Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Who else protects the poor and needy
from those who want to rob them?
Psalm 35:10 NLT

As for me, I am poor and needy, but
the Lord is thinking of me right now.
Psalm 40:17 NLT

He will rescue the poor when they
cry to him; he will help the oppressed,
who have no one to defend them.
Psalm 72:12 NLT

Reflection:

"I'll just have to go blind"

A man was having a lot of trouble
with his eyes. His doctor examined
him and recommended the name of
another doctor he should visit, saying,
"I would advise you to go at once and
take plenty of money with you, for it's
going to cost a lot."

The man had eighty dollars in the bank,
so he got his money and went to see
the other doctor. After examining him,
the doctor said, "I never accept less than
five hundred dollars for this particular operation."

"Well, then," said the man, "I guess I'll
just have to go blind, because I have only
eighty dollars."

But the good doctor said, "There is one
other way to solve our trouble. You don't
have enough to pay the bill, and I can't
charge you as little as eighty dollars,
but there is another way open to us—
I will do the operation for nothing."
And that is just what he did.

adapted from a story by Kenneth N. Taylor,
quoted in 1001 Great Stories and Quotes by
R. Kent Hughes (Tyndale House) p 180

Prayer:

Father, in your wisdom you have made
us dependent on one another, and so
we pray for the starving millions in our
world. Give us true repentance for our
greed and selfishness. Empower us to
make amends as best we can. Help us
to find the ways to share so that no one
hungers at the table of life. We ask this
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.
As you make your requests, plead for God's
mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this
way for kings and all others who are in authority,
so that we can live in peace and quietness, in
godliness and dignity.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT

Reflection:

Paul urges Timothy to lift up requests, prayers,
intercession, and thanksgiving.
When we pray effectively, we do more than
communicate with God—we commune with him.
We become one in mind and spirit and purpose.
Today, let the focus of your prayer time be to
connect with God in a very real and personal way,
not as a slave would petition his master, but as a
son would enjoy the company of a loving and
gracious father.

Prayer:

(COMMUNE WITH GOD)

Scripture:

Then Saul said, "Let's chase the Philistines
all night and destroy every last one of them
" His men replied, "We'll do whatever you
think is best." But the priest said,
"Let's ask God first."
1 Samuel 14:36 NLT

The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close
to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on
him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those
who fear him; he hears their cries for help
and rescues them.
Psalm 145:17-19 NLT

Reflection: 

I love this verse!  What a reminder,
"Let's ask God first"'  Why is it that
so many of us try everything before
we even think about asking God.  I
have discovered that when I go to the
Lord first, I save myself an awful lot
of aggravation and sometimes pain.
And please, please, remember this:
Our God is a righteous God, He is
filled with kindness, love, and compassion.
Our God is close to all those who sincerely
call upon Him.  He hears our cries for
help, He hears our requests.  God is there
for us, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ASK!

Reminder:

Prayer appears nearly on every page of
the Bible as the very essence of a faith
relationship with the living God.


Prayer:

(ASK GOD NOW)

The next morning Jesus awoke long before
daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness
to pray.
Mark 1:35 NLT