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By Janice Cantore
A Newsletter from Janice Cantore
The Apostle Paul directs us in one of his epistles to "pray
without ceasing". (1st Thessalonians 5:17) At first glance, such a
request seems impossible and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to question why Paul
would ask such a thing? But he explains himself; he tells us that praying
without ceasing is "God’s will" for us in Christ
Jesus. Prayer is communication with our Lord and Maker. To survive in this
world during such evil days, we need to be in constant communication with our
Power Source. Our lives should reflect God’s glory and unless we’re plugged in,
things are pretty dull.
Jesus set for us a perfect example in all things, and prayer was no
exception. He was always in touch with His Father, stepping away from everyone
when He needed quiet time. John Chapter 17 is an entire chapter recording
Jesus’ prayerful heart.
The end of His earthly ministry was near, and Jesus prayed for Himself first,
asking for glory from the Father so that the Father may in turn be glorified. "Father,
the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that Your Son may glorify You"
(verse 1).
Next Jesus prayed for His disciples. He knew what was waiting for them after
His time was up. He asked first that they would be kept secure and second that
they might be sanctified. "Now I am no longer in the
world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep those
whom You have given Me, that they be one as We are one" (verse 11).
Sanctify them by Your truth; Your word is truth"
(verse 17).
And finally, Jesus prayed for the whole church, the struggling body of new
believers. "And the glory which you gave Me, I have given
them, that they may be one, just as We are one" (verse 24).
He did not ask that everyone be spared pain or that everyone have an easy
life with lots of material comforts. He prayed that all believers will be one
with the Father.
Being one with the Father is being plugged in with unceasing prayer, diligent
study of the Word and fellowship with other believers. Pray to be one with the
Father, present your requests but also pray for open ears. Listen for what He
has to say.
Praying is so much more than approaching God with a wish list. If we only
approach God when we want something or think we need something, then there is
something wrong with our relationship. Think of your own children. Would you
consider yours a solid relationship if they only talked to you when they wanted
something? I’ve heard it said that the purpose of prayer is not to accomplish
our will but God’s will.
Therefore, we need to not only pray God’s will but live our lives in
God’s will. Warren Wiersbe writes, "Prayer is not something we do; it is
something that we are. It is the highest and deepest expression of the inner
person." Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord,
and He will give you the desires of your heart."
The secret is delighting in the Lord. If our goal is to please Him in
everything, then His desires become our desires and our prayers will bring God
the glory. Live to delight the Lord and you will find yourself living in His
will. And when you are living in the will of God it is possible to pray without
ceasing. The desires of our hearts will be right prayers constantly ascending
to God.
"Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in your
sight, show me now your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in
Your sight" (Exodus 33:13).
"Thus says the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his
wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in
his riches; but let the man who glories, glory in this, that he understands and
knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving-kindness, judgment, and
righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord"
(Jeremiah 9:23-24).
"Call to Me and I will answer and show you great and
mighty things which you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:2-3).
Janice Cantore began writing a newsletter during a break from a woman’s
study, and has continued it for a number of years. The Lord placed it on her
heart that women need extra encouragement over the months they are away from an
organized group. She finds encouragement is from the Lord and His Word; and
therefore the focus of her writing is always the Word. People liked what she
wrote and it became a monthly letter, continuing even when the regular study
started back up. Janice has been a police officer for 13 years, where she
currently writes policy and training bulletins. She says "I personally always
need the encouragement I find in the Word and hope my newsletter helps encourage
the people who read it."
If you would like to comment to Janice Cantore or request her newsletter,
contact her at
jctreke@email.msn.com
Or contact us at
Ron@fridaystudy.org
Ron
Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
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