Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church

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PRAYER LIST
Posted by: Meagan on Sun Apr 27 2008

Prayer List, Prayer Team, Information, updated often.

Prayer Concerns: Aprontree: Velma O’Neil, Bessie Thompson, Alma Johnson. Manor Care: Sam Kennedy, Alma Lytle. MennoHaven: Doris Baker (Rm. 308) Homebound: Carl Magee, Carol Baker, Claire Edmonson, Joyce Treible, Gary Rowles, Pat Campbell, Bertha Stambaugh, Chad Stambaugh, Grace Wagner, George Hoover, Eleanor Hoover, Tim Browning, Peg Browning, Marle Simpson, Jessica Varner, Pyhllis Mansir, Skip Stull, Ginger Kane, Ken Shirk. Please pray for new babies on the way: Jonathan & Leslie (Varner) Baker; Heather (Neil) and Adam Defenderfer; Eric & Bethany Bair; Dawn, Drew, Gabe, & Clay Johnson; Von & Kristen McGee. Serving our country: Jake Myers (Bob & Betty's Son), Eugene Fleagle. Nicole Parker (Nicole is studying in

Tanzania

until May 10^th). All those people around us who do not know the blessing of God’s love and the fellowship of God’s people, those who are receiving prayer shawls & lap robes in the month of April, and our 17 Compassion children all over the world

Prayer Person of the Week: Courtney Bannister, please pray for Courtney as the spirit leads you.

Because of new privacy laws, if you go into the hospital, please have a family member call the church to let us know you're there. We want to visit you and pray for you! Also, if the pastor is away and you know one of our members is in the hospital, please contact Betty Myers so the deacons can visit and pray. Let's make sure we work together as a family, to take care of each other in our times of need.

PRAYER TEAM:

Community Prayer Meeting :

May 1st is National Day of Prayer. Community Meeting will be at UPVPC led by area pastors 7-8pm

Sunday Mornings at 10:35 AM in the baby comfort room behind the Sanctuary. Everyone welcome to join!

PRAYER CHAIN:

If you have a concern for the prayer chain, please start the chain by calling Rev. Meagan Boozer, Elsie Baker or Brenda Hart. Prayer concerns are kept confidential within the members of the prayer chain if requested by those asking for prayer.

How is your prayer life?

by Brenda Hart, Prayer Ministry Coordinator

Do you only prayer when there is trials and tribulations in your life? Do you say you don’t have time to pray? Maybe you don’t like praying in front of others. Do you think your prayers are not spiritual enough or you don’t know what to say? Do you think the words you pray are not big enough?

Well, don’t feel you are alone. If we are honest, most of us feel this way. After all, prayer is just a “talk with God”. You see, our Father already knows what is in our hearts and He knows what we want to pray. Psalm 139: 4 says, “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” You might be thinking,”well, if God knows what I need or want, why do I need to pray?” God desires a relationship with us. He wants us to be in communion with Him.

Isaiah 58:9 says that: “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” God does hear our prayers and will respond. He promised us that. 1 John 5:14 says "This is the assurance we have in approaching God: That if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Our Lord wants us to pray from the heart. He does not care about how big our words are that we pray. In Matt. 6:7, He says:”And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”

We are very busy people and we think we cannot possibly fit anything else in our busy schedules, especially praying. The great solution to this is that we can pray while we are doing almost anything. We can pray while driving in the car, doing housework, hunting in the great outdoors, shopping, playing sports, etc., etc., etc. What is important is you set time aside each day to be with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5: 17: ”Pray continually.”

Don’t know what to pray for? The Holy Spirit will guide us. Romans 8:26-27 tells us “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” Intercessory prayer is prayer or pleading in behalf of another or others. Jesus did the ultimate act of intercession when he died on the cross on man’s behalf.

So, now I extend an invitation to you to join the Prayer Ministry on Thursday night @ 7:00 to pray for our church (the Body of Christ and the church building), our pastor, our boards and committees, those who are on our prayer list, and upcoming events that are going on throughout the week. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. “With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18).

On the first Thursday of each month, the community churches meet at a different locaton to pray, to intercede for our community, churches, people, youth, nation, president, schools, etc. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

REFLECTIONS ON UNANSWERED PRAYER, Part 1 & 2

by Brenda Hart, prayer ministry coordinator

There are often times in our life where we feel God doesn’t answer our prayers. We feel that God is not listening to our requests and petitions. I think everyone has had this thought throughout their lifetime. Here are some of the reasons we think we have an unanswered prayer:

God’s Sovereignty

Unconfessed sin

Lack of faith

Lack of perseverance

Timing

Wrong motives

God’s will, not our will

Relationship with others

God’s Sovereignty-John 15:7-8 says “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to the Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. Are we in fellowship with Him and His Word? Will it bring Him the most glory?

Unconfessed sin-In 1 Peter 3:12, Peter writes: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Ask the Lord to reveal your unconfessed sin to you – then confess your sins and ask Jesus to forgive you. He will! Sin separates us from God. Isaiah 59:1,2 states: “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, not his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”

Lack of faith-Matthew 21: 22, “ If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” In our prayers we must have the faith and believe in the finished results of our prayers. Our faith must not waiver. Ask the Lord to give you more faith! James 1:6 tells us that: “ But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

Lack of Perseverance-Be persistent in asking with our prayers. Sometimes we give up praying because we feel God will not answer. Keep believing and don’t quit, no matter how long it takes. Remember that parable that Jesus told his disciples of the widow in Luke 18:1-8 who was persistent in coming to the judge to grant her mercy against her adversary. Eventually the judge saw that she got justice because of her persistence in not giving up. Matthew 7:7,8: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Timing- Psalm 40:1 tells us: "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and head my cry." We as humans want things done our way and in our timing, usually right away. We must be patient and learn to trust in the Lord. Isaiah 55:8 says "for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways."

Wrong motives- Are our prayers for our own desires and worldly pleasrues? Are we praying for the wrong things? So often our prayers are self-centered. We pray for things that we desire. James 4:3 states "when you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." We must humble ourselves before God and desire His approval. We may pray with good intentions, only to have God deny our prayers. This is a way of directing us to a greater purpose in our life.

God's will, not our will- The apostle John writes in 1 John 5:14-15: "this confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask we know that we have what we asked of Him." We often demand what we want, when we need to pray what He wants for us. When we pray according to His will, we can be confident that He will honor our requests and petitions.

Relationship with others- If we have a problem with others we should resolve it as soon as possible. Our attitude and hatred with others affect our relationship with God. "So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23-24. Our prayers will be hindered if our relationship with others is not right. Our relationship with God suffers also.

In closing, the Lord desires an intimate relationship with us. He does answer our prayers with His grace and mercy and not by our good works and deeds. Hold tight to His command: "Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:12. As Garth Brooks' song goes: "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers."

WHAT IS PRAYERWALKING?
by Brenda Hart, Prayer Ministry Coordinator

“PRAYING ON SITE WITH INSIGHT”

WHAT?
Prayerwalking is a form of intercession. It is praying at a strategic area of location while walking. It is just another way of joining Him in what He is doing. 2 Corinthians 5:20: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

WHO?
ANYONE! Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. You can also do it alone or go in groups.

WHY?
Prayerwalking is time set aside to walk and pray, praising God and interceding for others. What a powerful tool to claim God’s promises on behalf of the people in that area! It opens the eyes and hearts of those who are praying. It bears fruit that lasts. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

HOW?
-Simply walk & pray.
-Keep your eyes open and observe what the Holy Spirit may be showing you. (You’ll also want them opened to
see where you are going!)
-Pray out loud, it keeps you focused, and it also allows others in the group to hear and come into an agreement.
-Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It’s okay to be silent from time to time and just listen to the Spirit.-“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Romans 8:26.
-Pray using scripture that may come to mind. Meditate on the Word!
-Always give praise and thanksgiving to our Lord. “Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” Psalm 113:2-3.

WHEN?
Prayerwalking can be done anytime. Pray while walking throughout our daily schedule whether we are at work, school, or home.

WHERE?
Places to do prayerwalking: Neighborhoods, parks, churches, schools, government agencies, businesses, our workplace, places where there are strongholds of satan such as where drug deals take place, places that create a spiritual blindness and bondage on people, keeping them from seeing “The Truth”. Micah 4:5 tells us “All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.”

PRAY ON! IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. (www.tnbaptist.org and www.beau.lib.la.us)

PRAY ON! IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST!

Discussion: PRAYER LIST

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