Prayer Guide

Prayer Series

Prayer, in its simplest definition, is talking with God. And whether our prayers are happy, sad, angry, or loving, whether they're done while kneeling, standing or sitting, God is always listening, wanting to answer our requests in His perfect time.

During the time of this study you'll find a Prayer Guide---encouragement and inspiration for you own prayer life. First we will start with a 30 day Prayer Guide, where you will learn to "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17), what to pray for, and how to pray for it. Then we will go into some topics with a collection of prayers. These prayers will help you begin a vital prayer life of your own.

This study with the deeper and more meaningful prayers will lead you to a closer relationship with God and His Son Jesus Christ. So apply them to your life and have fun talking to God through prayer.
_________________________________________________________________

~Pray without ceasing!~

Pray without ceasing. Who can do this? How can one do it who is surrounded by the cares of daily life? How can a mother love her child without ceasing? How can the eyelid withour ceasing hold itself ready to protect the eye? How can I breathe and feel and hear without ceasing? Because all of those functions of a healthy, natural life. And so if the spiritual life be healthy, under the full power of the Holy Spirit, praying without ceasing will be natural.

Pray without ceasing. Does it refer to countinual acts of prayer, in which we are to persevere till we obtain, or to the spirit of prayerfulness that should animate us all day? It includes both. The example of our Lord Jesus shows us this. We have to enter our closet for special seasons of prayer; we are at times to persevere there in importunate prayer. We are also all the day to walk in God's presence, with the whole heart set upon heavenly things. Without set times of prayer, the spirit of prayer will be dull and feeble. Without the continual prayerfulness, the set times will not avail.

Pray without ceasing. Does that refer to prayer for ourselves or others? To both. It is because many confine it to themselves that they fail so in practicing it. It is only when the branch gives itself to bear fruit, more fruit, much fruit, that it can live a healthy life and expect a rich inflow of sap. The death of Christ brought Him to the place of everlasting intercession. Your death with Him to sin and self sets you free from the care of self and elevates you to the dignity of intercessor--one who can get life and blessing from God for others. Know your calling; begin this your work. Give yourself wholly to it, and ere you know, you will be finding something of this "Praying always" within you.

Pray without ceasing. How can I learn it? The best way of learning to do a thing--in fact the only way--is to do it. Begin by setting apart some time every day, say ten or fifteen minutes, in which you say to God and to yourself, that you come to Him now as intercessor for others. Let it be after your morning or evening prayer, or any other time. If you cannot secure the same time every day, be not troubled only see that you do your work. Christ chose you and appointed you to pray for others.

If at first you do not feel any special urgency or faith or power in your prayers, let not that hinder you. Quietly tell your Lord Jesus of your feebleness; believe that the Holy Spirit is in you to teach you to pray, and be assured that if you begin, God will help you. God cannot help you unless you begin and keep on.

Pray without ceasing. How do I know what to pray for? If once you begin and think of all the needs around. you will soon find enough. But to help you this little tract is issued, with subjects and hints for prayer for a month, It is meant that we should use it month by month, until we know more fully to follow the Spirit's leading, and have learned, if need be, to make our own list of subjects, and can dispense with it. In regard to the use of these helps, a few words may be needed.