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CHAPTER 1

PART 1 The Spiritual Practices

PRAYER

There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.

BROTHER LAWRENCE

Perhaps the most important spiritual discipline to adopt in your daily life is prayer. Now, when I write "pray," I don't mean muttering a stream of rote, repetitious phrases you heard in church a long time ago. I'm talking about regular, honest, heartfelt conversations with the one who created you, who loves you, and who desperately wants you to know him as intimately as he knows you.

So what should you talk about? Everything! There is no problem too big or too small to go to God with for help. As Elisabeth Elliot once said, "If you believe in a God who controls the big things, you have to believe in a God who controls the little things." Ask him for wisdom and guidance. Ask him to give you the courage and strength to get through the tough times. But don't stop there! Tell him about all the wonderful things that are happening in your life as well. Thank him for the daily blessings of family and friends. Share your accomplishments, your dreams, and your goals for the future. Talk to him about every aspect of your life, good and bad. It's so easy to get mired in negativity. Regularly scheduled prayer time provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on and express gratitude for everything that is going right in our lives.

If you're not used to talking with God or you aren't sure how or where to start, try writing him a letter or pairing your prayer time with another activity like going for a walk. Whatever you do, don't overthink it! God isn't concerned with eloquence or fancy language. He just wants to hear from you. So be yourself. Before you know it, you'll be looking forward to your daily quiet time with God. You may even start talking with him throughout your day! Nothing soothes the soul and quiets the mind like quality time spent in the company of a dear and trusted friend. So get into the habit of giving yourself a daily dose of hope. God would love to hear from you!

Scripture to Soothe Your Soul

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours.

MARK 11:24

When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

MATTHEW 6:6

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!

JAMES 5:13-17

Pray then like this:

"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 also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

MATTHEW 6:9-13, ESV

We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

1 JOHN 5:14-15

At that time you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

JOHN 16:23-24

Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.

PSALM 55:17

If you remain in me [Jesus] and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

JOHN 15:7

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

ROMANS 8:26

Wisdom to awaken Your Spirit

Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.

MAX LUCADO

Prayer does not mean simply to pour out one's heart. It means rather to find the way to God and to speak with him, whether the heart is full or empty.

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

Our prayers lay the track down which God's power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.

WATCHMAN NEE

There are parts of our calling, works of the Holy Spirit, and defeats of the darkness that will come no other way than furious, fervent, faith-filled, unceasing prayer.

BETH MOORE

You can do more than pray after you have prayed; but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed.

A.J. GORDON

The reality is, my prayers don't change God. But, I am convinced prayer changes me. Praying boldly boots me out of that stale place of religious habit into authentic connection with God Himself.

LYSA TERKEURST

If you believe in prayer at all, expect God to hear you. If you do not expect, you will not have. God will not hear you unless you believe He will hear you; but if you believe He will, He will be as good as your faith.

CHARLESS PURGEON

Prayer does not mean that I am to bring God down to my thoughts and my purposes, and bend His government according to my foolish, silly, and sometimes sinful notions. Prayer means that I am to be raised up into feeling, into union and design with Him; that I am to enter into His counsel, and carry out His purpose fully.

D.L. MOODY

It matters little what form of prayer we adopt or how many words we use. What matters is the faith which lays hold on God, knowing that He knows our needs before we even ask Him. That is what gives Christian prayer its boundless confidence and its joyous certainty.

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

Prayer does not influence God. Prayer surely does influence God. It does not influence His purpose. It does influence His action.

S.D. GORDON

Prayer is the way you defeat the devil ... reach the lost ... restore a backslider ... strengthen the saints ... send missionaries out ... cure the sick ... [and] accomplish the impossible.

DAVID JEREMIAH

Prayer for Hope and Healing

Lord, there are so many things happening in my life right now — some good, some difficult — and sometimes I fall into the trap of feeling as though I have to face all of them by myself. What a relief it is knowing that you are always there, always listening, and always providing whatever strength and wisdom I might need. Your Scripture is a constant reminder to me that I should not "worry about anything, but rather, pray about everything." Thank you, Lord, for being a constant companion, for never tiring of my complaints or cries for help, for your patience when I struggle to say or do what is right, and for lifting me up when I am struggling to stand on my own. I treasure the time we spend together every day, Lord. Your faithful presence, thoughtful guidance, and unending love are gifts I value beyond measure. Thank you, Lord, for our time today, for all that you have already done in my life, and for all we have yet to do together.

In Jesus' name, amen.

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Excerpted from "Soul Care"
by .
Copyright © 2019 Dr. Gregory Jantz.
Excerpted by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.
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