--Gary Fick
At the annual meeting of CFO North America last May, Carolyn Miller asked us to consider having a prayer box at home. It could be a place to to lay down the people, events, and needs we carry in our hearts. Lay them down into the warmth and growth of God's unfolding plan and love. Glenn Clark, our founder, shared the idea of having "" to put in the 91st Psalm, "under the shelter of his wings." What he wrote about "prayer eggs" is one of the classic resources on this web site. prayer eggs Recently, I came across a cookie jar in the shape of a hen. I imagined that it could also be a prayer box, one that represented the nurturing of a mother hen over her brood of chicks. Jesus used that word picture to help us know how He wants to care for our real needs and concerns. Now the chicken cookie jar and prayer box sits on a side-table in our dining room. We place our "prayer eggs" inside the jar, and it is a regular reminder for us to pray and to remember that God is warming and growing our prayers to be his perfect answers. And that is a part of our CFO lifestyle.
--Gary Fick
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In Be Thou Made Whole (p. 59-63), Glenn Clark applies the meaning of Leviticus 14 to a healing we can experience by a seven-day process of being washed with the water and the blood by the Spirit and the Fire (Luke 3:16; 1John 5:6-8). “In the Fourteenth chapter of Leviticus, the process of the Bath of the Spirit is perfectly outlined for us in a beautiful spiritual allegory. The ceremonial law of permanent spiritual cleansing following the physical healing is as follows: “’Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean…and the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed…as for the living bird, he shall take it…and shall dip it in the blood of the bird that was killed; …and he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed of the leprosy seven times, and he shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field…and he shall be clean.’ “Those two birds represent the spirit of these two baths we have been considering. They represent the two conceptions a sick person can take of himself. One bird represents, for instance, the sick condition in which he appears to the outside world; that picture must be destroyed, denied, and cast aside. The other bird represents the way he actually is in the sight of God, made after His image and likeness, a perfect being in a perfect world, governed by a perfect God. “But while the first bird is denied and cast from the consciousness, the values that can be extracted from the illness must not be denied. These values are to be carefully treasured and pondered upon for seven days. The sprinkling of the blood of the slain bird upon the sick person “seven times” is a symbolical way of saying that after one has completely destroyed the view of himself as a sick man, and thrown it away, he should hold fast to the values that such an experience has brought him. “This is the point where most spiritual healers fail. They try to cast aside the entire thought of the illness as nothing but evil, as something that should be forgotten and despised and gotten rid of a quickly as possible. They forget that if God does all things, He permits us to go through such experiences for a purpose, and we have not really met His will until we find that purpose and gratefully accept it. “Was your illness sent to sprinkle patience into your consciousness, or love, or tolerance, or humility, or obedience? Was the illness to turn you to God? If it accomplished that you surely should be glad that you were allowed seven days for sprinkling a lot of gratitude for that blessing. Did you learn how to pray? Were some friends drawn to you closer than ever? Did the Bible and spiritual books take new meanings for you? Did the illness make you more humble, more loving, more wise? Did it open your eyes to deeper visions, to greater faith, to greater appreciation of the presence of God in your life? “When you have found the good that has come to you from your illness, there will automatically be removed from your soul all resentment, worry, impatience, and pride, and you will be ready to move ahead, a cleansed and perfect soul. Then you will have learned the lesson your illness was sent to bring to you. “The first bird represents the baptism of water, the baptism that washes away the bad. But in this case the water has been transformed into blood, and a sprinkling by blood transcends a baptism by water in that it not only cleanses but it atones, it not only washes away the bad but it also preserves all the value which the experience with the bad has brought. “Having accepted the baptism by water and blood, now let us turn to the baptism by the Spirit and the Fire. There is a legend of a bird called the Phoenix Bird that constantly goes up in flames and then rises again from its own ashes—a symbol of constant resurrection and constant rebirth. The second bird referred to in Leviticus typifies the healing qualities of the Phoenix Bird, the sound, reborn body emerging out of the experience which illness has wrought. This allegory has a vital message for us at this point, which is as follows: As much as we sincerely, yes, eagerly desire the complete health which this bird typifies, we must not press down too hard in our demands that it come to pass. We must vision it clearly and hopefully each day for seven days while using it to sprinkle over our consciousness a greater awareness and a deeper gratitude for the values the temporary illness has brought. Then after seven days of holding the Soul’s sincere desire to our heart, we must be so surrendered to the will of God that we shall be willing to relinquish it entirely into the Father’s hands. “After the seven days of prayer of gratitude are over, take your vision of a perfect body and “let go” even of that, yes, set it free in the open field” of God. In other words, be willing, even as Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son if God so commanded, to give up with radiant acquiescence your dream of physical wholeness. Offer it to Him, saying, “Father, now that I am sprinkled with the full values that this sickness can bring me, I am so grateful that I am willing to relinquish even my desire to get well if You have in mind some larger plan or some greater good than I can see. I shall turn over to You now this vision of the well person that I have been holding for a week, and for the rest of the time I want You to do all the visioning in Your perfect way.” When a thing is left entirely in God’s hands He has complete power to work the greatest miracles of healing. “This relinquishment involves the whole-hearted acceptance of the Saving and Healing Christ. As we turn to Christ in penitence and humility and gratitude for the blood He shed for mankind, we are suddenly filled with a Life as boundless as the ocean, as powerful as Niagara, and as loving and tender and healing as the air we breathe. It was our sickness that he bore, our pains that he carried, he was pierced for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…and through his stripes we are healed.” For North America CFO Annual & CFOI Board Mtg. Theme: "Living in His Presence" Acts 17: 28 "In Him we live & move and have our being" Dear UPT Prayer Partner, I pray God's Presence will deepen within each of us as we together commune with God these 21 days,'counting all things loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ our Lord'. Carolyn Miller...UPT Coordinator My Email: pray@UnitedPrayerTower.org Send me an email and let me know you will be praying with us for 21 days! I send you Jesus' Love and mine, Carolyn P.S. Share Prayer Vigil with CFO Council Ring Members & Campers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invitation: Psalm 95: 2 - "Come before His Presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise with music and song!" May 11: Psalm 91: 1 - "He who dwells in the Presence of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91: 1-16...God's Character: Security) May 12: Psalm 139: 7 - "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your Presence? (Psalm 139: 1-6 & 8-18...God's Presence; Power; Knowledge) May 13: Psalm 46: 1 - "God is our refuge and strength, an Ever-Present help in touble." (Psalm 46: 1-11...God's Trust; Deliverance; Supremacy; Be Still & Know) May 14: Psalm 51: 10-12 - "Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your Presence. Take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your Salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." (Psalm 51: 1-19...Confession; Pardon; Restoration) May 15: Revelation 2: 3-4 - "You persevered...endured hardships for My Name...have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you...you have forsaken your First Love." (Psalm 139: 23-24 & Psalm 24: 3-10...Search our hearts; Glorify God!) May 16: Revelation 3: 20 - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3: 15-22...God's Discipline...Let us hear what the Spirit says) May 17: Psalm 31: 19-20 - "How great is your goodness stored up for those who fear you and trust you. In the 'Secret of Your Presence' you hide them from 'Pride of Man'" (Psalm 31: 14-24...Love the Lord; Hope in Him; He will strengthen your heart) May 18: Psalm 41: 12 - "In my integrity you uphold me and set me in Your Presence forever." (Psalm 41: 1-13 & Psalm 9: 3...The Lord's Blessings; Mercy; Healing) May 19: Psalm 23: 5 - "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows" (Psalm 23: 1-6...The Good Shepherd; Guide; Protector; Constant Companion) May 20: Psalm 89: 15 - "Blessed are the people who have learned to acclaim you; who walk in the light of Your Presence, O Lord." (Psalm 89: 1-18...Faithfulness) Pray For Zone 4 CFO...The Host Zone For CFO Annual Meeting & CFOI Board Meeting May 21: Psalm 34: 11 - "Come My children, listen to Me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." (Psalm 34: 1-22...Giving Thanks; God's Righteous Instruction) Pray For Advisory Council Ring (ACR) Meeting...(Wednesday Eve May 21 through Thursday May 22) May 22: Psalm 16: 11 - "You have made known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in Your Presence with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16: 1-11...The Beauty of God's Spiritual Inheritance) Pray for CFO Leaders' Retreat...Evenings of May 22 & 23 May 23: Colossians 1: 27 - "God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery of the Word of God in its fullness, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory!" (Colossians 3: 11-17...Christ is all and is in all) Pray for CFO Leadership Training...(May 23rd...9:00 AM through 5:30 PM) May 24: Isaiah 55: 6 - "Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call on Him while He is near." (Isaiah 55: 1-13...God's Word Goes Forth...God's Will Accomplished) Pray for CFO Council Ring Training...(Sat. May 24...9 AM through 5: 30 PM) Pray for CFO Camp Council Ring Reps (CCR) Meeting...(Sat. Eve May 24 through Wed. AM May 28) May 25: Psalm 100: 2 - "Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before His Presence with singing." (Psalm 100: 1-5...Calling all people to Praise and Worship the Lord) May 26: John 14: 19b-20 - "Because I live, you also will live...you shall know I am in my Father...you are in me...I am in you." (1st Corinthians 12: 12-25...With Christ all are baptized by One Spirit into One Body) Pray for CFOI International Board Meeting...(Tues. May 27 through Thurs May 29) May 27: John 15: 15 - "I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have call you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you." (John 15: 5-17...Chosen by God...Appointed by God...Go and Bear Fruit) May 28: John 17: 15 - "My prayer is not that You take them out of the world, but that You protect them from the evil one." (John 17: 6-25...Sanctified by God) Pray for Traveling Mercies...(For North America CFOers returning home) May 29: Ephesians 2: 10 - "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2: 19-22 & Ephesians 4: 1-6...Thank God for His Grace Given to Us) May 30: Hebrews 7: 24-25 - "Christ entered Heaven...appearing for us in God's Presence...He is able to save whoever comes to God through Him...He lives to intercede for us." (Hebrews 10: 19-25...God's Call to Persevere) Pray for Traveling Mercies...(For CFOI Board Members returning home) May 31: Jude verse 24-25 - "To Him who is able to keep your from falling and to present you before His Glorious Presence without fault and with great joy...to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!" (Jude verses 17-22...praying in the Holy Spirit and keeping yourself in the Love of God) This Scripture in Jude is God's Special Benediction...(For this 21-Day Prayer Vigil with CFOers Worldwide...Amen!) On pages 147-148, Glenn Clark reveals one of his great discoveries in prayer: "Lord, if it is the Divine Plan for me to step into the Kingdom of Heaven when I reach the age of forty-two, then, Lord, if it is not asking too much, could you grant me the unspeakable privilege of stepping into the Kingdom of Heaven right here on earth? Your only begotten son came to earth to tell us all about the Kingdom. He said to seek it first and that it was right here within us. We don't have to die in our physical selves to start living in it." What followed that prayer was a series of important revelations of the secrets of "prevalent prayer." They are identified on p. 160-162 with discoveries made in a prayer group. "We perceived that petitionary prayer is a weak instrument in most of our hands because of the selfish motives that are usually associated with it, and the weak and flabby faith with which it is usually uttered. To lift our faith from a state of mere believing to a state of actual knowing--that was our problem. ...all we needed to do was to lift our own consciousness to a state of positive assurance that all was well. ...the first ingredient necessary for all true prayer was Faith that amounted to absolute Knowing, a faith so complete that it filled our entire being; and now we were led to our second great discovery, and that was that Love is the most powerful of all ingredients in all true prayer. ... [Finally, for prayers that prevailed] "it thrilled me to think how happy [those we prayed for] would be when they got cured." "So that was our third great discovery. Next to a positive Faith and sincere Love, radiant Joy seems to be the chief ingredient necessary for prevailing prayer." In Chapter XXI of his autobiography, A Man's Reach, Glenn Clark relates the story of the founding of Camps Farthest Out. Initially, Glenn Clark did most of the speaking, but he sought other speakers who could inspire people to pray and to grow in prayer. He quotes Frank Laubach, as one such speaker: "I have been hungry for the last few days to get with a small group like this that believes in prayer. Our Lord has so few to follow His thoughts through with Him. If we become more like Him, then the circle will reach around the world. The greatest failure of the Christian Church is that 'we try to save our own souls at all costs.' The further out the needs of Humanity are the less concerned we are! Make us bigger...in the circle of our praying, love, interest, and thought. [Dr. Frank had started to pray, but then returned to the listeners.] We have an ever-growing confidence through experience because prayer -- when we are honest and willing to be used -- is the mightiest power in the world. ...If we follow through prayer with our lives, we are then irresistible. If we open up to Him, open the center of ourselves out to Him and if we open ourselves down and out to the world, then we let Him flow through. Then and then only do we become channels. Otherwise we are mere trickles of power and service." The picture is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Laubach/ I was peeling apples one day to make the favorite pie my family loves. To make the
task less tedious I started playing 'The Game with Minutes'... (How many times in 60 seconds can I think of Jesus???) At one point while peeling the apples, I thought of Jesus and me walking together at CFO Camp. (during free time in the afternoons.) We would stop for awhile in the 'Prayer Room'. (Just Jesus and me.) We had some wonderful conversations. Sometimes we were both quiet. Sometimes Jesus spoke. I listened. Neither one of us seemed in a hurry. There was such an atmosphere of peace. (peace that passes understanding). The Path to the Prayer Room at CFO Camp... May the path to the Prayer Room never get covered up with weeds...CFO Campers take notice if CFO Council Ring goes down this path... CFO Campers will follow leaders' example and try this path... The Prayer Room shall be the place to seek the Lord with all of our heart... God loves to have that time alone with each camper in the Prayer Room... May the path to the Prayer Room grow wider as it is used more... May CFOers know that God's anointing is upon the Prayer Room... The Presence of Father, Son, Holy Spirit is what is all important... Selah! Think about it! Written by Carolyn Miller in February 2014. Gary Fick posted the following quotes about prayer on his Facebook page. All quotes come from books recommended here. Prayer quotes 2
Andrew R. Wheeler: Praying to God means…our prayers are focused on asking God to intervene in situations and in people’s lives, not on changes that people need to make. (p. 40) Andrew R. Wheeler: If you pay attention to the wording of your prayers, focusing them on God, you will notice over time that your attitude toward prayer will shift and your understanding of God’s sovereignty will increase. Prayer that is addressed to God, not to people, and that focuses on his kingdom and will, asking him directly to intervene, will honor God and draw you nearer to him. (p. 66) Philip Yancey: I have learned to see prayer not as my way of establishing God’s presence, rather as my way of responding to God’s presence that is a fact whether or not I can detect it. (p. 53) Philip Yancey: The main purpose of prayer is not to make life easier, nor to gain magical powers, but to know God. (p. 56) Philip Yancy: The Bible speaks of Abraham and Moses as being friends of God, and of David as a man after God’s own heart. …Prayer is the currency of that friendship. (p. 59) Frank Laubach: …pray inwardly every minute, and see what happens. (p.34) Philip Yancey: As a training ground, I read the psalms. I read Jesus’ prayers, and the prayers of his followers. (p. 63) Andrew R. Wheeler: Being “together in prayer” means much more than simply praying in the same place at the same time with other believers. There is an implied unity of heart and mind, a sense of common purpose and vision, and a mutual submission that encourages everyone in the group to participate. (p. 68) Mother Teresa of Calcutta as quoted by Philip Yancey: Prayer is simply talking to God. He speaks to us: we listen. We speak to him: he listens. A two-way process: speaking and listening. (p. 65) Richard Foster: The primary purpose of prayer is to bring us into such a life of communion with the Father that, by the power of the Spirit, we are increasingly conformed to the image of the Son. (p. 57) Richard Foster reminds us of an old adage: “The one who sings prays twice.” (p. 110) Richard Foster: To pray is to change. This is a great grace. How good of God to provide a path whereby our lives can be taken over by love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control. (p. 6) Philip Yancey: Prayer is cooperation with God, a consent that opens the way for grace to work. (p. 103) Andrew Wheeler: You might want to try to propose prayer as a kind of "experiment" -- a way for group members to see if God is really there and if he really does care. ...if you are up for it, ask each group member (particularly the nonbelievers) to identify an area in his or her life in which God's intervention is especially needed. (p. 94) [This is an old CFO idea that is spreading around!] Philip Yancey: The first stage [of prayer] is a simple childlike request for something I desire. …The second stage of prayer…involves a kind of meditation, what I have called keeping company with God. …the third stage of prayer [is] the stage of submission that Jesus reached after a long night of struggle: “Not my will but yours be done.” (p. 107, 109) The United Prayer Tower has modest expenses, but to meet them, we depend on the Lord's provision through the gifts of His faithful servants. Our UPT Council Ring member, Joseph Jeide, sent along these words from Kim Clement about giving. May you be so blessed.
"What most people don't understand is that when they give to God, they're actually sowing into their own destiny. Everything we do today affects our future. We can enter tomorrow with an abundant supply of hurt, failure, poverty, bitterness, etc., or we can enter it reaping good things. In Galatians 6:8 & 9, it says that if we continually sow into the flesh (our own personal needs and wants) that we will ultimately reap corruption. But if we sow into the Spirit, we will reap abundant life. I want abundance in my next season, in my future. Sowing into the Spirit simply means that it is timeless and it will be there for you throughout your life. As you give an offering you have sown into your destiny and into your future. Enjoy the benefits and the abundance of life as you enter your tomorrow." I look forward to hearing from all who will be joining us in prayer!
Holy Spirit will guide you in praying: When...How long...How often... May God prompt you to share His Blessings with CFOers after being vigilant with Him for these fifteen days! What joy that will be! Please Email me and share: pray@UnitedPrayerTower.org Carolyn Miller...UPT Coordinator Prayer Vigil For Three Upcoming CFO Events... (Prayer Vigil may also be used for any CFO Event or for personal use!) (Jeremiah 29: 11-14) "I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you...plans to give you a hope and a future...call upon Me...come and pray to Me...I will listen...you will seek and find Me with all your heart." The Three CFO Events: 1. United Prayer Tower (UPT) Meeting Oct. 25-27 2. N. America (ACR) Advisory Council Ring Meeting Nov. 1-4 3. S. Asia (Sri Lanka) Training & Regional CFO Oct. 22-27 Scripture Passages taken from "Sermon on the Mount" May we come into that deeper intimacy of the heart of God in Christ. May we know our own heart in the light of God's grace. Oct. 21 (Matthew 5:1-12) Blessed (Happy)...describing the inner condition of you and me as followers of Christ... Oct. 22 (Matthew 5: 3-16) Search my heart, O God...try me...know my thoughts...JESUS we want to be salt and light. Psalm 139:23-24 Oct. 23 (Matthew 5: 17-20) Thank You, God that every Word of the Old Testament is vital and will be fulfilled..."The Kingdom of God" is righteousness, peace, joy, in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17 Oct. 24 (Matthew 5: 21-26) "God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus, has given us the ministry of reconciliation." Help us continue being ambassadors for You, Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5: 18, 20 Oct. 25 (Matthew 5:27-32) "No temptation has seized us except what is common to man. God is faithful. He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. But when we are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that we can stand up under it. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 10: 13 & James 1:12 Oct. 26 (Matthew 5:33-42) "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee. Draw near to God. He will draw near to us. Cleanse our hands. Purify our hearts. Humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord. He will lift us up." James 4: 7-10 Oct. 27 (Matthew 5:43-48) "Love one another as I have loved you. By this all men will know you are My disciples. I have called you friends, for all things I have heard from My Father, I have made known to you." John 13: 34-35 & John 15: 15 Jesus says (Matthew 5: 48)'be ye perfect' and my footnote says 'not necessarily without sin, but mature and complete in the likeness of God.' Oct. 28 (Matthew 6:1-15) The Lord's Prayer: To be our model for praying...beginning with adoration of God...yielding to His will...asking petitions of Him...ending with praise. The Lord emphasizes the necessity of forgiving one another. Forgiveness with the Father depends on forgiveness among the members of the family of God. Jesus said, "My house shall be called a 'house of prayer' for all nations." Matthew 21:13 Oct. 29 (Matthew 6:16-24) "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life...do not be afraid little flock...Your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom...sell your possessions...give to the poor...treasures in Heaven will not be exhausted. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". Proverbs 4: 23 and Luke 12: 32-34 Oct. 30 (Matthew 6:25-34) "I have learned the secret of being content whatever the circumstances. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. God will meet all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever." Philippians 4: 12-13; 19-20 Oct. 31 (Matthew 7:1-6) We who are disciples of Christ (Matthew 7:6) are expected to make moral distinctions and not allow those who reject the invitation of Christ to treat precious things as cheap. "I will instruct you and teach you. I will guide you with My eye." Psalm 32: 8-9 Nov. 1 (Matthew 7:7-12) Matthew 7:12...well-known as 'The Golden Rule'. "Every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17 Nov. 2 (Matthew 7:13-14) Two ways presented by Jesus...Could the narrow way be the way of prayer? The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Their question was asked after they had watched Jesus spend much time with His Father. "Lord, teach us to pray..." Luke 11: 1 Holy Spirit, help us to be teachable! Nov. 3 (Matthew 7:15-23) "In the midst of the street (New Jerusalem) and on either side of the pure river of water, there stood The Tree of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month...and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." Revelation 22:3 Nov. 4 (Matthew 7:24-27) "Be not wise in our own eyes...fear the Lord...depart from evil...this will bring health to our bodies." Proverbs 3: 8-9 The Wise Man Builds His House Upon The Rock (JESUS!) Chorus: "The prayers go up and the blessings come down (sing it 3 times) and the House on the Rock stood firm!" Help us Lord to keep ourselves firmly planted in JESUS (OUR ROCK)! Closing... "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us. Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking unto JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Remembering Article III of 'The Bond of Faith'... III. "Our Constitution of Conduct shall be woven out of the Sermon On The Mount. Through adherence to this Constitution we shall hope to make religion go beyond Science and become an Art, lifting it above Law into Grace, and from a Code into a Contagion" I have been posting "quotes on prayer" on my Facebook page. I thought they would be appropriate here as well. They are taken from the Recommended Books. --Gary Fick Philip Yancey: Prayer helps correct myopia, calling to mind a perspective I daily forget. I keep reversing roles, thinking of ways in which God should serve me, rather than vice versa. (p. 21) Philip Yancey: When I shift direction, I realize that God already cares about my concerns more than I do. ... I begin with God, who bears primary responsibility for what happens on earth, and ask what part I can play in God's work on earth. (p. 23) Philip Yancey: Prayer allows me to admit my failures, weaknesses, and limitations to One who responds to human vulnerability with infinite mercy. (p. 26) Philip Yancey: ...prayer has become for me much more than a shopping list of requests to present to God. It has become a realignment of everything. I pray to restore the truth of the universe, to gain a glimpse of the world, and of me, through the eyes of God. (p. 29) Frank Laubach: We had better not neglect prayer now! ... We must now find and follow some straight and narrow path never before trodden. If we do not find it, we shall perish. The way to peace is an untrodden path, but it is not unknown. It is the way Jesus gave us. (p. 12) Philip Yancey: There is a God and I am not it. ... Prayer is a declaration of dependence upon God. (p. 35-37) Philip Yancey: Prayer allows a place for me to bring my doubts and complaints--in sum, my ignorance--and subject them to the blinding light of a reality I cannot comprehend but can haltingly learn to trust. Prayer is personal, and my doubts take on a different cast as I get to know the Person to whom I bring them. (p. 40) Philip Yancey: It occurred to me one day that though I often worry about whether or not I sense the presence of God, I give little thought to whether God senses the presence of me. (p. 42) Philip Yancey: We humans represent the only species with whom God can hold a conversation. (p. 43) Philip Yancey: I realize that my image of God, more than anything else, determines my degree of honesty in prayer. (p. 44). Andrew R. Wheeler: ...one of the great challenges of prayer in general and of community prayer in particular is to maintain a consistent focus on God. We've all heard the statement "prayer changes things," but actually, God changes things. (p. 65) Philip Yancey: Prayer is a subversive act performed in a world that constantly calls faith into question. (p. 51) Frank Laubach: From now on, you must NEVER fail to pray whenever you think of it, if only for a second. (p. 67) --Gary W. Fick |
AuthorThe United Prayer Tower is a prayer ministry for CFO Archives
August 2021
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