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This page shows how people prayed with definate and direct results. You may be surprised at the transformation of each of person's life as he or she lived for God's Will, purpose and glory. May you be blessed upon reading these studies!! Hannah Mary, the mother of Jesus Walking with Jesus We will look at three people who prayed. Each of their circumstances and needs were very different. And each of them prayed with utter dependence on God for everything and every detail, knowing that God alone could change their circumstance. The first is Hannah. Hannah was a woman who could not conceive a child. Some might say, well, that's not a need! So what? But it was very important to Hannah, so it was important to God. Watch carefully that: Hannah poured out her heart to God, just as she felt it. Vs.9,10 She was rational in her mind, was specific in her request, and gave everything to God in her situation, namely her unborn son. Vs.10,11 She did not care what other people thought of her as she spoke with God, even Eli, the priest. Vs. 9,12-14 She held her ground when falsely accused, knowing that what she was doing was right. She knew she was having a real conversation with the True God, and did not hide that fact. Vs. 15-16 (Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1Tim 4:12) Consequences - If Hannah had not told the truth to Eli, God would not have honored her prayer and blessed her and used Eli. (Jesus said, "Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Matt 10:32) She trusted God's Word for her situation, note Eli's words to her and her word in reply. Hannah's face was no longer downcast because she trusted God to take care of the problem she gave to Him. Vs. 17-18 She followed through with her vow to God completely and joyfully. Vs.19-28 Hannah's life was never the same. We read in 1Sam 1 - 1 There was a certain man whose name was Elkanah … He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. .. for the LORD had closed her womb. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD , her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple. 10 In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD .11 And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."12 As she kept on praying to the LORD , Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."15 "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD . 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."17 Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him." 18 She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."21 When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD , and he will live there always."24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. 25 When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD . 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the LORD . For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD ." And he worshiped the LORD there.You can apply these steps to your prayer as well.
Tips - Obey God's Word. Allow God to change your understanding by His Wisdom, your behavior by His Spirit, and your heart by His everlasting Love. In this way, He will enable you to obey His Word and Holy Will. Encourage everyone in your household in knowing the True God. Ask God to give you eyes to see them as He does, with compassion and discernment. Ask God to give you a heart for Him in Spirit and in Truth. Ask God for courage, joy, and hope to praise God for Who He is and watch for His effect in your world. Praise God for what He has done and will do, for His Glory alone. The second example is Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary did not seem to have any troubles or needs, but she was approached by God for a particular task. It was important to God, so it was important to Mary. Luke 1:26-55 Watch carefully that: Mary seemed to have no concerns personally. Vs. 26-28 God sent His messenger Gabriel to deliver His Word to Mary. Vs.26-28 Mary listened to God's Word thoughtfully and intently. Vs. 28-29 Mary was startled, so God had compassion and comforted Mary with His Word. Vs. 30-33 Mary was calmed by God's Word and asked a specific question to God. Vs.34 God gave Mary a detailed answer. Vs. 35 God encouraged Mary with news of her cousin, and confirmed His Name, or character, by affirming that nothing is impossible with God. Vs. 36,37 Mary reacts with acceptance of God's Word and agreement of her part in His Work. Mary believed and trusted God's Word for her, intimately and personally. She took God's Word to heart for the purpose of changing her life for God's purpose. Vs. 38, 45 Consequences - Mary's acceptance and agreement with God's Word was God's goal in coming to her. God did not force her, but Mary chose freely to follow His Word. Had she not done this, she would have missed being blessed by God in such a special way. Mary praises God and rejoices in telling that God is her Savior, that God has done great things for her, and that He is Holy. She encourages others by saying "His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He lifts up the humble, and is merciful." Vs. 46-55 We read in Luke 1:26-55 - In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God." 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" 46And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. 50His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."You can apply these steps to your prayer life as well.
A brief study of Walking with Jesus - Matthew 14:22-36 - 22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29"Come," he said.
30Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. "
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
Another example is King David. God describes David as being a man after His own heart. (1Sam 13:14;16:7) Despite this, David did sin, and David's need is forgiveness from God. here we read David's prayer for forgiveness. David shows that this need for forgiveness is for his deeper need to be in a close relationship with the living God. David needs forgiveness in his innermost parts so he can be close to God. God, Who wants a deep and close relationship with David, grants his need. Sin separates us from God. God is always eager to forgive those who seek His forgiveness. Watch carefully that: The first thing that David asks of God is for mercy to have his transgressions blotted out. Mercy means undeserved forgiveness. "Transgression" means a crime or a breach from doing what is right. Vs. 1 David uses God's own Character and Promises as his leverage for God being merciful to him. VS. 1 David is honest with God and confesses that he has iniquity and sin in him. Vs 2 He asks God to clean him. Vs. 2 David knows and sees his sin always before him. David acknowledges that only against the Lord God Almighty has he sinned. David knows that God has seen his sin and is right when He speaks and judges David. David confesses to God that he was sinful at birth, and that God desires truth in the inner parts (deep within our heart and minds) ; you desire for me and teach me wisdom in the inmost place. David acknowledges aloud before God that he is sinful, and that only against God has he sinned. He asks God to create in him a clean heart. The word "create" means to make out of nothing". It is the same word that was used in Genesis when God created the world. Only God can give us a pure and clean heart. We cannot manufacture it ourselves, but can only submit our sinfulness to God for Jesus Christ to purify us. We Read Psalm 51 - 1 Have mercy on me, O God,according to your unfailing love;according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. 14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar. Bring me to Create in Me a pure heart or Broken Hearted. Bring me to the Bible study for Mormons. |
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