Christianity Oasis Forum

[momof3]

hey Tam God bless you, sis.

we so often see our falls as something negative..but this is where the Lord meets us. If we could just understand that He knows our flesh. He understands our flesh. These falls are also places where He works. He shows us in these falls, the weeds that need to come out and is pulling them with you, shining His light on those things weve kept in the dark.

We beat ourselves up for them while He is saying, lets pull em and move to the next one. It is ok to reflect on the past as long as we dont stay there. Keep weeding, sis. You may not see it, but He is taking you from one glory to another. It is ok to be you... with time to breathe and just be who He made you to be.

God bless you, sis. love you, girl.

in Jesus,
love momo

[Tam]

Prayer....wow this was a good lesson today. There is so much to learn when it comes to praying....
I think maybe for me the most important thing is to realize that Jesus is my friend and I don't have to be spotless to come to Him....I come to Him and He washes all the dirt and grim away. I can do nothing without Him.
I have always tried to (ummm don't know how to say what I am thinking) try to clean up before I come to Him and to try to say the words I think that He wants to hear me say instead of saying the words that I want to say. make sense? When in all actuality all I have to do is to talk to him like I would a friend. Carry on a conversation with Him like that and listen for Him to talk back to me in the same way. Where instead I would come to Him.....ask for forgiveness and thank Him for today and then move on. He longs for fellowship with me. He longs for my time.
Reading today's step I am reminded of the verse

Psa 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Maybe that is how I should enter praying....Thanking Him and Praising Him for all He has, is and is going to do for me and then letting Him lead me the rest of the way. Learning how to pray for myself and understanding that is not being selfish while yet praying for others.
Praying for others seems to come easy for me because I know that God wants to bless them and I am learning that He also wants to bless me.

So am I correct on this Praying for ourself should be something done only in private? Our prayer closet maybe.
But praying for others is ok as long as they are in agreement for it?
What if someone ask you not to pray for them at all, is it ok to still pray for them in your prayer closet and ask God to be all they need and to bless them? or should you not pray for them at all?
hmmmm
Lots of thoughts on prayer going on in the head today.

[Mackenaw]

Hello Tam

Ahhhhh, prayer. Tam, there are so many different thoughts and opinions about prayer. I can only tell you what I believe.

I pray in my prayer closet whether it is for myself or for another person, situation, etc. I'm praying to The Lord. I consider it private, even if it is on behalf of someone else. The Lord knows what is in my heart, so even if my actual words don't cover the entire situation, He knows.

I know there are some that may say, don't pray for me, but my Lord tells me otherwise, and He is Who I follow.

There have been a few occasions where I prayed aloud or via typing for another person, and a few times they kept injecting things -- so then it felt like I was performing and seeking their approval as opposed to blessed communication with The Lord.

I am easily distracted, so I find private prayer is where He calls me.

I have attended various programs within local church(es) and when they announced that prayer was beginning, everyone began praying out loud, some speaking in tongues with no interpreters present, others praising -- all at the same time -- and quite frankly I couldn't connect with God at all. All the other sounds and actions felt confusing to the point all I wanted to do was leave.

The Lord loves prayer, praise and worship. In my mind, they are all different, but if I find myself getting to the point that I'm judging others, it's time for me to step away from the crowd and seek Him as to what is going on within me.

Again, these are my thoughts. I hope others will share how The Lord calls them to pray.

God bless and keep you, Tam.
Love,
Mack

[momof3]

hey Tam,

Sis..you are so right here. If we waited till we were clean enough to go to Him, we'd never ever get there. He does the cleaning. His blood and mercy and grace are the only things that bring us to redemption and sanctification. He just wants you to come to Him, the way you are with all the brokeness.

as for praying for others..ive had several ask me to not pray for them. I do, though, in my prayer closet. If you need prayer, you can pray in your prayer closet..which is what He wants you to do..but, He also wants us to pray for one another..so i will ask someone to pray with me or for me. He hears both.

Sometimes one will say they dont want you to pray for them because they feel unworthy. But i can think of several instances in the bible where people interceded for others. Your prayer life is a huge part of your relationship with the Lord. open, honest, what is on your heart kind of thing. that is what He wants from us.

God bless you my sister. One day at a time. love you, girl.

in Jesus,
love momo

[Dora]

Love you Tam

[mlg]

Prayer...I feel that prayer is something between ourselves and God to bring our needs and others before Him sis. I mostly pray privately...but on occassion pray publicly if it pertains to giving God praise for a meal or something....but if a prayer is said heartfully then God knows and He will hear your prayers.

If someone asks you to pray for them...do so...and if you are led to pray for someone who did not ask you to pray for them...then do so....God wants us to pray for one another.....and He wants us to pray for ourself as well. This is how God is allowed to bless us through answering our prayers.

luv ya sis

[Lionhearted]

tam said: I have always tried to (ummm don't know how to say what I am thinking) try to clean up before I come to Him and to try to say the words I think that He wants to hear me say instead of saying the words that I want to say. make sense?

It makes total sense to me tammers; I can remember yelling at my kids, the night before and then the next morning being prompted to pray for ... say, my mouth ... or the kids themselves and thinking how can I possibly pray for that ... look what I just did, or said. And then one day the Lord opened my eyes to show me, it is exactly because of this, that you need to pray; but Lord, I would say, I'm so bad, such a terrible mom, how can I possibly come before You this way? My heart is not right ... FOR YOU ... And He said, it is because you are the way that you are, that you NEED to come to ME ... I will make your heart right, I will reshape it ... if you do it yourself ... then you don't really need ME to do it for you.

~~~~~~~

Prayer, for me, is about about changing my will and ways to match His will and ways; rather than praying for the things I want, or the way I want things to be, or not to be; also, this takes the focus off of me and places it back on Him and His plan for my life.

When I cry out to God in the pain of life; I've learned that why God, why is this happening; I don't understand

[deetu]

I have found that the more we bless others, the more we are blessed ourselves. I will pray for anyone. That is what I do when I visit people in the hospital. Some will say no to a prayer, which is fine and I don't push (although I will say a silent prayer for them as I am leaving the room) but most want... but then again, it's a place where people start thinking about that kind of stuff.

I have also asked people to pray for me and have joined in with the prayer.
Where two or more are gathered.
Cord of three is stronger.

Love ya Tam

[lizzie]

Hello tammylou

Oh how I enjoyed that Prayer step also Praise be to God.

I am also one who prefers to keep prayer private. If asked to pray for someone, I do so in private. Again for the reason that it be JUST for God and not to please others or edify self and because this is the way that I feel God wants ME to do it.

But everyone is different and in the end it is sincerity that matters. God knows our hearts and He knows when we are doin it for Him and when its for other reasons.

So be guided by Him as the situations come. And pray for as many as you can, even those who dont ask, or ask otherwise. But always pray for God's will to be done above all else.

GBU tammy keep pushing ahead.

[Tam]

The Holy Spirit what an interesting topic. In this study they said

When the HOLY SPIRIT comes, He WILL answer your questions but ya gotta ASK.

hmmmm gotta ask something that I never been good at. I have always tried to do it on my own. Wrong yes and I know that now. So I have got to start asking the Holy Spirit when I feel His presence and not be fearful and run from Him.
Next you said,

Surrender yourself wholly to the HOLY SPIRIT.

I have not totally done that because of the fear that I have had in my life. Surrendering totally means giving up control. That is something that I have fear of...cause if I give up control then I will be hurt again. Is what my mind used to tell me.
Next you said,

I urge you to invite the Holy Spirit to fill your life. Talk to Him with your heart listen to Him with your heart.

In your mind's eye, get out a big white flag and

SURRENDER

That is what I have got to learn to do...Surrender and realize that He is not going to hurt me, but that He is indeed my friend.

So today, I choose to wholly surrender to the Holy Spirit and give Him permission to invade my lilfe and to take the reigns and have control. I choose to give up all control. I take my hands off my life and I lay it at His feet. I can not continue to walk without the Holy Spirit by my side. I pray that He would help me every step of the way. I pray that I will learn to listen to His voice.

I choose this day to make the Holy Spirit my best friend and to lean on and trust His guidance in my life.

[mlg]

Good morning Tam

Holy Spirit...I really hope you do what it takes to grow closer to Him sis. I mean a blessing He is to share with...and as you begin asking Him questions and talking with Him...you will see more and more, and He will show you things...and each step with Him will become more exciting.

Surrending to God isn't necessarily about giving up control sis...as it is submitting because of love. Holy Spirit wants you to want Him to lead you by the hand. He wants you to feel comfortable in His presence...He wants you to allow Him to be your friend. He loves you.

You've come a long way with these steps already Tam. I've seen you growing a lot. You are doing well.

luv ya sis

[deetu]

Tam is Spirit filled!!!
Just remember that the Holy Spirit is more like what your conscience sounds like, guiding you in your own voice and mannerisms. You will not be hearing an audible voice from the clouds.

Bouncing in my seat again. Isn't it great??

Thank you Father.
I ask that she hears your voice and knows the difference.
Let her feel comfortable with the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus's name I pray.