Bonnie’s Prayer Affair Prayers

ADORATION

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CHRIST’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

screen-shot-2016-10-18-at-4-03-24-pm“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev 22:13 NASU).

“…I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades” (Rev 1:18 NASU).

“…I am in the Father and the Father is in Me;…” (John 14:11 NASU).

“…I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38 NKJV).

“…He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone…” (John 8:29 NKJV).

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father…” (John 5:30 NKJV).

“…’I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NKJV).

“‘I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1 NKJV).

“…I came to give life—life in all its fullness” (John 10:10 NCV).

SUPPLICATION

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NON CHRISTIAN Pursuers

[We all have friends and family that sit in our churches but only act like they are Christians. It is up to us to pray for their salvation. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

FLESH – ALL AN UNREGENERATE PERSON IS

screen-shot-2016-10-14-at-4-12-38-pm…FATHER, I can hear ____ say, “Since GOD did so much for me, I want to show my appreciation by being and doing good.” Anyone who approaches You this way does not know You, they only think they do. You have yet to do anything for them. They are simply practicing “religious moralism” Madame Guyon (ref#123, p13). “To most people in our society, Christianity is religion and moralism” Madame Guyon (ref#123, p14).

____ can make great strides at being and doing good. Without any help (he/she) can, all by (himself/herself), accomplish many good works. “Self-confidence and self-reliance… are the notable traits of the good works of the flesh” Watchman Nee (ref#33, p114).

The Apostle Paul calls the unregenerated person “fleshly” (Rom 7:14). “Flesh” is not just the body, but encompasses the entire person (ref#33, p69).  “…put no confidence in human effort,” (Phil 3:3 NLT) says the Apostle Paul, because “it is impossible for the flesh to lean upon God” Watchman Nee (ref#33, p114).

____ has not come to the cross as a helpless sinner. (He/She) is enamored with CHRIST’s goodness and thus wants to show Him (his/her) own goodness.   CHRIST is (his/her) hero but not yet (his/her) Savior.

You, FATHER, have not yet impressed upon (him/her) that the goodness of (his/her) flesh is as filthy rags (Isa 64:6). Send Your SPIRIT to convict ____ of the sin of operating with (his/her) flesh. And, not only once “but daily and incessantly” remind (him/her) of this fact  (ref#33, p122).

FATHER, it is good that ____ admires You. I pray You keep (his/her) interest by revealing more and more of Yourself to (him/her). But, (he/she)) cannot know You until (he/she) first knows (himself/herself). “The nothingness of the creature helps our conception of the all of God” Madame Guyon (ref#128, p405, [Song of Songs 1:7]). Propel ____ to go forth into more understanding of You, permitting (himself/herself) “no natural satisfaction and no life in self” Madame Guyon (ref#128, p405, [Song of Songs 1:7]).

THANKSGIVING

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LEANING ON GOD

screen-shot-2016-10-14-at-4-09-44-pm…FATHER, my enemy is strong and persistent, while I am weak and lazy. But, yoked with CHRIST I am able to overcome the devil. You have given me a Godlike heart and enabled me to walk beside CHRIST to work my heart’s righteousness out through my members (Rom 6:13). Thank You for giving me commands and making me able to keep them.

When my soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your Word. When I have told You of my ways, You will answer me (Ps 119:25,26). Teach me Your statutes; make me understand the way of Your precepts, so that I will meditate on Your wonders (Ps 119:27).

When You will enlarge my heart, I’ll run the way of Your commandments (Ps 119:32). So, FATHER, enlarge my heart, I pray.

I weep because of grief. Strengthen me—remove the false way from me, then I will not be ashamed (Ps 119:28-29). You have ordained Your precepts that I should keep them diligently. Oh, that my way be established to keep Your statutes (Ps 119:4-5)!

When I look upon You—when I keep Your statutes, I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart (Ps 119:2). I will be blessed and give thanks when You will enlarge my heart (Ps 119:32). I will wait for You—enlarge my heart, please.

Deal bountifully with me that I may live and keep Your Word. Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things (Ps 119:17-18). Crush my soul with longing after Your ordinances; make Your testimonies my counselors and my delight (Ps 119:20,24).

May Your lovingkindness comfort me according to Your Word; may Your compassion come to me that I might live (Ps 119:76-77). My eyes fail with longing for Your Word; my soul languishes for Your salvation. I wait for Your Word (Ps 119:82,81).

Revive me according to Your lovingkindness so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth (Ps 119:88). Sustain me according to Your Word that I may live. Do not let me be ashamed of my hope (Ps 119:116).

Establish my footsteps in Your promise; don’t let iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from oppression that I may keep Your precepts (Ps 119:133-134). Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that my soul may live—that I may praise You (Ps 119:144,175).

I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek me for I do not forget Your commandments (Ps 119:176).

CONFESSION

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ME, IMPUDENT AND HARDHEARTED?

screen-shot-2016-10-14-at-3-59-19-pm“It is not the Devil who switches folk off Christ’s way, but the ordinary steep difficulties of daily life, difficulties connected with food and clothing and situations….the little worries of life have…enfeebled our spirits, and made us sorry and humiliated before Him, even more so than the times when we have been tempted to sin” Oswald Chambers (ref#118, p96).

FATHER, You call Israel, “impudent and hardhearted” (Ezek 3:7), and I agree. Seems Scripture testifies they never got it right. But, You say, “No one is right” (Rom 3:11). Help me find my “not-rightness.”

SPIRIT CHECK: Impudent. Do I have “an arrogant spirit?” Do I lack “holy shame or an unhallowed boldness in evil?” Can I be un-humbled with no inward humiliation? Have I ever pretended to pray or pretended to praise (ref#34, April 28th PM)?

SPIRIT CHECK: Hardhearted. Even though I have a new heart, does much of my former stubbornness remain? How affected am I by the death of JESUS? Am I moved as much as I should be by the ruin of my fellowmen? Do I care about “the wickedness of the times?” Does it move me that You, FATHER, are chastised by unprincipled men? Do I regard my failures as trivial (ref#34, April 28th PM)?

Oh FATHER, I still live in this hateful body of death, though You have changed me to desire to live for You. I bless You now that Your Son’s precious blood will effectively soften me. His blood is a solvent that will melt my heart like “wax before the fire”Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, April 28th PM). You again will do wonderful things for me (Isa 29:14). “Oh that my heart would melt at the recital of my Savior’s sufferings and death” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, April 28th PM)!

ADORATION

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OBEDIENCE

screen-shot-2016-10-14-at-3-52-15-pm“O Lord,

I stand very much in need

of greater grace,

if You want me to attain that

spiritual frame of mind

that allows no one to keep me from You” Thomas a ‘Kempis (ref#147, p185).

FATHER, You send Your HOLY SPIRIT to quicken me (John 6:63). For I am as one dead (John 5:25).

CHRIST, You work out Your righteousness in me. You make me realize its preciousness.   Your righteousness in obeying perfectly all the law is imputed to me (ref#35, p298).   So I am perfectly accepted by the FATHER (ref#35, p297).

The work of the HOLY SPIRIT is to prepare me for obedience; He enables me to be obedient and brings forth the fruits of obedience (ref#35, p305).

Everything the Triune GOD does for me is to make it possible to be obedient. My obedience to You gives You glory and honor. You give me everything and my only proper response is obedience (ref#35, p306). This is all I can give You. My every other interaction with You is all about receiving from You.

“…divine love…begins with the Father, is carried on by the Son, and then communicated by the Spirit; the Father designing, the Son purchasing, the Spirit effectually working” (ref#35, p302). I ascend “to the Father’s love through the work of the Spirit and blood of the Son” John Owen (ref#35, p302).

The SPIRIT is first, working in my heart giving me an interest in CHRIST’s blood. Then my interest is accepted by the FATHER.

TRIUNE GOD, I adore the labor-intense means You exert Yourself for me. I am triply blessed by Your means—blessed much more than if You would describe Yourself as just “the One GOD who saves me.” You are not a GOD who is far off (Jer 23:23).

SUPPLICATION

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SICKNESS, LIFE THREATENING

[The majority of our prayers concern physical health. We all know someone who is dealing with a life-ending disease. Here is an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

FACING DEATH

screen-shot-2016-10-14-at-3-02-47-pm…O LORD, are You not a GOD in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In Your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you (2 Chron 20:6).

____ is afflicted and facing death. As an intercessor, LORD, empower me to stand firm. As the inevitable looms give me the fortitude to stand before You and cry out to You in ____’s stead for You will hear  (2 Chron 20:9).

____ is powerless, but, FATHER, keep (his/her) eyes on You (2 Chron 20:12). I know the battle that is before (him/her) is not (his/hers), but Yours (2 Chron 20:16). (He/She) will not need to fight in this battle but only to stand firm—to hold (his/her) position and see Your salvation on (his/her) behalf. (He/She) will not need to be afraid or be dismayed, for You, LORD, will be with (him/her) (2 Chron 20:17). I pray CAPTAIN OF HOSTS, that You give (him/her) this understanding.

Power belongs to You, FATHER, (Ps 62:11). You who made the heaven and earth, (his/her) help is in Your name (Ps 124:8). Show Yourself in mighty acts that will greatly enlarge (his/her) faith in You.

THANKSGIVING

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THANKS FOR ASSURANCES

screen-shot-2016-10-14-at-2-52-30-pm…FATHER, You have created an entire book describing the specific ways You approach Your lover (Song of Songs). You do everything but stand on Your head to get my attention. A devotional could not hold all the words of assurance You write attempting to prove Your love toward me. But, let me name a few that it may jog my memory and cause me to thank You for Your love that is as strong as death (Song 8:6).

Your love never wanes. When I am happy with myself or when I am disappointed with my actions, it doesn’t affect our relationship for You continually accept me. When I look within I exclaim there is nothing acceptable there but You look at me through CHRIST where everything is acceptable. I am Your “divine delight” (Eph 1:6) Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Sept 23rd AM).

When my poor faith concludes I am a “baby Christian,” You assure me that I have just as much right to covenant mercies as advanced believers. I am completely justified—my justification is not a thing of degrees.

“…your right to covenant mercies lies not in your growth, but in the covenant itself. Your faith in Jesus is not the measure, but the token of your inheritance in Him” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Oct 19th AM).

FATHER, I did not choose You, You chose me (John 15:16). True, I did commit to You but You had my name written in Your book of life before You formed the world.

You have drawn me and will continue in Your faithfulness toward me. Your love is an everlasting love (Jer 31:3). You commit to me forever providing justice, fairness, love and kindness. You will be forever faithful to me no matter what I do (Hos 2:19-20)!

I thank You for all Your assurances You add to Scripture. Even if I am the weakest Christian, in JESUS I am Your child (Gal 4:7).

CONFESSION

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WRATH

screen-shot-2016-10-14-at-2-46-17-pm“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty….” (Nah 1:2-3 ESV).

FATHER, I can think, act, and feel humble—actually fall on my knees before You, but if I’m not routinely pleading for JESUS to forgive my sins, I stand before You prideful, not humble and Your wrath is upon me. You cannot tolerate the pride of man (Prov 8:13).

You did not spare angels when they sinned, but committed them to chains to be kept until the judgment (2 Pet 2:4). You did not spare the ancient world, but preserved only Noah and seven others (2 Peter 2:5). You turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, condemning them to extinction making them as an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly (2 Peter 2:6).

I am always unholy, standing in the way of Your wrath. I am a city like Sodom if I do not continually grow in the grace and knowledge of my Lord, JESUS (2 Pet 3:18). “This knowledge is the ever-deepening experience of Christ and understanding of His truth” The Reformation Study Bible (ref#56, p1825, [2 Pet 3:18]).

FATHER, may I understand the seriousness of Your wrath. Instead of a city like Sodom, I must be like the city of Nineveh. Nineveh fasted and prayed and turned from evil so that You relented of the disaster that You said You would do (Jonah 3:7-10).

You say, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay;” You will judge people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD (Heb 10:30-31), for You are a consuming fire (Heb 12:29).

Please remind me often that I naturally stand in the way of Your wrath the moment I turn my head away from JESUS. I default to living my life using my own resources.  Sober me against that. You accept nothing but my spirit submitting to Your SPIRIT (Zech 4:6).

ADORATION

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POWERFUL IS YOUR ARM

screen-shot-2016-10-14-at-2-37-48-pm “I…submit to Your unfathomable judgments, Lord;

You alone are truly great.

Immeasurable greatness!

Uncrossable sea” Thomas a ‘Kempis (ref#147, p149)!

Powerful is Your arm! Strong is Your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength (Ps 89:13).

Not only is Your arm and hand mighty and strong to save Your people, but also to destroy Your enemies. None can resist the force of Your mighty hand. Not one of Your enemies shall flee away. Even if they climb up to heaven You will bring them down (Amos 9:2). Your lifted right hand is a signal of Your power. Your right hand does valiantly (Ps 118:15).

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants (Ps 89:14). Righteousness and judgment inhabit Your throne. Your rules of equity and wisdom never vary. Mercy and truth go before You. These are all Yours in perfection (ref#18, [Ps 89:14]).

Powerful is Your arm to save. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me” (Ps 138:7 ESV).  I will meditate on Your strength.

SUPPLICATION

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CHRISTIAN

[Because we are Christians and live in the world we will always need prayer for our walk and for witnessing to others about CHRIST. Here’s an opportunity to pray for others or even ourselves. Fill their name or your name in the blanks.]

THE RADICAL GOSPEL

screen-shot-2016-10-14-at-1-25-25-pm…FATHER, guide ____ to always make You the hero of anything (he/she) says. The accomplishments and goals of life do not come from human efforts as non-Christians think. Christians have a radical view of life and care nothing about earthly success.

“This view of life is that we are a people chosen by a sovereign, loving, God who, in Christ, has forgiven us and adopted us into his family. He is at work in each situation to conform us to the image of his Son, supplying all that we need to do what he has called us to do….we are weak vessels of clay that have been filled with the all-surpassing power of God’s presence” Paul David Tripp (ref#5, p297).

“The saint who is intimate with Jesus will never leave impressions of himself, but only the impression that Jesus is having unhindered way…” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, Jan 7th).