A clean heart

"Create in Me a Clean Heart"
In the Bible, King David's request for a "clean heart" is mentioned in Psalm 51. David composed this psalm after the prophet Nathan had confronted him regarding his sinful affair with Bathsheba, and the subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah.

David realized the gravity of his sins and was overwhelmed by guilt and shame. He deeply desired forgiveness and the restoration of his relationship with God. In Psalm 51:10, David pleaded with God, saying, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

Prayer is significant in a Christ-centered life because it allows believers to establish and deepen their connection with God. It serves as a means of communication with the Father, allowing individuals to express their gratitude, seek forgiveness, ask for guidance, and build a personal relationship with Him.

Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts filled with gratitude for the lessons taught by King David about true repentance.

    Help us recognize the areas in our lives where we have strayed from your path and grant us the courage to turn back to you.
    Lord, just as King David exhibited humility in acknowledging his mistakes, we humble ourselves before you.
    Teach us to be humble in our thoughts, actions, and interactions with others; recognizing that true greatness lies in serving and honoring you.
    Gracious God, we acknowledge the transformative power of your forgiveness.
    Just as you forgave King David, cleanse us from our sins and restore us to a right relationship with you.
    Help us experience the freedom and joy that come from being forgiven by your grace.

Dr. Margaret Banks-Butler
WNOP International Harvest Prayer Evangelism Coordinator
(Info from: Prayer Connect Newsletter - World Network of Prayer - floshaw@wnop-upci.ccsend.com)

Prayer Checkup

" A Prayer Checkup " by Liane R. Grant.
Preparing to write an article about praying according to God’s will caused me to examine some of my typical prayer requests. Do they really line up with what the Bible says about God’s will? A prayer checkup can be very enlightening… and convicting! Let’s look at a few Bible verses about God’s will and see how they apply to prayer.

“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:15)

There’s a phrase I used to hear all the time growing up that doesn’t seem very common anymore. “We’ll see you next month, Lord willing” or “I am starting a new job soon, Lord willing.” We tend to make our own plans as we see fit, forgetting to invite the Lord to direct our lives. We rush ahead to the next thing on our schedule, seeing how many things we can check off on our to-do list. How would our prayer life change if we put James 4:15 into practice at the beginning of each day?

“That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.” (Romans 15:32)

If anyone ever had a right to get moody and tired of travelling, it would be the Apostle Paul, but he chose to do God’s will with joy, and so can we. It’s easy to let annoyances, frustrations, and discomforts consume our prayer time. But if we truly believe that circumstances beyond our control have passed through God’s approval process, then we are in the middle of His will. Let’s pray that God will help us to respond with joy and let our faith and faithfulness be a living testimony that refreshes those around us.

. .

“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)

“That’s just my personality.” “You know redheads have a temper.” “I’ve never been able to tolerate . . .” and so on. Hmmm . . . are these just excuses for bad habits we have developed? The scripture above emphasizes our need to change so that we can live out the will of God. His will is that we demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Regardless of our personality, our childhood or experiences, we should pray daily that God will shape and change us according to His will. And His will is good, it’s acceptable, and it’s perfect!

“Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (I Peter 4:19)

This one is difficult. We love to talk about God’s will when it pertains to comfortable, fulfilling, and exciting things; but sometimes His will is for us to suffer. We can’t choose when and where to do God’s will; it is a total commitment. So how do we suffer “according to the will of God”? This can only happen in prayer, by throwing ourselves into His arms, in total trust that He really does know what is best for us. He is our Creator and He WILL be faithful to us. Remember that God has His eye on the end result. When all is said and done, what really matters is that our souls are saved. Let’s pray sincerely and let Him choose what suffering is needed to accomplish our salvation.

 
These are just a few scriptures that can guide us as we pray according to God’s will.
We need to remember that our Heavenly Father is in control and that He loves us more than we could ever comprehend!

Info from: Ladies Prayer Int Newsletter - UPCI Ladies Ministries - ladiesprayerinternational-aol.com@shared1.ccsend.com

According to His Will

" Pray, According to His Will " by Mary Catherine Beek.
 The word control means, “To determine the behavior or supervise the running of.”

When we say we have control over something, it can make us feel quite powerful. Sometimes it can be hard for us to either hand that control over or, even worse, have it taken away from us. This is how our humanity can feel. Handing control over to someone can be difficult, and there can even be resistance.

When it comes to handing over control, or our will, over to God, we may resist. We may feel that we know better than God. We can start to problem-solve, plan, and organize our lives and situations around our own strength and wisdom. 

I have experienced in my own life that when I begin to pray, “Not my will, but Yours be done,” a burden lifts off me. I have come to the realization that God’s ways ARE higher than my ways and His thoughts ARE NOT my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). We must understand, and accept, that our will and tight control over our lives is nothing in comparison to the great things God has in store for us. 

A life verse of mine is Proverbs 3:5-6.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Our paths, will, control—whatever we want to label it— will only lead to problems. We must trust in God with all our emotions (heart) and lean not to what makes sense to our own minds (understanding). Then, when we acknowledge God in all our ways and release that control over to Him, His promise to us is that He will direct our paths. This is how we can pray the will of God into our lives. We need to release the tight grip we have over our lives, making sure everything is just right and acceptable for everyone to see. 

When we truly live a life that is in His will, the stress, anxiety, and frustrations of life will start to fade. We will then live our lives knowing, trusting, and believing that His will is what’s best for us. 



“Therefore, take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

Info from: Ladies Prayer Int Newsletter - UPCI Ladies Ministries - ladiesprayerinternational-aol.com@shared1.ccsend.com 
 

He did in fact recover

All For One…

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15...).

Many years ago, in the late 1980s at our General Conference, I heard a message that greatly affected me. I do not recall the name of the minister speaking that night, but I profoundly remember the message he preached. He was recalling a story he had read in a magazine.

The story went something like this: A man was in a terrible car accident and was paralyzed from the neck down. He was unable to speak or move, but he had all of his mental faculties. His wife would come faithfully every day and visit with him, talk, and comfort him.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. She came in one day to explain that she was divorcing him and marrying another man. He said that in his mind he was screaming “NO, NO, NO! Im going to get better, Im going to walk again!” He wanted to scream out of frustration because she could not hear his desperate cries nor respond to him.

He did in fact recover, but he never forgot the horrible vexation of being fully aware of everything around him but unable to move or express himself.

CONTINUES at: https://files.constantcontact.com/aebf4de5001/a2e5f7da-d66b-480c-9c0d-4bed8ef096a5.pdf

From the beginning of the Spirit-filled

Gathering the Generations to Pray.

From the beginning of the Spirit-filled New Testament church, cross-generational
involvement was clearly pronounced.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the brothers of Jesus gathered in the upper
room. According to Mark 6:3, Jesus had four brothers, James, Josses, Juda, and
Simon. He also had some sisters (at least two or more) who were numbered with the women gathered there.

Among His earthly family, Jesus was the oldest of Marys children. His crucifixion occurred when He was in His early thirties; so we can assume that His brothers and sisters probably ranged in ages, from their late teens into their thirties. From its beginning, young people have been at the center of the book of Acts church.

The first activity of young people in the New Testament church was prayer. These all continued with one accord in prayer. We thank God for our talented, educated, hardworking, enthusiastic young people. Their musical ability is a big plus for reaching this generation. Their contagious enthusiasm, confidence, and commitment serves the church well. However, with the Apostle Paul, we must place prayer in its proper place of priority. ... first of all ... prayer ... (I Timothy 2:1).

Post CONTINUES at: https://files.constantcontact.com/aebf4de5001/87e49b50-e1ee-47c6-a269-019828eae6e8.pdf
Info from: World Network of Prayer Newsletter
 

There was a prophecy that went forth

The Ingathering.

There was a prophecy that went forth in Zechariah saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘In those days ten men [as representatives] from all the nations will grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:23 AMP). It has been said that this prophecy is referring to the ten lost tribes that will return to Jerusalem.

We cannot be sure who they are, but we can be sure that the Word of God will come to pass.

He has promised His people, both Jews and Gentiles, that the latter house would be greater than the former house, and that the gospel would be preached to all nations through the lineage of Abraham, who was promised that through him, all nations would be blessed. God does not forget His promises. He has not broken His covenant with Israel. One day He will return as promised to Jerusalem. In that day, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. “So many peoples and powerful nations will come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to ask the Lord for His favor” (Zechariah 8:22).

There will be an ingathering of the multitudes, but in this present time our concern is the multitudes in the valley of decision. It is for these multitudes of souls that we must fast, pray, and sacrifice for. It is the will of God that every nation hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Without the people of God there can be no finished work. The enemy is taking advantage of the crises going on in the world. He is working through division, witchcraft, and sorceries. There are many forms of witchcraft that are at work. Rebellion, manipulation, drugs, and even the abuse of pharmaceuticals. 

Post CONTINUES at: https://files.constantcontact.com/aebf4de5001/7e38c251-0698-4525-976b-22906bbd0e23.pdf
Info from: World Network of Prayer Newsletter

Hearing God Voice

Prayer for Hearing Gods Voice

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

We should remember that prayer is a dialog between the believer and God. It’s a two-way communication that involves both talking and listening. Prayer is not complete when we do all the talking and expect God to do all the listening. True prayer requires both. Let’s pray to hear God’s voice. Hearing God also represents a readiness to obey what He says. God does not speak just to give people a chance to decide if they want to obey. God speaks to those who take Him seriously and who stand ready to respond to whatever He says. Let’s learn to listen to the Shepherd’s voice.

Pray the following:

    Lord, I praise You as my Shepherd for You are the one who speaks so that I may hear Your voice and follow You were you lead.
    Lord, I Thank You, Oh God, for telling us the truth about Yourself, and about ourselves. 
    Lord, I confess any lack of desire or any personal failure in hearing Your voice. Help me to have ears to hear what Your Spirit is speaking today.
    Lord, give me listening ears to hear and discern Your voice from the many voices that are speaking.
    Lord, open my heart to Your impressions and please help me close my ears to the whisperings of the evil one.
    Lord, today I stand as an intercessor for those who are not listening to Your Word or Your Spirit and are straying from truth.
 

Rev. Stephen M. Harris, Christian Life Church, Port Washington, Wisconsin
Information from: Prayer Connect Newsletter - World Network of Prayer - floshaw@wnop-upci.ccsend.com 

The Anointed and more Posts

The Anointed Altar

Enhancing the Believers Walk with God!

In Exodus 40:10, 29:36-37, and Numbers 7:88, we find references to the “anointed altar,” a sacred place where believers can encounter Gods presence. This anointed altar in a believers life can add significant value to their walk with God, leading to spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Him.

The anointed altar signifies a consecrated space dedicated to seeking God, offering prayers, sacrifices, and worship. In biblical times, altars played a significant role in the religious practices of Israel. These were places where individuals and the community could approach God, seeking forgiveness, atonement, and communion. The anointed altar was set apart from ordinary objects or spaces and was specifically designated for worship and connection with the divine.

The anointed altar holds symbolic meaning as a place of surrender, intimacy, and divine encounters. Firstly, it represents surrender as individuals brought their sacrifices to the altar, symbolizing their willingness to submit to Gods will and surrender their desires and sins. It signified the acknowledgment that everything belongs to God and that humans come before Him humbly.

Secondly, the anointed altar represents intimacy with God. It was a physical space where people could approach God, seek His guidance, and experience His presence. The act of offering sacrifices, or prayers, at the altar symbolized the desire for a deeper connection and relationship with the divine.

Lastly, the anointed altar signifies divine encounters. Throughout the Bible, various scenes depict the altar as a place where God met with His people. Examples can be seen in Genesis when Abraham built an altar to worship God, or when Moses met with God at the burning bush. The anointed altar was seen as a gateway to experiencing Gods presence and receiving His revelations.

In summary, the anointed altar signifies a consecrated space dedicated to seeking God, offering prayers, sacrifices, and worship. It holds symbolic meaning as a place of surrender, intimacy, and divine encounters; representing humanitys willingness to submit to God, seek a deeper relationship, and experience His presence. Enhance your walk with God by spiritually endeavoring to experience the anointed altar!

Dr. Margaret Banks-Butler

WNOP International Harvest Prayer Coordinator

Information from: Prayer Connect Newsletter - World Network of Prayer - floshaw@wnop-upci.ccsend.com

AND

The principle of sowing and reaping

SEEDS TO TREES

Scripture teaches us about the principle of sowing and reaping. From seed, comes plant, a tree, or a field big enough to harvest. What you sow grows. The seed of a tree becomes buried where you cannot see it. Little by little, it is nourished in the ground and sprouts into view, growing into a large tree with deep root systems and wide-reaching branches.

The principle of sowing and reaping doesnt change. If a seed can live, it will grow. In scripture, seeds were often an analogy for the Word of God. As we read His Word it grows in our life bringing forth faith and works of His Spirit. But a seed can also represent things like bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, and vengeance. These are all big issues in someones life, but they all started as a seed.

Its not easy to cut down a tree when its grown. Instead, if we get rid of the seed when its small then we dont have to wrestle with it when it becomes a forest. Its your choice to leave a seed buried.

Pray:

that God would reveal to you any seeds in your life that lay buried and need to be removed. These may be things like bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, revenge, hate, envy, gossip, jealousy, discontent, or doubt.
for forgiveness, for allowing any seed to grow, contrary to His Word.
that God would help you to remove those that have grown up into large obstacles to your faith, and your walk with God and others.
that God would help you find someone to be accountable to during your recovery.
that God would make you aware when you are burying a seed in the future.
that you would replace every sinful seed with a seed from His Word.

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled (Hebrews 12:15).

Colleen Clabaugh - Guest Writer

Info from: Prayer Connect Newsletter - World Network of Prayer - floshaw@wnop-upci.ccsend.com

AND

Its About Time

Time is precious. Let’s pray that God will bless the time He gives us in our day.

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12). Lord, forgive us today and cleanse our hearts from indulging in ease and pleasure for it is time to seek You. Let all corrupt affections and lusts depart from us and let us have a broken and contrite spirit which breaks the fallow ground of complacency. Lord, help us to abound in works that are right towards You and others. For we will seek You this day, and we will sow in righteousness and reap Your mercy. 

“My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me” (Psalm 31:15). Lord, I dedicate my day and time to You for it is in Your hands. Lead and guide me into Your divine will and purpose today. Help me to avoid the enemies of my time. Give me wisdom Lord, to steer clear of fruitless activities, time robbers or issues that don’t concern me. Deliver me from those who wish to cause me harm or hinder my progress and cause me to waste time. 

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5). Lord, I pray that I may walk in wisdom toward those who have no wisdom. Help me to not get caught up in fruitless situations but help me to make the most of the opportunities that You give me today for Your Kingdom’s sake. 

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way” (Psalm 37:23). Let my steps be directed by You, Lord. Let them be firmly established in walking in Your will today. Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me (Psalm 119:133). I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). 

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3). Lord, we praise You for that when we are afraid we can trust You and through Your Word, to speak to our hearts. 

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Help me, Oh Lord, to remember that time is short and the day is burning, so that my work must count for You. Help me to use wisdom in my endeavors and not to waste time on things that don’t really matter. 

“It is time for you, LORD, to work: for they have made void your law” (Psalm 119:126). Lord, I know that the timing is right for You to work in my life and the lives of my loved ones. Lord, continue to do this work that they might see it’s You who are doing these things. 

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come” (Jeremiah 51:33). Lord, do what You see fit to bring about a mighty revival in my home, church, family and in my community. We thank You for the mighty deeds You’ve already done and what You’re going to do though me today. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Juli Jasinski District Prayer Coordinator Massachusetts/Rhode Island District

FROM: Prayer Connect Newsletter - World Network of Prayer - floshaw@wnop-upci.ccsend.com

AND

God has given us a space of time.

A Space of Time

Time cannot be purchased, and once gone, it is gone forever. In His grace God has given us a space of time for repentance, restitution, and restoration. We can see how merciful God has been and have faith that He still has a plan. In fact, it seems our world has become increasingly more wicked and the shedding of innocent blood continues at a horrific rate across our world.

There seems to be no fear of God, in spite of the obvious signs of the times that we are living in. I typically don’t write in the first person, but this is what God has put on my heart, so I will share these things that have inspired me to pray. Around the time of the 9/11 attack, I had a dream. I was walking barefoot on a train track. I remember looking down at the railroad ties, my feet didn’t hurt, but I was carrying some type of package that was heavy. The countryside was beautiful. It appeared to be farmland, and the horizon was speckled with cattle that could be seen far across the horizon. Suddenly, I saw a flash of light so bright that it turned everything white as snow. I heard a voice say, “My coming is soon.”

Having been fairly new to Church and prayer at that time, God speaking was foreign to me. After that dream, I was never the same. Around that same time, I attended a district ladies retreat. Bobbie Wendell was one of the speakers and I remember being deeply moved by her message, but what was ingrained in my memory is what I saw during the call to prayer afterwards. In prayer, I saw a huge black wave that seemed to come from a troubled sea. In the wave, there was a multitude of tormented faces; more than could be counted. I have also been haunted by another dream. In this dream, a man was calling to me from some far-away place, saying, “I don’t want to go to hell”. These visions have left me wondering, am I doing enough?

I am troubled by the thought of not seeking the Lord while He may be found; of getting caught up in the cares of this world, and the distractions that the enemy is clearly putting in the way of God’s people. Many are petty offenses that cause us to stumble. It is time to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. It is time to know, and live by His word. It is time to seek God daily in prayer, and time to wisely use the talent(s) God has given us. Let’s not be like the foolish servant, who lost everything.

It is high time to consider how much time is wasted, and how little time we may have. Do we have days, years, months, or decades? According to scripture, nobody knows, but we do have the signs of the times and the admonition to pay attention to them from Jesus Himself. This does not only apply to the second coming of Jesus, but the life we are living. The Bible teaches that life is a vapor. It is fragile, uncertain, and precious. Life must be regarded as precious to God’s people, even if it is devalued in the world we live in. This will be demonstrated by how we are using the space of time God has given us. How much are we taking for granted? Do we disregard the fact that eternity knocks at the door? Do we count precious the time we have to spend with loved ones, or time spent doing eternal things for God. Time spent in prayer and time devoted to His Kingdom are things that last. Sincere, heartfelt, fervent, effectual prayer is valuable to God and stored in heaven (see Revelation 5:8). How much time are we actually spending in prayer. Are we consistently seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness? Are we doing the things that prayer would lead us to do? Are we acting as a catalyst for what God would do as a result of prayer? Jesus said, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4 AMP).

Beth Marie Evans WNOP Prayer Requests Coordinator International Christian Fellowship Brookfield, Illinois

Info from: Prayer connect Newsletter - World Network of Prayer - floshaw@wnop-upci.ccsend.com

AND

 
Start with Prayer.

Start Your Day With Prayer by Dee Rogers.

“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.” (Psalm 5:3 NKJV)

For many years I struggled with prayer. But God in His grace and mercy allowed me to find living for God was not hard. Just take the Bible for what it says, and live by it.

I found that I can talk to God just like I would talk to a friend or my family. The Bible says Abraham was “called the friend of God,” and the Lord spoke to Moses “as a man speaks to his friend.” The Book of Romans tells us we are adopted, and we become children of God. And that we can cry to him “Abba, Father.”

However, after having children, it seemed like I never had enough time to pray. Certainly not for longer periods of time. I began to feel guilty for not praying as much as I had been before marriage and children.

Finding time to pray seemed impossible some days. I heard “get up earlier,” but I found that hard to do. I finally realized that I was leaving prayer out of some days.

So I talked to God about it all. (Like He didn’t already know, but He is not going to fix everything for you, unless you ask Him! He wants to hear from us!) I became totally transparent with Him at that point. And He answered me – “Pray when you can, make time to talk to Me, and I will be there.” I began praying while still laying quietly in bed each day, to not wake anyone up. I was just making time for Him as it was available. I still love those quiet whispers of prayer in my morning and listening to Him.

Start your day talking to Him. Invite Him into your day and He will be with you in every hour of that day. Prayer becomes a conversation that continues throughout the day. We live in a very mobile society. Our days are busy, but, if we want Him to go with us, we need to talk to Him. He is a God who is available - He is everywhere. Talk to Him about everything in your life. Driving down the highway – your car becomes your prayer room. The more you communicate with Him the easier it becomes. He listens and speaks to you. Don’t’ forget to thank Him for the moments shared and life changes that follow.

“The Lord is good to those who… seek Him.” (Lamentations 3:25)

Info from: Ladies Prayer International Newsletter - UPCI Ladies Ministries - ladiesprayerinternational@aol.com