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~January Prayer Support for
Women Newsletter~
Happy
New Year!
Happy birthday to Prayer Support for Women! We're now one-year-old.
Uplifting News:
1. Sue was released from the hospital and is recovering well from surgery.
2. Amy's mom died, but a blessing came through crisis:
She led her sister to receive Christ.
3. A woman's family-life improved greatly by the power of prayer.
_________
If you'd like to become a prayer partner,
please let me know & I'll email you one prayer request per month.
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Critical Questions:
It's easy for me to lose my patience, my temper, and my memory....
so, why is it so hard for me to lose my spare pounds?
~~~
"My Father, which art in Heaven,....
Lead me not into temptation, but
must You deliver me from my addition to chocolate?"
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For Giggles:
I had to give up jogging...
for my thighs kept rubbing together & setting my pantyhose on fire.
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To beat post-holiday drag, I've asked God to give my
praying an invigorating jolt. Will you do the same?
PRAY AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME
A New Prayer Journey
By
Brenda Mayfield
Get ready for adventure and expand your trust & confidence,
peace & freedom, insight & motivation. Communicate more fully with God and experience meaningful intimacy. Interact
with the One who knows all your secrets, needs, and even your silly little pet peeves.
Go further with God. Ah, this requires exercise
because He wants to build your spiritual muscles to make you fit for the race. No, not the rat race.
Traveling by prayer gets you through life with more ease, contentment, and ...even fun. Get on your mark, get set,
go girl!
Each morning wake up with a prayer. For example: "God, thanks
for watching over me all night. I invite You to join me in every thought & event, and at every roadblock I encounter
today. Let's hit the trails together. You lead, I'll follow." (Be sure to keep up or slow down & not pass
Him.)
Let's face it: Often we're distracted and too busy
for God. Do we subconsciously think He cannot handle busyness? Must prayer be held only in a quiet place on our knees with
hands pressed together?
I pray in my mind while driving, grocery shopping, walking
my dog, showering, etc. When I drive, I usually pray for my children and husband. I need to include prayer for
the poor soul who pulls out in front of me and then drives too slow. When I'm around nonbelievers, I need to pray for opportunities
to bless them with the aroma and light of Christ. When I wash my hands, I need to ask God to wash my heart.
Prayer can be as consistent and natural as breathing.
It's not a matter of physical positioning but of God-centered thinking. Traditional set times for prayer, like before meals
and sleep, are great but oh-so limited. There is much more to venture beyond "Thank you for this food" and "God bless our
sleep." God wants all of me, and I desperately need all of Him in my life.
Have you ever refrained from prayer because you feel you're
not worthy or lack faith? Acceptance and faith are gifts to you - bought by the priceless blood of the Savior.
By choice you can convince yourself you don't have these gifts, or you can receive them and put them to good use. If you're
going to make it through the daily grind, you'll need these gifts. Jesus said, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed,
you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move" (Matthew 17:20). I like Bill Hybels' reminder in
Too Busy Not to Pray: "Faith comes from looking at God, not at the mountain." Prayer works because God works.
I want to discuss every issue, every decision, every idea
with my Father because He knows best. I need the Holy Spirit to take the lead in every detail of my life. As I include the
Lord in everything, I find myself on a new prayer journey. With my hand in His, He assures & guides me and we
conquer hardships together. One moment without Him as the center of my world is one moment too many.
I don't want my first steps in this new prayer
journey to be like New Year's resolutions. I want a committed habit of determined focus on God and His directions
- taught to me from His guidebook, the Bible. His Word trains me in righteousness and equips me for every good
work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The race can be challenging and exhausting, but with constant
prayer it becomes exciting and exhilarating. How will I make a difference on this planet? Where will God use me to help others?
What will He do next through the power of prayer?
I'm ready for a new prayer journey. Are you?
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Recommended book:
Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Hybels, InterVarsity Press.
~ check www.amazon.com
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Prayer renewal to you,
Brenda Mayfield
Prayer Support for Women
www.brendamayfield.com
Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends.
Reply and
- type your prayer request (add "omit name" if preferred)
- tell me your uplifting news (answer to prayer)
- subscribe others, with their permission, by typing their e-mail addresses
- type "unsubscribe" if you no longer want to receive newsletters.
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