iPray Fridays: Because you prayed

Because you prayed

God touched our weary bodies with His power

And gave us strength for many a trying hour

In which we might have faltered, had not you, 

our intercessors faithful been, and true

Charles B. Bowser

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

Amazing things can happen in the lives because we prayed. Today's iPray is about praying for the needs of others. For standing in the gap and asking God to intervene in someone else's life. Pray for your family members, pray for your church, pray for your nation. Pray for Australia, pray for Egypt.

But I don't know how to pray for someone else? They don't look like they need prayer? Its funny that those who seemingly have everything going on ok are usually the ones who need prayer most. If you don't know what to say, ask God to meet them at their point of need. To remind them of His nearness. To open doors for them and ask the abundant favour of His life upon them. If they are married, pray over their marriages.

Job prayed for his friends and his circumstances turned around. Answers to our own prayers may be linked to us taking the time to commit someone else into the hands of their Heavenly Father. You can always pray for me that God gives me the strength to keep going : ).

Let's pray together. Click Comments!

iPray Fridays: I never expected

"I never expected to see your face and God has allowed me to see your children"

Genesis 48:11

'For surely there is an end, and thine expectation shall not be cut off' 

Proverbs 23:18

/ek-spek-tey-shuhn/ : a thing looked forward to, a prospect of future good or profit


Jacob was shown his son's robe with blood on it. He was told his son must be dead. It was true that it was his son's robe, the blood on it was as real as blood goes. No CSI in those days to test if the blood was human or not...but yet despite his 'good' evidence, his son was not dead. He never expected to see his son's face again...and yet God allowed him not only to see his son but his son's sons. 


Surely, there is an end and our expectation shall not be cut off in Jesus name. We all have expectations. We expect a salary from the boss at the end of the month, we expect service from the utility company when our bills are paid, most single people expect to get married, couples trying for a baby expect to get pregnant, pregnant couples expect to have a baby within a period of time. Its something that hasn't happened yet but we look forward to it happening. 


Jacob expected to see Joseph grow from a boy to a man and yet all he got was a blood stained robe, evidence to him that his expectation had been cut off and short. What is the evidence that you have before you today? The evidence that tells you that your expectation will be or has been cut short? Bring it before the altar in prayer today. Let those dreams live again, God always has a purpose and a plan. Joseph may be 'lost' in a strange man's land for 13 long years but your expectation shall not be cut short in Jesus name. Don't give up, stay praying! This just encouraged me.


Let's pray together! Click Comments!


ZoeB

iPray Fridays: 'Ephraim'

The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Genesis 41:52

Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.....Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.

Selected verses from Genesis 26

Fruitfulness- the ability to bear fruit. A picture that comes to mind is a primary school science project where we are given some butter bean seeds and a pot with some good loamy soil in it. Seeds in soil, water it, place it by the sunlight are the instructions given. These are the instructions given so that the seed may germinate and produce even more seed.

This is the way of nature, to produce fruit when the conditions are conducive. I'm beginning to learn the difference between the 'bios' (life) and the 'Zoe' (life in high definition/ 3D!...lol!). We can be fruitful even when all external factors say No. When the 'soil' are hard rocks, when there is no water, when there is no sunshine. When the hand of God is upon you, He will make us successful wherever we go.

This morning I wrote in my journal;

'No more excuses for a lack of achievement. Joseph was a slave and prisoner in a strange land and yet he was fruitful in the place of his affliction. The Lord's hand was upon him to make him successful and he went about his duties with an excellent spirit. This led to his promotion. Its time to wake up!!!! and do the same!'

Be encouraged brothers and sisters if at this moment it seems like you are between a rock and a hard place. Where it seems as if there is no help, no connection. Isaac went where God directed him and God made him fruitful despite a famine. The news all over the world is bleak but yet I will be fruitful. Today's iPray Friday is talking to God about those areas of our lives where we want to bear fruit. Where we want Him to show Himself strong and mighty on our behalf. For strength to keep doing our part, putting the work in, serving others, being relevant. Its time to live life in high definition!

Let's pray together. Click comments!

iPray Fridays: Lord teach us to pray

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Luke 11:1-2

'Lord, teach us to pray' the disciples made this request of Jesus after he had finished praying. Why did they ask Him this? Why not just ask for the ability to do miracles, to heal the sick and raise the dead. I guess they keyed in to the rev that praying in private was responsible for power in public. (Now that's deep, thank you Holy Spirit). Well, its not only about having power, its about deepening our relationship with God. 


We are always told that the foundation of all good relationships is communication. Prayer is simply that and yet sometimes I don't know what to do or what to say. I am overwhelmed and sometimes I don't even have a desire to pray. So today I'm praying for Jesus to teach me to pray. This post was inspired by a few lines I read in Andrew Murray's 'With Christ in the school of prayer'. Dear Lord, please teach me how to pray and how to pray effectively.


I was just thinking....the saints of old they didn't have personal Bibles or prayer manuals and yet they prayed some 'mean' prayers! Not saying these are not important because they are but I think our prayers should be more powerful and effective in this season. Teach us to pray O lord.


So today's iPray is asking Jesus to teach us to pray, taking time to reflect and meditate on His teaching about prayer in the word and actually praying. Prayer is like running, it doesn't matter how much you know about it if you're not doing it!


Let's pray together....click comments!


N.B Feel free to pray about anything you like. I love reading your prayers, pray some of them too!

iPray Fridays: Endurance, Strength to finish the race..

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7

...........Jesus said 'It is finished'........................

John 19:30

endurance: en-door-uhns (noun) the ability or strength to continue or last, esp. despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina

One of my favourite similes about life is that 'life is like a race, it is a marathon and not a sprint'. You don't need to be an experienced runner to know that there is a difference between a marathon and a sprint, both types of races require different ingredients to achieve success because where a sprint calls for speed...a marathon calls for endurance. A marathon demands that you 'don't give up' in other words 'endure till the end'. I'm not a runner but when I see the look of satisfaction and achievement in the eyes of those who have completed a marathon it makes me want to don my running shoes and get some of that feeling myself.

According to the dictionary, endurance is the strength to continue...the key words being 'in spite of'. I'm learning that the storms of life are inevitable. I say it all the time but when the storm comes I act surprised..lol! As we run this marathon, there will be obstacles in our path, we will get tired, we will want to give up. I am currently writing my dissertation and honestly there was a time I gave up on it and on myself. It was just difficult, I couldn't make sense of anything anymore and it was like the Lord used that to show up an attitude where I am good at starting things but not enduring to the end to finish. Hmm! He said 'The winner of a marathon is not the one who finished first but the one who finished, endure till the end. The Lord is your strength.' Selah. 

So what do you want to give up on today? Not because it's the wrong thing but because you're tired and frustrated, nothing seems to give, others seem to be hitting that finish line and you're wondering what's wrong with you. Let's pray for endurance. In an earlier chapter in 2 Timothy, Paul told Timothy to 'endure hardness like a soldier'...the soldier comes home when the war is over. He endures till the end. The farmer endures till harvest time. Lord, you are our strength and our salvation. Give us the grace to endure till the end. Our Father is the Author, He is also the Finisher we have no choice but to do the same.

Let's pray together, click comments!

Remain blessed and highly favoured.

iPray Fridays: That your faith may not fail

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 22: 31 -32

The beautiful thing about God's word is the way a verse or passage you have read so many times can literally just jump off the page at you as if seeing it for the very first time. I had that experience this morning with the Scripture above. Later on in this same chapter, Peter is tested and he does fail...yet Jesus said he would pray for him that his faith may not fail. This means there is a difference between making a mistake (failing) and your faith failing. 


I don't know how it is that we become conditioned to believe that hard times and the challenges of life have to do with God punishing us. I must admit that in recent times I have been pondering on my understanding of who God is and how He relates with His children. Sometimes the God I see in the Bible is different from the God I have been taught about. Satan is the enemy, he wants to sift us as wheat..I just realised something as I write...wheat must be sifted to separate the chaff from the grain...it is uncomfortable but then how do we know that we know what we think we know if we aren't tested (I hope that makes sense)? 


Sometimes we find the sifting process too hard or too difficult or too long and somewhere our faith fails...we don't believe what we used to believe, we don't trust who we used to trust. However today like Jesus I pray that our faith does not fail, that we hold on through the sifting process. That even though like Peter we fail...the seed of faith on the inside of us remains viable and like a mustard seed no matter how tiny it is under the right conditions it will germinate and become a mighty tree. Most importantly, when we turn back to the right path we must share our story and encourage our brethren back to the Ancient paths.


Selah.


Let's pray together. Click comments.

iPray Fridays: Works of my hands

May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us yes, establish the work of our hands.

 Psalm 90:17

I'm so excited about an iPray Friday today...it feels like its been a very, very long time. I was going to pray about jobs because this is an area where I and a few friends need a testimony but I decided to look at it in a different way...looking at the bigger picture. The works of my hands. There aren't specific prayer points about jobs in the Bible but we know that God delights in us making profit. I still believe that children of God were created for more than just a job. We must all work and we all have been blessed by God with unique talents, skills and abilities that we may make profit from and use to the glory of God. I just don't want any job to keep body and soul together..I want to be a blessing in any organisation I find myself in and also be blessed by them. In this season I'm also praying for God to open my eyes to those abilities that I possess that I can use for His glory and that I can also turn into cash.


We take too many things for granted, our writing skills, our culinary skills, our organisational and communication skills. Dear Lord, open our eyes that we may see, may your favour rest upon us, establish the works of our hands..


So today, pray in your own words about the works of your hands, what do you want God to do for you and through you while you are here? Click comments and join us in prayer!


Let's pray together..

iPray Fridays: iTestify

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say this— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty,and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.....

Psalms 107: 1-15

....They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Revelations 12:11

Hello people,

Thank God its another iPray Friday and we are here to see it. Chineke Imela. Ose Baba, Nagode Yesu. Today's iPray is about testifying to the Lords goodness in our lives. Sometimes we think we need a 'big' testimony before we share it. Just like any relationship, learning to appreciate what we think are the 'little' things make room for even bigger things to happen. We too often take our breath for granted. I testify today that I am alive, I am still in the battle, I have not finished the race but I am still running. Its a marathon and not a sprint..I have stumbled but not out. The setback is for my step up and I am not taking no for an answer.

So today is Testimony Friday..has the Lord been good to you? This week, this month, this year...to the members of your family? You don't need to close a multi million pound deal to testify....testify of His faithfulness to you. Look forward to hearing from you. Click comments!

Let's pray together.

iPray Fridays: SIMplicity

And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? "Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. "The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.

Matthew 6: 5-13 (The Message)

"Its not how long u pray, its how strong you pray! You can pray for 5 hours but if there's no faith behind your prayer, there's no power."

@GuvnaB from Twitter

I really miss blogging, both reading and writing. I used to take the fact that I could blog for granted. Now its one of the things I'm grateful about. Lord, thank you that Zoe can blog...lol! I'm in a season where I have a lot of questions, maybe its the scientist in me or just a phase. There is a way in which one is raised not to ask questions, just to accept what one is given as the status quo. That's fine but for those who have questions, I am learning that who you ask is just as important as what you ask!

Reading my Bible this morning and this passage just jumped up at me. Sometimes when people ask me why I love to pray, I respond with 'I'm not so sure I love to pray, I'm learning'. I will be honest and confess that I have periods of time where I feel so distant from God. I don't read or study my Bible and I don't 'pray'. Yes 'pray' because I lay on my bed one morning and I heard a familiar voice whisper 'so if it isn't formal, does it mean it isn't conversation' those were not the exact words but something to that effect. 'Each time you want to speak to your dad or friends, do you wear something special or put some makeup on. In an emergency, do you consider your looks or the fact that you may not have been getting along or do you just reach out to the one who can help you sort your situation out! Do you only speak to them in public when others are around and ignore them in private?'

What is prayer? We say it is communication with God. Communication involves at least 2 parties and consists of speaking, listening and understanding. It is a 2 way thing. We speak to God and He speaks to us too. So many times I get caught up in a legalistic and religious view of things. When I pray sometimes people laugh and I do admit my prayers may be a bit funny but that's because I am funny and I believe God loves me like that. I need to search the Scriptures but I believe that most of the prayers Jesus made were in private and his public prayers were short and direct. Hmm, I believe a big barrier to effective prayer is this notion that it's like a recipe where you need to mix this and that, keep at this temperature for this long before you can get the right result. I want to challenge that and say we should come to God on the basis of relationship. Sometimes I talk for hours to a friend, sometimes a few minutes. I do not love them more when I speak longer or less when I speak shorter. The most important thing is that I communicate with them, pass the message across, honestly and openly. Also come believing that He hears and He has the power to change situations.

Its funny that I try to hide things from God, the One who sees all and knows all. Anyway today's iPray is about simplicity..not length, just honesty and openness between you and your daddy. If Jesus was sitting right next to you on a bench in a park and you had your head on his shoulder what would you tell him....even if you had to whisper it? Say it today. If you want to share it here, feel free to leave it as a comment.

Let's pray together.

iPray Fridays: Divine Intervention

Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.  The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

2nd Chronicles 20: 3-4

'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "

2nd Chronicles 20: 15b-17

Dear Lord, I thank you for here we are once again, alive and able to lay before you, lift up our voices before you, bring our petitions before you. We acknowledge that there is no one like you. You are both willing and able to do of your good pleasure. You are a great and mighty King. Able to do exceedingly, abundantly, far above all that we can ask and imagine. Thank You Lord for the manifold blessings you have showered on us, both those that we are able to remember at this time and those that we cannot. Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord.


My God and my King. I acknowledge that life without you is truly like I sang as a child, 'like a doughnut...with a hole in the middle of my heart'. Life is tough but with Jesus in the boat I am always assured of making it to the other side. The One who has total command of the winds and the waves. Today O Lord, we bring pressing issues, the ones that require divine intervention before your throne of grace. The Ones that you deal with exclusively...'that all may know the hand of the Lord has done this'. Dear Lord as we pray today, we bring letters that speak against our peace before you, we bring situations that we are not even able to put into words, we acknowledge that You are our help and there is no other.


Like Jehoshaphat we bring our issues before your throne and wait and listen for divine instruction on what we should do, how we should tackle the issues. Fight or hold our peace; speak or keep quiet; run or stand still. The horse is made ready for the day of battle but victory comes from you O Lord. This is our year of victory, our year of a new song. 2010..the year of 'The Lord has done this and it is marvellous in our eyes'..Amen and Amen.


So dear brothers and sisters, say a prayer, write your prayers in the comment section...He hears, He answers.


iPray...will you?


Remain blessed and highly favoured. This is our season to reign, our season to shine.

iPray Fridays: Jehovah Rapha

He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

Exodus 15:26

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

Malachi 4:2

/heal·ing/ [hee-ling]:  growing sound; getting well; mending. (Dictionary.com)

I love the sound of that..growing sound, getting well, mending. This is God's desire for us that we be made well. I'm sure each and every one of us knows someone who could do with God's healing touch today. Today we make a decision to stand in the gap for them. If you don't you can pray for me (my bank account needs healing...lol!). When Jesus came to earth, He was moved with compassion..I can't recount how many times He said 'Rise up and walk' or 'Be healed' or 'Be opened'. Today we carry the power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead within us so we too cry out and say 'Rise up and walk', 'Be healed' and 'Be opened'.
 
Today I want us to go deeper, for some of us we need healing on the inside..there is nothing physical about our ailment but we still need that touch from God. He is willing and able..there is nothing He cannot do. No, I don't know why sometimes we pray and it seems like there is no answer. Only God knows that...I will still pray anyway. I remember asking my mum why Elisha died from an illness and yet his dry bones raised a man from the dead. Only God knows that...I will still pray anyway.
 
iPray...will you?
 
Remain blessed and highly favoured. Our God still answers prayer.
 
N.B Feel free to use the comments to write down your prayers, anonymously if you prefer in case you want to mention cases by name. God sees your heart and He knows who and what you are praying about. Remember to thank Him in advance and share your testimonies too.
 
Another important point that just came to me...there is a difference between health and healing. To the man by the pool, Jesus said after his healing '...Go and sin no more'...for some of us its 'Go and exercise more' or 'Go and change your diet' or 'Go and rest a little'...we are spirits that live in bodies. Our spirits are eternal, our bodies are not. Ask God for the grace to take the very best care of your body that you can. It is well.

iPray Fridays: This time next year according to the season of life

Then the Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."

Genesis 18:10a

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.

Genesis 21:1

Thank God it's another iPray Friday. Lord, thank you because today meets us alive and well. There are so many things we take for granted, that I take for granted such as each and every Friday I will be here to pray. That I even have an avenue to pray and a platform to pray, Daddy I'm grateful. For the faithful brothers and sisters that join me to pray, Father I'm grateful. Lord, that I serve a prayer answering God, I am indeed grateful. Thank you so much for everything.

Today I would like to pray for couples who are trusting God for the fruit of the womb. I have a number of friends where this used to be the case but to the glory of God, the story has changed. It's difficult to explain the different emotions that come with trying to have a baby which should be relatively simple but month after month knowing that not just yet. Doctors do their best, science can explain to the best of its ability but our Creator always has the final verdict. I trust God and believe that if He could do it for Abraham and Sarah, I'm not sure there's anyone whose situation was more impossible than that.

After many disappointments, its easy for one's faith to fail but I pray today that the joy of the Lord will be your strength. That your days of laughter, your Isaac is not far ahead. That yes, even if I don't know you in the season of life I pray that you will have your own testimony in Jesus name. For the one who cries and asks God 'Why' and 'When', I don't have any answers but to encourage you that no matter how you feel God sees you and knows you by name and He will meet you. I pray that He gives you a specific word that you can run with.

People can we pray for our brothers and sisters today. If you know anyone you would like to pray for specifically, you can use them as a point of contact..anon if you please. I believe God, you shall laugh soon in Jesus name. You can also pray for expectant mothers...there are so many around me it's almost like an epidemic (lol) that God will see them through in Jesus name.

Remain blessed and highly favoured.

ZoeB

iPray Fridays: One Flesh

The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman,  for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and they will become ONE FLESH. The man and his wife were both naked and they felt no shame.

Genesis 2:23-25

Happy 29th anniversary to Denalyn, the love of my life. Because of you, my winter has no chill, summer no heat and i can't stop smiling!

@MaxLucado (From Twitter...8/8/2010)

Dear all,

Firstly, Daddy I thank you for another opportunity to be alive for iPray Fridays. Today we will be lifting up marriages and romantic relationships before our Heavenly Father. This is for married people as well as singles..a few weeks ago a dear friend told me that 'if she knew this was what marriage was about, she would rather have waited to be 40 than being married'. All over the world, we lament at what is called a 'failing institution', we all know statistics, interesting that the divorce rate both within and without of the church has no significant difference anymore. Well today is not about numbers or sharing stories but about going back to basics, back to the beginning. Marriage was instituted by God, I see it as a 'type' for the relationship He desires to have with us. To be one with us.

Tweets like the one shared above from Pastor Lucado fill me with hope because truth is there are a lot of beautiful stories I know..Like my friends TA/DA and TP/TP..when you are around  couples like them you know that even though relationships can be tough, with God as your foundation you can overcome any storm. So today we offer prayers for the institution of marriage, married folk that we know especially those going through crisis, its not enough to talk about it but to pray about it. We also pray for single people, after the decision to make Jesus Christ your Lord and Master, who you marry is the next significant decision you can make.

So pray, anonymously or not. God who sees your prayers in secret will reward you openly. It is His desire that our marriages are a taste of heaven on earth. Don't settle for less.

So iPray, do you?

iPray Fridays: Letters to Home

Dear Daddy

It hurts......it hurts real bad.

Me

Dear daughter

I know, my child, I know. But I am here and I am listening. Don't lose sight of me in your pain...you need to come home.

Your Father..

Because some days, you can't use a prayer book and there are no '10 steps to receiving your breakthrough'...it's just you and your Daddy and you can sit silent in His presence, cry, speak, rant just because He is your Daddy. Write your letter to home today, it's a letter to your Daddy..it could be a letter of thanksgiving, a letter of adoration or it could be a letter asking Why? Your daddy is always here and let's face it, there's nothing you can say that will take him by surprise because He knows your thoughts...so start writing!!

Remain blessed and highly favoured

ZoeB

iPray Friday: For the love of God

Father I thank you because another Friday has come and we find ourselves alive and well. Thank you for being who you are. My God, who is the King of kings. My God, who is the Lord of lords. My God who reigns supreme. You are Jehovah El-Elyon, the Most High God, higher than any situation I could ever think of facing. You are God and I'm so grateful to be called your child, even more honoured to be considered as your bride.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:12-14

Hmm, Lord. Your word says that the greatest commandment is that I love you with all my heart, soul and strength and also I should love my neighbour as I love myself. Ever so often I go through 'The Love Chapter' in 1 Corinthians 13 and usually find myself falling short. 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1st Corinthians 13: 4-7

Thank you for showing me that it is impossible for me to live according to this standard....because you never intended for it to be but the love of God that comes as a fruit of the Spirit...for the fruit of the Spirit is love. Lord teach me how to love, the way You would have me love. A love that is sincere and without hypocrisy, a love that comes from a heart that has been yielded totally to the Father. It simply isn't enough to desire to be more 'loving', walking in love is tantamount to walking in the Spirit. If I walk in the Spirit, then I don't fulfill the call of the flesh. Father, it's about admitting that I cannot do this without your help. Holy Spirit, I ask for your help in weeding out every 'self' weed and planting the seed of love in my heart.

Daddy, I know that I cannot love others if I do not learn how to love you, neither can I love others if I don't love myself. I'm not claiming to know what this all means but Daddy I am open to learning, show me the different avenues I can share your love to a dying world. Father, I pray for a renewal of love in the body of Christ that we may love each other as it was in the beginning. Father, let our profession of faith not be in mere words but in deed and action that people not see us but Christ in us, the hope of glory. That your love fill me till I overflow and shed abroad into the lives of those around me.

Help me to walk away from the 'pettiness' and the 'drama' that comes when I live in the flesh instead of living in the Spirit. God, I know your grace is more than sufficient to enable me walk in love every single day of my life. I pray for the love of God for you are love and I am your child so love is in my spiritual DNA. Thank you Father, I bless and magnify your name.


I love you Lord. 


Remain blessed and highly favoured.


ZoeB


N.B Feel free to add your prayers, requests as comments (anon or otherwise). It was so nice last week to pray with others as they lifted their requests before the prayer answering God.  He hears and He does answer..

iPray Friday: Take it to the altar

"I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone."

Chorus from 'I must tell Jesus' by Elisha Hoffman

Trust in Him at all times

O people

Pour out your hearts to him

For God is our refuge

Psalm 62:8

Hi everyone

Hope you've had a good week? Thank God it's iPray Friday. Hmm, I had a long conversation with a friend yesterday who is facing some marital issues and after the conversation I must admit that I was totally overwhelmed with the situation. Hmm, God whispered to me that 'you may be overwhelmed but there is no situation that overwhelms Me.' Yesterday I didn't even pray for her because I didn't know where to start or end. So today it's about each of us taking those things we have buried in our hearts to the altar. If it's something you feel like sharing, leave your prayers as comments, anonymously if you prefer. My prayer(s) will be in the comment section as well. But today is about unburdening our hearts to the One who always understands, who always has time, who promised to be with us always...even when sometimes it seems we are on our own and it's difficult to go on in faith...let's just talk to Jesus today.

Have a wonderful weekend..

iPray Friday: Simply believe..

Thank God for another iPray Friday. One of the most beautiful things for me about blogging is the community family that I have now become a member of. I have aunties, uncles, brothers and sisters. Now when I say 'friend' my family asks me 'real friend' or 'computer friend'..lol! Today I'm excited not just because its iPray Friday but because our very own Professor (LDP) is a guest blogger and will be leading prayer. I haven't known him very long but I'm grateful that men like him still exist on this earth! I'm sure you've read his blog (if you haven't, where have you been???). Aburo, ese gan, I have been blessed by reading and I'll be so grateful if you would consider passing this way quite often. Be blessed as you pray.. 

"Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me" - Acts 27:25

I have come to discover that the lives of men are shaped by what they believe. In other words, you and I are what we believe. Miracles have happened in the lives of some people simply because they just would not give up on what they believe. Likewise, some have died when they perhaps should not have, simply because they had believed that it’s time to ‘go’. Just as our thoughts governs what our lives would look like, so does what we believe, shape our eventual destination. If so, I think it is very important to be conscious of what we think about because our thoughts shapes our beliefs and like the words of my Dad, “what you believe is what you will eventually become.”

Paul amidst a great storm, stood up and said "...I believe God..." I remember listening to one of the survivors of a recent terrorist attack - he said; “immediately the first bomb sounded, everyone started to make calls: Husbands calling wives, children calling parents, parents calling their children, friends calling friends, partners calling associates all because of the great storm” - thank God for technology. How wonderful would it be if someone stood up and said "Ladies and gentlemen, be of good cheer, I believe what was told me that, “with long life He will satisfy me and show me His salvation"

Someone said, the heart of the matter is a matter of the heart. The heart of existence lies in being conscious of the significance of what my heart put its seal on. It’s high time we stopped believing the economic forecasts on CNN, CNBC or BBC. We should start believing the 'Kingdomnomic forecasts' we hear on the church pulpit every Sunday because Heaven and Earth shall pass away but only God's word will endure forever. Listen to me, the God we serve is not a God of the news, He is a God of the new. He does new things everyday! So, start shaping your life wisely; on the word of God and not on forecasts from experts. Start believing words like these...

"For my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" - Phill 4:19

"The blessings of the LORD, it makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it" - Prov 10:22

"God has blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" - Eph 1:3

"I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" -

Ps 16v8

"I shall be the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath" - Deut 28:13

"when men are saying there is a casting down, then I shall say there is a lifting up..." Job 22:29

"A thousand shall fall by my left, ten thousand by my right hand, they shall not come near me" -

Ps 91v7

...And many more (wish time and space would permit).

I would like to thank ZoeBeliever for this wonderful opportunity to be a blessing to people’s lives - something I always look forward to. May God continue to shower upon you grace to fulfil His purpose in destiny in Jesus’ name. You are a blessing :)

SHALOM!

iPray Fridays: Reclaiming the Priesthood

But you are a chosen people, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the HIGH CALLING of PRIESTLY WORK, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

1st Peter 2: 9-10 (NIV, The Message)

Awimayehun, you are the One who never goes back on your word. Father I give you praise and magnify your name for you are worthy of all praise. Another Friday is here, the first in the second half of this year and I am alive and well, finding myself before the throne of grace to obtain mercy in the time of need. I am so special. Daddy, thank you for everything, for rain and sunshine, for summer and winter. For good food and good friends, thank you for direction, thank you for closed doors for if all doors had been opened we wouldn't have known which one was the right one.

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to WORK and REBUILT the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.

Nehemiah 3:1

Father you spoke through your son, telling us to rise up and take up our calling, our royal priesthood. Hmm, I'd always thought priesthood  was reserved for clergy folk, those with pulpits, those with sheep but Lord you have shown us through your word that in this new Covenant we have via the blood of your son, we are all priests and you have given us a mission in your house to the Body and outside to the world. Lord, forgive me for abandoning my calling to pursue my own interests like the Levites in the time of Nehemiah or those in the time of Haggai who thought it not important to build the house of the Lord. Father, forgive me for I know I have been so distracted from Kingdom work as I tried to put my life 'back in order' but You created me, You chose me, You called me to be a priest, You know the purpose for my life. My prayer is just like Paul's to be crucified with you, that I no longer live but Christ lives in me.

Daddy, the priests were different from the congregation of the Israelites because they had been ordained by you for a special task. They lived by a different set of rules for they were to distinguish between the holy and the common. Father, these days I know that I easily fall sway to trying to 'blend' in with my surroundings instead of recognising my priest hood as one that is set apart. Forgive me for not making pleasing you my highest priority. Lord, the priests stood in the gap between You and Israel, to make atonement for their sins. Priesthood is not about being recognised but about service. Instill a servant's heart in me O Lord in the mighty name of Jesus.

Father today I ask for the grace to honour and respect my priesthood. To realise that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit and being a priest is not a part time job, that being a priest is something I am and not something I do. I am a priest, 24 hours of the day, 366 days of the year.Father, for the priests, You were their inheritance. I pray as Paul prayed 'to know the hope to which You have called me, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints and Your incomparably great power at work in us who believe.' The calling of the priesthood is one of awesome responsibility because it is for life but Lord I know your grace is more than sufficient. You have set me a mission and I shall fulfill it in the mighty name of Jesus. I separate myself from the distractions of this world and ask for renewed focus daily to fix my eyes on that high calling of God in Christ.

I am reclaiming my priesthood, I allow You to change my wardrobe, to take off the filthy garments of the old nature as you did for Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3) and receive new garments, the garments of purity. I receive a new turban, that of holiness to the Lord. Father, help me to walk in in your ways and keep your requirements because in these last days, we can no longer afford to have business as usual. It is time for your children to reclaim their priesthood, rebuild the altars and present a pleasing sacrifice, the sacrifice of our wills.

Thank you Father, thank you Lord. I pray for those who have not yet come into a relationship with you. Priests are born, in the Old Covenant via Levi, in the New through the blood of your Son. I pray that they come to the knowledge of your Way, that the seed of the Word of God sown by many witnesses will find a receptive place in their hearts and bear much fruit in the mighty name of Jesus. Thank you my God and my King in Jesus name.

I am a Priest of the Most High God, anointed and consecrated for service.

iPray Fridays: More grace

Hmm, I'm excited. Today I have a guest blogger leading prayer. She's a new blogger but I've known her since the day she was born 'x' years ago. Lol! She's none other than VirtuousKelly, please show her some blogville love on her blog! I'm excited because I know Ms. Kelly is passionate about prayer...I'm excited when I see young people passionate about God and committed to developing their prayer lives. Thanks darling for doing this. I pray that as your name signifies, you will always have a reason to praise and thank God for the wonderful things He has done and will continue to do to and through you in Jesus name. Amen.

If you would like to send in a prayer (or request) on any topic to be shared on iPray Fridays, please send me an email, amarasviewonstuff@yahoo.com. This is a time to rebuild our altar of prayer. Praying without ceasing. Our mission is that we are so excited about prayer that Thank God it's Friday becomes Thank God it's iPray Friday...Amen.

Prayer Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 12: 9-10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I thank you Jesus for such an opportunity to dwell in your presence. I thank you Lord for such an opportunity to share your word through various mediums of communication. I thank you Lord for giving Zoe Believer insight on coming to you every Friday publicly to table our requests to you according to your word in Philippians 4:6. I thank you Lord because you are awesome and will show yourself strong and mighty in our lives always.

Father we thank you for the gift of life because many times we take it for granted and forget that you are the giver of it all. From the sun that shines in the morning, for the air that we breathe, for the rain that falls on the earth, for the stars that beautify the skies and for the moon that gives us peaceful light. Father we thank you for all these things.

We thank you Lord because irrespective of what happens around us, be it tribulations or hardships or the troubles of this world, you have always shown us that your grace is sufficient for us. Even at times when we are weak in spirit you have sent us the Holy Spirit to be a comforter to comfort us in all situations. For this we are forever grateful. Where will we be had it not been for your grace and your mercy? Many of us would have been cast down, broken and battered but You, Ancient of Days, found us worthy by dying on the cross on our behalf in order to give us this grace that is all sufficient. That is why we call you Almighty El Shaddai: The All Sufficient God.

You have left us scriptures of encouragement to help us through every storm we face: In times when we feel we are beset by stagnation you have given us Proverbs 4:18:

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

When we feel there is dryness, You have given us Isaiah 43:19:

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert

and streams in the wasteland.

In times when we are beset my burdens and need a word You have given us Jeremiah 33:3:

 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

Father we thank you. Because we can go on and on taking scriptures from your word which shows us that your grace is ever sufficient. That in our weaknesses your power is made evident. Your awesomeness is shown through all generation. So to this we thank you because in every situation we find ourselves in we will rejoice and be glad because we have a God who is working on our behalf and making everything work together for our good. Give us the grace and ability to keep pressing on, to keep looking forward and up to the author and finisher of our faith even if we are thrown into the wilderness. Bring us out of it all as better and stronger people in the faith.

Our Miracle worker, our mountain remover, our ever present help in times of trouble, our deliverer, our way maker, our invincible God, our God who fetches water with a basket to disgrace the bucket, our magnificent warrior, lily of the valley and rose of Sharon: We thank you because you are doing things for us which ears have not heard and eyes have not seen. We thank you because your grace is sufficient and that in our weaknesses your power is resting in us and makes us strong and victorious.

To this we give you all the glory, honour and praise. Thank you because you are more than able. To this we have prayed in Jesus name.

iPray Friday: Days of the Spirit

It is my desire to encourage us to walk towards developing intimacy with the Father. Intimacy comes about as a result of spending time with someone, one on one, in spite of our busy schedules and commitments, letting the person know that hey life is busy but You mean everything to me. iPray Fridays is about making time to develop our prayer lives. Prayer is communicating with the Father, talking to Him and hearing from Him. iPray Friday is like having a date night every week. I pray that an army of warriors is raised that will truly change their world, not with swords or arms but on their knees. Today's prayer is based on a message I listened to in Glory House on Wednesday....these are indeed days of the Spirit!

"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."  Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly

Joel 2: 12-13, 15

Dear Father, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We approach your throne by the blood of Jesus which speaks of mercy and grace. We thank You for the awesome privilege of being considered as your sons and daughters for we know it is not by our own works lest we should boast but by your grace which is always sufficient for us in the time of need. Indeed this prayer was to declare your word of the outpouring of the Spirit but we cannot ignore the instructions that you have given us. Daddy, today I ask your forgiveness for jumping the gun, for not following your principles, for going my own way and expecting to show up on that path of disobedience I have carved for myself.
Today I declare that I will return to you with all my heart, I need your grace. I return to you in fasting, letting go of those things I think my flesh cannot do without, I return to you with mourning, true repentance for disobedience evidenced by a genuine desire and willingness to return to you to direct my paths. I distance myself from outward displays of repentance and I submit myself to the work you are doing on the inside of me, where no one notices but you know everything. Daddy, I return to you for you are gracious and compassionate.

Father, I consecrate myself once again to rise up to the challenge you have set for me. You cannot give me more than I can bear, I give you praise and magnify you for you are worthy.

The LORD will reply to them: "I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice. SURELY THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS..the trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches, "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm, my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. THEN YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM IN ISRAEL, THAT I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD AND THAT THERE IS NO OTHER, never again will my people be shamed"

Joel 2: 18-27

Daddy, we are asking for days of the Spirit. Your word shows enough evidence that the days of the Spirit come with transformation of our circumstances and situation. I love you my Father for being a good Father, source of wisdom. You have told us what to do and now you have shown us what You will also do in return. I thank you because in my month of good change, you are doing great things. Father from today I begin to walk in a new season. This is my Happy New Year, before I walked in the days of the flesh where I could only believe and thus receive what my physical senses could achieve but now I step into the days of the Spirit, evidenced by wonders. Miracles that can only be explained by the statement 'It has to be God.' Daddy, that was your word to me this year that it would be an 'It just has to be God year.' I run with that prophecy in this new season in Jesus name. Thank you for crowning my God directed efforts with success. The days of toiling are over! Thank you for the showers, thank you for restoration of what has been lost, I am indeed glad and I rejoice. Thank you Lord for turning things around for my good and for my favour in Jesus name.

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth...And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls

Joel 2:28-32 

Thank you Lord, thank you for the opportunity to pray from your word. Lord, you said after these things you would pour out your Spirit on 'all flesh.' Thank you Lord because this includes me, today I desire a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit that I may remain in tune with your plans and desires in this season. For the Spirit of God knows the mind of God and reveals it to believers. Daddy, let these days of the Spirit that I am walking into be evidenced by prophecy; declaring your word concerning situations which is truth and rejecting the facts that the world has given us. I will arise and shine, regardless of the economic climate. My sisters and brothers will be blessed with the fruit of the womb, regardless of physical limitations. Every work that my hand finds to do, I will do with excellence because I am working by the Spirit and no longer leaning on my own understanding. Halleluyah. Father, I am dreaming like Joseph of the things to come, of your purpose and desires for me. I am seeing visions, visions of God, visions concerning my purpose on this planet, my home, my children, my business, my career. Father, I thank you because I have chosen to be part of the army that you will use to work your wonders in the last days. Thank you Holy Spirit. Father, I'm ready, to take on the garment of a servant.For you said you will pour out your Spirit on those with a servant's heart. Father, I'm calling unto you. There are so many things to be done, don't even know where to start! Thank you Lord, for a new calendar. Every day now is a day of the Spirit. Amen and Amen.

Daddy, I pray for your church, the ecclesia, those who have been called out to tune into these days of the Spirit. You said everyone who calls unto you shall be saved and there would be deliverance in your house. Daddy, today I am calling unto you. I decree and declare that in these days of the Spirit that the yokes will be broken, every physical and mental bondage broken. Issues that we have been bringing before you as we return to you, wait on you, fast and pray we will begin to testify of our deliverance in the mighty name of Jesus. Thank you for these days of the Spirit.