MOTIVATION

Motivation

Let God be the one to motivate you to do your best.

Always plan for trials, prepare for the
unexpected, pray for His will to be done as you
are motivated to do your best.

Today as we discuss motivation, I’d like to
share the background of Prayer Pocket Ministry.

And always remember if you don’t have a
prayer pocket and would like one, just message
me your address through the contact form and I will get one out to you.

HOW CAN I PRAY FOR YOU?

We are all called to pray and to witness – these
are on opposite sides of the spectrum – one is
usually private the other definitely not.
BUT – I like to combine them.

I often ask people, when I am out and about;

How can I pray for you today?

Sometimes it takes people by surprise, but many
times they tell me right away.

If they have a name tag on, I try to always say
their name or ask their name, I write their
request on paper or use my note app on my
phone. If possible, I pray right then.

Stories and stories of the impact’s people have
made on my life by me asking them if I can pray
for them…. Yes, their impact on me.

THE COFFEE HOSTESS

One of those stories is about Teresa.

Several years ago, my husband and I attended a conference at Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.  https://www.greenbrier.com/

A beautiful place. When we first attended, the room did not have a coffee maker. The reason, I soon learned, was they had an awesome hostess in the lobby that served you the best cup of coffee in the area.

At first, I was a little miffed.  What! I must “look decent” to get a cup of coffee? I was used to getting up, having prayer time, and then relaxing with a cup of coffee.

But I moseyed on down to the lobby and it was there I met Teresa.

She was the hostess who served the coffee. After a little chit chat I began to realize how nice it was to come down to the gorgeous lobby for a cup of coffee or tea.

I asked Teresa if I could pray for her. Tears filled her eyes and then escaped down her cheeks. I touched her hand and tried to comfort her. She explained her mom had recently passed and she was having a tough time.

We discussed grief after she told me about her mom. I gave her a prayer pocket and explained how I would be praying for her. We shared coffee for several mornings.

Then five years later we came back to the Greenbrier Resort. I was excited to see if Teresa would still be there. Coffee pots were now in the rooms, but I just couldn’t bring myself to make a cup. I hurried down first thing in the morning, and there was Teresa!  We chatted and she shared her journey of grief and the power of prayer. I continue to call her name out and share her story.

When you ask someone if you can pray for them, it opens a world they may not know, but you can share.

HOW IS YOUR PRAYER LIFE?

So, what if I asked – How is your prayer life?

It is a question some people shy away from
talking about though –
Oh, it’s ok I guess, you know, it’s a personal
thing….they might say…
What if I asked – how is your communication
with your spouse?

Or maybe – how is your relationship with your
family?

Would I hear a different answer?

Probably, most likely!

If your communication with your spouse, your
family, your co-workers, your neighbors is one
that you can explain as great – growing every
day – interesting – fun – loving – constant
trusting – …

Your communication, your relationship which is
your prayer time – with God should be more,
much more.

Martin Luther said – “To be Christian without
prayer is no more possible than to be alive
without breathing.”

PRAYER POCKET MINISTRY WAS CREATED TO FILL A VOID

Prayer Pocket Ministry was created to fill a void
that some people have when it comes to prayer.
To change your prayer life from being
sometimes like a foreign language – to a time of
just like breathing, as Martin Luther referred to.

GYPSEY SMITH AND A HULA HOOP

Gypsy Smith – a British evangelist from the late
1880’s crossed the Atlantic to the United States
45 times to hold revivals and preach the gospel
to millions of people.

He said – “Preaching may move the hearts of
men, but praying moves the heart of God.”
AND -That’s where revival comes from.

Some of the evangelists in the United States
soaked up everything Gypsy had to offer. How
could they, here in the US make the kind of
difference with the lives of people like Gypsy
had?

“What can we do?” They asked.

He told them “Go home, lock yourself in your
room. Kneel down in the middle of the floor,
and with a piece of chalk, draw a circle around
yourself. There on your knees, pray fervently
and brokenly that God would start a revival
within that chalk circle.”

I use a hula hoop. I step inside my circle…

I ask for forgiveness (raising my hands up toward heaven like a funnel)– beg for mercy –
praise Him for His grace then ask for the revival
to start right here! Right in this circle!

As I step out of the circle, I am ready to fight the battle.

I believe that for corporate worship to be effective
our individual worship needs to be on point –
it needs to be strong, bold and most of all it
needs to be consistent!

So, start that revival right in your circle and be
prepared – breath and pray!
Our daily prayer time should be one of the most
important times of the day.

It is then we experience communication with
God.

We talk, He listens, He talks, we need to listen.
It is then our relationship can turn from religion
to an intimate relationship with Christ.

ARE YOU BEING DRUG THROUGH THE MUDDY WATERS?

It is then that you may feel God pulling you,
pushing you, even dragging you through muddy
waters to get you where He wants you! That is
what maturing in our faith is all about –
GROWTH, stepping outside your “comfort
zone”… into the zone that God is preparing for
you so you can stand boldly for Him.

 

SO – Prayer Pocket Ministry was founded to
inspire, encourage, and motivate others as they
bring their prayer life to be powerful, passionate
and persistent. A tool you can use to enhance
and grow your prayer life.

We have a great prayer guide with the Lord’s
prayer. – Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.                                                                                                                                                      Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.                                                                                                                                              For Yours is the kingdom and the power and
the glory forever. Amen.

Pray like this, Jesus said – He gave us a templet
to use. Praise him – thank Him, supply us,
forgive us, as we forgive others. All we have is
Yours Lord!

The Prayer Pocket cards are based on the Lord’s
Prayer and the ACTS prayer method which is
Adoration Confession Thanksgiving and
Supplication – it covers what Jesus laid out for
us.

When we first started this ministry, a Bible
study group that met at my home every week
showed up big! We would have Bible Study and
then for two hours we would make the pockets,
some would even bring their sewing machine, I
would pull out the ironing board, scissors, the
pattern to cut out the pockets. Our first
distribution of the pockets was with 250 of
them!

Recently I taught at a retreat in Reidsville, one
of the women has been led to make the pockets.
She sends about 60 to 70 at a time! A huge
blessing to Prayer Pocket Ministry and, as
she says – it gives her purpose!

Join me next week as I go over the cards in the Prayer Pocket in detail.

Thank You, Jesus!