Welcome To Spring
Dear Patheos Friends, Welcome to the month of March! The gateway month to spring with lots to celebrate. This is the month we lose an hour of sleep with Daylight Saving time, except for the states of Arizona and Hawaii. Here in Texas, the month of March is the anticipated spring break for many families. Then we have St. Patrick Day, Women’s History month, Feast of Purim, and the season of Lent- a special time observed by Christians worldwide. Shoutout to everyone that has a birthday during this month. It’s an exciting one!
Spiritual Growth
It brings me great joy seeing and knowing that many new believers in Christ are growing in their faith journey. In a time of great deception and misinformation about the things of God, faith and eternity, seeing new believers in Christ discovering the transforming power and authenticity of the gospel of Christ in their own lives, is great cause for jubilation! Discovering the power of God in one’s own life, is the best sustainability plan in walking with God. This is because you have encountered and experienced in a personal way for yourself, what the Bible states, teaches and explains.
Prayer Insights
We continue our discipleship series with a focus on prayer in this post. Since this is the lent season, prayer aligns perfectly with lent. In preparation for this post, I sought the insights and guidance of one of the dedicated prayer pastors I know- my beloved husband. With a front row seat to the flow of God’s power in and through him and pastoring over seven hundred intercessors, his insights on prayer are greatly appreciated.
Simplicity of Prayer
Prayer is simply having a conversation with a friend (God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit). Prayer is a powerful lifestyle for everyone with a walk with God. The Bible command Christians to pray (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Prayer is pouring one’s heart to God, as one would at a therapist office. Believers in Christ can pray at all times and pray everywhere. Our access to God in prayer is through Jesus Christ, our Savior whose sacrifice on the cross paved the way for our fellowship with God.
Types of Prayer
There are different forms of prayer that the Bible gives us. There is prayer of thanksgiving (Daniel 2: 20-23), prayer of adoration (Psalm 104: 1-4), prayer of lament (Psalm 88: 1-7), prayer of petition (Ephesians 3: 14-21), prayer of deliverance (Psalm 3), prayer of contrition (Luke 18: 9-14), and prayer of guidance (1 Kings 3:4-9).
The Model Prayer
For each of these different prayers, the Lord’s Prayer is a model that can guide our time of prayer, no matter the form of prayer you may engage in. The Lord’s Prayer- opens with adoration and worship, acknowledgment of God’s Kingdom, then petition, followed by a time of contrition, plea of deliverance and closing with declaration of God’s power.
The Lord’s Prayer – Our Model of Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
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