Fervant #A Prayer Strategy #LIFEWAYBOOKREVIEWS

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What does your prayer life look like?

Do you say a quick prayer on your way out in the mornings … or do you often forget? Do you find yourself praying as you turn out the light only to fall asleep and not finish talking to God?

Prayer is a discipline for sure … but did you know that the enemy does whatever necessary to keep you from prayer?

“The enemy will seek to discourage you from doing it. Dissuade you. Disarm you by putting a distaste for prayer in your mouth. He wants to see you passionless, powerless, and prayerless.”                                                                                             Priscilla Shirer

Everyday we are at war.

The enemy has a plan to spiritually bankrupt our lives.

Across the pages of Priscilla Shirer’s book, “Fervent,” there are nuggets of wisdom and strategy. In order to do battle, we have to know how the enemy attacks. We can be sure that everyday he will come against our passion, focus and identity.

He will stop at nothing to attack our families, our confidence and calling. He lies in wait to take our purity, our rest and contentment. He goes after our hearts by wounding and soaking them in anger, hurt and unforgiveness. In addition, he goes after our relationships, causing dissension in our families and the body of Christ.

Many times we don’t recognize the enemy for what he is and does. That very use of deception is part of his strategy; however, we must learn to discern when we are being attacked and battle back.

Its time to do battle on our knees.

Priscilla says … “You and I can come to the Father through the mighty name of Jesus. We can pray like the victorious saints of God we’ve been empowered to be.” 

She says that some days, prayer can start out simply as an obedient appointment, an act of discipline, because its the appointed time that we said we’d be there.

If only we’d keep that appointment like we do a needed doctor’s appointment when sick? What could God do in our lives?

Priscilla says that a good place to start is praying specific scriptures and promises from God’s word. You can never go wrong praying scripture. Often times I will pray Psalms 1 and insert my 3 sons names where the pronouns flow.

“Blessed is Matthew that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But Matthew’s delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth Matthew meditate day and night. And Matthew shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth  for fruit in his season, Matthew’s leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever Matthew doeth shall prosper.”                                                                                           Psalm 1:1-3

That’s the beauty of God’s word … when we don’t know what or how to pray, we can go to scripture.

Praying God’s word simply turbo charges our prayers by reminding God of His promises … and friend, God is the ultimate promise keeper.

Is your prayer life lacking?

Do you have no desire, focus or passion to pray?

Are you hungry for breakthrough and real change? .

There are countless stories and testimonies to fuel you faith and show you just what prayer can do in our lives. Priscilla will walk you through the areas of life the enemy attacks and give you practical application that is easy to follow and incorporate into your daily life.

If you need a strategy against the evil one or wisdom to discern his attacks, this is the book for you. If you long to see God move and restore your passion, peace and contentment … this book is a must have.

Nothing in our lives can change unless we petition the one who can change our circumstances.

“Fervent” is a prayer tool that every Christian needs in their tool box.

Priscilla gives the charge … we are all called to pray. What are you waiting for?

“Four Signs You Are Living A Life That Matters” Day 4 #MakeItCount

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How is your faith today friend?

Is it humming right along with the upbeat Christian song playing on your radio? Or is it sitting in the middle of the wilderness….wallowing in despair?

Does it take a dive and slowly climbs back up to the peaks and then falls again, like a roller coaster ride?

Oh how important our faith meter is in this life.

Faith is the courage to our convictions.

Faith is the assurance to God’s promises.

Faith is the confidence of you future.

But if your faith is broken….your future is broken.

faith roller coaster

Today we finish up with our final sign in the blog series…”Four Signs You Are Living A Life That Matters.”

And so our fourth and final sign is….

You are walking by Faith.

Now you may say…Oh Mel…I am walking in faith. I believe Jesus came to die for me…and HE rose again.

Well great…you hit the salvation absolute on the head!

But is it possible that we can believe in GOD; yet we don’t believe that HE can do specific things in our lives?

A verse in Ephesians eludes to exactly what GOD can do for us….

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20

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Simply put….GOD is telling us…..”Hey child….I can do more than you ask or think of. And not only a little….but exceeding abundantly…beyond your imagination!”

Why do we believe JESUS came back from the dead; yet, we struggle with believing HE can do big things for us?

Coming back from the dead would logically seem the harder thing to believe…wouldn’t you say?

That’s kind of contradictory isn’t it?

I must admit…I haven’t always hung my hat on total faith in GOD.

But HE started taking me to places that only HE could lead me through…and little by little I started learning that….HE’S the only one I can depend on.

And depend on HIM I do….for hope, for joy, for provision, for guidance…and healing. And through my roller coaster ride… something glorious started happening between me and GOD….…I started loving him….and loving him more…and then a little more….and more….and more….now HE is everything to me.

And the more HE shows me, the more I love HIM.

The more HE does for me, the more I depend on HIM.

The more I obey HIM, the more HE blesses me.

And through this gradual metamorphosis of my soul….I’ve learned to listen for those directives that lead to my calling. That calling that has word nerd written all over my DNA and satisfies my soul.

I see it clearly now.

So I step out and walk in faith toward the calling HE is working out as I love on people with words.

I don’t seek fame or fortune…I am compelled to share hope….I can’t not write about how good and faithful HE is.

So what about you?

What does walking in faith look like for you?

Is HE waiting for your total surrender to trust HIM in the murky places of life?

Is HE longing for you to love HIM more than anything in existence?

Is HE telling you to go to the mission field? Adopt a child? Or just wait on HIM to divinely cradle life in your womb?

Is HE leading you to directives that involve finishing your education to prepare for the next level?

Does He want you to change careers and work for purpose….. instead of money?

Sell everything you own and start a ministry?

Is HE calling you to forgive? Let go?  Trust HIM to vindicate you?

It takes great faith to do any of the above….and it may require a great sacrifice; but in the end….when your life is said and done…..what will really matter?

Will it be your bank account, the car you drove or the house you lived in?

Will it matter that you traveled the world or saw the Eiffel Tower?

Will it matter you lived for selfish pleasure or for others?

What will be of value if you don’t live the life GOD is calling you in faith to step out to?

Will it matter in eternity?

Walking in faith is the key to living in the present…. living with purpose….. And living with a sense of urgency. You’ve got to have faith to do all three!

I want my life to count for something. I don’t want to face JESUS one day and realize HE had so much more for me…….if only I had stepped out in faith…..lived with urgency….lived in the present….and with purpose.

I challenge you to sit down and take an inventory of your life. How is your faith meter really?

Do you believe HE can do big things in your life? If yes…why are you not walking in faith toward those things?

Do you worry about what others will think of you? Well quit worrying because that thought is of the Devil.

What will your life reflect after you are long gone friend? Bold faith? Purpose? Wisdom? Faithfulness?

Don’t run out of time friend……

As long as you are breathing….you can start living a life that matters…today.

So what are you waiting for?

love mel