Prayer: July 2011

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PRAYER – INTIMATELY

I remember hearing a message by a pastor of the largest church in the world, Dr. David Yongi Cho, he told us that the most important aspect of a church is: #1 - Prayer, #2 - Prayer, and #3 - Prayer. That’s how important communicating with God is to us, as Mark reminded me today :-).

Pray, talk to God, pray the scriptures to be in agreement with God and wait on Him to lead you to address a particular issue.

Dictionary.com defines prayer as : prayer | pre(ə)r | noun (an act of doing)
- a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God.

Prayer is related to our words. Our words are so important. If we choose to persist in using our tongues unrighteously, how will God’s power be able to be released through us? When we gossip, use sarcasm, ridicule, or little smart remarks while our Pastor is preaching, we are not consecrating our mouths to our Holy God. These sins reduce our effectiveness before God and even hinder us spiritually.

James 3:3-5 (AMP)
3 If we set bits in the horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about. 4 Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!

Psalm 141:3 (AMP)
3 Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

Proverbs 21:23 (AMP)
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles.

Let’s keep a check on our words and watch what we say! Speak the Word, pray the Word! Agree with God and use your words to create encouragement, not discouragement. Courage is a strengthening - bring courage to people in all you say. Don’t let the fires of prayer go out - “Blaze it up, Girl”!

... And pray for your Pastor ...

Written by Colleen Aitkenhead. Colleen is the wife of Mark Aitkenhead, pastor of Christian Family Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee