PERSONAL
POWER

GOOD
NEWS

• PRAYER (What is prayer? Why pray? How do you pray? When do you pray? Are your prayers fruitful?)

• PRAISE (What are reverential / referal / restoral praises? Do you give praise whole-heartedly? How? Why? When? What is worship?)

• GRATITUDE (What is gratitude? How do you practice and-or experience giving thanks? What is its value? What is contentment?)

• MEDITATION (What is meditation? How do you practice this? What are its benefits if any? What is stillness?)

Prayers are personal; the most intimate of conversations.
Are some DEAD ON ARRIVAL? If so, which ones?

How do you distinguish superstitious practices from wholesome engagement?

"Dear God, grant me victory today over all that assails. Help me square up to even the greatest challenges and claim authority over them, unafraid. Amen."

_ Joshua Dubois

When last did you receive an unequivocal, full, complete, and clear response to your prayer?

PRAYER NOTES

Jesus said

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men … but when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your father who is unseen.

Heart of the Matter

Regarding LIP SERVICE, didn't Isaiah report as follows? Therefore the Lord said, "These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but thier hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men. Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden."

And didn't Mathew (likewise Mark & John) confirm it in this manner? "You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you! These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me." Surely, authenticity, integrity, sincerity - all of enormous enriching value - are the heart to heart and soul to soul of such matters. Isn't that awesome?

CONFIDENCE

John reports, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." Mathew underscores our confidence in this manner: "Do not give dogs what is holy, do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 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."

BELOVED

Do you not find this imagery (considering its time and place, considering its context) quite heart-warming as it is presented here by Mathew's recollection: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of God. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Pinch of a ticklish conversation. Fascinating.

CONNECTED

In one of his letters to those gathered in Thessalonica, Paul offered this sober advice. "Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit."

Dear God, please continue to soften my heart, sharpen my focus, and strengthen my resolve. Amen.

Michell C. Clark

Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.

Oprah