Praying the Scriptures for my Friends at SearchWarp
Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
by Teresa Ortiz
Freelance writer/Speaker
Over the past few months, I have come to love my friends here at SearchWarp in a deeper way. In fact, I consider you my extended family and you have become a permanent name on my prayer list.
I have long since gone from sincere prayer to down right supplicating on your behalf. It makes me chuckle thinking about it because the first article I posted on SearchWarp is entitled "Prayer and Supplication: What's the Difference?" I was so happy to have received three stars! Hmm--I just might have to go back and see what I can do to make it four. I know, I know, it's not always about me.
As I was saying, today is no exception and I have a feeling it will never be the same. Many of you have openly shared your trials, fears, and doubts. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say, they have not fallen on deaf ears and like you, I have received personal emails with well wishes and prayers and am eternally grateful.
For this reason, I feel compelled to share my heart's prayer--hoping you will be encouraged even more and maybe even learn to pray the Scriptures yourself if this is something you have yet to do.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your lovingkindness, thank you for your faithfulness, thank you for the shed blood of your Son that makes it possible for me to come before your throne of grace with boldness.
Father, I thank you for those you have made family even though I've never met them personally. I thank you that nothing get's by you. That nothing is a surprise to you. Father you have a perfect will for our lives and yet we stray so far away.
We are impatient, we are fearful; we are tired. And in this, we chose our own solution, we make choices based on what we feel is right instead of consulting your word first. And then we wonder why we are in the mess we are in. Father, I ask your forgiveness. Lord, you sent your Son to die, that I might be your child and in that, you paid the price for all my sin and I am grateful.
Father, with a humble heart I come to you and I lift up all the concerns of the hearts of my friends, you know each situation. There is sickness, there are financial struggles, there is divorce, there are those working on their marriage, there are those trapped in a cycle of sin and they do not know the way out. There are those who are bitter and angry toward you. There are those who are bound by the deception of the enemy and there are those who are searching diligently for a closer walk with you.
I ask now in the name of Jesus that you would break the chains that bind, set captives free, comfort the faint in heart, soften the hard heart-turn the heart of stone into a heart of flesh. Bring forgiveness and healing. Open eyes and ears to hear your sweet voice calling them. Bring a mighty miracle for each situation.
Restore relationships, Light the fire that once burned bright and clear. Pour your Holy Spirit on those who do not know you, those who are trying to understand.
Lead those who need a job to the one who is hiring, Father meet each person right where they are, may they feel your loving arms around them and give them peace. Father, we need you, I need you. Even now Lord, as I pray, may your Spirit move. I look forward to answered prayer. Lord your will be done, and may your truth rule and reign in the hearts of your people. Father, I pray for those who are fighting you-they know you are speaking to their heart, even now Lord, bring them to their knees in sweet surrender. Lord Jesus, you told us that anything we ask in your name in accordance with the will of the Father shall be done. And this I know, that you came to seek and save the lost. So I ask Father once again that you would open eyes and ears. Have your way in the lives of my friends and in me. I wait in humble expectation for the praise reports that will come as I continue to seek your face on behalf of my friends. In the most powerful and precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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Alternatively, this is how the Apostle Paul put it in "The Message".
"My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by His Spirit--not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength--that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly in love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full of the fullness of God. God can do anything you know-far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! " (Ephesians 3:14-19.)
If praying for others is new to you, Ephesians 3:14-19 is a great place to start. Over time, as God works in you--you will be able to make it your own. Other Scripture references are: Hebrews 4:16, 1John 1:9, Ezekiel 11:19-20,and Psalm 34.
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The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26.)
Teresa, you are such a sweet and loving soul. May you always be blessed and filled with wisdom.Love IN Christ,Your writing buddy,Angie LewisHi Angie, and so are you. Thanks for the blessing. I need God's wisdom!Love & Friendship to you,Teresa
You shall know them by their works and you are certainly a living example of doing what you profess you are. I'm sure the Lord will bless you and yours. Robert. PS ine were 3 also and boy was I upset and got to working harder at it. You are much better then I.Hi Robert. I'm humbled and blessed. Glory to God in the Highest! Thanks for the kind words. I never profess to be anything but a genuine, cracked-pot for my Lord to work in and through. If it weren't for grace I would be lost. Love and friendship, TeresaPS I could see you getting upset :-)
See my commnents below. You are in mine as well.Thank you for praying
I know where I have been, but I do not know where I am going.Hi Olof, thanks for reading and commenting. I will be praying the Lord will direct you in the way you should go. Starting with calling out to Jesus. :-)I will read your articles. Thanks again for taking the time to comment.Proverbs chapter 3, verse 5& 6 (prv. 3:5-6), says,Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. In your ways acknowledge him and He will direct your path.This is my prayer for you :-)
Thank you for the heart-felt prayers, as the scripture goes "the effectual prayer of a righteous person availeth much!" It so happens that you deserve a five because it seems that you put your soul into our writing and that is all that matters. plus you seem so considerate to people, and sweet. I felt overwhelmed when reading your story. thank you.Hi Michelle, I love the James passage you qouted. A dear friend of mine comforted me with those words during the 11 years I prayed for my husband to receive Christ. He also shared it again when that day came. We must not grow weary praying for one another.I am glad you were blessed. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.Have a blessed day!oops, so sorry, I wrote Michelle out of habit. Please forgive me, Michael. :-)
You are a blessed child Teresa! This is an excellent Prayer (article), which is truly meant for the whole world to utter. I know 'searchwarp'is a blessing for me and for all of us. I love posting articles here, reading other's articles and coomenting.If you would have read my profile, you would have known that I am a 'Congenital Heart Patient'. Yet married to a normal girl, happy, enjoying my life. But sometimes I am scared regarding my life for my wife. I hope you understand what I mean. I always think If something happens to me what will happen to her. She is only 28. Another thing is, I am suffering from Gastritis for last one year. Do remember me in your prayers.And trust me, you are in our family discussion and prayer. May God Bless you Abundanlty!I will give you a "FIVE"...Hello Mr. Candles! I will certainly remember you and your family in my prayers. I suffered from gastoritis for ovr 10 years! I had several minor surgeries and I had my gall bladder removed. I weight 98 lbs and wore kids clothes for a very long time. Finally, I am better and weigh a whole lot more than 98 lbs. :-)Thank you for your support and prayers! I'm praying for a miracle and relief.!Lord bless you as well!!
Amen. Such a beautiful prayer. I had such a good day today--I should have known someone was remembering me in their prayers. Thank you, Teresa, for being the wonderful person that you are. My God be with you always.SandraHi Sandra, thanks for joining in the prayer. I'm so glad to hear you had a good day today. I think of you often and say a prayer :-) Keep growing and thanks for praying for me, I need it :-)Love, Teresa
hi t,this was a well written, beautiful article, with a lovely prayer.i hope all who read it, benefit.thanks for sharing with us,my best to you,sueHi Sue, how are you today?Thanks for joining in the prayer to strength, peace and wisdom for everyone.God bless you!
Teresa, what a refreshing wonderful young person you are. I was drawn to your article this morning with a heavy heart as my daughter was just diagnosed with breast cancer. Thanks so much for wonderful spiritual advice and for your prayers.John BrazellHi John, thank you for reading. I meant every word of this prayer and occasionally come back to read and pray again. There are many I still don't know here, but I trust and believe that God does and he knows exactly who needs what.I am sorry to hear about your daughter and I will add her to my prayers. We live in a fallen world and we are vulnerable to all kinds of illness and pain. Some we have no control over and others we invite on ourselves. But there is One who is constant and is always waiting for us to put our complete trust in Him. Continue to reach out to Him, call upon His name, He will never fail to comfort and respond.I am praying for you as well. May God's grace and peace comfort and strengthen your entire family . I am praying for wisdom for the doctor's and trusting God to work a miracle of healing. All in accordance with his plans and purposes. May your entire family draw nearer to eachother and to the Lord Jesus.Nothing that comes our way is in vain. Please let me know if there is anything else I can pray for.In the love of Jesus,TeresaP.S. I encourage you to read Psalm 61 & 62My most comforting psalms in the Bible"When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock the is higher than I" A prayer God has never failed to answer with a resounding, yes, Come follow Me.
Teresa, You are truly one of God's warriors. Your articles always bring to my mind that you can get more with honey than vinegar. May we never cease to look to Him. In Love, Linda DHi Linda, thanks for reading and for the kind words. I am blessed by the many warriors here on SW. And I do pray that my words will be as honey, even when the message is not so sweet to some.Glad you are here to be a witness of what the love of God can do in our lives! You shine girl!!!
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