The Time Is Now - Developing A Lifestyle Of Prayer

want an abundance of blessings like love, joy, peace, and patience, deeper relational fulfill­ ment with others, or the salvation of believing friends and loved ones, then pray a lot! Once I came to a full awareness of this principle, I began to squeeze as much prayer as possible into each day. And, indeed, God has blessed me, my family, and my church accordingly. I know from experience-it works! What kinds of blessings am I talking about? Let's look at a few that come directly from the promises of God's Word. Seven Blessings of Prayer A. Prayer expresses supernatural love for God, each other, and the world­ and results in more love. When most people say, "I love you," they mean, "You make me happy." But biblical love, produced through prayer, goes even further to say, ''I'm com­ mitted to you, no matter what you do." When we receive God's love in praye1; and when we tell God repeatedly "I love You" by praying, we also begin to appropriate supernatural love for others. Especially those people who seem to rub us the wrong way. I learned that as I prayed repeatedly by name for people I didn't relate to, it became easier to talk to them and to care about them. As a result, they said they felt more loved. When we pray for people, God intervenes in relationships and makes up for some of our mistakes.

1. What do Paul's prayer requests tell you about the love God will provide as you pray for people?

Philippians 1:9

1 Thessalonians 3:12

2. Why isJesus' "new commandment" impossible tofit(fill without prayer Oohn 13:34-35)?

B. Prayer builds relational unity. Believers are more likely to take steps of obedi­ ence in the safe environment of unity-a unity that must be maintained by the supernatu­ ral presence of God. God's people will experience spiritual growth and energizing joy, and unbelievers will see the supernatural in our lives-all to God's glo1y.