THERE WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I EXPECTED GOD TO MOVE ON MY BEHALF SIMPLY BECAUSE I BELONGED TO HIM.So when difficulties and hardships became my companion, I have to admit that my feelings were hurt.
But truth be told, the number one reason I couldn’t get past my difficulties was that of my own prayerlessness. I just wasn’t sure how to bring my problems to God. After all, it didn’t seem as though it was my place to command God. That seemed like witchcraft. And begging God seemed wrong too; especially as God already knew my troubles.
It was a horrible car accident that put my baby into a coma that moved me to search the secrets of prayer. My search helped me to reach out to God and watch in amazement as God reached back to me.
Not only did my daughter wake up from her yearlong coma, but I also discovered the sweetness of God’s presence as I finally learned how to pray.
Now, when a person comes to me in a desperate search for a prayer breakthrough, I start with this two-step prescription:
1. Be sure you know God!—This knowing God starts with a simple prayer like, “Dear God, your son Jesus was punished on a cross for my sins. He died in my place then rose from the dead. He did this to conquer sin so that I might receive your forgiveness. I receive your forgiveness and turn away from my sins so that I may walk with you. Lord, come into my life; fill me with your Holy Spirit.
2. Talk to God— Stop overthinking prayer. Prayer is as simple as telling God how you feel, asking for his help, thanking him for your blessings, asking him for wisdom, healing, peace, joy, victory, and breakthrough. In other words, the secret of prayer is actually praying.
Now that we have set the baseline for prayer itself, let’s push deeper and discuss ways to push through your prayer roadblocks.
First, don’t get discouraged or offended and don’t give God the silent treatment. While you wait on God’s answer to your request, consider eliminating the following roadblocks:
• Unforgiveness – If you harbor unforgiveness, try praying, “Dear Lord, I lay my bitterness at the foot of the cross. Even though it may seem impossible, I choose to forgive through your power so I can experience your peace and answers to my prayers.”
• Trauma or Grief – Please know that it’s not wrong to feel traumatized or to grieve after heartache or tragedy. However, the enemy, the devil, loves to use trauma and grief to wound your soul, scarring it so that you can’t hear God, feel the joy of his presence, or find your prayer breakthroughs. To find healing from trauma and grief, try praying,
“Dear Lord, I lay my trauma and grief at your feet and exchange it for your peace. I cast out the spirit of trauma and grief that the enemy would use to suffocate me. Heal my broken heart, restore my traumatized soul, in Jesus’s name, Amen.”
• Oppression – We can open portals to the enemy with lies, unkind words, demonic media or sexual books, TV shows and other entertainments.
When the enemy has an open portal into our lives, he can not only create confusion, he can make it harder to press through in prayer. To eliminate this kind of oppression, try praying,
“Dear Lord, I confess my sins to you. Please forgive me and give me the power to turn away from any activity that is opening doors to the enemy. Forgive me for these open doors!
I ask that you purify my soul with the blood of Jesus, and also shut and lock the enemy out. Please open my eyes to evil objects I have in my home, like Taro cards, idols or things that though not possessed by the devil, may attract darkness into my home. Show me how to clean not only my heart but my residence.
I invite you to inhabit my home and life and renew my mind through the reading of the word and praising you. Thank you for helping me take out my spiritual trash. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
Now, all that’s left to do is to give God your battle and wait for His answer. Remember to praise Him while you wait and don’t forget this; his answer will come, it may be “YES,” “NO,” or “LATER,” but it will come.
In the meantime, keep your eyes open so you can notice the miracles He’s already orchestrating on your behalf.
Trust the Lord of the breakthrough, and you will soon see how he will turn your circumstances into a breakthrough for you.
Christmas French Toast with Penelope Carlevato
3 Tab butter
2 Tab honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 eggs
½ cup orange juice
6 slices French bread
Preheat oven to 400ºF
Combine the butter, honey, and cinnamon. Pour into a greased 13 x 9 pan and spread it evenly over the bottom of the pan. Beat the eggs and orange juice until mixed together well.
Dip the bread into the egg and orange juice mixture and place in the prepared pan. Bake at 400ºF for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Invert the pan onto a serving platter and serve with honey or maple syrup.
This is an easy and delicious French Toast and so good on Christmas morning. For a large crowd, make several pans. This can be made the evening before and kept in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
Find great recipes like this in Penelope’s Carlevato’s book:
The Art of Afternoon Tea: From the Era of Downton Abbey,
Tea on the Titanic and
First Class Etiquette. She speaks on hospitality, historical entertaining, and etiquette and manners for all ages and all occasions. Penelope lives in the Denver, CO. area and is the grandmother of eleven!
penelopecarlevato.com
Text LEADINGHEARTS to 64600 to receive Leading Hearts free. Visit leadinghearts.com to find out more
Thank you, Linda, for this outstanding article on prayer! I like to view prayer as my lifeline, the cord that keeps me anchored to Christ.
Blessings,
MaryAnn
Linda – thank you for this wonderful article. I love the clarity and suggestions – they feel both peaceful and powerful! Prayer is needed more than ever for a time such as this! Bless you, Christina Rose