God longs to be gracious (Is. 30:18), but He is hindered by our failing to fulfill the role for which He created us, saved us, and preserves us alive today. (see #9 God's Priority Work for You).
Churches, missionary organizations, and Christian institutions are highly organized, well staffed, and, on the whole, busy in significant labor.
But where are the results? We have not prayed them to pass yet. We have failed to teach our people the role of prevailing prayer. We have failed to model for them powerful lives of prevailing prayer and to lead them in it.
Only a fool fails to pray, but millions of Christians seem almost greater fools. They believe in prayer. They pray rather casually and often ineffectively, but they have never given themselves to the work of spiritual conquest through prevailing prayer.
Knowing God's mighty power is always released through prayer, they nevertheless fail to pray until they prevail.
"Where are the Christian leaders who can teach the modern saints to pray and put them at it?...Where are the apostle leaders who can put
God's people to praying?" [E. M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer (Grand Rapids; Baker, 1972), 124-25.]
Only those who prevail in prayer produce a host of followers who know how to prevail. Prevailing apostles produce prayer warriors.
Comparatively prayerless pulpits will produce prayerless and powerless congregations. Who will call today's generation to prayer and teach them to pray? Where are our prayer giants?"
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana
(Google image and my emphasis added)
#11 We Are Failing God
by Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 22, 23) Zondervan
Let's Pray ...
Father, it is clear that it's important to know how to pray, and to help others form a habit of effectual praying also.
Inspire our leaders in our churches, to emphasize the need for us to hold up their hands in prayer each day.
Thank You for their willingness to lead us in spiritual matters. Please help them become more effective in their praying, as they encourage us to pray for them and their ministry.
Urge us to be faithful to pray for the effectiveness in our own church, area churches and our nation, to turn back to You our Creator and Sustainer.
I ask this the the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Today’s Bible verses: Prov. 1:2 "To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding."
"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels." (Prov. 1:5).
Today’s quote: "Our past failures never prevent God's willingness or ability to use us. In fact, our weakness is a great opportunity for the display of His power. In our own strength, we are totally ineffective. But when we submit to the Lord's authority in our life, we can experience His victory in whatever He calls us to do." (taken from p. 9 of IN TOUCH ,
Daily Readings for Devoted Living magazine - Feb. 2016)
Daily Readings for Devoted Living magazine - Feb. 2016)
Some thoughts today: Treasure the Word of God. Jesus is the theme of it, and we need to learn as much as we can about Him and His mission.
~ By reading God's Word, we store within us what He has to say about every subject to help us do what is pleasing to Him in our daily lives. Let it become a part of everything you do.
~ The Bible provides the daily food we'll need to change us into Christ's image. We'll need to be changed in order to be at home in heaven someday...
28th- Thursday’s post by Wesley L. Duewel-
#12 Wanted: Giants in Prayer
The Devil Found an Easy Prey
You Could be Someone's Miracle
#13 God has Ordained Our Prevailing
A popular post: Offense—Take it or Leave It Brenda K. Hendricks:
"But what do the not-so-easily-offended people have that the rest of us seem to lack?
I can’t speak for the vast majority since I’m just learning the better way myself. But I can share with you some of the lessons I’m putting into practice..."
"But what do the not-so-easily-offended people have that the rest of us seem to lack?
I can’t speak for the vast majority since I’m just learning the better way myself. But I can share with you some of the lessons I’m putting into practice..."
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