Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Prayer Protocol

Prayer Protocol. There isn't really one! Not a "serves all, every time" method.
Prayer prods. Prayer prompts. Prayer walks. Prayer circles.
Desperate prayers. Fasting prayers. Arrow prayers. Breath prayers. Silent prayers. Loud prayers.
For me prayer can be journaling. Even blogging becomes my praying with a keyboard.
Some THOTS (Trusting Him On This Subject) that "work for me" are:

  • SEEK HIM who is the Answer not just an "answer" to a request/petition.
  • There is NO one size fits all prayer method---it's not a "magic" approach.
  • Revival begins one heart--one prayer at a time. Start with self!
  • Sometimes when discouraged just "keep on keeping on" as Kay Arthur says. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
  • Prayer is communication with God---anytime, any place..........Though sometimes a designated space can help.
  • My visible prayer chair calls to me. 
  • Praying friend, Bernie's visual prayer closet calls to her. (Matthew 6:6) 

My favorite prayer story is about DTS. In 1929, Dallas Theological was near closing due to lack of funds. On commencement day the faculty gathered in President Lewis Sperry Chafer's office in a prayer circle. When it was Harry Ironside's turn, he simply prayed from Psalm 50:10---Lord, we know you own the cattle on a thousand hills. Please sell some of them, and send us money." A knock at the door interrupted the prayer meeting and the president's sec'y handed him a $10,000 note. After reading it, he turned to his colleague, Dr. Ironside and said, "Harry, God sold the cattle." 

High school English teachers remind us that commas are for pauses, but in the spiritual realm they are providential. "My" Wednesday Wordsmith's always love a grammarian type quote so here's one for their own unique "prayer protocol."
Never put a comma where God puts a period, and never put a period where God puts a comma. (unknown)