April 2006

Hello and welcome to the April Issue. He is Risen Indeed! Let us all rejoice in the Resurrected Lord Jesus who is our peace and hope! Also, be encouraged to keep up the pace in reading from God’s word everyday this month as well. This month’s issue is about prayer. I will be sharing my notes and thoughts with you from a sermon given by Pastor Ron Hindt of Calvary Chapel Houston on 12/4/05.

15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5)

· Prayer should be our first, not our last resort.

· God wants us to pray without ceasing.

· God wants us to be persistent in our prayers.

· Satan doesn’t want us to pray and he’ll do anything to stop us.

Have you noticed that sometimes your head is filled with all kinds of things when you start to pray? Like grocery lists, to do lists, etc. If this happens to you like it often does to me, perhaps some advice from Esther Sprinkle and Pastor Ron Hindt will help. Keep a notebook with you and as your lists fill your head, etc. you can jot it all down in your notebook. Then your mind can be free to pray.

· God wants us to pray according to His will.

o Line yourself up with God’s word – that’s His will!

· Praying is more than personal petitioning.

o Adoration – worship & praise him.

o Thanksgiving – thanking him for all you’ve received/been given.

o Confession – specifically confess your sins & receive forgiveness.

o Intercession – lift up the needs of others.

o Personal Petitions – lift up your own needs.

· There are hindrances to prayer.

o Our own unbelief that God can do what his words says.

o Our own sin in our lives.

· Prayer is hard work.

o Keep connected to God, we cannot rely on ourselves.

In Christ,

Elizabeth