Great Thoughts On Prayer

"Prayer is not a list of requests; it is an introspective process, a refining process of discovering what one is, what one should be, and how to achieve the transformation. "

"If prayer were intended only to inform God of our desires and deficiencies, it would be unnecessary. Its true purpose is to raise the level of the supplicants by helping them develop true perceptions of life so that they can become worthy of God's blessing."

"The desired result of prayer is the increase of God's presence."

"Let us bless God by creating the conditions for God to shower God's blessings on creation."

--all above from Nosson Scherman, "Prayer, a Timeless Need"

Our goal here is to increase God's presence at GBC. Thank you for helping.

Prayer and Fear

Ps 34:44

I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

GBC involves a lot of fears -- from planning pressure to travel anexieties -- meeting new people to speaking publicly. Seeking the Lord -- Prayer -- is the answer to all of it. As you pray for GBC today, pray for all involved to be in prayer, and to be relieved of their feers.

Praying for The University

GBC is being hosted by a University, Biola's Torrey Honors Institute, to be precise. They deserve our thoughts, and our prayers. Ran across this little liturgical prayer in my never ending search for source material and thought it appropriate for this day:

Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I think that same prayer is good for GBC as well.

Far Be It From Me

1 Samuel 12:22-23

"For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself. "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.

What a concept -- it is a sin to cease to pray. How easy it is to forget to pray, how hard it should be.

Pray today for GBC, but also pray for those you love and are concerned about. This is a sin it should be utter joy to avoid.

Surrender

Borrowing from The Upper Room's daily devotional for 4/18:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! -2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV

Prayer for the day
Lord Jesus Christ, we surrender ourselves to your loving hands. Make us clean and new and useful. Amen.

Thought For The Day
People may give up on us, but God never does.

Prayer Focus
Those who restore and recycle

Ask that everyone who comes to, leads, and plans GBC will surrender themselves to God's loving hands...

Whatever? -- Pray!

James 5:13-14

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

I love this passage. No matter what the circumstances, prayer is the answer. Do you think there is something that is too insignificant, or too personal to pray about? Such a thing does not exist. Please pray for every detail of GBC, from presenters to janitorial staff, from lodging to chairs. Pray for it all.

May GBC Do No Wrong!

2 Corinthians 13:77

Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we should appear unapproved.

I think that is a wonderful prayer for GBC today -- that it would do no wrong. The opportunity for mischief at a conference like this is extraordinary. To pray that it will be avoided is a worthwhile prayer indeed.

Thank God that many of the logistical problems are working themselves out much more easily than expected -- and REGISTRATION IS OPEN!.