A Prayer for the United States

Let us unite in imploring the Supreme Ruler of Nations to spread His holy protection over these United States:

To turn the machinations of the wicked; to the confirming of the Constitution;

To enable us at all times to root out internal sedition and put invasion to flight;

And to perpetuate to our country that prosperity which His goodness has already conferred. Amen.

—Composed by George Washington, 1794.

Basic Principles to Getting Your Prayers Answered - #7

God is Waiting for you to Pray

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not"—Jeremiah 33:3.

God delights to hear and answer prayer. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."—Philippians 4:6.

Have you ever experienced God answering your prayers? We'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment below!

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles to Getting Your Prayers Answered - #6

Don't Let Iniquities Separate You From God

"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear"—Isaiah 59:2.

So many times the channel to God's throne of grace is blocked  by some stubborn will or spirit. When we are sincere, the Lord will call to our attention the hindrances to our prayers. Then we can confess them and be forgiven. 

So many Christians go through their routines day after day without seeing results.

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles of Getting Your Prayers Answered - #5

Ask in Faith

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 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. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."—James 1:5-8.

You can get you rprayers answered, but it is essential that you believe God's promises and develop a trust and confidence. When you have met God's conditions, then pray and believe.

Remember, it is vital that our believing be based on His Word given to us in the Bible and not on some experience. 

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles to Getting Your Prayers Answered - #4

Pray With a Proper Motive

"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts"—James 4:3.

Here is a case of selfishness and James minces no words about it. He is blunt and pointed in telling us not to expect answers to that kind of prayer.

This type of individual looks upon God as a big welfare department, doling out assistance like a federal giveaway program instead of as our Heavenly Father, giving all that we request to help us run our program.

God wants us to be stewards and ambassadors representing His cause on this planet. When we join His program, He supplies the wherewithal to accomplish His purpose.

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles to Getting Your Prayers Answered - #2

Pray According to His Will.

"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."—I John 5:14-15.

Be careful that you don't let your personal desires lead you astray from God's will. The power of suggestion from others also must be carefully guarded against. Every experience must be tested and analyzed to make sure of His will.

Someone has suggested six tests that will prove God's will in a given situation:

• The test of Scripture. Does it agree with the Bible?
• The test of facts. Do I have enough light on the matter to decide?
• The test of motives. Is the true reason behind my action right and proper?
• The test of time. Is it just a passing fancy that will fade away, or is it a permanent need?
• The test of opportunity. What about open and closed doors?
• The test of peace. Do I have a settled peace about a given matter?

The will of God can be obvious. The salvation of the soul is always His will. (II Pet. 3:9). Second, it is God's will that all His children be sanctified, dedicated Christians. (I Thess. 4:3). Third, it is God's will that we live clean, separated lives. (Rom. 12:2). Fourth, it is God's will that we be filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18). 

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

You Can Get Your Prayers Answered

"Ask and ye shall receive."—John 16:24

"Ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."—John 15:7

James, the brother of our Lord, said, "Ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2). God has much more for all of us; what a shame we don't take advantage of the privilege we have of asking!

Prayer is not complicated. Any believer can talk to God and get results. There is no magic formula, no secret code. The Bible simply says "Ask" but it has a dual meaning. It means to ask one time; it also means to keep on asking. We are to ask and ask, and we will keep on receiving and receiving.

Dr. R.A. Torrey stated, "Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God."

If that be true, all we need do is determine whether what we ask is in the will of God. If it is, then we can have it. George Mueller, who saw thousands of answers to his prayers, explained how he did it:

1. One must come to complete dependence on the merits of Christ as the only claim of blessing.
2. One must separate himself from any known sin.
3. One must have faith in God's Word.
4. One must ask in accordance with God's will.
5. There must be an importunity or continuous asking and supplication until the answer comes.

These great men were not God's pets with some "in" that the rest of us do not have, for Peter by divine inspiration, said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34).

7 Reasons Why We Should Pray

• It is commanded plainly of God that Christians ought to pray always about everything and about everybody, with all prayer and supplication.
• Prayer is God's appointed way for Christians to get things.
• Prayer is the way for Christians to have fullness of joy.
• Prayer is God's cure for worry, the way out of trouble and anxious care.
• Answered prayer is God's way of stopping the mouths of unbelievers, God's unanswerable argument against infidelity.
• Prayer is the way to have the power of the Holy Spirit for God's blessed work.
• "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Therefore, beloved brethren, let us pray! Oh, how many and how weighty are the reasons that Christians should pray!

-snippet taken from: Prayer—Asking and Receiving by Dr. John R. Rice. Purchase your copy here! Now available on eBook.

Do The Best Christians I Know Agree That it is Right? #Questionable Things

"In multitude of counsellors there is safety."—Proverbs 24:6.

There have been instances in my life where I have had a difficult time deciding about a matter. After using all the previous guidelines we've discussed, I still wasn't satisfied. My last resort was to seek the counsel of good, godly Christians.

When you are faced with a questionable matter, approach several Christians individually and get their opinions. Their counsel is valuable in helping make the right decisions.

—this series was condensed and used from the pamphlet, Deciding Questionable Things for the Christian by Dr. Curtis Hutson. If you would like to read this in its entirety, please order your copy today from SwordBooks.com

Does it Bring Glory to God? #Questionable Things

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."—I Corinthians 10:31. 

Whatsoever we do, we are to do it to the glory of God. That would involve anything the Christian wants to do or is ever tempted to do.

Does the thing you have a question about bring honor to God? Does it glorify God? Does it give God a good name? If not, then it is wrong. 

"He leadenth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."—Psalm 23:3.

We are Christians. We bear His name. Our lifestyle, language, attitudes, and manner of dress reflect on His name. Unless you are convinced the thing in question will bring glory to God, then don't do it.

Can You Do It in the Name of the Lord Jesus? #Questionable Things

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."—Colossians 3:17.

Notice the words whatsoever ye do in word or deed. That covers every word the believer will ever utter and anything the believer will ever do. And according to the verse, we are to do it "in the name of the Lord Jesus."

When the believer is faced with a matter and can't decide whether it is right or wrong, he should simply ask, "Can I do it in the name of the Lord Jesus?" If you can't, it's wrong.

Does it Please God? #Questionable Things

"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."—I John 3:22

It is possible for one to keep His commandments, but what if there is no clear commandment regarding the matter in question? Some things are clearly commanded while others are not.

When there is no commandment to obey, then the question is, "Does it please God?" Can you honestly and sincerely say, "This thing I want to do pleases God?" If the Christian cannot honestly say yes, then he shouldn't do it. 

The Christian should never do anything unless he is thoroughly convinced that it will please the Lord.

Do You Have the Leading of the Holy Spirit? #Questionable Things

When things are not spelled out clearly in the Bible, we can expect the Holy Spirit to lead us.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."—Romans 8:14.

Someone suggested that the stops as well as the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. The Holy Spirit leads us in prayer. Most believers who have been saved any length of time have experienced times when the Holy Spirit gave definite leading regarding a matter. 

When I talk about the leading of the Holy Spirit, I'm not talking about hearing an audible voice or having strange visions. God works in us the desire and then gives us the power to make the desire a reality.

In any matter where we have questions, we have a right to ask the Holy Spirit to lead us and to expect His gentle guiding.

Have You Prayed About it? #Questionable Things

The Bible indicates that we are to pray about all things. Philippians 4:6 says,

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

One of the saddest verses in the Bible to me is James 4:2: "Ye have not, because ye ask not." It doesn't say what we don't have; it just simply says we have not because we ask not. That would certainly include the leading of the Lord regarding a questionable matter.

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. When God answers, He will not answer in an audible voice; He will lead you by the Holy Spirit.

A Day With Him

A DAY WITH HIM I heard the voice of Jesus say, "My son, it's time to kneel and pray." Down on my knees I quietly went And talked with Him 'til power was sent.
Alone with God, as Jacob of old, I discovered joy more precious than gold. The peace of God flowed into my heart, And I knew from Him I'd never part.
The things I learned that day from God Gave me wisdom the pathway to trod. "Trust me," He said, "with all your heart, And strength I'll give you the day to start."
Beginning with Him, I felt secure, Knowing His Word is true and pure. During the day, He stayed with me, Giving me light His way to see.
My burden of sin on Him I laid, Knowing His blood the price had paid. When evening came and the shadows fell, I knew that with my soul all was well.
The song He gave me during the night Consoled my heart 'til morning light. With the rising of the sun, I heard Him say, "Together we'll go through another day." —Raymond Barber used from Heaven's Hymnbook: An Overview of the Psalms Volume III ©

Who Cares, Anyway? Part Four

"I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul."—Psalm 142:1-4

Do You Care Enough to Allow the Holy Spirit to Move You?

Their sin and backsliding won't let some care like they ought to care. They've gotten away from the Lord and taken control at the helm of things in their lives. Their hearts have grown cold and hard, and they've become unfaithful to the point that they've become unmovable.

There was a time when messages from the Word of God could touch their hearts and even bring them to the altar. Their backsliding and sin have gotten them away from the Word of God and the influence of the church.

They've gotten away from a faithful walk with God, and no longer do they have personal time with God. Their hearts have gotten cold and complacent, and they're at the place where they're not moved.

The child of God needs an old-fashioned moving of the Holy Spirit of God until he takes down the fences. We ought to be emotionally stirred and care enough to reach those around the world who are trapped in darkness. Their lives are ebbing out, and they are going to die and go to Hell. If we could get emotional and stirred up enough to pray and give whatever is needed to reach the unsaved of this world, we would see more people saved and in Glory!

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Lots of new stuff going on behind the scenes here at the Sword and we're excited to share some of it with our loyal readers. 

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