Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.
UNDERSTANDING PRAYER & DAILY DEVOTIONS
With exerts from “Pathway to the Heart of God” by Terry W. Glaspey
THE FOUNDATION OF PRAYER
What Is Prayer?
“Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ in the strength and assistance of the spirit, for such things as God has promised.”
-John Bunyan
“Prayer is conversation with God.” -Clement of Alexandria
“The ancients ably defined prayer Ascensus mentis ad Deum, a climbing up of the heart unto God” -Martin Luther
Why is Prayer necessary?
“It is necessary to our spiritual health as exercise is to our bodily health.” -Terry W. Glaspey
“I have come to the conclusion that a vast majority of Christians do not pray at all.” -J.C. Ryle
“The whole reason why we pray is to be united into the vision and contemplation of him to whom we pray.” -Julian of Norwich
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The Power of Prayer
Heavenly Father
We so often fail to recognize the power
You have entrusted to us,
The privilege we so little deserve.
Give us, Father, the courage and wisdom to use this gift
To bring healing and comfort to the lives of others,
To bring strength to our own lives,
And to bring us ever closer to You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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Being Persistent in Prayer
Luke 18:1-8 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge
18 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ 4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
"The point of Jesus' parable in Luke 18:1-8 is to emphasize the importance of being persistent in prayer" J.R. Humbert, ODB
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Please join us to pray at St Olaf in person or by your own for family & friends, community, country, and the world.
Weekly Prayer Group meets Tuesdays at 3PM
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If you have a “prayer request”, you can submit it here.
For “God Pause Daily Devotions” click here (To view the God Pause website Daily Devotions)
2024 Congregational Lenten Devotional - click here