All Christians at times encounter difficulty in praying. At such times it is important to understand that prayer starts with bring one's attention Godward. Genuine prayer begins inwardly before it is expressed outwardly. Believers have turned to the Psalms through the centuries to help them express their thoughts to God and to themselves and toward and with others. The Psalms gives us models of communication with God. Today we read-pray Psalm 3," Arise, O Yahweh!Save me, O my God! Salvation belongs to Yahweh."We can locate prayer when God is addressed directly by his name or roles. Sometimes the psalmist will engage in self talk and at other times people talk. The Psalms are dynamic in nature and should be read and prayed in this manner.

The Psalms are useful to stimulate prayers and provide words we can actually pray. In active reading of the psalms we take note of who is addressed in the various verses. It could be direct speech to God or words directed towards others or to one's self. Join me in a prayer reading of psalms 4 and 5.

This ancient prayer of the prophet Isaiah was a cry for Yahweh to be merciful to his sinful people in remembrance of his covenant with Abraham to establish a people for himself. It is a plea for him to "come down" among them. This prayer was answered when the Father sent his Son to be incarnated and live, die, and rise for the salvation of his beloved ones. This prayer will be completed at Christ's Second Advent, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

Happy birthday! This is a common greeting in America. Birthdays are usually significant in the western world but hardly mentioned in many eastern cultures. The question some ask is, "Why celebrate birthdays?" The Bible never mentions birthday celebrations although there were a number of days marked for celebration in the Mosaic Covenant. In the ancient Christian churches days of martyrdom were kept. The oldest days of celebration concerning Jesus were termed "Epiphany," which celebrated the recognition of Jesus as King by men from the east (Matthew 2) and the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by John in which the Father announced him as his beloved Son (Matthew. 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, John 1). His baptism commenced his ministry as Messiah.We do not know the day of the year that Jesus was birthed by Mary. However, we do know the significance of his arrival. The designation of such an event is properly termed the "Festival of the Incarnation." The Word became flesh and lived among us! In Jesus of Nazareth we have the Lord of Glory as a human!Why do we celebrate birthdays? We are really celebrating a person's life, their uniqueness, our relationship. A good scripture to read on one's birthday is Psalm 90:12, "Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts."As a Christian, celebrating one's birthday should involve the blessing of the Lord and so my prayer for you is in the words of Ephesians 1:17, "I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him."

What does God do with our prayers? How do our prayers relate to the return of Messiah Jesus to the earth? another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne. Revelation 8:3 This action is the answer to the prayer recorded in Revelation 6: 10 They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" The ultimate answer to the disciples prayer Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.What is prayer and how does our prayers relate to the end of the age, the consummation

Paul often began his letter to the churches with a thanksgiving to God for what he has done and is doing in them. Two of the assemblies Paul wrote were Thessaloniki and Colossae. He overflows with thankfulness because of God's work in them and how this is being demonstrated in their lives. Four things are pointed out beginning with God's sovereign grace expressed in their faith expressed in their changed lives.

God has given his Son Jesus as the great Shepherd of his people. Christ in return has appointed undershepherds. Paul is a great example of such a pastor. He gives thanks to God for his grace at work in his people at Corinth and Philippi. These thanksgivings are found at the beginning of his letters to them.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy show us how to pray:I. …To God himself to whom thanks is due – the source of the blessings. V.2, 3II. ,,..by giving thanks to God for his work among all the diverse people among the Thessalonians.III. ..by .giving thanks to God constantly for his gracious and powerful work among them and continued to pray for their growth in grace. V. 2IV. ...by giving thanks for the rigor and faithfulness of their Christian lives. v. 3V. ..by giving thanks to God for his election of the Thessalonians to salvation. v. 4.VI. ...by giving thanks to God for their teachable spirits v. 6VII. ...by giving thanks to God for their unbridled proclamation of the Gospel to all people. v. 8May we Christians today follow this example of giving thanks for our fellow saints.

One of the most powerful testimonies in the New Testament of the transforming power of the gospel among a group of people is seen in the opening verses of 1 Thessalonians. There Paul thanked God for the clear and obvious evidence of his mighty saving work in the lives of the Thessalonian Christians. It happened then. It can happen now!

King Jehoshaphat's prayer of distress when a confederation of nations came to Judah. How did it get to this point? Consider the backstory and then hear his prayer.We are helpless. We don't know what to do! But our eyes are on you!God gives an immediate reply by a prophetic utterance and the next day Judah is confronted with the dead bodies of the invading confederation of armies. We can learn how to pray in distress from Jehoshaphat's prayer in distress.