Pray from the Heart
“Jesus, Teach Me to Pray”
Pray from the Heart
“For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.” (Psalm 138:6 ESV)
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:19—21)
“And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” (Revelation 5:8))
Cho Larson’s daily Bible study guide, Pray from the Heart, opens the Scriptures to teach the power and effect of fervent prayers. Verse by verse you’ll gain confidence to present your requests before the Throne of Grace with boldness. You’ll learn the art of wrestling in prayer and doing battle as you contend before your heavenly Father for the good of family, neighbors, and nations.
Read on for a few short samples from the book.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
“The enemy tries to drag us down into a valley, darkened by the shadow of death. But we serve an awesome God who is more than able to save and deliver us. The oppressor puts on a pretense of light to catch us in moments of weakness. He dangles his glittering earthly enticements before our eyes to tempt us.
But when we get tripped up, we have a Good Shepherd who comes to the rescue. We have a fearsome and awesome God who shakes the mountains, parts the sea, and reaches down to lift us up from drowning in Satan’s dark turbulent waters.”
“But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten.”
“Praying the Scriptures, interceding in agreement with God’s Word, and presenting our petitions according to every chapter and verse, emboldens us as we pray. The God we serve is delighted when we reminded Him of His promises. When we make our requests according to what our heavenly Father established by His Word, we do so with boldness and assurance. We present our prayers in the words of Scriptures with confidence in God who hears and answers according to every inspired word written in the Bible.
God hears the simplest requests sent up by those with child-like faith. The Lord treasures our prayers like incense in heaven’s golden bowls. The most powerful and effective prayers bring three dynamic forces together. 1) God’s Word. 2) A gathering of the faithful who pray in agreement. 3) Intercessors who call on God in harmony with the Holy Spirit’s leading. The Word empowers our prayers. Christians who pray in agreement are mighty and effective. Praying by the leading of the Spirit of Christ, and according to all that is in Jesus’ holy name is the third dynamic that makes our prayers powerfully effective.
Come, let us gather to pray with great boldness, in the knowledge of God’s goodness and mercies. When the congregation sees heaven’s responses sent in answer to our prayers, we are further emboldened to press in with our petitions in Jesus’ name, Amen.”