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy!”
I also pray for your husband and his new girlfriend. I pray Acts 26:18 over them. That God would “open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Many blessings and continued prayer,
Shanda
This is something new I’m learning, so I really enjoyed your post, Renee. God bless you for sharing your heart.
This is for Sandy in Texas:
Sandy I have been praying for you and your brother all weekend.
I pray that God would provide your brother healing from his sickness. That God would guide the doctors who treat your brother so that they may provide him with the best treatment and that God would heal him and restore him.
Heal Sandy’s brother O Lord and he will be healed, save Sandy’s brother and he will be saved for you are the one we praise. (Jerimiah 17:14)
Sandy I have been praying for you also. That you would not feel so alone and that God would grant you comfort and peace.
Dear God,
Turn to Sandy and be gracious to her, for she is lonely, (Psalm 25:16) and grant her your peace. Amen.
I will continue praying for you and your brother Sandy.
Your prayer friend
Deb – Ohio
If ANYONE can dash over to my blog and read a quick prayer request–AND PRAY– that would be great.
It’s a tech EMERGENCY at my husband’s workplace… thank you..
Thank you, Bonnie!