(Google image, A prayer for help)
In some cases, however,
God gives such prayer burdens to a very new Christian because He knows that person in his or her new love and zeal is instantly obedient, because God wants to show this new believer what He can do through prayer, or because that person has a relationship with the person for whom prayer is needed.
It is usually easier for God to alert us for prayer burdens for someone we already know or for whom we are already praying. A woman in England knew my role in OMS International and had heard me speak, and thus it was probably easier for God to alert her when I had a need.
When our youngest daughter lay bleeding to death in a yard in America, God spoke to the woman. He got her out of bed on her knees, and she prevailed for "Wesley Duewel's family." She did not know what the exact need was.
For some reason, God let me sleep blissfully in London, where I was speaking, yet alerted her to pray. She prevailed at the very time of need.
Our daughter was found, and by a series of miracles her life was revived (though she had already ceased to bleed), and today she serves as a missionary in Indonesia. That dear woman was a faithful intercessor, so she was available to God.
2. Live in the Spirit. Prayer burdens are given to you by the Holy Spirit. The more fully your life is controlled by the Spirit, the more fully the Spirit can guide you and work through you.
He is the Spirit of intercession, so He is eager to help you intercede. Unless you have been filled with the Spirit, He does not fully control you and is not able to use you completely. Be sure you have been filled with the Spirit. Be sure you are living in the fullness of the Spirit and that you are praying in the Spirit.
3. Keep a listening ear.You can learn to develop a spiritual alertness and availability to God, to be specially open to His guidance.
See chapter 17, "The Secret of Listening," in my book Let God Guide You Daily. If you truly hunger for God to use you and, in particular, to use your prayer life, you can learn to sense His guiding touch or voice, and you will learn how eager God is to guide you in all the daily aspects of your living.
Then you will discover that again and again God will guide you in your praying. As you are thus alert to God, you will be more open to the Spirit's giving you a prayer burden.
4. Practice constant obedience. Whenever God gives you a prayer assignment, be immediately and regularly faithful to it. Let nothing in your life grieve the gentle Holy Spirit. Be eager to walk in all the light God gives you.
Let no tension develop between you and any other person. If it does, as much as lies in your power, humbly take the initiative to try to remove the tension. Put God's will, God's Word, and prayer in constant priority in your life.
5. Expose yourself to vision and need. Read writings and periodicals that will expose you to God's vision for your world and hurting needs of people. Attend services where you can be exposed to need. Get involved by prayer, finance, or personally in any other way possible in jail ministry, inner city ministry, or other missionary work.
6. Use prayer lists. Have a church prayer list, remembering your pastor or pastors, youth leader, lay leaders, new members, and membership prospects.
Ask God to guide you in which nations to put on your daily prayer list, and pray for one or more that especially need the gospel. Make at least a short list of unsaved people whom you long to see brought to Christ.
Keep a temporary list of needs that are changing—people in the hospital, fighting a health battle, out of work, or discouraged—and special upcoming needs that you want to pray for.
Use a short list of government leaders, including your president, vice president, one or more political leaders, Supreme Court justices, your senators, representatives, governor, and mayor.
Don't worry about when God is going to give you a sudden prayer burden. Just be faithful in daily disciplined intercession. Pray lovingly for the needs you know of. Schedule regular and adequate time alone with God.
Plan special times alone with God. Feed on His Word each time in prayer. Rejoice in the Lord. Love him and others. And as you live in close partnership with the Lord, He will begin to deepen the concern for the needs He wants you to take special responsibility for.
Then when you feel a special drawing to prayer for any person or situation, be quick to obey, and God will use you more and more in special intercession and burden bearing.
~ ~ ~ ~
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana, (with Jean's impressions added)
Mighty Prevailing Prayer
#112 How to be Available for Prayer Burden
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 205 -207) Zondervan
Father, as prayer burdens are given to us by the Holy Spirit, I pray that our lives will be controlled by Him, so we'll become more available for prayer concerns.
May we respond quickly, trusting You to be able to use us more and more in special intercession and burden bearing.
In our special times alone with You, may Your Word feed us each time, drawing us close to Your Heart, rejoicing in Your love for us.
I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
May we respond quickly, trusting You to be able to use us more and more in special intercession and burden bearing.
In our special times alone with You, may Your Word feed us each time, drawing us close to Your Heart, rejoicing in Your love for us.
I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Today's Bible verse-
(Philippians 4:8 NCV) “Think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.”
We can literally change our life by changing how we think – but we cannot do it alone. God’s standard and guideline for the thought life is very clear and brutally demanding. In fact, it’s downright impossible without God’s power at work in us."
Today's question:
Do you know that fixing your eyes on temporary things, and not on the eternal perspective of God's plan for you, can cause you to have undo stress and worry?
It's a natural tendency to try to figure everything out. When we give our lives over to Jesus Christ, the Savior, we're to allow Him to reveal His plan for us. He has our interest at heart, and knows how to guide us into His Peace through every situation.
(This was a good word for me, as I had news that my youngest son was in the hospital with strong chest pains! I remembered this, and made every effort to follow this advice myself, and to maintain my peace. [I'd lost a son several years ago, so was shaken at first, when hearing this news].
Because God is Faithful, it worked for me to keep Him in my thoughts and His possible overall plan might be for John! He's home now, so am very thankful for that. His life will change in some ways, I'm sure).
Upcoming posts-
#111 How to Carry a Prayer Burden
2nd- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
A Peak Experience
6th- Saturday's post by Sarah Rollandini
~~~~~
I'm leaving Sunday, the 7th, for
two weeks' vacation.
two weeks' vacation.
The next blog post is to be the 23rd of May.
#113 Wrestling for Prayer Answers
23rd- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
Below, you have an opportunity to leave a comment.
I invite you to also read the verse(s) from
my book in each blog posting below.
to occasionally read posts you've missed,
or would now like to read.
Below, you have an opportunity to leave a comment.
I invite you to also read the verse(s) from
my book in each blog posting below.
31-day Devotional
+ Jean's testimony
[Maybe just choose a title each
day that interests you]
day that interests you]
Sample verses from p. 56-
It Would Be Good
to Have Some Talks
to Have Some Talks
"It would be good to have some talks
And learn each other's dreams.
Maybe you'll need to go on walks
And stroll beneath moonbeams.
For sure you will become aware
That from the very start,
There will be things you'll need to share
Which weigh upon your heart."
And learn each other's dreams.
Maybe you'll need to go on walks
And stroll beneath moonbeams.
For sure you will become aware
That from the very start,
There will be things you'll need to share
Which weigh upon your heart."
(Published by Lighthouse Publishing
of the Carolinas. Used by permission).
A great gift for someone who may need help
to prepare for marriage, and for those in a
to prepare for marriage, and for those in a
marriage, wanting some helpful advice.
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