Saturday 30 August 2014

# Chapter 15: Lord, guide me in all my relationships | The Power of a Praying Woman

Yet another Friday. It's been such an awesome week and it ends with an awesome message...let's read.

"We all desperately need a sense of family, of relationship, of belonging. If you don't realize that about yourself, it's probably because you have always had it. God created us to be in families. We have a natural hunger to be part of something that gives us a sense of acceptance, affirmation, and being needed and appreciated. But even if we have never received that from our own biological families, there is good news. God sets us in spiritual families. In many ways these can be just as important...We need people who will help us see the truth about ourselves and our lives. And we need to have the kind of relationships that don't break down when truth is spoken in love."

"Your enemy doesn't want you to be in a spiritual family or have godly relationships. That's because he knows how beneficial they are for you. He knows if you are not joined and committed to a spiritual family, you will end up living in rebellion in some way whether you mean to or not. He knows you will never be all God created you to be if you are not connected to a spiritual family. That's why he will try to break apart your relationships. And that's why you should cover them in prayer."
1 Corinthians 5:11
I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner- not even to eat with such a person.
The Power of a Praying Woman | Stormie Omartian
Get the book in the leading supermarkets and bookshops, let us pray together.

# Chapter 14: Lord, move me into the purpose for which I was created. | The Power of a Praying Woman

Today's chapter speaks of what most of us are still searching for, still waiting for God to speak to us, or some of us realize we made a wrong decision after years of investing in something.
"No matter how far off the path you have gotten from the plans and purposes God has for you, when you surrender your life to the Lord and declare your utter dependence upon Him, He carves a path from where you are to where you are supposed to be, and He sets you on it. It may take you longer than it would have taken had you been on the right path from the beginning, but if you keep walking closely with God, He will get you where you are supposed to be.

"The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable"(Romans 11:29)...That means the gifts and abilities He gives to you He doesn't take back. They won't be recalled, repealed, or annulled. You will always have your gifts. However, this is not true of the anointing. The anointing is the presence and touch of God upon your gifts that gives them supernatural power to penetrate darkness and bring life and light. This spiritual touch of the Holy Spirit can be lost through sin without repentance."

Ephesians 1:11-12
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

The Power of a Praying Woman | Stormie Omartian
Get the book in the leading supermarkets and bookshops, let us pray together.

# Chapter 13: Lord, preserve me in purity and holiness. | The Power of a Praying Woman

Good morning dearies! On we go with the book. It's such an eye opener. We better spread the word, we wouldn't want to leave our friends behind on this journey. Put the gear on and let's look out for today's excerpt from the book.
"Being holy is not being perfect. It's letting Him who is holy be in you. We can't be holy on our own, but we can make choices that allow holiness and purity to be manifested in our lives. We can separate ourselves from that which dilutes God's holiness in us and die to our lusts. And we are able to do this because 'Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with it's passions and desires' (Galatians 5:24). We are not slaves to our flesh. We are able to live pure lives consecrated to the Lord...'Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not of the Father but is of the world.' (1 John 2:15-16)"

"Purifying ourselves means taking stock of our lives, thoughts, actions, associations, and business dealings, and cleansing ourselves from anything that contaminates us. It is something we actively do. It means deciding to be morally and ethically pure."

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The Power of a Praying Woman | Stormie Omartian
Get the the book in the leading supermarkets and bookshops, let us pray together.

# Chapter 12: Lord, plant me so I will bear the fruit of your Spirit. | The Power of a Praying Woman

"All of us are planting something in our lives every single day, whether we realize it or not. And we are also reaping whatever we have planted in the past. The quality of our lives right now is the result of what we planted and harvested some time before. We reap the good and the bad for years after we have sown. That's why it is so important to plant and nurture the right seeds now...It is said that we begin to resemble the person with whom we live and with whom we are most closely associated. When we share our lives with Jesus, His likeness is stamped on our spirit and soul. When we plug into Him, the fruit of His Spirit is manifested in us..."

Now there's another bit I couldn't keep myself from sharing, because it's so true and so important. "Self- control is not fragile like a strawberry plant; it's big and solid like an apple tree. Only God can plant something of that magnitude in you and make it bear fruit. Having no self- control means you do whatever pleases you no matter what the consequences are."

Have you had to forsake all the good things God can plant in you so that you fit in with the popular people around you. Or at work you hide your kindness and gentleness and replace it with attitude and rudeness so that your boss sees you as a go- getter who deserves a promotion?
Galatians 5:22-23
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The Power of a Praying Woman | Stormie Omartian
Get the book in the leading supermarkets and bookshops, let us pray together.

# Chapter 11: Lord, bless me in the work I do. | The Power of a Praying Woman

Monday 15th of September 

Good morning dearies! I hope we all had a blessed weekend. What are you expecting God to speak to you about today? As you think about that, let's see a bit of what chapter 11 is about.

"I know what it's like to go to bed hungry. When I was a child, we were so poor there were many times when we had no food in the house and no way of getting any. That feeling of hunger was frightening, and the fear never left me, even after I grew up...It wasn't until I came to know the Lord and began to understand the way He provides for His children that I finally got rid of the fear. It was such a relief to discover that I could trust God to take care of me...I found that when I was led by the Lord in the work I did, and I committed all my work to Him for His glory, He blessed it...The ideal woman described in the Bible is a hard worker. She is a woman of strength, energy, and vision who works hard into the night and.knows that what she has to offer is good. God wants us to experience that kind of success and satisfaction. But it doesn't happen without prayer...Commit your work to the Lord and ask Him to bless it."
Psalm 128:1-2
Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
The Power of a Praying Woman | Stormie Omartian
Get the book in the leading supermarkets and bookshops, let us pray together.

# Chapter 10: Lord, prepare me to be a true worshiper | The Power of a Praying Woman

As we come to the end of the week, look back and see whether there is a change in you. Since Monday, have you become more prayerful? Less prayerful? Still the same? Are you doing anything about it? Let's see what today's chapter has in store for us! If you still haven't got this book, try to get it. You're missing out on so much! Take a loan if you have to, buy it, and you'll surely agree with me that it was worth it.
 "...Nothing we do is more powerful or more life-changing than praising God. It is one of the means by which God transforms us. Every time we praise and worship Him, His presence comes to dwell in us and changes our hearts and allows the Holy spirit to soften and mold them into whatever He wants them to be. Because praise and worship is not something our flesh naturally wants to do, we have to will ourselves to do it. And because it's not the first thing we think to do, we have to decide to do it no matter what our circumstances. We have to say, "I will praise the Lord."...'Although they knew God,they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.'(Romans 1:21)"

John 4:23-24
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
The Power of a Praying Woman | Stormie Omartian
Get the the book in the leading supermarkets and bookshops, let us pray together.