Following JOY (Jesus Others Yourself)
Jesus
- praise Him
- Thank Him
- Worship Him
Others
Our intimate circle
e.g. family, friends, our church, work, school etc.
- keep in touch with people
- ask about situations (e.g. developments, changes) but be discreet
- be persistent in your prayers (see all previous refs)
- be willing to be used yourself - you may be part of the answer!
- make use of sources of information like prayer chains (if you’re on one) or the Youth prayer diary
Worldwide
Useful sources of information for:
The wider church
- prayer diaries and guides, magazines, prayer letters
- the Baptist Times
- information often at the back of church
Dronfield
- Dronfield Advertiser
- News and Views (CTDD)
- Town Council business e.g. through minutes, agendas, attending meetings
- work within Dronfield schools
UK/Worldwide
- radio and TV news
- newspapers
- agencies such as Amnesty International
- fair trade issues
- environmental issues
Yourself
- sort out your personal attitude (ITim 2v8)
- get right with God (confession?)
- pray with thanksgiving (Phil 4v6)
A Simple Guide to Devotional Prayer
- Take time with God, do not come in a hurry.
- Worship Him with adoration, maybe using hymns or Scripture.
- Take time to meditate on the Word and let it colour your praying and thinking through the day.
- Come before Him in confession and seek the grace of the Spirit to live more effectively as His child and servant.
- Praise and thank Him for all He is and has given us through Jesus.
- Share your daily life with Him, praying not only for yourself, but for others whose needs are known to you.
- Finally, seek a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit as you enter a new day, asking that you might grow in holiness, fruitfulness and Christian maturity.
Helpful hints for more effective praying
Prayer partners/triplets
- these really help you to focus a time to pray
- it’s an encouragement to have someone else to pray for your family confidentiality can be maintained within the group
Discipline yourself
- make a time and place prepare
- focus
- continue to lift people/issues in prayer
Don’t try to do it all
- it’s not all your responsibility!
- pray about what’s laid on your heart - others will pray about other things (praying in the Spirit - Eph 6v18)
In a Nutshell
to say "Sorry"
- requires an alert conscience taught by theHoly Spirit, the Word of God and the ‘Word of the CROSS’
- must be heartfelt - crocodile tears won’t wash with God.
- True sorrow for sin springs from a close walk with God - Hymn - "At even ere the sun was set’ M.P. 43, verse 5.
- Self-examination can be painful, takes courage, but is an essential discipline.
- Confessing sin and repentance go hand in hand.
- 1 John 1: 9 assures us of God’s forgiveness.
- The Holy Spirit strengthens us to go on from there.
- Psalm 51 - a model ‘Sorry’ prayer of David.
- The ‘Sorry’ prayer is the way to peace with God, praise and thanksgiving.
to say "Thank You"
to say "Please"
- Sort personal attitude – pray for oneself, pray with thanksgiving.
- Our intimate circle – family, friends, church, work, etc.
- Keep in touch, be discreet, expect a difference, be persistent, be willing to be part of the answer.
- The wider community
- Church – prayer guides, letters, etc.
Dronfield – Advertiser, News and Views, Town Council, Schools, etc.
UK/World wide – Radio, TV, papers, Amnesty International, Fair Trade, etc.
How
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Discipline, Preparation, Continuity
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Prayer partnerships/prayer triplets
WARNING the Devil doesn’t want you to pray! He knows prayer is effective - he’ll try everything to put you off - don’t let him!!