PeoplePray.com Blog

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

During this year’s National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, we honor the thousands of victims who died in the brutal and ruthless attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Our Nation remembers with gratitude the firefighters, police officers, first responders, and ordinary citizens who acted with courage and compassion to save the lives of others, and we pray for the families whose loved ones were taken from them.

Never forgetting that terrible day, we remain determined to bring our enemies to justice, defy the terrorists’ ideology of hate, and work to make our world safer. We honor the members of our Armed Forces who died while taking the fight to our adversaries, and we are grateful for those who continue to protect our Nation and our way of life. Their courage, sacrifice, and dedication help preserve our freedom. We pray for their safety, for all those who love them, and for the peace we all seek.

We remain a hopeful America, inspired by the kindness and compassion of our citizens and our commitment to freedom and opportunity. During these days of prayer and remembrance, we reflect on all we have lost and take comfort in each other and in the grace and mercy of our Creator. May God guide us, give us strength and wisdom, and may He continue to bless our great country.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Friday, September 7, through Sunday, September 9, 2007, as National Days of Prayer and Remembrance. I ask that the people of the United States and their places of worship mark these National Days of Prayer and Remembrance with memorial services, the ringing of bells, and evening candlelight remembrance vigils. I also invite the people of the world to share in these Days of Prayer and Remembrance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Let’s face it, we are all different, and we do things differently. And being different is okay, even in how we pray.

There are some who are really good about praying with a list. They are gifted with an organized and ordered personality and as a result are able to be faithful and diligent in their praying. This is great and many intercessors are tremendous in their regularity and discipline in their prayer lives. If you are not like this, don’t worry. Appreciate their strengths, and learn what you can from them.

Others do better when praying for an event, or during a crisis. These are the people who can wake up in the middle of the night and pray for someone across the world. They are the ones who will pray almost continually when a person is sick and in the hospital or has some kind of personal crisis, or is in need of salvation. They are the ones who bathe a special event in prayer as it is in the planning stage. These folks may not as regular or consistent on a daily basis as those in the first group (above), but they play a vital part in God’s kingdom. These people have a dogged determination and will not let go of a burden until they pray it through.

There are also others who pray based on relationships, as we shared on a previous note. They are the ones that will pray for their Pastor or other leaders, and carry them in their hearts. These are the types of intercessors who are extremely loyal and grow close to those they pray for. At times these people are trusted with confidential matters because of their close relationship, fidelity, and loyalty.

In addition to these three types of praying there are many other kinds. Whether it is praying the prayers of the Bible, or it is praying short prayers all through the day, or it is experiencing personal intimacy with the Lord, or it is laying hands on the sick and praying for healing, or it is praying with people to become saved – all of these types of prayers are okay.

Most of us are not in any one group, and find there can be a lot of variety in our prayer lives. The exciting thing is that all of this is a part of the big picture, it all pleases God, and it all works.

I hope this has been an encouragement to you. God bless you as you grow in your prayer life, and in your relationship with Jesus.

Jay Becker
Making a Difference with Prayer
PeoplePray.com

Happy Mother’s Day!

Amazed.
I have never been a Mother, and never will be, because I am a Dad. What I am though, is amazed at what my wife, who is a Mother of 3 (ages 8,6,4), does on a daily basis. Spending 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with our kids and nurturing them the entire time, is truly deserving of my praise. I am so thankful for her God given gift.

Funny.
It’s actually pretty funny, whenever I take a day or two off of work, and my wife gets away, I am reminded that what she does is not so easy, a fact that many of us men forget. In fact, I usually get a chuckle, or downright belly laugh, from my wife and her friends when I start to complain about how my feet and back hurt, or how the kids are just about to drive me crazy after just 12 hours on duty. They ask me questions like “I thought my job was easy?” or “Don’t tell me your tired already?” just to give me a hard time.

I am sure you Dads have also taken heat, like me, for talking to your buddies and saying something like “No, I can’t, my wife is going out and I have to babysit.” That’s when my wife, and her friends AND any other woman (not just mothers) in the near vicinity, points out that it’s not babysitting, it’s parenting. Oh yah, that’s right, sorry.

Here are a few incredible things about Mother’s that amaze me.

God.
Devotion to God is a way my wife shows incredible motherly love. She prays with our kids consistently. She takes time to attend Bible studies giving the message that taking time to study God’s word is just what we do, it’s “a given” in this life. Sure it may be a sacrifice to give up her time to teach our kids what it looks like to be a Godly woman, a sacrifice to haul the kids around in the minivan(or just driving a minivan period), a sacrifice not getting to spend her days with adults, but a Godly mother realizes that her purpose is higher than herself. Her purpose is not just to live her life, but rather to raise kids that will make a positive Christ-like impact on our dying world. God will reward your sacrifice Mom. Your reward in this life and in heaven will be great.

Husband.
Biblical love shown to the husband (the children’s father) is another thing I see in both my mother and my wife. My mother stood by my Dad for more years than she probably should have in his life of alcoholism. Sadly he eventually left her. But her example of devotion to him was an everlasting example of God’s love to me. It spoke volumes to me on how to love others despite their sin.

My wife’s love towards me is amazing. She always supports me in front of the kids, even when I probably shouldn’t be supported (shhh…). She truly strives to make time for just me, which shows our kids the importance of the Husband and Wife relationship and how if it’s not right then the kids will suffer. She helps the kids buy me gifts on Father’s Day (VERY important) and always supports me doing date night with the kids, individually. I so appreciate that. If she didn’t remind me to do date night, I probably wouldn’t do them very often. My wife’s love to me is exactly what our kids need.

Home.
Mom’s seem to take a special interest in making the house a home. It’s often said that the home is the woman’s domain. I believe this is especially true. My wife goes to great lengths to make sure our kids have bedrooms that are fun, warm and loving. Our home feels like an inviting place that is safe, is secure, and most of all filled with acceptance. It’s a place that our kids want to be.

There is a reason why most women want to be the “interior designers” of the home. They create a warm environment that screams “we are family and this is where we should be.” If I was to fill our home with furniture I would probably fill it with black leather chairs and couches, tons of electronics, stainless steel accessories, and cool pictures of wildlife (maybe even “real” stuffed animals, sorry animal lovers, I mean no offense). Of course I have been well trained by my wife after 12 years but I could easily fall back into that manly model home if her love and nurturing weren’t there.

Mom’s are so special. A true gift from God. They have a presence that Dad’s could never emmulate. For that I am personally thankful.

Obviously this is written from the perspective of a man and my experience with my Mom and wife. What is your experience? Tell us how you have been blessed by your mom. Tell us how you are a blessed Mom. Tell us how tough it is being a Mom and how that experience has been for you.

Thank you Jesus for this special day to celebrate the mother. Every day should be mother’s day as we should be continually recognizing their special gift and impact on our families. I especially pray for the single mothers out there who struggle to make ends meet and who need so much love and encouragement. Give all mothers peace to know that your hand is upon them and their work will not go fruitless. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

God bless you all, especially the Mother’s,

Jason Nuss, President
PeoplePray.com
It’s simple, pray.

PS. Don’t forget to get the Mom’s in your life a card. If you are out of time, and your Mom does the email thing, send your Mom and e-card. Just click here.

With the warmer weather, earlier sun rises and later sun sets (at least for those of us in the northern hemisphere) there are more opportunities to take our praying to different places. This also gets us out of our routines and into something new.

Prayer walking is intercession and ‘others’ focused. As you are out walking in your neighborhood, or other places around your community, you look to the Lord for what to pray. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide as you quietly intercede for your neighbors, for the local businesses, for the local government and services, for those around the parks, and other places around your area.

Your prayers can help in so many ways, most of which you will never know about. You may pray blessings for your neighbors, or success for some local business. You may find yourself praying for peoples’ salvation, or you may be moved upon to pray for healing from sickness or injury. Many find that this type of praying helps them grow in how they pray. There are times that you may be general in your praying, and other times find a very specific item that you have an urgency to cover in prayer. It is not uncommon to get burdens for people and things as you go prayer walking. You may feel that this is crazy, but give it a chance and be open to what the Lord will lead you into. This can be like going on a short-term missions trip in your local area.

Prayer walking is great, it is refreshing, and it can be very powerful in touching lives. Why not give it a try this weekend?

God bless you all.

Jay Becker
Making a Difference with Prayer
PeoplePray.com

If you have ever thought, “I wish there was an easy formula for praying because I just don’t know where to start,” well, there is a fairly well known guide for the basics in a prayer life.  Using the acrostic, A.C.T.S, we get a simple picture of a well rounded prayer life.  Let’s take a look at it.

Adoration. 

The “A” stands for adoration.  This means that we can start our prayers by praising God for who He is.  Another way to think of this is beginning our prayers by expressing our love for and to God.  Psalm 36:5 describes God’s love and faithfulness.  “Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.”  Psalm 89:1 describes God’s mercy.  “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever;  With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.”  This whole idea of adoration can flow out of your ongoing relationship with God.  Begin your prayer by saying, “God You are the only loving and merciful God.”  Sometimes read the Psalms back to God as a prayer.  People have prayed the Psalms to God for ages, and this is a great way to pray adoration to God.

Confession.

The “C” stands for confession.  This means that we admit our sins to God.  Confession is not just saying, “Lord, please forgive me of all my sins.”  It is specifically recognizing our individual sins, and seeing them the way God sees them.  1 John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”  So, we pray, God please forgive me for ________ (you fill in the blank.)  Confession is an ongoing part of our relationship with Christ.  When we sin our fellowship and communion with God is hindered.  Romans 6:1-2 says, “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?  Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?”  God’s grace and our death to sin are an everlasting and eternal picture of our salvation.  This is our position in Christ.  Our “continuing to live” is a picture of our day to day condition in a dynamic relationship with God through Christ.  Regular confession keeps that relationship uncluttered and open.  This reminds us that prayer is not an end in itself, but is a gracious gift by which we may have an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Thanksgiving.

The “T” stands for thanksgiving.  This of course means to thank God for the many blessings that He has brought to your life.  Maybe things have not been going so well for you.  Many times our lives do not turn out the way we had planned, or the way we had hoped they would.  Maybe that’s why you are reading this article and are coming to God in prayer, because it just seems that things are so messed up and are hopeless.  Please know that your Heavenly Father loves you with a deep and everlasting love.  He has not given up hope for you.  Jeremiah 31:3 says, “The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying:   Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;  Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”  

God can take the toughest situations in our lives and bring something wonderful out of them.  Romans 8:31-32 says, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?  Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”  Isn’t that an awesome promise?  A few verse before that in verse 28 the Bible says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”  This verse of Scripture has been so misused.  Please notice that God is working all things to work together for good for His purposes, and not our own.  Rest in God and trust in Him that He knows what is best for your life.  Thank Him that you can come to Him prayer, even in the darkest moments of life.  Keep a list of God’s blessings and the ways that He is answering your prayers.  Thank Him for His love to you, for His faithfulness, even though things might not be going so well.  Trust Him by faith and give Him thanks for the eventual outcome of tough situations.

Supplication.

Finally, the S stands for supplication.  This means to offer up our requests to God.  1 Timothy 2:1 says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,” Remember the Bible says that we can bring all of our needs and requests to God in prayer.  There is no matter that is too big or too small for us to bring to God in prayer.  This is where keeping a prayer list is a good idea.  One way that you might do this is offer different requests on different days of the week.  So, say on Monday pray for your family.  On Tuesday pray for your friends.  And so forth…  As you see God answer prayer, record the answers in your PeoplePray journal, or mark your prayers on your “my prayer” list to “answered” in your PeoplePray.com account.  This will give you a record of what God has done for you and give you history of things to give Thanksgiving for.

We hope you find these ACTS a simple, yet effective, way to kickstart your prayer life. 

God Bless,

PeoplePray Team
PeoplePray.com