Just wanted to say keep up the good work and I am so proud of each one of you guys! I also can’t wait to hear what the Lord has done as a result of you guys applying the prayer principals you’ve been learning! Just watch!

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

We prayed together at 6:00 am, at exactly 4:13 pm my friend text ed me letting me know the robber had been arrested that very day! The bottom line is God is a God of justice and He definitely answers prayer! I knew it wasn’t God’s will that this person was breaking into homes. I had learned that from past experiences, like praying for murder suspects to be arrested and other similar circumstances. I learned if we know something is not God’s will you can actually stand and pray against it. And that’s exactly what God calls us to do. 

So the next time you hear of something going on around you, that you know for sure is not pleasing to God, then pray with confidence, and pray against it, then just watch what the Lord will do!

 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

1 John 5:14 (NIV)

If you feel your in a rut right now try to come one out for the class. The class begins on May 3 at 7:00pm and will be held at Shore Fellowship Church, in Egg Harbor Twsp. Here is the link to sign up for the class, “Prayer that packs a punch!”

It’s a six week course and will be every Thursday night, child care is also provided. Hope to see you there!

When Jesus was asked how to pray He didn’t say pray like this, great spirit, or just oh God or even My dad, meaning only His dad. No, no and double no! He said this is how you should pray, “Our Father!” Our dad, our pop, meaning mine and yours. Jesus was saying He’s our dad! Yes our Father, man that should put some spring in your step, because that’s powerful!

Listen if you gave your life to the Lord through the shed blood of Christ then God is your Father!

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

Wow, really God? You will instruct me and teach me? You will counsel me with what? Your loving eye on me? Come on have you ever dreamed of such an incredible promise? So what do you need help with today? Because God says He will teach you and not only teach you, but He’ll do it with His loving eye upon you!

I am telling you that one verse is a life changer! Ask God to teach you something and later, some time later, if you stay on it you’ll be able to say, “God Taught Me!”

Why even tonight my nine year old daughter and I prayed and asked God to teach us how to train our new puppy. The bible says in Philipians 4:6 that God wants us to pray about everything. So if I keep asking I am going to be able to say later, “God Taught Me how to train my dog!”

Can you imagine how powerful this can become? What if you really started asking God to teach you stuff? I bet it would change your life!

The bible says in Psalm 66:18 that God will not hear us when we pray, that is if we choose to hold onto unconfessed sin. I know it that’s a tough pill to swallow right? But nevertheless it’s true, because it’s the word of the Lord.

King David used to ask the Lord to search his heart and to know him, and Nehemiah included himself when he confessed the sin for the whole Nation of Israel. And we should do the same, that is if we want to have a powerful connection to God.

Did you know the bible clearly teaches us that there is a connection between the purity of a heart and the power of God? Look at what the bible says in 1 John.

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

1 John 3:22 (NKJV)

Do you see the connection? It’s found in the word, “Because.” God said we’ll have whatever we ask from Him why? “Because we keep His commandment and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” That’s some connection! And it’s not to fear, but a connection to embrace.

Besides were not talking about perfection, no were talking about a life that makes mistakes, that sins, because we all sin from time to time. But a life that rebounds quickly and confesses that sin then moves on, and moves forward. A life that treats sin like a hot potato!

Here’s a few tips on how to stay powerfully connected to God:

1) Realize, believe, or do whatever you have to, to understand that God will not hear us if we hold onto sin.  Psalm 66:18

2) Develop some speed. Be super quick to always confess and repent of any sin. When you do you’ll be as clean as the undriven snow!  1 John 1:9

3) Become a detective, Live a powerful life by simply learning and finding out what pleases the Lord.  Ephesians 5:10

4) Chew don’t spit. Learn to meditate, which means to chew on scripture over and over again until that bad boy sticks in your mind. Don’t just read verses, stay on them, hide them in your heart, work them deep down in your spirit by thinking upon them all the time and watch what happens!  Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:11

You can certainly live a powerful life, not a mistake or sin free life. But a life that when sin is identified, we learn to drop it quickly, like a hot potato! Learn to do that and watch how God responds!