Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts

Monday

The 5 Best Quotes on Prayer + Free Printable - Coffee & Conversation




Here is my choice for the 
5 Best Quotes on the subject of

PRAYER









I am not a fan of QUOTES

In fact sometimes I get very annoyed at how people almost treat a quote
 as more important than the 
Word of God


I actually wrote a blog post about Do We Really Need This Quote?








However I do see that there are certain topics that there are some great quotes on from some very reliable people. This month of course we are thinking about PRAYER so let's get encouraged with some quotes around this.

There are many quotes from so many people on the subject of Prayer but I prefer to only refer to or recommend ones from people who I trust as standing firm on the Word of God.

So in the list below I will quote


Not  Lisa Bevere   but   John Bunyan

 Not  Andy Stanley   but   Andrew Murray

Not  Joyce Meyer   but   Charles Spurgeon





1.  John Bunyan

"In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart"








2.  Oswald Chambers

"Prayer does not fit us for the greater work;  Prayer is the greater work."







 


3.  Andrew Murray

"Think of what He can do and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people.  Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!"

 











Have you read the 5 Best Quotes on Prayer?









4.  C.S. Lewis

"I pray because I'm helpless.  I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping.  It doesn't change God.  It changes me."







5.  Charles Spurgeon


   "True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance.  It is far deeper than that - it is a spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth."   

 





Don't forget to download our
                      Prayer Quotes Free Printable 









Plus why not have a look at the other Free resources in our













Wednesday

10 Bible Verses of Encouragement about PRAYER - plus Free Printable



We all need encouragement and the best place to go is to the Bible.

In this blog Post I have tried to gather some Bible passages or Bible verses which will encourage us all around the topic of Prayer






I do believe that we should not just grab a verse and read it on its own but we should always lift our bibles and read a passage of scripture to make sure that we know the real meaning and context of each of the verses we are putting our trust in. 

I pray that you will do the same and only use this list to guide you as to where you may find help.



So here are 10 Bible verses or short passages for us to turn to in times when we need to be encouraged about 
PRAYER




1.   Matthew 7 v 7     

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Persevere in prayer.




 


2.   Luke 6 v 27-28


Do not simply pray for loved ones, family and friends but also pray for those whom you find hard to love.


"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you." 








3.   John 16 v 24


"Until now you have asked nothing in my name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."




We are privileged that we have the Lord to pray to for all things. 





4.   Acts 2 v 42 

"And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and prayers." 



Encouragement here for us to continue in prayer as we also continue to observe good teaching, fellowship with other Christians and partake together in the Lord's Supper just as the first believers did.







5.   Romans 12 v 12

"rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulationcontinuing steadfastly in prayer"



In every situation we must be resolute and firm in our prayer life.






6.   Psalm 34 v 17


"When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles." 




What a statement to hold on to! 

 

The Lord hears us and delivers us when we cry out to Him - this is a personal relationship

 




7.   Philippians 4 v 6-7

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."





We do not have to worry just bring it all to God in prayer. 




8.   1 Thessalonians 5 v 16-18


Be in an attitude of prayer, always ready to speak to God when we are rejoicing and when we are in need and always giving thanks. 





"Rejoice evermore,
Pray without ceasing.
 In everything give thanks:
for this is the will of God
 in Christ Jesus concerning you"






9.   1 Timothy 2 v 1







"Therefore I exhort first of all
that supplications, prayers, intercessions,
 and giving of thanks
be made for all men"


Prayer must not show partiality toward anyone because God has commanded us to portray His love











10.   Philemon 1 v 4


 Let us follow Paul's example and never forget to not only pray for the needs of others but to be thankful for the contributions others make in our lives and to thank God for them all.



 


"I thank my God
making mention of you always,
 in my prayers"





You can download this FREE copy of the Bible Verse Graphics I made for this blog post 
from my
 





You can also find all my other blog posts around Prayer at
 








Monday

Free Prayer Wordsearch Puzzle - Coffee & Conversation






Do you enjoy puzzles?

Do you like to relax and do a Wordsearch?


Well let's make Coffee & Conversation today
 into a cuppa with a 
Wordsearch!


The Theme for this Wordsearch is

PRAYER






I'm offering this Wordsearch as one of my assortment of free printables which can be found in my Resource Library



Prayer Wordsearch


It includes 15 words all connected with prayer and will help us to remember that prayer is not just asking God for something.









The Word Search is available to download in both A4 and Letter size and of course comes with an answer sheet.




Have you downloaded this Free Prayer Word Search yet?










Or pin this pic below to come back later









St. Patrick's Breastplate - Coffee & Conversation





This is mostly known in it's abbreviated form

which is really simply a small section of a hymn written from the actual piece of writing
 by Saint Patrick.



Below I will give the full hymn and abbreviated version and explain a little about it all.







A poem apparently written by St. Patrick in the 8th century was in the form of a prayer of protection.

I presume it then received the title of "Breastplate" as that would have been the main protection of the body in a suit of armour.   Then from that I would think of the Spiritual armour we are told to put on in Ephesians chapter 6 v 10-18 where the breastplate is described as the Breastplate of Righteousness and what better protection do we have than the Righteousness of our Lord Jesus.

In the 19th Century it was written as a hymn by Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander who is well-known as the writer of many many hymns of which
 "All Things Bright and Beautiful"
 "There is a Green Hill Far Away"
and
 "Once in Royal David's City"
are probably the most famous.


It was known as the very popular hymn "I bind Unto Myself Today"


I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever,
By power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan River;
His death on cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the Cherubim;
The sweet 'Well done' in judgment hour;
The service of the Seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death-wound and the burning
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander (1818 - 1895)


One section of this hymn is what we more commonly find named as St. Patrick's Breastplate today when it is cited in articles and embroidered or cross stitched as a decoration or when it is printed on cards.


Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.







A lovely prayer for any of us to make to God 

but in one way I feel that so much is lost when we use just this small section 

we are leaving out 
all those other great attributes and actions of Jesus


His

Birth
Baptism
Death
Resurrection
Ascension
Second coming


and that's just the first verse






You may also enjoy 


You can download a free pdf copy of the full prayer
ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE: PRAYER FOR PROTECTION
at the following website



Sunday

Sunday Scripture - John 16 v 24


Sunday Scripture is just simply a thought or two on a Bible verse that may have struck me afresh or maybe for the first time or has always been special to me.


Today I am looking at John 16 v 24





Obviously this verse is about praying and receiving and Jesus had just previously been specifically talking to His disciples about a time when they would be sorrowful and He would not be with them.

I love that Jesus was saying something very personal between them but this should also be personal to us.

Up until then the disciples could ask Jesus any questiions they had but there was going to be a time when they would have to pray to God about everything. 

Jesus has power to answer all our prayers & grant us the desires of our hearts but He was not strutting His own importance here; instead He was showing how it is about us because He wants good for us.




So is our Joy Full?


Not - are you joyful?       But - IS YOUR JOY FULL?

He is talking about joy that only He can give us and that no-one else can take away from us v. 22



19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’?20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you;27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 




Do we hold back and not confide all to God? 

I don't think He wants us to have to stay in any sorrow because He has a great Joy for us.




Do you really have joy?


We really do need to approach the Father as Jesus has instructed and receive what He is longing for us to have.







PRAYER
Dear Father, help us to come to you about everything, knowing that your will for us is to give us the best we can each possibly have because you know what we require to have full, overflowing, real joy that will touch the hearts of others as well.
In Jesus name, 
Amen.