Bible Study Notes

Paul Washer on Prayer

October 23, 2018March 21, 2022 patricia grace

In my continuing study on prayer, I thought I’d share what I gleaned from a video that I happened upon. I found an excellent video on my YouTube feed with Paul Washer speaking about prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit of Christ. As best I can tell, he was speaking here at a past G3 conference (There are a few that I found but here is the link to the specific video on which I’m writing: The Importance of Prayer).

He brings out many points, but two were very helpful to me:

There may be seasons where your prayers are longer and more fervent than others.
Your prayer life does not have to look like the prayer life of another saint.

I feel guilty about the length of my prayers lately. I am concerned that I am not as fervent as I have been in the past. There have been some occasions in the past when I prayed longer upon first getting up in the morning. Mr Washer speaks of a season where he would pray all night and where his prayers were especially fervent. While he doesn’t give any excuse for not spending time with God in daily prayer, he says that he hasn’t had a season like that since then. The Holy Spirit guides and directs our time with Him. The Lord enabled him to pray like that before special times in his ministry. It was helpful to know that it’s okay that we don’t always pray for three hours at a time with tears flowing!

Mr. Washer also cautions against measuring our prayer life according to the standard of another man and points out that some saints may simply be more gifted in their prayer life. He gave the example that while every Christian should evangelize, not everyone evangelizes like Ray Comfort. (Ray Comfort – Living Waters ) He mentioned that there are many preachers, but not all are like Dr. Steven Lawson. ( Steven Lawson – OnePassion Ministries ) Perhaps it’s the same with prayer. We each have our own gifting from the Holy Spirit. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV)

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I’m also reminded that since God is sovereign and good and merciful to His children, we can pray *for* the ability to pray longer and more fervently. We can ask that the Lord would give us more of a heart of prayer and that He would allow us to feel more of His presence as we pray. As for feeling more of His presence: I know that we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7); however, we also have not because we ask not (James 4:2b), so I’ll be asking the Lord to help transform my affections and emotions!

Bible Study Notes

Bible Study and Commentary

May 30, 2017January 1, 2022 patricia grace

I’ve been thinking of some ways to organize this blog and basically wondering about the direction that I want to take with it. As I’ve reserved another website in my name (Patricia Grace), I think it’s best to post personal, journal type entries there and keep this site for more general Bible study topics.

So, with that in mind, I plan to make notes as I read through the Bible, with either a category or tag made for the chapter(s) and verse(s) under review, for ease of searching specific passages later. grapes on vine with sunlight filtering through the grapes

I’m writing what I’m learning, either directly from the Holy Spirit through His enlightenment, searching through other Scriptures that shed light on a passage, or from other commentaries to which I will give proper credit. All of these methods, of course, if they yield proper and truthful information and are useful to understand and apply the Scriptures, are from the ministry of the Spirit of Christ. May the Lord keep me faithful and grant discernment and all spiritual wisdom as I seek to understand and apply His good Word and share what I learn with others.

If there are any explanations or interpretations which my readers feel are in error, please don’t hesitate to comment or send me a message ASAP!

Blessings,

patricia grace

Bible Study Notes

Be a Barnabus

December 16, 2016January 1, 2022 patricia grace

If TV commercials were any indication of our normal, everyday life then we would all be having a warm, loving, fun Christmas season filled with good food, laughter, the excitement of shopping and the expectation of gifts.

For someone struggling, the Christmas holiday can feel like a burdensome task of trying to make merry when the heart is sick. If you know someone who is struggling, please be careful with your words and actions. We can inconvenience ourselves in the name of love, can’t we?

I found this article (link below) about encouragement that you may find helpful. I’ve added a few tips below of my own.

Encourage One Another

In addition, if you are attempting to encourage someone who is struggling:

Before you attempt to encourage someone who may be down, don’t say something that you wouldn’t want to hear yourself. For example, if someone is struggling with finding a job, don’t start suggesting jobs, especially if it’s work that you wouldn’t want to do yourself! He or she is already looking for work; don’t make the situation feel hopeless.
Along the same lines, don’t offer advice at all unless it’s solicited, or unless the person is clearly sinning or in danger.
Don’t attempt to encourage by detailing how you overcame your own sorrow, unless you are making it clear how the person can use the advice for his or her own good. For example, if someone has lost a loved one recently, letting them know about your own loss is fine, but don’t hastily follow it up with how it will get better with time, or any other pat response. She’s hurting now. Hurt with her for a while (see Romans 12:15).
And, following from above, don’t gloss over someone’s hurt by attempting instant cheerfulness:

“Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.” Prov 25:20 NASB

I sincerely wish you all a Merry Christmas. And, if it doesn’t seem so merry, (believe me I understand) remember (as I’m trying to remember!) that this too shall pass.* Drop me a comment below, or if you’d like a private response, fill out the Contact Form . Thank you for reading. [Edit: Contact me on Facebook instead. Comments and the Contact Form have been removed for now].

patricia grace

*Not an actual Bible verse. But, see Psalm 102:25-27 and James 4:14 (Links to BlueLetterBible.org)