Praise in Perspective

Judges 5:3 - "Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers! I-- to the LORD, I will sing, I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

When you praise God, who, besides God hears? Rulers and potentates, Kings and Predients, that's who. Our praise, our act of acknowledging God on His throne, places them in proper perspective as well. It serves to remind us that there are greater powers than the earthly and it serves to remind the earthly poweers that they have accountability.

Praise God today for His proper perspective.

Listen

George Buttrick said:

The intervals of these four prayers should be filled by meditation. After thanksgiving we should contemplate God's abounding goodness, and await word concerninghis own gifts.

As you pray for GBC today, take time to listen to God and ask God to speak plainly to the panners of the conference. Ask God to make sure they listen.

Enouragement

Found this little prayer at the Open Door

Dear God, although we don't serve you to be commended, we do thank you for the encouragement you send our way. Amen

Have you ever wondered if you were not the answer to the prayer you were offering for someone else? Maybe you are! Offer some encouragement to those you are praying for today.

Surrender

Oswald Chambers said:

True surrender is not simply surrender of our external life but surrender of our will— and once that is done, surrender is complete. The greatest crisis we ever face is the surrender of our will. Yet God never forces a person’s will into surrender, and He never begs. He patiently waits until that person willingly yields to Him. And once that battle has been fought, it never needs to be fought again.

Sometimes I wonder if prayer is more about God lining up our desires to His, than it is Him granting our desires. Oh, to be so connected to God that our desires are the same. Ask God today that the aims of GBC be His aims, that His desires and the planner's and leader's desires be the same.

He Listens

Psalm 73:24 - With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me, and afterward receive me to glory.

When praying you do not need to struggle to get God's attention -- He is listening even when you are not addresing yourself to Him, ready to receive you. We need to listen too, He will guide us.

As you pray for GBC today, pray that the planners and speakers, workers and leaders are listening to God's counsel.

Reality

Evelyn Underhill said

In the first place, what do we mean by prayer? Surely just this: that part of our conscious life which is deliberately oriented towards, and exclusively responds to, spiritual reality.

Prayer is not the mere utterance of words and phrases -- it is tapping into the spiritual realm. As you pray for GBC today, make your prayer more than perfunctory -- take the time to experience God's spirtual realm.

Reliance

Isa 27:5 - "Or let him rely on My protection, let him make peace with me, let him make peace with me."

Prayer is placing ourselves in a position of reliance on God Almighty. Note how Isaih says we get there -- we "make peace" with God. Before we ask, we must make peace with God, we must seek His mercy.

Before you pray for GBC today -- Make peace with Him of whom you make the request.