Introduction
Why is that others enjoy life, while it seems like you are simply enduring life? Why is it that some people always end up on top of the world while it yet seems for others, the world is on top of them?
I have also searched for answers to these questions all my days as a frequent and consistent church congregant. What seems to separate those who enjoy life and those who struggle with every aspect of day-to-day living?
The answer is not that some people are lucky or just by happenstance never have to worry about surviving. The answer is simply commitment to PRAYER and increased FAITH.
They say you should never answer a question with a question, but you have to ask yourself do you pray consistently and how big is your faith?
Those who cultivate prayer and faith and incorporate it into their daily activities will see a change in their daily lives. I haven’t always been consistent in my own prayer life and believing that God has purpose for my life. When I made the commitment and became obedient to God’s Word, things started to change for me for the better.
I am excited that you have decided to join me on this journey to 31 days of fervent prayer, which is also a faith journey.
In spite of the turmoil we go through or the things we lack, prayer is our secret weapon in a chaotic world! When times get tough, the solution is simple…Pray your way out by actively pursuing faith. Prayer opens doors. But, if you are going to see the promises of God come to pass, you must have a positive expectation that after you pray, something will happen. This expectation comes through faith. It is easy to become faithless in a society where faith is often preached, but seldom practiced.
Some people can pray all the prayers in the world, only to find that they are praying amidst, or without faith. We don’t have to pray FOR faith, but we must pray WITH faith! Faith grows through having day-to-day experiences with God! The challenges that you go through in life should increase, not decrease your faith.
Hebrews 11:6 declares that without faith, it is impossible to please God. And, when you lack faith, it will be quite difficult to be the man or woman that God has called you to be. Also, you limit God’s ability to do something miraculous in your life. Lacking faith can be anything from self-defeating thoughts to crippling emotions, like fear or anger. Life is an uphill battle and you must fight everyday to say encouraged. You cannot afford to lose the battle of life to discouragement, fear, anger and doubt!
Hebrews 11:6 reveals to us that God is a REWARDER of those that diligently seek Him. Since He is a rewarder, what good does it do us to simply believe in God without an expectation that the same God you say you believe in will reward you for seeking Him?
The reality is that in life you will get discouraged from time to time, but it is important not to dwell there. Pray your way out! Believe that that through determination, you can walk in total freedom. Particularly in times of trouble, you can’t rely on anyone else’s faith, but your faith must rise up and command every negative thought to become subject to the Word of God.
There are many things that prayer and faith can do together. When there is a “marriage” between the two: It fills us with the Holy Ghost; fosters repentance; it sanctifies; saves from sin; heals the sick; saves the lost; brings forth blessings; produces good works; and most importantly, redirects the fiery darts of the enemy.
How do we release our faith? Ephesians 6:16 says “take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” We release faith through prayer and God inspired actions. You can do this by simply holding up the shield of faith as the bible commands. Today and every day beyond, is a good time to declare: I just don’t want to simply believe in God, I want to believe that He can and He will without a doubt, move in my life.
So why write this book? This all sounds like common sense, right?
My husband and I have been pastoring a church for quite some time. What we have experienced is that we teach about faith, many of our congregants talk about the faith they possess, and even read about faith in God’s Word.
When trials do come, some of the toughest believers are the first to run. This is always the easier solution instead of using God given abilities to properly confront the enemy. I use the word “properly” very narrowly because there is an “improper” way to deal with matters of the heart, and life in general. I am not talking about running in the literal sense. One of the ways you might run is by making excuses. It’s unfortunate that some tend to blame the pastor and the church for their mishaps and misfortunes.
You can go in prayer to find the real root cause of many of life’s issues. Some may find themselves looking in the mirror, and see that while you have had 12 pastors and possible visited 20 churches in a lifetime, that there’s still no progression, only oppression. What is causing you to stay stuck in the same place, with the same ole’ behaviors? We will save this thought for an entirely different book.
It is one thing to simply go to church week after week, but it is something entirely different to use faith to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. The key with this is to know that simply being a believer or church goer is not where faith ends! Romans 1:17 teaches us that the just man shall live by faith. To come against the fiery darts that the enemy that life throws, means to wholeheartedly live by faith. The other piece to this is that faith will not work unless we take a moment to sincerely and fervently develop a prayer life.
What life problems do you need to solve? What you can expect to find in this book are a series of prayers and accompanying journal that will help you focus your prayers so that you can break free from oppression, depression and the demonic forces that trick you into thinking that prayer is a waste time. In my time in ministry, I have met people who believe that prayer does not work simply because very little has happened in their favor.
As I reflect back to my younger days in high school math classes, to solve a problem we had to match the right numbers with the correct variables. Each time I got to the right answer, my confidence grew. I then grew eager for the next set of problems to solve. Sometimes I would get the problem correct, other times I would not. When I would get an answer wrong on the other hand, my confidence turned into discouragement. When you lose faith, it is also very easy to lose your desire to pray.
When you face difficult life problems, you can pick up this book. After praying, you will walk away with a sense of freedom and be better equipped to face life’s most difficult moments and challenges. There is space to write out your thoughts at the end of each prayer, where you can record and keep track of what happened to your situation after you prayed each prayer.
Freedom from oppression begins with one simple solution, and that is prayer. When we fail to pray, we become powerless; we only become powerful through faith and through prayer. You can be free from financial pressures, worry, bitterness, and overall sin—or whatever you are facing.
The church is plagued with unbelief. It’s time to go from oppression to progression. Jesus performed many miracles in the New Testament. Those same miracles can happen today.
The prayers here can serve as your guide to finding a pathway to daily devotion and with God. Keep at the forefront of everyday living that prayers feed the spirit. When I get hungry, I don’t go to any restaurant to eat, but I eat what we crave; and eat until I get full. My prayer for you is that you learn how not simply how to repeat a prayer, but to fervently pray until you are well fed. There is no particular order; you can mix up the days, or read the prayers in order, day by day.
You can pray these prayers silently or out loud; alone or in a group. As you pray, get in a posture that connects your actions with these power-filled and passionate prayers. You may want to kneel or lay out prone. Effective prayer doesn’t have to be complicated with fancy words, but you can pray with the most simplistic and sincere words. Whatever you decide, your ultimate goal is to focus your prayers, give God your heart and strive to be obedient to the call of prayer.
You might even be led not just pray for yourself, but to pray these prayers for someone else. Either way, these prayers can turn any negative situation around. Better days are ahead! As you pray, I touch and agree with you, but you have to speak and believe it too.
Some will pray and it will seem like everything they pray for yields a positive result. Others will pray, and nothing will happen. Faith is like gambling and prayer is like placing your best bet! The question is will you trust God enough not to give up because you seem be losing at the game of life? When we decide to stay in the game, we must stay in faith. If you don’t win, it’s going to be alright. Keep praying until something breaks in your life.
Many will bet their life on James: 4:6, which says “you have not because you ask not.” But the flipside to this is that there are times when we pray amidst. Meaning, there’s no guarantee that you will get everything you want in life. In faith, we aren’t just trusting God for something, but you have to condition the mind to trust Him to carry you all the way through.
Hebrews 5:7 reveals to us that “during the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
Prayer is a privilege, not an obligation. The journey to 31 days to fervent prayer will not be easy. The attacks from the enemy will get intense.
Even when it seems nothing is happening, keep praying. In the days and times we live in and with all that is happening around us, it is more than necessary.
Are you ready to make a conscious effort to change your life through prayer?
Now Entering –
31 Days of Fervent Prayer
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