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)

Connectivi-TEA : a cuppa prayer

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV)

Prayer connects us to God. 

Continual prayer is bookended by an attitude of constant joy (v.16) and a heart of thanksgiving regardless of circumstances. (v.18)

Prayer connects us to each other.

The apostle Paul modeled praying for others and reciprocal prayer. Pray also for me,” Paul states in Ephesians 6:19. "Pray for us..." Colossians 4:3. 

In 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 he writes, “We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."

Connectivity is the beauty of prayer. Prayer knows no exclusions; it's an equal-opportunity method, available to all in the household of faith. Every believer, rich or poor, young or old, famous or unknown, can move the hand of God to bring about His purposes for time and eternity. As we connect to God and to one another, through prayer, we can make an eternal difference.

Prayer is how connection gets nurtured and developed.

Prayerful connection---it doesn't even require an APP. It doesn't require kneeling. Prayer can be done standing. Prayer can be done with eyes open or closed. One's modus operandi of praying can vary. 
Prayer is simply heartfelt conversation with God.

Breath prayers, arrow prayers, group prayers, individual prayers. All prayers of faith soar heavenward connecting us to God and to our fellow prayer warriors.

Sip a cuppa connectivi-TEA as you "pray without ceasing!"

*The cup pictured is a connector to my praying friend Margie Hornor, who taught me the power of breath prayers. Exhaling in God's Presence.

"at-TEA-tude"

7/12/11 Brewing my cup of tea this morning in preparation for my "Tea with Thee" time, I began to mull over my "at-TEA-tude" about prayer. Recapping the week's assigned reading in Paul Miller's, Praying Life, one thought becoming more steeped in my mind was that prayer needs to be focusing on God, not my praying or method of praying. As Miller puts it,

"Prayer is simply the medium through which we experience and connect with God." (Praying Life, p. 20)

My attitude about prayer seems to be changing. Hopefully this new prayer at-TEA-tude will be a good one!

Revival

6/14/10 I know it’s summertime when I am able to go to the Monday morning prayer for revival time at 9:30 am. What a privilege. The idea for this prayer time originated with Jeanne Greenlee many years ago and though she died just as it was taking off, others have kept her vision going.

This faithful, albeit small group, models prayer in a way that so-o-o fits my Monday meditation mode. Most enter the prayer room with their own Bible in hand. The scripture citation for the morning’s meditation is displayed on the table and blank cards are available for writing personal prayer requests.

The first 20 minutes are dedicated to meditating on the same scripture though versions of our Bible’s often differ. This time is followed by 20 minutes of corporate prayer that usually focuses on praise, thanksgiving and confession, followed by praying for revival in our own hearts. We pray for our local church our neighboring churches, and move to our community, state and nation. The final 20 minutes is prayer for each other and is based on, but not limited to, our personal requests.

It is so exciting to share through prayer how the scripture passage has touched our heart. It nearly always speaks to each of us differently, depending on our circumstances or where we are in our spiritual walk. Believe me, there’s always an applicable life lesson just for me. Others say the same thing.

This morning’s selection was Ephesians 6:10-20.

Read it and chew on it awhile. Maybe your heart will be revived. You might be prompted to pray as well---a personal prayer revival.