Prayer Devotionals

[EastCoastRemnant]

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." Philippians 3:7

Prayer has to do with the whole being of a person. When a person prays, he goes so with his whole nature. When he receives benefits in prayer, it involves his whole being.

The largest results of praying come to him who gives himself - all of himself, all that belongs to himself - to God.

This is the secret of full consecration and the sort of praying that produces the largest fruit.

Dear Lord, I want to give myself to You completely in prayer so that my life can produce the largest fruit for Your glory. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed," Luke 22:41

A person's body actively engages in prayer, since it assumes a specific position in prayer. Kneeling down of the body as well as the heart, happens when someone prays. The attitude of the body counts much in prayer.

In Gethsemane our Lord prostrated Himself when He prayed just before His betrayal. Where there is earnest and faithful praying, the body always takes the form most suited to the state of the heart at the time. In that way the body joins the heart in praying.

Almighty God, my heart is bent on pleasing You as my body kneels down before You in earnest prayer. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2

The whole being of a person must engage in prayer. A person's life, heart, temper and mind should be in it. Every fiber of a person should join in the prayer exercise.

A person's intellect must also add energy when praying. Necessarily the mind plays a role in prayer. First of all, one thinks about praying. The intellect teaches us that we ought to pray. By serious thinking beforehand, the mind prepares itself for approaching the throne of grace.

Thought precedes entering unto prayer and prepares the way; it considers what will be asked in prayer.

Dear God, as I approach Your throne of grace I want to give my all to you - body, mind, and heart. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord teach us to pray." Luke 11:1

True praying involves knowing beforehand what to request from God. Praying is asking for something definite. The mind is given over entirely to God, thinking of Him, of what is needed, and of what has been received in the past.

The very first step in prayer is a mental step. We must be taught through our intellect. and only as far as the intellect is given over to God in prayer will we be able to learn how to pray.

Lord Jesus, just like Your disciples long ago I ask of You today, "teach us to pray." Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Often, earnestness is mistaken for anointing. He who has the divine anointing will be earnest in the spiritual nature of things.

Earnestness may mean being sincere, serious, ardent, and persevering. But all these forces cannot rise higher than the mere human. The man is in it - the whole man, but God might not be in it. Earnestness could be selfishness in disguise.

What about the anointing? It is the indefinable aspect of preaching which makes it preaching. Anointing is that which distinguishes and separates preaching from all mere human speeches and presentations. It is the divine aspect in preaching.

Dear God, when I come to You in prayer I want to pray selflessly, and that by Your grace I may receive the anointing of Your Holy Spirit. Please guide me. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart." Psalm 119:2

It is godly people who give themselves entirely over to prayer. Prayer is far-reaching in its influence and in its gracious effects.

It is an intense and profound business that deals with God and His plans and purposes, and it takes whole-hearted people to do it.

No half-hearted, half-spirited effort will do for this all-important, heavenly business. The whole person must be engaged in the matter of praying which so mightily affects the characters and destinies of those who pray.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3

True prayers are born out of present trials and needs. Bread received today is the strongest pledge that there will be bread tomorrow. We must trust God today and leave tomorrow entirely with Him. The present is ours; the future belongs to God.

As every day demands its bread, so every day demands its prayer. No amount of praying done today will be sufficient for tomorrow's praying.

Today's manna is what we need; tomorrow God will see that our needs are supplied. This is the faith that God seeks to inspire. So leave tomorrow with its cares and troubles in God's hands.

Dear God, please help me to trust You for today's needs and to leave tomorrow entirely in Your hands. I know You will provide. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23:2, 3.

God sees to it that when every part of a believer prays, He blesses that person. Clear thinking, an enlightened understanding, and safe reasoning powers come from praying.

Divine guidance means that God moves and impresses the mind in order for us to make wise decisions. Many praying preachers have been greatly helped and guided by God just at this point. In former days, when men of very limited education had such wonderful liberty of invigorated minds and thoughts from the Spirit, they explained it as successful prayer. Their minds felt the impulse of the Spirit's gracious influences.

Dear God, I pray that You divine guidance will lead me in such a way that I too, will be able to experience the Spirit's gracious touch upon my life. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:31, 32.

Faith is the foundation of a Christian character and the security of the soul. Here Jesus was looking toward Peter's denial and cautioning him against it. Our Lord was stating a central truth. It was Peter's faith He was seeking to guard.

He knew that when faith breaks down, the foundations of spiritual life give way too, and the entire structure of religious experience falls.

It was Peter's faith that needed guarding. That is why Christ was concerned for the welfare of His disciple's soul and was determined to strengthen Peter's faith through His own victorious prayer.

God, You know that when our faith fails, our spiritual lives give way. Please strengthen and guard my faith today so that my eyes will be fixed on You always. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;" 2 Peter 1:5, 6.

Growing in grace and fruitfulness is a measure of safety in the Christian life. Faith is the starting point, the basis of the other graces of the Spirit. To grow in grace depends on starting right.

There is a divine order and Peter was aware of it. He went on to say that we should give constant care to making our calling and election secure. This election is secured by adding to faith that which is done by constant, earnest praying.

Faith is kept alive by prayer. Every step in this adding grace to grace is accompanied by prayer.

Dear God, I want to grow in grace and faith. Please guide me through Your Holy Spirit to strengthen my faith through constant prayer. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18

Faith that creates powerful praying is the faith that centers around a powerful Person. Faith in Christ's ability to do and to do greatly, is the faith that prays greatly.

It was because He wanted to inspire faith in His ability to do that Jesus left that last, great statement behind for us as a ringing challenge to our faith.

Faith is obedient. It goes when commanded, as did the nobleman who came to Jesus when his son was grievously sick. To do God's will is essential to true faith, and faith is necessary for absolute obedience.

Dear Lord, please help me to put my trust in You more every day so that my faith may increase to pray more effectively and powerfully to You. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:11

Faith covers worldly as well as spiritual needs. Faith drives away anxiety and unnecessary worries about what you will eat, what you will drink and what you will wear. Faith brings great peace of mind and perfect peace of heart.

When we pray for our "daily bread," we are in fact shutting tomorrow out of our prayers. We do not look for tomorrow's grace for tomorrow's bread.

Those who pray best pray for today's not tomorrow's needs. Our prayers for tomorrow's needs may be unnecessary because tomorrow might not exist at all!

Father God, I know that You will provide for Your children day by day. That is why I pray only for today's bread. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Jesus answered, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Luke 10:27

This is the answer of Jesus to the scribe as to what was the first and greatest commandment. In other words, the whole person must love God without reservation. Such a person is required to do the praying that God asks of His children.

Just as it requires a whole heart given to God to gladly and fully obey God's commandments, so it take a whole heart to pray effectively. And because it requires the whole person to pray, praying is no easy task. Praying is far more than simple bending the knee and saying a few random words. Praying is divine.

Lord, I realize again today that prayer is no easy task. You ask all of me when I come to You in prayer. Please help me pray. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23

The people of olden times who were very successful in prayer, who made big things happen, who moved God to do great things, were those who surrendered completely to God in their praying.

God requires complete devotion when we pray. He requires whole-hearted people through whom He can work out His purposes and plans concerning all people.

No person with a divided allegiance to God, the world, and self, can do the praying that is needed.

Dear God, I surrender my life completely to You today. I want to give all that I have to You in prayer. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness."John 3:11

Delay is often the test and the strength of faith, yet faith gathers strength by waiting and praying. Patience is learned best when waiting is required. In some instances, delay is of the very nature of prayer.

God has to do many things before He gives the final answer. Things that are essential to the lasting good of the person who is requesting the favor from Him.

Fear not, Jesus will come. His delay will serve to make His coming more richly blessed. Keep on praying. Keep on waiting. He will come and will not be late.

Dear God, I praise Your name and I thank You that I can be sure of Your answers to my prayers. Even as I wait, I know You will never be late. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Sabbath blessings!!

"If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." John 14:14

What a wonderful statement! What God will do in answer to prayer in His name! Faith in Christ is the basis of all working and praying.

All wonderful works depend on wonderful praying, and all praying is done in the name of Jesus Christ. The amazing, simple lesson is to pray in the name of the Lord Jesus! All other conditions are of little value.

If Jesus dwells in your heart - if the flow of His life has replaced all of your life - then absolute obedience to Him is the inspiration and force of every movement of your life.

Lord, thank You that we may ask for anything in Your name, and You will do it. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:" 2 Corinthians 5:14

Divine anointing is the feature that distinguishes true gospel preaching from all other methods of presenting the Truth. It supports revealed truth with all the energy of God.

Anointing is simply allowing God to be in His own Word and on His own people. It inspires and clarifies a person's intellect, gives insight and projects power. It gives the preacher heart-power which is greater than head-power.

Growth, fullness of thought, and simplicity of preaching are the fruits of this anointing.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for Your anointing to inspire my intellect, give me insight and reveal Your power through me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1 Timothy 2:5, 6

Paul knew that the nature of prayer is part of a person's being. It must be so. It takes the whole man to embrace in its godlike sympathies the entire race of man - the sorrows and the sins of all people.

It takes the whole man to run parallel with God's high will in saving mankind. It takes the whole man to stand with our Lord Jesus Christ as the Mediator between God and sinful people.

It takes a whole person to pray, until all the storms that agitate his soul are calmed to great tranquility.

Dear Lord Jesus, I want to thank You that You came to be the Mediator between God and us. Thank You that You gave Yourself as a ransom for our sins. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22

This anointing comes to the preacher not in the study of God's Word, but in spending time with God. It is heaven's distillation in answer to prayer. It carries the Word like dynamite. It makes the hearer a culprit or a saint - makes him weep like a child and live like a giant.

It opens his heart and his purse as gently, yet as strongly as the spring opens the leaves. This anointing is not the gift of genius. It is the gift of God. It is heaven's knighthood given to the brave ones who have sought this anointed honor through many hours of prayer.

God, I draw near to You with a sincere heart. Please open my heart for Your divine gifts. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." Mark 11:23

Genuine, authentic faith must be free of doubt. It is not a mere belief in the being, goodness and power of God - there's more to it than that. Through faith and prayer, God's promises will be done.

Our major concern is our faith - its growth and its tidings brought forth through its development. A faith that holds on to the very things it asks for, without doubt or fear.

We need this type of faith in our prayers.

Almighty God, I pray that You will grant me genuine, authentic faith which believes that anything is possible with You. Amen.