Welcome to Under the Cover of Prayer. We endeavour through this blog to talk about prayer. We have regular Contributors and occasional guest bloggers.
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by April Yamasaki (reprinted with permission)
Prayer can be very wordy. Especially for someone like me who loves words. Especially when prayer is defined as “talking with God.” So I babble on and tell God how my day is going, ask for help for myself or others, pour out my anxieties and fears, pray for peace, and on and on.
But sometimes I run out of words, or can’t seem to find the right ones. Words can be so inadequate! Besides, “talking with God” is just one way of thinking about prayer. Prayer is also listening for God, receiving from God, resting and abiding in God.
That’s where contemplative prayer comes in, where the focus is not so much on putting my thoughts into words as it is:
I’ve found three forms of contemplative prayer to be especially helpful:
On her website April explains each of the following:
Please go to her website and read how to do each of these prayers.
We are privileged to have Cherry Warwick from Pursuing Heart with us today. To see the whole post please follow the links. Thanks Cherry.
by Cherry Warwick of Pursuing Heart (part reprinted with permission)
In the month of February the month of love, and roses, and intimacy - taking time to remember First Love. How often we forget, and focus first of all on other things. These other things are often good and beautiful – the love of family and home, and of friends – but First Love comes first. And the love for those around us becomes a natural overflow of the Love within.
For a little over a week now, I have been following God’s gentle beckonings, and seeking to slow, and listen more closely amidst the busy moments and days. Taking a 70-day focus (from late January to early April) to purposely listen intently, pausing at various times throughout the day, reading His Words, seeking Him on a deep level.
Continue reading to find out what Cherry learned during this course. Go over to Pursuing Heart – Morning, Noon and Night.
by Janis Cox
I spent a few hours awake the other night between 3 and 5 am. At first I lay in bed and tried repeating the 23rd Psalm over and over; then the Lord’s Prayer. But no, my mind had gone into over-gear and I couldn’t relax. I kept thinking.
Finally I got up, did a few things, had a little something to eat, and then sat down to read my Bible, pray and meditate.
The final Scripture of the morning, before I returned to bed, said this:
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone, my hope comes from him (Psalm 62:5).
I believe God wanted to speak to me. I needed to hear that. Another thing that I heard Him say:
Give your mind a break from planning and trying to anticipate what will happen (Jesus Calling, June 10).
On hearing both those statements, I went back to bed and slept like a baby.
With all the thoughts, ideas, and plans swirling around my head, I get caught up in a whirlwind. I needed to STOP and know that God will tell me what is important if I ask Him.
Seek and ye shall find Him. Wow – yes seek Him.
Father, thank You for showing me that I only need to rely on You. Thank You for sending me back to bed ready to rest, trust and believe that You control all things. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
Have sweet dreams everyone.
Have a great weekend.
Janis, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. She has published two devotionals and a number of articles for magazines and a Bible study. She is owner of Under the Cover of Prayer and moderates the site. She is also a contributor to a group blog called Family and Faith Matters. Janis has completed a children’s book called Tadeo Turtle. She is the author and watercolour illustrator. Word Alive has published Tadeo Turtle. See more information at Janis’s Website.
Not to Us, Not to Us!by Mark D. Roberts (reprinted with permission)  Teach Me, O Lord (Photo credit: sleepymyf) Read: Psalm 115:1-18
Psalm 115 opens with a striking bit of poetry: “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness” (115:1). Though God may richly bless his people, so that they appear to be glorious (115:12-15), the glory belongs to God and God alone. Psalm 115:1 reminds me of an experience I had almost exactly twenty years ago. For several months, I had been talking with the search committee of Irvine Presbyterian Church about becoming their Senior Pastor. When the committee finally voted to choose me, I was thrilled. But I knew that their selection was not the end of the process. In a Presbyterian church, only the congregation can extend a call to a new pastor. So I had to be voted on by the membership of Irvine Presbyterian Church. This vote would happen at a congregational meeting on a Sunday, following worship services in which I was the preacher. As you can imagine, I was very nervous as I got ready to preach my “try out” sermon. I wanted the people to like me, at least enough to vote for me. I wasn’t really afraid of not being elected by the congregation, but I was scared that I might receive a large number of negative votes, which would have been a blow to my confidence and self-image. On the Saturday night before my big Sunday, I went to the church campus to pray. Nobody was there, so I could pray openly. As I walked around the church buildings, I began to ask God to help me, to bless my preaching, to open the people’s hearts, and to secure a positive vote. But the more I walked and prayed, the more I found my priorities shifting. Please read the rest of this post at The High Calling: Daily Reflection by Mark D. Roberts to find out how his priorities shifted and how this will help you in your prayers. Here is the prayer that Mark ended up praying. PRAYER: Mark D. Roberts
Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is Senior Advisor and Theologian-in-Residence of Foundations for Laity Renewal, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas and the parent organization of Laity Lodge. He has written several books, including his most recent: Can We Trust the Gospels? (Crossway, 2007) He blogs at |
by Patricia Day (used with permission)
A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life — life in all its fullness (John 10:10, NCV).
You are already clean because of the words I have spoken to you (John 15:3, NCV).
The directions on the blue and yellow spray can promise us that it:
This is much like what God does with us when we enter a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus:
Find out how Patricia compares this blue and yellow can’s instructions to our relationship with God.
Read the rest of the story on Patricia’s blog.
Writing has always been a passion of Patricia. She can express myself better in writing, than verbally. She enjoys creating short stories and devotionals. Her favourite past-times: family-time; gardening; reading; walking and listening to good music. Married. Mother of two sons; step-Mom to a son & daughter and Nana to ten.
Look for her devotionals at Pepe Prays and her blog at Patters Matters.
Patricia has recently completed her first novel - Eleanor, A Stolen Childhood - which is in the process of publication. Her second novel, Priscilla – Hidden in the Shadows is now being written.
by Janis Cox
There are many times that I find myself humming a hymn or praise song. Or I am reading a passage of Scripture and a song comes to mind. I sing it right then as a prayer to God.
This past month this has happened many times. One day I read this passage from Oswald Chambers:
Never let cares or tribulations separate you from the fact that God loves you” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, May 19).
The fact that God cares for us is the name of my blog/website – He Cares for You. Based on 1 Peter 5:7.
Cast all your anxieties upon him because he cares for you.
So what song came to me?
Where did that come from? A hymn of course. And remember this verse from Mark 13:7, NIV.
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Father we pray for those who feel alarmed with health issues, family problems, world situations or personal problems. We ask You to pour out Your Spirit upon them. Help them to know You in a personal way, Jesus. Remind them that we are safe and secure from all alarms. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
Here is the hymn “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”. I hope you enjoy listening and singing with it in prayer.
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Janis, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. She has published two devotionals and a number of articles for magazines and a Bible study. She is owner of Under the Cover of Prayer and moderates the site. She is also a contributor to a group blog called Family and Faith Matters. Janis has completed a children’s book called Tadeo Turtle. She is the author and watercolour illustrator. Word Alive has published Tadeo Turtle. See more information at Janis’s Website.
Places I link to – you would enjoy them
Today we welcome Deb from Jeremiah 29:11. I have copied with her permission a couple of her amazing graphics on prayer. Please visit her site to see the rest of them.
To read more go to Jeremiah 29:11
by Violet Nesdoly (reprinted with permission)
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| “Israel demands a king” J. Winter |
TODAY’S SPECIAL: 1 Samuel 8:1-22
TO CHEW ON:“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, ‘No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.’” 1 Samuel 8:19,20.
The people of Israel were tired of being the only nation without a king. At least that’s what their elders make it sound like when they come to Samuel begging for a change in government style.
Samuel is hurt. It feels to him like the people are rejecting him. (And in a way they are, for his two corrupt sons, the fruit of his own fathering, are the catalyst for the peoples’ request.)
But God makes it clear that Israel’s rejection of the judge mode of government isn’t a rejection of Samuel or his sons so much as a rejection of God himself and His sometimes unorthodox (e.g. a cloud by day and fire by night, judges like Samson and Gideon) but effective methods.
Please go over to Violet’s blog to read the rest of Prayer, not Panic.
Violet freelances in several genres and has been published in a variety of print and online publications. Her articles, stories, and activities have appeared in Keys for Kids, Devotions for Girls, Devotions for Boys, Clubhouse, Guide, Primary Treasure, Partners, Pockets and others. She has also published two books of poetry and is an avid blogger. She is a member of Inscribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship and a professional member of The Word Guild.
by Janis Cox
Here it is Friday morning and as I check Under the Cover of Prayer – I see that I forgot to post something for today. Oops. That’s what comes from having a zillion things going on in my mind. I read Jesus Calling this morning and Sarah Young talked about that very thing. She speaks in Jesus’ words:
“The Peace that I give you transcends your intellect. … I look into your mind and see thoughts spinning round and round: going nowhere, accomplishing nothing” (Jesus Calling, May 31).
The fact that I forgot didn’t upset me. That is a new accomplishment. I am able to rest in Jesus no matter what happens.
So whatever your problems, whatever is happening to you at this moment, rest in the One who can give you Peace.
Lord, although my thoughts sometimes go into overdrive, I thank You for always being there to remind me of what truly matters and that is You. Thank You for being there for me. In Jesus’ name. AMEN
Here is Chris Tomlin singing I Will Rise
There’s a peace I’ve come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul
I can say “It is well”
Janis, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. She has published two devotionals and a number of articles for magazines and a Bible study. She is owner of Under the Cover of Prayer and moderates the site. She is also a contributor to a group blog called Family and Faith Matters. Janis has completed a children’s book called Tadeo Turtle. She is the author and watercolour illustrator. Word Alive has published Tadeo Turtle. See more information at Janis’s Website.
by T. L. Wiens
I stare at the images of Moore, Oklahoma and cry. I listen to the news reports. One reporter says, “it will take days maybe even weeks to rebuild.” What? This is going to take years. Some will never be rebuild (and I’m not just talking about houses.). No one who lived through it will ever be the same. How this disaster changes these people will be up to the individual.
When I read comments on Youtube videos, there are many who doubt the power of prayer. Others who send fire and brimstone messages of judgement to the survivors. Some wonder why these people remain in such a climatically volatile area of the world. There are those who offer help in many different forms including prayer, volunteering and sending money.
What I find most interesting is God comes into the conversation. How could He allow this to happen? Why did He allow this to happen? Funny how God gets the blame when things go bad. And I’m not talking about the judgement crowd that points a finger and accuses.
There is a passage in Scripture that I hold onto when faced with disaster.
Romans 8:27-39 says:
“And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth?
It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I pray for those caught in these storms, facing an unknown future. My hope is not only for their physical safety but also their salvation, their personal understanding of it all. Prayer does make a difference but the answer is not always what we want to hear.
Tammy lives in Saskatchewan with her husband. They have four children. She enjoys gardening, walks along the beach and being on the farm. She has a passion for her faith, studying the Bible and prayer.
She has published two books; Where a Little Rain Comes Down and Making the Bitter Sweet. A short story, “May’s First Christmas” appeared in Christmas Chaos, a collection of stories about Christmas experiences that don’t make the fronts of Christmas cards. “Careful What You Whisper” is another short story about Tammy’s experiences after breaking her back. It can be found in A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider. Visit T. L. Wiens for more information about Tammy’s books and workshops.
Tadeo Turtle for children aged 3-7. Click to find out more.
