When You Don't Know WHAT TO PRAY

 

WHEN YOU HAVE A Battle to Fight

There is no wisdom and no understanding

And no counsel against the LORD.

The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

But victory belongs to the LORD.

Proverbs 21:30-31

Father, haow greateful I am for Your protection, guidance, and strength. Thank you for being my Commander in Chief. Truly, there is no Defender, Warrior, or King like You-in heaven or on earth. Regardless of the enemies or challenges in my path, You easily overcome them. No matter the conflicts and trials I face, You are always triumphant. I am grateful for Your love and guidance.

   Lord, I recognize You observe the full battle before me and know exactly what to do. I also realize I perceive the conflict only in part-I see only what is immediately apparent. But You fight in ways that I can't even imagine, with both spiritual and physical armaments and strategies that are so much greater than my understanding or abilities. You are all-powerful and all-knowing, and everything is in Your presence. No one in heaven or on earth can help me more than You can. So I know I stand tallest and strongest when I am in submission to You. And I am safest as I walk in the center of Your will. Therefore, Father, You are my Leader, and I will follow you. I obey You, Lord, knowing there can be only one General deciding the battle plan.

   Father, help me not to become angry or defensive at those who attack, but to always be as forgiving and gracious as You are. Guard my lips, Lord. Help me always remember that so much of this battle is spiritual, and often people act as they do for reasons that are unknown even to themselves. My job is to obey You and represent You well. Thus, You call me to turn to You privately in prayer as conflicts arise-and not fight in public with words or actions. So that is what I will do, Father. Likewise, Lord, when I am hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, remind me of how vulnerable I am and that I need to take shelter in You. No matter what happens, I will not run away or give in to fear but will find my strength in You.

   Thank You for always being available and leading me to success regardless of the battle. Thank You for working through Your Holy Spirit to guide me strategically around the Enemy's traps, to empower me for the struggle, to overcome every obstacle, to heal my battle wounds, qnd to direct me to victory. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me and to others through this. Help me to wait on Your perfect timing, trust You every step of the way, and be willing to obey all You ask. To You be all glory, honor, power, and praise in every triumph.

   In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

Stanley, Charles F. When You Don't Know WHAT TO PRAY. "When You Have a Battle to Fight." Zondervan, USA, 2021. pg 71-72,       This book includes 100 essential prayers for enduring life's storms. As I am using this as a devotional, God is revealing more areas that I am not even aware need confession and work. Thank you, Dr. Stanley.

The Gift of Prayer

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

New King James Version www.biblegateway.com 

Gift: a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present.www.bing.com

Something offered to me, but I must accept it!

Have you sensed you want God’s guidance, but have no idea how to pray? In “The Gift of Prayer,” Dr. Stanley combines scripture and photography to acquaint the reader with down-to-earth direction.

In this brief review, I will only touch on one topic: praying for others. Has a friend or family member asked you to pray for them, however you have no idea what to say? Has God placed someone on your heart, you desire to pray for them, nevertheless you have no idea what is their issue?

Using the life-changing prayer found in Colossians 1:9-12, Dr. Stanley devotes the next seven pages to explain six parts of this prayer answering what is your responsibility and what is God’s responsibility. Each theme ends with a prayer. 

"Father, how grateful I am that I can talk to You about absolutely anything--including the needs of my family members, friends, coworkers, fellow believers, and acquaintances. I may not be able to help them, but I am thankful that through the awesome gift of prayer I can lift them up to You--and You can transform their lives in miraculous ways.
   You know who is on my heart right now, Father. I pray that this individual would be filled with the knowledge of Your will, would walk in a manner worthy of You, would bear fruit in every good work, would increase in the knowledge of You, and would be strengthened with all Your power and wisdom to stand against sin and embrace who You created him or her to be. I give thanks to You, Father, for this person's life. I know You formed this precious individual with great purposes in mind--even if this person is far from those plans right now. But with You, Father, there is always hope! Transform this situation in the way only You can.
   In Jesus' loving and life-changing name I pray. Amen." Page 128

After reading this 150 page book, I sensed encouragement, peacefulness, and calmness. Please read The Gift of Prayer and share your thoughts!!!     

Stanley, Charles F. The Gift of Prayer. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 2019.

"The Joshua Code: 52 Scripture Verses Every Believer Should Know"

 The Joshua CODE: 52 Scripture Verses Every Believer Should Know by O. S. Hawkins is written on the premises of Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night . . ." This is a book for memory and meditation. Please, use this book as a guide to hide God's word in your heart!!!

www.oshawkins.com

My first exposure to Dr. Hawkins was viewing him on the Huckabee TV show on TBN during December 2018. I liked his enthusiasm for wanting to assist people to know, understand and meditate on God's word, the Holy Bible. Then he hooked me in by adding, "All royalties from this book are donated to Mission:Dignity, which helps retiree missionaries, ministers, workers, and their spouses." With many books sitting on my shelf begging to be read, another book was NOT in my plans. But, it was in His plans. Always wanting to support missionaries, I came home with three books for my bookshelf. Well, I started reading VIP:Very Influential Person and am still reading. I am using the other two books as morning and evening devotionals. None of the three are gathering dust on the book shelf.

The following is a quote on John 3:16 from chapter 2, page 23, unknown, yet wise old sage:

For God . . . the greatest Lover

so loved . . . the greatest degree

the world . . .the greatest company

that He gave . . .the greatest act

His only begotten Son . . . the greatest gift

that whoever . . .the greatest opportunity

believes . . . the greatest simplicity

in Him . . . the greatest attraction

should not perish . . . the greatest promise

but . . . the greatest difference

have . . . the greatest certainty

everlasting life . . . the greatest possession

Each chapter is very short, but powerful. Go slow! Take time to read, study and meditate!!!

"The Assassins" by Oliver North review

The Assassins, a novel, by Oliver North and Joe Musser begins on 14 October 2007 at the Royal Saudi Air Force Early Warning Center, King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia. "When the tiny blip first appeared on his radar screen...He stared at the radar image for several seconds before acting on what he saw. Instead of flying straight toward..." pages 1 and 3. After 524 pages of nonstop-intrigue, the authors conclude with, "Tentative and fledgling efforts toward peace and democracy took root in Iran just as they had in Iraq ̶ which grew stronger day by day...."

The President is speaking on 3 November 2007 just after much devastation here in America. "I just read the FBI assessment that the New York, Chicago, and Atlanta attacks were all 'home grown' suicide bombers. If they're right, at least two of these kids were born here in America, grew up among us, and still came to hate us enough to kill themselves trying to kill other Americans....we've got to find some way to stop these radical.. from spewing this hatred. Encouraging young people to build bombs, put them in backpacks, and blow themselves up...." As I read this novel, it is time for me to think, what can I do to stop this hatred we are constantly hearing about? A friend of mine reminded me that if I am not a part of the solution, I am a part of the problem. This novel was written in 2005 as the third in a series of four. Even as a novel, it was written to encourage me to think! To pray! Ask God how I can be a part of today's solution.

Spoiler, one of my favorite people died. But, you will want to read the rest of the story to find our who, when and where.The authors take the reader from the Middle East to South America to Cuba to the United States and back to the Middle East. All around the world people want the same thing, peace!

After this final battle, The President speaks on 11 November 2007 from the Rose Garden. "So, the irony today is that it's Veterans' Day once again. And more than ever, as Americans we've been made aware of the significance of those who have sacrificed for us. Today's generation of men and women in the military are still fighting the ongoing battle against tyranny so that the bells of freedom can ring loud and clear not just across this wonderful land but all over the world... I want to conclude my remarks today with this reminder: we need to always remember this day of sacrifice and courage. Please bow your head and think for a moment of these brave men and women who serve without protest and who go quietly but steadfastly about their sworn duty to uphold and defend the Constitution of these United States of America...." page 515.

"The Jericho Sanction" by Oliver North review

The Jericho Sanction by Oliver North and Joe Musser, second in the Peter Newman novel series, provides the reader with nonstop excitement. After three years, Rachel and Peter Newman alias John and Sarah Clancy have their identity exposed. How and by whom? Read the rest of the story.

Rachel and her friend, Dyan are kidnapped. By whom and which lady was the target? Again, read the rest of the novel. As the saying goes, "No man is an island." This novel involves many connections including family, work, friends, neighbors and associates.

It is refreshing to enjoy a novel of intrigue without the profane language. Also, as the reader, I have a new understanding and respect for our military and their leaders.

A quote repeated from page 538, read many times throughout the novel:

                "...I'll look forward to seeing you again soon. You guys will be in my prayers."

                "As you and yours shall be in mine," replied the old man.

Exciting, entertaining, uplifting!!!

"Mission Compromised" by Oliver North review

Wow!!! In just over a week, I devoured 600+ pages. Oliver North and Joe Musser's novel "Mission Compromised" held my attention from the first page to the last words. As the players are introduced and their stories told, the reader does not know their fate until the last pages or paragraphs.

It takes gifted authors to put down on paper explicit details of the pain of war, the devastation to military families, the tenderness of love, and the love of God. All of these elements are intertwined in these pages. AND, by the last page, they all made sense to me, anyway, I pray as you read this book, the elements will make sense to you too.

If you want a novel to hold your attention full of excitement, danger and romance without the foul language, this is for you. It was refreshing to read war and romance without all the four-letter words in any paragraphs.

Enjoy as I did!!!

I am looking forward to reading the author's other novels. More reviews to follow.

"War Room: Prayer is a Powerful Weapon" by Chris Fabry, book review

Yes, War Room is fiction, yet bursting with truth! Miss Clara was fixing to sell her home and move in to an apartment her son had made for her. As a widow, she knew the heartache of a military family. Although Clara had no concept of military warfare, she did know another conflict. It is the battlefield for the human heart. With years of being on the front line of life, she knew real challenge and change happened deep in the soul. Enter Elizabeth, the realtor; Miss Clara becomes a mentor to Elizabeth.

After seeing the movie three times and reading the book, I will not give away the plot. Find this for yourself. My plan is to just highlight a few of my favorite narratives:

Page 105, Clara tells of family fights with no resolution. “I was fighting against my own marriage and my family. I tried for years to fix…I couldn’t…” answer, “Cause it’s not your job!...” Read the rest of the page to learn YOUR job

.

Page 123, Miss Clara was a prayer warrior. She had her own prayer closet. Prayer is not for her only; everyone has the power to talk with God.

Page 126, the purpose of prayer is not to get what we want. “Prayer changes the person who prays.” Clare presents family examples.

Page 127-128, “When we pray, we participate in what God is doing. He gets the glory, and we get the privilege of walking with Him, and in that process we are changed.” Philippians 2, “The goal of prayer is not to change God’s mind about what you want. The goal of pray is to change your own heart, to want what He wants, to the glory of God.”

Page 218, “His [God] goal is to make me holy, like His Son.”

Page 284, “If God knows everything and if He’s working out His will in the world, what’s the point [of prayer]?” Read the author’s answer!

Page 145, focus on the real enemy, “Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. And he is stealing your joy, killing your faith, and trying to destroy your family.”

Page 325-326, talking about the purpose of Jesus death, “He [God] snatched victory from the enemy and provided salvation for anyone who would call on the name of the Lord….”

So many narratives spoke to my heart, such as pages 107-108, 182, 202 feelings, 237, 267, 295, 302 Bartimaeus, 306 voices, and 311 God is our anchor. What words are speaking to YOUR heart? How about sending an email or contact me on Facebook, Selma Blackmon, we can share our thoughts.

War Room: Prayer is a Powerful Weapon.Chris Fabry novelized the motion picture by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick. The book is published by Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois.

Excellent book and movie! Recommend for every family. Purchase a copy and watch or read often!