Heartfelt Prayer Ministries
Points To Ponder
pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is
done in secret will reward you" (Mt 6:6). With these few words, Jesus
set the common perception of prayer on its ear. He said prayer was not
to be a public demonstration of how "Spiritual" we are. No, the intimate
nature of our communication with God calls for getting alone, away from
all interruptions and distractions. Why? Because it's just you and your
Father in a family discussion.
When people say they don't know how to pray, what they usually mean is
that they don't know how to pray like some of us. They don't know how to
use our "Christian jargon." Jesus said you don't need to worry about
getting all the words right because "your Father knows what you need
before you ask Him" (Mt 6:8 ). God's listening to our heart more than
our words. We don't have to be self-conscious about our praying; God
isn't grading us on how well we express ourselves.
Again, compare prayer to breathing. Our breathing is done without our
conscious attention to it, or even awareness that we're doing it. It is
the natural expression of our moment-by-moment dependence on oxygen.
That's how God wants us to treat our communication with Him. He wants
prayer to be the air we breathe, the environment in which we live. Isn't
that wonderful? Through prayer we can live in continuous contact with
God. Just think how much that can change us and improve the quality of
our lives.
IT IS WRITTEN that whisperers and backbiters
along with those who are:
FILLED WITH ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, FORNICATION, WICKEDNESS, COVETOUSNESS, MALICIOUSNESS; FULL OF ENVY, MURDER, DEBATE, DECEIT, MALIGNITY; WHISPERERS, BACKBITERS, HATERS OF GOD, DESPITEFUL, PROUD, BOASTERS, INVENTORS OF EVIL THINGS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING, COVENANT-BREAKERS, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, IMPLACABLE, UNMERCIFUL.
Romans 1:29-31
IT IS ALSO WRITTEN that:
AND WITHAL THEY LEARN TO BE IDLE, WANDERING ABOUT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE; AND NOT ONLY IDLE, BUT TATTLERS ALSO AND BUSYBODIES, SPEAKING THINGS WHICH THEY OUGHT NOT.
1 Timothy 5:13
IT IS WRITTEN,
THESE SIX THINGS DOTH THE LORD HATE; YEA, SEVEN ARE AN ABOMINATION UNTO HIM: A PROUD LOOK, A LYING TONGUE, AND HANDS THAT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD, AN HEART THAT DEVISETH WICKED IMAGINATIONS, FEET THAT BE SWIFT IN RUNNING TO MISCHIEF, A FALSE WITNESS THAT SPEAKETH LIES, AND HE THAT SOWETH DISCORD AMONG BRETHREN.
Proverbs 6:16-19
CONSEQUENCES OF GOSSIP
The one who is spoken ABOUT can receive:
hurt or pain,
embarrassment,
damage to their character
or reputation;
Gossip is destructive and causes division.
The one who gossips reveals the true nature of their heart.
AS IT IS WRITTEN:
O GENERATION OF VIPERS, HOW CAN YE, BEING EVIL, SPEAK GOOD THINGS? FOR OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKETH [the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart—revealing that sin is in control].
Matthew 12:34
The Apostle Paul WARNS in Galatians 6:7,8:
BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: FOR WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP. FOR HE THAT SOWETH TO HIS FLESH SHALL OF THE FLESH REAP CORRUPTION; BUT HE THAT SOWETH TO THE SPIRIT SHALL OF THE SPIRIT REAP LIFE EVERLASTING
IT IS WRITTEN,
A FALSE WITNESS SHALL NOT BE UNPUNISHED, AND HE THAT SPEAKETH LIES SHALL PERISH.
PROVERBS 19:9
AS IT IS WRITTEN IN Ephesians 4:29:
LET NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD TO THE USE OF EDIFYING, THAT IT MAY MINISTER GRACE UNTO THE HEARERS.
Our words should promote healing and minister grace to build up and edify the hearers.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GOSSIP
1) Genuine repentance—ask for forgiveness
2) Commitment—seal on my lips—guard on my mouth (think before you speak)
3) Keep these verses upon your mind and ask God to bring them to memory when in danger of gossip!
WHO CAN UNDERSTAND HIS ERRORS? CLEANSE THOU ME FROM SECRET FAULTS.
KEEP BACK THY SERVANT ALSO FROM PRESUMPTUOUS SINS; LET THEM NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER ME: THEN SHALL I BE UPRIGHT, AND I SHALL BE INNOCENT FROM THE GREAT TRANSGRESSION.
LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH, AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART, BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT, O LORD, MY STRENGTH, AND MY REDEEMER.
Psalm 19:12-14
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