Thursday, October 22, 2009

Marriage Prayer-Thirty Days of Prayer-Day 23

We are on day 23 of our 30 day prayer journey. It is hard to believe that I haven't posted since day 15 ; nevertheless, prayers have continued to go up from 5am-6am daily.
Today we emphasized marriages in our prayers. Of course we started with our own marriage and prayed for our spouses specifically. I would recommend that every husband read the book "The Power of a Praying Husband" by Stormie Omartian. I first read this book back in 2002 and carried it around as a companion to my Bible for three months. I don't read many life changing books, outside of the bible, but for me this was one of them. The author gave me tools how to pray specifically for my wife in areas I would of never thought of. Today we prayed for our wives emotions, motherhood, moods, relationships, priorities, and various other details that we often overlook.
This prayer journey that we have been on has spilled over into my marriage. I have to admit that our prayer life together was lacking. We would come together over needs that may arise, but that is it. For the last three weeks, thanks to some good advice from some marriage mentors we have in our life, we have been able to sit knee to knee, hand in hand, eye to eye and pray for and with each other. It is so amazing how this act knits our hearts to each other and to God simultaneously.
Our marriages need the protection of prayer. There are too many things pulling at us these days to go without praying. A man has to pray to keep his heart pure from sexual temptation, to temper his critical spirit, to find proper value for his wife (I Peter 3:7), and to love his wife like Jesus loves His church (Eph 5:25). A woman has to pray to keep her affections towards her husband, to control angry and hurtful words, to find proper respect for her husband (Eph 5:33), and to submit to Him as unto the Lord (Eph 5:22). All of our hearts get hard at times, bitterness settles in, and hurts can alter our feelings. Prayer is like an antidote for a snake bite, when the remedy of prayer is applied it finds the poison and neutralizes it.
We must fight for times to pray for our spouses. Praying together as a couple and praying individually for each other. My advice if you struggle in this area, like I have, is pray this simple prayer "Lord teach me how to pray for my wife. You know her better than I do, fill my mouth with words and my heart with thoughts that can intimately acquaint me with her ways" (A wife can pray in a similar manner). Also, read good books on the subject and seek counsel from a mature man or woman of God.
God as I end this blog post I want to pray for all my married family, blog readers, Facebook friends, and twitter friends. Father, cause spouses to open their hearts towards one another and towards you. Help them to see the value in each other and may they have mutual love and respect for each other. Lord, help them to overcome the temptations and lures in our world that draw their affections away from each other. Help that man that is trapped in porn and intimate fantasies outside his marriage to get help and be delivered. Help that woman that has a better relationship with her children, coworkers, and girlfriends than her husband to turn her attention to her spouse. Father, marriage is being mocked at today in our society, I ask you to raise up a generation of men and women that honour their marriage vows and will persevere to stay together through all the obstacles of life.
In Jesus name Amen.

Additional resources for your marriage:
Eye to Eye Marriage -Facebook page (become a fan) & Website & Twitter
Living Well-Website
Family Life-Website
Focus on the Family-Website
The great marriage Experience-Website
Marriage Today-Website

We are taking prayer request from all of our friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers so email me at jhill1972@gmail.com

If you would like to receive email updates of my new post click below:
Subscribe to Jonathan's Blog by Email
Don't forget to check your email for confirmation

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Are Facebook Friends Real?-Thirty days of Prayer-Day 15

We are on day number 15 on our 30 day prayer journey. I haven't posted since day 09 but we have been praying, nevertheless. Last week I was on my facebook site and I looked over at the friend counter and saw 444 friends. I was a little shocked that I even know that many people. I figured I had blindly said yes to "friend request" one too many times and there was a bunch of people on there that I didn't even know. But, as I started looking at the list that was not the case at all; going through the list caused me to remember something significant about almost each person.

Then I had one of those God thoughts. Why don't I start praying for my Facebook friends. Over time, Facebook can loose it's thunder so why not put it to good use.
Lisa and I, along with my morning prayer group are taking the first letter of the first names and going A-Z ( a letter or range of letters a day) and praying as the Lord leads us. What has been very humbling about it are the close to forty prayer request we have received from friends old and new. As I expressed in a previous post, friends are important to me, whether over facebook or face to face.

Prayer transcends time, culture, gender, race, relationships, age, social status, geography, religion, politics, and mostly any barrier that it comes in contact with. Jesus taught us that prayer in His name grants us access to the Father, prayer is a vehicle for asking God, prayer is a catalyst for healing, prayer is a weapon of spiritual warfare, prayer is an expression of humility. The bible teaches that prayer should be made for your family, your friends, your coworkers, your leaders, and even your enemies. (Luke 18:1, Matt. 21:21-22, Matt. 5:44)

With the far reaching capability of prayer why not use today's tools such as Facebook, Twitter, myspace, or blogs to pray and serve your friends or followers. Don't just be satisfied with the quantity on your friend or follower count. Put it to a good or should I say a "God" use. Jesus reached multitudes on foot. Didn't he say we would do greater works? (John 14:12) Our social network friends need more than what we can offer them; why not give them one of the greatest gifts, which is heartfelt, sincere prayer to the Father on their behalf. It doesn't matter if they believe in God or not. God is very good at knowing the heart of man and turning it as He wills. Facebook friends are real people with real needs not just a face and status updates.

We are taking prayer request from all of our friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers so email me at jhill1972@gmail.com

If you would like to receive email updates of my new post click below:
Subscribe to Jonathan's Blog by Email
Don't forget to check your email for confirmation

Thursday, October 8, 2009

The Tenderizer-Thirty Days of Prayer-Day 09

We are on Day 09 of our 30 day prayer journey. It is amazing how prayer works. Prayer is like this adhesive agent that binds you in heart to who you are praying to, binds you in heart to the situation you are praying for, and binds you in heart to the people you are praying with. Prayer is like a mallet to a piece of tough meat and it beats on your heart until your heart is tenderized to hear the voice of God and to receive answers from God. I understand why Jesus made statements like this:

Mat 5:44-45 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

The toughest time we have to get our hearts right is when we are wronged against. Praying for the person is the furthest thing from our minds in most cases. Ironically, it is on the only thing that can take the nasty, restraining, and vengeful feeling out of our hearts.

I have to admit 94.5% of the time when I fall on my knees to pray about a situation where I was wronged I lay my heart out to God and He reveals my own faults, then that frees me up to deal with the circumstances calmly and fairly.

It goes like this "Father I need help, this person is getting on my nerves, he isn't listen to me and is so prideful and stuck on himself. I know I am right. Open his eyes to see that he is wrong. Help me to deal with his stubbornness. He just makes me mad." Then I wait a little bit and my words begin to play back in my head and I realize that in my heart I am 2x worse than what I claimed he was. God begins to show me how I treat others, and how I have treated him in the past. God begins to show me blind spots in my character. The holiness of God begins to shine in my life and I begin to feel like an unworthy crumb. Then it all turns when I think of this one point. Jesus died for me in spite of my bad attitudes, pride, and sin. Jesus forgave me so I can forgive this person. I confess my own faults to God and go back to that person and ask them to forgive me even if I only did one thing wrong and they did fifty things to me. THIS IS WHAT PRAYER CAN DO!!!

Eph 2:1-4 (CEV) In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. (2) You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. (3) Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else. (4) But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you.

Prayer to the Father in the name of his son Jesus is the best remedy for all of our heart conditions. The mallet of prayer tenderizes our heart and causes us to remember that we are forgiven and that frees us to forgive. Go and tenderize your heart with prayer.

Like I said in my last post we are taking prayer request from all of our friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers so email me at jhill1972@gmail.com

If you would like to receive email updates of my new post click below:
Subscribe to Jonathan's Blog by Email
Don't forget to check your email for confirmation

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Thirty Days of Prayer-Day 08-Prayer request

Please let me know if you have any prayer request. Email me at jhill1972@gmail.com or comment to this post. We are on Day 08 of our 30 day prayer journey. I know I haven't posted since Day 06, but you are probably hearing too much from me as it is so I will just post periodically versus daily.

Requesting prayer is an act of humility. The mere act speaks volumes and declares your need and dependence on others and on God. No one was created to live this life alone. James 5:16 tell us to "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth (power to accomplish) much." We have been lifting up all of the request that we have been given through email, facebook, twitter, church, and word of mouth. Prayer is like a locomotive, getting it started is kind of slow but once you get going momentum propels you forward. We really feel the momentum to cast all our cares on Jesus and pray for everybody from the President to our old friends. Galatians 6:2 tell us to, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." It is God's will that we humble our selves, pray for others, and bear each others burdens.

Today's focus verse was Romans 12:11-13 and we focused on praying for people by name that they would eagerly serve the Lord in their jobs and in every area of their lives as if they are serving Jesus himself. The passage encouraged us to not be slothful or lazy in our affairs but to have zeal in our service and a fervency in our attitude. That we would never give up and realize that our most menial task has value in God's eyes when we adopt and attitude that we are doing it for Him. We also were reminded in prayer our responsibility to be given to the needs of other people. We recognize that we were created to share and distribute to those in need.

Again if you have any needs we would love to lift them up in prayer.

If you would like to receive email updates of my new post click below:
Subscribe to Jonathan's Blog by Email
Don't forget to check your email for confirmation


Monday, October 5, 2009

Thirty Days of Prayer Day 06-The Greatest Gift

We are at Day 06 of our 30 day prayer journey. It is so amazing how group prayer, even over a conference call line, causes the prayer's hearts to melt together as one. The men on our call have developed a sense of unity, camaraderie, and strength in these short six days. God's word tells us in Ephesians 6:18 to pray at all times for fellow believers. I am convinced that the following quote is true:

"Faithful prayer—whether in public or private—is one of the greatest gifts we can give others." —David McCasland

Your direct prayers to God on other's behalf can accomplish more in another's life than you could directly dealing with the person. Prayer reveals a dependence on God who can see broader, can reach further, can understand better, and can hear clearer. We can offer something greater than ourselves to our friends, families, acquaintances, and even our enemies. When you are wronged and can't work up the nerve to talk to your accuser. The bible tells us the greatest gift you can give them is your prayer. Prayer works on your heart while at the same time bends God's ear to work on the heart of your accuser. Give out the gift of prayer daily and you will find a sense of fulfillment like never before.

Day four was the last time I posted about GOD sized prayers. We are going to keep pressing on. If you have any prayer request please email me at jhill1972@gmail.com . If you would like to join us note that in an email and I will send you the info.

If you would like to receive email updates of my new post click below:
Subscribe to Jonathan's Blog by Email
Don't forget to check your email for confirmation

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Thirty Days of Prayer-Day 04-God sized prayers

Day number four of our 30 day prayer journey. Day three was a blessing so we had great expectations this morning. Our focus scripture this morning was Psalms 62:5 "My soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him." Our expectations can either constrain our faith or expand our faith. All to often this quote that I read from a pastor in Atlanta named Shaun King is true "Can we be honest w/one another? Your prayers are too small. If your prayers could happen without God's intervention, pray again."
Do we have the faith and courage to pray God sized prayers? I confess that over time my prayers turn into only things that I have seen God do before, I call them conventional prayers. For example, we may pray "Lord, help me to pay this bill" and you have the money in the bank but just didn't want to use it on the bill. That is conventional praying; prayers where you really have a few visible choices but it is a matter of choosing which one.
I desire to move my life, my family, the church, and all that God has put within my sphere of influence too GOD SIZED praying. Praying for things that make others look at you like you are crazy. For too long my expectations have been based on my circumstances. We can not let our circumstances whether past, present, or future cause us to mimize our prayers. GOD IS BIG! We need to ask Him for Big things.
The inditing thing about this concept is that we pray according to the way we see God. If we see God as small, deaf, inconsistent, out of touch you will have small, infrequent, inconsistent prayers. If we see God as almighty, all seeing, all knowing, consistent, and acquainted with our ways then we will have Large, confident, bold, audacious, and Heaven shaking prayers.

A few men have decided to pray for 30 days on the phone at 5am. My wife Lisa who originated the idea is doing the same with women. If you have any prayer request please email me at jhill1972@gmail.com . If you would like to join us note that in an email and I will pass you the info.


If you would like to receive email updates of my new post click below:
Subscribe to Jonathan's Blog by Email
Don't forget to check your email for confirmation






Friday, October 2, 2009

Thirty Days of Prayer-Day 03

Day number three of our 30 day prayer journey. We are a few men that in their flesh had no desire to get up at 5am to pray, but in our spirit are fully aware of the need. One of the brothers even confessed when they saw the first email stating 5am prayer he said, "they can have a good time!" He shared that for the last three mornings that God has rolled him out of the bed.
Have you ever went swimming and you hesitated to get in the pool because you knew the water was going to be cold? Then, after you get in the pool you didn't want to get out because the same water you were dreading is keeping you warm? That is the best way I can describe morning prayer with these brothers. The first thought that crosses your mind is, "we need to change this time." Then you hear all of the groggy voices on the phone and think, "how can the dead pray?" LOL! By the time we are done no one wants to get off the phone because the warmth of God's love has so immersed us we don't want to leave the environment. Even though we are on the phone and not physically close we feel like we are in the same room and God is with us.

Today's focus scripture was: Prov 16:3 "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and your thoughts shall be established" Surrender-Surrender-Surrender. Men take charge and control so much we don't surrender our works and plans to the Lord first. I wrote about my struggle with this back in April. A strong thrust in our prayer this morning was for the Lord to order and establish our thoughts. For us to be men that are led by God's Spirit and not our own selfish and ambitious agendas.

Some other random prayers and request:
  • For marriages that are struggling.
  • For our nations leaders that have made confessions and claims as Christians will be invaded by God so that their decisions will honor Christ.
  • We prayed for grace to believe and grace to obey
  • We prayed for the Grace that will cause us to work harder than all our contemporaries
  • We prayed that husbands will create a domain where their wives and children can thrive in their gifts and ministry
  • We repent of unclean things in our own hearts so that our prayers are not hindered
  • We prayed for the fear and torment to be removed of cancer and flu in people's lives
  • We prayed for men that God will teach us what leadership is so that we will be the examples He desire in His church.
This is one of my favorite quotes about prayer, "Real prayer is communion with God, so that there will be common thoughts between His mind and ours. What is needed is for Him to fill our hearts with His thoughts, and then His desires will become our desires flowing back to Him." Aurthur Pink

If you have any prayer request please post a comment or email me at jhill1972@gmail.com . Also, if you would like to join us on the call or in your own respective way send me an email.

If you would like to receive email updates of my new post click below:
Subscribe to Jonathan's Blog by Email
Don't forget to check your email for confirmation

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Thirty Days of Prayer-Day 02

Prayer focus today was out of II Peter 1:4-11 and James 1:27 for us be unspotted from the world and for the divine nature of God to be present in our lives to aid us in escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Random statements and request as the men prayed:

  • We are unworthy unless we are clothed in Christ' Righteousness
  • Our hearts are panting after God as a deer pants for water
  • Lot's of praise from men declaring God as Father, our source, and our sustainer
  • For people to be lights as they go out in the world.
  • Prayed for men that are trapped in pornagraphy and slaves to their genitals to be set free
  • He who the sons sets free is free in deed
  • Prayed for men whose tongues are bound and will not open their mouth to praise you. That men will not be silent and passive in the Kingdom of God but rise up as leaders.
  • Prayed for all suffering with breathing issues during this change of season. Prayed that fear will not grip our hearts and we will be able to pray a prayer of faith when we encounter sicknesses.
  • Prayed for those battling cancer
  • Prayed for missionaries in South Africa and orphanages in Kenya
  • Prayed for wisdom in our jobs as we make daily decisions.
  • Prayed for our church and the church at large to have a hedge of protection about it and that God's amazing grace will cause His people to advance and stand in our declining culture
  • And many other things

What an engergizing time to cry loud with men to our Father...See ya in the morning 5am.

If you have any prayer request please email me at jhill1972@gmail.com , also if you would like to join us on the call or in your own respective way send an email for more information.

If you would like to receive email updates of my new post click below:
Subscribe to Jonathan's Blog by Email
Don't forget to check your email for confirmation