I had an altogether different agenda for work this afternoon with no plans to blog but the Holy Spirit is stirring something in me with such force that I don’t want to resist it.
The word setting fire to my heart this moment is Colossians 4:2 –
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Nothing is going to sound new or fresh in what I’m about to say because we’ve all heard it over and over again but sometimes it’s a timing thing. In other words, we’ve heard something a million times but all the sudden, with explanations known to God alone, the thing clicks and the breakthrough comes.
Here goes:
WE’VE GOT TO PRAY.
WE’VE GOT TO BECOME PEOPLE OF PRAYER.
WE’VE GOT TO PRESS IN MUCH FURTHER AND BELIEVE GOD TO BE MUCH BIGGER.
WE’VE GOT TO CEASE LETTING PRAYER BE OUR WEAKEST SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE.
WE’VE GOT TO STEP IT UP AND WIELD THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT IN RELENTLESS INTERCESSION.
WE’VE GOT TO GO FURTHER THAN WE’VE GONE BEFORE IN PRAYER. PRESS HARDER. THINK HIGHER. DIG OUR KNEES IN DEEPER.
WE WILL NOT LIVE BOLDER THAN WE PRAY.
THERE ARE PARTS OF OUR CALLINGS, WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND DEFEATS OF THE DARKNESS THAT WILL COME NO OTHER WAY THAN FURIOUS, FERVENT, FAITH-FILLED, UNCEASING PRAYER.
It’s time we quit falling asleep in prayer. It’s time we quit practicing a prayer routine that bores us to tears. It’s time our quiet times ceased to be quiet. There are battles to be won. Works to be done. The kinds which only come through prayer, prayer, and more prayer.
It’s time we quit depending on someone else to do it for us.
It’s time for each of us to see in the mirror one of the most powerful people of prayer we may ever meet.
It’s time we prayed like we believed the risen Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, was right in our very presence. Because He is.
This is what Colossians 4:2 says:
Continue steadfastly in prayer.
Don’t give up several days in. Don’t get all whiny. Don’t get all offended because God doesn’t appear to answer right away. Persevere. Keep praying. Keep believing. There are muscles God means to strengthen. It’s about the means as much as the end. Did God clearly promise in His Word what you are asking for? Then do not shrink back. Or is there a precedent in Scripture for what you’re asking in prayer? Then keep telling Him what it is, asking Him if He’d be glorified in granting your request and, if not, to remove or quiet your desire.
Persist. That’s what Luke 11:5-10 and 18:1-8 are all about.
We are warriors. Victors. More than overcomers. Bloody and bruised, we still get back up. Lip busted, we open back up our mouths – this time the louder – and call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised and so shall we be saved from our enemies. (Psalm 18:3)
Being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
This is key. We’ve got to keep our eyes wide open. We can close our eyes during prayer if we need to but then, for crying out loud, let’s get those things open and let God see the whites of our eyes, ready and watchful. Let’s expect something, for Heaven’s sake. Jesus promised us in John 5:17 that God is always at work. When we get a glimpse of His activity or the slightest hint of answered prayer, let’s thank Him for it right then and there. For instance, have you been praying for someone dear to you to be set free from an area of tremendous bondage? While you wait for the huge breakthrough, can you see any glimpses that God is at work? Then thank Him for it. Applaud Him. Like Elijah who knew it was going to rain the moment he saw a cloud the size of a man’s fist, believe with all your heart that He who began a good work WILL be faithful to complete it.
We can be so preoccupied looking to the horizon for the huge thing that we miss the glorious mosaic of a hundred scattered pieces of answered prayer right at our feet. God is rarely up to only one thing. Our nature is to look for the big finish. His is to call us into constant and daily communion, working through every circumstance, tweaking and turning and tying and telling. He’s teaching our tongues the art of tasting in a world trained to binge.
We’re looking for the string of pearls. He’s planting one pearl here. Another pearl there. The full stretch of our lifetime is the string. We won’t see how those jewels all came together on the one strand until we study them under the light of His glorious presence. In the meantime, let’s ask God to make us alert and give us eyes to see where He’s working on the way to the divine achievement we’re longing for. And let’s respond with hearts full of gratitude and mouths full of praise.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
The Apostle Paul’s next words represent a concept that is crucial to the well-being of our souls. Colossians 4:3 –
At the same time, pray also for us…
At the same time we are praying and watching and waiting, we will be vastly helped and blessed and connected by praying fervently for other people. Intercession for others becomes a guard against the narcissism of this present culture seeping right through the screen door of our prayer closets. A stunning number of Christians don’t believe in praying for themselves at all. Others have global vision the length of their noses and don’t believe in praying for anyone besides themselves. The counsel of the Scriptures is to pray for others and to pray for ourselves.
But, for the love of God, PRAY.
There is no other way.
We’ve got to wake up and pray.
In Jesus’ Name.
Like those who believe He hears.
Satan wants you to quit praying. He wants you to believe God isn’t paying one whit of attention to you. That He’s moved on without you. That you don’t matter. There’s only one thing to do with that. Pray twice as much. With twice the faith. And a thousand times the thanks.
Get up and pray.
We’ve got one shot at this earthly life. Good Lord, let’s make it count.
This post is for me. I hear you, Lord. Thank you, Beth and LPM. Love y’all!
Amen, amen, amen. How I needed to hear that! Thank you Beth.
Our pastor just said yesterday about the upcoming weeks, “We are pausing from our current series, to PRAY.”
Beth, I love your studies, always meet with God in a fresh way through them; they’ve been used repeatedly to re-train a wayward soul in the way of God. I feel very drawn to the book of Hosea these days, perhaps I’m overwhelmingly mindful of my need to know (like really know) God’s great hesed – or lovingkindness, his faithfulness to his covenant and his great love and goodness towards me.
Anyway, I’m ashamed to admit, but the Scriptures usually don’t come alive to me on my own like they do through a study, where you’ve basically helped to digest and make it relevant to me. That’s cool, but sooner or later you’ve done them all, you know? There’s something in me that wants to enter the journey of discovery on my own, to take the adventure and go deep in study, but I lack discipline, or the hard work of prayer, or something else. It’s just dry.
Would love it if you would post a blog sometime for those of us who want to go deep – surely I’m not the only one 🙂 – maybe even have the tools to do so, heck I’m seminary trained for crying out loud (I realize a credential does nothing for the heart), but still, I know how to look up a cross reference, do a word study, read a commentary, I even learned Greek (and forgot it) – but I just lack something – unction, maybe. Or focus? It’s as if I’m so overly familiar I’m bored. When I feel God, or am struck anew by something, that boredom is overcome. As in when I do one of your studies. But somehow this familiarity is a stumbling block when I do it on my own. Do you know what I’m talking about? I’m not even sure I know what I’m talking about. 🙂
I’m tempted to conclude that I just lack the gift and need to wait on someone to write on Hosea so I can learn, or just go and peruse the lifeway bookshelves for something that surely won’t disappoint. But even still, there’s something that pricks my heart to go for it. A restlessness that won’t let go. But I just really don’t know where to start or what to do for it to come alive to me – not just going through the motions which I’ve done a hundred times before.
Maybe it’s just reality – there are dry times, but you press through them, and pray harder to get to the other side? I fear legalism though, and this seems a bit legalistic to just “try harder” when you come up short. Can you speak to this? I really want to meet God on the sacred page, but my own lack (unbelief?) causes me to fall short over and over again. I quit before I’ve even begun. Can anyone else relate? It’s kind of a metaphor for the whole of my life right now, feeling stuck, wanting more, but cautious to even try, skeptical things will never change. Blah, blah, blah. You get my drift.
If you’ve not got the time to post or are not Spirit-led to do so, no big deal, maybe you can just say a little prayer for me, and others like me. 🙂 I would be grateful. I so want the joy you have.
I have been in your shoes for the past few years. Yes, I love God’s Word. I love scripture verses. I want to pray but found it (find it) hard. What did I need? I needed someone to kick me with their spurs. I needed a challenge. I needed to look at the scripture through a different light.
The Bible doesn’t just provide knowledge. And that is what I had been using it for. Knowledge.
The Bible also fills a need inside us a need to know God and learn of Him and his ways to draw closer to Him.
I am married to an unsaved man, stay at home mom, I have a rough and tumble two year old and 3 teenage steps sons. With a lot of things in our circumstances it has been hard for me to go to church faithfully and connect with other believers. I love the LORD, but finding that joy was hard.
Then God sent the Jehovah’s witnesses to my door. And I tell you, for the first time I did not throw their literature away. I took it as a challenge to hold it up to the Word of God and to examine all the statements that they have made. They said they would be back, and I want to be prepared. If God is going to bring someone to MY door that wants to talk about the Bible, then by all means I should be ready to spread the good news.
It is so enlivening to study the Bible anew. With Fresh eyes. To thoroughly examine what I really believe.
If you want a challenge that will get you into the scripture and make you love studying it. Try writing down all of your core beliefs. (I believe that Jesus is God etc, etc.) THEN go find scripture verses to BACK UP what you believe. You might learn new things about God along the way. Actually let me say–you WILL learn new things about God along the way.
Use your study helps. Dig into the meaning of the words in the verses.
Remember, God’s Word will not return to Him void. That is a promise.
Go for it.
your sister in Christ,
Katie
Yes!! I agree completely Beth! PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!! “We cannot live bolder than our prayers”…so true! Beautifully said!
Hi. My name is Arleen from Southern California
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 niv
Beth-Thank you so much for this encouragement!!! I am the leader of your Bible Study…Believing God, and it is tough to not pray and believe God. I know God ordained this study for our group, it is so pertinent to each of us in our group!! Love it when God orchestrates!! Keep up your studies, it has changed each of our lives so much, that only in eternity will we really know how very much. Even before the study, I was struggling soooooo much with prayer, I really have not gotten where I need to be and I am not sure why…but I keep hearing it taught, and more importantly, know it is the only thing that will change my life and those around me!! Please pray…I am struggling with my prayer life!! Thanks so much and God’s best blessings on your ministry!!
The lord has use u to remind me about Prayer.Am about to start a prayer group in my church.This has really stare my spirit.I love your last statement,cos there i feel as if am no longer important to God that y my prayers has not been answered.Thank you God bless you.I know He loves me and Cares for me.
Perfect timing, it is easy to get discouraged, so thankful God has given us a family to cheer each other on. Keep running the race.
Loved this post so much. Just sat in awe during our ladies Bible Study– surrounded by the most powerful prayer warriors you ever saw – clad in infinity scarves and cute earrings. Some testifying today re: answered prayers. Helps me stay the course.
Also, your OpenLetter gives courage. He is just always working things together, isn’t He!? God bless you on 20 years of His faithful use of your ministry with Lifeway. I have been so blessed through your studies.
Beth,
You may not remember, but some years ago you were scheduled to do a conference at my church, Living Hope Baptist in Bowling Green, KY. You found out your daughter was going to be on the homecoming court so you weren’t going to be able to make it. The leadership team of our women’s ministry might have been very disappointed but for one fact… Instead of cancelling the event you were gracious enough to reschedule. I can’t begin to tell you how much that meant to me and all of those who were registered.
Thank you for being you.
Rick Howerton
Discipleship and Small Group Specialist, LifeWay Church Resources
I’m sitting here just bawling. Because this is what I needed to here. Yes I get all what you said with the boredom of trying to pray. Its great how God works. I’ve been wanting to contact you and didn’t know how. I attended your 2014 simulcast. I had strong feeling to start a women’s group but ignored it. I have been lost for a few months now because it was all about what I wanted and not listening to God. So Its all finally caught up with me and I’m mentally and physically drained. I knew in my heart all I need to do is pray. But did not. Not till here recently. I remembered my hearts desire to Gods calling from your simulcast. Start a Group. I’ve had someone tell me they need me and I didn’t really know this person. But she was just needing a friend and says that I should Start a Group. Now I’m like I know God is trying to speak to me. But still not ready to listen.
On top of all that I feel so lost because I’m having a hard time connecting at my church home. I’ve felt this way for awhile now. (since September) Wasn’t sure where I belong. What i’m suppose to do? Where am I suppose to go? What is God wanting me to do? Just so many questions. Feeling like there is no answer.
Been trying different churches for a while now. I think its just as important for me to like the church as well as the kids. The kids and I loved the one I visited over Christmas but Its so far away. Can’t afford to go back and forth. Went back to old church. Felt great but something’s missing. Then to another closer to home. I loved it but the kids do not. Bummer. Then this past Sunday I visited a Church I visited a while back. The First time I visited Trinity. I thought wow this has Christ here and understand more now. So I thought my friend and I could try this. I liked it of course. The kids adored it and want to go back. But I was afraid that I’m not listening to God. All I want to do is follow him. Is this where I’m suppose to be? I’ve been asking God to help me because I’m so lost.
Ok so my point is my friend and I went to Trinity church this past Sunday. The message was great. Loved it and felt maybe this is it. Not until Now do I feel like God is helping me. Today I decided to open your booklet from Simulcast this past year and was reading through it and checking out all the Study’s there are. Still feeling like is this my want or Gods want. This is want I really want to do. Start a Group. Then I opened the Trinity bulletin. And see that one of the Studies you have in your booklet the church will be starting “What is Love” Study. I really feel like this is where I want to start. And pray that in time God will Show me and direct me into a group if its his will. Sorry to ramble. It was on my heart to share. Thanks to God for you Beth.
God, we come into your Temple. There we think about your love.
Psalm 48.9 (ICB)
So glad I went back and read this post. Sitting here wondering why I am so slow and lazy about praying lately. Thank you God for sending Beth a message to light my fire again. Going to pray and pray and pray.
Jennifer Chandler, Mason Hall, TN- “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
Wow, that really resonated in my heart! Thanks so much. I am printing it out, hightlighting it, and reviewing it often this year and may be my next memory verse!! LOL!
Just had to give you a little testimony about your prayer letter.
I’m facilitating your Breaking Free Bible Study and we just finished week 3. For the past few days I’ve been praying for an extra something to hand out to the sisters. One of the ladies in the night class sent me this and was saying how great it was, well I read and loved and copied for the class. I also shared how God answes all our prayers no matter how small we may think they are. I believe with all my heart that you writing this out of your normal routine was God’s answer to my prayer, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. God bless you and your precious family for all you do. Several years ago God used you to set a fire in me to know Him better through His Word. Thank you so much.
Sister in Christ, Connie
AMEN!!! I keep my “phone” line open to Him continuously!!! But, I still needed to hear that. Thank you for your encouragement. Praise God for the blessing you are to us that know you. You have helped me to grow in Christ so much deeper and for that I will give thanks to God for bringing you into my life. As I work on Children of the Day Chapter 2 day 5 and am asked to write down names of those handful of people that have an abiding inward affection I think of you. Every winter I long for the next study we will have at church that Beth is doing. What is especially nice now is that I don’t have to wait for winter – I can connect with you here and especially with our Scripture Memory Challenge! Thank you so much for your word that comes at the right moments! God bless you Beth, my sister in our precious Lord Jesus.
I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23:12
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Col 4 :2 NIV
Thank you for this post. I used to compare myself to those who rose before dawn for their quite time, but after years of failed attempts (I’m simply not a morning person), I found that praying with eyes-wide-open and often throughout my day works well for me. There are still times I will stop what I’m doing and drop to my knees (I don’t work outside the home) when I sense warfare going on, but it works best for me to simply go to the Lord when the Spirit lays something or someone on my heart. Each of us are unique and need to find what works best for ourselves, without holding ourselves (like I did) to what works for someone else, then feeling like a failure when we can’t follow through. Only wish I’d figured that out a long time ago.
Thank you for this. It is my most passionate thought and ever laid upon my heart. Prayer!! Pray unceasingly! Pray at all times!
I needed to hear that! Thanks for the encouraging word!
We are also doing Breaking Free at my church and thought it would be a good thing to copy this for the ladies. Please pray that I will be more faithful to pray as I should.
AMEN! Thank you for your boldness! I love your deep love for the Lord and His Word and for Kingdom of God work. I printed this email and brought it to share with my prayer team at church. I love how your ministry sharpens me and spiritually empowers me.
May the Lord stir the hearts of all believers, the entire body of Christ worldwide to realize the power of prayer and all of our spiritual blessings in Christ. May we not love the world, and live with our sights on eternity, lost souls and God’s glory!
So teach me to number my days that I might present to you a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12(NASB with slight changees)
DeLand, Florida
Psalm: 23:3 Life Application Study Bible
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths bringing honor to His name.
Shelly Albertville
“Forget the former things:
do not dwell on the past.
Isaiah 43:18 NIV
Ashley Norris – Hephzibah, Georgia
Philippians 3:13-14 NIV
“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind me and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us.
Psalms 90:17
Dottie Harris
Stedman NC
Even into your old age I am He and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made I have bear; I will carry and I will save. Isaiah 46:4 ESV
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” ~Acts 20:24~
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress. I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2
Melodie Ocampo from Bullhead City AZ, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father.” Eph 3:14 ESV
O Lord, since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
-Psalm 31:3 (NIV)
marla svedeman, San Antonio, Texas
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
The Lord your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will refoice over you with singing.
Mallory Barker, Floyds Knobs, Indiana
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 ASV
2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Donalee Cushman, Houston, TX
Mark 10:14 KJV
“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
Siestas 6
She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs at the days to come. NIV Proverbs 31:25
Diane, Lenexa, KS
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18
Now may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:13 NASB
Kristi S. Rogersville TN
Ephesians 6:14 NASB
Stand firm therefore having girded your loins with
with truth and having put on the breastplate of
righteousness.
Marie
Byhalia, MS
Job 23:10 ESV
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
Great Post. I especially liked your statement about how the boldness of our prayers effects the boldness in which we live our lives. This is one of those statements I will forever keep in mind. Thanks!
I too want to thank you for this post – thank you for listening to the Holy Spirit’s moving you to speak about it!! And in that respect, I want to say “Thank you Lord for your encouragement”! Because I have been listening to the enemy tell me I am doing it all wrong and God isn’t hearing me and yet, I see Him working in the small ways in my life. It’s my prayers for my loved ones that seem to be going unanswered – but as you, Beth, pointed out that I keep looking for the big finish. Thank you for the admonition to be thankful for the “glorious scattered mosaic pieces”, because I haven’t been as excited about them. Plus your point about the fact that our sweet Lord wants us to be in constant communion with Him, helps me not to listen to the hope sucker. I will turn my attention back to my Savior, continue my praying and BELIEVE!!
Greetings Dear Beth and anyone who’s reading this! I don’t know who you are and I’ve never heard of this ministry but I do know God just spoke mightily to me through it. A few weeks ago I purposed in my heart that I was going to get on my knees and pray every morning and read some in my bible before I started my day I did it for a week or so maybe a little longer and I began to see those little things happening, not the whole necklace, just like you said and I was encouraged but then I began to slack off from my prayer time and in a day or so I wasn’t praying anymore but I still felt the spirit of God pricking me to begin again not to quit. I said to myself when I woke up this morning I’ve got to pray but before I knew it, it was time to leave for work and I prayed while driving to work but it’s just not the same! God does not want our left over time. He wants our best time. He must be first. He is a jealous God who knows the debth of our hearts. He even says that he knows our thought afar off. After I prayed my prayer I said Lord if I were you I’d just strike me dead right here and now! I wrestled with him. I said why do you even keep speaking to my heart? Why do you even care? I’m 58 years old! You saved me when I was 27 and I’ve done nothing but let you down and fail you time and time again! I said Lord I know my time is running out don’t let me dye and go to a burning hell! He just simply said, “My Mercy endureth forever, my ways are as different from yours as the heavens are high from the earth, and as far as the east is from the west, you don’t really know me like I want you to and the only way to know me is to seek me with your whole heart by praying, reading my word and fasting! Beth there was a time in my life when I people would actually tell me. You know you can be so heavenly minded that you no earthly good and that hurt so bad but looking back, it was really a compliment whether they meant it that way or not! I was close to God and I knew it. There was power in my life! I was doing the things that people of God should do! Holding women’s prayer meetings in my home, reading, praying, fasting, visiting the sick and shut ins, helping the poor, actually hunting things to do for God! I want that back so bad. You know the Word says to do your first works over and that’s what I’m trying to do and that starts with prayer and seeking him above all else! I always prop my phone up on my computer monitor at work and I did that when I got to work this morning and I seen a message pop up sometime before I went to lunch and it just said “to my family, you’ve got to read this post, it was from a distant relative but I knew I had to read it. When I went to lunch, I thought about it and pulled it up and thought I don’t have time to read it right now. I’ll read it when I get home. When I read it I knew God was speaking to me through you! You are exactly right about Prayer! It’s the key that unlocks any door that’s why it’s so hard to do!!! The Devil knows that if you pray As d pray long enough and loud enough God will hear and answer! Prayer is faith and faith pleases God! If you are praying you have faith or you would not be praying! satin hates that so he will do anything in his power to keep you from praying! I just want to thank you for fanning the flame into a fire in my life tonight ! This spirit of God is shut up in my bones and prayer sets it free to move mountains and there are some mighty big mountains around me that are about to be cast into the sea because of this message God gave you to get to his people who are trying to seek him! I believe the seas are gonna get a little bit bigger because a lot of Gods people are gonna get ahold of this message and powerful faith filled prayers are gonna bring down every strong hold holding us back! Prayer Is The Key! If you study the word prayer it means to beg and I want to be the biggest begged ever when it comes to prayer! God Bless You And Thanks Be To God For You!!!
WOW. So needed this right now at this second! His timing is so perfect to know it is him and it is for me. And Beth, you are an amazingly anointed woman of God! Thank you Jesus for your word
Your blog about prayer has really encouraged me.
ASAP–always say a prayer.
Thank you so much for writing this. I needed this more than you know. I know this is an old post but this pertains to EXACTLY what I am going through.
ASAP–always say a prayer, as soon as possible.
God bless.
God bless you for submitting to the urging of the Holy Spirit. This Word from the Lord, through you, was also for me. Have been having real trouble getting down to prayer except for spurts of prayer. God does still call me to notice his creation and I have tear filled and joyous times in prayer, but something keeps holding me back and getting in the way. Pray please that I will stand strong in prayer and Will pray through the Word and have stronger faith by being in His Word and with Him without ceasing. Must stop laying down on the job. Thank the dear Lord for this timely Word. Please pray with me that I won’t forget it. My heart aches to be strong living proof by, for and in Jesus Christ.