Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is James 4:3 which reads: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Herbert Lockyer. He said, "Prayer, to the patriarchs and prophets, was more than the recital of well-known and well-worn phrases. It was the outpouring of the heart. Beset by perils, persecutions, pain and privations, they naturally turned to God in their need, believing that He was able to redeem them out of their troubles." …

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Matthew 26:41, which reads: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

While the disciples were sleeping, they lost the benefit of joining in Christ’s prayer. "Watch yourselves, and pray yourselves. Watch and pray against this present temptation to drowsiness and security; pray that you may watch; beg of God by his grace to keep you awake, now that there is occasion.’’ When we are drowsy in the worship of God, we should pray, as a good Christian once did, "The Lord deliver me from this sleepy devil!’’ Lord, quicken thou me in thy way, Or, "Watch and pray against the further temptation you may be assaulted with; watch and pray lest this sin prove the inlet of many more.’’ When we find ourselves entering into temptation, we have need to watch and pray. Jesus kindly excused for them; "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." We do not read of one word they had to say for themselves (the sense of their own weakness stopped their mouth); but then he had a tender word to say on their behalf, for it is his office to be an Advocate; in this he sets us an example of the love which covers a multitude of sins. He considered their frame, and did not chide them, for he remembered that they were but flesh; and the flesh is weak, though the spirit be willing.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Prayer is a time saver. If you pray before doing anything at all, you will find that you can get it done faster and better than if you had not prayed.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from W. H. Auden. He said: "To pray is to pay attention to someone other than one's self. Whenever a man so concentrates his attention on the True God -- that he completely forgets his own ego and desires, he is praying."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 19 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

If New Testament Christians had the right idea of serving the Lord, then we have the wrong idea. If they were right so to pray, then we are wrong not to pray as much as they did. If we do not follow the examples of the heroes of the Bible in prayer, then our prayerlessness is sin.

And if we compare ourselves with missionaries William Carey, Adoniram Judson, and Hudson Taylor, how glaring is the sin of our prayerlessness.

When our prayerlessness is compared with the prayers of David Brainerd, who spent days in fasting and prayer, often kneeling in the snow in the primitive forests begging God for the salvation of Indians, how insincere seem our excuses for not winning souls.

+ Plus, listen to Lecrae singing "Prayin' for You"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 145:18, which reads: “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Ever Garrison. He said, "Some stand on tiptoe trying to reach God to talk to him – you try too hard, friend – drop to your knees and listen to him, he’ll hear you better that way."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Matthew 26:41, which reads: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

While in the Garden of Gethsemane, preparing to be betrayed by Judas, Jesus gave his disciples good counsel: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation." There was an hour of temptation drawing on, and very near; the troubles of Christ were temptations to his followers to disbelieve and distrust him, to deny and desert him, and renounce all relation to him. There was danger of their entering into the temptation, as into a snare or trap; of their entering into a parley with it, or a good opinion of it, of their being influenced by it, and inclining to comply with it; which is the first step toward being overcome by it. He therefore exhorts them to watch and pray; Watch with me, and pray with me.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Prayer is like any other important discipline in the Christian life. If you don't do it, you won't reap the benefits and blessings that God wants you to have. If you want to reap the benefits and blessings of prayer, then you need to Just Pray!

Our prayer motivator quote today is from R.A.Torrey. He said: "Every true revival . . . has had its earthly origin in prayer."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 18 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

When saintly men got together at Antioch---Barnabus, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen and Saul---they ministered to the Lord and fasted until the Holy Ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." And then we are told they prayed more and fasted more, "And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."

That is the secret of all great missionary movements. "Prayer," "ministering to the Lord," "fasting," and again "prayer and fasting!" All of our alibis for the lack of the power of the Spirit of God which was manifest in New Testament times can properly be ignored. The real difference between New Testament churches and the churches of today, between New Testament preachers and the preachers of today, between New Testament Christians and the Christians of today is in the matter of prayer and the power that comes through prayer!

+ Plus, listen to Israel Houghton singing "Prayer of the Righteous" …

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 62:8 which reads: “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Here we also have David’s exhortation to others to converse with God. "Pour out your heart before him." The expression seems to allude to the pouring out of the drink-offerings before the Lord. When we make a penitent confession of sin our hearts are therein poured out before God. But here it is meant of prayer, which, if it be as it should be, is the pouring out of the heart before God. We must lay our grievances before him, offer up our desires to him with all humble freedom, and then entirely refer ourselves to his disposal, patiently submitting our wills to his: this is pouring out our hearts. What encouragement he gives us to take this good counsel: "God is a refuge for us," not only my refuge, but a refuge for us all, even as many as will flee to him and take shelter in him. He cautions us to take heed of misplacing our confidence, in which, as much as in any thing, the heart is deceitful. Those that trust in God truly will trust in him only, and will humbly offer up prayers to Him.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: You will never "find" time to pray, you must choose to "make" time to pray. The devil will try to keep you back from praying by bringing things to your mind that you may need to do but that can wait until later to be done. Don't let the devil talk you out of praying to God.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Billy Graham. He said: "The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal and bless. The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 17 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

In Bible times the Temple was literally "a house of prayer," and was intended to be that for all people. Bible Christians fasted, they prayed in sackcloth, they wept while they prayed, they often watched all night in prayer. Paul and Silas prayed at midnight in the jail at Philippi. A little group at the home of Mary prayed long hours until Peter was released from jail.

Before Pentecost the apostles and Mary and the brothers of Jesus and some others "continued with one accord in prayer and supplication," until the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them as promised. Later when the apostles called for some deacons to take over the business of waiting on poor widows they promised, "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word" --- prayer first, preaching second!

+ Plus, listen to Deitrick Haddon singing "Prayer Changes Things"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Philippians 4:19 which says: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Joni Eareckson Tada. She said, "Like art, like music, like so many other disciplines, prayer can only be appreciated when you actually spend time in it. Spending time with the Master will elevate your thinking. The more you pray, the more will be revealed. You will appreciate not only the greatness of prayer, but the greatness of God."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 62:8 which reads: “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Here we have David's exhortation to others to trust in God and wait upon him, and [to pour out their hearts in prayer,] as he had done. Those that have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves will invite others into those ways; there is enough in God for all the saints to draw from, and we shall have never the less for others sharing with us. He counsels all to wait upon God, as he did. Observe that to whom he gives this good counsel: You people (that is, all people); all shall be welcome to trust in God, for he is the confidence of all the ends of the earth. You people of the house of Israel (so the Chaldee); they are especially engaged and invited to trust in God, for he is the God of Israel; and should not a people seek unto their God? We also notice the good counsel which he gives --- to confide in God. We must have a habitual confidence in God always, must live a life of dependence upon him, must so trust in him at all times as not at any time to put that confidence in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only; and we must have an actual confidence in God upon all occasions, trust in him upon every emergency, to guide us when we are in doubt, to protect us when we are in danger, to supply us when we are in want, to strengthen us for every good word and work, and to answer our prayers.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Many people do not like to pray because prayer to God will convict you to get sin out of your life. In order to effectively get through to God in prayer, we must be willing to confess and repent of our sins and allow God to create within us a clean heart so that He will not only hear us but answer us.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Melvyn Faith. He said: "To make the most of your time, take time to PRAY."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 16 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

The best example of prayer that we should follow is Jesus Christ. Great multitudes came together to hear Him and to be healed. Luke 5:16 says, "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed." In the next chapter in Luke 6:12 we are told, "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."

And most of us forget that when Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration, and was glorified before the disciples, He had gone there to pray, and "as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered," Luke 9:28-29 tells us. Most of us have forgotten that Jesus was praying when the disciples asked Him to teach them to pray and He gave the Lord's Prayer. It was Jesus' praying that led to the great confession by Peter that Jesus was "the Christ of God," as you see in Luke 9:18-21. When Jesus said to His Father in John 11:42, "I knew that thou hearest me always," He must have meant, too, that He prayed always.

God forgive us that we do not pray as Jesus prayed. Our prayerlessness shows how we ignore God's commands to pattern after Jesus.

+ Plus, listen to Babbie Mason singing "Pray On"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is 1 Chronicles 16:11 which reads: "Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Jerry Bridges. He said, "The great antidote to anxiety is to come to God in prayer. We are to pray about everything. Nothing is too big for Him to handle, and nothing is too small to escape His attention."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Matthew 7:7-11 which reads: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

God knows what we need and He encourages our prayers and expectations. We may hope that we shall not be denied and disappointed: we shall not have a stone for bread, to break our teeth, nor a serpent for a fish, to sting us; we have reason indeed to fear it, because we deserve it, but God will be better to us than the desert of our sins. The world often gives stones for bread, and serpents for fish, but God never does; nay, we shall be heard and answered, for children are by their parents. God has put into the hearts of parents a compassionate inclination to succour and supply their children, according to their need. Even those that have had little conscience of duty, yet have done it, as it were by instinct. No law was ever thought necessary to oblige parents to maintain their legitimate children, nor, in Solomon’s time, their illegitimate ones. He has assumed the relation of a Father to us, and owns us for his children; that from the readiness we find in ourselves to relieve our children, we may be encouraged to apply ourselves to him for relief and answers to prayer. What love and tenderness fathers have are from him; not from nature but from the God of nature; and therefore they must needs be infinitely greater in himself.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: In this life, you will need to learn to pray when you feel like praying and pray even when you don’t.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Richard J. Foster. He said: "Prayer involves transformed passions. In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God's thoughts after Him: to desire the things He desires, to love the things He loves, to will the things He wills."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 15 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

For a final proof that prayerlessness is a sin, we need but examine the records concerning Bible Christians. How they prayed! If those who pleased God best prayed continually, prayed persistently, prayed through gloriously, then surely we sin when we do not pattern after them.

The best example is Jesus Himself. We are told in Matthew 14:23 that "he went up into a mountain apart to pray." People brought Him little children that Matthew 19:13 tells us, "he should put his hands on them, and pray." In the Garden of Gethsemane He said, "Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder." "He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed," according to Mark 1:35. God forgive us that we do not pray as Jesus prayed.

+ Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "Pray"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Micah 7:7 which reads: "Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from John Selden. He said, "Prayer should be short, without giving God Almighty reasons why he should grant this, or that; he knows best what is good for us."…

Our prayer motivator verses for today are Matthew 7:7-11 which read: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

We must come to him for good things, for those he gives to them that ask him; which teaches us to refer ourselves to him; we know not what is good for ourselves, but he knows what is good for us, we must therefore leave it with him; Father, thy will be done. The child is here supposed to ask bread, that is necessary, and a fish, that is wholesome; but if the child should foolishly ask for a stone, or a serpent, for unripe fruit to eat, or a sharp knife to play with, the father, though kind, is so wise as to deny him. We often ask that of God which would do us harm if we had it; he knows this, and therefore does not give it to us. Denials in love are better than grants in anger; we should have been undone ere this if we had had all we desired.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: The only way to get true wisdom is by simply praying and asking God for it. It is a free gift of the grace of God, as is your soul’s salvation.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Robert Leighton. He said: "An angelic life is one that is spent between ascending in prayer to fetch blessings from above, and descending to scatter them among men."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 14 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

An old proverb says, "Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees." And well he may, if that saint really, directly, and persistently calls for God to help him against sin and to keep him out of temptation and to defeat the Evil One.

The great John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress, wrote, "Prayer will make a man cease from sin, as sin will entice a man to cease from prayer."

No doubt all of our sins stem from our prayerlessness. No doubt sincere and wholehearted prayer, in totalitarian prayer, is the remedy for and victory over our sins.

+ Plus, listen to Andre Crouch singing "Pray"…

Our prayer motivator verses from the Word of God today are Luke 2:36-37 which read: "And there was one Anna, a prophetess...And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Ronald Reagan. He said, "We seek a constitutional amendment to permit voluntary school prayer. God should never have been expelled from America's classrooms in the first place."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Matthew 7:7 which reads: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Conditional grants become absolute upon the performance of the condition; so here, he that asketh, receiveth. Christ hereby puts his fiat to the petition; and he having all power, that is enough. It is illustrated, by a similitude taken from earthly parents, and their innate readiness to give their children what they ask. Christ appeals to his hearers, "What man is there of you, though never so morose and ill-humoured, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?". Whence he infers, "If ye then, being evil, yet grant your children’s requests, much more will your heavenly Father give you the good things you ask." Now this is of use, To direct our prayers and expectations, We must come to God, as children to a Father in heaven, with reverence and confidence. How naturally does a child in want or distress run to the father with its complaints; thus should the new nature send us to God for supports and supplies.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: You may want to know when to pray, my encouragement to you is to pray as God leads you. But it is also good to follow the example of David and Daniel of old and pray at appointed times. In other words, schedule your time so that you include special quality periods in your day for nothing else but for prayer unto God. It is good to keep regular times to pray as well as to pray in between those times as God’s Holy Spirit prompts you. Keep praying, for prayer is truly where the power is.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from William Temple. He said: "If your prayer is selfish, the answer will be something that will rebuke your selfishness. You may not recognize it as having come at all, but it is sure to be there."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 13 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Would not your speech have been different, dear friend, if you had prayed like David, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth," or, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer"? And if Peter had spent the time praying instead of sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane, would not the outcome have been far better? Surely he fell into the snare because he did not pray.

And so we, too, deny Jesus and curse and swear, it may be, before His enemies, because we are not strengthened in the secret place by prayer.

+ Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "What if His People Prayed"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Romans 8:15 which reads: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from William Thrasher. He said, "The discipline of time alone with God should not be looked at as another thing to put on your "to do" list. This attitude will only lead to resentment from the added pressure that it produces. It should be viewed as a gift from a gracious and kind God. He cares so much for you and me that He is not just interested in our accomplishments but also in shepherding our hearts."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Matthew 7:7 which reads: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

It is to the same purport, yet with some addition that this verse is made to extend to all that pray aright; "Not only you my disciples shall receive what you pray for, but every one that asketh, receiveth, whether Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor, high or low, master or servant, learned or unlearned, they are all alike welcome to the throne of grace, if they come in faith: for God is no respecter of persons.’’ It is made so as to amount to a grant, in words of the present tense, which is more than a promise for the future. Every one that asketh, not only shall receive, but receiveth; by faith, applying and appropriating the promise, we are actually interested and invested in the good promised: so sure and inviolable are the promises of God, that they do, in effect, give present possession: an active believer enters immediately, and makes the blessings promised his own. What have we in hope, according to the promise, is as sure, and should be as sweet, as what we have in hand.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: The best and only pattern to follow when you pray is the one that our Lord gave to us which is commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer,” which is found in Matthew 6: 9-13. Now you do not have to pray this same prayer, but you can use it as a guide in your own prayer life. According to Jesus’ pattern of prayer, you should: 1. Praise God first. 2. Put His will before yours. 3. Ask for your daily provisions. 4. Ask for forgiveness of sin. 5. Ask God to keep you from evil. and 6. Give God the glory. Lay everything on your heart and mind before God and enjoy His peace.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from William Wilberforce. He said: "Of all things, guard against neglecting God in the secret place of prayer."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 12 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

We do well to remember that "the whole armor of God" which we are commanded to put on "that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil," and again, "that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day," includes "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints". Prayer defeats Satan. By prayer one may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and to withstand in the evil day.

A Christian who was enslaved by the tobacco habit said to me, "I can go about a half a day at a time, and then I just have to have a cigarette." He told me how he prayed every day about the matter and for hours would seem to have the victory, but before the day was gone he would again fall into temptation and sin. I showed him that he had been given the victory by prayer for a little time, and that what he needed to do for continued victory was to pray more. He promised to pray every half hour if need be, to take time out from his work and go alone until he had victory and to continue that until permanent victory came. And thus he conquered the thing that had enslaved him.

+ Plus, listen to Natalie Grant singing "Waiting for a Prayer"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 66:19 which reads: "But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Josh McDowell. He said, "Prayer is talking with God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Matthew 7:7 which reads: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Now here, the promise is made, and made so as exactly to answer the precept. "Ask, and it shall be given you;" not lent you, not sold you, but given you; and what is more free than a gift? Whatever you pray for, according to the promise, whatever you ask, shall be given you, if God see it fit for you, and what would you have more? It is but ask and have; ye have not, because ye ask not, or ask not aright: what is not worth asking, is not worth having, and then it is worth nothing. "Seek, and ye shall find," and then you do not lose your labour; God is himself found of those that seek him, and if we find him we have enough. "Knock, and it shall be opened;" the door of mercy and grace shall no longer be shut against you as enemies and intruders, but opened to you as friends and children. It will be asked, who is at the door? If you be able to say, a friend, and have the ticket of promise ready to produce in the hand of faith, doubt not of admission. If the door be not opened at the first knock, continue instant in prayer; it is an affront to a friend to knock at his door, and then go away; though he tarry, yet wait.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Even though Jesus Christ is God, He still spent quality time in prayer while He was upon planet earth. You may recall that one time in Mark 1:35 He got up a “great while before day” and prayed. On another occasion, He taught His disciples how to pray; and then in the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion, He prayed earnestly and fervently. And then at another time in Luke 18:1, “He spake a parable unto them to this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint.” As you can see, prayer is highly esteemed in the sight of God. I lovingly urge you to make prayer an integral part of your daily life.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Jonathan Edwards. He said: "God can answer prayer, though He bestow not the very thing for which we pray. He can sometimes better answer the lawful desires and good end we have in prayer another way. If our end be our own good and happiness, God can perhaps better answer that end in bestowing something else than in the bestowment of the very thing which we ask. And if the main good we aim at in our prayers be attained, our prayer is answered."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 11 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Prayerlessness is a sin because it leaves the door open for all other sins.

That is made clear by the command of Jesus in Mark 14:38, "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."

We are to pray and to watch or continue attentively in prayer as the only sure preventative of entering temptation. Similarly the command is given in Luke 22:40, "Pray that ye enter not into temptation." If the disciples needed that warning in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus, how we need it, too!

In fact, in the Lord's Prayer, the model prayer for all who can truly call God "Our Father which art in heaven," we are expressly taught to pray, "And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil."

Prayer is the remedy for temptation. Prayer is the way to defeat the Evil One.

+ Plus, listen to Mahalia Jackson singing "Sweet Hour of Prayer" …

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Proverbs 15:29 which reads: "The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Hannah Whitall Smith. She said, "How often we say about our earthly friends, "I really would like to have a good quiet settled talk with them so that I can really get to know them." And shouldn't we feel the same about our Heavenly Friend, that we may really get to know Him? These thoughts have taught me the importance of the children of God taking time to commune daily with their Father, so that they may get to know His mind and to understand better what His will is."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 143:1 which reads: "Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Here, David humbly begs to be heard, not as if he questioned it, but he earnestly desired it, and was in care about it, for, having desired it, and was in care about it, for having directed his prayer, he looked up to see how it sped. He is a suppliant to his God, and he begs that his requests may be granted: Hear my prayer; give ear to my supplications. He is an appellant against his persecutors, and he begs that his case may be brought to hearing and that God will give judgment upon it, in his faithfulness and righteousness, as the Judge of right and wrong. Or, “Answer my petitions in thy faithfulness, according to the promises thou hast made, which thou wilt be just to.” We have no righteousness of our own to plead, and therefore must plead God’s righteousness, the word of promise which he has freely given us and caused us to hope in.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: With all of the calamities and disasters that are happening in the world today, I am quite sure that you will agree that we are living in praying times. And the best way to combat crime, violence, immorality, family breakdown, natural disasters, wars, and Satan’s efforts to lead millions astray is prayer.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from the Kneeling Christian. He said: "We may rest fully assured of this – a man’s influence in the world can be gauged not by his eloquence, or his zeal, or his orthodoxy, or his energy, but by his prayers. Yes, and we will go farther and maintain that no man can live aright who does not pray aright."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 10 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

A few times --- all too few, God forgive me --- I have waked from sleep to find myself in the very presence of God. Sometimes I have waked in the midst of conscious prayer.

How great is our sin when we do not pray, since God has commanded us to pray without ceasing, to pray always, to pray with all prayer, always, for all the saints.

Every moment of prayerlessness, then, is a sin. Long continued prayerlessness is continual sin, habitual sin, a very living in sin, because it is disobedience to the plain and oft-repeated command of our Heavenly Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

+ Plus, listen to the Brian Free singing "A Praying Man"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Luke 22:45-46 which reads: "And when he [Jesus] rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from George Washington Carver. He said, "There is literally nothing that I ever asked to do, that I asked the blessed Creator to help me to do, that I have not been able to accomplish."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Luke 18:1 which reads: "And he [Jesus] spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

All God's people are praying people. Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more against her; but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God. Even to the end there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Prayer is the only discipline of the Christian faith that we are told to do “without ceasing” in I Thessalonians 5:17. Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, esteemed this matter of prayer very highly. Allow me to remind you that on one occasion Jesus got up a great while before day and prayed. Mark 1:35 states, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” If Jesus Christ had to pray so earnestly, there is no doubt that we, His followers, ought to pray as well.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from George Mueller. He said: "The less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 9 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

How can one pray without ceasing? Here is an example. The baby sleeps in his crib. When the household is abed, Mother settles down to rest. In the night, there is a tiny whimper, and instantly Mother is awake. She was listening! She was watching over the little one even while she slept. Her soul was so set on the care of the little one that while her conscious mind slept, the subconscious being took over the listening post at her ear and watched through the darkness.

If a mother can be conscious of her babe when she sleeps, cannot a Christian still be conscious of God when he sleeps?

+ Plus, listen to the Katinas singing "Praying for You"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is John 16:24 which reads: "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from George Macdonald. He said, "How often we look upon God as our last and feeblest resource! We go to him because we have nowhere else to go. And then we learn that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks, but into the desired haven."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Jeremiah 29:13 which reads: "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

We often do not know our own minds, but the Lord is never at an uncertainty. We are sometimes ready to fear that God's designs are all against us; but as to his own people, even that which seems evil, is for good. He will give them, not the expectations of their fears, or the expectations of their fancies, but the expectations of their faith; the end he has promised, which will be the best for them. When the Lord pours out an especial spirit of prayer, it is a good sign that he is coming toward us in mercy. Promises are given to quicken and encourage prayer. He never said, Seek ye me in vain.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: A Christian cannot have a victorious, overcoming, and vibrant life without prayer. Of course, there are other important things a Christian needs as well such as the Word of God, the local church, and fellowship with other believers. But if we are to be successful in all of these areas, we must undergird these things with prayer.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from G. Campbell Morgan. He said: "Oh, how strenuous is life! I know a little of it. Men "ought always to pray, and not to faint." How fierce the battle! I know something of the conflict, but I ought not to faint, because I can pray."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 8 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

How can one pray without ceasing? Is not that an impossible standard? I answer that the Bible can be taken at face value. God's standards are proper standards, and God's words say what they mean and mean what they say. Prayer ought to arise from the heart like the fragrance from burning incense on an altar day and night, all the time. The soul of a Christian can be so possessed of God, so hungry for His presence, that both the conscious and the subconscious mind carry on the pleading, the searching for God's face and His will and way and work.

+ Plus, listen to Lecrae singing "Prayin' for You"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 6:6 which reads: "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Elisabeth Elliot. She said, "Silence, as someone has said, is the mother of prayer and the nurse of holy thoughts. Silence cuts down on our sins, doesn't it? We can't be sinning in so many different ways if we are being quiet before God. Silence nourishes patience, charity, discretion."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is 1 Samuel 1:10 and 15 which reads: “And [Hannah] was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore...And Hannah answered [Eli] and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Hannah mingled tears with her prayers; she considered the mercy of our God, who knows the troubled soul. God gives us leave, in prayer, not only to ask good things in general, but to mention that special good thing we most need and desire...Hannah went away with satisfaction of mind. She had herself by prayer committed her case to God, and Eli had prayed for her. Prayer is heart's ease to a gracious soul. Prayer will smooth the countenance; it should do so. None will long remain miserable, who use aright the privilege of going to the mercy-seat of a reconciled God in Christ Jesus.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Our world is changing in sometimes surprising and very destructive ways. Unless we, the people of God, stand together and form a firewall of intercessory prayer in our society, not only will God’s judgment destroy our country and our world, but our country and the world will begin to destroy itself from the inside out.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from F.F. Bruce. He said: "Persistence in prayer for someone whom we don't like, however much it goes against the grain to begin with, brings about a remarkable change in attitude."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 7 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Note the measure of our sin of prayerlessness. We ought to pray all the time, never ceasing. Anything less than constant prayer is thus disobedience and sin. If for a short season we do not pray as we ought, then we have sinned. And if that sinful disregard of prayer continues, with small intermissions, through hours and days and weeks and months, even years --- as is true in the lives of many Christians --- then prayerlessness is a long extended sin, is habitual sin, is veritably a life of sin.

Long continued prayerlessness is the same kind of extended sin that drunkenness or the dope habit is, in that it is repeated, extended and habitual.

+ Plus, listen to Israel Houghton singing "Prayers of the Righteous"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Romans 8:26-28 which reads: " Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Duncan Campbell. He said, "How many there are whose lives are weak and whose service is poor and ineffective, just because they have not zealously guarded the time and place of prayer!"…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 62:8 which reads: “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never have the less for others sharing with us. the good counsel given is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to guide us when in doubt, to protect us when in danger, to supply us when in want, to strengthen us for every good word and work. We must lay our wants and our wishes before him, and then patiently submit our wills to his: this is pouring out our hearts.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: With all of the calamities and disasters that are happening in the world today, I am quite sure that you will agree that we are living in praying times. And the best way to combat crime, violence, immorality, family breakdown, natural disasters, wars, and Satan’s efforts to lead millions astray is prayer.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from David Jeremiah. He said: "Prayer is the way you defeat the devil, reach the lost, restore a backslider, strengthen the saints, send missionaries out, cure the sick, accomplish the impossible, and know the will of God."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 6 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

The Christian is commanded to put on the whole armor of God: the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel of peace; the shield of faith; the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, "...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

There are many commands in the Bible that Christians should pray. Jesus warns His disciples more than once to watch and pray lest they enter into temptation.

We see repeatedly that God tells the Christian to pray without ceasing, that men ought always to pray and not give up, praying always with all prayer. Any violation of God's plain commands is a sin. When we do not pray we are rebels and disobedient children.

+ Plus, listen to Daniel Whyte III singing "Pray"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 56:9 which reads: "When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from David Dickson. He said, "None do seek the Lord so earnestly, but they have need of stirring up to seek him more earnestly; neither have any attained to such a measure of communion with God, but they have need to seek for a further measure."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Jeremiah 29:13 which reads: "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

When the Lord pours out an especial spirit of prayer, it is a good sign that he is coming toward us in mercy. Promises are given to quicken and encourage prayer. He never said, Seek ye me in vain.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: May I lovingly encourage you to pray, pray, pray: pray for yourself, pray for your neighbour, pray for those who are already saved, pray for our governmental officials; pray for souls to be saved. And if, perhaps you are not saved, pray and ask God to save your soul. God loves you more than you love yourself and He wants to save you, so that you can begin your own prayerful relationship with Him. The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Daniel Webster. He said: "Heaven's gates are not so highly arched as princes' palaces; they that enter there must go upon their knees."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 5 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

PROOF THAT PRAYERLESSNESS IS A SIN

Need we prove it? First, prayerlessness is a sin since the Bible expressly calls it that. Samuel said to the children of Israel in 1 Samuel 12:23, "God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you."

The Holy Spirit put it in Samuel's heart to say it, and the same Holy Spirit had it recorded in the Bible for us, that to cease praying is a sin.

Second, many, many, many Scriptures command Christians to pray: These Scripture passages even demand that we pray all the time, pray without ceasing. First Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing." And that verse has no immediate context. There are no modifications. There is the stark, bold command that Christians ought to pray literally without ceasing. Again Jesus "spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

Men ought always to pray and never give up! That is the command of Jesus Christ; not to obey it is sin.

+ Plus, listen to Deitrick Haddon singing "Prayer Changes Things"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is 1 Timothy 2:1-2, which reads: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from D.L. Moody. He said, "The impression that a praying mother leaves upon her children is life-long. Perhaps when you are dead and gone your prayer will be answered."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is John 14:13-14 reads, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Whatever we ask in Christ's name, that shall be for our good, and suitable to our state, he shall give it to us. To ask in Christ's name, is to plead his merit and intercession, and to depend upon that plea. The gift of the Spirit is a fruit of Christ's mediation, bought by his merit, and received by his intercession. The word used here, signifies an advocate, counsellor, monitor, and comforter. He would abide with the disciples to the end of time; his gifts and graces would encourage their hearts. The expressions used here and elsewhere, plainly denote a person, and the office itself includes all the Divine perfections. The gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed upon the disciples of Christ, and not on the world. This is the favour God bears to his chosen. As the source of holiness and happiness, the Holy Spirit will abide with every believer for ever.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Here are 4 ways to pray for others from Dr. J. Gordon Henry --- 1. Ask that the person become an effective prayer warrior in their own right. 2. Ask that God’s hand be upon him in physical and material things. 3. Ask that the person learn to praise the Lord. 4. Ask that the person begin to reach out to the unsaved.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Curtis Hutson. He said: "When praying for the Lord's will about something questionable, don't give up if you don't receive clear leading after one prayer; just keep on praying until God makes it clear."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 4 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Prayer, in the sense of asking God for things as directly as a woman goes to the grocery store with her basket for groceries, or as a motorist drives into the gas station for gas and oil, or as a child says, "Pass the bread, please," --- I say real prayer, definite, direct, determinedly going to God to get things, is an unknown and inexperienced process to most Christians. And this prayerlessness is back of all the fruitlessness, powerlessness, and joylessness in the average Christian life.

The disciples begged Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray." They did not say, "Lord, teach us HOW to pray." They simply asked, "Lord, teach us to pray." Oh, that the people of God would forsake their sin of prayerlessness and get down to prayer.

+ Plus, listen to Babbie Mason singing "Pray On"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 26:39 which reads: "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from C.H. Spurgeon. He said, "It is a good rule never to look into the face of a man in the morning till you have looked into the face of God."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Luke 21:36 which reads: "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Watch therefore, and pray always. Watch against sin; watch in every duty, and make the most of every opportunity to do good. Pray always: those shall be accounted worthy to live a life of praise in the other world, who live a life of prayer in this world. May we begin, employ, and conclude each day attending to Christ's word, obeying his precepts, and following his example, that whenever he comes we may be found watching.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Here are 4 ways to pray for others from Dr. J. Gordon Henry --- 1. Ask that God will cause the believer to not love the world system. 2. Ask that the person have a spirit of brokenness and humility. 3. Ask that the person have a servant's heart. 4. Ask that the person be able to build a Scriptural family.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Richard Hooker. He said: "Prayer is the first thing wherewith a righteous life beginneth, and the last wherewith it doth end."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 3 of our series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

It is a sin when we pray and ask amiss that we might consume it on our lust. It is a sin when we pray without faith. And it is sad beyond expression when wrong home life, when wrongs unrighted, when unforgiveness, or rebellion, or distaste for the Bible, or any secret love of sin, hinders our prayers.

But the greatest prayer-sin of all is simply not to pray! Our greatest trouble is not that we pray wrongly but that we pray little or do not pray at all! We have our formal phrases in which we simulate prayer. But often they are really little different from the Ave Marias and Peter Nosters of our Catholic friends, or the formal words on a Buddhist's prayer wheel.

+ Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "Pray"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 6:9-13 which reads: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "Repeatedly place your pet opinions and prejudices before God. He will surprise you by showing you that the best of them need refining and some the purification of destruction."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Romans 8:26, which reads: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Though the infirmities of Christians are many and great, so that they would be overpowered if left to themselves, yet the Holy Spirit supports them. The Spirit, as an enlightening Spirit, teaches us what to pray for; as a sanctifying Spirit, works and stirs up praying graces; as a comforting Spirit, silences our fears, and helps us over all discouragements. The Holy Spirit is the spring of all desires toward God, which are often more than words can utter. The Spirit who searches the hearts, can perceive the mind and will of the spirit, the renewed mind, and advocates his cause. The Spirit makes intercession to God, and the enemy prevails not.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Here are 4 ways to pray for others from Dr. J. Gordon Henry --- 1. Ask that the person have the mind of Christ. 2. Ask that the person grow daily in Christ-like maturity. 3. Ask that the person put on the full armor of God. 4. Ask that the person be alert to Satan's strategy.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Brother Lawrence. He said: "One way to recollect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and preserve it more in tranquillity, is not to let it wander too far at other times. You should keep it strictly in the presence of God; and being accustomed to think of Him often, you will find it easy to keep your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from its wanderings."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 2 of a new series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

My greatest sin, and yours, is prayerlessness. My failures are all prayer failures. The lack of souls saved in my ministry is primarily because of a lack of prayer, not because of a lack of preaching. The withering away of joy in my heart, sometimes, is the fruit of prayerlessness. My indecision, my lack of wisdom, my lack of guidance comes directly out of my prayerlessness. All the times I have fallen into sin, have failed in my duties, have been bereft of power, or disconsolate for lack of comfort, I can charge to the sin of prayerlessness. Oh! horrible sin, the lack of prayer!

What is wrong with the churches is a lack of true prayer. What is wrong with preachers is this same sin. What is wrong with the pew is still that blighting sin of prayerlessness. For every sin, every failure, every lack, God had a remedy and cure if we had sufficiently and effectually prayed.

+ Plus, listen to Andrae Courch singing "Pray"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 5:2-3 which reads: "Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Austin Phelps. He said, "Prayer is the preface to the book of Christian living; the text of the new life sermon; the girding on of the armor for battle; the pilgrim's preparation for his journey. It must be supplemented by action or it amounts to nothing."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Luke 6:12 which reads: "And it came to pass in those days, that he, Jesus, went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

We often think one half hour a great deal to spend in meditation and secret prayer, but Christ was whole nights engaged in these duties. In serving God, our great care should be not to lose time, but to make the end of one good duty the beginning of another.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Here are 4 ways to pray for others --- 1. Realize the person's present exalted position in Christ. 2. Present the person as a living sacrifice. 3. Ask that the person be filled with the Holy Spirit. 4. Ask that God will guide the person to become regular and systematic in the study of God's Word.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Nehemiah Adams. He said: "A certain joyful, though humble, confidence becomes us when we pray in the Mediator's name. It is due to Him; when we pray in His name it should be without wavering. Remember His merits, and how prevalent they must be. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace.""

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 1 of a new series titled "THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS" from Dr. John R. Rice.

1 Samuel 12:23 reads: "God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you."

Prayerlessness is a terrible sin. For the lost sinner, it is a part of the wicked rejection of Christ. For the child of God, it is identical with backsliding. Prayerlessness is another name for unbelief. Prayerlessness is the father and partner of every vile sin --- as much as the saloon is the father of drunkenness, and lust is the father of adultery. There is not a vile sin in the world but that prayerlessness is a part of it and that real prayerfulness is, I have no doubt, worse than murder, worse than adultery, worse than blasphemy. It is more fundamental. It more clearly reveals the heart. In fact, while murder, adultery and blasphemy may catch a person unaware, trapped by the carnal mind, prayerlessness is the very heart of the carnal mind itself, a state of alienation from God.

+ Plus, listen to Stephen Curtis Chapman singing "Let Us Pray"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Romans 8:26, which reads: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Benjamin Franklin. He said, "Gentlemen, I have lived a long time and am convinced that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? I move that prayer imploring the assistance of Heaven be held every morning before we proceed to business."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Jonah 2:1 and 7 which reads: "Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly...When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

We observe here that Jonah also reflects on the earnestness of his prayer, and God's readiness to hear and answer. If we would get good by our troubles, we must notice the hand of God in them. He had wickedly fled from the presence of the Lord, who might justly take his Holy Spirit from him, never to visit him more. Those only are miserable, whom God will no longer own and favour. But though he was perplexed, yet not in despair. Jonah reflects on the favour of God to him, when he sought to God, and trusted in him in his distress. He warns others, and tells them to keep close to God. Those who forsake their own duty, forsake their own mercy; those who run away from the work of their place and day, run away from the comfort of it. As far as a believer copies those who observe lying vanities, he forsakes his own mercy, and lives below his privileges. But Jonah's experience encourages others, in all ages, to trust in God, as the God of salvation.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: God wants us, as we pray, to intercede for others, or to pray for others. Intercessory prayer takes our minds off ourselves and puts the needs of others at the center of our prayers. God blesses intercessory prayer. J. Gordon Henry, a powerful teacher of intercessory prayer, says: “Prayer enables God to do things He would otherwise not do. Prayer is not a means to get man's will done in Heaven; rather, prayer is God's ordained means for getting God's will done in earth.”

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Andrew Murray. He said: "While others still slept, He went away to pray and to renew His strength in communion with His Father. He had need of this, otherwise He would not have been ready for the new day. The holy work of delivering souls demands constant renewal through fellowship with God."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 58 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

You can know the sweet intimacy with God that you long for; you may know it this very day. You may then live a life of unhindered prayer and daily, glorious answers. So in the light of God's Word, and submitting yourself to the searching of the Holy Spirit, I urge you today to confess honestly and to turn your heart away from every known sin and then claim the forgiveness and the cleansing which God has so freely promised to all of His own who confess their sins!

Is there nothing between your soul and the Saviour? Have you humbly searched your heart anew in the light of God's Word, and found nothing to hinder your prayers? Oh, then, dear Christian, enter into your inheritance and begin the abundant life of prayer, asking and receiving that your joy may be full!

+ Plus, listen to Avalon singing "If My People Prayed"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 6:9-13 which reads: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Andrew Strom. He said, "Know your HOLY GOD intimately. (When you have seen His glory, His holiness and His love - by drawing close to Him in prayer - then you can usually see through any counterfeits because you know the "real thing" so well)."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Jonah 2:1 and 7 which reads: "Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly... When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

We observe here when Jonah prayed: When he was in trouble, under the tokens of God's displeasure against him for sin: when we are in affliction we must pray. Being kept alive by miracle, he prayed. A sense of God's good-will to us, notwithstanding our offences, opens the lips in prayer, which were closed with the dread of wrath. Also, where he prayed; in the belly of the fish. No place is amiss for prayer. Men may shut us from communion with one another, but not from communion with God. To whom he prayed; to the Lord his God. This encourages even backsliders to return. What his prayer was. This seems to relate his experience and reflections, then and afterwards, rather than to be the form or substance of his prayer.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Another reason people do not pray is because people love sin. John Bunyan said, "Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer." Frankly, some people do not pray because they are involved in sin, and they do not want to let that sin go. The main hindrance to a Christian's prayer life is unconfessed sin. How about you? Is the reason why you don't pray because you know that if you pray right, you will have to get rid of the sin in your life? Instead of holding on to your sin, pray that God will give you the desire and ability to turn away from your sin and deliver you from temptation so that your prayers can be effective.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Andrew Bonar. He said: "One of the gravest perils which besets the ministry is a restless scattering of energies over an amazing multiplicity of interests which leaves no margin of time and of strength for receptive and absorbing communion with God."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 57 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

A confession, in the sense that is meant in I John 1:9, would involve a simple faith that God is willing to forgive and cleanse us as He has promised. We are God's own dear children. We are dear to His heart. For us He gave His own Son. He has already given us everlasting life and promised to take us home to Heaven. We have never deserved His mercy, and we do not deserve it now; but He loves us still. And so a Christian can confess his sin, safe in the assurance that God has promised to forgive and cleanse, and God cannot lie. We are under a covenant relationship with Him. Our forgiveness is based on His faithfulness, not on our faithfulness.

So, any time a Christian is conscious of his sin, judges the sin and takes sides against it with a penitent heart, then he has a perfect right to trust the Lord for instant, complete forgiveness and for perfect cleansing.

+ Plus, listen to Mandisa singing "He is With You"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Isaiah 58:9 which says: “Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Alexander Whyte. He said, "Let sin in, and you banish prayer. But, on the other hand, entertain, and encourage, and practice prayer, and sin will sooner or later flee before it."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Matthew 21:12-13 which reads: "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Christ found some of the courts of the temple turned into a market for cattle and things used in the sacrifices, and partly occupied by the money-changers. Our Lord drove them from the place, as he had done at his entering upon his ministry. His works testified of him more than the hosannas; and his healing in the temple was the fulfilling the promise, that the glory of the latter house should be greater than the glory of the former. If Christ came now into many parts of his visible church, how many secret evils he would discover and cleanse! And how many things daily practised under the cloak of religion, would he show to be more suitable to a den of thieves than to a house of prayer!

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Over the past thirty years of ministry, I have had pastors to share with me that the one area they struggle with is prayer. I believe one of the reasons why these pastors struggle with prayer is because oftentimes, pastors have multiple gifts to do ministry work, and they lean on those gifts that God has given them instead of leaning on God through prayer until they come to their wits end and then they realize that they must pray to God for help.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from A.C. Dixon. He said: "What we need now for quickening is not so much money and wisdom as the spirit of supplication. Pray for yourself until the new life is infused. When that new life comes, it will lead you to pray for others."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 56 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Honest confession would involve a penitent heart and sincere repentance. I think there could be no honest confession of sin, if there were not grief over it. The sin grieved the Holy Spirit, it wronged God, and by it the Christian who sinned was untrue to the Saviour he professed to love and serve. The Christian's testimony was injured before the world, his fellowship with God was broken, his usefulness was curtailed, and his prayers were hindered.

All these things ought to cause the Christian sincere grief of heart over his own sin. I do not mean a morbid despair. I simply mean the godly sorrow that "worketh repentance" according to II Corinthians 7:10. And this grief of heart over sin will involve a revulsion, a turning away, a change of mind and attitude toward sin, which we call repentance. If the Christian is not sorry for his sins, in his heart, and does not honestly long to do better, then there is no genuine confession of sin.

+ Plus, listen to Bart Millard singing "Have a Little Talk with Jesus"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 99:6 which says: “Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from E.M. Bounds. He said, "Natural ability and educational advantages do not figure as factors in this matter of prayer; but a capacity for faith, the power of a thorough consecration, the ability of self-littleness, an absolute losing of one's self in God's glory and an ever present and insatiable yearning and seeking after all the fullness of God."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Mark 11:24 which reads: "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Christ taught them [His disciples] from hence to pray in faith. It may be applied to that mighty faith with which all true Christians are endued, and which does wonders in spiritual things. It justifies us, and so removes mountains of guilt, never to rise up in judgment against us. It purifies the heart, and so removes mountains of corruption, and makes them plain before the grace of God. One great errand to the throne of grace is to pray for the pardon of our sins; and care about this ought to be our daily concern.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Another reason people do not pray is because of self-confidence. There are many men and women, whom God has blessed with multiple gifts, who do not pray because they feel that they can do it all by themselves. They feel like they can handle it. These people are walking in the flesh and feel as though they do not need to ask for God's help through prayer. Galatians 5:16 commands us to, "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." Don't let self-confidence hinder you from praying to God.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles Spurgeon. He said: "If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 55 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

The Christian is not to "do penance" for his sins. Paying money, doing without food, sleeping on boards, or fasting a certain number of days - these, as a matter of penance, or suffering, trying to pay for sins as a criminal spends a certain number of years in prison to "pay his debt to society," is not what God demands.

No, the dear Lord simply and plainly promises, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I think that an honest confession of sin would involve an honest realization in the heart of one's failure and sin. Confession cannot be simply a matter of the lips. For the mouth to say, "I have sinned," when the heart still says, "But it was not very bad, and it was not altogether my fault," is not true confession of sin. Another way to say this is that the Christian must honestly judge his sin in the light of God's Word and the revelation of the Holy Spirit of how God feels toward the sin.

+ Plus, listen to Tobymac singing "City On Our Knees"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 26:41 which says: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from E.M. Bounds. He said, "Prayer is a trade to be learned. We must be apprentices and serve our time at it. Painstaking care, much thought, practice and labour are required to be a skillful tradesman in praying. Practice in this, as well as in all other trades, makes perfect."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Luke 11:1 which reads: "And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

"Lord, teach us to pray," is a good prayer, and a very needful one, for Jesus Christ only can teach us, by his word and Spirit, how to pray. Lord, teach me what it is to pray; Lord, stir up and quicken me to the duty; Lord, direct me what to pray for; teach me what I should say. Christ taught them a prayer, much the same that he had given before in his sermon upon the mount. There are some differences in the words of the Lord's prayer in Matthew and in Luke, but they are of no moment. Let us in our requests, both for others and for ourselves, come to our heavenly Father, confiding in his power and goodness.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: One reason people do not pray is because of unbelief. People do not pray because they do not believe God, they do not believe in God, and they do not believe God's Word. If a person really believed that God is and that "he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him", and if they really believed the Word of God which says that God hears and answers prayer, then they would pray.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from A.W. Tozer. He said: "The church that is not jealously protected by mighty intercession and sacrificial labors will before long become the abode of every evil bird and the hiding place for unsuspected corruption. The creeping wilderness will soon take over that church that trusts in its own strength and forgets to watch and pray."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 54 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

How to Get the Hindrances Removed

Are your prayers hindered? Well, thank God, there is a remedy. The hindrances can be torn down. Even this very day you may feel again the smile of God's face and hear the whisper of His Spirit and know that there is nothing between you and God.

In John 1:9 we are given this blessed promise, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Confession - that is the remedy for your sin. A Christian does not have to atone for his sins. In fact, no man can possibly atone for his sins. The atonement was completed by Jesus Christ; and thank God, on the cross He cried out, "It is finished"! Let no one, then, think that he must go through a long period of time, trying to earn God's favor and to lay up credit so that his prayers can be answered.

+ Plus, listen to Mandisa singing "God Speaking"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is II Kings 20:1-5 which reads: "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from John Bunyan. He said, "Prayer is an ordinance of God, that must continue with a soul so long as it is on this side of glory."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 65:2 which reads: "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

All the praise the Lord receives from this earth is from Zion, being the fruit of the Spirit of Christ, and acceptable through him. Praise is silent unto thee, as wanting words to express the great goodness of God. He reveals himself upon a mercy-seat, ready to hear and answer the prayers of all who come unto him by faith in Jesus Christ...By faith and prayer we may keep up communion with God, and bring in comfort from him, wherever we are. But it is only through that blessed One, who approaches the Father as our Advocate and Surety, that sinners may expect or can find this happiness.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Be aware, as you make up your mind to pray more, and as you actually pray more, things are not going to immediately be a bed of roses; your days are not going to be problem-free. Quite the contrary. Why? Because Satan will be there to meet you head-on. He does not want you to pray; he does not want you to tap into your source of strength and power; he does not want you to call upon Jesus. So therefore, he will throw every obstacle your way to prevent you from praying. Satan does not mind you learning about prayer, but he does not want you to get into the habit of praying. Why? Because something happens when a Christian prays; something happens when a Christian communicates with God. Satan does not want the Christian to pray because he knows he will be defeated through prayer.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from E.M. Bounds. He said: "Prayer is of transcendent importance. Prayer is the mightiest agent to advance God's work. Praying hearts and hands only can do God's work. Prayer succeeds when all else fails."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 53 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Dear child of God, if you would have God's blessing on your prayer life, then let your heart cry out in the words of the old song - "Return, O holy Dove, return, Sweet messenger of rest! I hate the sins that made thee mourn, And drove Thee from my breast. The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from Thy throne, And worship only Thee."

Maybe you loudly insist, "I don't see any harm in the theater." Perhaps you repeatedly say, "There is nothing wrong with a nice dance if you have it with nice people." Perhaps you say, "Well, if I never do anything worse than smoke a cigarette, I think I am pretty good." But the plain truth is, if you in your heart excuse your sin and "regard" it and love it, then it is an issue between you and God. And that controversy will block the answer to your prayers and will steal away your peace, and leave you helpless and powerless like Samson with his hair cut off. Oh, dear friend, the smallest sin in the world, if it breaks your contact with God, will leave you powerless and your prayers without results.

It may be the love of money. It may be a shameful secret love has entered into your life. It may be a sin that nobody but God knows about. But if you love a sin and hide it, and take up for it, then your prayers will be hindered.

+ Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "What if His People Prayed?"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Mark 1:35 which reads: "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Chuck Colson. He said, "We should always pray with as much earnestness as those who expect everything from God; we should always act with as much energy as those who expect everything from themselves."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 145:18 which reads: "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Many children of God, who have been ready to fall into sin, to fall into despair, have tasted his goodness in preventing their falls, or recovering them speedily by his graces and comforts. And with respect to all that are heavy laden under the burden of sin, if they come to Christ by faith, he will ease them, he will raise them. He is very ready to hear and answer the prayers of his people. He is present every where; but in a special way he is nigh to them, as he is not to others. He is in their hearts, and dwells there by faith, and they dwell in him. He is nigh to those that call upon him, to help them in all times of need. He will be nigh to them, that they may have what they ask, and find what they seek, if they call upon him in truth and sincerity.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: A third reason why we faint in prayer is because of the onslaught of the devil. You see, the devil does not want you to pray. He will discourage you from praying. He will try to make you faint in prayer. But God will give you the grace to continue in prayer and God, of course, will deliver you, bless you, and answer your prayers.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Samuel M. Zwemer. He said: "Prayer is self-discipline. The effort to realize the presence and power of God stretches the sinews of the soul and hardens muscles. To pray is to grow in grace. To tarry in the presence of the King leads to new loyalty and devotion on the part of the faithful subjects. Christian character grows in the secret place of prayer."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 52 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

If you want to get along with God and keep sweet fellowship and have your prayers answered, then you must judge your sins. You must honestly confess your sins and take sides with God against them. There must be a wholehearted repentance, that is, the turning of the will away from all the things that grieve God. Otherwise your will is dead set against the will of God.

You cannot ask anything in the name of Christ, you cannot pray in the Spirit, you cannot pray according to the Word of God, your own conscience will not allow you to believe that God will bless you while you have set your own will up as an idol, or when some secret sin has your heart's devotion which ought to be given to God alone.

+ Plus, listen to Natalie Grant singing "Waiting for a Prayer"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 26:41, which reads: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles Finney. He said, "Some men will spin out a long prayer telling God who and what he is, or they pray out a whole system of divinity. Some people preach, others exhort the people, till everybody wishes they would stop, andGod wishes so, too, most undoubtedly." …

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Acts 1:12-14 which reads: "Then returned they [the disciples] unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

God can find hiding-places for his people. They made supplication. All God's people are praying people. It was now a time of trouble and danger with the disciples of Christ; but if any is afflicted, let him pray; that will silence cares and fears. They had now a great work to do, and before they entered upon it, they were earnest in prayer to God for his presence. They were waiting for the descent of the Spirit, and abounded in prayer. Those are in the best frame to receive spiritual blessings, who are in a praying frame. Christ had promised shortly to send the Holy Ghost; that promise was not to do away with prayer, but to quicken and encourage it. A little company united in love, exemplary in their conduct, fervent in prayer, and wisely zealous to promote the cause of Christ, are likely to increase rapidly.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: A second reason why we faint in prayer is because of delay. We think that God is on our time and that He pays every Friday. But we must remind ourselves that God is on His own time and like the old preachers down in Georgia used to say: “God may not come when you want Him to but He's always right on time.” Remember, a day is like a thousand years to God and a thousand years is like one day to God. For those of you who have been saved a while, we know that time after time God has delivered us—right on time. When things seemed hopeless, God brought us through. He heard our prayer. Bank on it, dear friends, God wants to hear your prayer more than you want to pray. He delights in hearing us pray to Him. He wants to answer our prayers. He wants to bless us. He delights in blessing us. But, most importantly, He wants to hear from us.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Adrian Rogers. He said: "The prayer offered to God in the morning during your quiet time is the key that unlocks the door of the day. Any athlete knows that it is the start that ensures a good finish."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 51 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

What does God say in Psalm 66:18? If I regard iniquity in my heart God will not hear me. I am a sinner, but, oh, I must not love sin. And if I hold any particular sin in my heart and love it, and make an alibi for it, and excuse it, and cover it up - then that becomes a cause of controversy between me and God. God hates sin, but God has a remedy for sin. I John 1:9 says, If we Christians confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So it is not primarily the fact of sin, but it is a love for sin, a willingness to sin, an excusing of sin that make it so God cannot answer our prayers.

+ Plus, listen to Mahalia Jackson singing "Sweet Hour of Prayer"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which says: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles H. Brent. He said, "A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is 2 Chronicles 7:14 which reads: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

God says, "There will I make myself known, and there will I be called upon.’’ He promised to answer the prayers of his people that should at any time be made in that place. National judgments are here supposed, famine, and pestilence, and perhaps war, for by the locusts devouring the land meant enemies as greedy as locusts, and laying all waste. National repentance, prayer, and reformation, are required. God expects that his people who are called by his name, if they have dishonoured his name by their iniquity, should honour it by accepting the punishment of their iniquity. They must be humble themselves under his hand, must pray for the removal of the judgment, must seek the face and favour of God; and yet all this will not do unless they turn from their wicked ways, and return to the God from whom they have revolted. National mercy is then promised, that God will forgive their sin, which brought the judgment upon them, and then heal their land, redress all their grievances. Pardoning mercy makes ways for healing mercy.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: There are three reasons we faint in prayer: (1) doubt; (2) delay; and (3) the devil. The devil tries to plant the seeds of doubt in our minds about this matter of prayer. He tries to cause doubt in our minds as to whether or not God is even hearing our prayer. He tries to plant doubt in our mind as to whether or not you are even worthy of praying. He tries to plant little doubts in our minds to keep us from praying and sometimes, unfortunately, he succeeds, and we don't pray as we ought to pray. When the devil comes to you and tries to plant doubt in your mind about prayer, reject it, and pray anyway.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from E.M. Bounds. He said: "There is power through prayer. For many Christians, prayer is nothing special, just something we're supposed to do - go to church, tithe, read the Bible, pray. But prayer should be so much more than an item on our "to do" lists."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 50 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Any Unconfessed, Unlamented, Unrepented Sin, Grieves God and Hinders the Prayers of His Children

I have given you some sample cases where particular sins are mentioned in God's Word as hindering our prayers. But I cannot mention every detail. God's Spirit must do that for you. But let us find a general rule which you can apply to your own heart and life and find what grieves God.

In Psalm 66:18 are these solemn words, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."

I want you to notice what God did NOT say. God did not say that if I have sinned, He will not hear me. No, no! Thank God, He did not say that; for if He had then God could never hear a human being pray. For all of us have sinned. He did not even say that if at this moment there is any sin in the life, He would not hear us. For I John 1:8 teaches us plainly that all of us have (present tense) sin in our lives all the time. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." The constant presence of human frailty, of bodily illness, the encroachments of age and infirmity, the limitations to our prayer and soul winning, all testify that we have sin, even now, and that we will have until we are translated when Jesus comes, or until we die. If Paul needed to say, "When I would do good, evil is present with me" (Rom. 7:21), so do the rest of us need to say it. I c…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is I Samuel 12:23-24 which reads: "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Mark Batterson. He said, "I love leadership. I love discipleship. I love to preach. But it's prayer that is central. When we change the way that we pray, everything changes."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 62:8 which reads: "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never have the less for others sharing with us. the good counsel given is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to guide us when in doubt, to protect us when in danger, to supply us when in want, to strengthen us for every good word and work. We must lay out wants and our wishes before him, and then patiently submit our wills to his: this is pouring out our hearts. God is a refuge for all, even for as many as will take shelter in him.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: If there ever was a time to pray in the history of our world, that time is now. We need to pray. We ought to pray. It is best for us to pray. This is indeed a praying time. "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." I guarantee you that many of you on some occasion in your Christian walk have felt like fainting.You felt like giving up. But God does not want us to give up. He wants us to continue to pray.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Jonathan Edwards. He said: "There is no way that Christians, in a private capacity, can do so much to promote the work of God and advance the kingdom of Christ as by prayer."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 49 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

A mother wrote in the flyleaf of her son's Bible when he went away from home, "This Book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this Book." The Christian who loses interest in the Bible, cannot find time to read it, or takes exceptions to some of its teachings, may well search his heart, for in that heart are things that grieve God, that block God's blessing, and make even his prayers an abomination to God.

Every Christian, then, should long for and earnestly seek a delightful familiarity, an unceasing interest in the Word of God. Set apart a time early in the day, I beg you, when you read the Scriptures, several chapters if possible, and meditate over them prayerfully, longing to find the mind of God, willingly surrendering yourself to all that you find in God's Word. If you surrender yourself, and do not rush, but meditate on the Word of God, you will find prayer forming in your heart. It is a prayer inspired by the Holy Spirit, a prayer that God will be pleased to hear. George Muller, the great English man of prayer, founder of the Bristol orphan houses, tells of the new ease and joy in prayer he had when he began first to read the Bible before prayer every day and let his prayers begin out of what the Spirit whispered in his heart as he read the Word of God. A daily quiet time of reading the Word of God, memorizing it, subjecting oneself to the searching, probing, judging, purifying action of God's Word, will mean rich prosperity in your prayer life. But "he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

+ Plus, listen to Brian Free singing "Praying Man"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Mark 11:17 which reads: "And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Chuck Swindoll. He said, "To be used of God. Is there anything more encouraging, more fulfilling? Perhaps not, but there is something more basic: to meet with God. To linger in His presence, to shut out the noise of the city and, in quietness, give Him the praise He deserves. Before we engage ourselves in His work, let's meet Him in His Word... in prayer... in worship."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is James 5:16 which reads: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

In a day of affliction nothing is more seasonable than prayer. The spirit is then most humble, and the heart is broken and tender. It is necessary to exercise faith and hope under afflictions; and prayer is the appointed means for obtaining and increasing these graces. Observe, that the saving of the sick is not ascribed to the anointing with oil, but to prayer. In a time of sickness it is not cold and formal prayer that is effectual, but the prayer of faith. The great thing we should beg of God for ourselves and others in the time of sickness is, the pardon of sin. Let nothing be done to encourage any to delay, under the mistaken fancy that a confession, a prayer, a minister's absolution and exhortation, or the sacrament, will set all right at last, where the duties of a godly life have been disregarded.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Have you ever had the thought to come to your mind to pray? You were not thinking about prayer, you were not talking with anyone about prayer, and you were not reading anything on prayer, but the thought came seemingly out of nowhere: why don’t you go ahead and pray now. I have had many of those experiences. And the only answer I can give for that prompting to pray is that the Holy Spirit of God prompts us to pray at different times. It is definitely not from the devil because the devil does not want us to pray. In fact, the last thing the devil wants you to do is pray. So when the thought comes across your mind to pray, no matter where you are or what you are doing, make sure you take note of that thought and pray."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Samuel Chadwick. He said: "Intensity is a law of prayer. God is found by those who seek Him with all their heart. Wrestling prayer prevails. The fervent effectual prayer of the righteous is of great force."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 48 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Even lost people wanting salvation do well to turn and read the Word of God. As you with an earnest heart seek to find God in the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit will reveal Him. The God Who answers prayer is the God of the Bible. He is not only the God Who wrote the Bible, but the God Who yet today reveals Himself in the Bible and gives His blessings to those who love the Bible.

A disinclination to read the Word of God, to meditate on it, to learn it, to follow it, to search it out, shows sin in the heart. When a Christian, a born-again child of God, shows indifference to the Word of God, then we may know that he is living after the carnal, fleshly mind. For I Corinthians 2:14 says, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." The blessed Holy Spirit has an affinity for the Word of God, which He inspired. The conscious fullness of the Spirit and the keenest delight in the Word of God go together. People who are full of the Spirit are also full of the Word of God. The natural mind is a stranger from God and is not interested in the Bible. And the carnal or undeveloped and untaught and unspiritual Christian is likely to have no taste for the Word of God. A state of disinterestedness in the Bible is an unspiritual state, a state of backsliding and sin.

+ Plus, listen to the Katinas singing "Praying for You"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is 1 Peter 3:12 which reads: "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Phillips Brooks. He said, "Prayer is not conquering God's reluctance, but taking hold of God's willingness."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is ames 1:6-7 which reads: "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

We should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, as for wisdom to make a right use of it. And who does not want wisdom to guide him under trials, both in regulating his own spirit, and in managing his affairs? Here is something in answer to every discouraging turn of the mind, when we go to God under a sense of our own weakness and folly. If, after all, any should say, This may be the case with some, but I fear I shall not succeed, the promise is, To any that asketh, it shall be given. A mind that has single and prevailing regard to its spiritual and eternal interest, and that keeps steady in its purposes for God, will grow wise by afflictions, will continue fervent in devotion, and rise above trials and oppositions.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: We need to pray for our pastors. Haven’t you found out that when you pray for your pastor throughout the week, you won’t have anything negative to say about him? Did you know that a person can come to church, and if he or she isn’t prayed up, he or she can have a negative attitude toward the pastor or toward a fellow church member for no reason at all? Have you ever had a friend or someone in authority over you, be it a pastor or whoever, and everything was all right between you and that person, but somehow you had something negative to develop in your heart toward that person for no reason? That’s nothing but the devil trying to cause division. We need to pray to God to help us to love one another. We need to pray to God to help us to get along with one another.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Leonard Ravenhill. He said: "To be much for God, we must be much with God. Jesus, that lone figure in the wilderness, knew strong crying, along with tears. Can one be moved with compassion and not know tears? Jeremiah was a sobbing saint. Jesus wept! So did Paul. So did John. Though there are some tearful intercessors behind the scenes, I grant you that to our modern Christianity, praying is foreign."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 47 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

"If we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us," says I John 5:14. But one who does not know the Bible, does not love it and does not meditate on it, will not have any assurance that what he asks is in the will of God.

"All things are possible to him that believeth," said Jesus in Mark 9:23, but "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). One whose heart is turned away from the Bible is turned also from faith. He cannot call upon God in faith, since he does not use the means to grow faith, and since God's Holy Spirit will not encourage faith in such a disobedient heart.

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart," says Psalm 37:4. But a real delight in the Lord involves a delight in God's Word. How eager I am for a letter from home! And that is because I love my wife and daughters and long to see them. How anxiously a young woman awaits the postman, looking for a letter from her sweetheart who has been called away to the army. So if one really delighted in God, he would delight in His letter to us. God is so revealed in the Word that those in close fellowship with God must delight in His Word. Oh, then, Christian, if your heart has been turned away from the Bible, you are out of touch with all the promises of God for answers to your prayers! "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his pra…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 66:19 which reads: "But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Whenever the insistence is on the point that God answers prayer, we are off the track. The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not of the answer."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Matthew 7:7 which reads: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Prayer is the appointed means for obtaining what we need. Pray; pray often; make a business of prayer, and be serious and earnest in it. Ask, as a beggar asks alms. Ask, as a traveller asks the way. Seek, as for a thing of value that we have lost; or as the merchantman that seeks goodly pearls. Knock, as he that desires to enter into the house knocks at the door. Sin has shut and barred the door against us; by prayer we knock. Whatever you pray for, according to the promise, shall be given you, if God see it fit for you, and what would you have more? This is made to apply to all that pray aright; every one that asketh receiveth, whether Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor, high or low, master or servant, learned or unlearned, all are alike welcome to the throne of grace, if they come in faith. It is explained by a comparison taken from earthly parents, and their readiness to give their children what they ask. Parents are often foolishly fond, but God is all-wise; he knows what we need, what we desire, and what is fit for us. Let us never suppose our heavenly Father would bid us pray, and then refuse to hear, or give us what would be hurtful.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: For those of you who might be single, you need to pray as well. I have had single people to share with me how hard it is to pray alone. I know. I was single once. But it’s equally hard in marriage. Remember, the grass is not greener on the other side. You cannot allow your happiness and your joy and your peace to depend on your future wife, your future husband, or your circumstances. Your happiness, your joy, and your peace of mind must be found in Jesus Christ.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from James H. Aughey. He said: "Ye do well to remember that habitual affectionate communion with God, asking Him for all good which is needed, praising Him for all that is received, and trusting Him for future supplies, prevents anxious cares, inspires peace, calmness and composure, and furnishes a delight surpassing all finite comprehension."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 46 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

One whose heart is alienated from the Bible, disinterested in the Word of God, finding no joy in God's promises, indifferent to the duty of obeying God's commands - such a Christian cannot meet any of the conditions of successful prayer. All the promises in the Bible concerning answers to prayer involve in some way a heart that is eager to find the will of God in the Word of God. In John 15:7 Jesus promised, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." One who does not love the Bible, is not eager to read it, does not gladly heed its warnings and admonitions and commands, cannot meet that promise, because Christ's Word does not abide in him, and he is not really abiding in Christ in the sense of surrender to the will of Christ.

And how can such a Christian come to ask anything of the Father in the name of Christ? One who does not know the Bible does not know the will of Christ. One who is not interested in the Bible is surely not much interested in the will of Christ. How could I genuinely ask anything in Jesus' name, if I can quote no authority from Christ giving me the right to ask it in His name?

Therefore the blessed promise that the Father will give you anything you ask in Christ's name, the promise of John 14:13-14, will not avail for the man whose heart is turned away from hearing the Word of God.

+ Plus, listen to Daniel White Jr. singing "…

Praying Through the Bible #25 | with Daniel Whyte III

TEXT: 2 Kings 19:1-8

We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 24 messages in this series.

This is message #25 titled "What to Do When You Receive Bad News."

Hezekiah was the sixteenth king of Judah. He reigned during the time of the divided kingdom, when Israel had her own king and Judah had her own king. Hezekiah was a good king who led the nation in the proper worship of God. He destroyed the idols and pagan altars that previous wicked kings had set up. He renewed the celebration of the Passover. He also presided over the building of the now famous Siloam Tunnel which allowed water from the Pool of Siloam to be carried into the city of Jerusalem which was especially important when the city was under attack. Part of this construction is still visible in the Old City of Jerusalem today. The Bible says that Hezekiah "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did...He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses."

Hezekiah was a good king who ruled his kingdom well. However, one day Hezekiah received some bad news.

1. Notice the bad news Hezekiah received. If we flip back to Second Kings 18, we find that the King of Assyria was on a war campaign in the middle east. He had fought against and conquered many other small nations, and now he had turned his attention to Judah. While he was engaged in warfare in the south of Judah, he sent "a great host" under the command of three of his leaders -- "Tartan", the commander in chief; "Rab-sa-ris", the chief eunuch; and "Rab-sha-keh", the chief cupbearer. These leaders and their army laid seige to the city of Jerusalem.

2. Secondly, notice Hezekiah's reaction to the bad news. We have seen already that Hezekiah tore his clothes and covered himself in sackcloth. But the Bible tells us that Hezekiah did two other things. First, he "went into the house of the Lord." The second thing Hezekiah does is he requests the prayers of the prophet Isaiah.

3. Thirdly, notice God's answer to the bad news. After Hezekiah's officials share the problem with Isaiah, Isaiah says, "Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is 1 John 5:14 which reads: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He said, "Temptations which accompany the working day will be conquered on the basis of the morning breakthrough to God. Decisions, demanded by work, become easier and simpler where they are made not in the fear of men, but only in the sight of God. He wants to give us today the power which we need for our work."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Luke 18:1 which reads: "And he [Jesus] spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

All God's people are praying people. Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more against her; but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God. Even to the end there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: You should make it your business to pray in the morning to get your day started. As a couple, make a concrete decision to pray together in the morning before you go your separate ways. I do not care how busy you are. I do not care what you have on your agenda, take the time to pray together in the mornings before you part ways. Don’t let it slip by you. Don’t let the devil take that away from you. You must pray together!

Our prayer motivator quote today is from E.M. Bounds. He said: "To say prayers in a decent, delicate way is not heavy work. But to pray really, to pray till hell feels the ponderous stroke, to pray till the iron gates of difficulty are opened, till the mountains of obstacles are removed, till the mists are exhaled and the clouds are lifted, and the sunshine of a cloudless day brightens-this is hard work, but it is God's work, and man's best labor."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 45 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Throughout the Bible, God stresses the fact that there is a close connection between the Word of God and spiritual prosperity. For example, Psalm 1:1-3 tells us of the blessed man who shuns evil companions, "His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Day-by-day blessing from God, spiritual prosperity, Christian fruit bearing all depend upon delighting in the law of the Lord and meditating on it day and night. Knowing the Bible is not enough; reading the Bible is not enough; blessing depends on delighting in it and meditating on it.

In Joshua 1:8 the Lord spoke to Joshua saying, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make they way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

Good success, prosperity, depended on having the Word of God in his mouth and meditating therein day and night so Joshua might make sure to observe everything in it. And then Joshua would make his way prosperous and have good success. But if Joshua had turned his heart away from hearing the law, he would not have been prosperous, he would not have succeeded, and the blessing of God would have failed. And does not that bear out the statement of Proverbs 28:9 that even the prayer of one who turns his heart away from hearing the law, is an abomination? How could one who is disinterested in the Bible, who shuns it, one who has his heart turned away from it, please God in prayer? What claim could such an unspiritual heart, such an alienated child, have on God in prayer?

+ Plus, listen to Daniel White Jr. singing "Prayer"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Luke 2:36-37 which says: "And there was one Anna, a prophetess...And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "We hear it said that a man will suffer in his life if he does not pray; I question it. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God within him, which is nourished not by food but by prayer...Prayer is the way the life of God is nourished."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Jeremiah 29:13 which reads: "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

We often do not know our own minds, but the Lord is never at an uncertainty. We are sometimes ready to fear that God's designs are all against us; but as to his own people, even that which seems evil, is for good. He will give them, not the expectations of their fears, or the expectations of their fancies, but the expectations of their faith; the end he has promised, which will be the best for them. When the Lord pours out an especial spirit of prayer, it is a good sign that he is coming toward us in mercy. Promises are given to quicken and encourage prayer. He never said, Seek ye me in vain.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: You will not get genuine happiness from your spouse or from other people, but you will get it from obeying the Lord, and prayer will help you to be consistent in obeying God and hence have continual happiness in your life.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from C.T. Studd. He said: "We Christians too often substitute prayer for playing a game. Prayer is good; but when used as a substitute for obedience, it is nothing but a blatant hypocrisy, a despicable Pharisaism. To your knees! Cease your insults to God, quit consulting flesh and blood. Stop your lame, lying, and cowardly excuses. Pray!"

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 44 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

A Disinclination or Indifference Toward the Bible Makes Prayer an Abomination to God!

Proverbs 28:9 is a most searching Scripture. There God says, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

If your prayer is an abomination to God, then any happy fellowship, any oneness of purpose, any communion between you and God is hindered.

Note that the Scripture does not refer primarily to infidels. One does not need to say that the Bible is false, that Christ was not born of a virgin, that He did not rise from the dead, that there is no real Heaven or a literal Hell in order to come within the scope of this great hindrance to prayer. No, if only your heart is turned away from the Bible, if you have a disinclination to read it, if it is not interesting to you, if you do not meditate on it prayerfully, joyfully, then your prayer is an abomination, says God's Word.

+ Plus, listen to Deitrick Haddon singing "Prayer Changes Things"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is 1 Samuel 3:10 which says: "And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles G. Finney. He said, "A Christian can obtain deep feeling, by thinking on the object. God is not going to pour these things on you, without any effort on your own. you must cherish the slightest impressions. Take the Bible, and go over the passages that show the condition and prospects of the world. Look at the world, look at your children, and your neighbors and see their condition while they remain in sin; and persevere in prayer and effort till you obtain the blessing of the Spirit of God to dwell in you."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Luke 22:45-46 which reads: "And when he [Jesus] rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Every description which the evangelists give of the state of mind in which our Lord entered upon this conflict, proves the tremendous nature of the assault, and the perfect foreknowledge of its terrors possessed by the meek and lowly Jesus. Here are three things not in the other evangelists. 1. When Christ was in his agony, there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. It was a part of his humiliation that he was thus strengthened by a ministering spirit. 2. Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. Prayer, though never out of season, is in a special manner seasonable when we are in an agony. 3. In this agony his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down. This showed the travail of his soul. We should pray also to be enabled to resist unto the shedding of our blood, striving against sin, if ever called to it. When next you dwell in imagination upon the delights of some favourite sin, think of its effects as you behold them here! See its fearful effects in the garden of Gethsemane, and desire, by the help of God, deeply to hate and to forsake that enemy, to ransom sinners from whom the Redeemer prayed, agonized, and bled.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: We have to pray and ask God to help us to live right, to think right, and to act right. I don’t know about you, but I just cannot live the Christian life by myself, that is, in my own strength. And you can’t do it in your own strength, either. That is why we need to realize and pray as Zechariah did in Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts”. Whether you know it or not, we cannot live this Christian life in our own power. We have got to allow Jesus Christ to live it through us.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from C.H. Spurgeon. He said: "The power of prayer can never be overrated. They who cannot serve God by preaching need not regret. If a man can but pray he can do anything. He who knows how to overcome with God in prayer has Heaven and earth at his disposal."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 43 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

A daughter was bitter over the death of her beloved mother. She complained and mourned and querulously asked, "Why? Why?" She felt that God had not been fair to her mother, had brought unnecessary suffering to herself; and there was rebellion in her heart against God. But the Bible lost its sweetness; the day-by-day conscious presence and fellowship with the Holy Spirit left her. God did not seem to hear her prayers, and doubts of every kind beset her. She could not find any peace until she confessed her sin to God and said, "Thy will be done," about her mother's death.

Beloved Christian, there is no way you can please God, no way you can have the sweet communion with Him to get your prayers answered if you are in rebellion against the known will of God.

Has God turned His face away from you as He did from Saul, refusing to hear your prayers or bless you because of a stubborn self-will that rebels against God's plan for you? Oh, then I beg you, surrender today your poor will to God's good will. Trust Him! His will for you is wiser and sweeter and richer, and happier than any way you could plan! And no matter what other trouble or grief or loss might come, in His will you may always have the consciousness of His approving presence with the Holy Spirit ungrieved, manifesting Himself to you, and with the daily knowledge that your prayers are heard!
…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Proverbs 15:8 which says: "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from John Wesley. He said, "Whether we think of or speak to God; whether we act or suffer for him; all is prayer when we have no other object than his love, and the desire of pleasing him."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 5:2 which reads: "Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray."

Allow me to share with you some important points regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

God is a prayer-hearing God. Such he has always been, and he is still as ready to hear prayer as ever. The most encouraging principle of prayer, and the most powerful plea in prayer, is, to look upon him as our King and our God. David also prays to a sin-hating God. sin is folly, and sinners are the greatest of all fools; fools of their own making. Wicked people hate God; justly are they hated of him, and this will be their endless misery and ruin. Let us learn the importance of truth and sincerity, in all the affairs of life. Liars and murderers resemble the devil, and are his children, therefore it may well be expected that God should abhor them. These were the characters of David's enemies; and such as these are still the enemies of Christ and his people.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: We ought to pray because every now and then, we have to get down on our knees and confess our sins, faults, and failures to God. Now I know that some of you listening to me do not do bad things, but I have done some bad things in my life and every now and then, I have to get down on my knees and confess my sins before God in prayer.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from C.S. Lewis. He said: "Even if all the things that people prayed for happened – which they do not – this would not prove what Christians mean by the efficacy of prayer. For prayer is request. The essence of request, as distinct from compulsion, is that it may or may not be granted. And if an infinitely wise Being listens to the requests of finite and foolish creatures, of course He will sometimes grant and sometimes refuse them. Invariable "success" in prayer would not prove the Christian doctrine at all. It would prove something more like magic – a power in certain human beings to control, or compel, the course of nature."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 42 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

If there is a single matter, then, about which God has a controversy with you, I beg you, dear Christian, surrender your will at once, repent of your wicked rebellion, your self-will, your insistent disobedience. It is more important to hearken to God, to obey from the heart, than to give money, to sing, to pray, to preach, or toil. It is a sad, sad fact that many active church people, some, no doubt, really born again, live at a far, guilty distance from the conscious presence of God and do not know the constant joy of answered prayer.

God called one man to preach; and he said, "Lord, I have no money to go to school. I must take care of my family. Lord, I'm too ignorant. But I will be a Sunday-school superintendent." But God would not use him as a Sunday-school superintendent. God did not want work for its own sake; he wanted obedience.

A young friend of mine felt clearly led of God to preach the Gospel. He had been only to the eighth grade in school, was now married, and felt his ignorance, his limitations, his poverty would hinder him. It was a long fight of unbelief that God could use him, of rebellion against the long years of preparation, of holding on to the career and money-making he had planned. But at last when he had surrendered tearfully to the full will of God, this young preacher told me, "Brother Rice, if I do not preach, I can't even live like a Christian!" He meant that God would not give him happiness, would not answer his prayers if he did not surrender to the full will of God.

+ Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "Pray"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 145:18 which says: "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles Stanley. He said, "We may never be put behind bars like Jeremiah was, but God will put us in circumstances and situations in order to teach us how to talk with Him."…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Matthew 6:5 which reads: "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

It is taken for granted that all who are disciples of Christ pray. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray. If prayerless, then graceless. The Scribes and Pharisees were guilty of two great faults in prayer, vain-glory and vain repetitions. "Verily they have their reward;" if in so great a matter as is between us and God, when we are at prayer, we can look to so poor a thing as the praise of men, it is just that it should be all our reward. Yet there is not a secret, sudden breathing after God, but he observes it. It is called a reward, but it is of grace, not of debt; what merit can there be in begging? If he does not give his people what they ask, it is because he knows they do not need it, and that it is not for their good. So far is God from being wrought upon by the length or words of our prayers, that the most powerful intercessions are those which are made with groanings that cannot be uttered. Let us well study what is shown of the frame of mind in which our prayers should be offered, and learn daily from Christ how to pray.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: God is not going to make you pray, but you ought to pray. God does not make you pray. But if you want to see souls saved in your ministry, if you want to see revival, if you want to see God bless your family and your children, if you want to see all of your needs met, then it is best for you to pray, it behooves you to pray—you ought to pray.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from The Kneeling Christian. He said: "Do we realize that there is nothing the devil dreads so much as prayer? His great concern is to keep us from praying. He loves to see us “up to our eyes” in work – provided we do not pray. He does not fear because we are eager and earnest Bible students – provided we are little in prayer."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 41 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

In I Samuel 15, we see that Saul came back leading King Agag, alive, behind his chariot and with a great number of sheep and oxen as a spoil, which he said he intended to offer as sacrifices to God. But, oh, how the wrath of God mounted up against Saul for his disobedience! Hear what God said to him through Samuel in 1 Samuel 15:22-23:

"And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king."

Immediately thereafter Saul pled with Samuel to go worship with him. Saul admitted his sin. He even laid hold upon the skirt of Samuel's mantle, as Samuel turned indignantly away, and rent the mantle. Despite all Saul's professed repentance, God rejected him as king. David was anointed to take his place, and Saul went steadily downhill until his suicidal death in disgrace, with his sons who, but for Saul's self-will, might have reigned after him.

How moving is the story of how Saul tried to pray, but because of his self-will, his disobedience, God would not hear! God said to him, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." God does not want our money nor our work nor our promise one-half as much as He wants our hearts surrendered to …

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7 which reads: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Donald Whitney. He said, "Sometimes a failure to persist in prayer proves that we were not serious about our request in the first place. At other times God wants us to persist in prayer in order to strengthen our faith in Him. Faith would never grow if all prayers were answered immediately. Persistent prayer tends to develop deeper gratitude as well. As the joy of a baby’s birth is greater because of the months of anticipation, so is the joy of an answer to prayer after persistent praying. And as much as a generation that measures time in nanoseconds hates to admit its need for it, God crafts Christlike patience in us when He requires persistence in prayer."…

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is 2 Chronicles 7:14 which reads: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Allow me [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is 2 Chronicles 7:14 which reads: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

God expects that his people who are called by his name, if they have dishonoured his name by their iniquity, should honour it by accepting the punishment of their iniquity. They must be humble themselves under his hand, must pray for the removal of the judgment, must seek the face and favour of God; and yet all this will not do unless they turn from their wicked ways, and return to the God from whom they have revolted. National mercy is then promised, that God will forgive their sin, which brought the judgment upon them, and then heal their land, redress all their grievances. Pardoning mercy makes ways for healing mercy.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: You need to let your children see you pray. Your children need to see you pray through the good times and the bad times. They need to see you pray constantly. They need to see you pray without ceasing. Not only should your children see you pray, let them hear you pray. In other words, pray out loud. Let them hear you call out their names in prayer. Pray for them and with them. Yes, indeed, men, women, boys, and girls ought to pray because we need God in our lives to help us do what He wants done in the world.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from S.D. Gordon. He said, "It may sound strange, but in its simplest meaning prayer has to do with conflict. Rightly understood it is the deciding factor in a spirit conflict...Prayer is man giving God a footing on the contested territory of this earth."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 40 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Self-will, Rebellion, and Disobedience Hinders Prayer

Dear Christian, I am probing in your heart and life trying to help you find the reasons for unanswered prayer. What sin of yours hinders your prayers and shuts out the blessing God would give you?

Self-will is another horrible sin which means that God cannot have His way in your life and cannot give you His best.

I recall the case in Saul, the first king of Israel, who was commanded to go out and utterly destroy the Amalekites. God said to him in 1 Samuel 15:3, "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass!" If that seems to you a hard command, then I remind you that you do not hate sin as God does. This wicked, idolatrous nation had long deserved extermination. God's long-poured-out mercies had been rejected. If any of the nation were left alive, they would be a temptation and snare to Israel. Even their property should be destroyed as an awful reminder to Israel of how God hated sin and was certain to punish it.

+ Plus, listen to Steven Curtis Chapman singing "Let Us Pray"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 27:8 which reads: "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Leonard Ravenhill. He said, "Prayer is as vast as God because He is behind it. Prayer is as mighty as God, because He has committed Himself to answer it." …

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is John 16:24 which reads: “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: Asking of the Father shows a sense of [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is John 16:24 which reads: "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Asking of the Father shows a sense of spiritual wants, and a desire of spiritual blessings, with conviction that they are to be had from God only. Asking in Christ's name, is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favours from God, and shows full dependence upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness. Our Lord had hitherto spoken in short and weighty sentences, or in parables, the import of which the disciples did not fully understand, but after his resurrection he intended plainly to teach them such things as related to the Father and the way to him, through his intercession. And the frequency with which our Lord enforces offering up petitions in his name, shows that the great end of the mediation of Christ is to impress us with a deep sense of our sinfulness, and of the merit and power of his death, whereby we have access to God. And let us ever remember, that to address the Father in the name of Christ, or to address the Son as God dwelling in human nature, and reconciling the world to himself, are the same, as the Father and Son are one.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: You may ask me, Why do I need to pray more? My friend, isn’t it strange how that when God pours out His blessings upon us, instead of our getting more on fire for the Lord, we get cooler and cooler? And so, therefore, even with God’s blessings, you need to pray more. You need to understand that you don’t have the power to manage your life successfully. You need God’s direction, you need God’s power; you need His leadership in your life. No matter how much Bible you know, no matter how many Bible schools you have attended, you had better open your mouth and pray to God.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Johannes Gossner. He said, "Prayer is a spiritual law which cooperates with the mind of God. It has more in it than merely petition. It clothes itself in reality and power,with the force of God Himself. It is an attitude of spirit and mind. Language is secondary in true prayer."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 39 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

In Dallas, TX, a good Christian woman who had long proved how joyful and how prosperous it is to put God first with tithes and offerings, came to church one day with her heart all set on plans for some lovely clothes. Her husband's bi-monthly paycheck had come Saturday night, and she had it in her purse at church, since he could not come. She thought to herself, "This one time I'll not put in the tithe; I will give $1.00, and the rest of the money we can use so well for things we need to buy."

But that dear Christian woman was on the committee to prepare the bread and grape juice for the communion table that Sunday morning. As she filled the little glasses her heart remembered the strict injunction, "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat." She dared not partake of the emblems representing the poured-out blood of the Saviour and His broken body with any known sin or rebellion in her heart. And the Spirit of God spoke insistently to her about how she planned to withhold the tithes and use it for her own ends. She could have no peace in her heart; and she cried out to God, "O Heavenly Father, I cannot take the Lord's Supper until I know You are pleased with me!" So she solemnly promised God, "Lord, if You'll give me the joy in my heart again and let me know that You've forgiven me, that there is nothing between my soul and the Saviour, I promise You that before I leave the house of God today I'll get that check cashed and turn in the tithe and offerings that I vowed to You that I wo…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 6:5 which reads: "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from E.M. Bounds. He said: "Long, discursive, dry, and inane are the prayers in many pulpits. Without unction or heart, they fall like a killing frost on all the graces of worship. Death-dealing prayers they are. Every vestige of devotion has perished under their breath. The deader they are the longer they grow." …

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is Proverbs 15:29 which reads: “The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: God sets himself at a distance from those who set him at [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Proverbs 15:29 which reads: "The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

God sets himself at a distance from those who set him at defiance. The wicked shall be for ever banished from his presence and he will behold them afar off. He will draw nigh to those in a way of mercy who draw nigh to him in a way of duty.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: The only discipline of the Christian faith that we are told to do “without ceasing” in I Thessalonians 5:17. Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, esteemed this matter of prayer very highly. Allow me to remind you that on one occasion Jesus got up a great while before day and prayed. Mark 1:35 states, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” If Jesus Christ had to pray so earnestly, there is no doubt that we, His followers, ought to pray as well.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Eben Alexander. He said: "Communicating with God is the most extraordinary experience imaginable, yet at the same time it's the most natural one of all, because God is present in us at all times. Omniscient, omnipotent, personal-and loving us without conditions. We are connected as One through our divine link with God."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 38 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

I well know that the issue of tithes and offerings was first addressed to the Jews. I have heard long arguments that the tithe was commanded only for Jews. But that proportionate giving is as clearly commanded in the New Testament as in the Old. Abraham, the tither, the man of faith, is held up as an example to the New Testament Christians in this matter. And the New Testament examples who are greatly praised went far beyond the tithe, as we see in the case of the woman who put in two mites, in the case of the saints at Jerusalem after Pentecost, and the churches of Macedonia. Besides, the promises given in the Old Testament about liberality have been abundantly proved true by literally thousands of New Testament Christians. I know that it pays in dollars and cents to bring God the tithes and offerings. And I have proved God, and He has opened the windows of Heaven as He promised.

And why should God demand more of an Old Testament Jew under Law than of a New Testament Christian under grace? Should a Jew under law love God better? Should he trust Him further? Stealing, God-robbing, covetousness is the same wicked sin in New Testament times as it was in Old Testament times. And those who sing, "Oh, How I Love Jesus," but do not love Him a dime's worth out of a dollar will not get far in their praying. If you cannot trust God to supply your need and to repay you for all the tithes and offerings you bring in for Him, you have not much faith.

+ Plus, listen to Tobymac singing "City On Our Knees"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Micah 7:7 which reads: "Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Matthew Henry. He said: "We read of preaching the Word out of season, but we do not read of praying out of season, for that is never out of season." …

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 145:18 which reads: “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: God is present every where; but in a [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 145:18 which reads: "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

God is present every where; but in a special way he is nigh to those who call Him, as he is not to others. He is in their hearts, and dwells there by faith, and they dwell in him. He is nigh to those that call upon him, to help them in all times of need. He will be nigh to them, that they may have what they ask, and find what they seek, if they call upon him in truth and sincerity.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: A Christian cannot have a victorious, overcoming, and vibrant life without prayer. Of course, there are other important things a Christian needs as well such as the Word of God, the local church, and fellowship with other believers. But if we are to be successful in all of these areas, we must undergird these things with prayer.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Leonard Ravenhill. He said: "A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 37 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Because of this sin of covetousness, the whole land of Israel was under a curse. God had withheld the rain. He had not heard their prayers. They were under a curse, and could not get the things they desired from God. And God gave them a challenge in Malachi 3:10-11:

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts."

The simple matter of forsaking covetousness and bringing the tithes and offerings which He had expressly commanded as a token of His ownership of everything would enable God to hear their prayers, to bless their crops, and to pour out such blessings as they would not even be able to receive it! The insect pests would be rebuked, the rain would come when needed, and it would be a happy land, God promised, if the people would prove God on this matter of tithes and offerings.

+ Plus, listen to Brian Free and Assurance singing "Praying Man"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is 1 John 5:14 which reads: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Matthew Henry. He said: "When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is to set them a-praying." …

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is Philippians 4:6 which reads: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: Here is a caution against disquieting [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Philippians 4:6 which reads: "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Here is a caution against disquieting perplexing care: "Be careful for nothing"—the same expression that Matthew 6:25, "Take no thought for your life"; that is, avoid anxious care and distracting thought in the wants and difficulties of life. Observe, It is the duty and interest of Christians to live without care. There is a care of diligence which is our duty, and consists in a wise forecast and due concern; but there is a care of diffidence and distrust which is our sin and folly, and which only perplexes and distracts the mind. "Be careful for nothing, so as by your care to distrust God, and unfit yourselves for his service." As a sovereign antidote against perplexing care he recommends to us constant prayer. Observe, we must not only keep up stated times for prayer, but we must pray upon every particular emergency; we must join thanksgiving with our prayers and supplications; prayer is the offering up of our desires to God, or making them known to him; and the effect of this will be the peace of God keeping our hearts.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Our world is changing in sometimes surprising and very destructive ways. Unless we, the people of God, stand together and form a firewall of intercessory prayer in our society, not only will God’s judgment destroy our country and our world, but our country and the world will begin to destroy itself from the inside out.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from O. Hallesby. He said: "There come times when I have nothing more to tell God. If I were to continue to pray in words, I would have to repeat what I have already said. At such times it is wonderful to say to God, "May I be in Thy presence, Lord? I have nothing more to say to Thee, but I do love to be in Thy presence.""

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 36 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Covetousness Puts One Under a Curse and Hinders Prayer

Covetousness, too, is a most respectable sin and is found in the "best families." But it is a sin that God hates terribly. It is literally idolatry, and the covetous man is an idolator. And God's Word says that "the love of money is the root of all evil." That is, literally, that the love of money can lead to every kind of sin in the world.

Now the Scripture expressly says that covetousness is a sin that shuts the heavens against the Christian. In Malachi 3:7-9 we read:

"Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation."

Here is a startling statement that men actually rob God. They do it in tithes and in offerings. The tithe is the Lord's; not to give it is to rob God. The offerings also are the Lord's; not to give them also robs God. And the Lord says, "Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation."

+ Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "Say a Prayer"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Isaiah 58:9 which reads: "Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He said: "A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner." …

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is Jeremiah 29:13 which reads: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: When the Lord pours out an especial spirit of [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Jeremiah 29:13 which reads: "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

When the Lord pours out an especial spirit of prayer, it is a good sign that he is coming toward us in mercy. Promises are given to quicken and encourage prayer. He never said, Seek ye me in vain.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Prayer invites God’s power into our lives, our families, our communities, our churches, and our countries like nothing else can. When we pray, we are openly acknowledging that God can do the things that He says He can do, and we are opening the door for Him to accomplish those things.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from William Laws. He said: "Prayer is my chief work; by it I carry on all else. Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of him that we are capable of in this life. It is the noblest exercise of the soul. It is the most exalted use of our best faculties. It is the highest imitation of the blessed beings of heaven."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 34 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

When boiled down to its essence, unforgiveness is hatred. And 1 John 3:15 says, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." If you think a little grudge is very respectable, then you should remember that God looks into your wicked heart and calls it murder!

In Mark 11:22-24 is that marvelous promise about prayer that "whosoever" (anybody) can have "whatsoever" (anything) he asks, if he has faith. But Jesus qualifies even that great promise by these words in the following verses: "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." It is obvious that every Christian who tries to pray with unforgiveness in his heart finds a great wall of his sins piled up between him and God which he cannot get removed and cannot get taken out of the way until he forgives all that others have done against him.

+ Plus, listen to Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 5:2 which reads: "Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Jacques Philippe. He said: "In order to resist fear and discouragement, it is necessary that through prayer - through a personal experience of God re-encountered, recognized and loved in prayer - we taste and see how good the Lord is."…

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is Jeremiah 29:13 which reads: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: When the Lord pours out an especial spirit of [...]…

As always, it is so good to be with you today to encourage you to pray.

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Jeremiah 29:13 which reads: "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

When the Lord pours out an especial spirit of prayer, it is a good sign that he is coming toward us in mercy. Promises are given to quicken and encourage prayer. He never said, Seek ye me in vain.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Prayer invites God’s power into our lives, our families, our communities, our churches, and our countries like nothing else can. When we pray, we are openly acknowledging that God can do the things that He says He can do, and we are opening the door for Him to accomplish those things.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from William Laws. He said: "Prayer is my chief work; by it I carry on all else. Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of him that we are capable of in this life. It is the noblest exercise of the soul. It is the most exalted use of our best faculties. It is the highest imitation of the blessed beings of heaven."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 34 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

When boiled down to its essence, unforgiveness is hatred. And 1 John 3:15 says, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." If you think a little grudge is very respectable, then you should remember that God looks into your wicked heart and calls it murder!

In Mark 11:22-24 is that marvelous promise about prayer that "whosoever" (anybody) can have "whatsoever" (anything) he asks, if he has faith. But Jesus qualifies even that great promise by these words in the following verses: "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." It is obvious that every Christian who tries to pray with unforgiveness in his heart finds a great wall of his sins piled up between him and God which he cannot get removed and cannot get taken out of the way until he forgives all that others have done against him.

+ Plus, listen to Mahalia Jackson singing "Sweet Hour of Prayer"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 6:6 which reads: "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Martin Luther. He said: "No one can believe how powerful prayer is and what it can effect, except those who have learned it by experience. Whenever I have prayed earnestly, I have been heard and have obtained more than I prayed for. God sometimes delays, but He always comes." …

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is John 14:13-14 which reads, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” Allow me to share with you some important insights [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is John 14:13-14 which reads, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Whatever we ask in Christ's name, that shall be for our good, and suitable to our state, he shall give it to us. To ask in Christ's name, is to plead his merit and intercession, and to depend upon that plea. The gift of the Spirit is a fruit of Christ's mediation, bought by his merit, and received by his intercession. The word used here, signifies an advocate, counsellor, monitor, and comforter. He would abide with the disciples to the end of time; his gifts and graces would encourage their hearts. The expressions used here and elsewhere, plainly denote a person, and the office itself includes all the Divine perfections. The gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed upon the disciples of Christ, and not on the world. This is the favour God bears to his chosen. As the source of holiness and happiness, the Holy Spirit will abide with every believer for ever.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: You should make it your business to pray in the evening to end your day well. Another critical time for prayer is in the evenings right before you get back together as a couple or family. Husbands, while you are driving home you need to be praying, “Lord, thank You for this good day. Lord, fill me now with Your Holy Spirit. Fill my wife with Your Holy Spirit. And Lord, we pray that You will rebuke and bind Satan the devil from our home. Surround us with a band of Your holy angels. Now, Lord, help us to have a good and sweet evening together as a family. Bless my children, help them to be cooperative and obedient.” Husbands, you need to do that. And wives, while he is doing that on the way home, you need to be praying along the same lines. Try it before you think I am crazy. I guarantee you, you will have a different atmosphere in your home.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Brother Lawrence. He said: "God does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 33 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

If we want to be like Jesus, we must forgive. Dying on the cross, He prayed about the people who crucified Him, who mocked Him while He died, who gave Him vinegar mingled with gall when He was thirsty, who had spit in His face -- for these He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." One of the names of the Lord Jesus is "Prince of Peace." And if we forgive, we become Christlike. That is the reason why the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:9 says, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Everyone who makes peace is that much like Jesus Christ. The Beatitudes promise that those who are pure in heart shall see God, that the meek shall inherit the earth; but they give the blessed promise to the peacemakers that they shall not only see God but shall be called His children, and shall not only inherit the earth, but even inherit Heaven as the heirs of God! How blessed to be a peacemaker, with forgiveness toward brethren, "even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

And that attitude of mind and heart which Jesus had is to be ours, also.…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is James 5:17 which reads: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles G. Finney. He said: "When God has specially promised the thing, we are bound to believe we shall receive it when we pray for it. You have no right to put in an 'if', and say, 'Lord, if it be thy will..." This is to insult God. To put an 'if' in God's promise when God has put none there, is tantamount to charging God with being insincere." …

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is Luke 21:36 which reads: “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Luke 21:36 which reads: "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Watch therefore, and pray always. Watch against sin; watch in every duty, and make the most of every opportunity to do good. Pray always: those shall be accounted worthy to live a life of praise in the other world, who live a life of prayer in this world. May we begin, employ, and conclude each day attending to Christ's word, obeying his precepts, and following his example, that whenever he comes we may be found watching.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: You should make it your business to pray in the morning to get your day started. As a couple, make a concrete decision to pray together in the morning before you go your separate ways. I do not care how busy you are. I do not care what you have on your agenda, take the time to pray together in the mornings before you part ways. Don’t let it slip by you. Don’t let the devil take that away from you. You must pray together! The devil is constantly working, and after you have been asleep all night, if you don’t quickly get in communication with God, I guarantee you the devil will try to get something in between you. I have learned over the years that the days I slip up in prayer or try to get some other things done before I pray with my family, the devil tries to get in between my wife and me over absolutely nothing. You need to pray in the mornings together as soon as possible after waking up.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Elisabeth Elliot. She said: "Do you often feel like parched ground, unable to produce anything worthwhile? I do. When I am in need of refreshment, it isn't easy to think of the needs of others. But I have found that if, instead of praying for my own comfort and satisfaction, I ask the Lord to enable me to give to others, an amazing thing often happens - I find my own needs wonderfully met. Refreshment comes in ways I would never have thought of, both for others, and then, incidentally, for myself."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 32 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

I have known brothers who would not speak to brothers, I have seen churches split into factions, I have seen homes broken, I have seen Christians so embittered by this horrible sin of unforgiveness that they have made shipwreck of all their lives. Terrible punishment will be the lot of every Christian who carries a grudge and unforgiveness in his heart.

Note that the Saviour said that forgiveness must be "from your hearts." To live nominally at peace is not enough. Sometimes a Christian will say, "Well, I will forgive her, but I will never forget." Or a brother may say, "I will forgive him, yes, because it is commanded me; but I will never have anything more to do with him." Such forgiveness is no forgiveness at all in God's sight. When God forgives, He forgets. How would you like for God to say about you, "Well, I will forgive your sins; but I never want to have anything more to do with you"? You know that is not forgiveness in a real, genuine sense. By God's grace, a Christian can so forgive that every memory brings a sweet sense of peace without any rancor or bitterness whatsoever.

+ Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "Pray"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7 which reads: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from David Wilkerson. He said: "The day you learn to be publicly specific in your prayer, that is the day you will discover power." …

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Romans 8:26, which reads: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Though the infirmities of Christians are many and great, so that they would be overpowered if left to themselves, yet the Holy Spirit supports them. The Spirit, as an enlightening Spirit, teaches us what to pray for; as a sanctifying Spirit, works and stirs up praying graces; as a comforting Spirit, silences our fears, and helps us over all discouragements. The Holy Spirit is the spring of all desires toward God, which are often more than words can utter. The Spirit who searches the hearts, can perceive the mind and will of the spirit, the renewed mind, and advocates his cause. The Spirit makes intercession to God, and the enemy prevails not.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: You will not get genuine happiness from your spouse or from other people, but you will get it from obeying the Lord, and prayer will help you to be consistent in obeying God and hence have continual happiness in your life.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from E.M.Bounds. He said: "The ministry of prayer, if it be anything worthy of the name, is a ministry of ardor, a ministry of unwearied and intense longing after God and after his holiness."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 31 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

The sins of one against another is represented by the Saviour in the parable in Matthew 18:21-35 by the debt of one hundred pence. And the servant who had been forgiven 10,000 talents took his fellowservant by the throat saying, "Pay me that thou owest," and would not give him time, but cast him into prison until he should pay that trifling debt of a hundred pence, when he himself had been forgiven 10,000 talents that he owed!

How trifling, how insignificant are all the sins that anybody ever did against us compared to our horrible sins against God all the days of our lives! This parable tells us how God sees the sin of unforgiveness.

And note the punishment of the wicked servant. Jesus said, "And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him."

Here the king delivered the evil servant "to the tormentors." And then Jesus warns Simon Peter and the other disciples, in a lesson which is meant for us Christians, "So likewise shall my heavenly father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." God will deliver His own children over to tormentors, will allow their hearts to be miserable, their lives to be unhappy, their prayers to be blocked, their homes to be accursed, if they do not forgive others! The Lord does not mean that saved people will lose their salvation and go to Hell because of unforgiveness, but He certainly does mean that here in this life they will miss many, many blessings and suffer torment of soul because of the horrible sin of unforgiveness. And how ashamed they will be when they face Jesus!

+ Plus, listen to The City Harmonic singing "Manifesto"…

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is Romans 8:26, which reads: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 50:15 which reads: "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Noah Benshea. He said: "I don't pray because it makes sense to pray. I pray because my life doesn't make sense without prayer." …

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is Mark 1:35 which reads: “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: We notice from [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Mark 1:35 which reads: "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

We notice from this verse, the place where Jesus prayed; He departed into a solitary place, either out of town, or some remote garden or out-building. Though he was in no danger of distraction, or of temptation to vain-glory, yet he retired, to set us an example to his own rule, When thou prayest enter into thy closet. Secret prayer must be made secretly. Those that have the most business in public, and of the best kind, must sometimes be alone with God; must retire into solitude, there to converse with God, and keep up communion with him. The disciples thought they were up early, but found their Master was up before them, and they enquired which way he went, followed him to his solitary place, and there found him at prayer.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: I believe it is a crime for husbands to leave home each morning and not pray with your family. Why? Because as far as I am concerned, you leave your family unprotected against the attacks of the devil. I thank God for good Godly women. But I have found out that many Christian women will not pray as much as they should if that man is not leading in prayer. Why? Because God has put something in that woman to really want to follow her husband. The Christ in her wants to follow her husband. And so, husbands, you have to lead in the spiritual discipline of prayer. Husbands, you not only have to pray for your family, you also have to pray with your family. Wives, you need to pray for your husband and you both must pray with and for your children.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from an Author Unknown. He said: "There are three degrees in prayer. The lowest is that spoken only by the lips. The next is when, by a resolute effort, we succeed in fixing our thoughts on Divine things. The third is when the soul finds it hard to turn away from God."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 30 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

In Matthew 18:21-35 is a remarkable teaching of our Saviour about the need for Christians to forgive others and of how God hates the wicked sin of unforgiveness.

How many times shall we forgive one who sins against us? Peter thought seven times would be the perfect number; but Jesus answered back, "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." And when you have forgiven the same person 490 times, no doubt you will have lost count and will have conquered that wicked disposition to temper and bitterness in your own heart!

In this parable, the Saviour illustrates our awful debt to God by the man who owed his king 10,000 talents. Ten thousand talents would be nearly twenty million dollars if they were silver talents, nearly three hundred million dollars if the talents were gold. In either case it would be an unpayable amount, no doubt beyond the capacity of any man living in the world at that time. So great is our sin toward God which needs forgiveness!

+ Plus, listen to Stephen Curtis Chapman singing "Let Us Pray"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is John 14:13-14, which says: "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Adrian Rayshawn. He said: "The only way to worry about nothing is to pray about everything!" …

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is Mark 1:35 which reads: “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: We notice in [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Mark 1:35 which reads: "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

We notice in this verse, Jesus' retirement to his private devotion; He prayed, prayed alone; to set us an example of secret prayer. Though as God he was prayed to, as man he prayed. Though he was glorifying God, and doing good, in his public work, yet he found time to be alone with his Father; and thus it became him to fulfil all righteousness. Now observe, the time when Christ prayed. It was in the morning, the morning after the sabbath day. Note, When a sabbath day is over and past, we must not think that we may intermit our devotion till the next sabbath: no, though we go not to the synagogue, we must go to the throne of grace, every day in the week; and the morning after the sabbath particularly, that we may preserve the good impressions of the day.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: We have to pray and ask God to help us to live right, to think right, and to act right. I don’t know about you, but I just cannot live the Christian life by myself, that is, in my own strength. And you can’t do it in your own strength, either. That is why we need to realize and pray as Zechariah did in Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts”. Whether you know it or not, we cannot live this Christian life in our own power. We have got to allow Jesus Christ to live it through us.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from an Unknown Author. He said: "If prayers are not answered today, then you'll have the reason to wake up again tomorrow and Pray!"

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 29 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

When Jesus washed the disciples' feet, He said in John 13:10, "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all." He meant that the disciples were already saved and all their sins were under the blood. But Christians walking in a dirty world need day-by-day confession of their defilement that they may have daily forgiveness and cleansing as the dear children of God in order to have His fullness and power and fellowship. The washing of the whole body, which these disciples already had, represents salvation, the forgiveness of all sin. That cleansing is once for all at regeneration. But the washing of the disciples' feet represented that day-by-day cleansing which is offered to Christians who confess and forsake their sins.

But unforgiveness blocks this daily cleansing and forgiveness and so hinders our prayers. Unforgiveness, holding grudges or enmity against others, may seem to be a very respectable sin. People who would never get drunk, who would not gamble, who would not steal, who would not scorn a lie, are yet guilty of this wicked sin. The temptation to this sin attacks preachers and soul winners who would never be tempted to grosser things. I know Christians who would never attend the theater nor belong to a lodge nor play a game of bridge, but they have been guilty of this horrible sin. In God's sight, it is truly hideous.

+ Plus, listen to Avalon singing "If My People Pray"…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Zechariah 4:6 which reads: "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from William Law. He said: "He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life." …

Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 65:2, which reads: “O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come..”

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

The psalmist here has no particular concern of his own at the throne of grace...He gives God glory for hearing prayer. "Praise waits for thee; and why is it so ready?" "Because thou art ready to grant our petitions. O thou that hearest prayer! thou canst answer every prayer, for thou art able to do for us more than we are able to ask or think, and thou wilt answer every prayer of faith, either in kind or kindness.’’ It is much for the glory of God’s goodness, and the encouragement of ours, that he is a hearer of prayer, and has taken it among the titles of his honour to be so; and we are much wanting to ourselves if we do not take all occasions to give him his title. For that reason, we are ready to run to him when we are in our straits. "Therefore, because thou art a God hearing prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come; justly does every man’s praise wait for thee, because every man’s prayer waits on thee when he is in want or distress, whatever he does at other times. Now only the seed of Israel come to thee, and the proselytes to their religion; but, when thy house shall be called a house of prayer to all people, then unto thee shall all flesh come, and be welcome.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: We ought to pray because every now and then, we have to get down on our knees and confess our sins, faults, and failures to God. Now I know that some of you listening to me do not do bad things, but I have done some bad things in my life and every now and then, I have to get down on my knees and confess my sins before God in prayer.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Jonathan Edwards. He said: "When God is about to bestow some great blessing on His church, it is often His manner, in the first place, so to order things in His providence as to show His church their great need of it, and to bring them into distress for want of it, and so put them upon crying earnestly to Him for it."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 28 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Although the Lord has forgiven all of our sins, yet He still hates sin. God hates sin in David or in Peter or in Paul; God hates it in you, beloved Christian. And if your sin is not confessed and cleansed day by day, it piles up between you and God to hinder your communion, to block your prayers, to taint your testimony, and to grieve the blessed Holy Spirit. So the Lord teaches us here to come daily and confess our sins, asking forgiveness.

We should forgive others, Ephesians 4:32 tells us, because Christ has already forgiven us all of our sins in salvation so that they are not held against our souls' welfare. But here in Matthew 14-15 the Saviour warns us that we should forgive others that we as Christians may have the daily cleansing, the daily renewal of fellowship, the daily fullness of the Holy Spirit which God desires for all His dear children, but which He cannot give without a daily confession and forsaking of sin.

+ Plus, listen to Daniel White Jr. singing "Prayer"…

  Our prayer motivator verse for today is Psalm 65:2, which reads: “O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come..” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: The psalmist here has no particular concern of his own at the throne of grace…He gives [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is James 4:3 which reads: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Philip Yancey. He said, "Prayer is not a means of removing the unknown and predictable elements in life, but rather a way of including the unknown and unpredictable in the outworking of the grace of God in our lives."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 55:17, which reads: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

David perseveres in his resolution to pray frequently, every day, and three times a day—evening, and morning, and at noon. It is probable that this had been his constant practice, and he resolves to continue it now that he is in his distress. Then we may come the more boldly to the throne of grace in trouble when we do not then first begin to seek acquaintance with God, but it is what we have constantly practised, and the trouble finds the wheels of prayer going. Those that think three meals a day little enough for the body ought much more to think three solemn prayers a day little enough for the soul, and to count it a pleasure, not a task. As it is fit that in the morning we should begin the day with God, and in the evening close it with him, so it is fit that in the midst of the day we should retire awhile to converse with him. It was Daniel’s practice to pray three times a day, and noon was one of Peter’s hours of prayer. Let not us be weary of praying often, for God is not weary of hearing.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: God is not going to make you pray, but you ought to pray. God does not make you pray. But if you want to see souls saved in your ministry, if you want to see revival, if you want to see God bless your family and your children, if you want to see all of your needs met, then it is best for you to pray, it behooves you to pray—you ought to pray.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Leslie Ludy. She said: "It has been said by many great Christians that prayer is our secret weapon. If we desire to be free from every enemy stronghold over our lives and fully fortified to live the superhuman existences God intended us to live, then we must learn how to pray."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 27 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

You understand, I trust, that forgiveness of sins has two meanings in the Bible. In the first place, when a poor lost sinner comes to Christ and trusts Him for salvation, then all of his sins are forgiven and blotted out and will be remembered against him no more forever, as far as the damnation of his soul is concerned. Romans 4:8 says, "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." In getting saved we do not get sins forgiven one at a time; but all at once the glorious transaction is finished and all of our sins are laid on Jesus and forgiven, blotted out, never to be held against us any more and never to endanger our poor souls again! What wonderful salvation! What marvelous mercy in the forgiveness of vile sinners!

But after one is already a child of God, after one is born again, after one has been made a partaker of the divine nature, he is still, while in this world, a sinner. 1 John 1:8 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Paul, the mighty apostle, yet in the midst of his ministry claimed still to be the very chief of sinners in 1 Timothy 1:15. And David in that inspired 51st Psalm was led to write, "My sin is ever before me." And the Saviour in the Lord's Prayer is expressly teaching us that we ought daily to confess our sins and ask forgiveness. So besides the forgiveness of our sins we get in salvation, one can have and needs a day-by-day clearing of sin out of the way.

+ Plus, listen to Mahalia Jackson singing "Sweet Hour of Prayer"…

  Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 55:17, which reads: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: David perseveres in his resolution [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Hebrews 4:6 which says: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Amy Carmichael. She said, "We have one crystal clear reason apart from the blessed happiness of this way of life. It is this: prayer is the core of our day. Take prayer out, and the day would collapse, would be pithless, a straw blown in the wind. But how can you pray--really pray, I mean--with one against who you have a grudge or whom you have been discussing critically with another? Try it. You will find it cannot be done."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 26:41 which reads: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

While the disciples were sleeping, they lost the benefit of joining in Christ’s prayer. "Watch yourselves, and pray yourselves. Watch and pray against this present temptation to drowsiness and security; pray that you may watch; beg of God by his grace to keep you awake, now that there is occasion.’’ When we are drowsy in the worship of God, we should pray, as a good Christian once did, "The Lord deliver me from this sleepy devil!’’ Lord, quicken thou me in thy way, Or, "Watch and pray against the further temptation you may be assaulted with; watch and pray lest this sin prove the inlet of many more.’’ When we find ourselves entering into temptation, we have need to watch and pray. Jesus kindly excused for them; "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." We do not read of one word they had to say for themselves (the sense of their own weakness stopped their mouth); but then he had a tender word to say on their behalf, for it is his office to be an Advocate; in this he sets us an example of the love which covers a multitude of sins. He considered their frame, and did not chide them, for he remembered that they were but flesh; and the flesh is weak, though the spirit be willing.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: You need to let your children see you pray. Your children need to see you pray through the good times and the bad times. They need to see you pray constantly. They need to see you pray without ceasing. Not only should your children see you pray, let them hear you pray. In other words, pray out loud. Let them hear you call out their names in prayer. Pray for them and with them. Yes, indeed, men, women, boys, and girls ought to pray because we need God in our lives to help us do what He wants done in the world.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from R.C. Sproul. He said: "Prayer does change things, all kinds of things. But the most important thing it changes is us. As we engage in this communion with God more deeply and come to know the One with whom we are speaking more intimately, that growing knowledge of God reveals to us all the more brilliantly who we are and our need to change in conformity to Him. Prayer changes us profoundly."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 26 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Unforgiveness Grieves God and Hinders Prayers

Unforgiveness in the heart of a Christian hinders the answer to his prayers. A grudge, a root of bitterness, or even hate, may be blocking the answer to your prayers.

In Matthew 6:9-13 we are given the model prayer, or the Lord's Prayer. And in that model prayer the Saviour taught us to pray daily, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." And when the prayer was finished Jesus added this plain, sharp word of warning in Matthew 6:14-15:

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Here it is clearly taught in the solemn words of our Saviour that Christians who will not forgive others will not be heard when they ask for forgiveness. And when we come to pray that our Heavenly Father will take sins out of the way, will cleanse them and forgive them, not let them hinder our communion with Him or our service for Him, all our praying is useless unless we forgive others who may have wronged us.

+ Plus, listen to Natalie Grant singing "Waiting for a Prayer"…

  Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 26:41 which reads: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: While the disciples were [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 7:7-8 which reads: "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said, "Don't forget to pray today because God did not forget to wake you up this morning."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 26:41 which reads: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Jesus gave them good counsel; Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. There was an hour of temptation drawing on, and very near; the troubles of Christ were temptations to his followers to disbelieve and distrust him, to deny and desert him, and renounce all relation to him. There was danger of their entering into the temptation, as into a snare or trap; of their entering into a parley with it, or a good opinion of it, of their being influenced by it, and inclining to comply with it; which is the first step toward being overcome by it.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: You may ask me, Why do I need to pray more? My friend, isn’t it strange how that when God pours out His blessings upon us, instead of our getting more on fire for the Lord, we get cooler and cooler? And so, therefore, even with God’s blessings, you need to pray more. You need to understand that you don’t have the power to manage your life successfully. You need God’s direction, you need God’s power; you need His leadership in your life. No matter how much Bible you know, no matter how many Bible schools you have attended, you had better open your mouth and pray to God.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from J.C. Ryle. He said: "Praying and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 25 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Your hot words may have cut some dear one to the heart, yet you have never confessed and asked forgiveness for that sin. You may have slandered some man of God, some innocent girl, or some thoughtless neighbor. I beg you, go be reconciled! Confess your wrong and earnestly try to make it right.

Someone hears me who has a mother or father far away. They long to hear from you. You have your own home, your own business, your own interests. They have now only memories of the past. How can God bless you who neglect heart-broken parents and cause grief to those who gave everything for you?

Dear Christian, many times I have had to write letters asking forgiveness, or write a check to pay an honest debt before I could have assurance that God would hear my prayers. Are your prayers hindered because there are those you have wronged with sins that you have never tried to undo? Then the Saviour said, "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.."

+ Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "What if His People Prayed"…

  Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 26:41 which reads: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: Jesus gave them good [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Isaiah 58:9 which reads: “Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Steve Brown. He said, "Not being changed by prayer is sort of life standing in the middle of a spring rain without getting wet. It's hard to stand in the center of God's acceptance and love without getting it all over you."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 14:23 which reads: "And when he [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone"

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

We notice here that Jesus was long alone; there he was when the evening was come, and, for aught that appears, there he was till towards morning, the fourth watch of the night. The night came on, and it was a stormy, tempestuous night, yet he continued instant in prayer. It is good, at least sometimes, upon special occasions, and when we find our hearts enlarged, to continue long in secret prayer, and to take full scope in pouring out our hearts before the Lord. We must not restrain prayer.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Prayer is the only discipline of the Christian faith that we are told to do “without ceasing” in I Thessalonians 5:17. Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, esteemed this matter of prayer very highly. Allow me to remind you that on one occasion Jesus got up a great while before day and prayed. Mark 1:35 states, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” If Jesus Christ had to pray so earnestly, there is no doubt that we, His followers, ought to pray as well.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Thomas S. Monson. He said: "Prayer can solve more problems, alleviate more suffering, prevent more transgression, and bring about greater peace and contentment in the human soul than can be obtained in any other way."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 24 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:38-42: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."

You will never understand that passage until you remember that it is restitution God is talking about.

Under the Mosaic law, if a man put out his neighbor's eye, he was to be held and his eye put out. If one man's ox killed his neighbor's ox, he was to give the live ox for the dead. If one farmer's cattle ate his neighbor's crop, he was to make it good out of his own crop. And so the Saviour says if a man says that you owe it to him to let him hit you on the right cheek, then you are not only to allow that but to turn the other cheek also, and so see that you satisfy your neighbor's claim against you. If he claims that you have his coat, then you make sure that you satisfy his claim perfectly so that your brother can have nothing against you. Give him your cloak also. If he says he has carried your burden a mile and you should go a mile with him, then offer to go with him two. In other words, a Christian should earnestly set out, at any cost, to be reconciled to people he has wronged.

+ Plus, listen to Mandisa singing "God Speaking"…

  Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 14:23 which reads: “And when he [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this [...]…

John Ortberg said, "We tend to be preoccupied by our problems when we have a heightened sense of vulnerability and a diminished sense of power. Today, see each problem as an invitation to prayer."

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 26:36 which reads: "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Charles Stanley. He said, "We can be tired, weary and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our bodies energy, power and strength."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 14:23 which reads: "And when he [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone"

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Jesus was alone at prayer; that was his business in this solitude, to pray. Though Christ, as God, was Lord of all, and was prayed to, yet Christ, as Man, had the form of a servant, of a beggar, and prayed. Christ has herein set before us an example of secret prayer, and the performance of it secretly, according to the rule he gave. Perhaps in this mountain there was some private oratory or convenience, provided for such an occasion; it was usual among the Jews to have such. When the disciples went to sea, their Master went to prayer; when Peter was to be sifted as wheat, Christ prayed for him.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: A Christian cannot have a victorious, overcoming, and vibrant life without prayer. Of course, there are other important things a Christian needs as well such as the Word of God, the local church, and fellowship with other believers. But if we are to be successful in all of these areas, we must undergird these things with prayer.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Ravi Zacharias. He said: "I think the reason we sometimes have the false sense that God is so far away is because that is where we have put him. We have kept him at a distance, and then when we are in need and call on him in prayer, we wonder where he is. He is exactly where we left him."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 23 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

When the jailer at Philippi washed the stripes of Paul and Silas, long welts and cuts made by the Roman cat-o'-nine-tails, or scourge, I can imagine that with tears running down his old face, marked perhaps by years of sin, he said to Paul, "Oh, I'm so sorry I stood there and laughed while they beat you. I helped to tear your clothes off you! I put you in the jail, in the innermost prison, and fastened your feet in the stocks, when you had never wronged me. I treated you like a common criminal. God forgive me! I want to make it right the best I can!"

And then a midnight meal was prepared for these two preachers, let out of jail in such strange circumstances. They had been put in the dungeon the night before without supper, and the jailer could not rest until he had made that right with a meal which showed his love.

It is not hard for me to believe that if there were a profligate, drunken son who had followed the father into all kinds of sin, when he saw what happened that strange night he may well have said to himself, "Well, the old man sure means business this time! Something surely has changed him. And if God can do that for Dad, He can do it for me, and I'm going, too!" At any rate, the whole family was saved and baptized. What a happy scene they must have made, sitting around that table in the wee morning hours, the whole family saved, the whole family rejoicing after being baptized as a public profession of their faith!

Some of you pray and pray, but your prayers are not heard. You had as well never offered them any more until you make a genuine effort to pay the bills you owe, to right the wrongs you have done, to apologize for sins committed, and to be reconciled with others.

Oh, what zeal we ought to have about making wrongs right!

+ Plus, listen to Bart Millard singing "Have a Little Talk With Jesus"…

  Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 14:23 which reads: “And when he [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is 2 Chronicles 7:14 which reads: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Andrew Murray. He said, "Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 14:23 which reads: "And when he [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone"

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

From Christ’s retirement hereupon, He went up into a mountain apart to pray. We observe here, That he was alone; he went apart into a solitary place, and was there all alone. Though he had so much work to do with others, yet he chose sometimes to be alone, to set us an example. Those are not Christ’s followers that do not care for being alone; that cannot enjoy themselves in solitude, when they have none else to converse with, none else to enjoy, but God and their own hearts.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Our world is changing in sometimes surprising and very destructive ways. Unless we, the people of God, stand together and form a firewall of intercessory prayer in our society, not only will God’s judgment destroy our country and our world, but our country and the world will begin to destroy itself from the inside out.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Gordon B. Hinckley. He said: "Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 22 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

When the wicked jailer at Philippi came trembling to lead Paul and Silas out of the wrecked jail following the midnight earthquake, he was wonderfully saved by simply believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. And the same night, with scarcelyan hour gone by, we suppose, he saw every member of his own family wonderfully converted. Do you know why? It was not simply because he was saved. Some of you who read this have been saved 10, 20, 30 years. Yet you wives cannot win your own husbands. You parents cannot win your own children. But that poor, wicked jailer won every person in his household before morning --- that same night. And I will tell you how he did it.

First, he took Paul and Silas the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and then was baptized. It was a wholesale turning of his life over to God in public profession and declaration.

+ Plus, listen to Deitrick Haddon singing "Prayer Changes Things"…

  Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 14:23 which reads: “And when he [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 56:9 which reads: "When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me." "

Our prayer motivator quote today is from A.W. Tozer. He said, "Sometimes I go to God and say, 'God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already.' God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 14:23 which reads: "And when he [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone"

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Christ sent the people away. It intimates somewhat of solemnity in the dismissing of them; he sent them away with a blessing, with some parting words of caution, counsel, and comfort, which might abide with them. He constrained the disciples to go into a ship first, for till they were gone the people would not stir. The disciples were loth to go, and would not have gone, if he had not constrained them. They were loth to go to sea without him. If thy presence go not with us, carry us not up hence. They were loth to leave him alone, without any attendance, or any ship to wait for him; but they did it in pure obedience.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: With all of the calamities and disasters that are happening in the world today, I am quite sure that you will agree that we are living in praying times. And the best way to combat crime, violence, immorality, family breakdown, natural disasters, wars, and Satan’s efforts to lead millions astray is prayer.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said: "We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to be our first line of defense. We pray when there's nothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before we do anything at all. Most of us would prefer, however, to spend our time doing something that will get immediate results. We don't want to wait for God to resolve matters in His good time because His idea of 'good time' is seldom in sync with ours."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 21 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

I long to see the kind of Christian lives that prove honest repentance! Zacchaeus, converted as he slid down a sycamore tree to face Jesus, made sudden high resolves that showed that he meant business. Luke 19:8 says, "Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." He meant that beginning that very moment he would try to make right the wicked sins of his career as a crooked tax-collector. No wonder that Jesus said, "This day is salvation come to this house."

Oh, what zeal we ought to have about making wrongs right!

+ Plus, listen to Avalon singing "If My People Pray"…

  Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 14:23 which reads: “And when he [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this [...]…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Zechariah 4:6 which reads: "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from John Wooden. He said, "There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer."…

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 14:23 which reads: "And when he [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone"

Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this verse from Matthew Henry's Commentary:

Christ’s dismissed his disciples and the multitude, after he had fed them miraculously. He constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side. St. John gives a particular reason for the hasty breaking up of this assembly, because the people were so affected with the miracle of the loaves, that they were about to take him by force, and make him a king; to avoid that, he immediately scattered the people, sent away the disciples, lest they should join with them, and he himself withdrew. When they had sat down to eat and drink, they did not rise up to play, but each [Jesus and his disciples] went to his business. Jesus went to the business of prayer.

My personal encouragement to you today is this: Prayer invites God’s power into our lives, our families, our communities, our churches, and our countries like nothing else can. When we pray, we are openly acknowledging that God can do the things that He says He can do, and we are opening the door for Him to accomplish those things.

Our prayer motivator quote today is from C.H. Spurgeon. He said: "A prayerless church member is a hindrance. He is in the body like a rotting bone or a decayed tooth. Before long, since he does not contribute to the benefit of his brethren, he will become a danger and a sorrow to them. Neglect of private prayer is the locust which devours the strength of the church."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 20 of our series titled "HINDRANCES TO PRAYER" from Dr. John R. Rice.

You may be God's own child, dear as the apple of His eye; you may be as dear to Him as was David, a man after His own heart; or as Samson, a judge of Israel; or as Peter, the first apostle; but I solemnly warn you that God hates sin even in the dearest of His children. God demands that you forsake it, that you hate it, that you honestly try to make right the things you have done wrong.

Some things, of course, can never be undone. If you killed a man, you cannot bring him back to life. But as long as there is a sin which you could make right and have not honestly tried to do it, you are still as guilty as Satan; and every prayer you offer to God stinks with hypocrisy!

+ Plus, listen to Daniel Whyte Jr. singing "Prayer"…

  Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 14:23 which reads: “And when he [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone” Allow me to share with you some important insights regarding this [...]…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR MINUTE (VA122)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Proverbs 28:9 which says: "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

Our prayer motivator quote for today is from E.M. Bounds. He said, "What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer."

(Prayer Motivator Minute #109)…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA122)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is I Thessalonians 5:17 which reads: "Pray without ceasing."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Edward Payson. He said: "Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to a minister. Pray, then my dear brother; pray, pray, pray!"

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 3 of our series titled "THE PRAYER OF FAITH" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Modern evangelists who have so-called "divine healing services" and say that it is always God's will to heal the sick, often lay blame for their failures on those who come to be healed. A poor sick person comes to be prayed for, the evangelist announces that it is God's will to heal this person and to restore him to perfect health, always, and then when this disappointed sick person is not healed, the evangelist takes no responsibility and says that the sick person simply didn't have faith in God or that some other sin was in the way.

But note here that it is the faith of those who do the praying that settles the matter! The Bible says, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." If the professional divine healers, who go about teaching that it is God's will to heal every sick Christian, are right, then these divine healers must be great rascals, for they do not pray the prayer of faith in such a multitude of cases, and the sick person is not healed. And in every case they are to blame, if it is really true that it is God's will to heal every sick person.

No, it is not always God's will to heal the sick; but when the elders are called on to pray, then it is their faith that will guarantee the healing of the sick.

Of course, individual Christians must pray for themselves, and it may be that both the sick person and his friends alike join in prayer and join in faith.

(The Prayer Motivator Devotional #167)…

  THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA122) Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is I Thessalonians 5:17 which reads: “Pray without ceasing.” Our prayer motivator quote today is from Edward Payson. He said: “Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to a minister. Pray, [...]…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR MINUTE (VA121)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is James 4:8 which says: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."

Our prayer motivator quote for today is from John Chrysostom. He said, "Prayer is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings."

(Prayer Motivator Minute #108)…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA121)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Colossians 4:2 which reads: "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Paul E. Billheimer. He said: "Satan does not care how many people read about prayer if only he can keep them from praying."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 2 of our series titled "THE PRAYER OF FAITH" from Dr. John R. Rice.

Dr. Rice begins by quoting Dr. R.A. Torrey, who said:

The Holy Spirit is the One who does the healing, if it really is divine healing. In Romans 8:11 we read, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies thru his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Now, as the text itself and the context clearly prove, that verse refers to the future resurrection of our body by the Holy Spirit, and not to our present healing, but, nevertheless, it shows the quickening; that is, life giving, power of the Holy Spirit in our physical bodies."

Dr. Rice continues with: Now this passage in James says in verse 13, "Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray." There is prayer for the sick without anointing with oil. And again in verse 16, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." There is mutual prayer of Christians for one another, without anointing of oil; yet it is prayer for healing. But verse 14 suggests, "Is any sick among you, let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." The anointing with oil is proper under some circumstances; but it is not the oil that heals. Neither is the oil essential. It is the prayer of faith that saves.

The twelve disciples sometimes anointed with oil. In Mark 6:13 we are told, "And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." However, in many, many other cases of healing in the New Testament there is no mention of healing with oil.

Anointing with oil is sometimes a help to our faith. It reminds us that the Spirit of God dwells in the body of the sick Christian. Thus, to do just what the Scripture suggests by anointing the sick with oil, we are encouraged to expect His blessing; and we make it more real to ourselves that God has invited us to pray for the healing of the sick.

But whether we use oil or not, it is the prayer of faith that saves the sick. In the Bible there is no mention of anybody's anointing with oil except elders of the churches. But any Christian has a right to pray for his own healing or for the healing of a friend or loved one.

+ Plus, listen to Lecrae singing "Praying for You"

(The Prayer Motivator Devotional #166)…

  Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Colossians 4:2 which reads: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Our prayer motivator quote today is from Paul E. Billheimer. He said: “Satan does not care how many people read about prayer if only he can keep them from [...]…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR MINUTE (VA120)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 102:2 which says: "Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily."

Our prayer motivator quote for today is from S.D. Gordon. He said, "Prayer strikes the winning blow; service is simply picking up the pieces."

(Prayer Motivator Minute #107)…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA120)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Philippians 4:6 which reads: "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Tony Evans. He said: "A lot of Christians are trying to operate their spiritual lives the way I drive my car. They are running on fumes — trying to get somewhere for the Lord without using the fuel that provides the spark that energizes the power of God resident within us through the Holy Spirit."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 1 of our series titled "THE PRAYER OF FAITH" from Dr. John R. Rice. Dr. Rice said...

Let us make sure that we understand God's condition of healing. He says, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick."

Dr. R.A. Torrey in his book, Divine Healing, calls attention to the fact that it is not attending three days in a certain kind of public service, nor saying over and over to one's self a certain formula; but it is the prayer of faith that saves the sick. In Dr. Torrey's words, "not intense carnal excitement temporarily galvanize him into brief activities, from which there is an appaling reaction, often leaving the poor victim of the religious charlatan worse than ever, and not infrequently sending him to the insane asylum or the cemetery.

For instance, the oil does not heal. The oil mentioned in the Bible was not medicine. Dr. W.B. Riley said, "The 'oil' here is the symbol of the Holy Ghost, and is applied as such. It is hardly medicinal, for if God is any sort of physician, He is not a quack who would prescribe oil for all diseases."

In Bible times, kings, high priests, and prophets were anointed with oil, setting them apart, or sanctifying them to a special work for God. Leviticus 8:10-12 shows that the Tabernacle, the altar, the vessels and the laver and its base were all anointed, "to sanctify them," and that Aaron was anointed "to sanctify him."

Any man who is to serve God acceptably must serve in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the oil is a symbol of this Holy Spirit. And every saved person has the Holy Spirit abiding in his body. And every Christian, if he wants healing, should recognize that the Holy Spirit has a right to take charge and use this body as one dedicated wholly to God. To anoint one with oil for healing would simply mean that the one anointed is dedicated to God and that we trust the Holy Spirit of God to heal the body, if it be God's will.

+ Plus, listen to Daniel White Jr. singing "Prayer"

(The Prayer Motivator Devotional #165)…

  THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA120) Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Philippians 4:6 which reads: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Our prayer motivator quote today is from Tony Evans. He [...]…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR MINUTE (VA119)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 26:36 which says: "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder."

Our prayer motivator quote for today is from Frank Laubach. He said, "The trouble with nearly everybody who prays is that he says ‘Amen’ and runs away before God has a chance to reply. Listening to God is far more important than giving Him our ideas."

(Prayer Motivator Minute #106)…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA119)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Ephesians 6:18 which reads: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Samuel Chadwick He said: "There is no power like that of prevailing prayer, of Abraham pleading for Sodom, Jacob wrestling in the stillness of the night, Moses standing in the breach, Hannah intoxicated with sorrow, David heartbroken with remorse and grief, Jesus in sweat of blood. Add to this list from the records of the church your personal observation and experience, and always there is the cost of passion unto blood. Such prayer prevails. It turns ordinary mortals into men of power. It brings power. It brings fire. It brings rain. It brings life. It brings God."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 2 of our series titled "PRAYER FOR THE SICK IS APPROPRIATE FOR TODAY AS IT WAS IN BIBLICAL TIMES" from Dr. John R. Rice. Dr. Rice said...

Some ultra-dispensationalists say that the book of James was primarily to Jewish believers and not to Gentile Christians. Even the Scofield Reference Bible has a subhead before Hebrews, James, I and II Peter and Jude, calling them "the Jewish-Christian Epistles," as if they were essentially different from the rest of the New Testament. But this is not true. It is true that James addresses his epistle "to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad." But that was when the only Christians scattered abroad were Jewish Christians. James was probably the first epistle written in the New Testament and was written to all those who were Christians. But it is also true that the book of Galatians was addressed "unto the churches of Galatia," and that Romans was addressed "to all that be at Rome." And no one doubts that they are messages for us, the spiritual successors of the Christians in that day.

But fortunately we do not have to guess as to whom the Holy Spirit meant to address in these writings. Notice in James 5:14 that it is elders who are to be called to pray, not a rabbi; elders of the church, and not rulers of the synagogue. This is a message to Christians in churches, and not to Jews in synagogues. And notice particularly James 5:3, "Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days."

James, chapter 5, is fitting for the last days. Verse 7 says, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord," This epistle of James, the last chapter particularly, is fitted for the days just preceding the Lord's return.

Again in verse 8 we are told, "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."

And again, verse 9 in this same fifth chapter of James says, "Behold, the judge standeth before the door."

So in this chapter, at least four times, the last days and the second coming of Christ are mentioned. It could not be clearer than it is, that the Lord meant these blessed commands and promises about praying for the healing of the sick to be claimed in these last days, when the coming of the Lord draws nigh, and when the Judge stands at the door. Do not let anyone take away from you the book of James --- it belongs to Christians of this age.

+ Plus, listen to Jessy Dixon singing "I Know What Prayer Can Do"

(The Prayer Motivator Devotional #164)…

  THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA119) Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Ephesians 6:18 which reads: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Our prayer motivator quote today is from Samuel Chadwick He [...]…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR MINUTE (VA118)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is 1 John 5:14 which says: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us."

Our prayer motivator quote for today is from E.M. Bounds. He said, "Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty.'"

(Prayer Motivator Minute #105)…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA118)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which reads: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Robert Murray M'Cheyne. He said, "I ought to pray before seeing anyone…Christ arose before day and went into a solitary place. David says: ‘Early will I seek thee’…I feel it is far better to begin with God—to see His face first, to get my soul near Him before it is near another."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 1 of our series titled "PRAYER FOR THE SICK IS APPROPRIATE FOR TODAY AS IT WAS IN BIBLICAL TIMES" from Dr. John R. Rice.

+ Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "Anybody Wanna Pray"

(The Prayer Motivator Devotional #163)…

  THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA118) Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 4:1 which reads: “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.” Our prayer motivator quote [...]…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR MINUTE (VA117)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 119:145 which says: "I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes."

Our prayer motivator quote for today is from M.E. Andross. He said, "There is no other activity in life so important as that of prayer. Every other activity depends upon prayer for its best efficiency.'"

(Prayer Motivator Minute #103)…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA117)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is 1 Corinthians 14:15 which reads: "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from S.D. Gordon. He said: "Prayer wonderfully clears the vision; steadies the nerves; defines duty; stiffens the purpose; sweetens and strengthens the spirit."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is our 5th and final in our series titled "ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAY FOR YOUR HEALING AND FOR THE HEALING OF OTHERS" from Dr. John R. Rice. Dr. Rice said...

Once in a church prayer meeting, in Dallas, Texas, we had many testimonies of remarkable answers to prayer for healing of the body. Some had been healed after spending hundreds of dollars on hospital and doctor bills and after long weeks of suffering. Some had been healed who had been given up by good doctors to die. The testimonies were blessed.

At the close of the testimony meeting, a dear old Christian lady rose and said, "Brother Rice, if the time ever comes when I am sick and the doctors can't help me, and when medicine doesn't do any good, I'm going to call on you and this church to pray for me!"

How like the rest of us that is! We call on God when other things have failed. How glad He would be if we called on Him first; then, as He directs, we can use medicine and doctors as He leads, and give God the glory when He heals. Or if He gives faith for healing without doctors and medicine, we can take the blessing He gives and thank Him for it. Christians ought to look first to God in every trouble and in every need. So when we Christians are sick, we should pray, and others should pray for us.

No doubt there are many Christians who are sick who ought to be well, and would be if they came in Jesus' name to God in prayer according to the scriptural plan. It is not always God's will to heal the sick, we know; but usually it is His blessed will, and certainly always we should pray. In those cases where it is not God's will to heal the sick, He will make His will known to humble and surrendered hearts. Meantime, whenever we are sick, let us pray.

(The Prayer Motivator Devotional #162)…

  THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA117) Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is 1 Corinthians 14:15 which reads: “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also.” Our prayer motivator quote today is from S.D. Gordon. He said: “Prayer [...]…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR MINUTE (VA116)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Psalm 18:3 which says: "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."

Our prayer motivator quote for today is from E.M. Bounds. He said, "A life growing in its purity and devotion will be a more prayerful life.'"

(Prayer Motivator Minute #102)…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA116)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Romans 8:26 which reads: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Andrew Murray. He said: "Time spent in prayer will yield more than that given to work. Prayer alone gives work its worth and its success. Prayer opens the way for God Himself to do His work in us and through us. Let our chief work as God's messengers be intercession; in it we secure the presence and power of God to go with us."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 4 of our series titled "ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAY FOR YOUR HEALING AND FOR THE HEALING OF OTHERS" from Dr. John R. Rice. Dr. Rice said...

Christians ought to pray alone when they are sick. Or Christians ought to call for their pastors or for church officials to pray. It is perfectly legitimate to have prayer in public services, just so it is sincere prayer, God-honoring prayer, and not a racket and not connected with false doctrine. And Christians ought to pray privately one for another, confessing their faults one to another. Sickness is a proper subject for prayer.

Dr. Rice continues, Years ago I was troubled with tonsillitis. Every winter I had a wretched time with a sore throat and fever. One can feel so much like dying with tonsillitis and not be very sick! The family doctor insisted that I should have my tonsils removed. At last, reluctantly, I consented.

A certain day was set for the operation. That morning in my devotional reading I read 2 Chronicles 16. How startled I was to read in verses 12 and 13, "And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign." I was not ready to 'sleep with my fathers,' so I decided I should seek God before the physicians.

Immediately I told my wife that I had sinned in settling any matter about my health without a season of prayer. I postponed the tonsillectomy, went to the Lord in earnest prayer for my throat. Soon thereafter I had occasion to talk to a doctor who was an earnest Christian. He said to me that if I would take his counsel, I would never need to have my tonsils removed. He gave me a diet list; I left off fried foods, fats and sweets and began to use more fruit juices and eat more green vegetables. I have never had tonsillitis from that day to this!

How often we commit the sin of Asa who "in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians." That does not mean that Asa sinned in having physicians. It means that he sinned in not looking first to the Lord, and in that he was trusting men instead of God. The Bible never indicates that it is wrong, under certain circumstances, to use doctors and medicine. But always, we may be sure, it grieves God when His children think first about human help and human remedies. The very first thing anybody ought to do about sickness is pray!

+ Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "What if His People Prayed"

(The Prayer Motivator Devotional #161)…

  THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA116) Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Romans 8:26 which reads: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot [...]…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR MINUTE (VA115)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Jeremiah 29:13 which says: "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Our prayer motivator quote for today is regarding George Muller. It goes like this, "When asked how much time he spent in prayer, George Muller's reply was, ‘Hours every day. But I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk and when I lie down and when I arise. And the answers are always coming.'"

(Prayer Motivator Minute #101)…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA115)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Luke 18:1 which reads: "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from John Laidlaw. He said: "The main lesson about prayer is just this: Do it! Do it! Do it! You want to be taught to pray. My answer is pray and never faint, and then you shall never fail."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 3 of our series titled "ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAY FOR YOUR HEALING AND FOR THE HEALING OF OTHERS" from Dr. John R. Rice. Dr. Rice said...

Sickness is evidently the attack of Satan. Job's sickness was brought on by the direct attack of Satan. Jesus healed one woman whom, He said, "Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years." And then of Paul's thorn in the flesh, we are told it was a "messenger of Satan". Sickness and disease come from Satan. God permits them as He permits sin and permits certain results of sin. And often God overrules sickness to His own glory. But generally, it is proper to say that sickness is from Satan.

And thus, may not God's own children call on their Heavenly Father to help them in the attack of Satan on their bodies? Surely, the very nature of sickness means that we ought to pray about it and have a perfect right to pray about the healing of our bodies.

And even better is the sweet thought that God is our Heavenly Father. He has an infinite compassion for us. As Jesus Himself went about doing good and was moved with compassion by the sickness and the sorrows of the people, so He has compassion upon us now, and our dear Heavenly Father has loving compassion upon His children. Psalm 103:13 tells us, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him."

If there were not a line in the Bible upon which to base our hope except this --- that God is our Heavenly Father and we are His dear children, redeemed at infinite cost --- then surely that alone would give us a right to look up in His face and tell Him of our woes and ask Him for help in our sufferings and sicknesses. Jesus said in Matthew 7:11, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" The relief from pain, the healing of disease, the strength for our daily tasks --- surely in many, many cases at least, these are good things for which we have a right to ask our Heavenly Father. His love and compassion are enough to guarantee that He is concerned about our sickness. Sickness is a proper subject for prayer.

+ Plus, listen to Daniel White Jr. singing "Prayer"

(The Prayer Motivator Devotional #160)…

  THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA115) Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Luke 18:1 which reads: “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Our prayer motivator quote today is from John Laidlaw. He said: [...]…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR MINUTE (VA114)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is James 1:6 which says: "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

Our prayer motivator quote for today is from M.E. Andross. He said, "The man on his knees has a leverage underneath the mountain which can cast it into the sea, if necessary, and can force all earth and heaven to recognize the power there is in 'His name.'"

(Prayer Motivator Minute #100)…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA114)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is John 14:13-14 which reads: "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from E.M. Bounds. He said: "Prayer is the greatest of all forces, because it honors God and brings him into active aid."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is part 2 of our series titled "ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAY FOR YOUR HEALING AND FOR THE HEALING OF OTHERS" from Dr. John R. Rice. Dr. Rice said...

In James 5:13 we are given the plain instruction, "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray." Or the Revised Version puts it, "Is any among you suffering? let him pray." So people are to pray for themselves when they suffer. And then verses 14 and 15 continue, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him...And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up."

Clearly, sickness should be an occasion for prayer. We are commanded to pray when we suffer ourselves, and the elders of the church are to be called officially, too, to pray for the sick. Then in James 5:16 we are told, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed."

Though the sick may pray for themselves, it is proper for the elders of the church to pray also, and individual Christians are to confess their sins one to the other and to pray one for the other, in order that they may be healed.

If there were no particular and specific command, like this, to pray for healing of the sick, yet many other passages of Scripture authorize us to pray for anything we want or need. For instance, in Mark 11:24 Jesus said, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them; and ye shall have them." That "what things soever" would certainly include the healing of our sick bodies.

And again in John 14:14 Jesus promised, "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." That word "anything" certainly would cover healing of the body.

And Philippians 4:6 commands us, "...in every thing by prayer...let your requests be made known unto God."

If there were not a single specific promise in the Bible which mentioned healing of the sick in answer to prayer, yet any believing Christian would have a right to call on his Heavenly Father for healing in the light of these general promises clearly meant to cover every need of a Christian.

+ Plus, listen to Tobymac singing "CIty On Our Knees"

(The Prayer Motivator Devotional #159)…

  THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA114) Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is John 14:13-14 which reads: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will [...]…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR MINUTE (VA113)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 21:22 which says: "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

Our prayer motivator quote for today is from E.M. Bounds. He said, "We can do nothing without prayer. All things can be done by importunate prayer. That is the teaching of Jesus Christ."

(Prayer Motivator Minute #99)…

THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA113)

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Luke 11:1 which reads: "And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray."

Our prayer motivator quote today is from Sidlow Baxter. He said: "Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers."

Our prayer motivator devotional today is titled "ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAY FOR YOUR HEALING AND FOR THE HEALING OF OTHERS" from Dr. John R. Rice. Dr. Rice said...

James 5:13-16 reads: "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 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 much."

How many times our Saviour, in His brief earthly ministry, heard the cry of the sick for healing! And how willingly the Saviour answered their prayers and healed the sick.

The leper said, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."

The centurion at Capernaum said, "Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented."

A certain ruler worshiped Jesus saying, "My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live."

A woman diseased with an issue of blood twelve years came behind Jesus, touched the hem of His garment, and yet there was a prayer in her timid heart.

Two blind men followed Jesus, crying and saying, "Thou son of David, have mercy on us."

The Syrophenician woman, "a woman of Canaan," cried to Jesus saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil."

When Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration, there came a certain man kneeling down to Him and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him."

As Jesus departed from Jericho once, two blind men sitting by the wayside heard that Jesus passed by and cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David." All these, and many other cases recorded in the Gospels, were prayers for healing; and Jesus answered these, every one! On a number of occasions, multitudes brought their sick people to Jesus for Him to heal them. If the personal ministry of Jesus shows anything about His tender heart, then He loves to heal the sick, He is glad to hear prayers for healing.

+ Plus, listen to Deitrick Haddon singing "Prayer Changes Things"

(The Prayer Motivator Devotional #158)…

  THE BEST OF THE PRAYER MOTIVATOR DEVOTIONAL (VA113) Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Luke 11:1 which reads: “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray.” Our prayer [...]…