Friday, October 7, 2011

My Little Prayer Box


“I pray that from His glorious unlimited resources, He will empower you with inner strength through His spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.” (Ephesians  3:16-19 NLT)

Several years ago a very special friend presented me with a lovely little prayer box. I learned at that time that prayer boxes are used to collect specific prayer requests by writing down prayers on pieces of paper and inserting them into a box. I began writing down a short prayer for others whenever they needed encouragement or God’s healing touch, and also for my own praises and concerns. Soon, writing down my special little prayer requests became a part of my (almost) daily life! I have since then had to transfer dozens of little pieces of paper into a larger keepsake box, but I still use my little prayer box for my most recent prayers.
The very best gift anyone can give to another is a special prayer request! Our words in prayer carry incredible weight, and praying for another person not only helps that person find God in the midst of trouble, but also helps us recognize the blessings that God gives us daily. I believe that when we pray with confidence, He listens to our requests and that any prayer prayed in the will of God will be answered. All things come by asking and receiving; there can be no confusion that His gifts begin with a sincere and humble request. I don't feel that any prayer request is too big or too small and insignificant; our prayers are a chance to reach out to a loving God who longs to communicate with us!

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of Him.” (l John 5:14-15 NIV)

Does someone come to mind today who needs a little prayer? God shapes the world through our prayer; pray diligently, persistently, and repeatedly!

“I said a prayer for you today, and know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart, although He spoke no word.
I didn’t ask for wealth or fame, I knew you wouldn’t mind, I asked Him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that He be near you at the start of each new day, to grant you health and blessings, and friends to share your way.
I asked for happiness for you in all things great and small, but it was for His loving care I prayed the most of all.” (Unknown)

10 comments:

  1. Hi Denise - what a refreshing slant on prayer. WE speak about how important it is and to pray constantly but your post shows how much weight our prayers for others carry. Great post
    God bless
    Tracy

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  2. Denise, this is a beautiful post. Thank you. You are right, no prayer request is too small or insignificant.
    Enjoy your weekend.

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  3. This was a very beautiful post, thank you for sharing!

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  4. Nice post Denise. I too think that there is nothing you can pray for that is insignificant in God's eyes.
    Blessings...Chelle

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  5. Wonderful post Denise. Oh how we need to be praying daily because many people need our prayers. Thank you for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Ken

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  6. Your post reminded me of an analogy I once heard about prayer. It compared prayer to a life preserver used by a lifeguard when someone is drowning. So often people ask us to pray for them or we know they have a need that we should take to the Lord in prayer, but we don't. In this case, it is like us hearing their cries for help, but standing idly by holding the life preserver. Prayer is taking that "life line" and throwing it out to them. If we truly understood the power available to us through prayer, we would live our days in a constant season of prayer~

    Great post-
    ~Stacy

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  7. Denise, this post is full of truth! Prayer is a two-fold blessing!
    I have so enjoyed your blog! Your kind and gentle posts are guided by God’s Word and encourage us all.
    Each week at www.2encourage.blogspot.com I highlight one of my favorite blogs. I encourage readers to heck it out. I just wanted to let you know that Refine Me will be the featured blog of the week at 2 Encourage from October 9th thru October 15th. May others discover Refine Me and be blessed by your God-inspired words. Thanks for sharing your heart with all of us in the blogosphere!
    Pam

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  8. Denise,

    What an awesome reminder about prayer, I admit that in the past when people have asked me to pray for them I usually forgot to do it. until I was the one asking for prayer and it made me realize how significant it was. It is such an awesome priviledge to pray for someone else,and I feel blessed when they ask me if I will pray for them. that is such a neat idea to keep all my prayers in a prayer box, I think I may start doing that.

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  9. I really enoyed this post. I always try to be grateful in all things. Thanks for sharing this.

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  10. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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