"He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry." Psalm 147:9
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:1-4
“[F]or your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13
“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:3
“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17
“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1
David in Psalm 5 thought that it was important that the Lord heard his voice in the morning. I was just thinking that as our Heavenly Father, He must also like to hear the voice of His children talk to Him.He made our mouths. Out of all the things we can and do use them for, it must seem good to Him when we use them to communicate with Him.
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.”
Psalm 4:1
Ephesians 6:10-11 reads, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
This chapter tells us to be strong in the Lord. But it tells us more than one way to be strong in the Lord. Immediately after commanding us to put on the whole armor of God verse the Lord adds this, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit . . .;” (Eph. 6.18).
Praying in the Spirit is one way to be strong in the Lord.
Praying in the Spirit [as opposed to prayers not lead of God’s Spirit (Matt. 6.7)] is one way the Lord makes us strong as well. Soldiers need strength and a source of nourishment as well as armour. A close walk with the Lord is essential if we want to be strong. John 15:4 reads, “ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Now Nehemiah 8:10 reads, “[T]he joy of the Lord is your strength.” Psalm 16:11 reads, “ . . .in thy presence is fulness of joy . . .” So therefore prayer is an essential way to have the joy of the Lord and the strength of the Lord.
Prayer helps strike down our enemies. It seems the saved individual has three enemies. These are: our fleshly nature, the workings of this world, and the Devil.
Praying in the Spirit seems to require us to yield our thoughts and minds to directing the Spirit of God. It seems to strike down our fleshly nature.
II Corinthians 10:4-5 reads, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
Galatians 5:16 reads, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Prayer changes circumstances in life as well. Psalm 65:2 reads, “O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.”
It is written in I John 5:14 , “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”
We aren’t in this battle alone.
Ephesians 6:18 continues “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
We need to pray because our brothers and sisters are in a battle too!
I Peter 5:8-9 reads, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
I Corinthians 10:12-13 speaks of temptations “common” to man. makes me think that whatever I am going through someone somewhere out there has or is going through the same thing.
Every one of us is to pray.
It isn’t just for spiritual leaders to pray.
We read in Exodus 17, “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” (17.11-12).
I Timothy 2:8 tells us that,“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
When the man of God, Moses, lifted up his hands, God’s people prevailed. But, when he let down his hands, the enemy of God prevailed.
But God gave Moses help too. Aaron and Hur helped Moses keep his hands lifted up.
We ought to pray for our Spiritual leaders as well.
Although the Lord has and is more than able to make His servants stand when no one stands with them, (I Sam. 30.6; Rom 14.4), it seems He wants to work in response to our prayers (I Cor. 3.9), and for us to pray for our Spiritual leaders as well (II. Cor. 2.11).
These have been just a few thoughts.
God bless.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
“Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge–
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.” ~What a Friend We Have in Jesus
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
“I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.” Psalm 142:4-5
“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms . . .” Deuteronomy 33:27
“The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour . . .” II Samuel 22:3
“What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!” ~What a Friend We Have in Jesus
“ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows . . . “ Isaiah 53:4
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” I Peter 5:7
“ All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37
When Ravens Cry 